Some of these films I chose to give descriptions for. Those that I didn't, I have most of my reviews posted under my Facebook account. It just seemed pretty pointless doing a copy and paste job from there to this. This list is a combination of the films I admired/liked the most. These aren't the top 100 movies of all-time of course, because I haven't seen everything (nor would I want to). This is just a list of the films that I have seen that I think are worthy of being seen.
Honorable Mentions (40 of them, no particular order):
(1999) Eyes Wide Shut
(1999) American Beauty
(1993) Naked
(1998) There's Something About Mary
(2006) Pan’s Labyrinth
(2005) V for Vendetta
(2004) Mean Creek
(1993) Groundhog Day
(2006) The Proposition
(2005) A History of Violence
(2003) 28 Days Later
(2000) Sexy Beast
(1939) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(2006) The Last King of Scotland
(1997) Gattaca
(1999) Office Space
(2002) The Ring
(1991) JFK
(2007) Zodiac
(1985) Witness
(1997) L.A. Confidential
(1993) Rudy
(2001) In the Bedroom
(1978) Animal House
(1988) Mississippi Burning
(2003) Lost in Translation
(2008) The Wrestler
(2000) Traffic
(1992) Glengarry Glen Ross
(1978) The Deer Hunter
(2005) Sin City
(2006) Little Children
(2006) Casino Royale
(2007) Planet Terror
(2003) House of Sand and Fog
(1985) The Color Purple
(1995) Rob Roy
(2005) King Kong
(1984) This Is Spinal Tap
(1996) Sling Blade
Top 100:
#100. (2005) Hard Candy – Oh that Ellen Page was so adorable in Juno, wasn’t she? As a pregnant teen with an offbeat personality and who you just came to love at the end. See Hard Candy, the story of a 14 year old girl who meets a 32 year old online and agrees to meet with him at a coffee shop where they can “talk”. What starts out as a cold and unpredictable motion picture turns into a slow-burn exercise which will make you squirm (especially if you’re a guy). This is an extremely taut, grueling, intense, and effective motion picture that deserves to be seen. Ellen Page is a revelation in this movie, more so than in Juno. Patrick Wilson is golden, proving he's one of the better younger actors out there. The story examines two different disturbing elements, that being pedophilia and sadism, and the ending will leave you haunted forever. This movie doesn't get enough credit for being truly terrifying, Ellen Page gives a memorable villainous performance that should be watched just because it's so believably sadistic and creepy.
#99. (2007) The Mist
#98. (1976) Rocky
#97. (1980) Airplane
#96. (1995) Apollo 13
#95. (1993) Clean, Shaven
#94. (2007) Sunshine
#93. (2006) The Lookout – When a promising athlete (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) suffers a life-changing injury that destroys his future aspirations and limits him to being a janitor at a local bank, a friendly bank robber (Matthew Goode) decides he’s perfect to be the inside man for the operation. Although the genre of "heist thriller" has been used countless times, this one ranks amongst the best. Director Frank not only takes common people (with the exception of Gordon-Levitt's character to begin the movie) and turns them into intriguing characters, he gives us a dark, dreary, and depressed lead man you can't help but root for. I can't say enough about how well this film is executed and how fascinating each scene was. Not a "shoot em up" sort of thriller by any means, but more of a character study, and I admire any director (especially a first timer) that shows a completely different dimension to a film that has a similar plot, but is completely different in terms of characters and the decisions they make.
#92. (2000) O Brother, Where Art Thou?
