Well .. here it is. A list a lifetime in the making that I'll no doubt want to re-tweak the minute I've posted it. I've seen a lot of movies in my time and distilling all that down to pick my favourites has been tough. The problem I have found is ... well, I love film a bit too much and I've seen too many movies! So when I decided to embark on a top 20 list... which then became 30 ... then 50 ... I found I still had a lot of films left out that I still wanted to mention. Not wanting to go to 100 (!), I just thought I'd have an honourable mentions sections, which I'll list in brief...
Honourable Mentions
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, It's A Wonderful Life, Anchorman, Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Breakfast Club, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, A Serious Man, The Good The Bad & The Ugly, Raging Bull, Gremlins, Toy Story Trilogy, Back To The Future Part II, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Jurassic Park, High Noon, No Country For Old Men, The Man Who Wasn't There, Bad Santa, Seven Samurai, Ikiru, E.T., The Master, Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Blade Runner
I want to dedicate a section of 'Honourable Mentions' to Blade Runner. There was a time when Blade Runner would have been a lot higher on the list but as I've got older ... I've cooled off towards it and found that there is no perfect version of this film. For the most part, I favour The Final Cut - omitting the awful voice over was a great start but I have mixed feelings about the addition of the "is Dec a Replicant?". This was something added long after the film was finished and at the behest of at least three of the creative voices involved in making the film. It adds a great layer of ambiguity to the film but robs it somewhat of the heart of the story. It adds an existential edge to it, sure ... but the film in part was already about what it means to live...so I don't know. Plus, the script is a bit of a mess - certain elements are not given enough time to develop and leaves the overall arc ... unsatisfying. All that said though, the pros of Blade Runner, of which there are many, easily outweigh the issues. The plot is intriguing and the world it creates is fascinating, rich and hugely influential. I know it sounds like I have more problems with the film that positives but I think it's greater than the sum of its spare parts. It's a very absorbing film, where you can just get lost in the setting. Nothing beats that finale either. Time to die ...
Dishonourable Mentions
Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I love "so-bad-they're good movies" and I'd be remiss if I didn't include at least a couple on the list. So these all the time classic Dungeons & Dragons and The Room. D&D is a terrible, terrible film that's trying to be this epic fantasy epic whilst being "cool and hip" - it's horrible and glorious! Then there's The Room, which can lay claim to one of the best cinema experiences I have ever had. And it only gets funnier and funnier, especially if you've read Greg Sestro (one of the actors)'s memoirs as published in the wonderful book The Disaster Artist.
? Mentions
Is Pink Flamingos a good film or a bad film? I really don't know but I have to give a shout out to the weird master himself John Waters and Pink Flamingos is simply his masterpiece. It's an unreal film and a testament to the classic adage "be yourself" ... ...
With all that out of the way ... let's get started!
50. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
This is one where I don't know if it's a good film or a bad film but I sure love the hell out of it. I went from being completely confused by it the first time round to completely falling in love with it on repeated viewings. It's such a bizarre and campy concept that I just can't help digging the hell out of it. It has issues for sure, the middle sags a little bit, but the music and staging is just phemonal. A brilliant send up and dedication to B movies and old Hollywood, the film is anchored by Tim Curry's incredible performance as Dr. Frankenfurter. When Rocky Horror works, it really really works. The final 20 minutes delve into some of the oddest, yet strangely beautiful moments, I have ever seen in a musical. The I'm Going Home section is just spine-tinglingly good. As Frankenfurter suggests, or more implores, "give yourself over absolute pleasure". Rocky Horror is just the film to do that.
49. Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade
Raider is better made. Temple of Doom is weirder. But I'd be lying to myself if I picked any other Indiana Jones film as my favourite of the series. Last Crusade is pitch perfect from start to finish, with a great central McGuffin and brilliantly staged set-pieces. The master stroke though was hiring Sean Connery as Indy's dad. Connery and Ford are wonderful together and their back and forth, which goes from hostile to loving, is just the highlight of the film. I think that's the key really - this is the only Indiana Jones film with heart.
48. The Vvitch
A recent one but one that has really stuck with me. I put it low on the list since I've only seen it once but I imagine on repeats it will grow on me even more. In an age of jump scare horror, The Vvitch dares to slow things down and adopts a Kubrick approach to the filmmaking. It's creepy, unnerving and you feel like you've been transported back in time to the pioneering days of the founding of America. Plus the film birthed a new horror icon, Black Philip!
47. The Thing
Hands down for me, John Carpenter's best film. It was either this or Halloween but The Thing just represents Carpenter at the peak of his creativity. It's tense as hell, has an amazing atmosphere with superb gory practical effects and an experimental soundtrack from Ennio Moriconne. Kurt Russell anchors the film with a quiet confidence masking his hidden fear and confusion. Awesome in the supreme sense and unforgettable.
46. Star Wars
There has never been a time for me before Star Wars that I can remember. Along with The Simpsons and Steven Spielberg, this film (and the original trilogy) is a cornerstone of the media of my childhood. It's a bit hokey in places, sure, and the direction isn't the best but there's this energy and enthusiasm to the edit, acting and music that make it one of the classics. My love has been somewhat dampened by the prequels, spin-offs and various other Star Wars overload in recent years but going back to that original film is reminder of why I fell in love with Star Wars, and film, in the first place.
45. The Big Lebowski
I think there's better made and better written Coen Brothers films (which oddly haven't cracked into my list, even though I think they are probably our greatest living filmmakers) but The Big Lebowski is my favourite. The script, the Dude, the crazy plot, Donnie, the bowling, "Nobody fucks with Jesus", John Goodman ... it's all so wonderful. Yet amongst all the craziness, there is a very thoughtful and intelligent film in there about the state of traditional masculinity at the turn of the century. The Dude abides indeed.
