Keith Hernandez, SNY.tv | Twitter |

I've had all week to look over my movie choices from last week, and there are so many great films that I missed.

Since we are all hunkered down in our homes, I've decided to mention some more movies that I love for your viewing delight.

Notice that most, if not all, of my films are somewhat old. That's because I'm old!

ESPIONAGE

From Russia With Love (1963): My personal favorite from all the James Bond films because Sean Connery is Bond, and this film was closest to reality. No fancy gadgets from Q in this one. With Robert Shaw (Jaws) as the assassin, the climactic scene on the train where Bond fights to the death with Shaw is brilliantly violent. Let's not forget Colonel Rosa Klebb with her poisoned switchblade in the tip of her shoe.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People (1979-1982): BBC television mini-series adapted from John Le Carre's trilogy, The Quest for Karla. Tremendous performance by Sir Alec Guinness as the quintessential spy hunter, George Smiley. The supporting cast is nothing less than brilliant. In Tinker, a Soviet mole is embedded at the highest level of MI6. In Smiley's People, George finally entraps the soviet master spy, codenamed Karla. Karla ran the British mole in Tinker Tailor.

A Perfect Spy (1987): Another BBC miniseries adapted from John Le Carre's novel of the same name. Brilliantly acted by British actors you may not recognize in the U.S., but in England, they are renowned for their work in film and on the stage. This series features another British spy-turned-traitor to the crown by a Czech agent. The hunt is on. Famed British actor Ray McAnally gives a tour de force performance as the father of the double agent.

Ipcress File (1965): Loosely adapted from the Len Deighton novel of the same name. A very young Michael Caine stars as the quirky, insubordinate British agent Harry Palmer, who has to get to the bottom of kidnappings and brainwashed reappearances of top scientists. Great supporting cast. And yes, there is another traitor in the British Secret Service.

No Way Out (1987): My favorite Kevin Costner film starring Costner and Gene Hackman. Soviet mole within the Department of Defense at the highest level. Truly shocking ending.

Our Man Flint (1966): A fun and light adventure spy film starring James Coburn as Derek Flint. The great Lee J. Cobb is terrific as Flint's superior.

The Silencers (1966): The same genre as Flint, but this time Dean Martin stars as secret agent Matt Helm. Light and fun.

The Spy Who Came in From The Cold (1965): Another Le Carre novel that was a bestseller. Rich Burton gives a brilliant performance as British spy Alec Leamas as he goes covert. Dark and bleak, this film has no real hero. In the end, the Cold War shown in all its harsh reality, the perfect backdrop for a disillusioned Leamas.

Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy, Bourne Ultimatum (2002, 2004, 2007): Matt Damon. Great trilogy. Edge of your seat excitement.

Burn! (1969): Italian flick starring the young (and thin!) Marlon Brando as British agent William Walker, who manipulates a slave revolt in the Caribbean to serve the interests of the crown and the sugar trade. Cult film.

Spy movies are my favorite genre. Here are others with just the titles.

MILITARY

Dirty Dozen (1967): Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas. WWII mission behind enemy lines.

Eye of the Needle (1981): Donald Sutherland. Nazi spy in Scotland.

Pork Chop Hill (1959): Gregory Peck. Korean War drama with bitter ending.

Patton (1970): George C. Scott. Classic

Stalag 17 (1953): William Holden, Otto Preminger. POW camp with an embedded Nazi spy. The original Sgt. Schultz, but this one is not so stupid.

Bridge over the River Kwai (1957): William Holden, Alec Guinness. Directed by David Lean. WWII POW classic.

Go Tell the Spartans (1978): Burt Lancaster. Underrated film set in the very early years of our involvement in Vietnam.

Gardens of Stone (1987): James Earl Jones, James Caan, D.B. Sweeney. Touching story of the army unit called "The Old Guard," a ceremonial honor guard for the funerals of fallen soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery during the Vietnam War. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Kelly's Heroes (1970): Clint Eastwood. WWII unauthorized mission behind enemy lines to find a bank full of gold bullion.

Run Silent Run Deep (1958): Burt Lancaster, Clark Gable. WWII submarine drama.

