Category: Lists

  • My Ten Favorite Films of 2023

    My Ten Favorite Films of 2023

    As we bid farewell to another year, it’s time to reflect on the cinematic gems that have graced the silver screen in 2023. This year, the world of film experienced what has probably been its best year since the COVID-19 pandemic, with directors pushing boundaries and crafting narratives that left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness. In this article, I list my top 10 favorite films of the year, each a testament to the creativity and innovation that defined 2023. 

    Before delving into the main list, let’s acknowledge my five honorable mentions: The Holdovers, Bottoms, Nimona, Pacifiction, and BlackBerry. These films, while not making it to the top 10, epitomize the wealth and variety of great content this year gave us. In any other year, they might have easily secured a spot on my top 10 list. This year has undeniably been a cinematic feast, and the following films encapsulate the essence of why 2023 stands as a hallmark year for film enthusiasts

    Disclaimer: I have yet to see Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, Hirokazu Koreeda’s Monster, or Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, all of which are some of this year’s most acclaimed films

     

    10. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER FOUR

    ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (Paramount)

    With neon-drenched interiors, hyper-stylized gun fu action, and an ever-watchable Keanu Reeves, this final installment of the John Wick franchise has everything fans loved about the first three. So why does this one top them all? Well it turns everything up to 11, the neon is more neon, the stakes are higher than ever, and the set pieces are some of the most visually striking in recent action cinema. With references to everything from Lawrence of Arabia to Guardians of the Galaxy, director Chad Stahelski throws everything at the wall and so much of it sticks, making for the best film of this past decade’s “Keanussaince”. The ensemble cast featuring Bill Skarsgard, Donnie Yen, pop star Rina Sawayama, and the fan favorite Lance Reddick in one of his final performances all turn in great work that help give the film dramatic and emotional heft.

    Where to Watch: Starz

     

    9. THE BOY AND THE HERON

    ‘The Boy and the Heron’ (Studio Ghibli)

    Possibly the greatest director the world of animation has ever seen, Hayao Miyazaki is an indisputable giant of cinema. And with The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki has finally made his swan song. The film is a fitting end to his illustrious career, functioning as a metaphor for him grappling with finally leaving the wondrous fantastical worlds of Studio Ghibli behind once and for all. Miyazaki works at a slower pace than usual here, taking care to immerse us in the small oddities of the world he creates. It’s also one of the anime legend’s more ambiguous films, leaving many things unsaid and up to interpretation. Like always with Miyazaki, the film is a visual treat and a wonder to see on the big screen.

    Where to Watch: In Theaters

     

    8. OPPENHEIMER

    ‘Oppenheimer’ (Universal)

    When people look back to the state of film in 2023, they’ll inevitably acknowledge the phenomenon that Barbenheimer was. One of the greatest opening weekends in film history and a bonafide pop culture event, Barbenheimer has truly brought theaters back after the COVID-19 pandemic. Oppenheimer’s box office success is, on the surface, mind-boggling. A 3-hour long rated-R biopic about a nuclear physicist, half of which is in black and white, made just under a billion dollars at the worldwide box office? And, somehow, Oppenheimer lives up to the hype. Over 180 minutes, Christopher Nolan’s relentless pace never lets up, forcing its audience into the world of political machinations, path-breaking science, and tremendous guilt that J. Robert Oppenheimer was embroiled in. 

    My Review

    Where to Watch: Rent or Buy

     

    7. MAY DECEMBER

    ‘May December’ (Netflix)

    With Far From Heaven and his work at large, Todd Haynes has made no secret of his fascination with the melodramas of Douglas Sirk. And with May December, Haynes brings a Sirkian examination of societal stigmas, family dynamics, and traditional filmmaking tropes to the modern world. When it comes to his recent narrative work, May December is a welcome return to form for Haynes. It’s a film that works as a study of performance itself, bolstered by reliable work from legends Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, and by a revelatory Charles Melton, who deservedly has won critics’ awards left and right for his role in the film. Along with filmmakers like Pedro Almodovar and Kenneth Lonergan, Todd Haynes is undoubtedly one of the best artists bringing melodrama into the 21st century.

    Where to Watch: Netflix

     

    6. GODZILLA MINUS ONE

    ‘Godzilla Minus One’ (Toho)

    Who would have thought that this year’s Godzilla movie would be the most compellingly life-affirming movie of the year? From director and visual effects artist Takashi Yamazaki, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ transcends the typical monster blockbuster, delivering a poignant narrative that may have you shed a tear or two. Yamazaki masterfully combines awe-inspiring visual effects with a surprisingly tender exploration of the human spirit in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The film strikes a delicate balance between thrilling monster mayhem and genuine emotional resonance, making it a standout entry in the Godzilla franchise. With emotionally-charged action and standout performances from the cast, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ proves that even in the darkest of times there are reasons to keep living.

    Where to Watch: In Theaters

     

    5. PAST LIVES

    ‘Past Lives’ (A24)

    A deeply empathetic film that owes a lot to Wong Kar-Wai romances yet never feels too beholden to them, Celine Song’s debut feature is simply beautiful. Past Lives follows Nora and Hae Sung as fate forces them to cross paths time and time again. This is a film with no villains and Song’s refreshing love for her characters makes the film resonate all the more powerfully. And it’s a deceptive power. Past Lives is a simple film that doesn’t try to yell its emotions across. But through stunning cinematography, a trio of passionate performances, a touching score, and a devastating screenplay, Song’s film seeps inside of you and simmers within long after the credits roll.

    My Review

    Where to Watch: Rent or Buy

     

    4. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE

    ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (Sony)

    ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ swings into the cinematic landscape with the same groundbreaking animation and narrative ingenuity that made its predecessor a superhero genre game-changer. Building on the success of ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ this sequel takes the multiverse concept to new heights, delivering a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience. The film effortlessly blends humor, heart, and high-stakes action as it navigates the complexities of multiple Spider-People and their interconnected destinies. The animation remains a jaw-dropping spectacle, with each frame a vibrant work of art that captures the essence of comic book storytelling. Beyond the stunning visuals, the narrative unfolds with unexpected depth, exploring themes of identity, responsibility, and the interconnectedness of different Spider-Beings. ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ not only lives up to its predecessor but propels the animated superhero genre into exhilarating new dimensions, setting a high standard for future comic book adaptations.

    Where to Watch: Netflix

     

    3. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

    ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (Apple TV+)

    The winner of Best Film at the National Board of Review and at the New York Film Critics Circle, you don’t need me to tell you how spectacular Martin Scorsese’s latest is. Boasting phenomenal performances from Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert DeNiro, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is Scorsese’s best film since The Departed and quite possibly one of the most sensitively human films he’s made. All the auteur’s classic themes are present: greed, American capitalism, corruption, secrets and lies, but are laid bare with an unmistakably beating heart. It’s one of his most explicitly political works, calling out the way the sins of the American past are sanitized and treated as entertainment.

    Where to Watch: In Theaters or Rent or Buy

     

    2. ANATOMY OF A FALL

    ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ (NEON)

    Justine Triet’s Palme D’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall is not a movie that provides easy answers. It questions the nature of truth itself, taking a step beyond ambiguity to ask whether truth is something worth pursuing. Should we decide our own truth — and do we have any choice but to? Triet traverses these questions in a way that is unwaveringly engaging and effortlessly weaves philosophical ideas into the fabric of a courtroom nailbiter. Triet’s stellar screenwriting and lead actress Sandra Huller’s vulnerable work are truly at the heart of this film, contributing to what may be my favorite film of the year.

    My Review

    Where to Watch: In Theaters

     

    1. POOR THINGS

    ‘Poor Things’ (Searchlight)

    A film about a woman coming into her own, destroying the patriarchy every step of the way, with existential themes about what our purpose is? No I’m not talking about Barbie, I’m referring to what might be the Greek Weird Wave master Yorgos Lanthimos’s best film: Poor Things. Poor Things is simultaneously one of the funniest and most excitingly life-affirming movies of the year, combining pitch black comedy, marvelous steampunk visuals, and a career-best performance from Emma Stone in what may be this year’s finest acting work. Bella Baxter is a beautifully-realized character and we follow her through every step of her development as she learns the ways of the world and has life-changing experiences. Stone charts this development with subtle nuance, you’ll leave the film wanting to see more of her and Bella Baxter.

    Where to Watch: In Theaters

  • 30 Movies to See This Pride Month

    30 Movies to See This Pride Month

    Happy Pride!

    All About My Mother (1999)

    ‘All About My Mother’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    The most acclaimed Spanish filmmaker since Victor Erice, Pedro Almodovar’s distinctively queer and vibrant filmography makes him one of the most unique, prolific, and consistently exciting filmmakers of the last 40 years. From his darkly funny earlier fare like What Have I Done to Deserve This? and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown to his more recent emotionally-devastating dramas like Talk to Her and Pain and Glory, Almodovar has never fit into any easy labels. All About My Mother is his magnum opus, merging his distinctive humor, melodrama, and his desire to tackle serious issues. This is a moving and affecting portrait of motherhood, love, and what it means to be family.

    Where to Watch: Rent or Buy

     

    And Then We Danced (2019)

    ‘And Then We Danced’ (Music Box)

    A powerfully acted and dazzlingly emotional coming-of-age story set in the world of competitive dancing, Levan Akin’s And Then We Danced is an honest love story set in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. The dance sequences are a wonder to behold, they’re bursting with passion and energy. Levan Gelbakhiani delivers a phenomenal central performance in this criminally underseen film that you’ll feel in your heart long after the credits roll.

    Where to Watch: Prime Video, Tubi, Kanopy, Mubi

     

    The Birdcage (1996)

    ‘The Birdcage’ (United Artists)

    Led by gut-bustingly funny and empathetic work from co-leads Nathan Lane and Robin Williams, Mike Nichols’ The Birdcage is an uplifting tale that sees a gay couple attempt to put on a straight facade when meeting the ultra-conservative parents of their son’s fiancee. This Elaine May-written movie is still one of the rare mainstream Hollywood films to feature a happy gay couple at the story’s forefront.

    Where to Watch: Paramount+, PlutoTV, The Roku Channel, Tubi

     

    The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972)

    ‘The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant’ (New Yorker Films)

    In the 13 years he was making feature films before his untimely death from a drug overdose at 37, Rainer Werner Fassbinder constructed one of the greatest filmographies ever. While he ventured into more experimental fare with films such as World on a Wire and Berlin Alexanderplatz, Fassbinder’s bread and butter was the sumptuous Sirkian melodrama and The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant is one of his best, incorporating a Bergmanesque story into a story of an arrogant and self-centered fashion designer who plunges into a love affair with a young woman.

    Where to Watch: Max, The Criterion Channel

     

    Bound (1996)

    ;Bound’ (Gramercy)

    While they broke out into the mainstream with The Matrix, many film fans first heard about The Wachowskis from their neo-noir crime thriller Bound. Stylish and with a tight and captivating screenplay, this is the Wachowskis best film outside of the one that made them household names. Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, and Joe Pantoliano star in this film that follows a woman and her lover as they attempt to take millions of dollars from the mob.

    Where to Watch: Prime Video, Paramount+

     

    But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

    ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ (Lionsgate)

    This movie was such a welcome surprise. I wasn’t expecting a heartwarming, hilarious, and compassionate satire bursting with color and vibrancy but that is exactly what Jamie Babbit’s But I’m a Cheerleader is. You might not think that a film largely set in a gay conversion camp can be raucously funny, but Babbit strikes the tone well, effectively skewering societal heteronormativity and homophobia while maintaining the film’s sense of campy fun.

    Where to Watch: Prime Video, The Roku Channel, The Criterion Collection, Tubi, PlutoTV

     

    Carol (2015)

    ‘Carol’ (The Weinstein Company)

    Anchored by phenomenal performances from Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, this adaptation of a Patricia Highsmith novel follows the aspiring photographer Therese as she falls in love with the older and wealthier Carol. Every aspect of this film is firing on all cylinders, Edward Lachman’s lavish cinematography, Carter Burwell’s jazzy and affecting score, Phyllis Nagy’s wonderfully romantic yet melancholy screenplay, and, of course, Todd Haynes’ exquisite direction.

    Where to Watch: Netflix, Kanopy

     

    C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)

    ‘C.R.A.Z.Y.’ (Samuel Goldwyn)

    A movie about coming-out that you can (probably) watch with your parents, Quebecois Jean-Marc Vallee’s C.R.A.Z.Y. is a thoroughly entertaining coming-of-age film about a young man discovering his identity under the pressure of his conservative family. The film also works as a wonderful time capsule, capturing the 60s and 70s with detail and a fantastic soundtrack that includes David Bowie, The Cure, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley.

    Where to Watch: Max, Kanopy

     

    Farewell My Concubine (1993)

    ‘Farewell, My Concubine’ (Miramax)

    An epic romantic melodrama set in mid 20th century China, you may need some knowledge of Chinese history to truly appreciate this film. But even without that knowledge, Farewell, My Concubine is a lavish production, exquisitely crafted on all technical fronts. Gong Li is absolutely brilliant in this film as the titular concubine and Leslie Cheung and Zhang Fengyi are fantastic as well.

    Where to Watch: Rent/Buy

     

    The Handmaiden (2016)

    ‘The Handmaiden’ (Amazon)

    Sumptuous period detail and seductive performances come together in this deliciously entertaining erotic thriller from ‘Oldboy’ director Park Chan-Wook. The Handmaiden is one of the best-looking period films of the past 10 years with cinematographer Chung-Hoon Chung, costume designer Jo Sang-Gyeong, and production designer Ryu Seong-Hie working in tandem to capture early 20th century Japanese luxury in awe-inspiring fashion. Park’s direction is at his best since Oldboy, thrilling his audience with the precision of a master.

    Where to Watch: Prime Video, FilmBox

     

    Happy Together (1997)

    ‘Happy Together’ (Kino International)

    It’s reductive and I’m in no way trying to bring down what is an impeccable filmography but the cinema of Wong Kar-Wai can be grouped into two categories, passionate romantic dramas and neo-noir crime dramas. Some merge both styles such as Chungking Express and Fallen Angels. But like Wong’s magnum opus In the Mood For Love, Happy Together fits wholly into the former category and is a pure romantic drama about isolation, marginalization, and codependency. The late Leslie Cheung and Wong regular Tony Leung give fantastic performances as the central couple.

    Where to Watch: Max, The Criterion Collection

     

    Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

    ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ (Fine Line)

    An exhilarating glam rock opera musical, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is director, writer, and star John Cameron Mitchell’s bold, imaginative, and genuinely touching portrait of Hedwig, a trans punk rock singer from Berlin who tells the story of her life, one of love and betrayal, through her songs. Visually audacious and with a fantastic soundtrack, Mitchell’s film is full of irresistible energy and remarkable charm. 

    Where to Watch: Rent/Buy

     

    Joyland (2022)

    ‘Joyland’ (Oscilloscope)

    Executive produced by Malala Yousafzai, Riz Ahmed, and Ramin Bahrani among others, Saim Sadiq’s Joyland follows the sensitive Haider who finds a job at a burlesque theater and falls in love with its central star, a trans woman named Biba. This winner of the most recent Spirit award for Best International Film was banned in its home country of Pakistan for its positive depiction of a transgender woman. This is a stunningly-shot, deeply humanistic film that deserves to be more widely recognized (and brought to streaming!).

    Where to Watch: N/A

     

    The Long Day Closes (1992)

    ‘The Long Day Closes’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    An atmospheric and lyrical coming-of-age story about a boy’s burgeoning homosexuality, Catholic faith, and relationship with his mother, The Long Day Closes is one of (very) British auteur Terence Davies’ best features, functioning as an autobiographical examination of the truths that can reside in memory. Wonderfully shot and at times surreal with its imagery and rejection of conventional notions of plot, Davies’ film is a singular experience resplendent with a love for cinema and music.

    Where to Watch: The Criterion Collection

     

    Madchen in Uniform (1931)

    ‘Madchen in Uniform’ (Filmchoice)

    This is by far the oldest film on this list, and you might be surprised to see that a film from 1931 has mostly held up in terms of its LGBTQ+ representation but clearly Leontine Sagan and her crew were decades ahead of their time. This is a fantastic coming-of-age film told through stunning German Expressionist cinematography and unexpectedly naturalistic performances. While the teacher-student relationship at the center of the story is a significant issue, this film is a celebration of female companionship, queer identity, and resistance against oppressive authority that also featured the second cinematic lesbian kiss.

    Where to Watch: Plex

     

    Maurice (1987)

    ‘Maurice’ (Cinecom)

    One of the best films produced by the Ismail Merchant-James Ivory partnership, Maurice is a lushly photographed period piece from the late 20th century masters of the literate Hollywood period romance. Less successful on the awards circuit than its straight Merchant-Ivory cousins Remains of the Day, A Room With a View, and Howards End, this is a criminally overlooked tale of gay love and repression that still moves over a century after E.M. Forster first put the story of Maurice and Clive on page. 

    Where to Watch: Kanopy, Mubi

     

    Moonlight (2016)

    ‘Moonlight’ (A24)

    Probably the most acclaimed American film of the last ten years, Barry Jenkins’ unquestionable masterpiece Moonlight is a masterclass in everything from empathetic filmmaking to subtle yet devastating acting. Moonlight is the coming-of-age story of Chiron, a young Black man wrestling with his identity, sexuality, and purpose. Barry Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton’s images are pure visual poetry accentuated by Nicholas Britell’s somber, atmospheric strings. It’s a wonderful movie and an absolute must-see for anyone who considers themselves a fan of film.

    Where to Watch: Max, Kanopy, DirecTV

     

    My Own Private Idaho (1991)

    ‘My Own Private Idaho’ (Fine Line)

    Led by two compelling lead performances from River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, My Own Private Idaho is one of Gus Van Sant’s most exceptional features that follows two hustlers on the road to survival and self discovery. The film is one of the most important in the New Queer Cinema canon, a movement led by queer American filmmakers during the HIV/AIDS crisis that was at its peak from the late 80s to the mid 90s. Gus Van Sant, Todd Haynes, Gregg Araki, Cheryl Dunye, and Marlon Riggs (all of whom have films included on this list) were some of the most significant contributors to this movement.

    Where to Watch: Rent/Buy

     

    Mysterious Skin (2004)

    ‘Mysterious Skin’ (TLA)

    Gregg Araki made multiple films centered around the queer experience, including acclaimed works like Nowhere, The Doom Generation, and The Living End, but the devastating Mysterious Skin is widely considered to be his masterpiece. Infamously harrowing yet at times beautiful and incredibly affecting, Araki’s film is not for those unprepared to see a story that deals with trauma and abuse in a way that stays with you. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet give some of the best performances of their careers here. 

    Where to Watch: The Criterion Collection

     

    Paris is Burning (1990)

    ‘Paris is Burning’ (Off White)

    No other documentary I’ve seen feels so vivid and full of life. Paris is Burning captures the lives and stories surrounding the New York ballroom scene of the 80s and does so with the utmost interest and care for every person who is a part of it. Real-life figures like Pepper Lebeija,  Dorian Corey, Octavia St. Laurent, and Venus Xtravaganza start to feel like friends by the end of the film’s speedy 78 minutes. While it has its issues, at its core Paris is Burning is an effortlessly lovable celebration of ballroom culture that has proved to be incredibly influential.

    Where to Watch: Max, The Criterion Collection

     

    Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

    ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (Neon)

    Every 10 years, the British Film Institute conducts the Sight and Sound poll, asking critics around the world for their takes on the greatest films ever made. In 2022, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” was ranked at number 30, the highest ranking for any film from the 2010s. This profoundly emotional period piece follows the romance of two women, Heloise and Marianne, as they spend a week together on an isolated island off the coast of France. With accolades from the Cannes Film Festival, Cesar Awards and European Film Awards, director Celine Sciamma has earned her title as one of, if not the most, acclaimed female filmmakers of her generation. One of the most gorgeous films I’ve seen, both in photography and thematics, this is one of my personal all-time favorites.

    Where to Watch: Hulu, Kanopy

     

    Pride (2014)

    ‘Pride’ (CBS)

    A feel-good activism story brimming with humor and heart, Matthew Warchus’ Pride is a touching film set during the conservative Thatcher era in Britain as gay activists work to aid miners during the U.K. miner strike of 1984-85. The cast is stacked featuring phenomenal British actors like Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Paddy Considine, Dominic West, and George MacKay who are all great in their respective roles. There are not many fiction films about activism as good as this.

    Where to Watch: Showtime, DirecTV

     

    Straight Up (2019)

    ‘Straight Up’ (Strand)

    A light, fun screwball rom-com, James Sweeney’s debut is a fresh take on traditional romantic comedy tropes. The film lives and dies on the chemistry of its two leads Sweeney and Katie Findlay, two characters who long for love but find something standing in the way of them being a perfect couple. Reminiscent of classic rom coms like His Girl Friday and When Harry Met Sally in its witty banter, Sweeney translates the feel of those movies to a new generation with different preoccupations.