#91. (1997) Good Will Hunting
#90. (1992) My Cousin Vinny
#89. (1986) Ferris Bueller's Day Off
#88. (1994) Speed
#87. (2002) Signs
#86. (2007) Funny Games
#85. (2000) Frequency
#84. (2000) Memento
#83. (1997) In the Company of Men - An absorbing film concerning two yuppies who decide to "play a game" on an innocent woman, both pretending to fall for her, just to see what she feels once they pull the rug out from under her. They decide to do this just because they've been dealt so many vicious blows by the female sex before in their lives, and they want revenge. This movie does a great job establishing a dark sense of humor, led by two completely opposite characters who are cruel and uncaring (except for the grand finale) It also features a dominant, confident lead performance from the very underrated Aaron Eckhart. It's certainly not for everyone, since it is probably the best example of the "anti-romantic/comedy", but once it turns ice cold, you can't help but be in awe of it.
#82. (2009) Inglourious Basterds
#81. (1987) Raising Arizona
#80. (1972) Deliverance - A purebred classic thriller that introduces disturbing but realistic themes to cinema, in which four friends venture out into the wilderness of Georgia in hope of an exhilarating canoe trip, only to have it become their worst nightmare. The performances are all outstanding, and its easy to see why Burt Reynolds became a huge star. What happens halfway through is one of the more disturbing acts I've seen in a movie. The two villains that appear are two of the most menacing and terrifying in all the movies I've seen. Although I had some problems with the overall plot, I was able to excuse them to a large degree due to the fact that the overall movie-watching experience was enthralling and hugely entertaining.
#79. (2000) Best in Show
#78. (1994) The Fugitive
#77. (2004) Saw - A gritty, dirty, and intense horror movie dealing with two men trapped in a storage house bathroom with nothing both hacksaws, two tapes, and a tape recorder, with instructions as to what will be demanded of them if they hope to get out of there alive. This movie gets a lot of bad rep for ceaseless violence and excessive gore, it gets unfairly coupled with Hostel in this aspect. Quite frankly, this is one of the best horror films I've seen, with a twist ending that will knock you out cold. This film features superb acting from Leigh Whannel and Cary Elwes, and the score is also one of the better scores I've heard, amping up the intensity (especially in the final act) to an almost unbearable degree. While many don't hold this to be a masterpiece of a movie, I do, it is a truly terrifying experience in which you care about each of the characters and their situations. The final fifteen minutes will have your heart pounding like a jackhammer.
#76. (1990) Dances with Wolves
#75. (2006) United 93
#74. (1982) Gandhi
#73. (1971) The French Connection
#72. (1980) Raging Bull
#71. (1957) Twelve Angry Men
#70. (1957) The Bridge on the River Kwai
#69. (1987) Rain Man
#68. (2004) The Passion of the Christ
#67. (1942) Casablanca
#66. (2000) Requiem for a Dream
#65. (1976) All the President's Men
#64. (1979) Apocalypse Now
#63. (2000) Cast Away
#62. (1975) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#61. (1999) The Sixth Sense
#60. (1989) Field of Dreams
#59. (1999) Magnolia – A Crash-esque movie dealing with ten people living in the San Fernando Valley and how their lives intersect in sometimes ugly ways. This is an extremely well-acted ensemble piece with a story that is drenched in sadness and regret. Leading the way is Tom Cruise as a charismatic self-help maniac - this is his best performance. Although the story is incredibly depressing, the parallels these characters share with one another is a work of art, thanks to director Paul Thomas Anderson. The last twenty minutes are not meant to be taken literally, but figuratively, and you can't say when you think of the movie, the word "predictable" comes to mind. All in all, this is a fascinating character study, with a Biblical-like ending to boot.
#58. (1974) Chinatown
#57. (1973) The Exorcist
#56. (1949) The Third Man
#55. (2006) Children of Men
#54. (1995) Braveheart
#53. (2006) Apocalypto - A pulse-pounding thriller that is one of the more underrated works of the decade. Just because Mel Gibson might be a hypocritical, nervous-talking, anti-semetic person doesn't mean he can't make a great movie. This is just an outstanding piece from top to bottom, Rudy Youngblood's performance really carries this epic about a character caught in between an important transition in world history, and how the battle for his life results under enormously unfair and violent circumstances. Arguably one of the better thrillers this past decade, with a surprise ending that will catch you completely off guard.