44. Dawn of the Dead
George A. Romero, god rest his soul, was the master of combining social commentary with horror and Dawn of the Dead was a brilliant fusion of themes of rampant 70s consumerism with a zombie film. The special effects are still great and is pretty much the archetypal zombie film. But what makes Dawn special is the social commentary. My favourite scenes actually don't involve the zombies - the characters, temporarily secure, go on a "shopping" spree and find that the items don't fill that hole in their lives ... and with only a horde of zombies and every material item they ever wanted, life becomes miserable ...
43. Cloud Atlas
A controversial choice? Maybe. Is it perfect? No. But the overall effect this film builds up is just overwhelmingly brilliant. Purely from a technique point of view, every aspect of this film is to be marvelled at. How the filmmakers were able to intercut six stories, with severely dissent tones, whilst maintaining structural and thematic links across them all is a staggering feat. Then the fact that it's exciting, full of life and engrossing is even more wonderful. The individual stories that build up the grand whole are all uniquely fascinating in their own way, each with their own distinctive style. Cloud Atlas reveals news layers of intrigue with each viewing and just keeps growing in my estimations. A severely underrated gem.
42. Perfect Blue
The late, great Satoshi Kon is easily one of the most underrated filmmakers of all time - the Stanley Kubrick of anime. Paprika is an avant garde, pop art masterpiece that fully explores the concept of entering people's dreams far greater than Inception. Tokyo Godfathers is starting to be viewed as a new Christmas classic. The TV series Paranoia Agent is a post-modern masterpiece of existential dread. But the classic that started it all Perfect Blue is still my favourite film of his. The film follows retiring pop idol Mima who soon finds herself stalked by an obsessive fan and her own psychosis. As her concepts of reality and fiction begin to break down, Mima begins to learn disturbing truths about herself. Perfect Blue is uncomfortable, challenging and utterly mesmerising.
41. Beauty & The Beast / The Lion King
I had the hardest time choosing which Disney film to include in this slot. It ultimately came down to The Lion King and Beauty & The Beast. I love films both for different reasons. The Lion King is epic and hugely emotional. Beauty & The Beast is also emotional but in a subtle, more tender way. So it honestly depends on what mood I'm in. Cheating ... probably .... justifiable? Just about. I think Beauty & The Beast is the better written of the two but The Lion King offers some genuinely spine-tingling moments. Both have amazing songs, though The Lion King's soundtrack (i.e. the non songs) is probably better. Sorry, last case of cheating on the list.
The best action film of the last 10, maybe 20, years? Most certainly. George Miller came out of retirement to helm one of the most ambitious actions films in years. Better yet, Miller used the form to its max, making use of minimal dialogue and simply let the visuals and action scenes tell and propel the story. It's the simplicity of the story that works and unending pace. Yet also, there are great characters arcs in here and the creation of a new all time classic sci-fi character, Furiosa. In my opinion, the greatest crime the Academy ever committed was not giving Best Director to Miller...
39. The Innocents
One of the most underrated films of all time? Quite possibly. The Innocents is a perfect and incredibly classy horror film that keeps the chills coming with a slow pace and haunting atmosphere. With a slightly creepy undercurrent, The Innocents is a gothic masterpiece and a testament to horror that truly gets under your skin.
38. The Godfather
One of the greatest films of all time at only 38 on my list? While there is no doubting The Godfather's pedigree, I simply have films that I like more. Though I still love this one. When I finally saw it, it was like tasting the forbidden fruit. When I was a younger and budding film fan, I was not allowed to watch it. That was until a new DVD collection was re-rated to 15 and I could successfully convince my parents to buy it for me. And that first one did not disappoint. It's the intricacies I love - you become totally absorbed into this family's world. Plus, it's a great self-contained story that almost didn't need a sequel! Part Two is great, of course, but I feel the story was pretty much told in the original. It's the story of Michael Corleone's rise and fall. "I never talk about my work" is the perfect finale to Michael's character arc. And Pacino is beyond excellent in this. Marlon Brando as Don Corleone is not in at much as people remember but he leaves an unforgettable mark. It's an epic, beautifully told story, with some of the most gorgeous cinematography ever committed to film, that is an all-time classic.
37. Ichi The Killer
From the brilliant mind of Takashi Miike (aka the director who literally never stops working - his filmography is well over a 100) comes Ichi the Killer, a strange film which plays like an anime in real-life. It's actually a fairly articulate exploration of onscreen violence. The violence towards men is cartoony, over-the-top and silly while the violence towards women is brutal and realistic, which is by design. The film questions how an audience reacts to this and screen violence in general. It's an intense film that is brilliantly told and never ever lets up the pace. And it goes into some weird territories.
36. My Neighbour Totoro / Kiki's Delivery Service
My first case of cheating on the list and the first lot comes from one of my favourite filmmakers, Hayao Miyazaki. To be honest, I consider both films to be part of a mini "growing up" series (which I'll discuss more in the Kiki article as part of the Studio Ghibli Retrospective series) so I feel kind of justified doing this. Plus it's my list, so I can do what I want! Both are great films but offer something a little different. Totoro is a beautiful look at childhood and the power of imagination, while Kiki gives way to a story about children growing up. Both are early examples of what a mature and brilliant filmmaker Miyazaki was becoming. Either one you pick will offer you a great time. I lean towards Kiki as the best all-rounder but I'd be remiss if I didn't include Totoro!