    Where to Watch: Netflix, Kanopy

     

    Stranger by the Lake (2013)

    ‘Stranger by the Lake’ (Strand)

    Fantastic cinematography from Claire Mathon, an atmosphere filled with dread, and deft direction from Alain Guiraudie come together in Guiraudie’s Stranger by the Lake. This is a film about risk and passion, addiction and attraction led by captivating turns from Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou, and Patrick d’Assumcao as summer occupants of a lakeside gay cruising beach.

    Where to Watch: Kanopy

     

    Tangerine (2015)

    ‘Tangerine’ (Magnolia)

    Bursting with raw energy, Tangerine is so much damn fun. Powered by two alternatingly hilarious, tender, and passionate performances from Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, Tangerine is a whirlwind of a film that takes you on the journey of hookers Sin-Dee and Alexandra who scour Los Angeles looking for Chester, the pimp that cheated on Sin-Dee. The film was shot on iPhones and consists of mostly non-actors and first-time actors, accentuating the film’s realism. But don’t be fooled by director Sean Baker’s realist aesthetic, this is one of the most unabashedly entertaining indie dramas in recent years.

    Where to Watch: Max, Hoopla, Kanopy, DirecTV

     

    Tongues Untied (1989)

    ‘Tongues Untied’ (Frameline)

    A film based on the thesis that Black men loving other Black men is a revolutionary act, Marlon Riggs’ Tongues Untied is an essential film both in its social and political content. This is a film built from the art of not only Marlon Riggs but numerous Black gay voices from poets to activists. It’s an incredible film made with an infectious amount of passion that depicts intersectionality in a way that makes its audience think and feel deeply.

    Where to Watch: The Criterion Collection, Kanopy, Ovid

     

    Tropical Malady (2004)

    ;Tropical Malady’ (Strand)

    Apichatpong Weerasethakul has a lyrical cinematic style that is completely his own. His cinema is deeply mystical, atmospheric, and aware of nature. Split into two halves, Weerasethakul’s best film Tropical Malady is both a wonderfully shot gay romance and a story steeped in Thai legends, populated by shamans, surreal magical realism, and mystical forces. It’s a film that lives completely on its own wavelength and if you share that wavelength, you will fall in love with it.

    Where to Watch: Kanopy

     

    The Watermelon Woman (1996)

    ‘The Watermelon Woman’ (First Run)

    This comedy follows a Black lesbian filmmaker named Cheryl (director Cheryl Dunye playing herself) who dives into the life of an actress billed as the Watermelon Woman who was known for playing “mammy” archetypes in the 1930s. Cheryl simultaneously looks for love in this hilarious rom-com mockumentary, which sits at the intersection of race, sex, history, love, and queerness.

    Where to Watch: Showtime, Kanopy, DirecTV, Fandor

     

    The Way He Looks (2014)

    ‘The Way He Looks’ (Strand)

    Endearingly cute and wonderfully romantic, Daniel Ribeiro’s The Way He Looks is an adorable Brazilian coming of age story about a blind child finding first love. This touching film unabashedly wears its heart on its sleeve and features a great soundtrack, charming performances, and a genuine sense of empathy for its characters.

    Where to Watch: Kanopy

     

    Weekend (2011)

    ‘Weekend’ (IFC)

    As intimate and sensitive as romantic dramas can be, Andrew Haigh’s phenomenal feature Weekend is a genuine examination of sex and love in modern gay relationships. It’s an effortlessly endearing film that’s at times sexy, hilarious, thoughtful, and critical. Both Tom Cullen and Chris New give vulnerable naturalistic performances, their character’s flaws and preoccupations bared in full view to the audience.

    Where to Watch: AMC+, The Criterion Collection, Tubi, Kanopy, DirecTV, PlutoTV

  • 6 Films You Should Watch Even Though the Academy Clearly Didn’t

    6 Films You Should Watch Even Though the Academy Clearly Didn’t

    While some of the best movies of the last 10 years (Parasite, Moonlight, Drive My Car, etc.) have done amazing with the Academy, dozens of phenomenal films (Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Uncut Gems, Burning) have been snubbed entirely. Clearly, the Oscars don’t always get it right and every year they fail to acknowledge many of the year’s best, especially when it comes to non-English and independent cinema. This year was no exception and here are some I believe the Academy may come to regret (ok, maybe they won’t be regretting passing on Crimes of the Future).

    CRIMES OF THE FUTURE

    ‘Crimes of the Future’ (Neon)

    David Cronenberg’s first full length feature film since 2014’s Maps to the Stars, Crimes to the Future is a return to the director’s bread and butter, noir influenced body horror films, something he hasn’t made since 1999’s eXistenZ (though his son’s Possessor was a welcome taste of the science fiction body horror that must be in the family genetics). Crimes of the Future is the Canadian master’s best since Eastern Promises and stars Viggo Mortensen, Lea Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart all in top form. If a movie whose tagline is “surgery is the new sex” is not an instant no for you, this movie has more going on than what meets the eye and is a (mostly) rewarding experience.

    NO BEARS

    ‘No Bears’ (Sideshow)

    Two of Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s previous films The White Balloon and This is Not a Film (both worth checking out if you haven’t already) screened at Sewall in early February through Rice Cinema. No Bears is Panahi’s newest feature and sees the humanistic director, who has just recently been released from prison by Iran after being arrested for his polemic and essential work, at the peak of his powers. Panahi, who was censored and jailed for making “propaganda against the state” (This is Not a Film was smuggled out of the country in a flash drive hidden in a cake), has made with No Bears a must-see film that wrestles with what impact his work is really having.

    DECISION TO LEAVE

    ‘Decision to Leave’ (MUBI)

    With Parasite’s massive success in 2019, Korean cinema has received an influx of attention in the last few years. As a result, filmmakers like Bong Joon-Ho, Lee Chang-Dong, Hong Sang-Soo, Na Hong-Jin, and Park Chan-Wook who have been putting out exemplary work for over a decade are finally getting the awareness they deserve. Park, the director of modern classics like Oldboy and The Handmaiden, is back with a Hitchcockian romantic thriller following a detective that becomes captivated by the wife of the murdered man. With stunning cinematography from Kim Ji-Yong and a fantastic performance from Tang Wei, this is a film the Academy will likely regret snubbing (Explain to me how every Park film has missed an International Feature nomination?!)

    NOPE

    ‘Nope’ (Universal)

    While the Oscars didn’t nominate it anywhere, the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle awarded Nope’s Keke Palmer for her multidimensional work in the film. Jordan Peele’s latest is a mix of horror, mystery, thriller, and western that also happens to be a commentary on everything from our culture’s obsession with spectacle to animal cruelty. Does it work? YES and while it’s not on the level of Peele’s debut Get Out, this genre mashup will leave you entertained both while you’re watching and then during the hours you will be thinking about it afterwards.

    THE NORTHMAN

    ‘The Northman’ (A24)

    Tired of rewatching Game of Thrones and in need of something to satisfy your medieval action drama fix? Look no further because this movie has everything you miss from graphic gore to *ahem* interesting family dynamics! The cast is stacked featuring Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, and Bjork. With this film, The Witch, and The Lighthouse under his belt, director Robert Eggers has quickly become one of the most exciting filmmakers of his generation.

    THE EIGHT MOUNTAINS

    ‘The Eight Mountains’ (Sideshow)

    For The Eight Mountains, Felix van Groeningen, known for emotional human dramas such as the Broken Circle Breakdown and Beautiful Boy, teamed up with past collaborator Charlotte Vandermeersch to direct this incredible retelling of the acclaimed Paolo Cognetti novel of the same name. This passionate ode to platonic love is one of the most criminally overlooked films of the year and one the Academy likely would’ve acknowledged if it was in English. Both Luca Marinelli (‘Martin Eden’, ‘Don’t Be Bad’) and Alessandro Borghi (‘Don’t Be Bad’, ‘On My Skin’) deliver wonderful performances in this winner of last year’s Cannes Jury Prize.

  • Future Hollywood Classics of the 2010s

    Future Hollywood Classics of the 2010s

    [Update: 6/11/21 – Due to a comment, I have added Ex Machina to the list as I realized that it perfectly fits the criteria I have laid out and I can’t think of any reason it should not be included.]

    What is a classic movie?

    Classics aren’t always the greatest films and this is not a “greatest films of the 2010s list” (for that go here). My definition of a classic would be a film that has become a mainstay in popular culture either through widespread rewatches or through references in other forms of popular culture. They don’t necessarily have to be good films (even though for this list I’ll only focus on movies that are generally thought of to be good, sorry “Cats”), but usually the reason a film has staying power is because of it being either very entertaining, very successful, or very impactful (which is kind of vague, I know, but what I mean by this is that the film has a strong emotional impact).

    I am only going to focus on films that are are “Hollywood” films made with Hollywood actors and/or at a Hollywood studio (so that excludes foreign-language films like ‘Parasite’, ‘A Separation’ or ‘The Hunt’ which all would have otherwise been on this list). Using all of the criteria that I have laid out so far some classics from the 90s would be: (in no specific order)

    • Goodfellas (1990)
    • Pulp Fiction (1994)
    • Schindler’s List (1993)
    • Fargo (1996)
    • Unforgiven (1992)
    • The Big Lebowski (1998)
    • Groundhog Day (1993)
    • The Matrix (1999)
    • The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
    • The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
    • Fight Club (1999)
    • Jurassic Park (1993)
    • Toy Story (1995)
    • Se7en (1995)
    • Saving Private Ryan (1998)
    • American Beauty (1999)
    • Forrest Gump (1994)
    • The Usual Suspects (1995)
    • Scream (1996)
    • Clueless (1995)
    • The Lion King (1994)
    • Reservoir Dogs (1992)
    • The Sixth Sense (1999)
    • Good Will Hunting (1997)
    • Titanic (1997)
    • Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
    • Trainspotting (1996)
    • Beauty and the Beast (1991)
    • Edward Scissorhands (1990)
    • The Truman Show (1998)
    • Braveheart (1995)
    • The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
    • Leon: The Professional (1994)
    • 12 Monkeys (1995)
    • Heat (1995)
    • Home Alone (1990)
    • A Few Good Men (1992)
    • Jerry Maguire (1996)
    • The Blair Witch Project (1999)

    This, for example, would be my list if I was compiling the classics of the 90s as they are mix of blockbusters, dramas, and comedies that have persisted through time and remain a significant part of popular culture today as they are oft-referenced by the general movie-watching public.

    With my list, I want to find movies from the 2010s that I believe are likely to have the same amount of popular culture significance that these films have had 20+ years after they were released.

    So without further ado, here are my picks.

    2010

    Black Swan

    ‘Black Swan’ (Searchlight)

    Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

    Synopsis: “A committed dancer struggles to maintain her sanity after winning the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”.” (From IMDb)

    Other than featuring an Oscar-winning turn from Natalie Portman, inspired direction from Darren Aronofsky, and themes of self-destructive obsession, “Black Sawn” is also, far and away, the most well-known film that centers around ballet (its closest competitor is probably “The Red Shoes”). With that distinction, when many people think of ballet, they will think of this movie (for better or worse) and that, in addition to the film’s own merit, will sustain its popularity for years to come.

    Inception

    ‘Inception’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Christopher Nolan

    Synopsis: “A thief (Leonardo DiCaprio) who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O (Cillian Murphy).” (From IMDb)

    An amazing sci-fi thriller that stays in your mind long after the credits roll, “Inception” is a high-concept and ambitious film that achieves what it sets out to on multiple levels. The originality of the film’s conceit combined with its immense entertainment value will make sure that this film is well-remembered and still watched decades from now.

    Shutter Island

    ‘Shutter Island’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    Synopsis: “In 1954, a U.S. Marshal (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a murderer who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane.” (From IMDb).

    A very memorable experience filled with mystery, “Shutter Island” will probably be remembered as a great thriller by a master of suspense filled with shocking twists and turns.

    The Social Network

    ‘The Social Network’ (Columbia)

    Directed by: David Fincher

    Synopsis: “As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins (Armie Hammer) who claimed he stole their idea, and by the co-founder (Andrew Garfield) who was later squeezed out of the business.” (From IMDb).

    A modern classic in every sense, “The Social Network” will continue to be relevant even if Facebook ceases to become the behemoth it is today as the film really could be applied to any story about greed and power. However, as the Internet age shows no signs of ending any time soon, this film will continue to have especially immense relevance.

    Toy Story 3

    ‘Toy Story 3’ (Disney/Pixar)

    Directed by: Lee Unkrich

    Synopsis: “The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy (John Morris) leaves for college, and it’s up to Woody (Tom Hanks) to convince the other toys that they weren’t abandoned and to return home.” (From IMDb).

    The best film from the greatest animated trilogy of all-time, “Toy Story 3” is a perfect coming-of-age movie that deals with growing up and letting go in a very intimate way. This is a movie that parents will be showing their kids for years and years so it is destined to become a classic (if it already isn’t one).

    2011

    Bridesmaids

    ‘Bridesmaids’ (Universal)

    Directed by: Paul Feig

    Synopsis: “Competition between the maid of honor (Kristen Wiig) and a bridesmaid (Rose Byrne), over who is the bride’s (Maya Rudolph) best friend, threatens to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef.” (From IMDb).

    Of the pure comedies from this decade, “Bridesmaids” is probably the most fondly remembered. It is already an oft-referenced movie that launched the film careers of Melissa McCarthy and Paul Feig, two people who have cemented themselves as two of this decade’s biggest names in comedy.

    Drive

    ‘Drive’ (FilmDistrict)

    Directed by: Nicholas Winding Refn

    Synopsis: “A mysterious Hollywood stuntman and mechanic (Ryan Gosling) moonlights as a getaway driver and finds himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbor (Carey Mulligan).” (From IMDb).

    A film that is primed for strong cult classic status, “Drive” is a stylish film with a terrific synth-laden soundtrack that boasts a Ryan Gosling performance that catapulted him from indie darling to mainstream star. This adrenaline rush of a film will be a pop culture mainstay for all those reasons and more.

    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

    ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: David Yates

    Synopsis: “Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) search for Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts.” (From IMDb).

    The satisfying final film of one of the most popular film franchises of all-time, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” is generally considered to be the best film in the franchise (I think ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ is slightly better but…) and is a rare example of a franchise conclusion done in a way that appeases die-hard fans, casual moviegoers, and critics alike.

    The Tree of Life

    ‘The Tree of Life’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    Directed by: Terrence Malick

    Synopsis: “The story of a family in Waco, Texas in 1956. The eldest son (Hunter McCracken) witnesses the loss of innocence and struggles with his parents’ (Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain) conflicting teachings.” (From IMDb)

    While it is seen as a quintessential “critics’ film” by the general public, “The Tree of Life” the divisive film will be remembered by those who have been profoundly affected by its’ stunning ambition, philosophical themes, and beautiful imagery. It is a pure art-house film made with A-list actors like Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, and Sean Penn and, as a result, it made over $50 million dollars worldwide, which is outstanding for a film like this. Critics will definitely remember this film and general audience will as well as, due to the A-list talent, many of them experienced a kind of film that was vastly different than anything they had seen before.

    2012

    Django Unchained

    ‘Django Unchained’ (The Weinstein Company)

    Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

    Synopsis: “With the help of a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz), a freed slave (Jamie Foxx) sets out to rescue his wife (Kerry Washington) from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio).” (From IMDb).

    Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist western, “Django Unchained” is the best western of the decade and continues the sacred Hollywood tradition of the western into the future. The great cast is also full of performers that had great success during this decade and that could propel this film into the pop culture canon as well.

    The Master

    ‘The Master’ (The Weinstein Company)

    Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

    Synopsis: A Naval veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future – until he is tantalized by the Cause and its charismatic leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

    Led by two astonishingly intense performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master” is a deeply psychological exploration and character study that deals with cults (Hoffman’s character is based on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard) and PTSD.

    2013

    12 Years a Slave

    ’12 Years A Slave’ (Fox Searchlight)

    Directed by: Steve McQueen

    Synopsis: “In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.” (From IMDb).

    A movie that is starting to be shown in some high school history classes, “12 Years a Slave” is a brutally realistic and necessary film that will be looked at as the most important film about slavery.

    Frozen

    ‘Frozen’ (Disney)

    Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee

    Synopsis: “When the newly crowned Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister Anna (Kristen Bell) teams up with a mountain man (Jonathan Groff), his playful reindeer, and a snowman (Josh Gad) to change the weather condition.” (From IMDb).

    The highest grossing animated film that is not a sequel, spinoff, or remake, “Frozen” was by far the most popular movie among a generation of kids for a year. The film’s massive popularity and rabid fanbase is indicative of the fact that this film is a certified Gen Z classic.

    Her

    ‘Her’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Spike Jonze

    Synopsis: In a near future, a lonely writer (Joaquin Phoenix) develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system (Scarlett Johansson) designed to meet his every need.

    This decade’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”, “Her” (like that fellow romantic drama with a sci-fi twist) is destined to be a classic. This film will likely become even more relevant as its depiction of a man’s relationship with an operating system may be prophetic as advances in artificial intelligence continue.

    The Wolf of Wall Street

    ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    Synopsis: “Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.” (From IMDb).

    An exhilarating portrait of the greed and excess seen on Wall Street, “The Wolf of Wall Street” has one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s greatest performances and is an exciting cautionary tale that keeps the audience’s attention for all three hours of its runtime.

    2014

    Birdman

    ‘Birdman’ (Searchlight)

    Directed by: Alejandro G. Inarittu

    Synopsis: “A washed-up superhero actor (Michael Keaton) attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.” (From IMDb).

    An artistic tour-de-force that is also a critique of the formulaicness of many modern Hollywood films, “Birdman” is a Best Picture winner that will age well due to its adventurous energy and creativity. This film is oftentimes very meta and features fantastic performances from Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, and Edward Norton.

    Boyhood

    ‘Boyhood’ (IFC Films)

    Directed by: Richard Linklater

    Synopsis: “The life of Mason (Ellar Coltrane), from early childhood to his arrival at college.” (From IMDb).

    This decade’s ultimate American coming-of-age film (with “Moonlight” being its closest contender), “Boyhood” is really a slice of life film that sheds a light on the maturation years of a generation. That factor ensures that the film will be a nostalgia trip for millions and what is a classic but a nostalgia trip?

    Ex Machina

    ‘Ex Machina’ (A24)

    Directed by: Alex Garland

    Synopsis: “A young programmer (Domnhall Gleeson) is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid A.I. (Alicia Vikander)” (From IMDb).

    As AI continues to become more prevalent and relevant in our society, “Ex Machina” will likely be deemed prescient which is an adjective that cements a sci-fi film’s place in the genre’s canon. The brilliant and thrilling story from Alex Garland is brought to life by a trio of great performances from Domnhall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander (in the performance that should of won her her Oscar instead of The Danish Girl).

    Gone Girl

    ‘Gone Girl’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: David Fincher

    Synopsis: “With his wife’s disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it’s suspected that he may not be innocent.” (From IMDb).
    Mystery thrillers often become classics because they are exciting films and are serious enough for people to feel proud that they enjoyed them. That pride often leads to mystery thrillers becoming classics through positive word-of-mouth from adult film enthusiasts. “Gone Girl” will likely follow this trend and become a classic through this word-of mouth.

    The Grand Budapest Hotel

    ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (Searchlight)

    Directed by: Wes Anderson

    Synopsis: “A writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy (Tony Revolori) in the hotel’s glorious years under an exceptional concierge (Ralph Fiennes).” (From IMDb).

    The most accessible film from one of the most well-known indie directors, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is (arguably) Wes Anderson’s masterpiece and boasts one of the most impressive casts ever put on screen.

    Interstellar

    ‘Interstellar’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Christopher Nolan

    Synopsis: “A team of explorers (Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Wes Bentley, and David Gyasi) travel through a wormhole in space in an attempt to ensure humanity’s survival.” (From IMDb).

    An addition to the bounty of thought-provoking science-fiction films we saw this decade, “Interstellar” is an intelligent and emotional member of that canon. The novelty of some of the ideas in the film and their presentation in an accessible and entertaining way will make sure this film is remembered.

    Nightcrawler

    ‘Nightcrawler’ (Open Road)

    Directed by: Dan Gilroy

    Synopsis: “When Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.” (From IMDb).

    Anchored by a manic performance from Jake Gyllenhaal and an intelligent screenplay from Dan Gilroy, “Nightcrawler” is a dark satire about the state of journalism today that cements itself as part of the LA-noir canon that includes such classics as Chinatown, Heat, and LA Confidential.

    Whiplash

    ‘Whiplash’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Damien Chazelle

    Synopsis: “A promising young drummer (Miles Teller) enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor (J.K. Simmons) who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential.” (From IMDb).

    An intense and unforgettable experience to behold, “Whiplash” is about a drummer’s quest to be the greatest but the themes can be applied to any person with a drive to be the best in their field.