Zulu (1964): Michael Caine, Stanley Baker. British outpost in South Africa surrounded by the Zulu nation. Based on a true story, vaulted Caine to stardom.

Breaker Morant (1980): Edward Woodward. Set in 19th century South Africa during the Second Boer War. This Australian film has three British soldiers standing accused of murdering six Boer prisoners of war. Military trial that turns political.

HORROR

The Howling (1981): Dee Wallace. The transformation of man to werewolf was startlingly horrifying.

The Omen (1976): Gregory Peck, Lee Remick

American Werewolf In London (1981): David Naughton, Griffin Dunne. Directed by John Landis

Wait Until Dark (1967): Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin. Blind Audrey, murderous Alan in stalking thriller.

WESTERNS

Appaloosa (1966): Marlon Brando. Cowboy in pursuit of the man who stole his appaloosa.

One-Eyed Jacks (1961): Marlon Brando, Karl Malden. Former outlaws, one who betrayed, resulting in a long prison term for the other. Out of jail, he hunts down the former partner in crime. Filmed in Monterrey, Calif.

Viva Zapata (1952): Marlon Brando, Anthony Quinn. The life of the revolutionary Mexican hero Zapata, starring two legendary actors.

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SPORTS

Raging Bull (1980): Directed by Martin Scorsese. Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty. Life story of Jake LaMotta. Terrific.

Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956): Directed by Robert Wise. Paul Newman. Based on the life of middle weight fighter, Rocky Graziano.

Rocky (1976): Sylvester Stallone. Classic!

The Natural (1984): Robert Redford, Robert Duvall. My personal favorite. This film captured the mythical aura of baseball back in the days when broadcasts were only heard on the radio. When I first watched Redford's Roy Hobbs hit the dramatic home run off the light stanchion, which exploded into the night, and the shot of Hobbs rounding first with the camera shooting up from the ground, fireworks in the background above, along with that musical score… it made me shed a few tears and brought chills up my spine. I never tire of watching that scene.

Bull Durham (1988): Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins. My second favorite baseball film. This movie completely captures life in the minor leagues back in those days.

Fear Strikes Out (1957): Anthony Perkins, Karl Malden. Based on the life of former major leaguer Jimmy Piersall, who had a nervous breakdown while playing in the minors. Pushed by his father since childhood, portrayed beautifully by Malden, Piersall finally cracks. The dramatic scene of his breakdown during a game in front of his father is heartbreaking. The look on Malden's face as he watches this spectacle is priceless. Dark film.

The Great Santini (1979): Robert Duvall, Michael O'Keefe, Blythe Danner. Overbearing fighter pilot brings home his competitive and abusive behavior, which affects his marriage as well as his teenage son. The already strained father-son relationship turns uglier in a one-on-one basketball game between the two of them.

OTHERS

Ordinary People (1980): Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton. Poignant family drama in Chicago.

The Last Picture Show (1971): Young Jeff Bridges, Cloris Leachman, Timothy Bottoms, Ellen Burstyn, and Ben Johnson. Small town drama set in Texas. Trust me; watch this film.

The World According to Garp (1982): Robin Williams, John Lithgow, Glenn Close. The life story of T.S. Garp, with its tragic ending, is another film I've watched many times.

Goodfellas (1990): How Scorsese didn't win the Oscar for Best Director is beyond me.

David Copperfield (1935): W.C. Fields as Micawber is genius.

The Year of Living Dangerously (1982): Sigourney Weaver, Mel Gibson. Mel is vaulted to stardom with this movie filmed in the Philippines. Ms. Weaver never looked more beautiful and elegant than in this film.

Blood Simple (1984): Frances McDormand, M. Emmet Walsh, Holly Hunter. First feature film from the Coen Brothers.

The Black Stallion (1979): Hoyt Axton, Mickey Rooney, Teri Garr. Absolutely fantastic adventure for all ages.

And of course… the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) and the Harry Potter series (2001-2011). Truly great children's movies that are not just for children.

I hope that these film suggestions help you pass the time at home during these days of social distancing.

Stay safe and stay tuned! Baseball will be back as soon as possible.

Watch Gary, Keith and Ron during Beyond the Booth Live, every Thursday at 4 p.m. Check out our most recent episode below:

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