35. Barry Lyndon
It took me years to build up to watching Barry Lyndon. I'd heard it was slowest and most detached of Kubrick's works and the things I read about it simply did not light my interest. However, when I finally got round to it, I found it to be one of Kubrick's most engrossing films from a story perspective, as we follow the misadventures of a slightly dim young man becoming an aristocrat, with some of the best filmmaking I have ever seen. Kubrick chose to take the costume drama back in time by only using natural lighting. This, in combination with the incredible costume design, gave a realistic look that has never before or since replicated on screen. It's a beautiful film and highly underrated, and is possibly the most human of Kubrick's body of work.
34. Mary Poppins
The best film Walt Disney made in his lifetime. Bring it. No other film in the history of family entertainment quite hits the many, many highs of Mary Poppins. Unforgettable songs. Check. Brilliant performances. Check (yes, even with Dick Van Dyke's terrible Cockney accent, he's still great). Unbridled creativity. Check. Phenomenal technical accomplishments. Check. All wrapped in a moving little story about a father reconnecting with his kids. Complete with singing nannies, dancing penguins, tea parties on the ceiling and a roster of classic songs for the ages. The film just moves from iconic scene to iconic scene flawlessly. Watch it again after years away from it. You'll see again why people love this film so much.
33. The Iron Giant
The go-to underrated animated family film? While this film has appeared on numerous of these kind of lists, The Iron Giant is, for some reason, still not a widely talked about film. And this is truly baffling to me as I think it's nearly perfect. Using the classic premise of a kid and his pet (if the pet was a huge robot from outer space) The Iron Giant actually becomes this huge meditative look at life, death and how to use our time on this Earth wisely. Seriously. But aside from heady themes, it's the film's huge heart that always swells on a re-watch. With a great central lead (a thoroughly likeable yet bratty little boy called Hogarth), loads of great laughs along with plenty of cry worthy moments, The Iron Giant deserves a place in all family's collections. Superman ...
32. Ed Wood
31. Blue Velvet
There is no better opening sequence that Blue Velvet. As the now iconic song sweeps across the opening montage of an idealised suburbia (with a slightly off feel) a resident watering his plants collapses to the ground. The camera follows him and ventures underground to reveal the disgusting underbelly underneath as worms and other insects wriggle underneath? A bit obvious, sure but it's unforgettable. Kyle MacClachlan plays a young, out of touch teenager who stumbles across a severed ear, which ignites a mystery. He soon finds way more than he bargained for ... David Lynch toned down of the more surreal aspects of his earlier works to create an unnerving mystery film that sticks with the viewer long after the credits have rolled.
30. The Terminator
This one left a huge impact on me with its economical filmmaking and tight story-telling. This is how you make a film on a shoe-string budget. The film itself is still brilliant. More of a horror film than the later sequels, The Terminator boasts an incredibly inventive script (with its time travel shenanigans) and the start of future onscreen icon, Sarah Conner. Arnie is also great as the Terminator. With a relentless pace, The Terminator is a classic of the genre from when James Cameron was one of the most exciting filmmakers working in the sci-fi and action genre.
29. Super
What's your favourite superhero film? Well, it's not based on a comic and it didn't do too well ... it's got Rainn Wilson in it...you know, that guy from the American Office ... and he plays a religious nut who wants to become a superhero....oh Ellen Page is in it! And she plays a complete psychopath and tries to rape Rainn Wilson in one very awkward scene...Urm, the films really funny, though it's got a dark sense of humour that might put mainstream audiences off ... I mean the central idea of the film is that, to be a superhero, you'd have to be a complete lunatic...ok yes, it does sound like Kick-Ass, yes, but Kick-Ass only pushed that concept a little bit before reverting to a silly action filled final act (awesome but fairly cliched)....Super has a scene where Rainn Wilson kills a guy with a wrench for cutting in line outside a cinema....ok, enough of that. Before James Gunn made Guardians of the Galaxy he made another, altogether different kind of superhero film. Super isn't for everyone but if you have a dark sense of humour and want a real subversion of the superhero genre, Super is hilarious and wonderfully awkward...not for everyone though!
28. In Bruges
In Bruges is one of them pitch perfect film- bleakly funny, surprisingly rich, littered with excellent performances and lines and offers plenty of re-watchablity. It's also a great example of a location becoming as important as the characters themselves. Colin Farrell gives a surprisingly down-beat performance as a hitman laying low in the historic town following a terrible incident. With unforgettable performances from Brenda Glesson and Ralph Fiennes, In Bruges is an absolute treat.
In Bruges is one of them pitch perfect film- bleakly funny, surprisingly rich, littered with excellent performances and lines and offers plenty of re-watchablity. It's also a great example of a location becoming as important as the characters themselves. Colin Farrell gives a surprisingly down-beat performance as a hitman laying low in the historic town following a terrible incident. With unforgettable performances from Brenda Glesson and Ralph Fiennes, In Bruges is an absolute treat.
27. Apocalypse Now
It shouldn't work. The messy production, years of editing and the on-screen break down of two of its stars should make for a cinematic disaster. However, because of all of this and more, Apocalypse Now retains a hypnotic power that makes it an all time classic. Michael Sheen is brilliant as Willard, a disillusioned soldier brought back to 'Nam to hunt down the mysterious Captain Kurtz, a mysterious figure who has built a cult around him in the middle of the jungle. Based on Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Apocalypse Now is an unforgettable experience.
26. This Is Spinal Tap
Those of you who know me well know what a music fan I am ... I boast nearly 18,000 songs in my iTunes library. I love the stories behind the bands but nothing interests me more than learning about the excesses of classic 1970s-80s rock bands. So along comes This Is Spinal Tap, one of the funniest films of all time that lovingly satirises the world of rock. But it's a bit more than just a straight parody of this world. It's really about three, very dim friends who are torn apart by their ambitions and life-style. And the quotes. My god, the quotes. This is one of them films where I find myself dropping quotes in normal conversation and not realise what I'm doing.
25. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Overall, I prefer Star Trek as a franchise to Star Wars. It's silly even comparing the two, as they are vastly different and just happen to be sci-fi properties with star in the title. Star Trek is science fiction, while Star Wars is more science fantasy. Both excel at what they do but I prefer the more ethical, science heavy world of Trek. Plus Trek has never screwed fans over as hard as Star Wars. So, while The Wrath of Khan is not the best example of 'pure' Trek, it is easily the best told and written of the long running movie franchise. Serving as a sequel to the episode Space Seed (though you don't need to watch it to enjoy it), Khan is an exciting tale of vengeance as the film pits the titular villain against a now ageing Captain Kirk. Every element of this film is perfect - it's rich and literate. The true star is Ricardo Montablan as Khan, who provides a Shakespearean, ever so slightly over-the-top, performance. And nothing matches that emotional finale."At hell's heart, I stab at thee".
Those of you who know me well know what a music fan I am ... I boast nearly 18,000 songs in my iTunes library. I love the stories behind the bands but nothing interests me more than learning about the excesses of classic 1970s-80s rock bands. So along comes This Is Spinal Tap, one of the funniest films of all time that lovingly satirises the world of rock. But it's a bit more than just a straight parody of this world. It's really about three, very dim friends who are torn apart by their ambitions and life-style. And the quotes. My god, the quotes. This is one of them films where I find myself dropping quotes in normal conversation and not realise what I'm doing.
25. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Overall, I prefer Star Trek as a franchise to Star Wars. It's silly even comparing the two, as they are vastly different and just happen to be sci-fi properties with star in the title. Star Trek is science fiction, while Star Wars is more science fantasy. Both excel at what they do but I prefer the more ethical, science heavy world of Trek. Plus Trek has never screwed fans over as hard as Star Wars. So, while The Wrath of Khan is not the best example of 'pure' Trek, it is easily the best told and written of the long running movie franchise. Serving as a sequel to the episode Space Seed (though you don't need to watch it to enjoy it), Khan is an exciting tale of vengeance as the film pits the titular villain against a now ageing Captain Kirk. Every element of this film is perfect - it's rich and literate. The true star is Ricardo Montablan as Khan, who provides a Shakespearean, ever so slightly over-the-top, performance. And nothing matches that emotional finale."At hell's heart, I stab at thee".
24. Aliens
Speaking of sequels, James Cameron can lay claim to have made two of the very best. Repositioning the original haunted-house-in-space premise as a balls-to-the-wall action film sounds disrespectful on paper but the results are nothing short of thrilling. Plus, this is the one where Ripley was absolutely nailed as a character. The ensemble cast is great as well, in particular the unforgettable Vasquez. After a slow 40 minute build-up, Aliens is the literal example of film as a rollarcoaster. While I hate that term mostly (mostly), Aliens is structured to bring the audience on the ride but remembers to add substance.
23. Alien
... now all that said, the original Alien is still my favourite of the two. Very tough choice but the original Alien left a huge impression on me. It was the film I wanted to see more than any other. My parents had slightly strict rules on the films I could see and finally being able to see Alien was like tasting from the forbidden chalice. Outside of the spectacle of seeing the alien in full force and the gory kills, I also got a great film that emphasised Hitchcockian elements to create a terrifying experience. The sheer amount of dread behind every corner is palatable, with Ridley Scott creating a constantly stomach turning mood.
23. Alien
... now all that said, the original Alien is still my favourite of the two. Very tough choice but the original Alien left a huge impression on me. It was the film I wanted to see more than any other. My parents had slightly strict rules on the films I could see and finally being able to see Alien was like tasting from the forbidden chalice. Outside of the spectacle of seeing the alien in full force and the gory kills, I also got a great film that emphasised Hitchcockian elements to create a terrifying experience. The sheer amount of dread behind every corner is palatable, with Ridley Scott creating a constantly stomach turning mood.
22. Robocop
Film as satire is hard. You run the risk that the audience might not get it and take the over-the-top elements that make up the film's satirical ethos as either silly or confusing. In this vein, Robocop is easily one of the most over-the-top and satirical sic-fi action film I can think of. First and foremost, Robocop is a comedy. It knows it's silly and has fun poking at the lengths that big corporations go in influencing the lives of millions of people. The films follows police officer Alex Murphy (Paul Weller) who is violently gunned down by a criminal gang but is revived by corporation OCP as 'Robocop', their answer to the police organisation's failure to tackle crime in dystopian Detroit. The film touches upon concepts of gentrification, greed, privatisation and several other huge themes that make it relevant to this day.
Film as satire is hard. You run the risk that the audience might not get it and take the over-the-top elements that make up the film's satirical ethos as either silly or confusing. In this vein, Robocop is easily one of the most over-the-top and satirical sic-fi action film I can think of. First and foremost, Robocop is a comedy. It knows it's silly and has fun poking at the lengths that big corporations go in influencing the lives of millions of people. The films follows police officer Alex Murphy (Paul Weller) who is violently gunned down by a criminal gang but is revived by corporation OCP as 'Robocop', their answer to the police organisation's failure to tackle crime in dystopian Detroit. The film touches upon concepts of gentrification, greed, privatisation and several other huge themes that make it relevant to this day.