    2015

    Inside Out

    ‘Inside Out’ (Disney/Pixar)

    Directed by: Pete Docter

    Synopsis: “After young Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.” (From IMDb).

    With a coming-of-age story that will resonate forever, “Inside Out” teaches kids that it’s OK to be sad and the emotion that the film provides while delivering that message will ensure that parents that needed this film when they were preteens will share it with their kids when they need it as well.

    Mad Max: Fury Road

    ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: George Miller

    Synopsis: “In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman (Charlize Theron) rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper, and a drifter named Max (Tom Hardy).” (From IMDb).

    An action film that never stops and throws its audience through 120 minutes of top-notch action without taking a breath, “Mad Max: Fury Road” is one-of-a-kind experience that feels like a film that people will revisit over an over again in order to get that unique adrenaline rush you only can get from watching a great action film.

    The Martian

    ‘The Martian’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: Ridley Scott

    Synopsis: “An astronaut (Matt Damon) becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.” (From IMDb).

    A movie that was applauded for its realism, “The Martian” will be remembered for that and more as it is a well-told story with a great central performance from Matt Damon. As space exploration becomes more advanced this film may become prophetic.

    Spotlight

    ‘Spotlight’ (Open Road)

    Directed by: Tom McCarthy

    Synopsis: “When the Boston Globe’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston’s religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world.” (From IMDb).

    A film that demonstrates the utmost importance of the free press, Best Picture winner “Spotlight” is a celebration of investigative journalism, and therefore truth.

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens

    ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (Disney)

    Directed by: J.J. Abrams

    Synopsis: “As a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey (Daisy Ridley), a desert scavenger, and Finn (John Boyega), an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) to search for the one hope of restoring peace.” (From IMDb).

    The least controversial chapter (and it definitely is controversial) of the sequel trilogy for Star Wars fans, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” remains the highest-grossing film in the United States which is a testament to the monumental impact it made back in 2015. It, more than any of the other films in the sequel trilogy, feels like a classic Star Wars film and that combination of nostalgia and new, dynamic characters will make this film persist for years to come.

    2016

    Arrival

    ‘Arrival’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

    Synopsis: “A linguist (Amy Adams) works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecrafts appear around the world.” (From IMDb).

    A thoughtful scifi-drama with an emotional gut-punch of an ending, “Arrival” is quiet but engaging and contemplative but suspenseful. The attention to detail that went into the film (the filmmakers made a fully functioning alien language) is astounding and will likely be talked about as part of the film trivia canon for decades. Also, Amy Adams was massively snubbed by the Oscars that year.

    Deadpool

    ‘Deadpool’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: Tim Miller

    Synopsis: “A wisecracking mercenary gets experimented on and becomes immortal but ugly, and sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.” (From IMDb).

    The movie that catapulted Ryan Reynolds into the realm of near-universal likability, “Deadpool” is a hilariously vulgar take down of the superhero genre and features a hilarious turn from Reynolds and a smart screenplay from Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. As this decade will likely be known as the decade where the superhero genre completely took over the mainstream, movies like “Deadpool” that subverted the genre while staying firmly inside of it will be remembered for being distinctive and successful.

     

    La La Land

    ‘La La Land’ (Lionsgate)

    Directed by: Damien Chazelle

    Synopsis: “While navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist (Ryan Gosling) and an actress (Emma Stone) fall in love while attempting to reconcile their aspirations for the future.” (From IMDb).

    The greatest Hollywood film musical of the decade, “La La Land” is an emotional rollercoaster with stunning (and now iconic) imagery from Linus Sandgren and a fantastic musical score from Justin Hurwitz. The film harkens back to the classic Hollywood tradition of film musicals while adding satisfying contemporary touches: a combination that will make the film timeless.

    Moonlight

    ‘Moonlight’ (A24)

    Directed by: Barry Jenkins

    Synopsis: “A young African-American man (Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes) grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.” (From IMDb).

    Evocative and lyrical, “Moonlight” is an astonishing film with incredible cinematography from James Laxton, an amazing score from “Succession” composer Nicholas Britell, and a bevy of marvelous performances from the whole cast (especially Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, and Trevante Rhodes). This film is a necessary addition to the coming-of-age canon and will persist for decades.

    2017

    Blade Runner 2049

    ‘Blade Runner 2049’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

    Synopsis: “Young Blade Runner K’s (Ryan Gosling) discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who’s been missing for thirty years.” (From IMDb).

    The years-in-the-making sequel to what is arguably the most acclaimed sci-fi film of all time, “Blade Runner 2049” had impossible expectations to meet yet somehow managed to end up satisfying the majority of fans. That is a major feat that will help Villenueve’s film endure as an achievement on its own.

    Call Me By Your Name

    ‘Call Me By Your Name’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Luca Guadagnino

    Synopsis: “In 1980s Italy, romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old student (Timothee Chalamet) and the older man (Armie Hammer) hired as his father’s research assistant.” (From IMDb).
    A beautifully-shot (courtesy of Sayombhu Mukdeeprom) tale of young love, “Call Me By Your Name” is Luca Guadagnino’s masterpiece and features magnificent performances from Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, and Michael Stuhlbarg. It also contains a few Sufjan Stevens songs, “Mystery of Love” being one of my all-time favorites.

    Coco

    ‘Coco’ (Disney/Pixar)

    Directed by: Lee Unkrich

    Synopsis: “Aspiring musician Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), confronted with his family’s ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.” (From IMDb).

    Probably one of the legendary animation studio’s more underrated films, “Coco” continues Pixar’s streak of effortlessly entertaining yet thoughtful original films. Films like “Inside Out”, “Coco”, and “Soul” bring that classic Pixar magic to a new generation of kids who will grow up and share those experiences with their kids.

     

    Get Out

    ‘Get Out’ (Universal)

    Directed by: Jordan Peele

    Synopsis: “A young African-American (Daniel Kaluuya) visits his white girlfriend’s (Alison Williams) parents (Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener) for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.” (From IMDb).

    Biting in its satire and shocking in its horror, “Get Out” has hilarious moments and just as often has moments of pure terror. This film from sketch-comedy master Jordan Peele is an accessible but intelligent examination of modern-day racism and fake “wokeness”.

     

    It

    ‘It’ (New Line Cinema)

    Directed by: Andy Muschietti

    Synopsis: “In the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.” (From IMDb).

    The highest-grossing horror film ever, “It” made a surprise splash when it was released in 2017 and became the kind of pervasive cultural object that the annual Marvel film often is. Accessible but scary, was one of the most-talked about films of 2017 (“Get Out” would also fit this description, probably to a greater extent), something a horror film hadn’t been since “The Ring” in 2002.

    Lady Bird

    ‘Lady Bird’ (A24)

    Directed by: Greta Gerwig

    Synopsis: “In 2002, an artistically inclined seventeen-year-old girl (Saoirse Ronan) comes of age in Sacramento, California.” (From IMDb).

    Featuring spectacular and Oscar-worthy performances from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird” is a poignant, hilarious, and beautiful portrait of a young woman’s coming of age. The ensemble is full of remarkable young actors (Timothee Chalamet, Lucas Hedges, and Beanie Feldstein) who are destined to become bigger stars in Hollywood.

    Logan

    ‘Logan’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: James Mangold

    Synopsis: “In a future where mutants are nearly extinct, an elderly and weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) leads a quiet life. But when Laura (Dafne Keen), a mutant child pursued by scientists, comes to him for help, he must get her to safety.” (From IMDb).

    A “comic-book movie” that feels more like a Western, “Logan” is one of the most poignant superhero films of this century and features great performances from Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and the newcomer Dafne Keen. Patrick Stewart was actually nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Critics Choice Awards, something that is extremely rare for a superhero film performance to do (its only happened thrice, in 2017 for Stewart, in 2008 for Heath Ledger who won as well, and in 2018 for Michael B. Jordan’s performance in Black Panther, which happens to also be on this list).

    2018

    Black Panther

    ‘Black Panther’ (Marvel)

    Directed by: Ryan Coogler

    Synopsis: “T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country’s past.” (From IMDb).

    A film that rises above its superhero movie trappings, “Black Panther” is a visionary Afrofuturist marvel that touched on socioeconomic issues while providing exhilarating action sequences. R.I.P. Chadwick Boseman.

    Hereditary

    ‘Hereditary’ (A24)

    Directed by: Ari Aster

    Synopsis: “A grieving family (Toni Colette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro) is haunted by tragic and disturbing occurrences.” (From IMDb).

    A future cult classic, “Hereditary” will join the best of its genre with its top-notch supernatural horror empowered by Aster’s mastery of atmosphere. Toni Colette’s performance will also be remembered as a symbol of the Academy’s long-standing bias against horror film performances as she was not nominated even with dozens of awards accrued throughout the season.

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

    ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (Sony/Marvel)

    Directed by: Bob Persichietti, Pete Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman

    Synopsis:

    Probably my personal favorite superhero film of the decade, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is a stunningly animated and emotionally impactful film that somehow finds a fresh way to tell the classic superhero origin story. Hilarious and heartwarming, this one of the best films of the decade, animated or not.

    2019

    1917

    ‘1917’ (Universal)

    Directed by: Sam Mendes

    Synopsis: “April 6th, 1917. As a regiment assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers (Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay) are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.” (From IMDb).

    With stunning cinematography from the incomparable Roger Deakins, “1917” is an immersive and extraordinary war film that puts the audience in the shows of two World War I soldiers with the aid of long takes (the majority of the film is made to look like one unbroken shot), fantastic camerawork from Deakins, and solid performances from the cast.

    Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

    ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (Marvel)

    Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo

    Synopsis: “The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos (Josh Brolin) before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe. After the devastating events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.” (From IMDb).

    Both in the top 5 all-time when it comes to worldwide box office gross, “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” were the biggest movies of the 2010s and that fact alone certifies their place as classics that will be oft-referenced and oft-discussed especially since the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows no signs of stopping.

    Joker

    ‘Joker’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Todd Phillips

    Synopsis: “In Gotham City, mentally troubled comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is disregarded and mistreated by society. He then embarks on a downward spiral of revolution and bloody crime. This path brings him face-to-face with his alter-ego: the Joker.” (From IMDb).

    A dark and gritty comic book film that draws more inspiration from Scorsese and Lumet than from Burton and Snyder, “Joker” was the origin story that the iconic villain deserved with an Oscar-winning performance from the chameleonic Joaquin Phoenix at its core.

    Knives Out

    ‘Knives Out’ (Lionsgate)

    Directed by: Rian Johnson

    Synopsis: “A detective (Daniel Craig) investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.” (From IMDb).

    A throwback whodunit that touches on very current themes, “Knives Out” is a delightfully fun murder mystery that you’ll want to watch and watch again. The stacked ensemble cast are all in strong form crafting distinct and quirky characters that are a joy to experience.

    Uncut Gems

    ‘Uncut Gems’ (A24)

    Directed by: Josh and Benny Safdie

    Synopsis: “With his debts mounting and angry collectors closing in, a fast-talking New York City jeweler (Adam Sandler) risks everything in hope of staying afloat and alive.”

    As one of the stated requirements of this list is that a chosen film has to be “generally thought of to be good”, it maybe a surprise to some that an Adam Sandler film has been included. However, “Uncut Gems” is not a normal Sandler project and will be recognized as a fantastic departure from the norm for one of the most famous comedians working today.

    Cover image source
    Find where these movies are available to watch at JustWatch
  • 102 Greatest Films of All-Time

    102 Greatest Films of All-Time

    During this once-in-a-lifetime experience, where people are at home, bored out of their minds and sifting through the thousands of movies that are available at their fingertips, I felt that the time was as good as any to unveil my self-compiled “Greatest Films of All-Time”, so people have some choices of good cinema to watch.

    These films are not ranked based on my opinion. I tried to find films (using a formula) that are exalted by both critics and audiences and I came up with this list. There are definitely some specific why-is-that-above-that aspects of this list that I may not agree with, but the movies that I have seen on this list are, in my opinion, amazing and the others are from sources that are usually trustworthy. (I excluded documentaries and shorts from the list)

    “Gone With the Wind”, “Rio Bravo”, “WALL-E”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “To Be Or Not To Be”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “High and Low”, and “Heat” are some movies that just missed the cut.

    Hope you enjoy!

    102. The Searchers (1956)

    ‘The Searchers’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: John Ford

    One of the great John Ford’s finest films, “The Searchers” is a beautiful Western that is full of moral ambiguity and was voted the 4th Greatest Film of the 20th Century by a Village Voice poll. “After a long three-year absence, the battle-scarred Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, Ethan Edwards (John Wayne), turns up on the remote and dusty Texan homestead of his brother, Aaron (Walter Coy). In high hopes of finding peace, instead, the taciturn former soldier will embark on a treacherous five-year odyssey of retribution, when the ruthless Chief Scar’s (Henry Brandon) murderous Comanche raiding party massacre his family, burn the ranch to the ground and abduct his nine-year-old niece, Debbie (Natalie Wood). Driven by hatred of Indians, Ethan and his young companion, Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter), ride through the unforgiving desert to track down their lost Debbie; however, is the woman they lost and the prisoner in Scar’s teepee still the same woman the searchers seek?” (From IMDb).

    101. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

    ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (Columbia)

    Directed by: Frank Darabont

    “Get busy living, or get busy dying”. This movie is so iconic and I was surprised this tale of perseverance did not make it higher on this list. The performances are top-notch and this is one of Roger Deakins’ best works of cinematography. “In 1946, a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of a double murder, even though he stubbornly proclaims his innocence. He’s sentenced to a life term at the Shawshank State Prison in Maine, where another lifer, Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), picks him as the new recruit most likely to crack under the pressure. The ugly realities of prison life are quickly introduced to Andy: a corrupt warden (Bob Gunton), sadistic guards led by Capt. Byron Hadley (Clancy Brown), and inmates who are little better than animals, willing to use rape or beatings to insure their dominance. But Andy does not crack: he has the hope of the truly innocent, which (together with his smarts) allow him to prevail behind bars.” (From Rotten Tomatoes).

    100. Annie Hall (1977)

    ‘Annie Hall’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Woody Allen

    Widely acknowledged as Woody Allen’s masterpiece (even if he doesn’t agree), “Annie Hall” is one of the great romantic-comedies and the Best Picture winner is a joy to watch and could bring you some light during this pandemic. “Alvy Singer (Woody Allen), a forty year old twice divorced, neurotic, intellectual Jewish New York stand-up comic, reflects on the demise of his latest relationship, to Annie Hall (Diane Keaton), an insecure, flighty, Midwestern WASP aspiring nightclub singer. Unlike his previous relationships, Alvy believed he may have worked out all the issues in his life through fifteen years of therapy to make this relationship with Annie last, among those issues being not wanting to date any woman that would want to date him, and thus subconsciously pushing those women away. Alvy not only reviews the many ups and many downs of their relationship, but also reviews the many facets of his makeup that led to him starting to date Annie. Those facets include growing up next to Coney Island in Brooklyn, being attracted to the opposite sex for as long as he can remember, and enduring years of Jewish guilt with his constantly arguing parents.” (From IMDb).

    99. Do the Right Thing (1989)

    ‘Do the Right Thing’ (Universal)

    Directed by: Spike Lee

    Spike Lee’s honest, visually-impressive masterpiece, “Do the Right Thing” is an unflinching portrait of race relations in America and is still relevant and timely today. It is essential viewing, never boring, and has an amazing soundtrack. “This film looks at life in the Bedford-Stuyvesant district of Brooklyn on a hot summer Sunday. As he does everyday, Sal Fragione (Danny Aiello) opens the pizza parlor he’s owned for 25 years. The neighborhood has changed considerably in the time he’s been there and is now composed primarily of African-Americans and Hispanics. His son Pino (John Turturro) hates it there and would like nothing better than to relocate the eatery to their own neighborhood…What begins as a simple complaint by one of his customers, Buggin Out (Giancarlo Esposito) – who wonders why he has only pictures of famous Italian-Americans on the wall when most of his customers are black – eventually disintegrates into violence as frustration seemingly brings out the worst in everyone. (From IMDb).

    98. La Strada (1954)

    ‘La Strada’ (Paramount Films of Italy)

    Directed by: Federico Fellini

    Probably Fellini’s most accesible film, “La Strada” is instantly alluring and Giulietta Masina’s charming and vulnerable performance as naïve Gelsomina is spectacular. “Godfather” composer Nino Rota’s score is achingly beautiful and Anthony Quinn’s performance as the brutish Zampano is probably the best of his career. “Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina) lives a quiet life with her mother and three sisters. However, this sheltered existence is shattered when a travelling showman, Zampano (Anthony Quinn), pays her mother so that Gelsomina will travel with and work for him. She is initially a reluctant participant in his line of work but soon tries to make the most of it, even learning some new skills. However, she has to contend with his brutish, unfeeling behavior.” (From IMDb).

    97. Amadeus (1984)

    ‘Amadeus’ (Orion Pictures)

    Directed by: Milos Forman

    One of the greatest biopics of all time, (even though it definitely isn’t fully historically accurate) “Amadeus” is so, so entertaining to watch and its epic 2 hour and 40 min length just flies by. With superb production design and a stellar, Oscar-winning turn from F. Murray Abraham as Salieri, Mozart’s greatest rival, the film is an exquisite portrait of a genius. “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) is a remarkably talented young Viennese composer who unwittingly finds a fierce rival in the disciplined and determined Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham). Resenting Mozart for both his hedonistic lifestyle and his undeniable talent, the highly religious Salieri is gradually consumed by his jealousy and becomes obsessed with Mozart’s downfall, leading to a devious scheme that has dire consequences for both men.” (From IMDb).

    96. The Thing (1982)

    ‘The Thing’ (Universal)

    Directed by: John Carpenter

    “Halloween” director John Carpenter knows how to develop dread and suspense in his films and The Thing is a masterclass in those techniques. It is terrifying and always keeps you on the edge your seat. “A US research station, Antarctica, early-winter 1982. The base is suddenly buzzed by a helicopter from the nearby Norwegian research station. They are trying to kill a dog that has escaped from their base. After the destruction of the Norwegian chopper the members of the US team fly to the Norwegian base, only to discover them all dead or missing. They do find the remains of a strange creature the Norwegians burned. The Americans take it to their base and deduce that it is an alien life form. After a while it is apparent that the alien can take over and assimilate into other life forms, including humans, and can spread like a virus. This means that anyone at the base could be inhabited by The Thing, and tensions escalate.” (From IMDb).

    95. Jaws (1975)

    ‘Jaws’ (Universal)

    Directed by: Steven Spielberg

    Widely-acknowleged as the first summer blockbuster and Steven Spielberg’s breakout film (“Duel” was a semi-breakout), “Jaws” is always thrilling and its opening scene is one of the most iconic and greatest tone-setting scenes in film history. “When new Sheriff Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) discovers the remains of a shark attack victim, his first inclination is to close the beaches to swimmers. This doesn’t sit well with Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) and several of the local businessmen. Brody backs down to his regret as that weekend a young boy is killed by the predator. The dead boy’s mother (Lee Fierro) puts out a bounty on the shark and Amity is soon swamped with amateur hunters and fisherman hoping to cash in on the reward. A local fisherman with much experience hunting sharks, Quint (Robert Shaw), offers to hunt down the creature for a hefty fee. Soon Quint, Brody and Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) from the Oceanographic Institute are at sea hunting the Great White shark. As Brody succinctly surmises after their first encounter with the creature, they’re going to need a bigger boat.” (From IMDb).

    94. Aliens (1986)

    ‘Aliens’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: James Cameron

    A shift from the claustrophobic terror that was Ridley Scott’s “Alien”, “Aliens” leans more into the action-adventure aspects of its setting and delivers, providing an exhilarating experience that gives you all the thrills. “57 years after Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) had a close encounter with the reptilian alien creature from the first movie, she is called back, this time, to help a group of highly trained colonial marines fight off against the sinister extraterrestrials. But this time, the aliens have taken over a space colony on the moon LV-426. When the colonial marines are called upon to search the deserted space colony, they later find out that they are up against more than what they bargained for. Using specially modified machine guns and enough firepower, it’s either fight or die as the space marines battle against the aliens. As the Marines do their best to defend themselves, Ripley must attempt to protect a young girl who is the sole survivor of the decimated space colony.” (From IMDb).

    93. The Big Lebowski (1998)

    ‘The Big Lebowski’ (Gramercy)

    Directed by: The Coen Brothers

    Jeff Bridges’ The Dude is one of the most recognizable figures in cinema history and the film he inhabits is also very memorable. Putting a twist on 50’s crime noirs, the Big Lebowski, with its fun dialogue and musical numbers, feels wholly original. “Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski’s (Jeff Bridges) the ultimate Los Angeles slacker. One day, his house is broken into, and his rug is urinated on by 2 angry hired heavies who’ve mistaken him for another Jeffrey Lebowski, that one’s a Los Angeles millionaire, whose wife owes some people big money. The Dude becomes entangled in his namesake’s problem when he goes to visit the other Lebowski in order to get some recompense for his soiled rug. Instead, he’s offered a job for a lot of money; act as liaison between Lebowski and the captors of his now “kidnapped” wife.” (From IMDb).

