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My 30 Favorite Movies |
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Main Page |
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About Me |
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My Favorite Movies By Year |
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People's taste in movies tends to be as varied as everything else about them. While one person might greatly enjoy the gleefully nihilistic mayhem of Evil Dead, another might find pondering the artful metaphors of The Seventh Seal a more pleasant way to spend an evening. So, in other words, if you happen to disagree with some of my choices, don't get too upset =) |
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Runners-up: AI: Artificial Intelligence, Alien, Amadeus, American Beauty, Brokeback Mountain, Cast Away, Dead Man Walking, Forrest Gump, Jaws, Lilya 4-Ever, The Matrix, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Passion of the Christ, Reservoir Dogs, Raging Bull, The Shawshank Redemption, Taxi Driver, The Shining, Sideways, The Thin Red Line, Titanic, War of the Worlds (2005). |
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30. The Breakfast Club |
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The Breakfast Club is probably the best teen movie ever made. The young actors and director John Hughes' eye for teen behavior never ceases to amaze, and the actions and interactions feel just as appropriate today as twenty years ago. The five main characters, rather than clinging to the old campus stereotypes, are fully realized human beings whose words and feelings ring true. This portrait of high school life is spot-on, and everyone who's been through it should find a lot to love here. |
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29. Sin City |
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Sin City represents that rare kind of pop culture movie that, once it's over, leaves you wishing it had gone on all night. This visual and audial marvel is in fact so cool that you would have to go back at least five years to find a worthy competitor in this arena.
Like Pulp Fiction, Sin City uses a non-linear storytelling fashion to perfection, and even the voiceover works incredibly well. If this movie hints to where Rodriguez is headed, movie viewers can rest at ease for at least another thirty years. |
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28. Psycho |
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Psycho is a great movie, not just because it marked the birth of a whole new movie genre, but because it, despite 45 long years on its back, still feels almost as fresh and suspenseful as it must have done when it was released in the early 60's. Every frame of Marion's stay at the Bates Motel is dripping with quiet suspense and atmosphere, and everything leading up to her grisly death in a shower cabin can only be considered a highlight in cinema. This is vintage Hitchcock, and in my opinion the second best film he ever made. |
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27. Blue Velvet |
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Blue Velvet is, like most other David Lynch films, and experience that is not easily summed up. It is a masterpiece of sorts - strangely fascinating, morbidly compelling and yet to seemingly structureless that it's difficult to determine whether the film's genius is even intentional or not. But it strikes a deep chord with me, and it appears to have done so with many others as well, so there must be something special nestled deep among the frames of dreamlike wonder and horror. Love it or hate it (I love it), everyone has to agree Blue Velvet is one of a kind. |
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26. Deliverance |
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It is a shame that a movie like John Boorman's Deliverance will forever be known for the much-disputed rape scene that occurs after about 30 minutes, when it has so much more to offer. Set solely to the ominous Duelling Banjos, Deliverance is a terrific thriller that's astonishingly effective in it's low key approach. It feels real - and because of this it is more frightening than all recent Japanese horror remakes Hollywood has churned out during the last few years. |
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25. Munich |
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A terrific achievement by one of the great filmmakers of our time, Munich was a daring and important project that succeeded. Spielberg takes all involved viewpoints into consideration and the delicate balance mixed with masterful suspense worthy of Hitchcock's signature gives the whole film a razor-sharp edge. Alas, Munich was widely critized for siding with Israelis, Palestinians, pacifists, war-mongerers or simply for not taking sides at all. The most annoying truth, however, is that if Munich was credited Kubrick or Martin Scorsese, critics all over the world would breathlessly laud it for being so "unbiased" and "balanced". Spielberg can't win.
Munich is definitely one of Spielberg's finer efforts, and while I have only seen it once, I only expect it's effect on me to grow. This "prayer for peace" is as brilliant as it is urgent. |
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24. Insomnia |
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Since many others considered (and still consider) Christopher Nolan's follow-up to the critically acclaimed and beloved Memento something of a disappointment, my initial expectations for this remake of a Norwegian thriller were quite low. Little did I know that the movie would not only be vastly superior to Memento, but also one of the greatest thrillers I had ever seen.
