Since I'm sure many of you will just skip through and not read the blurbs on each film, and since I've talked about many of these films before, I'm going to keep it short and sweet as to why each film is on this list. So read it if your interested, if not, you're dead to me. I'm kidding. Either way, enjoy, and please let me know if you also enjoy any of these films (or if you relentlessly deplore them, I don't care).
In All Seriousness:
The top 10 were pretty easy to come up with, but the rest were so difficult to order that I literally had to sleep on it. While I feel good about my order, I left a lot of films that I really love off the list. So here is a link to my Letterboxd page so you can see what else I would recommend but had to leave off this list: http://letterboxd.com/rytherb/ (Really anything that I rated between 5 stars and 4 stars was in contention for this list.)
50. Alien (1979) [Dir. Ridley Scott]
While I do love both Alien and Aliens, the first film is better in my eyes because of the horror film techniques it applies, as opposed to the more action-filled Aliens. The sound design and score assist in making this film cause poop to appear in your pants. Wear your brown pants.
49. Caddyshack (1980) [Dir. Harold Ramis]
It's probably not the sole reason, but this film was a pretty big factor in making me want to play golf in high school. Watching most of my comedy idols playing golf, talking about golf, it just drove the idea of golf into my mind. Also it's still hilarious every time.
48. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) [Dir. Henry Selick]
This is one of the maybe two or three films on this list that I've loved (and have been allowed to watch) since I was young. Even as a kid I recognized it as just a really fun and interesting film. I still think it's the best thing that Tim Burton has ever been a part of.
47. The Godfather (1972) [Dir. Francis Ford Coppola]
The last time I made this list I combined the first and second Godfathers as one entry. But now I decided to stop cheating you guys and pick one. I used to think pt. II was better, but after a recent rewatch of the two, I realized my slightly greater appreciation for the first film. It has more iconic moments and it's enhanced by the presence of Brando and Caan.
46. 8 1/2 (1963) [Federico Fellini]
8 1/2 I think spawned the huge wave of filmmakers (mainly amateur ones) who like to make films about making films. I'm not sure though if any will ever reach or come close to reaching the greatness of this film.
45. Manhattan (1979) [Dir. Woody Allen]
For anyone who has seen this film, the obvious comparisons to the real life accusations against Allen might tarnish it. But if you block out any outside stuff, it works so well and is one of Allen's best. Funny and shot in beautiful black and white.
44. Fargo (1996) [Dir. The Coen Brothers]
Dark comedy and The Coen Brothers mix like peanut butter and Oreos (very well). This film has an array of wonderfully acted characters from great actors. I'd watch Steve Buscemi read a phone book.
43. Spirited Away (2001) [Dir. Hayao Miyazaki]
A brilliantly animated and incredibly creative film from one of the top 3 animation studios in the world. It's so imaginative and makes me mad that I still haven't seen any of Studio Ghibli's other work.
42. All About My Mother (1999) [Dir. Pedro Almodovar]
Pedro Almodovar is among the most exciting modern foreign filmmakers. He creates these wonderfully emotional films, and I consider this one his best. Perfectly cast and wonderfully acted throughout.
41. The Great Dictator (1940) [Dir. Charles Chaplin]
Although mainly known for his silent films, The Great Dictator proves that Chaplin can do great things with sound. A lot of his slapstick comedy is still really good here, but the two main speeches in the film (one played for comedy and one played to evoke emotion) are the highlights of the film in my opinion. And they couldn't have been done in silent cinema.
40. Holy Motors (2012) [Dir. Leos Carax]
39. The Night of the Hunter (1955) [Charles Laughton]
The first time I watched this film was in an intro to film class my freshmen year of college. It was the only film on the syllabus that I hadn't heard of before, which caused me to be less excited for it than the others on the list. Needless to say, it blew my mind and is now one of my favorite films.
38. Inglorious Basterds (2009) [Quentin Tarantino]
Say what you want about Tarantino, he can write movies. Basterds has some of his best dialogue. QT does a lot of cool stuff here, and creates a lot of memorable scenes that I think rival some of the best films from his earlier works Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.
37. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) [The Coen Brothers]
Man does this movie really just punch me in the gut and make me feel for this hopeful folk singer, Llewyn Davis (played by the always great Oscar Isaac). But the Coen Brothers don't make it easy for us to like him, because he is a jerk to pretty much every character in this movie. Great characterization and great writing, and the soundtrack to this film is constantly playing on my iTunes.
36. The Dark Knight (2008) [Christopher Nolan]
This is one of my first "favorite films of all-time". It was my go-to answer for a while, and with every re-watch I still enjoy every minute of it. This is the kind of movie that blockbusters should be.
35. The Royal Tenenbaums (2003) [Dir. Wes Anderson]
Wes Anderson creates what I would consider a majority of his most memorable characters in The Royal Tenenbaums. Many Wes-isms (what I'm referring to the director's consistent motifs as) are evident in his second feature, Rushmore. But it's not until Tenenbaums that he really gets to go wild with his Wes-isms.
34. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966) [Dir. Sergio Leone]
33. Do the Right Thing (1989) [Dir. Spike Lee]
A film that is just as important now (if not more) then it was back when it was made. Spike Lee creates great characters here, and gives them all a fair shot at our admiration. But no one gets it because everyone does the wrong thing.
32. Sideways (2004) [Dir. Alexander Payne]
An expertly adapted script from Alexander Payne, perfectly cast, and as funny as it is sad. Very easy to watch it multiple times.
31. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) [Dir. Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris]
All of what I just said about Sideways works for this film too. Except it was an original screenplay by Michael Arndt, who would eventually go on to write another indie film sensation known as Toy Story 3.
30. Field of Dreams (1989) [Dir. Phil Alden Robinson]
Maybe if Kevin Costner only made baseball movies his entire career, he would have a perfect career. I don't know if he tops this performance though, as Ray Kinsella. Funny, manic, almost schizophrenic, and sweet. Field of Dreams should be the go-to film for anyone who loves baseball. And a go-to film for just any one who loves good movies.
29. Badlands (1973) [Dir. Terrence Malick]
Thinking about it, Badlands is so weird and unconventional. It's like if Bonnie and Clyde were one slightly socially awkward dude, and a little girl. And instead of robbing banks they kind of just don't do that. And only the guy kills people. I don't know what I'm getting at with this, it's just really good.
28. Requiem for a Dream (2000) [Dir. Darren Aronofsky]
As much as I love this film, it's so hard to revisit it. It's become more of a let me show it to these people who haven't seen it, and I'll watch their lives become ruined in real time. Really good movie though, great editing.
27. The Conversation (1974) [Dir. Francis Ford Coppola]
It wasn't until my most recent viewing of The Conversation that I really fell in love with it. The sound design is rivaled by very few films, if any in the history of cinema. Great directing, as of now I think it's Coppola's best work. But then again his filmography switches around all the time in my head.
26. Toy Story (1995) [Dir. John Lasseter]
It's incredible. Not much else I need to say. If you want to see more thoughts on it you can check out my Pixar post from last month.
25. Sweet Smell of Success (1957) [Dir. Alexander Mackendrick]
This film was a more recent discovery for me. It shows how disgusting the people in media can be, and the performances are fantastic. Tony Curtis is incredible here, and delivers some of the best lines in the film. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do. That gives you a lot of leeway..."
24. Sherlock Jr. (1924) [Dir. Buster Keaton]
Buster Keaton is one of the true geniuses of film history. A comedian who would stop at nothing to make sure a joke works. For instance he fractured his neck performing one of the stunts in this film, and completed the take anyway. Such a funny film, with brilliant physical comedy that would still be impressive to pull off today.
23. Psycho (1960) [Dir. Alfred Hitchcock]
This movie is still scary. Hitchcock knew suspense, and this film keeps me sweating every time I watch it. That Anthony Perkins can be one creepy dude.