21. Pan's Labyrinth
Oh, Guillermo. Will you ever catch a break? With his new film finally on the horizon, it's important to remember that the 2010s have not been so kind to him. His projects have just not got off the ground - see 1) his exit from The Hobbit film series, 2) the cancellation of his video game collaboration with video game auteur Hideo Kojima Silent Hills, 3) the cancellation of the long-awaited Hellboy III (seriously...with so many superhero sequels, Hellboy is the only series that actually required another film), 4) the disappearance of his interesting premise for a film adaptation of Justice League Dark and 5) the baffling flat out rejection of his proposed adaptation of Lovecraft's At The Mountains of Madness. All these events show that the creative process can easily be stopped by men and women in suits at any time. This is why Pan's Labyrinth becomes more and more special with the passage of time. A pure uncompromised vision from the director that contrasts a disturbing and bloody fantasy world with a disturbing and bloody vision of the Spanish Civil War. It's glum, rarely has any levity but finds an aching beauty in the sadness. With easily some of the best practical creature effects ever committed to film, Pan's Labyrinth is a masterpiece of fantasy filmmaking.
Oh, Guillermo. Will you ever catch a break? With his new film finally on the horizon, it's important to remember that the 2010s have not been so kind to him. His projects have just not got off the ground - see 1) his exit from The Hobbit film series, 2) the cancellation of his video game collaboration with video game auteur Hideo Kojima Silent Hills, 3) the cancellation of the long-awaited Hellboy III (seriously...with so many superhero sequels, Hellboy is the only series that actually required another film), 4) the disappearance of his interesting premise for a film adaptation of Justice League Dark and 5) the baffling flat out rejection of his proposed adaptation of Lovecraft's At The Mountains of Madness. All these events show that the creative process can easily be stopped by men and women in suits at any time. This is why Pan's Labyrinth becomes more and more special with the passage of time. A pure uncompromised vision from the director that contrasts a disturbing and bloody fantasy world with a disturbing and bloody vision of the Spanish Civil War. It's glum, rarely has any levity but finds an aching beauty in the sadness. With easily some of the best practical creature effects ever committed to film, Pan's Labyrinth is a masterpiece of fantasy filmmaking.
20. Day of the Dead
The bleakest and most depressing of Romero's zombie films. Here, all hope has been lost and the characters have pretty much given in the inevitability of their fates. In a time "Reagonomics", this was a pretty damning portrayal of America. As scientist race to find a solution to the zombie problem, they attempt experiments to communicate with the undead. Stuck in a bunker underground, the characters soon start to lose it and being to turn on each other. It's a slow burner but it becomes the richest and most rewarding films in the Dead trilogy. One of the greatest character kills ever in film, as well.
The bleakest and most depressing of Romero's zombie films. Here, all hope has been lost and the characters have pretty much given in the inevitability of their fates. In a time "Reagonomics", this was a pretty damning portrayal of America. As scientist race to find a solution to the zombie problem, they attempt experiments to communicate with the undead. Stuck in a bunker underground, the characters soon start to lose it and being to turn on each other. It's a slow burner but it becomes the richest and most rewarding films in the Dead trilogy. One of the greatest character kills ever in film, as well.
19. Donnie Darko
Looking back over this list, it's become clear to me that I really respond to single character studies. I also seem to respond to films that blur the lines between fiction and reality. Throw in a killer soundtrack and multiple genres and you've got a film tailored made to me! Donnie Darko is almost all my personal tastes manifested in a single film. It's a crazy sci-fi story involving time travel. It's also a disturbing horror film, where the main character has reoccurring nightmares about a strange bunny creature. It's an intense character study of a disturbed teenager, trying to find his place in the world. It's also a throw back to John Hughes style, 80s high school setting. It's a vehement take down of conservative culture that also doesn't offer any real answers as an alternative. Sometimes, weird shit happens and there will always be loners and outsiders to the world. I've slowly grown to love this film, divorced of all the hype. It's strange and often hard to grasp but it's a near perfect piece of post-modern filmmaking. It's a mad world...
Looking back over this list, it's become clear to me that I really respond to single character studies. I also seem to respond to films that blur the lines between fiction and reality. Throw in a killer soundtrack and multiple genres and you've got a film tailored made to me! Donnie Darko is almost all my personal tastes manifested in a single film. It's a crazy sci-fi story involving time travel. It's also a disturbing horror film, where the main character has reoccurring nightmares about a strange bunny creature. It's an intense character study of a disturbed teenager, trying to find his place in the world. It's also a throw back to John Hughes style, 80s high school setting. It's a vehement take down of conservative culture that also doesn't offer any real answers as an alternative. Sometimes, weird shit happens and there will always be loners and outsiders to the world. I've slowly grown to love this film, divorced of all the hype. It's strange and often hard to grasp but it's a near perfect piece of post-modern filmmaking. It's a mad world...
18. Eraserhead
One of the most abstract films of all time? Probably not, but Eraserhead has certainly earned a reputation as a difficult piece. And yes, it is an intense experience but there is a through line. It's essentially about a couple who have a child they don't want. The film taps into all sorts of primordial fears about pregnancy, babies and responsibility, all told in a beautifully abstract way in gorgeous black and white cinematography. The sound design is a work of genius as well. For me, this is still the purest statement of intent by David Lynch - combining recognisable elements with a gruesome underbelly that feels like a dream and a nightmare.
One of the most abstract films of all time? Probably not, but Eraserhead has certainly earned a reputation as a difficult piece. And yes, it is an intense experience but there is a through line. It's essentially about a couple who have a child they don't want. The film taps into all sorts of primordial fears about pregnancy, babies and responsibility, all told in a beautifully abstract way in gorgeous black and white cinematography. The sound design is a work of genius as well. For me, this is still the purest statement of intent by David Lynch - combining recognisable elements with a gruesome underbelly that feels like a dream and a nightmare.