It's been some time since I last saw Insomnia, but many images still remain fresh in my mind. A police detective trapped in an icy river beneath a stream of floating logs. The detective and the antagonist holding an anti-climactically calm conversation on a crowded ferry. The haunting beauty of the nightmarish winterscapes. Many movie fans will skip this ride because of its lukewarm reputation, but if you haven't already seen it, I urge you to check it out. I don't think you will regret it. |
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23. 2001: A Space Odyssey |
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Considering the incredible amount of critical acclaim bestowed upon this film, I might as well start with the bad things. I believe that Stanley Kubrick's revolutionary 2001: A Space Odyssey is a work of rarely matched self-importance - a monument raised by Stanley Kubrick in the honor of Stanley Kubrick, in which we regular movie-goers are asked to admire the movie's Intellectual And Deeply Metaphorical Treatment Of Very Important Issues or quietly buzz off. However, this doesn't change the fact that the movie itself is an extraordinary one.
From the amazing space constructs drifting around to the music of Johann Strauss, to the visually astonishing trip through an endless tunnel of coulours and lights at the end - 2001: A Space Odyssey has the power to captivate and fascinate its audience. And these are the hallmarks of a near-masterpiece. |
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22. Das Boot |
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Das Boot has a few problems, most notably the overlong running time (I'm primarily talking about the Director's Cut) and the decision to make the crew members speak English, but none of these are fatal enough to lessen the overall experience. This is the best submarine film ever made (duh), and arguably also one of the best movies about World War II I can recall seeing (the third best, to be precise). |
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21. Goodfellas |
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Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas is in several ways a more enrichening film experience than The Godfather - and although I consider the latter to be the superior motion picture, Goodfellas certainly isn't far behind. This great movie contains some of the greatest acting I have ever seen (especially by Joe Pesci, whose spot-on performan-ce can't be praised enough) and arguably the most authentic depiction of mafia life ever committed to film (not that I'm in the branch, but you know what I mean =) |
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20. Before Sunrise |
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And now for something completely different...
I generally don't watch romantic dramas. It's not that I dislike the genre (it's quite the opposite, actually), I''ve just given up hope in on-screen passion after all the sickeningly cheesy Valentine's Day romps starring two bankable stars, or the endless amounts of TV series in which the subject matter is often treated so bad it borders on abuse. The drawback is, of course, that when another movie as achingly honest and beautiful as Before Sunrise comes along, I might miss it.
Everything is top-notch - conversations that ring perfectly clear, acting that reminds us why acting exists, and all those little subtle observations that Linklater does so well. In my opinion, Before Sunrise is second only to one other romantic film - but when it comes to quality of this calibre, it doesn't really matter. |
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19. Rear Window |
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It takes a special kind of director to succesfully make a movie that consists essentially of one single scene. However, Alfred Hitchcock has never been known to be anything else than one of a kind - and Rear Window merely cements his status as one of history's great filmmakers.
Hitchcock's enviable repertoire includes titles such as the masterful Psycho, the overrated North by Northwest and the compelling Vertigo - but none of those feels as fresh and exciting as Rear Window. This is mandatory viewing for everyone who claims to be a movie fan. |
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18. Apocalypse Now |
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I don't think there is any other movie that has succeeded in depicting the true insanity of war quite like Apocalypse Now. This gargantuan epic is at times frightening, at times frustrating and occasionally magnificent. I long considered this to be Coppola's greatest achievement, and even though I have changed my mind over the years, I still consider Apocalypse Now to be one of the greatest films of our time. |
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17. Saving Private Ryan |
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The movie that would change war on cinema forever. This incredibly violent and unflinching look on World War II may have lost some of its punch, now that every other war movie uses the gritty and dirty approach that Spielberg introduced to the world, but the effect is still overwhelming.
Saving Private Ryan is one of Spielberg's more serious efforts, which for some reasons are the ones that turn out best. And oh... that this great film lost the Best Picture Oscar to the entirely forgettable Shakespeare in Love is unforgivable. What was the Academy drinking? |
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16. Wonder Boys |
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Surprised? That's nothing compared to what I was when I first sat through this little gem of a movie about four months ago. In fact, I still have to re-watch it once in a while to make sure I'm not overpraising it - and I don't think I am.
Since I can't think of any good way to sum up Wonder Boys, Iet's just say this much: It's like Sideways meets Fargo meets Dead Poets Society. On marijuana. And yes, it's brilliant. |
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15. The Lord of the Rings |
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What is there to say that hasn't already been said one hundred times? For any lover of film, fantasy or literature, Peter Jackson's stunning and now complete Lord of the Rings trilogy should represent ten hours of nirvana. Granted, there are a few scenes that don't work as well as they should, but when this rousing tale soars (and it does - often) everything is instantly forgiven.
Eleven Oscars well spent, I would say. |
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14. The Straight Story |
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It is interesting to note that the film I consider to be David Lynch's greatest is also the one that is least representative of the director's career and style. In fact, were it not for that single name in the opening credits, I would never have guessed Lynch was capable of making such a heartwarming and absolutely wonderful little movie as The Straight Story.