22. The Tree of Life (2011) [Dir. Terrence Malick]
Hands down one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. Every scene is filmed with such care, and the actors all give effectively reserved performances. I want to put every frame of this film up in my house as wallpaper.
21. Raging Bull (1980) [Dir. Martin Scorsese]
It's crazy to think that this movie was almost never made by Scorsese (because he almost died from cocaine addiction in the late 70's)/was almost his last film ever. Both of those scenarios would have sucked. Also the black and white photography is beautiful, arguably Scorsese's best looking film.
20. Rosemary's Baby (1968) [Dir. Roman Polanski]
I recently had the opportunity to see this film in theaters, and it was such a great experience. Some of these next films I guess could be classified as partially horror. But among the films that are primarily considered horror films, this is my second favorite. (You'll see my favorite later on.) Also Mia Farrow is so perfectly cast in this movie (as is the rest of the cast), it's unreal.
19. Blue Velvet (1986) [Dir. David Lynch]
Good luck drinking a Heineken again after watching this movie. Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth (who was quoted saying that he has to play Frank Booth because he is Frank Booth) is one of the most memorable movie characters I can think of. Few actors can unnerve you solely by quoting the beginning of a Roy Orbison song. But Hopper's demand to hear "Candy Colored Clown" (In Dreams by Roy Orbison) will remain in my head for life.
18. Seven Samurai (1954) [Dir. Akira Kurosawa]
I'm always impressed when a 3+ hour long movie can not lose me for it's entirety, and Kurosawa's masterpiece not only doesn't lose me, but has me thinking about it for hours after the credits roll. I think Kurosawa gets some of his best performances here, and makes a wonderful jidai-geki film (just showing off because I took a class on Kurosawa this past semester).
17. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) [Dir. John Hughes]
I always considered Cameron Frye the movie character most similar to myself. Feel free to disagree those of you who know me probably more than I know myself. But I always just really connected with him, I think he, as well as the entire movie, is perfectly written. I often cite this as one of the movies that I would have loved to have written the most.
16. A Clockwork Orange (1971) [Dir. Stanley Kubrick]
Up there with Requiem for a Dream as a movie that's a hard to watch again too often. Although this one doesn't really crush my soul, it's more that it's uncomfortable sometimes. But that being said it's brilliant and beautifully shot. The sets are all great. And that slow-mo scene by the water is just one of the coolest looking shots ever.
15. Rear Window (1954) [Dir. Alfred Hitchcock]
The master of suspense creates his most suspenseful film with Rear Window. I know every single detail of this plot, yet I stay on the edge of my seat each time. Maybe this is because I am always so anxious while watching it or because I always watch it with six obese men on a small couch.
14. Taxi Driver (1976) [Dir. Martin Scorsese]
This movie should be in the same group as Requiem for a Dream and A Clockwork Orange of movies that are hard to watch multiple times. Because there are a lot of disgusting things in this movie. And moments that are incredibly hard to watch. For some reason though, I just can't stop coming back to it over and over again. De Niro is too good.
13. Groundhog Day (1993) [Dir. Harold Ramis]
My favorite performance from my favorite comedic actor. Although I think Murray's best acted scene is the final scene in Scrooged, I think overall he does the best in Groundhog Day. It's so funny, so smart, and Andie Macdowell is perfect.
12. The Shining (1980) [Dir. Stanley Kubrick]
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Here is the aforementioned favorite horror film. I never really found it too scary, but it's so interesting and entertaining. I love every second of it. It's also cool that the steadi-cam was pretty much invented for this movie, because most of the videos I have ever made are primarily steadi-cam. Side Note: The best Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode spoofs The Shining incredibly.
11. There Will Be Blood (2007) [Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson]
On to slot 11 and this is my first Paul Thomas Anderson film. That's a first for my Top films of all-time list. Usually his filmography is scattered throughout the list. I think There Will Be Blood is his best film, although it's not my favorite (you'll anticlimactically see my favorite later on).