17. The Royal Tenenbaums
Wes Andersen is a great filmmaker but his twee style is a bit much for some. However, with The Royal Tenenbaums he found the perfect balance. There's no "comedy" quite like Tenenbaums, which manages to balance funny scenes and twee moments yet also be depressingly tragic without it feeling forced. The whole cast is excellent, especially Gene Hackman, who would retire soon after making the film. The plot is pitch perfect - Hackman's elderly Royal pretends to have cancer to try and bring his distant family back together. And things just become more awkward from there. Every character is fleshed out in loving detail as they play out their small tragic tale in what is a essentially a doll's house of a set. This is the film equivalent of laughing something off after you've cried about it - your eyes are still red and sore and the pain is still there but a loved one is helping you to feel better.
Wes Andersen is a great filmmaker but his twee style is a bit much for some. However, with The Royal Tenenbaums he found the perfect balance. There's no "comedy" quite like Tenenbaums, which manages to balance funny scenes and twee moments yet also be depressingly tragic without it feeling forced. The whole cast is excellent, especially Gene Hackman, who would retire soon after making the film. The plot is pitch perfect - Hackman's elderly Royal pretends to have cancer to try and bring his distant family back together. And things just become more awkward from there. Every character is fleshed out in loving detail as they play out their small tragic tale in what is a essentially a doll's house of a set. This is the film equivalent of laughing something off after you've cried about it - your eyes are still red and sore and the pain is still there but a loved one is helping you to feel better.
16. Rear Window
A cornerstone of any Film Studies course, Rear Window manages to transcend its use as a tool for teaching the art of film to students. The film still entices and hook its audience and is Hitchcock at his purest. James Stewart is phenomenal in the central role, displaying his nervous energy even when bound to a wheel-chair. It's a slow burner but draws the audience in with an intruiging premise and excellent filmmaker. The perfect example of pure cinema.
A cornerstone of any Film Studies course, Rear Window manages to transcend its use as a tool for teaching the art of film to students. The film still entices and hook its audience and is Hitchcock at his purest. James Stewart is phenomenal in the central role, displaying his nervous energy even when bound to a wheel-chair. It's a slow burner but draws the audience in with an intruiging premise and excellent filmmaker. The perfect example of pure cinema.
15. Hot Fuzz
I adore the kinetic filmmaking of Edgar Wright. The whole Cornetto Trilogy can be used as an example of how to bring the comedic timing of cartoons to live-action. And Hot Fuzz is easily the crown jewel of the trilogy. Taking influence from dozens of action films and funnelling it through a British sensibility makes for some genius comedy. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have never been so loveable together. The film just throws gag after gag, interspersed with tender moments and over the top gore. It's an absolute treat every time. Plus, I love how culturally specific the humour is. Only a British person can fully appreciate how funny a Hollywood style gun fight set in a Spar supermarket is.
14. The Empire Strikes Back
...so, yes, while I prefer Star Trek overall, there's one Star Wars films I prize above them all. You've heard it before but Empire is the best Star Wars film. And the one Lucas had the least creative involvement with. This was back when the series was willing to take a big risk by producing a darker, more character-centric film. However, Empire isn't great because it's 'dark'. It's the commitment of the filmmakers to go all out to produce the true next chapter of the story. Every moment is etched into my brain and it's become the template for any film sequel. Empire is Star Wars at its richest and purest.
14. The Empire Strikes Back
...so, yes, while I prefer Star Trek overall, there's one Star Wars films I prize above them all. You've heard it before but Empire is the best Star Wars film. And the one Lucas had the least creative involvement with. This was back when the series was willing to take a big risk by producing a darker, more character-centric film. However, Empire isn't great because it's 'dark'. It's the commitment of the filmmakers to go all out to produce the true next chapter of the story. Every moment is etched into my brain and it's become the template for any film sequel. Empire is Star Wars at its richest and purest.
13. Howl's Moving Castle
This film gets a lot of hate, which I'll be exploring in its respective Studio Ghibli retrospective write up, but .... I'm sorry, I just love it. Is logical thrown out of the window? Sure but it makes sense in the context of the mad and magical world the film creates. Now, Ponyo that is a better example of logic thrown completely out of the window. No, Howl succeeds because of its massive heart and little sense of modern cynicism. The story of a young hat maker, Sophie, who is cursed to be an old woman only to rediscover her youth through this change feels like a classic fairy tale. Throw in an excellent cast of side-characters, wonderful art-style and scenes that can only be described as magic, Howl is a modern masterpiece. There. I said it. It's also one of the few times where I actually prefer the English dub to the Japanese one ... go figure!
This film gets a lot of hate, which I'll be exploring in its respective Studio Ghibli retrospective write up, but .... I'm sorry, I just love it. Is logical thrown out of the window? Sure but it makes sense in the context of the mad and magical world the film creates. Now, Ponyo that is a better example of logic thrown completely out of the window. No, Howl succeeds because of its massive heart and little sense of modern cynicism. The story of a young hat maker, Sophie, who is cursed to be an old woman only to rediscover her youth through this change feels like a classic fairy tale. Throw in an excellent cast of side-characters, wonderful art-style and scenes that can only be described as magic, Howl is a modern masterpiece. There. I said it. It's also one of the few times where I actually prefer the English dub to the Japanese one ... go figure!
12. There Will Be Blood
You want an epic story, told across the course of a decade about a huge character trying to achieve massive goals, whilst also serving as a metaphor for the foundation of the biggest and most influential countries in the world (and the corruption and greed it was built on)? You'd struggle to find a film an conceptually huge as There Will Be Blood. This is definition of epic filmmaking. Powered by Daniel Day Lewis' brilliant central performance, There Will Be Blood is an intense character study of Daniel Plainview, who strikes it big when he discovers oil. The film becomes an odyssey on how his business and choices influences his life and those around him. Please, Paul Thomas Anderson. Make films like this (and its almost as brilliant follow up The Master) again...
