My 50 Favorite Movies
Honorable mentions: Chinatown, Persona, Barry Lyndon, Annie Hall, The Royal Tenenbaums.
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- DirectorRobert MulliganStarsGregory PeckJohn MegnaFrank OvertonAtticus Finch, a widowed lawyer in Depression-era Alabama, defends a Black man against an undeserved rape charge, and tries to educate his young children against prejudice.Without a doubt, this is my favorite movie in the world. It's a timeless story of family, injustice, and morality. Though not necessarily the most well-made film ever, it's hard not to fall in love with this adaptation of Harper Lee's inferior book. Gregory Peck gives one of the finest performances an actor ever gave in this.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsNaomi WattsLaura HarringJustin TherouxAfter a car wreck on Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.With Mulholland Dr., David Lynch created a cinematic puzzle. There's always one piece missing no matter which way you attempt to interpret it, and that's the beauty behind it. It's a wonder that Naomi Watts didn't even get nominated for an Oscar for this. It's an even greater wonder that this film got almost no recognition at the Oscars all together. This is simply one of the most artful, creepy, and downright strange films ever made.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKeir DulleaGary LockwoodWilliam SylvesterAfter uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000.This, however, is the most well-made film ever. Kubrick's visual symphony is at once ambiguous and also masterful. The "Dawn of Man" sequence is truly spectacular, the famous jump cut being its low point, and even that is amazing filmmaking. The balletic sequence that follows of the two ships attaching is equally awesome. And who could forget Douglas Trumbull's effects for this? The Star Child ending is mind-blowing.
- DirectorJean-Pierre JeunetStarsAudrey TautouMathieu KassovitzRufusDespite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.If you're ever feel down, Amélie is the movie to watch. This movie is definitely the most happy and light movie I've ever seen, so much so that certain scenes make me cry for their sheer beauty. Jeunet's direction adds another gorgeous dimension to the title character, beautifully played Audrey Tautou, that you just fall in love with. Not only do you want the best for Amélie, you feel horrible for her when she's not happy. A beautiful movie, a beautiful concept, a beautiful character.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJames StewartKim NovakBarbara Bel GeddesA former San Francisco police detective juggles wrestling with his personal demons and becoming obsessed with the hauntingly beautiful woman he has been hired to trail, who may be deeply disturbed.Hitchock's riveting and twisty thriller about duplicity is his masterpiece. Unlike his other films, Vertigo is highly symbolic and beautifully shot. Vertigo marks the only time that Hitchcock used color to give the film its meaning. It's probably also his most memorable film for that reason. The reverse tracking shot, created specially for this film, is still just as dizzying as it was more than 50 years ago. And while the stars and script aren't Hitchcock's finest, the visuals alone are worth the ride.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineDaryl HannahAfter awakening from a four-year coma, a former assassin wreaks vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her.Tarantino's two-part ode to Asian martial arts movies started with this bloodbath. Arguably the better of the two, Vol. 1 is an adrenaline rush from start to finish, and a well-made one at that, too. Uma Thurman is a powerhouse in these two no matter what she does, whether it's killing 88 highly trained assassins at once or simply trying to wiggle her big toe. This is probably the best action movie ever made.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineMichael MadsenThe Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.Vol. 2 toned down Vol. 1's slick action and began to exercise restraint with Tarantino's bizarre characters and excellent, extended stretches of dialogue. A lot of sharp style from the first film is lost to get more personal for this one, but it doesn't matter when the conclusion is this satisfying. Sally Menke's editing still shines in greatest way possible in this one. Together, the two films are a masterpiece.