#52. (1983) A Christmas Story
#51. (1984) The Terminator
#50. (2008) Slumdog Millionaire
#49. (1939) The Wizard of Oz
#48. (1994) Forrest Gump
#47. (1946) It's a Wonderful Life
#46. (1995) Dead Man Walking
#45. (1995) Leaving Las Vegas – This is an emotionally crippling story about an unapologetic alcoholic (Nicolas Cage) who makes friends with a suffering prostitute (Elisabeth Shue) in the streets of Las Vegas one night. What starts out as a random acquaintance turns into a rare and offbeat relationship – and it never feels fake or hollow for a second. A devastating, emotional, original love story which focuses on two very distraught and socially unaccepted individuals, who accept each other for who they are and live with one another's decisions. With all the formulaic, happy-feeling love stories we get nowadays, it's a pleasure to finally see a film like this, one that is so brutally honest as to what love is. Not for everyone, the content is rough and the way the two lead characters lead their lives isn't fun to watch, but this is a harrowing depiction of alcoholism, prostitution, and how these lifestyles lead to nothing but pain and agony. One of the better films of the 90's, with two outstanding lead performances (Nicolas Cage is simply incredible, and Elisabeth Shue embodies her character fully) that anchor this heart-wrenching love story.
#44. (2007) Gone Baby Gone
#43. (1954) Rear Window
#42. (1992) Unforgiven
#41. (1988) Die Hard
#40. (2006) The Departed
#39. (1999) The Matrix
#38. (1975) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
#37. (1985) Back to the Future
#36. (2008) The Dark Knight
#35. (2002) City of God
#34. (1998) Saving Private Ryan
#33. (2000) Gladiator
#32. (2001) Mulholland Dr. - If you’ve ever seen a David Lynch movie, you know at least one thing. It’s just plain weird. Lynch has a knack for inserting a creepy, yet stylishly creative surreal-like nature to his films, whether it be the over-rated Blue Velvet (which is widely considered his best film – it isn’t), the hit 90’s TV show Twin Peaks, or the decent but forgettable Lost Highway. To me, Mulholland Dr. is his masterpiece. The story concerns an ambitious young actress (Naomi Watts) who comes to California in hopes of fulfilling her acting aspirations. However, the home her aunt has loaned to her for the time being is currently being occupied by a car accident victim (Laura Harring), who stumbled in after suffering a nasty bump on the head and as a result, can’t remember who she is or how she got there. There are a few interpretations to what this entire movie means, but this is just the basic plot line. As this film goes along, it just gets more weird, more unsettling, and, by the time you’ve finished it, you’ll be asking yourself, “What in the world did I just watch?” (Here’s a hint, approach this movie as if you were watching a really strange dream unfold, and it might make some sense…maybe). This is a special kind of movie, definitely not for all tastes, but one that really pulls the rug out from you during the last twenty minutes or so. During this time, Naomi Watts was just another unknown actress, like her character in this film, and this proved to be her breakout performance, creating a character that is both energetic and sympathetic – at least that’s how she’d like to think herself as being, in the movie. The rest of the movie is full of mostly unknowns, but from a collective acting standpoint, it’s well-executed. The real treat is watching this crazy, nightmarish story unfold, and how each character shows their real self once the truth slowly starts to come out. Be prepared to get blown away by this film.