Like Alvin's unusual road trip, this film moves with a dreamily slow pace - but it's never tedious. The gentleness and quiet beauty of this film is haunting, and there is not a hint of cynicism or anything mean-spirited to be found within its 110 minutes of running time. Very few films have ever made me so glad to be alive. |
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13. The Godfather |
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Many classical films have big names to live up to, but none (except possibly Citizen Kane) has a more imposing task than Coppola's mythical The Godfather. So, is it worthy of all the praise? I don't think so, but living up to a reputation like this film's is, in fact, impossible. And The Godfather, though overshadowed by it's reputation, is nonetheless a brilliant motion picture.
Many cinephiles will argue that Part II is superior to the first film, but I couldn't agree less. Part II features a handful of great scenes, most notably the ending, but almost everything else is inferior. And Part III, well... |
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12. The War Zone |
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Words like "shocking", "harrowing" and "heartbreaking" are often used in film reviews, but most of the time they are little more than empty words. However, all of these adjectives apply to The War Zone - a movie that had such a profound impact on me that I had trouble sleeping after seeing it the first time.
Several sequences in The War Zone, and not just those involving incest, can be hard to sit through - but like the similiar Requiem for a Dream, this searingly beautiful film experience leaves an incredible mark. It's devastating, yes, maybe even nauseating to some - but it is also so very rewarding. |
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11. Contact |
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Contact did for me what 2001: A Space Odyssey did for many others. The ability to inspire pure awe and the masterful treatment of an endlessly fascinating subject matter are things that both of these films share, but while the latter is dragged down by the self-importance of its director - Contact plays it straight all the way. And while it arguably can't be considered as groundbreaking as Kubrick's space epos, I consider it to be a better motion picture. This is, in my opinion, the best science-fiction fim ever made.
Sidenote: How come Robert Zemeckis has three great movies (Forrest Gump, Cast Away and Contact) on his repertoire and most people don't even know who he is? He should be in the dictionary under "underappreciated". |
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10. Fight Club |
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Fight Club is one of those films that you either end up praising beyond belief or loathing with a passion. Obviously, I belong to the first group. Fight Club works on so many levels and hits so many right buttons it would have been compelling with anyone at the helm, but thanks to David Fincher's masterful direction and pitch-perfect sense for style it emerges as one of the finest films I have ever seen.
As is true with all masterpieces, different people see different things in Fight Club. Some see a dark cautionary morality tale. Some see a bold celebration of anti-establishment thinking. Some see an ingenial black comedy. And some see little more than a trippy boxing flick. The ability to strike a deep chord inside so many different mindsets is the hallmark of a great motion picture. |
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9. Pulp Fiction |
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The embodiment of a modern classic, Pulp Fiction is truly an exceptional movie. Not only did it manage to be the It-movie for not one, but TWO generations (the original Tarantino fans and the new batch - both hailing Pulp Fiction as the greatest film of all time), but it is also as masterfully scripted and acted as pulp films come.
Ten years from now, will movie fans all around the globe still be able to recite Ezekiel 25:17 and hotly debate the contents of Marcellus Wallace's mysterious suitcase? Probably. Tarantino may go on to make more great movies, but Pulp Fiction will always be the one that reserved him a spot in cinema's Hall of Fame. |
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8. Se7en |
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Has human evil ever been more frighteningly portrayed than in David Fincher's multi-layered dark masterpiece Se7en? From the innovative and endlessly imitated opening credits to the chilling conclusion - a tour-de-force in modern cinema - Se7en absorbs us into its grim world of perpetual rain and evil and holds us spellbound until the very last frame. And even afterwards, the sheer power of the experience sticks to the psyche like a leech.
For a long time, I considered Fight Club Fincher's greatest achievement, but upon my third viewing of both films, I changed my mind. Since they are both two of the best films I have ever seen, it wouldn't surprise me if I change my mind again - but for now, the honor is Se7en's. |
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7. Lost in Translation |
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My choice for the greatest love story of all time is not Casablanca or Gone with the Wind. Instead, it is Sofia Coppola's luminous Lost in Translation, a film that touched me so deeply I couldn't bear the thought that this movie eventually was going to end. And contrary to many other films of this kind, my admiration for Lost in Translation grows with each viewing.