    92. The Night of the Hunter (1955)

    ‘The Night of the Hunter’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Charles Laughton

    The eerie, gothic quality of this amazing film is what keeps its images in your head long after the credits roll. Robert Mitchum’s performance as the very personification of evil also helps to elevate director Charles Laughton’s sole feature (Side note: They are apparently remaking the film, so watch it beforehand!). “Combining stark realism with Germanic expressionism, the movie is a brilliant good-and-evil parable, with “good” represented by a couple of farm kids and a pious old lady, and “evil” literally in the hands of a posturing psychopath. Imprisoned with thief Ben Harper (Peter Graves), phony preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) learns that Ben has hidden a huge sum of money somewhere near his home. Upon his release, the murderously misogynistic Powell insinuates himself into Ben’s home, eventually marrying his widow Willa (Shelley Winters). Eventually all that stands between Powell and the money are Ben’s son (Billy Chapin) and daughter (Sally Jane Bruce), who take refuge in a home for abandoned children presided over by the indomitable, scripture-quoting Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish).” (From Rotten Tomatoes).

    91. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

    ‘Reservoir Dogs’ (Miramax)

    Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

    Celebrated for a great contrapuntal music choice and just the overall “coolness” it emanates, “Reservoir Dogs” is a Tarantino thriller that keeps your attention and heart racing throughout even through some brutally violent scenes. “Six criminals (Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi, Edward Bunker, Quentin Tarantino), who are strangers to each other, are hired by a crime boss, Joe Cabot, to carry out a diamond robbery. Right at the outset, they are given false names with the intention that they won’t get too close and will concentrate on the job instead. They are completely sure that the robbery is going to be a success. But, when the police show up right at the time and the site of the robbery, panic spreads amongst the group members, and two of them are killed in the subsequent shootout, along with a few policemen and civilians. When the remaining people assemble at the premeditated rendezvous point (a warehouse), they begin to suspect that one of them is an undercover cop.” (From IMDb).

    90. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

    ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: John Ford

    “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” cements John Ford’s place as the master of the Hollywood Western with a plot that touches on political issues that are still relevant today and a pair of great performances from Hollywood titans James Stewart and John Wayne. “Eastern attorney Ranson Stoddard (James Stewart) heads to the wild West in search of a new life. He settles in the small town of Shinbone where he meets up with Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). Valance is as bad a villain as there ever was, and his dastardly deeds are financed by an evil conglomerate resolute on stopping the territory from gaining statehood. When Valance beats Stoddard to a bloody pulp, Stoddard is rescued by rancher Tom Doniphon (John Wayne). Tom helps Ranson to a nearby restaurant where owner Hallie (Vera Miles) who patches him up and gives him a job as table server.” (From Rotten Tomatoes).

    89. Mulholland Drive (2001)

    ‘Mulholland Drive’ (Universal)

    Directed by: David Lynch

    Probably Lynch’s best work, “Mulholland Drive” is a deftly-crafted thriller that casts a sinister tone over the image of Hollywood. It is obviously a Lynch film and therefore it is best not to say too much about it, so not to spoil the experience for others. “After a brutal car accident in Los Angeles, California, Rita (Laura Harring) is the sole survivor but suffers mass amnesia. Wandering into a strangers apartment downtown, her story strangely intertwines with Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), a perky young woman in search of stardom. However, Betty is intrigued by Rita’s situation and is willing to put aside her dreams to pursue this mystery. The two women soon discover that nothing is as it seems in the city of dreams.” (From IMDb).

    88. La Dolce Vita (1960)

    ‘La Dolce Vita’ (Cineriz)

    Directed by: Federico Fellini

    One of Roger Ebert’s favorite films, “La Dolce Vita” is a film that blends Fellini’s more Italian neorealist works (La Strada, Nights of Cabiria) of his early career and the more surreal films (8 1/2, Amarcord) of his later years. This turning point in his career is a poignant, beautiful tale that settles in both the viewer’s mind and heart. “Rome, 1959/60. Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni) is a writer and journalist, the worst kind of journalist – a tabloid journalist, or paparazzo. His job involves him trying to catch celebrities in compromising or embarrassing situations. He tends to get quite close to his subject, especially when they’re beautiful women. Two such subjects are a local heiress, Maddalena (Anouk Aimee), and a Swedish superstar-actress, Sylvia (Anita Ekberg), both of whom he has affairs with. This is despite being engaged to Emma (Yvonne Furneaux), a rather clingy, insecure, nagging, melodramatic woman. Despite his extravagant, pleasure-filled lifestyle, he is wondering if maybe a simpler life wouldn’t be better..” (From IMDb).

    87. The Kid

    ‘The Kid’ (First National)

    Directed by: Charlie Chaplin

    A fun and heartwarming film, this Chaplin silent comedy is a treat due to Chaplin’s trademark balance of pathos and comedy. Jackie Coogan is astonishing in his first credited role and is the heart of the film. “A woman (Edna Purviance) decides to abandon her baby in the backseat of an automobile with a handwritten note attached, beseeching the finder to care for and love the child. When the car is stolen by thieves, who discover the baby in the backseat, they subsequently leave him on the street. The child is discovered by the initially reluctant Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) who eventually softens and comes to love him as his own. As the child (Jackie Coogan) grows up, both he and The Tramp must learn to navigate through a life that spawns one adventure after another.” (From IMDb).

    86. The Red Shoes (1948)

    ‘The Red Shoes’ (General Film Distribution)

    Directed by: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

    With great ballet scenes and an outstanding score from Brian Easdale, “The Red Shoes” is a vibrant fable about love and ambition. It also happens to be one of Martin Scorsese’s favorite films. “Under the authoritarian rule of charismatic ballet impressario Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), his proteges realize the full promise of their talents, but at a price: utter devotion to their art and complete loyalty to Lermontov himself. Under his near-obsessive guidance, young ballerina Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) is poised for superstardom, but earns Lermontov’s scorn when she falls in love with Julian Craster (Marius Goring), composer of “The Red Shoes,” the ballet Lermontov is staging to showcase her talents. Vicky leaves the company and marries Craster, but still finds herself torn between Lermontov’s demands and those of her heart. ” (From IMDb).

    85. Breathless (1960)

    ‘Breathless’ (Les Films Imperia)

    Directed by: Jean-Luc Godard

    Famed for its pioneering use of jump cuts, “Breathless” changed cinema forever and its revolutionary elements can still be seen throughout movies today. One of the earliest films of the French New Wave movement, (Francois Truffaut’s “The 400 Blows” (1959) and Alain Resnais’ “Hiroshima mon Amour” (1959) being the two French New Wave films that came before it) the film feels real and its narcissistic characters are a joy to behold. “Michel Poiccard (Jean-Paul Belmondo), an irresponsible sociopath and small-time thief, steals a car and impulsively murders the motorcycle policeman who pursues him. Now wanted by the authorities, he renews his relationship with Patricia Franchini (Jean Seberg), a hip American girl studying journalism at the Sorbonne, whom he had met in Nice a few weeks earlier. Before leaving Paris, he plans to collect a debt from an underworld acquaintance and expects her to accompany him on his planned getaway to Italy.” (From IMDb).

     

    84. Touch of Evil (1958)

    ‘Touch of Evil’ (Universal)

    Directed by: Orson Welles

    Celebrated for a masterful opening sequence (that is referenced in Robert Altman’s “The Player” (1992)) and some amazing cinematography from Russell Metty, Orson Welles’ second most-acclaimed film is thrilling and was a trendsetter for a hundreds of crime films to come. “Mexican Narcotics officer Ramon Miguel ‘Mike’ Vargas (Charlton Heston) has to interrupt his honeymoon on the Mexican-US border when an American building contractor is killed after someone places a bomb in his car. He’s killed on the US side of the border but it’s clear that the bomb was planted on the Mexican side. As a result, Vargas delays his return to Mexico City where he has been mounting a case against the Grandi family crime and narcotics syndicate. Police Captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles) is in charge on the US side and he soon has a suspect, a Mexican named Manolo Sanchez (Victor Millan). Vargas is soon onto Quinlan and his Sergeant, Pete Menzies (Joseph Calleia), when he catches them planting evidence to convict Sanchez. With his new American wife, Susie (Janet Leigh), safely tucked away in a hotel on the US side of the border – or so he thinks – he starts to review Quinlan’s earlier cases. While concentrating on the corrupt policeman however, the Grandis have their own plans for Vargas and they start with his wife Susie.” (From IMDb).

    83. The Rules of the Game (1939)

    ‘The Rules of the Game’ (La Distribution Parisiene)

    Directed by: Jean Renoir

    Very daring for its time, “The Rules of the Game” was banned for being too depressing, probably due to its complex social criticism. It is also one of the most critically-beloved films of all-time and was voted as the 4th greatest film of all-time on the 2012 Sight and Sound poll. “On the brink of WWII, the record-breaking aviator, André Jurieux (Roland Toutain), safely lands at a small airport crammed with reporters, only to come face to face with his worst fear: the object of his desire, Christine (Nora Gregor)–a blonde noblewoman and wife of the affluent Marquis de la Cheyniest, Robert (Marcel Dalio)–is not there to greet him. Intent on winning her back, André accepts his friend Octave’s (Jean Renoir) invitation for a lavish hunting weekend at the aristocrat’s palatial country estate at La Coliniere, among hand-picked guests and the mansion’s servants; however, intrigue, rivalries, and human weaknesses threaten to expose both royalty and paupers alike. Who will breach the unwritten rules of the game?” (From IMDb).

    82. Battleship Potemkin (1925)

    ‘Battleship Potemkin’ (Goskino)

    Directed by: Sergei Eisenstein

    Famous for the Odessa Steps sequence (which was memorably referenced in Brian de Palma’s “The Untouchables” (1987)) and its pioneering use of the montage, “Battleship Potemkin” is a massive film that is both brutal and beautiful. “Based on actual events that occurred at the port of Odessa in 1905, the crew of the battleship Potemkin mutiny after yet again being served rotten food. At the time, there was growing opposition to Imperialist rule and a mini revolution was soon underway. The revolt was harshly put down by government troops with the shooting of civilians – including women and children – on the Odessa Steps.” (From IMDb).

    81. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

    ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: John Huston

    Intelligent comments on human nature seen through a thrilling Western adventure, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” is arguably John Huston’s masterpiece and is an emotional experience about obsession and greed. “Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) and Bob Curtin (Tim Holt), both down on their luck in Tampico, Mexico in 1925, meet up with a grizzled prospector named Howard (Walter Huston) and decide to join with him in search of gold in the wilds of central Mexico. Through enormous difficulties, they eventually succeed in finding gold, but bandits, the elements, and most especially greed threaten to turn their success into disaster.” (From IMDb).

    80. The Battle of Algiers (1966)

    ‘The Battle of Algiers’ (Magna)

    Directed by: Gillo Pontecorvo

    A brutal and harrowing experience, like all good war films should be, “The Battle of Algiers” is a movie that feels very real and it creates complex characters on both sides of the battle. Pontecorvo used non-professional actors to heighten the realism and also uses handheld camera sequences to increase the intensity, all coalescing into a singular and extremely memorable experience. “Filmed in a semi-documentary format, this film deals with the battle of Algiers (1956-57) part of the broader fight for Algerian independence (1954-62) from French colonial rule. The rebels began their attacks by shooting policeman and other government officials. When they start bombing public places in the European sector – cafés, restaurants, the Air France office – the authorities send in crack military units. Through large-scale arrests and torture, the colonel (Jean Martin) in charge focuses on locating and eliminating the leaders of the movement.” (From IMDb).

    79. The Silence of the Lambs

    ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (Orion)

    Directed by: Jonathan Demme

    A disturbing, thrilling, and a masterclass in creating atmosphere, “The Silence of the Lambs” is impossible to take your eyes off of and contains powerhouse performances from Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter and Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling. Their exchanges are so iconic at this point that you have probably seen clips of their first meeting even if you haven’t seen the film. All of these factors allowed the film to become the 3rd film (It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest are the other two) ever to receive the “Big Five” (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and either Best Adapted Screenplay or Best Original Screenplay) at the Oscars. “Perplexed by a string of grisly murders elaborately executed by the elusive mass killer nicknamed “Buffalo Bill”, the vulnerable and untried F.B.I. trainee, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), is assigned by the Special Agent, Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn), to assist in the manhunt. Hoping to attain a clearer perception of the psychopathic serial killer’s modus operandi, the young investigator reluctantly accepts the help of another hideous monster: the brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic mass murderer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Now, with every visit to the manipulative doctor’s heavily reinforced prison cell, Clarice delves just a little bit deeper into the dark mind of a homicidal maniac; however, how far is she willing to go to unearth pure evil?” (From IMDb).

    78. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

    ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (Toho)

    Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

    A beautifully animated film about childhood that transports viewers back to the carefree nature of their youth, “My Neighbor Totoro” is one of Studio Ghibli’s best works (and happens to be its face marketing-wise) and seamlessly weaves together fantasy elements with character and emotion, which is Ghibli’s trademark. “Two young girls, 10-year-old Satsuki (Noriko Hidaka) and her 4-year-old sister Mei (Chika Sakamoto), move into a house in the country with their father (Shigesato Itoi) to be closer to their hospitalized mother (Sumi Shimamoto). Satsuki and Mei discover that the nearby forest is inhabited by magical creatures called Totoros (pronounced toe-toe-ro). They soon befriend these Totoros, and have several magical adventures.” (From IMDb).

    77. Fargo (1996)

    ‘Fargo’ (Gramercy)

    Directed by: The Coen Brothers

    Joel and Ethan Coen’s masterpiece, “Fargo” is a brilliant black comedy-thriller that features a compelling Oscar-winning turn from Frances McDormand and some very memorable performances from William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi (Side Note: How has Buscemi never been nominated for an Oscar?). “Jerry Lundegard (William H. Macy) is in an unknown financial jam and wants his father-in-law’s money to solve it. His plan to get the money involves hiring Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaer Grimsrud (Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife, and then splitting the ransom with the criminals. However, this quickly falls apart after three killings and the persistent work of chirpy but efficient police chief, the pregnant Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand).” (From IMDb).

    76. All About Eve (1950)

    ‘All About Eve’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

    With an electric screenplay and some powerhouse performances from Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, and George Sanders, “All About Eve” is a timeless critique on show business and effortlessly watchable. “Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) is waiting backstage to meet her idol, talented but aging Broadway star Margo Channing (Bette Davis). It seems innocent enough as Eve explains that she has seen Margo in EVERY performance of her current play. Margo and her friends take Eve under their wing but only theatre critic Addison DeWitt (George Sanders) sees through Eve’s evil plan, which is to take Margo’s parts and her fiancé, Bill Simpson (Gary Merrill) too.”

    75. La Grande Illusion (1937)

    ‘La Grande Illusion’ (RAC)

    Directed by: Jean Renoir

    One of the greatest WW1 films and one that Franklin Roosevelt apparently loved, “La Grande Illusion” is an achievement of filmmaking that challenges the “illusions” that people can experience during wartime, such as the illusion of superiority. It was a very timely film then and will forever be. “During WW1, two French officers (Pierre Fresnay and Jean Gabin) are captured by Germans and are imprisoned in a German P.O.W. camp. These two become very friendly with one another due to their mutual respect. They attempt to escape, and they are sent to a castle that has been converted into an impenetrable P.O.W. camp” (From me).

    74. Ran (1985)

    ‘Ran’ (Toho)

    Directed by: Akira Kurosawa

    The great Akira Kurosawa’s last masterpiece, “Ran” is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless “King Lear” and is a grand, sprawling epic with amazing production design and cinematography, as well as genuine emotion. “Japanese warlord Hidetori Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides the time has come to retire and divide his fiefdom among his three sons. His eldest and middle sons – Taro (Akira Terao) and Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu) – agree with his decision and promise to support him for his remaining days. The youngest son Saburo (Daisuke Ryu) disagrees with all of them arguing that there is little likelihood the three brothers will remain united. Insulted by his son’s brashness, the warlord banishes Saburo. As the warlord begins his retirement, he quickly realizes that his two eldest sons [are] selfish and have no intention of keeping their promises. It leads to war and only banished Saburo can possibly save him. ” (From IMDb).

    73. Back to the Future (1985)

    ‘Back to the Future’ (Universal)

    Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

    “Back to the Future” is basically perfect entertainment, it’s funny, it’s thrilling, it’s pretty original and it as a couple of unforgettable characters in Marty McFly and Doc Brown. “In this 1980s sci-fi classic, small-town California teen Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is thrown back into the ’50s when an experiment by his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) goes awry. Traveling through time in a modified DeLorean car, Marty encounters young versions of his parents (Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson), and must make sure that they fall in love or he’ll cease to exist. Even more dauntingly, Marty has to return to his own time and save the life of Doc Brown. (From IMDb).

    72. The Mirror (1975)

    ‘The Mirror’ (Mosfilm)

    Directed by: Andrei Tarkovsky

    A masterclass in poetic visual filmmaking, “The Mirror” is Andrei Tarkovsky’s visual and emotional style operating on their highest levels. Each individual frame of this film is beautiful and meaningful and they come together to create an indelible experience. “A dying man in his forties remembers his past. His childhood, his mother, the war, personal moments and things that tell of the recent history of all the Russian nation.” (From IMDb).

    71. Unforgiven (1992)

    ‘Unforgiven’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Clint Eastwood

    One of the greatest post-60s Westerns, “Unforgiven” is Clint Eastwood’s most compelling directorial effort and it strikes a harmonious balance between the modern and the mythic gun-slinging fables of the 60s. “Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny (Clint Eastwood) reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) and a young man, The “Schofield Kid” (Jaimz Woolvett).” (From IMDb).

    70. Cinema Paradiso (1988)

    ‘Cinema Paradiso’ (Titanus)

    Directed by: Giuseppe Tornatore

    When watching “Cinema Paradiso”, the audience can really feel Tornatore’s love of movies emanating from the screen. It’s a movie dedicated to the power of cinema and to the people who can’t live without the medium. “A boy who grew up in a native Sicilian Village returns home as a famous director (Jacques Perrin) after receiving news about the death of an old friend. Told in a flashback, Salvatore reminiscences about his childhood and his relationship with Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), a projectionist at Cinema Paradiso. Under the fatherly influence of Alfredo, Salvatore (Salvatore Cascio) fell in love with film making, with the duo spending many hours discussing about films and Alfredo painstakingly teaching Salvatore the skills that became a stepping stone for the young boy into the world of film making.” (From IMDb).

    69. On the Waterfront (1954)

    “On the Waterfront’ (Columbia)

    Directed by: Elia Kazan

    A movie that boasts an unforgettable performance from Marlon Brando (he won an Oscar for it) and excellent ones from its many supporting players (Eva Marie Saint won an Oscar for her performance in this film as well), “On the Waterfront” won 8 Oscars for a reason and is a powerful work that transcends time. “Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) dreams about being a prize fighter, while tending his pigeons and running errands at the docks for Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb), the corrupt boss of the dockers union. Terry witnesses a murder by two of Johnny’s thugs, and later meets the dead man’s sister (Eva Marie Saint) and feels responsible for his death. She introduces him to Father Barry (Karl Malden), who tries to force him to provide information for the courts that will smash the dock racketeers.” (From IMDb).

    68. City of God (2002)

    ‘City of God’ (Miramax)

    Directed by: Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund

    A frenetic and shocking ride that takes the viewer into the slums of Rio, “City of God” is a brutal film that also contains important social commentary about poverty and crime. “The story is told through the eyes of Buscape (Alexandre Rodrigues), a poor young fisherman’s son who dreams of becoming a photographer one day. His story narrates the violence and corruption surrounding the city and the rise and fall of one of the city’s most notorious bosses, Li’l Ze (Leandro Firmino). As war wages on the streets Buscape’s only way out of this violent life is to expose its brutality to the world through his pictures. Along the way the lives of others are put into perspective as their stories intersect with the events that take place.” (From IMDb).

    67. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

    ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (Focus Features)

    Directed by: Michel Gondry

    Charlie Kaufman’s greatest work and the one he won his overdue Best Original Screenplay Oscar for, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is full of wisdom about love and life and is an imaginative mindbender that has two superb performances from Jim Carrey (How’d he not get an Oscar nom for this?) and Kate Winslet. “A man, Joel Barish (Jim Carrey), heartbroken that his girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realizes that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.” (From IMDb).

    66. There Will Be Blood (2007)

    ‘There Will Be Blood’ (Paramount Vantage)

    Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

    Containing the (arguably) greatest performance from one of the greatest actors of our time, “There Will Be Blood” is a modern classic that is a tale about oil and greed that had parallels to the current world oil situation at the time of release and still does today. “Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) moves to oil-rich California. Using his adopted son (Dillon Freasier) to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) suspects Plainview’s motives and intentions, starting a slow-burning feud that threatens both their lives.” (From IMDb).

