A look at Judd Apatow's best movies

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Judd Apatow has had quite a filmmaking career. To celebrate Apatow's artistry, Joe Cianciotto lists some of his most endearing and enduring films.

1. "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004) was the first feature-length film Apatow directed. Anchorman became a cult classic and helped popularize the comedic stylings of lead actor Will Ferrell.

2. "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" (2005) was easily Apatow's most successful film at the time of release. Starring Steve Carell, this film helped make him a household name and showed the world that he had a good handle on comedy.

3. "Drillbit Taylor" (2008) wasn't quite as big as "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," but it was still reasonably successful. It also helped introduce two up-and-coming stars (Nate Hartley and Troy Gentile).

4. "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006) performed well at the box office, but many critics hated it. Regardless, it is an excellent film and one of Will Ferrell's best in his career.

5. "This is 40" (2012) came out a whole five years after Apatow released "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and showed that he was still going strong with the comedy. Although it has gotten mixed reviews, audiences love this film.

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6. "Trainwreck" (2015) is another one of Apatow's most successful films. This time, he worked with comedian and actress Amy Schumer who wrote and starred in the film. The film was both well-reviewed and a box office success, Joe Cianciotto adds.

7. "Funny People" (2009) isn't as well-known as Apatow's other films, but it is still well respected. It centers on a movie star who falls ill and manages his career from his hospital bed. Adam Sandler gives an impressive performance in this film, featuring Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, and Jason Schwartzman.

A look at some of the best set design in film

My name is Joe Cianciotto, and I’m an architect. During my spare time, I love watching movies. Because of my background, I can’t help but marvel at some of the set designs I see.

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Take for example the HBO series, “Game of Thrones.” Sure, some of the parts of the set may be CGI, but that hardly dampens the magnificence of its architectural accomplishments. In fact, many of the fantasy feature films and TV shows have set design that blows my mind.


In “The Lord of the Rings,” Peter Jackson had several locations converted into structures from Middle Earth. The results were breathtaking, especially when caught with the right camera angle. They can all still be seen in New Zealand. The Shire alone evokes so many emotions of warmth and merriment.


Harry Potter’s Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry also has several magical sets in the main structure that viewers actually feel both the magic and ominous overture of He Who Must Not Be Named.

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Not to be outdone, science-fiction films have also gone that extra mile in set design. Films such as “Blade Runner” and “Aliens” have made full use of the creativity of set designers, much to the audience’s awe.


What film has your favorite set design? Message me, Joe Cianciotto, in the comments section below and share your favorites.


Joe Cianciotto is a San Francisco Bay Area-based architect. He is a movie buff and enjoys a diverse selection of genres, including superhero films, independent science fiction, mumblecore, and Golden-age dramas and epics. For similar posts, visit this page.

The Usual Suspects: My all-time favorite mystery movie

When “The Usual Suspects” first came out in theaters in 1995, it wasn’t a blockbuster hit. But those who got to see it left theaters wide-eyed and smiling, having seen one of the greatest Hollywood mystery movies of their generation. 

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Directed by Bryan Singer (who would later go on to direct most of the “X-Men” franchise), “The Usual Suspects” is a brilliant and stylish mix of mystery and action. The plot centers on five individuals accused of burning down a ship and killing all the mercenaries on it. These five men are all hounded by an FBI agent looking for the truth.

And there is one question everyone will be asking the entire time -- Who is Keyser Sose? Probably one of the most popular questions in film history, Keyser Sose here is referred to as “the Devil himself.” The harrowing tale of five hardened and formidable men reaches its climax in ways nobody could ever predict. 

The ending will hit you like no other Hollywood movie ever has, which is a testament to how great the buildup was. 

Truly, “The Usual Suspects” is Singer’s best film by far. Kevin Spacey, who has very recently, fallen from grace, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Verbal Kint, the person with disability among the five tough guys. 

Plus, a huge chunk of the movie takes place in New York City, my favorite place in the world. 

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I'm Joe Cianciotto, an architect from San Francisco. I’m also a film buff and love talking about movies in general. For more articles on the stuff I love, follow me on Facebook.