#31. (1995) Se7en
#30. (1981) Raiders of the Lost Ark
#29. (2002) The 25th Hour
#28. (1998) The Truman Show
#27. (1996) Fargo
#26. (2003) Big Fish
#25. (1989) Glory
#24. (1954) Seven Samurai
#23. (1979) Alien
#22. (1986) Aliens
#21. (1994) Pulp Fiction
#20. (1987) The Princess Bride
#19. (1991) The Silence of the Lambs
#18. (1995) The Usual Suspects
#17. (2003) Mystic River
#16. (1992) Last of the Mohicans
#15. (1995) Heat
#14. (2009) District 9
#13. (2001) Black Hawk Down
#12. (1980) The Shining
#11. (1990) Goodfellas - A penetrating and eye-opening look into the world of organized crime, and how gangsters and mobsters always start off hot, but their lives soon start to unravel once they get complacent and sloppy in their "work". This film somehow challenges The Godfather (both parts) for the best mobster movie of all-time, which I didn't think was possible. The characters are well colored, the narration is spot-on, and the plot is structured and executed to perfection by Martin Scorsese. Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci have never been better. While it's definitely not a very fun movie to watch at times, you can't help but admire it from a storytelling perspective. To put it in few words, this is one of the best movies ever made. Period.
#10. (1999) Fight Club
#9. (2007) Superbad
#8. (2001-2003) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
#7. (1972, 1974) The Godfather (I and II)
#6. (1992) Reservoir Dogs
#5. (1977, 1980, 1983) The Star Wars Trilogy
#4. (1993) Schindler's List - One of, if not the most, powerful and heart-wrenching movies I've ever seen. Definitely a top film for me, an emotionally ravaging tale of survival amongst the most hellish of circumstances, and how a member of the Nazi party refused to treat Jews like the "rats" they were perceived to be by the corrupt German army, and instead offered them a safe place to work, as well as hope for a future that at the time looked ever so bleak. The change that Neeson's character undergoes is remarkable, but never for a second unconvincing. Fiennes treading between his true feelings and what he's ordered to feel is something that is fascinating as well, you really believe that his inner-feelings are that what he is a part of is disgusting and damning, but, unlike Neeson's character, he doesn't possess the inner-strength to go an unprecedented change. Anyone who has ever learned about the Holocaust or has read in textbooks about the horrid events these people were subjected to, you haven't seen or read anything until you have seen this film.
#3. (1968) 2001: A Space Oddysey
#2. (1998) American History X
#1. (2007) Into the Wild - This is my all-time favorite film. It took four viewings of this movie for me to finally say, without question, that this is the one movie that I would want to watch over and over again if I only had one movie in the world to watch. I don’t know where to even begin with this film. The plot, based on a true story, is about the life of Christopher McCandless, a young man who rebelled against the norms of society and instead chose to pursue the ultimate adventure – a cross-country trip in which Alaska was his ultimate destination. Along the way, he meets some incredible people, including a loving, hippie couple (played beautifully by the very likable Catherine Keener and first-time actor Brian Dierker), a partying redneck farmer (played to perfection by a subdued Vince Vaughn), a lonely old man (played by Hal Holbrook, who gives the best supporting performance I’ve ever seen in a film, his character will bring you to tears), and an attractive young musician (Kristen Stewart, before her Twilight fame). It’s ironic that this film is directed by Sean Penn, who has not been shy in his personal life blasting America and its many "faults". Here, he shows everything that is beautiful about this country, the majestic mountains, the peaceful fields, and the haunting, chilling, beauty of Alaska in particular. The characters are rich and detailed expertly, Penn makes you care for each character McCandless runs into. I can’t say enough about the lead performance by Emile Hirsch. He embodies Chris. There’s not one moment in the film where you think, “hey it’s Emile Hirsch”, you truly believe that he IS Christopher McCandless, and that you are with Chris as he encounters massive obstacles, including his final one – Alaska. Eddie Vedder’s soundtrack is also quiet, but unmistakably powerful. As already said, I can’t say enough about this movie. Yes, it’s long, yes, it’s very artsy and expects its viewer to have a love for settings and a story driven by character development. In every aspect however, this is a perfect movie, my favorite movie, and without question, the best film of this past decade.
Decades Breakdown:
2000’s: 33
1990’s: 30
1980’s: 15
1970’s: 13
1960’s: 1
1950’s: 4
1940’s: 3
1930’s: 1
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