    65. Sunrise (1927)

    ‘Sunrise’ (Fox)
    SOURCE CREDIT – “British Film Institute”

    Directed by: F.W. Murnau

    Apparently the first mainstream film to show a man crying (don’t quote me on this, I’m not 100% about it), “Sunrise” is an emotional film that is an allegorical tale about good and evil. “A woman (Margaret Livingston) from the city holidays in the country. There she has an affair with a local farmer (George O’Brien), a happily married man with a young child. He is besotted with her and the life she promises for him, to the point that, upon her suggestion, he is willing to drown his wife (Janet Gaynor) in order to be with her. With the murder planned, he sets the wheels in motion. Will he go through with it?” (From IMDb).

    64. Sherlock Jr. (1924)

    ‘Sherlock Jr.’ (Metro)

    Directed by: Buster Keaton

    One of the greatest silent comedies from one of the greatest silent comedians, “Sherlock Jr.” is a masterclass in timing and slapstick comedy and contains famous scenes including an amazing dream sequence. “A young man (Buster Keaton) works as a projectionist at a movie theatre but dreams of becoming a famous detective. His studies toward this goal are put to the test when visiting his girlfriend (Kathryn McGuire). A rival steals his girlfriend’s father’s watch and frames him for the crime. He is forbidden from seeing her again. Now he must fight to clear his name.” (From IMDb).

    63. Pather Panchali (1955)

    ‘Pather Panchali’ (Curzon)

    Directed by: Satyajit Ray

    The most critically-acclaimed Indian film of all-time, “Pather Panchali” is Satyajit Ray’s first and greatest installment in his Apu trilogy (which includes Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959)) and is a lyrical masterwork that is the most powerful film that was released in the greatest decade for Indian cinema (Two other masterworks, Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa (1954) and Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957) were also made during this decade). “The story of a young boy, Apu (Subir Banerjee), and life in his small Indian village. His parents are quite poor – his father Harihar (Kanu Bannerjee), a writer and poet, gave away the family’s fruit orchard to settle his brother’s debts. His sister Durga (Uma Das Gupta) and an old aunt also still lives with them. His mother Sarbojaya (Karuna Bannerjee) bears the brunt of the family’s situation. She scrapes by and sells her personal possessions to put food on the table and has to bear the taunts of her neighbors as Durga is always stealing fruit from their orchard. Things get worse when Harihar disappears for five months and Durga falls ill.” (From IMDb).

    62. The Matrix (1999)

    ‘The Matrix’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Lana and Lilly Wachowski

    Like previously-mentioned “Pather Panchali”, “The Matrix” also has two sequels (and they’re making another), however unlike Pather Panchali’s successive chapters, those sequels were pretty lackluster. Still, that should not take away from how innovative “The Matrix” was. It was an extremely visually-impressive at the time of its release (and still is), but will transcend time is its philosophical messaging and transfixing entertainment value. “Thomas A. Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is a man living two lives. By day he is an average computer programmer and by night a hacker known as Neo. Neo has always questioned his reality, but the truth is far beyond his imagination. Neo finds himself targeted by the police when he is contacted by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), a legendary computer hacker branded a terrorist by the government. Morpheus awakens Neo to the real world, a ravaged wasteland where most of humanity have been captured by a race of machines that live off of the humans’ body heat and electrochemical energy and who imprison their minds within an artificial reality known as the Matrix. As a rebel against the machines, Neo must return to the Matrix and confront the agents: super-powerful computer programs devoted to snuffing out Neo and the entire human rebellion.” (From IMDb).

    61. Fanny and Alexander (1982)

    ‘Fanny and Alexander’ (Sandrew)

    Directed by: Ingmar Bergman

    A period epic with stupendous production design and cinematography, “Fanny and Alexander” is funny and devastating, hopeful and haunting. “As children in the loving Ekdahl family, Fanny (Pernilla Alwin) and Alexander (Bertil Guve) enjoy a happy life with their parents, who run a theater company. After their father dies unexpectedly, however, the siblings end up in a joyless home when their mother, Emilie, marries a stern bishop (Jan Malmsjö). The bleak situation gradually grows worse as the bishop becomes more controlling, but dedicated relatives make a valiant attempt to aid Emilie, Fanny and Alexander.” (From IMDb).

    60. Empire Strikes Back (1980)

    ‘Empire Strikes Back’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: Irvin Kershner

    My favorite Star Wars movie, “Empire Strikes Back” deftly balances emotional resonance with technical brilliance to great effect. A darker installment than the previous “A New Hope”, the film is filled with iconic moments, from the introduction of Yoda on the planet (and star system) Dagobah to Han and Leia’s chemistry-filled exchanges, and the often misquoted, “No, I am your father”. “Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda (Frank Oz). Only with the Jedi Master’s help will Luke survive when the Dark Side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).” (From IMDb).

    59. 8 1/2 (1963)

    8 1/2 (Cineriz)

    Directed by: Federico Fellini

    From its famous opening kite sequence onwards, the semi-autobiographical “8 1/2” is a spellbinding and surreal Fellini masterpiece that boasts thought-provoking dream sequences and blends the lines between dreams and reality. Its message of the need to take control of your own life will never not be relevant. “Guido (Marcello Mastroianni) is a film director, trying to relax after his last big hit. He can’t get a moment’s peace, however, with the people who have worked with him in the past constantly looking for more work. He wrestles with his conscience, but is unable to come up with a new idea. While thinking, he starts to recall major happenings in his life, and all the women he has loved and left.” (From IMDb).

    58. Paths of Glory (1957)

    ‘Paths of Glory’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

    An innovative and thrilling anti-war film that doubles as a compelling courtroom drama, “Paths of Glory” is Stanley Kubrick’s first masterpiece and it is a work of great spectacle and emotional depth. “Indifferent to the plight of the men bogged down in the hell of the trenches, the French military elite incentivize their upper ranks with the promise of prestigious promotions – regardless of the outcome – in order to break the impasse. Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) is subsequently ordered by General Paul Mireau (George Macready) to launch an impossible attack on the heavily fortified, key German position of Anthill and Dax is in no position to refuse the suicidal assignment. In return for their service, a few of Dax’s soldiers are scapegoated and he is forced to mount a defense against his own egomaniacal superiors and their insatiable hunger for glory.” (From IMDb).

    57. Come and See (1985)

    ‘Come and See’ (Sovexportfilm)

    Directed by: Elem Kilmov

    A harrowing picture of World War II, “Come and See” is a brutally realistic and disturbing film that sheds a light on the terrible experiences that common people face during war. Its powerful but horrific images stay with viewers long after the credits roll. “During WWII, a Belarusian boy (Aleksey Kravchenko) is thrust into the atrocities of war, fighting with a hopelessly unequipped Soviet resistance movement against ruthless German forces. Witnessing scenes of abject terror and surviving horrifying situations, he loses his innocence and then his mind.” (From IMDb).

    56. In the Mood For Love (2000)

    ‘In the Mood For Love’ (GEM Entertainment)

    Directed by: Wong Kar-Wai

    A stunningly beautiful and visually striking film, Wong Kar Wai’s “In the Mood For Love” is a poetic masterpiece that captivates its audience with elegant cinematography and production design and two top-notch performances from Maggie Cheung and Tony Chiu-Wai Leung. “Two married couples, the Chans and the Chows, move in next door to each other. Mr. Chan is hardly around, regularly disappearing overseas on business. Mrs. Chow works odd hours and also tends to go overseas a lot. Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) and Mr. Chow (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) are initially just neighbors but over time a friendship blossoms, and then develops into something more.” (From IMDb).

    55. Double Indemnity (1944)

    ‘Double Indemnity’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Billy Wilder

    One of the greatest film-noirs, “Double Indemnity” is constantly thrilling and this devilishly cynical film is a murder mystery at its finest. “In 1938, Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), an experienced salesman of the Pacific All Risk Insurance Co., meets the seductive wife of one of his clients, Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck), and they have an affair. Phyllis proposes to kill her husband to receive the proceeds of an accident insurance policy and Walter devises a scheme to receive twice the amount based on a double indemnity clause. When Mr. Dietrichson is found dead on a train track, the police accept the determination of accidental death. However, the insurance analyst and Walter’s best friend Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) does not buy the story and suspects that Phyllis has murdered her husband with the help of another man.” (From IMDb).

    54. Barry Lyndon (1975)

    ‘Barry Lyndon’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

    A film where almost every frame looks like a Victorian painting (John Alcott won an Oscar for his lensing work on this film), “Barry Lyndon” is one of Stanley Kubrick’s more underrated films (if there is such a thing) and this period epic is always fascinating. “In the eighteenth century, in a small village in Ireland, Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal) is a young farm boy in love with his cousin Nora Brady (Gay Hamilton). When Nora gets engaged to British Captain John Quin (Leonard Rossiter), Barry challenges him to a duel of pistols. He wins and escapes to Dublin, but is robbed on the road. Without an alternative, Barry joins the British Army to fight in the Seven Years War. He deserts and is forced to join the Prussian Army, where he saves the life of his Captain and becomes his protégé and spy of Irish gambler Chevalier de Balibari (Patrick Magee). He helps Chevalier and becomes his associate until he decides to marry the wealthy Lady Lyndon (Marisa Berenson). They move to England and Barry, in his obsession of nobility, dissipates her fortune and makes a dangerous and revengeful enemy.” (From IMDb).

    53. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

    ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Steven Spielberg

    One of the most deliriously entertaining movies of all-time, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is Spielberg’s second-greatest adventure film (A close second, but I am slightly partial to “Jurassic Park”. Jaws is a close third IMO) and, like the best of Spielberg adventures, gives the viewer a childlike sense of wonder and awe. “As the Third Reich continues its reign of terror, Adolf Hitler is on a quest for the legendary Ark of the Covenant- resting place of the Ten Commandments- whose supernatural powers, legend says, can wipe out entire armies. The U.S. Government turns to Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) for the mission. Relentlessly pursued by Hitler’s henchmen, Indy infiltrates their massive digging operation in a race against time to discover the Well of the Souls, where the Ark has lain undisturbed for centuries.” (From IMDb).

    52. Andrei Rublev (1966)

    ‘Andrei Rublev’ (Mosfilm)

    Directed by: Andrei Tarkovsky

    A biographical portrait of one of the, if not the, greatest iconographers of the medieval era, “Andrei Rublev” is a very human film that needs to be experienced. “The life and times of Andrei Rublev, (Anatoliy Solonitsyn) Russian iconographer of the early-15th century. Over seven periods in his life, spanning 1400 to 1424, we see the history of Russia, the power struggles, the role of the church and religion and Rublev’s dedication to his calling.” (From IMDb).

    51. The 400 Blows (1959)

    ‘The 400 Blows’ (Cocinor)

    Directed by: Francois Truffaut

    An affecting portrait of a troubled childhood, “The 400 Blows” is the film that gave the French New Wave movement international recognition and it has knowing intelligence in portraying small moments as the events that shape a young person’s life. It also features one of the greatest child performances ever from Jean-Pierre Leaud. “Seemingly in constant trouble at school, 14-year-old Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Leaud) returns at the end of every day to a drab, unhappy home life. His parents (Claire Maurier and Albert Remy) have little money and he sleeps on a couch that’s been pushed into the kitchen. His parents bicker constantly and he knows his mother is having an affair. He decides to skip school and begins a downward spiral of lies and theft. His parents are at their wits’ end, and after he’s stopped by the police, they decide the best thing would be to let Antoine face the consequences.” (From IMDb).

    50. The General (1926)

    ‘The General’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Buster Keaton

    A thrilling film that contains some top-notch stunt work and practical effects, “The General” is a great comedy-adventure that set the stage for the grand action set-pieces we see throughout films today. “1862, Georgia, USA. The American Civil War is in its second year and Johnnie Gray (Buster Keaton) is barred from enlisting. He is a train engineer and the Confederate Army feel he is more valuable to the Southern cause in his current role than in the army. This frustrates Johnnie and has estranged him from his sweetheart Annabelle (Marion Mack), who views him as a coward. Then his beloved engine, The General, is stolen by Union spies and is heading for Union lines. Moreover, Annabelle is on board. Johnnie sets off after the two loves of his life.” (From IMDb).

    49. Wild Strawberries (1957)

    ‘Wild Strawberries’ (Svensk)

    Directed by: Ingmar Bergman

    “Wild Strawberries”, with its dream sequences and flashbacks, is a thoughtful depiction of reconciling with your past and this symbolism-heavy film is a touching picture about love and loss. “Dr. Isak Borg (Victor Sjostrom), 78, is a renowned physician and researcher. His life’s experiences have left him cold, distant and uncaring. Now he is traveling to be awarded an honorary degree by a university, a reward for his life’s work. Driving with his daughter-in-law Marianne (Ingrid Thulin), currently estranged from his son Ewald (whose personality seems to be following that of his father’s), he finds himself reminiscing about his past, especially his 20s. He has also been having strange dreams, dreams that remind him of the person he has become, and potentially what lies ahead for him.” (From IMDb).

    48. Schindler’s List (1993)

    ‘Schindler’s List’ (Universal)

    Directed by: Steven Spielberg

    A gutting, heart-wrenching experience, “Schindler’s List” is Spielberg’s most moving work and the film is a powerful, humanist story with Liam Neeson’s greatest performance and an all-time great performance from Ralph Fiennes. “Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) is a vain and greedy German businessman who becomes an unlikely humanitarian amid the barbaric German Nazi reign when he feels compelled to turn his factory into a refuge for Jews. Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler who managed to save about 1100 Jews from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp, it is a testament to the good in all of us.” (From IMDb).

    47. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

    ‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’ (Gaumont)

    Directed by: Carl Theodor Dreyer

    Featuring an affecting and incredible performance from Maria Falconetti (in her only performance that can be seen today), “The Passion of Joan of Arc” is beloved by critics and was voted the 8th greatest film of the century by a 2000 Village Voice Poll of dozens of critics. “In 1431, Jeanne d’Arc (Maria Falconetti) is placed on trial on charges of heresy. The ecclesiastical jurists attempt to force Jeanne to recant her claims of holy visions. (From IMDb).

    46. The Great Dictator (1940)

    ‘The Great Dictator’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Charlie Chaplin

    A passionately anti-fascist film, “The Great Dictator” was released at the height of Hitler’s power and was a political film at a time when political films were discouraged in Hollywood. The final speech at the end of the film is especially impactful. “20 years after the end of WWI, in which the nation of Tomainia was on the losing side, Adenoid Hynkel (Charlie Chaplin) has risen to power as the ruthless dictator of the country. He believes in a pure Aryan state and the decimation of the Jews. This situation is unknown to a simple Jewish Tomainian barber (Charlie Chaplin) who has been hospitalized since a WWI battle. Upon his release the barber, who had been suffering from memory loss about the war, is shown the new persecuted life of the Jews by many living in the Jewish ghetto, including a washerwoman named Hannah (Paulette Goddard) with whom he begins a relationship.” (From IMDb).

    45. The Gold Rush (1925)

    ‘The Gold Rush’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Charlie Chaplin

    Hilarious but with touches of melancholy (I’m realizing that description could work for every Chaplin movie), “The Gold Rush” is one of Chaplin’s best works and is part of a quartet of Chaplin masterpieces that include “City Lights”, “Modern Times” and the previously-mentioned “The Great Dictator”. “The Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) goes prospecting for gold in the Klondike. Conditions are harsh, there is little in the way of comfort or food and even less it seems in the way of gold. Thanksgiving dinner for himself and Big Jim McKay (Mack Swain) consists of a boiled boot. Once in town, he meets the beautiful Georgia (Georgia Hale) at the Monte Carlo dance hall. He finds himself in competition with the ladies man (Malcolm Waite) who has his eyes on Georgia as well. Meanwhile, Black Larsen (Tom Murray) – wanted by the police – tries to steal Big Jim McKay’s claim. Big Jim tries to stop him but knocked unconscious, he loses his memory. Back in town, the little tramp tries to impress Georgia. (From IMDb).

    44. Stalker (1979)

    ‘Stalker’ (Mosfilm)

    Directed by: Andrei Tarkovsky

    A meditative sci-fi film, “Stalker” is an existential film that draws the viewer into the world it presents. The film is a spiritual, humanist epic and has scenes in both color and black & white. “In the heart of the bleak and barren Zone–an out-of-bounds wilderness, and the cancerous epicenter of an unspeakable tragedy–lies the mystical location people refer to only as “The Room”. Imbued with the unfathomable capacity for granting one’s impatient wishes, two men, the Writer (Anatoliy Solonitsyn) and the Professor (Nikolay Grenko), enlist the help of the altruistic guide, Stalker (Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy), to visit the restricted area. In high hopes of finding inspiration and enlightenment, the ambitious dreamers stick to their experienced tracker until they arrive at the alleged source of metaphysical power; however, are they worthy of the ultimate truth?” (From IMDb).

    43. Ikiru (1952)

    ‘Ikiru’ (Toho)

    Directed by: Akira Kurosawa

    A moving film about a man with terminal cancer that is more restrained than those usually very treacly films, “Ikiru” is Kurosawa’s most emotionally affecting film and it is probably the greatest film about a person with terminal cancer (Fun fact: the Hindi film “Anand” (1971) is loosely based off this film). “Kanji Watanabe (Takashi Shimura) is a civil servant. He has worked in the same department for 30 years. His life is pretty boring and monotonous, though he once used to have passion and drive. Then one day he discovers that he has stomach cancer and has less than a year to live. After the initial depression he sets about living for the first time in over 20 years. Then he realizes that his limited time left is not just for living life to the full but to leave something meaningful behind.” (From IMDb).

    42. The Seventh Seal (1957)

    ‘The Seventh Seal’ (Svensk)

    Directed by: Ingmar Bergman

    An existential medieval adventure, “The Seventh Seal” is a thought-provoking exploration of a man’s search for meaning in life. It is very allegorical and the scenes of Antonius Block and Death playing chess are some of the most iconic ever. “Returning home from the Crusades, Swedish knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) and his squire Jöns (Gunnar Bjornstrand) find the land ravaged by the plague. Block finds that people everywhere are living in fear believing it is God’s punishment and that the end has come. Block has lost his faith and is looking for answers so when Death (Bengt Ekerot) comes for him the knight challenges him to a game of chess. The countryside is bleak and many search for answers though none seem to be found.” (From IMDb).

    41. Persona (1966)

    ‘Persona’ (Svensk)

    Directed by: Ingmar Bergman

    Featuring two spectacular performances from Bergman regulars Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann, “Persona” is the 9-time Oscar nominated Bergman’s most critically-acclaimed film his films “Through a Glass Darkly” (1961) and “Fanny and Alexander” (1982) did win Best Foreign-Language Film). “A young nurse, Alma (Bibi Andersson), is put in charge of Elisabeth Vogler (Liv Ullmann): an actress who is seemingly healthy in all respects, but will not talk. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer. Alma eventually confesses her secrets to a seemingly sympathetic Elisabeth and finds that her own personality is being submerged into Elisabeth’s persona.” (From IMDb).

    40. The Third Man (1949)

    ‘The Third Man’ (British Lion)

    Directed by: Carol Reed

    With a beautifully-shot Vienna (Robert Krasker won the film’s only Oscar) and a great Anton Karas score on the zither, “The Third Man” is the greatest film that Orson Welles was a part of but did not direct and is a fascinating noir with a riveting Graham Greene screenplay. “An out of work pulp fiction novelist, Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), arrives in a post war Vienna divided into sectors by the victorious allies, and where a shortage of supplies has led to a flourishing black market. He arrives at the invitation of an ex-school friend, Harry Lime (Orson Welles), who has offered him a job, only to discover that Lime has recently died in a peculiar traffic accident. From talking to Lime’s friends and associates Martins soon notices that some of the stories are inconsistent, and determines to discover what really happened to Harry Lime.” (From IMDb).

    39. Blade Runner (1982)

    ‘Blade Runner’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Ridley Scott

    With an amazing score by Vangelis (he also composed the iconic theme to “Chariots of Fire” (1981)) and eye-catching visuals, “Blade Runner” is a sci-fi masterpiece that harnesses and transcends the trappings of the genre. “In a cyberpunk vision of the future, man has developed the technology to create replicants – humanoid androids with short, fixed lifespans – which are illegal on Earth, but are used in the off-world colonies. In Los Angeles, California, 2019, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a “blade runner”, a cop who specializes in terminating replicants. He is forced to come out of retirement when four replicants escape from an off-world colony and come to Earth.” (From IMDb).

    38. Chinatown (1974)

    ‘Chinatown’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Roman Polanski

    The ultimate neo-noir, or at least the most famous one, “Chinatown” is driven by an all-time great Robert Towne screenplay, a magnificent Jerry Goldsmith score, and a pair of magnetic performances from Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway (‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’  director John Huston delivers a great performance as well). “Los Angeles detective Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is hired by a ‘Mrs. Mulwray’ to spy on her husband (Darrell Zwerling). Shortly after Gittes is hired, the real Mrs. Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) appears in his office threatening to sue if he doesn’t drop the case immediately. Gittes pursues the case anyway, slowly uncovering a vast conspiracy centering on water management, state and municipal corruption, land use, and real estate; and involving at least one murder. (From IMDb).