Sofia Coppola will surely grow up to have a stellar career behind the camera. The fact that her second feature is better than anything her father, who just so happens to be a pioneer of American filmmaking, has ever done has got to mean something. |
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6. Magnolia |
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Magnolia is a movie about life. Not a life, but life itself - a meditation on fate, redemption and destiny. The subject matter alone seems like an automatical ticket to the obtuse and pretentious depths of cinematic hell, and with fifteensomething main characters and a three hour running time a train wreck would seem inevitable. But Magnolia miraculously excels all possible expectations and limits, and ascends to another level of cinema. This is a filmmaking triumph, a three hour movie phenomenon, and a film complex enough to gain further momentum with every viewing.
It would be impossible not to mention the acting. The cast, a tremendous ensemble consisting of most acclaimed character actors and actresses working today, is uniformly incredible - with special kudos to Jason Robards as a dying man with lots of regrets, Tom Cruise as a mentally unstable sex cult leader, and above all Philip Baker Hall's amazing portrayal of a cancer-stricken quiz show host. The acting alone would make for an extraordinary movie, but with everything else in place, Magnolia is a masterpiece. |
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5. Spirited Away |
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There are a few films that have managed to scrape the very top of the barrel, the lid that separates cinema from pure art. And of all the films I have seen, Spirited Away has come the closest to breaking through. In fact, I consider the last third of Spirited Away to be the finest example of moviemaking in the world. The finest. If only the rest of the film had retained the same quality, this cinematic marvel would have been #1 on my list. Sadly, the off-colour humour and overall strangeness of some aspects noticeably hamper the final production. But it is still ridiculously close to the best movie you will ever sit through.
For those who have been unable to get their hands on this animated masterpiece, I will not give away any plot information. Instead, just pick up a copy of Spirited Away at the local disc shop and watch for yourself. A more beautiful journey into the realm of imagination has never been made. |
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4. Fanny and Alexander |
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It takes a master director like Ingmar Bergman to make a movie that so effortlessly excels at something serious filmmakers strive their whole careers to achieve - a succesful study of a human life. Fanny and Alexander is a living photo album, containing Bergman's visual manifestation of his own deepest childhood memories, altered by the passage of time so that they feel like dreams of a long lost world. A world viewed through the eyes of a child.
Life. Death. Sorrow. Joy. Bergman conveys them all so flawlessly that it is almost frightening. I am often reluctant to use the word "masterpiece", but it is more than warranted here. This is, in short, an amazing motion picture. |
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3. The Deer Hunter |
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Michael Cimino may have killed Paramount Pictures, but he will have to churn out at least five Heaven's Gates before I will cease to consider him a misunderstood genius. Because films of the same calibre as The Deer Hunter only come along about once a decade (and that might be charitable).
Everything about this film is near-perfect. Everything - from the powerhouse acting of the three male leads and the painstaking poignancy of every little scene, to the cold industrial sceneries set to the tunes of Stanley Myers' hauntingly beautiful "Cavatina". For some inexplicable reason, The Deer Hunter has attained a relatively bad reputation and is considered by many to be "overrated" and "boring". I can only hope that these people will wake up at some point in their lives and see this film for what has always been - a transcendent movie experience. |
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2. Requiem for a Dream |
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Disturbing, uncompromising, emotionally shattering and absolutely heartbreaking - Requiem for a Dream affected me in a way that no other film had ever done before. What occurs on the screen is presented with such brutal honesty it can be physically exhausting, but impossible to look away from.
Requiem for a Dream is not for everyone. If your favorite movie is called "102 Dalmatians" or "Big Momma's House", you might need to sit down with a psychiatrist after seeing this film. But if you are interested in heavyweight cinema, Requiem for a Dream might prove a life-changing experience.
Only one movie has ever equalled Requiem's impact on me. It goes under the name of... |
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1. Schindler's List |
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This is it. This is my choice for the greatest movie of all time. Steven Spielberg has made a film that depicts human evil and silent heroism in a way that sidesteps all emotional cliches and tearjerking methods, and emerges as that rare masterpiece that both film critics and regular movie-goers can look upon in awe. Schindler's List is emotionally devastating, and a reminder of what filmmakers are capable of giving us, but so rarely do. This is an evangelical experience. |
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Finally done. Thanks for reading! |
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List trivia |
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3% 1950's
7% 1960's
13% 1970's
13% 1980's
33% 1990's
30% 2000's |
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Steven Spielberg has 3 movies on the list.
Alfred Hitchcock, Francis Ford Coppola, David Fincher and David Lynch have 2.
Ingmar Bergman, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Hayao Miyazaki and Stanley Kubrick have one each.
And Akira Kurosawa, Robert Altman, Sergio Leone, Orson Welles, Ridley Scott and Charlie Chaplin were all unjustly snubbed. Oh well. |
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