11. The Shining
This is just about as iconic as a horror film can get. Famously despised by its author, Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining is a brilliant example of horror in its purest form. Everyone knows why this film is brilliant - the sweeping steady cam shots, the creepy and unnerving performances, Jack Nicholson unleashed and the sense that you're not getting the whole picture. Kubrick revels in the ambiguities of the story as this only adds to the horror. It's a another slow burner horror (which I prefer) but it leaves an indelible that only grows in stature with each viewing.
10. Vertigo
This is just about as iconic as a horror film can get. Famously despised by its author, Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining is a brilliant example of horror in its purest form. Everyone knows why this film is brilliant - the sweeping steady cam shots, the creepy and unnerving performances, Jack Nicholson unleashed and the sense that you're not getting the whole picture. Kubrick revels in the ambiguities of the story as this only adds to the horror. It's a another slow burner horror (which I prefer) but it leaves an indelible that only grows in stature with each viewing.
10. Vertigo
Vertigo may well be the definitive "you need to see this twice" film. Hands down, this is Hitchcock's masterpiece. The maze that makes up the story is an unforgettable puzzle that demands to be solved. James Stewart gives a career best performance. And Hitch is simply at the top of his game manipulating the audience. It gets better and better every time. In fact, I'm leaving this entry here. If you haven't seen it, I can't recommend it enough.
9. Back to the Future
The best and tightest script in the history of blockbuster filmmaking? Quite possibly. Every single line, action taken by a character or setting change has a clear purpose in the grander narrative. Plus, it's just stupidly fun to watch. I have a lot of affection for the sequels (half of Part II is almost as good as the original) but the first film is still hands down the best of the lot. Michael J. Fox is instantly loveable as cool kid Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd is just stellar as mad scientist Doc Brown. Everyone knows the story - kid goes back to time in the 1950s, kid accidentally ruins how his parents meet as teenagers, teenage mum begins to fall for the kid (still creepy), kid must get his parents back together, somehow find a way to get back to the 1980s, all against a ticking time clock. You want a film that builds up suspense, like the text book example - Back To The Future.
8. Oldboy
Oldboy. Oldboy. Oldboy. A kinetic action film masterpiece about displacement and identity crisis that is both elegant and bone-crunchingly violent. The filmmaking technique is beyond phenomenal and the story takes several twists and turns to it's bloody finale. Like Vertigo, I'm going to leave this entry brief as it's best experienced as cold as possible. I'll just say this though. This is the only film where I left the screening shaking. That's how good it is.
Oldboy. Oldboy. Oldboy. A kinetic action film masterpiece about displacement and identity crisis that is both elegant and bone-crunchingly violent. The filmmaking technique is beyond phenomenal and the story takes several twists and turns to it's bloody finale. Like Vertigo, I'm going to leave this entry brief as it's best experienced as cold as possible. I'll just say this though. This is the only film where I left the screening shaking. That's how good it is.
7. Ratatouille
I could gush for hours about how good Ratatouille is. The gorgeous setting. The intricately detailed world. The lovingly crafted and small scale story. The great characters. That scene where the critic actually eats ratatouille. It's all wrapped up in an intimate and warm bow that teaches to always dream big. It was a close call between either this or Wall-E but something about Ratatouille's little world just hits it home for me. It almost hurts how much I love this film.
I could gush for hours about how good Ratatouille is. The gorgeous setting. The intricately detailed world. The lovingly crafted and small scale story. The great characters. That scene where the critic actually eats ratatouille. It's all wrapped up in an intimate and warm bow that teaches to always dream big. It was a close call between either this or Wall-E but something about Ratatouille's little world just hits it home for me. It almost hurts how much I love this film.
6. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
The definitive intelligent sci-fi action film. Possibly. Plus, it's hard to think of any sequel as good as Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The low-fi technique of the original is replaced with a much higher budget that never forgets the heart of the series. The plot is just as crazy as ever, with Arnie sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the new T-1000, a terminator that has the properties of liquid metal. Everything from the story to the themes to the characters are taken up several notches. But when I think of this film, I think of Sarah Connor - deranged, mad, unhinged and kind of sad. The optimistic girl at the start of the original film is now withdrawn from pretty much the whole world, including her son (who, ironically, she saw to protect above all others). The character dynamics are wonderful and the pace is just perfect. Along with some very intelligent speculative writing on the rise of machines and several truly jaw-dropping action scenes and special effects make Terminator 2 one of the best sci-fi films of all time.
5. Lady Vengeance
Park Chan-Wook is one of the greatest living filmmakers and Lady Vengeance is his masterpiece. Oldboy is more popular but I prefer Lady Vengeance just a little bit more - it is the perfect cap to his epic thematic trilogy of revenge films. Everything about the film is intricately designed for maximum effect. Park Chan Wook makes big films with big characters but Lady Vengeance is first and foremost a character study of a deeply complex woman. Everything gives way to one of the greatest third acts of all time. It's not as shocking as Oldboy but it sticks with you longer and I won't dare ruin it. I don't want to give too much away about the film as it just needs to be experienced.
Park Chan-Wook is one of the greatest living filmmakers and Lady Vengeance is his masterpiece. Oldboy is more popular but I prefer Lady Vengeance just a little bit more - it is the perfect cap to his epic thematic trilogy of revenge films. Everything about the film is intricately designed for maximum effect. Park Chan Wook makes big films with big characters but Lady Vengeance is first and foremost a character study of a deeply complex woman. Everything gives way to one of the greatest third acts of all time. It's not as shocking as Oldboy but it sticks with you longer and I won't dare ruin it. I don't want to give too much away about the film as it just needs to be experienced.