    37. Spirited Away (2001)

    ‘Spirited Away’ (Studio Ghibli)

    Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

    A visually breathtaking animated masterpiece, “Spirited Away” is full of multi-dimensional characters, emotional moments that don’t resort to schlock (the train scene is indelible), and a beautiful score from Joe Hisaishi, the always-reliable composer of Miyazaki films. “10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.” (From IMDb).

    36. Tokyo Story (1953)

    ‘Tokyo Story’ (Shochiku)

    Directed by: Yasujiro Ozu

    One of the few films that have profoundly affected me, “Tokyo Story” is a quiet but powerful film about age, loss, and children drifting away from their parents. It’s unique in both its depiction of a family’s daily, seemingly mundane life and in its universal emotional impact. “An elderly couple, Shukishi (Chishu Ryu) and Tomi (Chieko Higashiyama), travel from Hiroshima to Tokyo to visit their children. The trip is arduous for the humble, elderly couple who are keen to see their children again. Their son, Koichi (So Yamamura), is a doctor and is often away from home. Their daughter Shige (Haruko Sugimura) finds their visit to be a costly imposition on her time. The only person who seems to care about them is their widowed daughter-in-law Noriko (Setsuko Hara). Their stay in Tokyo proves to be a sad one as they soon come to realize they are not particularly welcome and that their children see the visit more as a nuisance than anything else.” (From IMDb).

    35. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

    ‘A Clockwork Orange’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

    So disturbing it was banned in several countries, “A Clockwork Orange” is a satirical portrait of a sadistic man that does not shy away from violence but also presents a compelling picture that demands serious thought. People love it and hate it but one thing’s for sure, you will never see the song ‘Singin in the Rain’ the same way again. “In the future, the violent and psychopath delinquent Alex (Malcolm McDowell), leader of a gang of ultra-violent criminal teenagers who kill, steal and rape, falls into the hands of the police. Arrested, he receives the option to participate in a program developed by the government that can reduce his time in jail. Alex turns guinea pig for experiments intended to curb the destructive impulses of men and solve the society’s crime problems” (From IMDb).

    34. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

    ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Sergio Leone

    A gangster epic that takes place over 60 years, “Once Upon a Time in America” features one of the greatest scores from one of the greatest composers (RIP Ennio Morricone) and great performances from Robert De Niro, James Woods, Joe Pesci, and Tuesday Weld. “Epic, episodic, tale of the lives of a small group of New York City Jewish gangsters spanning over 40 years. Told mostly in flashbacks and flash-forwards, the movie centers on small-time hood David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson (Robert De Niro) and his lifelong partners in crime; Max (James Woods), Cockeye (William Forsythe) and Patsy (James Hayden) and their friends from growing up in the rough Jewish neighborhood of New York’s Lower East Side in the 1920s, to the last years of Prohibition in the early 1930s, and then to the late 1960s where an elderly Noodles returns to New York after many years in hiding to look into the past. (From IMDb).

    33. The Apartment (1960)

    ‘The Apartment’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Billy Wilder

    One of the greatest romantic-comedies, “The Apartment” deftly balances hilarity and seriousness with a great script from Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond (who also worked with Wilder on ‘Some Like it Hot’) and two spectacular performances from Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. “Insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses to use for extramarital affairs. When his manager Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) begins using Baxter’s apartment in exchange for promoting him, Baxter is disappointed to learn that Sheldrake’s mistress is Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the elevator girl at work whom Baxter is interested in himself. Soon Baxter must decide between the girl he loves and the advancement of his career.” (From IMDb).

    32. Metropolis (1927)

    ‘Metropolis’ (Universum)

    Directed by: Fritz Lang

    With production design that was ahead of its time, “Metropolis” is an oft-referenced and stunning film that has greatly influenced sci-fi cinema and cinema as a whole. It deftly balances thrills and a political message that serves as a time capsule. The plot detail about a robot impersonating an important figure is especially timely in the age of A.I. and it leaves the viewer astounded at the film’s level of imagination. “In the future, the society of Metropolis is divided in two social classes: the workers, who live in the underground below the machines level, and the dominant classes that lives in the surface. The workers are controlled by their leader Maria (Brigitte Helm), who wants to find a mediator between the upper class lords and the workers, since she believes that a heart would be necessary between brains and muscles. Maria meets Freder Fredersen (Gustav Frohlich), the son of the Lord of Metropolis Johann Fredersen (Alfred Abel), in a meeting of the workers, and they fall in love for each other. Meanwhile, Johann decides that the workers are no longer necessary for Metropolis, and uses a robot pretending to be Maria to promote a revolution of the working class and eliminate them.” (From IMDb).

    31. Raging Bull (1980)

    ‘Raging Bull’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    Featuring an Oscar-winning Robert De Niro as the almost Shakespearean tragic hero Jake La Motta, “Raging Bull” is one of Scorsese’s finest works with its brutally realistic boxing sequences, a top-notch Paul Schrader script (Schrader worked with Scorsese on Taxi Driver (1976) as well), and riveting performances from Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty. “When Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro) steps into a boxing ring and obliterates his opponent, he’s a prizefighter. But when he treats his family and friends the same way, he’s a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. Though LaMotta wants his family’s love, something always seems to come between them. Perhaps it’s his violent bouts of paranoia and jealousy. This kind of rage helped make him a champ, but in real life, he winds up in the ring alone.” (From IMDb).

    30. Alien (1979)

    ‘Alien’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: Ridley Scott

    One of the greatest creature-feature horror films, “Alien” is essentially a haunted-house film in a sleek, impeccably-designed spaceship. The thrills hold up to this day and the film keeps you guessing until the very end. “In the distant future, the crew (Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto) of the commercial spaceship Nostromo are on their way home when they pick up a distress call from a distant moon. The crew are under obligation to investigate and the spaceship descends on the moon afterwards. After a rough landing, three crew members leave the spaceship to explore the area on the moon. At the same time as they discover a hive colony of some unknown creature, the ship’s computer deciphers the message to be a warning, not a distress call. When one of the eggs is disturbed, the crew realizes that they are not alone on the spaceship and they must deal with the consequences.” (From IMDb).

    29. Some Like It Hot (1959)

    ‘Some Like it Hot’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Billy Wilder

    Hilarious and smart, “Some Like it Hot” is immensely satisfying, boasts three brilliant performances from Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe, and moves at a lightning-quick pace that keeps you smiling, if not laughing your head off, for most of the two-hour runtime. “After two Chicago musicians, Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon), witness the St. Valentine’s Day massacre, they want to get out of town and get away from the gangster responsible, Spats Colombo (George Raft). They’re desperate to get a gig out of town but the only job they know of is in an all-girl band heading to Florida. They show up at the train station as Josephine and Daphne, the replacement saxophone and bass players. They certainly enjoy being around the girls, especially Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Marilyn Monroe) who sings and plays the ukulele. Joe in particular sets out to woo her while Jerry/Daphne is wooed by a millionaire, Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown). Mayhem ensues as the two men try to keep their true identities hidden and Spats Colombo and his crew show up for a meeting with several other crime lords. (From IMDb).

    28. North by Northwest (1959)

    ‘North by Northwest’ (MGM)

    Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

    Like all of the best Hitchcock masterpieces, “North by Northwest” perfectly balances rollicking entertainment and boundary-pushing “high art”. The “Master of Suspense” is near the height of his powers in this film and, as a result, the audience is on the edge of their seats throughout the film. As an added bonus, this is also one of Hitchcock’s funnier films and if Cary Grant’s one-liners don’t have you laughing I don’t know what will. “Madison Avenue advertising man Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) finds himself thrust into the world of spies when he is mistaken for a man by the name of George Kaplan. Foreign spy Philip Vandamm (James Mason) and his henchman Leonard (Martin Landau) try to eliminate him but when Thornhill tries to make sense of the case, he is framed for murder. Now on the run from the police, he manages to board the 20th Century Limited bound for Chicago where he meets a beautiful blond, Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), who helps him to evade the authorities. His world is turned upside down yet again when he learns that Eve isn’t the innocent bystander he thought she was.” (From IMDb).

    27. The Shining (1980)

    ‘The Shining’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

    A masterclass in how to create dread, “The Shining” was Kubrick’s first and only foray into horror and it paid off spectacularly. Though Stephen King notoriously hates the film, Kubrick took the haunting atmosphere of that novel and amplified it while showing less. Jack Nicholson’s unhinged performance only adds to the unease and it is a marvel to watch. “With wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and psychic son Danny (Danny Lloyd) in tow, frustrated writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes a job as the winter caretaker at the opulently ominous, mountain-locked Overlook Hotel so that he can write in peace. Before the Overlook is vacated for the Torrances, the manager (Barry Nelson) informs Jack that a previous caretaker went crazy and slaughtered his family; Jack thinks it’s no problem, but Danny’s “shining” hints otherwise.” (From IMDb).

    26. M (1931)

    ‘M’ (Vereinigte)

    Directed by: Fritz Lang

    One of the most influential psychological thrillers, “M” was ahead of its time in its ability to create an indelible sense of menace. It was Germany’s first sound film and one of the first great “talkies”. “In Berlin in the early 1930’s, children are being lured to their death by a psychopathic killer (Peter Lorre). In the space of a year, 8 children have been murdered. The police have redoubled their efforts to find the guilty man but have yet to find him and citizens are beginning to dispense their own justice on otherwise innocent people. The heads of the city’s criminal element are paying a high price due to the increased police presence and decide to find the psychopath on their own.” (From IMDb).

    25. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

    ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ (PEA)

    Directed by: Sergio Leone

    Probably the most well-known Western ever made, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is an action-packed and darkly comic adventure that is unabashedly entertaining. Leone’s mastery of pacing and timing is on full display throughout the film, but most notably in the iconic climactic sequence. “During the American Civil War, three men set off to find two hundred thousand dollars in buried gold coins. Tuco (Eli Wallach) and Blondie (Clint Eastwood) have known each other for some time now having used the reward on Tuco’s head as a way of earning money. They come across a dying man, Bill Carson (Antonio Casale), who tells them of a treasure in gold coins. By chance, he tells Tuco the name of the cemetery and tells Blondie the name of the grave where the gold is buried. Now rivals, the two men have good reason to keep each other alive. The third man, Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), hears of the gold stash from someone he’s been hired to kill. All he knows is to look for for someone named Bill Carson.” (From IMDb).

    24. Rashomon (1950)

    ‘Rashomon’ (Daiei)

    Directed by: Akira Kurosawa

    Kurosawa’s first masterpiece, “Rashomon” was one of the first notable films to examine the nature of truth and one of the first to feature differing testimonies of an event. It is a film that will keep you guessing throughout and it is recognized for introducing the Western world to Japanese cinema and non-Western cinema as a whole. “Under Kyoto’s once-glorious front gate, a poor woodcutter (Takashi Shimura) and a faithful priest (Minoru Chiaki) gather around a feeble campfire to share with a wet commoner (Kichijiro Ueda) their take on the mysterious murder of a valiant samurai (Masayuki Mori) in a lush bamboo forest, and the brutal sexual assault of his wife (Machiko Kyo) by the notorious bandit, Tajomaru (Toshiro Mifune). Before court and through a series of uncomfortable flashbacks, strikingly different points-of-view inextricably interweave with half-truths, cover-ups, and the supernatural, to further blur the lines between memory and fact.” (From IMDb).

    23. Star Wars (1977)

    ‘Star Wars’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: George Lucas

    A rip-roaring adventure full of wonder and amazement, “Star Wars” is a timeless film with unmatched technical brilliance and deeply human themes. John Williams adds an extra layer of “epic-ness” with his instantly recognizable leitmotifs that contribute to an already exhilarating space opera with robust characters that are deservedly iconic. “Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) joins forces with a Jedi Knight (Alec Guinness), a cocky pilot (Harrison Ford), a Wookiee (Peter Mayhew) and two droids (Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker) to save the galaxy from the Empire’s world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the mysterious Darth Vader (David Prowse; voice: James Earl Jones).” (From IMDb).

    22. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

    ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (Columbia)

    Directed by: David Lean

    An epic with massive physical and emotional scope, “Lawrence of Arabia” is the epitome of how Hollywood films “used to me made”. Freddie Young (cinematography), Maurice Jarre (score), and Robert Bolt (screenplay), all frequent David Lean collaborators, are firing on all cylinders in this film, creating an experience that rightly won Best Picture. “Due to his knowledge of the native Bedouin tribes, British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’ Toole) is sent to Arabia to find Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) and serve as a liaison between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks. With the aid of native Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif), Lawrence rebels against the orders of his superior officer and strikes out on a daring camel journey across the harsh desert to attack a well-guarded Turkish port.” (From IMDb).

    21. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

    ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Milos Forman

    A profound experience with spectacular performances, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is Milos Forman’s best film and proves that he is one of the best directors in terms of being able to bring out great performances from his cast. Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher rightly deserved their Oscars and iconic status for their work in this film. “McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) has a criminal past and has once again gotten himself into trouble and is sentenced by the court. To escape labor duties in prison, McMurphy pleads insanity and is sent to a ward for the mentally unstable. Once here, McMurphy both endures and stands witness to the abuse and degradation of the oppressive Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), who gains superiority and power through the flaws of the other inmates. McMurphy and the other inmates band together to make a rebellious stance against the atrocious Nurse.” (From IMDb).

    20. Taxi Driver (1976)

    ‘Taxi Driver’ (Columbia)

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    An anarchic and disturbing masterpiece, “Taxi Driver” is a timeless film full of unease and human subjectivity that brings you into the mind of Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle. Its themes of loneliness and depression are some that will never not be relevant. “Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) is a lonely and insomniac ex-marine, who spends his nights driving his taxi throughout the shadowy streets of mid-70’s New York City. Travis is fed up with the society he finds himself surrounded by, wishing that a “real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets”. But Travis’s personality sees him being unable to connect with virtually anyone, until he becomes infatuated with a blonde campaign worker named Betsy (Cybill Shepherd) and then later meets an adolescent prostitute named Iris (Jodie Foster). As Travis grows increasingly more paranoid of his situations, he begins to sees these relationships he develops as ‘missions’ of which he will need to be the savior.” (From IMDb).

    19. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

    ‘Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ (Columbia)

    Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

    Simultaneously biting and hilarious, “Dr. Strangelove Or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” is a powerful antiwar statement that still produces belly-laughs with its impeccably witty and knowing humor. “U.S. Air Force General Jack Ripper (Sterling Hayden) goes completely mad, and sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. He suspects that the communists are conspiring to pollute the “precious bodily fluids” of the American people. The U.S. president meets with his advisors, where the Soviet ambassador tells him that if the U.S.S.R. is hit by nuclear weapons, it will trigger a “Doomsday Machine” which will destroy all plant and animal life on Earth. Peter Sellers portrays the three men who might avert this tragedy: British Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, the only person with access to the demented Gen. Ripper; U.S. President Merkin Muffley, whose best attempts to divert disaster depend on placating a drunken Soviet Premier and the former Nazi genius Dr. Strangelove, who concludes that “such a device would not be a practical deterrent for reasons which at this moment must be all too obvious”. Will the bombers be stopped in time, or will General Jack Ripper succeed in destroying the world?” (From IMDb).

    18. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

    ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (EIA)

    Directed by: Sergio Leone

    Featuring an unforgettable Henry Fonda performance, “Once Upon a Time in the West” is an amazing Western with an epic scope and memorable characters. The standoffs in this films are some of the most tense seen in any Western ever. “A young woman (Claudia Cardinale) leaves her old life behind for her new husband and a new future out West. When her train arrives, she finds him and his children murdered. A man – only known as Harmonica (Charles Bronson), knows Frank (Henry Fonda) did it, and goes after him. Just then, another outlaw – Cheyenne (James Robards) – appears intent on tracking down Frank. As good pursuit of Frank gets closer to him, Cheyenne leaves none of Frank’s associates alive.” (From IMDb).

    17. Bicycle Thieves (1948)

    ‘Bicycle Thieves’ (ENIC)

    Directed by: Vittorio De Sica

    The ultimate Italian Neorealist film, “Bicycle Thieves” is a must-see movie about poverty and desperation that is one of the most human films ever made. This often heartbreaking experience is only amplified by Enzo Staiola’s work as the child Bruno. In depressed post-WWII Italy, an unemployed man named Antonio (Lamberto Maggiorani) finally gets a job, the only problem is that he needs a bicycle. He eventually gets a bike, but soon after, it is stolen. He and his son Bruno (Enzo Staiola) desperately comb the city of Rome looking for the one thing that can keep their family afloat.

    16. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

    ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (MGM)

    Directed by: Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly

    One of the most joyous and euphoric movies ever made, “Singin’ in the Rain” is the archetypal musical: a fun, visually-impressive, and wholly satisfying experience filled with great songs. This film set the standard for most Hollywood musicals going forward. “1927: Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are the darlings of the silent silver screen. Offscreen, Don, aided by his happy-go-lucky friend and piano accompanist, Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor), has to dodge Lina’s romantic overtures, especially when he falls for chorus girl Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). With the advent of sound in motion pictures, it is decided to turn Don and Lina’s new film into a “talkie” and a musical at that. The only problem is Lina’s voice, which mere words cannot describe. Thus, Kathy is brought on to dub her speaking and singing voice in secret.” (From IMDb).

    15. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

    ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (RKO Radio)

    Directed by: Frank Capra

    A movie that is great to watch all year round and should not be restricted to just Christmas, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a movie that shines a light on why life is worth living and can serve as a pick-me-up in the lows of life. The film also contains one of the most immensely satisfying endings of all-time. “George Bailey (James Stewart) never got a chance to fulfill his life’s ambitions of exploring the world and building skyscrapers. As he watches his friends and family become success stories he dreads on running his fathers building and loan business, rivaling the grumpy old Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore). When a financial discrepancy puts George in a difficult position, an angel comes to show him what life would have been like if he had never been born.” (From IMDb).

    14. Sunset Boulevard (1950)

    ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Billy Wilder

    One of the first great films that showed the dark side of Hollywood, “Sunset Boulevard” is my personal favorite film-noir with an enticingly dark screenplay from Billy Wilder and Charles Bracket and a scenery-chewing performance from Gloria Swanson as the forgotten film star Norma Desmond. “Desperate for cash, screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) has a chance meeting with a faded silent film star (Gloria Swanson). Norma Desmond lives in her crumbling Sunset Boulevard mansion with only her butler (Erich von Stroheim) to keep her company. She has become a sad demented recluse convinced that the outside world is clamoring for her dramatic return. Enticing him with the prospect of script work she puts him up in her mansion and he becomes ever more involved and entangled in her life.” (From IMDb).

    13. Citizen Kane (1941)

    ‘Citizen Kane’ (RKO Radio)

    Directed by: Orson Welles

    Widely-considered the greatest film of all-time, “Citizen Kane” is an undeniably great film with a main character that can lead to the audience drawing parallels between him and certain people and events that are relevant today. “When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane’s (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who rose from obscurity to staggering heights. Though Kane’s friend and colleague Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), and his mistress, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore), shed fragments of light on Kane’s life, the reporter fears he may never penetrate the mystery of the elusive man’s final word, “Rosebud.” (From IMDb).

    12. Vertigo (1958)

    ‘Vertigo’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

    Obsession is one Hitchcock’s favorite themes and none of his films explore it better than “Vertigo”. This film was voted to be the greatest film of all-time according to the 2012 Sight and Sound Critics’ Poll and in addition to the film being a top-notch Hitchcock thriller, it also boasts some beautiful cinematography from frequent Hitchcock collaborator and Oscar winner, (for Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief”) Robert Burks. “John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart) is a retired San Francisco police detective who suffers from acrophobia. A wealthy shipbuilder (Tom Helmore) who is an acquaintance from college days approaches Scottie and asks him to follow his beautiful wife, Madeleine (Kim Novak). He fears she is going insane, maybe even contemplating suicide, as he believes she has been possessed by a dead ancestor who committed suicide.” (From IMDb).

    11. Rear Window (1954)

    ‘Rear Window’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

    A master portrait of paranoia, Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” displays the director’s mastery of slowly ratcheting up the tension and increasing suspense. It’s impossible to take your attention away from this movie as the central mystery builds to its climax. “Professional photographer L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies (James Stewart) breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race. Confined to his New York apartment, he spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the neighbors. He begins to suspect that a man across the courtyard may have murdered his wife. Jeff enlists the help of his high society fashion-consultant girlfriend Lisa Freemont (Grace Kelly) and his visiting nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter) to investigate.” (From IMDb).