10. Her (2013) [Dir. Spike Jonze]
The last film to skyrocket into the top tier of my favorite movies of all-time list shortly after it was released is number 4 on this list. But man, this movie just kills me every time I watch it. Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johannson and Amy Adams are all perfect. Spike Jonze is quickly becoming one of my idols. I've already seen this movie like five times and it came out about a year and a half ago.
9. Nashville (1975) [Dir. Robert Altman]
A recent re-watch of this film in a Films of the 70's class further exposed me to the brilliance of Robert Altman and this film. Every song in it is so catchy, and I find myself watching the final scene on youtube almost every other day. It's the feel of the 70's (so I've read, I wasn't there) captured expertly. Great ensemble cast.
8. Annie Hall (1977) [Dir. Woody Allen]
Woody Allen's most quotable movie by far, his funniest movie too. He does so many interesting things like the subtitled conversation, the breaking of the fourth wall, and flashback sequences. It's a perfect comedy. And in my opinion Woody Allen's best film (although I've only seen 7 of his slightly under 50 total films.)
7. Goodfellas (1990) [Dir. Martin Scorsese]
Roger Ebert once said about Goodfellas, "No finer film has ever been made about organized crime - not even The Godfather." I completely agree with the late Mr. Ebert. This movie is paced so damn well, and it's the perfect movie to put on the tv and start from any point (granted you've already seen it multiple times). "Goodfellas is on tv, you want to watch it," is as common in my house as "What's for dinner?" Not actually but you get the idea.
6. Mulholland Drive (2001) [Dir. David Lynch]
Mulholland Drive isn't just a movie you want to watch multiple times, it's a movie you need to watch multiple times. Even after having most of the movie explained through various youtube videos and blog posts, those are just theories. The only person who knows what this movie is all about is David Lynch, and maybe he doesn't even know what it's about. Lastly, Naomi Watts gives like a top 3 performance of the 21st century here. I'd say behind only Daniel Day-Lewis (in the previously mentioned There Will Be Blood) and Joaquin Phoenix (in the film also from PTA, The Master).
5. The Graduate (1967) [Dir. Mike Nichols]
I wish I could watch this movie for the first time again. The feeling I had when this movie finished for the first time was something I'll never forget. And being that I will be graduating from college in a little less than a year, I have a feeling that my next viewing of this film is going to destroy me. That final shot. That Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack. Fantastic.
4. The Social Network (2010) [Dir. David Fincher]
The primary reason for loving this film is the script. Some people aren't into mountains of dialogue, but I love it. And this setting is perfect for the hectic, fast-paced style of Aaron Sorkin's writing. It furthered Jesse Eisenberg's career, made stars out of Andrew Garfield and Armie Hammer, and showed that Justin Timberlake could hold his own as an actor. Also this score is the only one I've ever actually bought on iTunes.
3. Pulp Fiction (1994) [Dir. Quentin Tarantino]
As stereotypical as it is for Pulp Fiction to be anyone's top 3 films, let alone a college film student, I can't help it. It's so cool and so much fun. Endlessly quotable. Love this movie.
2. Dog Day Afternoon (1975) [Dir. Sidney Lumet]
My favorite performance from my favorite actor. Pacino brings so much energy to this role. It's like a two-hour acting school. I mentioned how good the pacing is in Goodfellas, this movie is the perfect example of excellent pacing. It's also a movie I will openly recommend to anyone, anytime.
1. Boogie Nights (1997) [Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson]
I almost feel bad that these top 4 haven't changed since the last time. But then again, no one is really that invested in these lists. Maybe something will change come the third edition of this, but for now, Boogie Nights is still the favorite. It's always awkward when I have to tell new people this, and they find out what it's about. But I can't help but love it. The script, the soundtrack, the ensemble, the camerawork. It's all right down my alley. The main reason why I love it so much, is because it inspires me more than any other film. As odd as that is, but when those credits start rolling, I can't help but imagine my name in a movie's credits one day.