4. Spirited Away
Spirited Away is just ... terrific. Really terrific. But I feel that everyone knows that. Taking the classic down-the-rabbit-hole trope (which is part of why it connected as much as it did in the West, I feel), the film follows young Chihiro, who is forced to work in a bath house for spirits and creatures, ran by the terrifying Yubaba. See Chihiro's parents took a detour, ate a bunch of food and got turned into pigs and as recompense, Chihiro must work for Yubaba. Yeah, it's weird film. Every scene is just packed with creativity and invention but it doesn't forget to find time for the more soulful, character driven moment. Chihiro's character growth is handled incredibly subtlety and let's the adventure and experience dictate this. And no scene in any film ever matches the melancholic beauty of the train-ride journey Chihiro takes with strange character No-Face. It's a dialogue-less and simply lets the visuals and music tell us what is happening. Enchanting.
Spirited Away is just ... terrific. Really terrific. But I feel that everyone knows that. Taking the classic down-the-rabbit-hole trope (which is part of why it connected as much as it did in the West, I feel), the film follows young Chihiro, who is forced to work in a bath house for spirits and creatures, ran by the terrifying Yubaba. See Chihiro's parents took a detour, ate a bunch of food and got turned into pigs and as recompense, Chihiro must work for Yubaba. Yeah, it's weird film. Every scene is just packed with creativity and invention but it doesn't forget to find time for the more soulful, character driven moment. Chihiro's character growth is handled incredibly subtlety and let's the adventure and experience dictate this. And no scene in any film ever matches the melancholic beauty of the train-ride journey Chihiro takes with strange character No-Face. It's a dialogue-less and simply lets the visuals and music tell us what is happening. Enchanting.
3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Cliched choice go! But I just can't help it. I love these films. I saw them at the perfect age. I saw Fellowship of the Ring in the cinema when I was about 10 and saw the others each year consecutively. They just opened up my imagination to the possibilities of film and longer form story-telling. Every line of dialogue, every scene and every beat is etched into my mind. Just as important as the films themselves were the Extended Editions. They added more scenes back into the films to give a richer experience. They also offered extensive documentaries on how the films were made. And this is what got me interested in filmmaking and what a fascinating and difficult process it is. Everyone knows the merits of the films at this point, so I don't need to go into them. These are brilliant films that inspired a whole generation of film geeks. I probably wouldn't have written this list if not for them.
This isn't a cheat in my opinion, as all three films were shot at once! If push came to shove, I would pick the original theatrical version of The Two Towers as my favourite, as this captured me at the height of my Lord of the Rings obsession.
Cliched choice go! But I just can't help it. I love these films. I saw them at the perfect age. I saw Fellowship of the Ring in the cinema when I was about 10 and saw the others each year consecutively. They just opened up my imagination to the possibilities of film and longer form story-telling. Every line of dialogue, every scene and every beat is etched into my mind. Just as important as the films themselves were the Extended Editions. They added more scenes back into the films to give a richer experience. They also offered extensive documentaries on how the films were made. And this is what got me interested in filmmaking and what a fascinating and difficult process it is. Everyone knows the merits of the films at this point, so I don't need to go into them. These are brilliant films that inspired a whole generation of film geeks. I probably wouldn't have written this list if not for them.
This isn't a cheat in my opinion, as all three films were shot at once! If push came to shove, I would pick the original theatrical version of The Two Towers as my favourite, as this captured me at the height of my Lord of the Rings obsession.
2. A Clockwork Orange
This was a life changer. I had never seen anything quite like A Clockwork Orange. The script and the unique way the characters talked. The incredible way it was shot and the long takes. The use of an unreliable narrator that asked us, the audience, to sympathise with a murderer and rapist. Then there's the way the film deftly explores concepts of freewill, state control, social conditioning and police brutality. All wrapped up in a performance by a very fresh-faced Malcolm McDowell. This is, for me, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece. It has this reputation linked to it that is deserved and was something of a curse to its director. And it still has the power to shock and enthral. "Oh bliss! It was gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh".
It's also probably my favourite book as well, by-the-by.
This was a life changer. I had never seen anything quite like A Clockwork Orange. The script and the unique way the characters talked. The incredible way it was shot and the long takes. The use of an unreliable narrator that asked us, the audience, to sympathise with a murderer and rapist. Then there's the way the film deftly explores concepts of freewill, state control, social conditioning and police brutality. All wrapped up in a performance by a very fresh-faced Malcolm McDowell. This is, for me, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece. It has this reputation linked to it that is deserved and was something of a curse to its director. And it still has the power to shock and enthral. "Oh bliss! It was gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh".
It's also probably my favourite book as well, by-the-by.
1. Princess Mononoke
Here it is, number one. Princess Mononoke. Miyazaki's masterpiece. I've talked before how my love for this film developed along with my growing understanding of the medium but .. it just keeps getting better with each viewing. I'll talk more about it in my article as part of the Ghibli retrospective, so I'll keep it brief here. It's an amazing film that offers brilliant animation, well-drawn and morally ambiguous characters, with breath-taking set-pieces that ultimately is about how broken people come together to make the world they live in a better place. I love this film and everything that's in it.
Here it is, number one. Princess Mononoke. Miyazaki's masterpiece. I've talked before how my love for this film developed along with my growing understanding of the medium but .. it just keeps getting better with each viewing. I'll talk more about it in my article as part of the Ghibli retrospective, so I'll keep it brief here. It's an amazing film that offers brilliant animation, well-drawn and morally ambiguous characters, with breath-taking set-pieces that ultimately is about how broken people come together to make the world they live in a better place. I love this film and everything that's in it.
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