    10. 2001: a Space Odyssey (1968)

    “2001: A Space Odyssey” (MGM)

    Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

    Probably the most thematically and technologically ambitious film I have ever seen, “2001: a Space Odyssey” is a movie that all film-lovers must see at least once as it is truly a singular experience. This was also the film that Kubrick won his first (and sadly his only) Oscar for as he nabbed the prize for Best Visual Effects. While the man deserved a Best Director win, the Best Visual Effects win was definitely deserved as this is one of the most technically innovative films of all time especially in its production design. “When a large black monolith is found beneath the surface of the moon, the reaction immediately is that it was intentionally buried. When the point of origin is confirmed as Jupiter, an expedition is sent in hopes of finding the source.” (From IMDb).

    9. Goodfellas (1990)

    ‘Goodfellas’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    The best of Scorsese’s gangster films, “Goodfellas” is a modern masterpiece and (arguably) the Italian-American maestro’s best film. With propulsive directing and a whip-smart screenplay from Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi (who also wrote the book, “Wiseguy”, which the movie was based on), Goodfellas is an indelible film experience that takes its audience on an unforgettable ride. “The lowly, blue-collar side of New York’s Italian mafia is explored in this crime biopic of wiseguy Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). As he makes his way from strapping young petty criminal, to big-time thief, to middle-aged cocaine addict and dealer, the film explores in detail the rules and traditions of organized crime. Watching the rise and fall of Hill and his two counterparts, the slick jack-of-all-trades criminal Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) and the brutish, intimidating Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), this true story realistically explores the core, blue-collar part of the mob.” (From IMDb).

    8. Modern Times (1936)

    ‘Modern Times’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Charlie Chaplin

    The last film featuring Chaplin’s ‘Tramp’ character, “Modern Times” is a funny yet passionate film that deals with Chaplin’s concerns about industrialization taking jobs away from the people, which has become increasingly relevant with the rise of artificial intelligence. “The story begins on the life of a factory working who is employed on the assembly line. His job sees him screwing nuts at an ever-increasing rate as part of the assembly line as well as being subjected to new, untested inventions like an ‘automatic feeding machine’. This daily monotony pushes him over the edge and, after a lengthy stay in an asylum, is arrested for being mistakenly taken as an instigator at a communist rally. What follows is the factory worker meeting the love of his life, taking on several new jobs and trying to make what proves to be a difficult living.” (From IMDb).

    7. Casablanca (1942)

    ‘Casablanca’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Michael Curtiz

    Anchored by pitch-perfect performances from Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman and a screenplay that has not lost its effect even after over 75 years, “Casablanca” is a timeless masterpiece that is ever-quotable and impactful to this day. “The story of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical world-weary ex-patriate who runs a nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco during the early stages of WWII. Despite the pressure he constantly receives from the local authorities, Rick’s cafe has become a kind of haven for refugees seeking to obtain illicit letters that will help them escape to America. But when Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), a former lover of Rick’s, and her husband (Paul Henreid), show up to his cafe one day, Rick faces a tough challenge which will bring up unforeseen complications.” (From IMDb).

    6. Pulp Fiction (1994)

    ‘Pulp Fiction’ (Miramax)

    Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

    Violent, action-packed, and immensely entertaining, Tarantino did not suffer the sophomore slump with “Pulp Fiction”. Probably the most influential film of the last 30 years, Tarantino’s best film still has not lost any of the energy or novelty that thrilled audiences back in 1994. “Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta) are two hit men who are out to retrieve a suitcase stolen from their employer, mob boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). Wallace has also asked Vincent to take his wife Mia (Uma Thurman) out a few days later when Wallace himself will be out of town. Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) is an aging boxer who is paid by Wallace to lose his fight. The lives of these seemingly unrelated people are woven together comprising of a series of funny and bizarre incidents.” (From IMDb).

    5. City Lights (1931)

    ‘City Lights’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Charlie Chaplin

    One of the most heartwarming films I have ever seen, “City Lights” is Chaplin at his do-everything best juggling sweetness, slapstick comedy, and action to create a beautiful combination of all the things that have made the silent master so legendary almost 90 years later. “This classic story of love, tragedy and hope centers around a homeless tramp whom meets and instantly falls in love with a beautiful, albeit blind, flower seller (Virginia Cherrill). The tramp (Charlie Chaplin), desperate to win her love over, convinces the woman that he is a millionaire and can pay for her to get her sight back. We then follow the ebbs and flows of The Little Tramp’s adventures in his pursuit to make good on his promise to The Flower Girl.” (From IMDb).

    4. Apocalypse Now (1979)

    ‘Apocalypse Now’ (United Artists)

    Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

    Probably the quintessential psychological war movie, “Apocalypse Now” is a legendary film with massive and masterful performances from Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, and Robert Duvall and iconic cinematography from Vittorio Storaro (who won an Oscar for his work here). This film is also an example of how behind-the-scenes factors can profoundly effect a film, and you can take a look at those stories in the documentary “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse”. “The worn out and fatigued U.S Army captain Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheen) is sent on a harrowing and surreal mission into the deepest parts of the jungle during the height of the Vietnam War, with the objective of eliminating the rogue Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a Green Beret officer who has completely lost his sanity. Together with a small squad of soldiers, Willard sets out by boat to travel upriver towards Kurtz’ base. But Willard soon eerily realizes that the closer he gets to his target, the more he seems himself in him.” (From IMDb).

    3. Psycho (1960)

    ‘Psycho’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

    As the proto-slasher film (many of the tropes seen throughout slasher films originated in this movie), “Psycho” is one of the most influential movies made yet its thrill factor exceeds that of any of the films that came after it thanks to Hitchcock’s legendary directing and mastery of suspense and an effortlessly creepy performance from Anthony Perkins as the iconic Norman Bates. “Phoenix office worker Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is fed up with the way life has treated her. She has to meet her lover Sam (John Gavin) in lunch breaks, and they cannot get married because Sam has to give most of his money away in alimony. One Friday, Marion is trusted to bank forty thousand dollars by her employer. Seeing the opportunity to take the money and start a new life, Marion leaves town and heads towards Sam’s California store. Tired after the long drive and caught in a storm, she gets off the main highway and pulls into the Bates Motel. The motel is managed by a quiet young man called Norman (Anthony Perkins) who seems to be dominated by his mother.” (From IMDb).

    2. Seven Samurai (1954)

    ‘Seven Samurai’ (Toho)

    Directed by: Akira Kurosawa

    A movie who’s influence can be seen from “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” to “The Mandalorian”, “Seven Samurai” is arguably the most important action movie ever made as directors like George Lucas, Sergio Leone, and Steven Spielberg have all been majorly influenced by Kurosawa, and this film in particular, in their legendary work. “In 16th century Japan, farmers in a small village face the prospect of again losing their crops to a band of roving thieves. Their solution is to go to the nearest city and see if they can hire samurai to protect them. The farmers are poor and can only offer food and lodging but they soon recruit Kambei Shimada (Takashi Shimura) who determines that they will need a total of seven samurai to properly guard the village. Slowly, he recruits other samurai for their task and once complete, move to the village. There they teach the farmers basic self defense and fortify the village itself.” (From IMDb).

    1.The Godfather (Parts I and II) (1972 and 1974)

    ‘The Godfather’ (Paramount)
    ‘The Godfather Part II’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

    Yes, I know, it is kind of cheating to put these two films at the top spot but I have always felt that they were kind of one film with an essentially uniform level of quality across the two films. Anyway, what can be said that hasn’t already been said about these films? Francis Ford Coppola’s innovative direction keeps the audience’s eyes locked on the screen at all times. The cast is full of some of the greatest actors of all-time and performers like Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton deliver some of the best performances of their careers. And, of course, Nino Rota’s sweeping orchestral score is iconic to this day and perfectly soundtracks the life and times of the Corleone mob family.

    Find where to watch all of these films on Reelgood

     

  • Greatest Films of the Decade (2010-2019) 25-1

    Greatest Films of the Decade (2010-2019) 25-1

    Finally, the final 25. Here are my picks for the best 25 films of the decade.

    Happy 2020s!

    25. The Master

    ‘The Master’ (The Weinstein Company)

    Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

    The Master unfolds the journey of a Naval veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future – until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman). (The Weinstein Company)

    24. The Tree of Life

    ‘The Tree of Life’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    Directed by: Terrence Malick

    The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). Jack (played as an adult by Sean Penn) finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Through Malick’s signature imagery, we see how both brute nature and spiritual grace shape not only our lives as individuals and families, but all life. (Fox Searchlight)

    23. Shoplifters

    ‘Shoplifters’ (Magnolia Pictures)

    Directed by: Hirokazu Koreeda

    After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu (Lily Franky) and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife (Sakura Ando) agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    22. Gravity

    Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron

    Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney). But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone – tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space. (Warner Bros.)

    21. Dunkirk

    ‘Dunkirk’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Christopher Nolan

    Evacuation of Allied soldiers from the British Empire, and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German Army from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France, between May 26- June 04, 1940, during Battle of France in World War II. (Warner Bros.)

    20. Three Billboard Outside of Ebbing, Missouri

    ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    Directed by: Martin McDonagh

    After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the town’s revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing’s law enforcement is only exacerbated.

    19. Inception

    ‘Inception’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Christopher Nolan

    Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible, inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea, but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. (Warner Bros.)

    18. La La Land

    ‘La La Land’ (Lionsgate)

    Directed by: Damien Chazelle

    La La Land tells the story of Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams. (Rotten Tomatoes).

    17. Room

    ‘Room’ (A24)

    Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson

    ROOM tells the extraordinary story of Jack (Jacob Tremblay), a spirited 5-year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted mother (Brie Larson). Like any good mother, Ma dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical–they are trapped–confined to a 10-by-10-foot space that Ma has euphemistically named Room. Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment, Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack’s curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma’s resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world. (A24)

    16. Moonlight

    ‘Moonlight’ (A24)

    Directed by: Barry Jenkins

    The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality. ( Rotten Tomatoes).

    15. Her

    ‘Her’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed By; Spike Jonze

    In a near future, a lonely writer (Joaquin Phoenix) develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system (Scarlett Johansson) designed to meet his every need. (IMDb)

    14. The Social Network

    ‘The Social Network’ (Columbia)

    Directed by: David Fincher

    As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins (Armie Hammer) who claimed he stole their idea, and by the co-founder ( who was later squeezed out of the business. (IMDb)

    13. Before Midnight

    ‘Before Midnight’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Richard Linklater

    We meet Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna. (IMDb).

    12. Call Me By Your Name

    ‘Call Me By Your Name’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Luca Guadagnino

    It’s the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17- year-old American-Italian, spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel). Elio enjoys a close relationship with his father (Michael Stuhlbarg), an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture, and his mother Annella (Amira Casar), a translator, who favor him with the fruits of high culture in a setting that overflows with natural delights. While Elio’s sophistication and intellectual gifts suggest he is already a fully-fledged adult, there is much that yet remains innocent and unformed about him, particularly about matters of the heart. One day, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a charming American scholar working on his doctorate, arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio’s father. Amid the sun-drenched splendor of the setting, Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever. (Sony Pictures Classics)

    11. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

    ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (Sony)

    Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman

    Teen Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) becomes Spider-Man of his reality, crossing his path with five counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities. (IMDb)

    10. Amour

    ‘Amour’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
    Directed by: Michael Haneke
    Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter (Isabelle Huppert), who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple’s bond of love is severely tested. (Sony Pictures Classics)

    9. Spotlight

    ‘Spotlight’ (Open Road)

    Directed by: Tom McCarthy

    SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston’s religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. (Open Road Films)

    8. Whiplash

    ‘Whiplash’ (Sony Pictures Classics)
    Directed by: Damien Chazelle
    Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into his band, forever changing the young man’s life. Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability-and his sanity. (Sony Pictures Classics)

    7. Mad Max: Fury Road

    ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: George Miller

    In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman (Charlize Theron) rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper (Nicholas Hoult), and a drifter named Max (Tom Hardy).

    6. 12 Years a Slave

    ’12 Years A Slave’ (Fox Searchlight)

    Directed by: Steve McQueen

    In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner (Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life. (Fox Searchlight)

    5. Toy Story 3

    ‘Toy Story 3’ (Disney/Pixar)

    Directed by: Lee Unkrich

    Woody, Buzz and the whole gang are back. As their owner Andy (John Morris) prepares to depart for college, his loyal toys find themselves in daycare where untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice. So, it’s all for one and one for all as they join Barbie’s (Jodi Benson) counterpart Ken (Michael Keaton), a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (Ned Beatty) to plan their great escape. (Disney/Pixar)

    4. Boyhood

    ‘Boyhood’ (IFC Films)

    Directed by: Richard Linklater

    BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent… BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting. (IFC Films)

    3. Inside Out

    ‘Inside Out’ (Disney/Pixar)

    Directed by: Pete Docter

    Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school. (Disney/Pixar)

    2. Parasite

    ‘Parasite’ (NEON Pictures)

    Directed by: Bong Joon-Ho

    A poor family, the Kims, con their way into becoming the servants of a rich family, the Parks. But their easy life gets complicated when their deception is threatened with exposure. (CJ Entertainment)

    1. A Separation

    ‘A Separation’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Asghar Farhadi

    Set in contemporary Iran, A Separation is a compelling drama about the dissolution of a marriage. Simin (Leila Hatami) wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader (Payman Maadi) and daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi). Simin sues for divorce when Nader refuses to leave behind his Alzheimer-suffering father. Her request having failed, Simin returns to her parents’ home, but Termeh decides to stay with Nader. When Nader hires a young woman to assist with his father in his wife’s absence, he hopes that his life will return to a normal state. However, when he discovers that the new maid has been lying to him, he realizes that there is more on the line than just his marriage. (Sony Pictures Classics)

     

    Want to see any of these films? Go to Reelgood to see where they are available.

  • Movies to Watch at Home During the Coronacation

    Movies to Watch at Home During the Coronacation

    Now that we have too much time on our hands, that movie that you have always wanted to watch is finally fits into your schedule.

    Here are films to watch during this break.

    Best on Netflix

    13th

    Blade Runner

    City of God

    The Dark Knight

    Drive

    Ex Machina

    Goodfellas

    Groundhog Day

    Her

    Hugo

    Inception

    Kill Bill Vol. 1

    Magnolia

    Marriage Story

    Monty Python and the Holy Grail

    Moon

    Moonlight

    Mystic River

    Pan’s Labyrinth

    Raiders of the Lost Ark

    Room

    The Shawshank Redemption

    Sling Blade

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

    There Will Be Blood

    Best on Prime Video

    The Act of Killing

    Annie Hall

    The Apartment

    The Big Sick

    Blade Runner 2049

    The Conversation

    Diabolique

    Downfall

    The Farewell

    The General

    The Great Escape

    The Handmaiden

    It’s a Wonderful Life

    The Kid

    Lady Bird

    Manchester by the Sea

    The Pianist (also on Netflix)

    Once Upon a Time in the West (also on Netflix)

    Raging Bull (also on Netflix)

    Roman Holiday

    Rosemary’s Baby (also on Netflix)

    Short Term 12

    Some Like it Hot

    Sunset Boulevard

    Zodiac

    Best on Hulu

    28 Days Later

    Akira

    Annihilation (also on Prime Video)

    Apollo 11

    A Quiet Place (also on Prime Video)

    The Cabin in the Woods (also on Prime Video)

    The Descent

    Free Solo

    The French Connection

    The Fugitive

    Grave of the Fireflies

    The Guilty

    Hunt for the Wilderpeople

    I, Tonya

    M*A*S*H*

    Mud (also on Prime Video)

    Nobody Knows

    Shoplifters

    Tangerines (also on Prime Video)

    The Tenant

    True Grit (also on Prime Video) (2010)

    Warrior (also on Prime Video)

    We Need to Talk About Kevin

    When Harry Met Sally…

    Wonder

    Best on HBO

    Alien and Aliens

    Apocalypse Now

    A Star is Born (2018)

    A Woman Under the Influence

    Black Swan

    Casino Royale

    The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

    The Favourite

    Fight Club

    Gangs of New York

    Glengarry Glen Ross

    The Killing Fields

    The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

    Moulin Rouge!

    My Left Foot

    The Usual Suspects

    The Others

    Prisoners

    RoboCop

    Rush

    Shutter Island

    They Shall Not Grow Old

    The Town

    Upgrade

    Won’t You Be Neighbor

     

  • Greatest Films of the Decade (2010-2019) 50-26

    Greatest Films of the Decade (2010-2019) 50-26

    Happy New Year!

    Let’s start off the new year by continuing the Greatest Films of the 2010s. Here’s to countless more amazing films in the decade to come!

    50. The Martian

    'The Martian' (20th Century Fox)
    ‘The Martian’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: Ridley Scott

    During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney’s safe return. (20th Century Fox)

    49. Zootopia

    'Zootopia' (Disney)
    ‘Zootopia’ (Disney)

    Directed by: Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush

    In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop (Ginnifer Goodwin) and a cynical con artist fox (Jason Bateman) must work together to uncover a conspiracy. (IMDb)

    48. The LEGO Movie

    'The LEGO Movie' (Warner Bros.)
    ‘The LEGO Movie’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

    “The LEGO (R) Movie” is the first-ever, full-length theatrical LEGO (R) adventure. The original 3D computer animated story follows Emmet (Chris Pratt) an ordinary, rules- following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared. (Warner Bros)

    47. The Big Sick

    'The Big Sick' (Amazon Studios)
    ‘The Big Sick’ (Amazon Studios)

    Directed by: Michael Showalter

    Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani (Kumail Nanjiani) and grad student Emily Gardner (Zoe Kazan) fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family’s expectations, and his true feelings. (IMDb)

    46. Argo

    'Argo' (Warner Bros.)
    ‘Argo’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Ben Affleck

    Based on true events, Argo chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis-the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. (Warner Bros.)

    45. Nebraska

    'Nebraska' (Paramount Pictures)
    ‘Nebraska’ (Paramount Pictures)

    Directed by: Alexander Payne

    An aging, booze-addled father (Bruce Dern) makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son (Will Forte) in order to claim a million-dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize. (IMDb)

    44. Hell or High Water

    'Hell or High Water' (Film 44)
    ‘Hell or High Water’ (Film 44)

    Directed by: David Mackenzie

    Texas brothers–Toby (Chris Pine), and Tanner (Ben Foster), come together after years divided to rob branches of the bank threatening to foreclose on their family land. For them, the hold-ups are just part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that seemed to have been stolen from under them. Justice seems to be theirs, until they find themselves on the radar of Texas Ranger, Marcus (Jeff Bridges) looking for one last grand pursuit on the eve of his retirement, and his half-Comanche partner, Alberto (Gil Birmingham). As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their scheme, and with the Rangers on their heels, a showdown looms at the crossroads where the values of the Old and New West murderously collide. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    43. Arrival

    'Arrival' (21 Laps Entertainment)
    ‘Arrival’ (21 Laps Entertainment)

    Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

    When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team–lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams)–are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers–and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    42. Moonrise Kingdom

    'Moonrise Kingdom' (Focus Features)
    ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ (Focus Features)

    Directed by: Wes Anderson

    Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds (Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman) who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore — and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.  (Focus Features)

    41. Lady Bird

    'Lady Bird' (A24)
    ‘Lady Bird’ (A24)

    Directed by: Greta Gerwig

    Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird’s father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, Lady Bird is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    40. Paddington 2

    'Paddington 2' (Warner Bros.)
    ‘Paddington 2’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Paul King

    Paddington (Ben Whishaw) is happily settled with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens, where he has become a popular member of the community, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes. While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s (Imelda Staunton’s) 100th birthday, Paddington spots a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief. (StudioCanal)

    39. Short Term 12

    'Short Term 12' (Cinedigm)
    ‘Short Term 12’ (Cinedigm)

    Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton

    A 20-something supervising staff member (Brie Larson) of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend (John Gallagher Jr.). (IMDb)

    38. The Florida Project

    'The Florida Project' (A24)
    ‘The Florida Project’ (A24)

    Directed by: Sean Baker

    Set over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother (Bria Vinaite), all while living in the shadows of Walt Disney World. (A24)

    37. The Irishman

    'The Irishman' (Netflix)
    ‘The Irishman’ (Netflix)

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    This biographical crime thriller follows Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) as he recalls his past years working for the Bufalino crime family. Now older, the WWII veteran once again reflects on his most prolific hits and, in particular, considers his involvement with his good friend Jimmy Hoffa’s (Al Pacino) disappearance in 1975. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    36. Get Out

    'Get Out' (Universal Pictures)
    ‘Get Out’ (Universal Pictures)

    Directed by: Jordan Peele

    Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy (Catherine Keener) and Dean (Bradley Whitford). At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    35. The King’s Speech

    'The King's Speech' (The Weinstein Company)
    ‘The King’s Speech’ (The Weinstein Company)

    Directed by: Tom Hooper

    After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle. (The Weinstein Company)

    34. Coco

    'Coco' (Disney/Pixar)
    ‘Coco’ (Disney/Pixar)

    Directed by: Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina

    Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. (Disney/Pixar)

    33. The Handmaiden

    'The Handmaiden' (CJ Entertainment)
    ‘The Handmaiden’ (CJ Entertainment)

    Directed by: Park Chan-Wook

    1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee (Kim Tae-Ri), is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko (Kim Min-Hee), who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle (Cho Jin-Woong). But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions. (CJ Entertainment)

    32. Django Unchained

    'Django Unchained' (The Weinstein Company)
    ‘Django Unchained’ (The Weinstein Company)

    Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

    Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago. Django and Schultz’s search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of “Candyland,” an infamous plantation. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave. (The Weinstein Company)

    31. Roma

    'Roma' (Netflix)
    ‘Roma’ (Netflix)

    Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron

    A year in the life of a middle-class family’s maid (Yalitza Aparicio) in Mexico City in the early 1970s. (IMDb)

    ROMA is Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-autobiographical take on life in 1970s Mexico in the midst of political and domestic upheaval.

