Awesome - Top 13 movies that will (safely) blow your mind...

I have been given some pressure to do this blog. I am not the best movie blogger. I write, I watch, I enjoy but I may not always be able to tell you why something is great.

These movies are best described as thrillers or dramas, but with a twist. That when you head says, "No...no. That can't be...what the..." Boom. Explosion in your mind.
These are the movies that you watch a hundred times and everytime you dream about having your "insert film name here" virginity back. These are all movies that I wish I could see for the first time again. I envy you first time viewers of any of these films!

This type of film impresses me more than anything.I have tried countless times to tackle the twist ending in my own writing. What I come up with is, 'Blah, blah, blah. Here is my movie...the end...but wait. He was actually dead.' Not so good, right. The twist has to be expected and known but without the viewer knowing that they know. Confused? Good, these movies will do much worse.

SPOILER ALERT: This is going to be an awesomely enjoyable blog and I will not spoil any of these films for you, I promise. I will just intrigue you to see them if you haven't.

13. American History X - We start here. A great movie. Why 13? Well, it won't blow your mind as much as the rest. It will help you fall in love with Edward Norton (there will be a Norton/Pitt trend you will see). This movie gets down to the nitty gritty. It tackles very touchy race issues. And if you hear anyone ever say "bite the curb" just close your eyes.

12. Magnolia - This movies will confuse you and bring you in. With a ridiculous cast including Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore and William H. Macy, it is bound to leave you entertained. Then mix in a little Paul Thomas Anderson (director) and your bound to be educated as well as perplexed. There are several storylines (understatement) and more bible references than an Ernest Angely concert. If you have 3 hours to waste, give it a try.

11. A Beautiful Mind - Some of you may think I'm getting a bit soft. But this is a great movie with a slight twist in the end that will shake you to the very core. The setting sells you on everything and you really enjoy the entire story. Russell Crowe plays a scholar that deals with his life and the nightmares that come with it. If you think its too light, watch it again but know that it is based on a true story. Freaky, right!?

10. 12 Monkeys - Hey Brad Pitt! More importantly Bruce Willis. This movie makes you ask question after question. Bruce Willis is basically a convict in the future. They send him all around in time to stop a plague. He deals with being thrown into the past and tries to piece the puzzle together before its too late.

9. 25th Hour - Here comes Edward Norton, again. He is being brought up on drug charges and tries to deal with all his life's issues in the 24 hours before he is sentenced. This movie is straight up good. You enjoy it, it happens. You say, "What a great Spike Lee joint". Then the end comes and you can't believe your eyes. You loved the movie. Then a twist. Then boom a twisty twist. You don't know what to think.

8. Se7en or Seven - Ouch. Just ouch. A couple rules...Don't watch this with the lights off, don't watch by yourself, and don't try any of this at home. Not a horror movie, but a thriller. A perverse, dirty thriller. I don't want to give to much away with this. If you haven't heard of it then you may not even know what the title means. Its a great film. Just check it out. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman really do a great job. You will love it, just try not to laugh when you here someone say, "What's in the box?"

7. Memento - This is one of those movies you had to see growing up. Not that you had to be little but when I was in school everyone knew this movie. Guy Pearce play a man who can't remember anything short term. He forgets what was just told to him in a couple minutes. He uses notebooks and tattoos to help him find the man that killed his wife. Ya, good right? Well, the movie plays out a little different and the end will leave you speechless. Really good Christopher Nolan movie. He went on to write/direct The Dark Knight and The Prestige.

6. Fight Club - This is a classic. If you're male, you've seen it. Great movie. And I don't typically do this guys, but even better book. (I'm sorry!) Brad Pitt play one if his most memorable roles alongside Edward Norton. Norton is a depressed insomniac whose condo blows up. He moves in with Pitt whose much more loose. Antics happen! Oh yea, and they form a fight club. Much like a knitting club but...well, you get it. The end is phenomenal. It's something that was told to you a million times but you just wouldn't listen. Damn, me!

5. Donnie Darko - This is great. Young Jake Gyllenhaal puts on a spectacle. Full with a rabbit mask and Patrick Swayze. This movie will get your marbles working. The story is far from done once you've seen the movie. GO to their website, its fascinating. The movie is based on scientific theories. Just makes you think.

4. Mulholland Dr. - Why don't you explain it to me? If you can watch this under 10 times and tell me what has happened, you win. Its complicated. Doesn't mean it doesn't deserve the 1,000 viewings I have given it. And I still had no idea until I spoke in depth with a professor at my school about it. Its great. Watch it once. If you hate it, then move on. If not, then give it more of you. Its a great film that turns itself into a masterful puzzle. You may need some help but there is no shame in that.

3. The Usual Suspects - This is a standard. You've seen it, right? No? The whole movie is based on Kevin Spacey. He tells the story of what has happened. It all starts with these 5 random criminals in a police lineup. His story has some twists and turns and he's quite the character himself. Watch this and you may understand some one-liners in a whole bunch of other films. This is a film standard...period. Its flawless.

2. Life of David Gale - This one is almost indefinable to me. Everyone might fight me on this choice but I didn't see then end coming. If you did then you're a way better man then I. Another Kevin Spacey movie. He's on death row and wants a reporter to tell his story. Enter Kate Winslet. She listens to his tale as well as investigates much for herself. The clock is ticking and Spacey will soon be put to death. The movie deals with the right to kill a human and really takes you on a ride. The movie ends and you will be so pleased how good of a movie it was. You will expect credits to roll, but they won't. One more scene and ka-plow! Mind blown to smithereens.

1. Irreversible - Not for the weak stomached. This movie follows a couple and how they're lives spin out of control (technically). It's tough to really define it. They story is told quite uncommonly and there are 2 VERY gruesome scenes. Momma, don't you dare watch this movie. Its gotta be one of the best. Will it blow your mind in the last 10 minutes? No, but that's only because it will blow your mind in the first 3 minutes...your mind will grow back and it will get blown to pieces about 40 minutes in. It will grow back once more before getting melted by amazingness. It will not grow back again. We gotta be logical. And for my own little twist...its a french film...I know i know, subtitles. I didn't want you to know that up front. Try is out. Read a movie. The words will give your stomach a break from the images. Want to read some awesome facts? Click here, you will be shocked!

Bonus Movie: Okie Noodling - a documentary full of awesomeness. Nothing twisty about this. Just trashy hillbilly's catching 300 pound catfish with their bare fingers. Ya, freakin amazing. Watch this. Funny to laugh at crazy people and sweet to see how they do it. And there is apparently an Okie Noodling II.

So, there is my list. Tear it up, people. Watch some and let me know. What's your list? Top 13 or 10 or 5? What's your number one?

SPOILER ALERT: This video is funny!