    30. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

    'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' (Warner Bros.)
    ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: David Yates

    Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) search for Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts. (IMDb)

    29. A Prophet

    'A Prophet' (Sony Pictures Classics)
    ‘A Prophet’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Jacques Audiard

    Condemned to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), part Arab, part Corsican, cannot read or write. Arriving at the jail entirely alone, he appears younger and more fragile than the other convicts. He is 19 years old. Cornered by the leader of the Corsican gang (Niels Arestrup) currently ruling the prison, he is given a number of “missions” to carry out, toughening him up and gaining the gang leader’s confidence in the process. Malik is a fast learner and rises up the prison ranks, all the while secretly devising his own plans. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    28. The Grand Budapest Hotel

    'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    Directed by: Wes Anderson

    THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune — all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent. (Fox Searchlight)

    27. The Artist

    'The Artist' (The Weinstein Company)
    ‘The Artist’ (The Weinstein Company)

    Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius

    Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), it seems the sky’s the limit – major movie stardom awaits. The Artist tells the story of their interlinked destinies. (The Weinstein Company)

    26. Under the Skin

    'Under the Skin' (A24)
    ‘Under the Skin’ (A24)

    Directed by: Jonathan Glazer

    A woman of unknown origin (Scarlett Johansson) combs the highways in search of isolated or forsaken men, luring a succession of lost souls into an otherworldly lair. They are seduced, stripped of their humanity, and never heard from again. (Rotten Tomatoes)

  • Greatest Films of the Decade (2010-2019) 75-51

    Greatest Films of the Decade (2010-2019) 75-51

    75. Guardians of the Galaxy

    'Guardians of the Galaxy' (Marvel)
    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (Marvel)

    Directed by: James Gunn

    Brash adventurer Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan (Lee Pace), a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits-Rocket (Bradley Cooper), a gun-toting raccoon, Groot (Vin Diesel), a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand-with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. (Walt Disney)

    74. Blue is the Warmest Color

    'Blue is the Warmest Color' (IFC Films)
    ‘Blue is the Warmest Color’ (IFC Films)

    Directed by: Abdellatif Kechiche

    Adèle’s (Adele Exarc life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire and to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adèle grows, seeks herself, loses herself, and ultimately finds herself through love and loss. (IMDb)

    73. Avengers: Endgame

    'Avengers: Endgame' (Marvel Studios)
    ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (Marvel Studios)

    Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo

    After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe. (IMDb)

    72. Incendies

    'Incendies' (Sony Pictures Classics)
    ‘Incendies’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

    Twin siblings uncover a shocking family secret after they agree to their mother’s dying wish: to locate the father they thought was dead, and a brother they never knew existed. (Amazon)

    71. Inside Llewyn Davis

    'Inside Llewyn Davis' (CBS Films)
    ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ (CBS Films)

    Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen

    INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles-some of them of his own making. (CBS)

    70. Blade Runner 2049

    'Blade Runner 2049' (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    ‘Blade Runner 2049’ (Warner Bros. Pictures)

    Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

    Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. (Warner Bros.)

    69. Captain Phillips

    'Captain Phillips' (Sony Pictures)
    ‘Captain Phillips’ (Sony Pictures)

    Directed by: Paul Greengrass

    The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama’s commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips’ unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, 145 miles off the Somali coast, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control. (Sony Pictures)

    68. Gone Girl

    'Gone Girl' (20th Century Fox)
    ‘Gone Girl’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: David Fincher

    On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife? (20th Century Fox)

    67. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia

    'Once Upon a Time in Anatolia' (The Cinema Guild)
    ‘Once Upon a Time in Anatolia’ (The Cinema Guild)

    Directed by: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

    In the dead of night, a group of men – including a police commissioner, a prosecutor, a doctor and a murder suspect – drive through the tenebrous Anatolian countryside, the serpentine roads and rolling hills lit only by the headlights of their cars. They are searching for a corpse, the victim of a brutal murder. The suspect, who claims he was drunk, can’t remember where he buried the body. As the night draws on, details about the murder emerge and the investigators’ own secrets and hypocrisies come to light. In the Anatolian steppes, nothing is what it seems; and when the body is found, the real questions begin. (The Cinema Guild)

    66. Logan

    'Logan' (20th Century Fox)
    ‘Logan’ (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by: James Mangold

    In a future where mutants are nearly extinct, an elderly and weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) leads a quiet life. But when Laura (Dafne Keen), a mutant child pursued by scientists, comes to him for help, he must get her to safety. (IMDb)

    65. Birdman

    'Birdman' (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    ‘Birdman’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    Directed by: Alejandro G. Inarritu

    BIRDMAN or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) – famous for portraying an iconic superhero – as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself. (Fox Searchlight)

    64. Dallas Buyers Club

    'Dallas Buyers Club' (Focus Features)
    ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ (Focus Features)

    Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallee

    Matthew McConaughey stars in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB as real-life Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof, whose free-wheeling life was overturned in 1985 when he was diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. These were the early days of the AIDS epidemic, and the U.S. was divided over how to combat the virus. Ron, now shunned and ostracized by many of his old friends, and bereft of government-approved effective medicines, decided to take matters in his own hands, tracking down alternative treatments from all over the world by means both legal and illegal. Bypassing the establishment, the entrepreneurial Woodroof joined forces with an unlikely band of renegades and outcasts – who he once would have shunned – and established a hugely successful “buyers’ club.” Their shared struggle for dignity and acceptance is a uniquely American story of the transformative power of resilience. (Focus Features)

    63. Gangs of Wasseypur

    'Gangs of Wasseypur' (Studio 18)
    ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ (Studio 18)

    Directed by: Anurag Kashyap

    Towards the end of colonial India, Shahid Khan (Jaideep Ahlawat) loots the British trains, impersonating the legendary Sultana Daku. Now outcast, Shahid becomes a worker at Ramadhir Singh’s colliery, only to spur a revenge battle that passes on to generations. At the turn of the decade, Shahid’s son, the philandering Sardar Khan (Manoj Bajpayee) vows to get his father’s honor back, becoming the most feared man of Wasseypur. (Studio 18)

    62. Moneyball

    'Moneyball' (Sony Pictures)
    ‘Moneyball’ (Sony Pictures)

    Directed by: Bennett Miller

    Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s and the guy who assembles the team, who has an epiphany: all of baseball’s conventional wisdom is wrong. Forced to reinvent his team on a tight budget, Beane will have to outsmart the richer clubs. The onetime jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in an unlikely partnership, recruiting bargain players that the scouts call flawed, but all of whom have an ability to get on base, score runs, and win games. It’s more than baseball, it’s a revolution – one that challenges old school traditions and puts Beane in the crosshairs of those who say he’s tearing out the heart and soul of the game. (Sony Pictures)

    The film boasts a magnificent screenplay from a dream duo of Steven Zaillan (Schindler’s List, The Irishman) and Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Steve Jobs), and for any lover of sports analysis and statistics, this is the movie for you.

    61. The Hunt

    'The Hunt' (Magnolia Pictures)
    ‘The Hunt’ (Magnolia Pictures)

    Directed by: Thomas Vinterberg

    Mads Mikkelsen won the Best Actor Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival for his penetrating portrayal of Lucas, a former school teacher who has been forced to start over having overcome a tough divorce and the loss of his job. Just as things are starting to go his way, his life is shattered when an untruthful remark throws his small community into a collective state of hysteria. As the lie spreads, Lucas is forced to fight a lonely fight for his life and dignity. (Magnolia)

    60. Nightcrawler

    'Nightcrawler' (Open Road Films)
    ‘Nightcrawler’ (Open Road Films)

    Directed by: Dan Gilroy

    NIGHTCRAWLER is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling — where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou thrives. In the breakneck, ceaseless search for footage, he becomes the star of his own story. (Open Road)

    59. Selma

    'Selma' (Paramount Pictures)
    ‘Selma’ (Paramount Pictures)

    Directed by: Ava DuVernay

    SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. (Paramount)

    58. Eighth Grade

    'Eighth Grade' (A24)
    ‘Eighth Grade’ (A24)

    Directed by: Bo Burnham

    Thirteen-year-old Kayla (Elsie Fisher) endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school—the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year—before she begins high school. (A24)

    57. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

    'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' (Disney)
    ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (Disney)

    Directed by: J.J. Abrams

    Three decades after the Empire’s defeat, a new threat arises in the militant First Order. Defected stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) and the scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) are caught up in the Resistance’s search for the missing Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). (IMDb)

    56. Mission: Impossible – Fallout

    'Mission: Impossible - Fallout' (Paramount Pictures)
    ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (Paramount Pictures)

    Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

    Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) chooses to save his team over completing a mission, allowing stolen plutonium to fall into the wrong hands. Now, he must partner with a hard-hitting CIA agent (Henry Cavill) in a race against time to stop a nuclear threat. (Amazon)

    55. The Favourite 

    'The Favourite' (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    ‘The Favourite’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos

    Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail Masham (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfill her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    54. Sing Street

    'Sing Street' (Likely Story)
    ‘Sing Street’ (Likely Story)

    Directed by: John Carney

    SING STREET takes us back to 1980s Dublin seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is looking for a break from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, while trying to adjust to his new inner-city public school where the kids are rough and the teachers are rougher. He finds a glimmer of hope in the mysterious, über-cool and beautiful Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and with the aim of winning her heart he invites her to star in his band’s music videos. There’s only one problem: he’s not part of a band…yet. She agrees, and now Conor must deliver what he’s promised – calling himself “Cosmo” and immersing himself in the vibrant rock music trends of the decade, he forms a band with a few lads, and the group pours their heart into writing lyrics and shooting videos. (Likely Story)

    53. A Star is Born

    'A Star is Born' (Warner Bros.)
    ‘A Star is Born’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Bradley Cooper

    Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers-and falls in love with-struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer – until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. (Warner Bros.)

    52. Burning

    'Burning' (Well Go USA)
    ‘Burning’ (Well Go USA)

    Directed by: Chang-Dong Lee

    Jong-su (Ah-in Yoo) bumps into a girl (Jong-Seo Jun) who used to live in the same neighborhood, who asks him to look after her cat while she’s on a trip to Africa. When back, she introduces Ben (Steven Yeun), a mysterious guy she met there, who confesses his secret hobby. (

    51. The Wolf of Wall Street

    'The Wolf of Wall Street' (Paramount Studios)
    ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (Paramount Studios)

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    From the American dream to corporate greed, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s. Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title “The Wolf of Wall Street.” (Paramount)

  • Greatest Films of the Decade (2010-2019) 100-76

    Greatest Films of the Decade (2010-2019) 100-76

    As the decade draws to a close, I want to look back at the most critically-acclaimed and most-loved films of the decade. (Note: Even though there were some spectacular documentaries and shorts released this decade, I am limiting this list to feature-length narrative films.)

    100. Kubo and the Two Strings

    'Kubo and the Two Strings' (LAIKA)
    ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’

    Directed by: Travis Knight

    In a small village in an ancient mythical Japan, Kubo (Art Parkinson) and his magic shamisen unwittingly summon vengeful spirits who wish to harm him and his ailing mother. While on the run, he encounters magical creatures, and learns the truth of his earthly family’s connection to the heaven and stars. (LAIKA)

    99. 127 Hours

    '127 Hours' (Fox Searchlight)
    ‘127 Hours’ (Fox Searchlight)

    Directed by: Danny Boyle

    127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston (James Franco) examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he can be rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? (Fox Searc

    98. Hugo

    'Hugo' (Paramount)
    ‘Hugo’ (Paramount)

    Directed by: Martin Scorsese

    Hugo is the astonishing adventure of a wily and resourceful boy (Asa Butterfield) whose quest to unlock a secret left to him by his father will transform Hugo and all those around him, and reveal a safe and loving place he can call home. (Paramount Pictures)

    97. Silver Linings Playbook

    'Silver Linings Playbook' (TWC)
    ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (TWC)

    Directed by: David O. Russell

    Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything – his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother and father after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet – and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives. (The Weinstein Company)

    96. Lincoln

    'Lincoln' (Dreamworks)
    ‘Lincoln’ (Dreamworks)

    Directed by: Steven Spielberg

    In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come. (Disney)

    95. Winter’s Bone

    'Winter's Bone' (Roadside Attractions)
    ‘Winter’s Bone’ (Roadside Attractions)

    Directed by: Debra Granik

    In this unflinching noir drama, a resilient teen (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing, drug-dealing father when his absence threatens the family’s safety. (Netflix)

    94. Midnight in Paris

    'Midnight in Paris' (Sony Pictures Classics)
    ‘Midnight in Paris’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Woody Allen

    This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better. (Sony Classics)

    93. Ex Machina

    'Ex Machina' (A24)
    ‘Ex Machina’ (A24)

    Directed by: Alex Garland

    Caleb Smith (Domnhall Gleeson), a programmer at an internet-search giant, wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company’s brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Upon his arrival, Caleb learns that Nathan has chosen him to be the human component in a Turing Test-charging him with evaluating the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of Nathan’s latest experiment in artificial intelligence. That experiment is Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breathtaking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophisticated–and more deceptive–than the two men could have imagined. (A24)

    92. Baby Driver

    'Baby Driver' (Sony Pictures)
    ‘Baby Driver’ (Sony Pictures)

    Directed by: Edgar Wright

    A talented, young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom. (Rotten Tomatoes)

    91. Black Swan

    'Black Swan' (Fox Searchlight)
    ‘Black Swan’ (Fox Searchlight)

    Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

    Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side – a recklessness that threatens to destroy her. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    90. Ida

    'Ida' (Music Box Films)
    ‘Ida’ (Music Box Films)

    Directed by: Pawel Pawlikowski

    18-year old Anna (Agata Trzebuchowska), a sheltered orphan raised in a convent, is preparing to become a nun when the Mother Superior insists she first visit her sole living relative. Naïve, innocent Anna soon finds herself in the presence of her aunt Wanda (Agata Kulesza), a worldly and cynical Communist Party insider, who shocks her with the declaration that her real name is Ida and her Jewish parents were murdered during the Nazi occupation. This revelation triggers a heart-wrenching journey into the countryside, to the family house and into the secrets of the repressed past, evoking the haunting legacy of the Holocaust and the realities of postwar Communism. (Amazon)

    89. Phantom Thread

    'Phantom Thread' (Focus Features)
    ‘Phantom Thread’ (Focus Features)

    Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

    Set in the glamour of 1950s post-war London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the center of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutants, and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock’s life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover. Once controlled and planned, he finds his carefully tailored life disrupted by love. (Focus Features)

    88. True Grit 

    'True Grit' (Paramount Pictures)
    ‘True Grit’ (Paramount Pictures)

    Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen

    Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with “true grit,” Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). (Amazon)

    87. The Great Beauty

    'The Great Beauty' (Janus Films)
    ‘The Great Beauty’ (Janus Films)

    Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino

    Journalist Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) has charmed and seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades. Since the legendary success of his one and only novel, he has been a permanent fixture in the city’s literary and social circles, but when his sixty-fifth birthday coincides with a shock from the past, Jep finds himself unexpectedly taking stock of his life, turning his cutting wit on himself and his contemporaries, and looking past the extravagant nightclubs, parties, and cafés to find Rome in all its glory: a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty. (Janus)

    86. Son of Saul

    'Son of Saul' (Sony Pictures Classics)
    ‘Son of Saul’ (Sony Pictures Classics)

    Directed by: Lazslo Nemes

    In 1944 Auschwitz-Berkenau, Saul (Geza Rohrig) decides to carry out an impossible task: offer a proper burial for the body of a boy he takes for his son. (Amazon)

    85. Carol

    'Carol' (The Weinstein Company)
    ‘Carol’ (The Weinstein Company)

    Directed by: Todd Haynes

    In an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, CAROL follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens. While Carol breaks free from the confines of marriage, her husband (Kyle Chandler) begins to question her competence as a mother as her involvement with Therese and close relationship with her best friend Abby (Sarah Paulson) come to light. (The Weinstein Company)

    84. The Fighter

    'The Fighter' (Paramount Pictures)
    ‘The Fighter’ (Paramount Pictures)

    Directed by: David O. Russell

    Mark Wahlberg stars in Paramount Pictures’ inspirational docudrama exploring the remarkable rise of Massachusetts-born lightweight title winner “Irish” Micky Ward. A determined pugilist whose career in the ring was shepherded by his loyal half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale) – a hard-living boxer-turned-trainer whose own career in the ring was nearly sent down for the count due to drugs and crime. (Amazon)

    83. Creed

    'Creed' (Warner Bros.)
    ‘Creed’ (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by: Ryan Coogler

    Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Once in a City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky down and asks him to be his trainer.

    82. Paterson

    'Paterson' (Amazon Studios)
    ‘Paterson’ (Amazon Studios)

    Directed by: Jim Jarmusch

    A quiet observation of the triumphs and defeats of daily life, along with the poetry evident in its smallest details.

    81. Black Panther

    'Black Panther' (Marvel Studios)
    ‘Black Panther’ (Marvel Studios)

    Directed by: Ryan Coogler

    When young King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is drawn into conflict with an old foe that puts his homeland Wakanda and the entire world at risk, he must release Black Panther’s full power to save them. (Amazon)

    80. Drive

    'Drive' (FilmDistrict)
    ‘Drive’ (FilmDistrict)

    Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn

    Ryan Gosling stars as a Los Angeles wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles for armed heists by night. Though a loner by nature, Driver can’t help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), a vulnerable young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by the return of her ex-convict husband Standard (Oscar Isaac). After a heist intended to pay off Standard’s protection money spins unpredictably out of control, Driver finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves, tailgated by a syndicate of deadly serious criminals. But when he realizes that the gangsters are after more than the bag of cash in his trunk-that they’re coming straight for Irene and her son-Driver is forced to shift gears and go on offense. (FilmDistrict)

    79. Toni Erdmann

    'Toni Erdmann' (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    ‘Toni Erdmann’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    Directed by: Maren Ade

    Winfried doesn’t see much of his working daughter Ines (Sandra Huller). He pays her a surprise visit in Bucharest, where she’s busy as a corporate strategist. The geographical change doesn’t help them to see more eye to eye. Practical joker Winfried annoys his daughter with corny pranks and jabs at her routine lifestyle of meetings and paperwork. Father and daughter reach an impasse, and Winfried agrees to go home to Germany. Enter Toni Erdmann: Winfried’s flashy alter ego. Disguised in a tacky suit, weird wig and fake teeth, Toni barges into Ines’ work circle, claiming to be her CEO’s life coach. As Toni, Winfried doesn’t hold back, and Ines meets the challenge. The harder they push, the closer they become. In all the madness, Ines begins to see that her eccentric father deserves a place in her life. (Fox Searchlight)

    78. Zero Dark Thirty

    'Zero Dark Thirty' (Columbia Pictures)
    ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (Columbia Pictures)

    Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow

    In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the CIA began interrogating suspected Al-Qaeda agents across the globe in a bid to locate the elusive bin Laden. Upon arriving at a CIA black site and witnessing the brutal interrogation tactics firsthand, driven CIA operative Maya (Chastain) aids her unpredictable colleague Dan (Jason Clarke) in gathering the intelligence that will help bring bin Laden to justice. Over the course of the next decade, numerous false leads and dead ends make the search seem more futile than ever. Meanwhile, numerous suicide bombings all across the Middle East and Europe hint that Al Qaeda won’t go down without a fight. Then, just when it seemed as if the trail of clues had finally dried up, an old piece of evidence leads Maya to a suspect who may work directly for the man charged with planning the worst act of terrorism ever committed on American soil. (Columbia)

    77. Brooklyn

    'Brooklyn' (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
    ‘Brooklyn’ (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

    Directed by: John Crowley

    BROOKLYN tells the profoundly moving story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.

    76. Hunt for the Wilderpeople

    'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' (Piki Films)
    ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ (Piki Films)

    Directed by: Taika Waititi

    Ricky (Julian Dennison) is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle (Sam Neill) in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together.