- DirectorBaz LuhrmannStarsNicole KidmanEwan McGregorJohn LeguizamoA poor Bohemian poet in 1890s Paris falls for a beautiful courtesan and nightclub star coveted by a jealous duke.Baz Luhrmann's hyped up MTV-style musical is a visual and auditory wonder. Luhrmann's style is like no other on earth--it's a hallucinogenic mess that somehow ended up being great. The revisionist versions of great pop songs ("Smells Like Teen Spirit" is vamped up even more for a can-can sequence) are amazing in their own right. I can't say enough about the film and its leads. And while its editing is nearly nauseating, this is my favorite movie musical.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsMarilyn MonroeTony CurtisJack LemmonAfter two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.Billy Wilder's best movie is also the best comedy ever made. The ending punchline is, without a doubt, one of the greatest endings ever. While controversial at the time, Some Like It Hot has only become better over the years, somehow even edgier now than it was before. I normally can't stand Marilyn Monroe, but here, she's gorgeous gem, as she plays beautifully off Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Outrageously smart and never boring, Some Like It Hot is what all comedies should aspire to be.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsKevin SpaceyAnnette BeningThora BirchA sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.Sam Mendes' American Beauty has been named the worst Best Picture winner ever by Entertainment Weekly, but I have to disagree. I think it's one of the best. Kevin Spacey gives the performance of a career as Lester Burnham, a man who is going through a mid-life crisis. His bittersweet and darkly funny approach to his problems is entertaining and devastating at once. Alan Ball's script is smart, working many different storylines into one harsh and beautiful climax. Annette Bening as Lester's wife is so good.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJodie FosterCybill ShepherdA mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.Martin Scorcese's tale of insanity is less an sad story of a lonely cabbie than it is an intense portrait of a man who thinks he's a hero. There's so many unforgettable, haunting elements to this film. Who could forget Bernard Herrman's score? Robert de Niro's performance? That showdown in the brothel? An impressive cast heads a horrifying tale that remains shocking, even today.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenDorothy ComingoreFollowing the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'It may not be the best film ever, but Citizen Kane is the closest a movie will ever come to being perfect. Everything about it is amazing. Of all the things in this movie that work, however, the cinematography is the best. Gregg Tolland's work was ahead of its time. And then again, wasn't the whole movie well ahead of its time? The plot structure, among many other things, paved the way for other great movies to come.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsMorgan FreemanBrad PittKevin SpaceyTwo detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives.David Fincher is my favorite director, and Se7en, along with Fight Club, is one of his best works. Fincher works best with subjects that are disgusting and dark. Se7en exemplifies both of these. It's almost no surprise that it turned out as well as it did. Were it not for the lushly drab cinematography and purposefully wooden performances of the leads, Se7en wouldn't have been the same movie. And thank God it turned out this way.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.Spoofed constantly in any culturally relevant TV show, Pulp Fiction is better than you'd think, if you didn't know better. The cast is impossibly strong, with one of the best screenplays ever from Tarantino. And what fun would things be with out a little Tarantino oddity? The legacy this film left behind is worth its place here alone.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittEdward NortonMeat LoafAn insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.Like I said, Fincher is my favorite director. He really is the only man who could possibly make the movie of a Palahniuk book that is better than its source material. This movie has become a pop culture icon for its brashness and style. How could it possibly have been scorned by critics at the time that it came out?
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsWoody HarrelsonJuliette LewisTom SizemoreTwo victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and psychopathic serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.Oliver Stone has been here and there with his films. Natural Born Killers is a polarizing (so polarizing that even Tarantino abandoned it?). I fall with the group of people who love it. Stone's vivacious style is vicious and angry, yet still artful. Movie and TV show references are abound, and never distastefully. Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis make for a very believable trailer-trash psycho-bitch couple. Poppy and brutal, Natural Born Killers never fails to shock.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.Kubrick's second-best work is just vile at times, at others viciously beautiful. Malcolm McDowell's performance anchors the movie in something that we can relate to, but Kubrick's cold style makes the movie a great experience. The film is loaded with unforgettable scenes ("Singin' in the Rain" isn't ever the same after seeing this) that broke the rules upon its release for its treatment of sexual and physical violence. Not only is it a social time capsule, but it's also a visually stimulating film.
- DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsJean-Paul BelmondoJean SebergVan DoudeA small-time crook, hunted by the authorities for a car theft and the murder a police officer, attempts to persuade a hip American journalism student to run away with him to Italy.Jean Luc-Godard's first film was the movie that started it all. The French New Wave began with this film, along with a lot of other film-related things. Where would the film world be without Godard's happy accident that is the jump cut? The two main star-crossed lovers are a motif that have been used again and again, but it's this film that did it the best. Movies weren't ever the same after this one.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsFred MacMurrayBarbara StanwyckEdward G. RobinsonA Los Angeles insurance representative lets an alluring housewife seduce him into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, an insurance investigator.Double Indemnity is the best noir film out there. Billy Wilder's script is so sharp that it could kill, if it were a weapon. Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray deliver Wilder's slick, bitchy dialogue with so much prowess that this ended up defining a genre.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsAnthony PerkinsJanet LeighVera MilesA Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.On the other hand, Psycho, starkly shot in B&W, is Hitchcock's wildest film. The shower scene, which has been parodied to no end, still packs a punch. Even if you know what happens at the end, Anthony Perkins is still REALLY creepy in that final scene. Often enough, less is more, and Psycho was the film that proved that.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsMarcello MastroianniAnouk AiméeClaudia CardinaleA harried movie director retreats into his memories and fantasies.Federico Fellini's best film is 8 1/2, an autobiographical (although heavily stylized) account of his life. The movie's art comes in its ability to shift in and out of consciences, and in Fellini's use of style to show this. It's not an easy film to "understand," but it's a very rewarding experience when its mystery is unlocked.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartIngrid BergmanPaul HenreidA cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.Here's looking at this great film, kid. You know why Casablanca is a classic. The forbidden and muddled relationship of Rick and Ilsa is timeless. The script, which won an Oscar upon its release, remains sharp. Michael Curtiz's direction has become a major inspiration for future romantic dramas. What makes this movie work is not the deliciously bad accent put on by Ingrid Bergman or the fun set pieces, but rather the chemistry between Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. As time goes by, nothing about this film will ever lose its impact.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.Ah, the Asian revenge movie. Park Chan-wook's intense mystery centering around an unjustly imprisoned man is so engrossing, it's scary. There's many, many memorable scenes in this--some bizarre (the live octopus dinner), others that kick-ass (the hallway fight)--but what gets remembered the most is the last-minute twist at the very end. And that's what's great about Oldboy: you never know where it's going, and you almost never want to.
- DirectorDavid LeanStarsCelia JohnsonTrevor HowardStanley HollowayMeeting a stranger in a railway station, a woman is tempted to cheat on her husband.Running just short of an hour and a half, Brief Encounter leaves a greater mark on the viewer than many films could in twice its length. Lean's film about love at first sight is sad, beautifully shot, and all too real. It feels so deeply personal that it could've happened at one point. When the main characters are forced to part at the end, the viewer's heart breaks along with them. You can't say that for many romantic dramas these days.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsGuy PearceCarrie-Anne MossJoe PantolianoA man with short-term memory loss attempts to track down his wife's murderer.A movie that works backwards hadn't been done before Memento. Well, it had; there was Following, but that was really just Nolan's study for Memento. Memento is just a fascinating mystery. Every time you think you know what's going on, you realize you don't have a clue. Even in the end, it's unclear exactly what happened. The editing and writing in this are impossibly good, with Guy Pearce in his best role in his career thus far.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.Leave it to Nolan to create a superhero movie that bridged the line between art and blockbuster. Batman Begins was a very good movie, but this one succeeded where the predecessor did not, making it the near perfect action movie. All of the action sequences are carefully choreographed, and for once, we actually care a lot about a superhero. We really do see that Batman is more than just his two identities. This dark, epic, and thrilling film is one of the best movies ever if nothing else than for Heath Ledger's final impressive performance.
- DirectorVictor FlemingKing VidorStarsJudy GarlandFrank MorganRay BolgerYoung Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz, and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.There's no film like The Wizard of Oz. Try as filmmakers might, nobody is every going to do a fantasy quite like this. Even today, when we're more used to seeing films done in color, the tornado's transition from the B&W of Kansas to the color of Oz is jolting. And the film looks great too. A classic.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsSigourney WeaverTom SkerrittJohn HurtThe crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.Another example of "less is more" is Ridley Scott's fine horror film Alien. Many people prefer Aliens to Alien, however I like this better for Scott's tense atmosphere. The film is truly creepy, almost unbearably so at times. There's also a great character that the audience can get behind: we really do hope that Ripley makes it out safely in the end (and Jonesy too!). This is all not to mention the awesome but repulsive special effects.
- DirectorVictor FlemingGeorge CukorSam WoodStarsClark GableVivien LeighThomas MitchellA sheltered and manipulative Southern belle and a roguish profiteer face off in a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.Victor Fleming's sweeping tale of lovers during the Civil War is still amazing nearly 80 years later as it was upon its initial release. Sidney Howard's screenplay is filled to the brim with smart, memorable lines. Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable are perfect in their roles. The costume design and art direction are beautiful. As God is my witness, this movie will never lose its reputation!
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsLiam NeesonRalph FiennesBen KingsleyIn German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.Steven Spielberg really couldn't have done more in this case: Schindler's List is one of his best. Since the Holocaust, there have been hundreds of films made about the subject, however none so moving as this one. The music alone could make a person cry in the end, but it's really Liam Neeson's stellar performance that really pushes it over the edge. And there's also the way that Spielberg chose to go about doing all this by shooting it in B&W and only showing the little girl in the red coat in color. When her fate is revealed, it's horrible to watch. And so is the rest of this amazing film.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsRoy ScheiderRobert ShawRichard DreyfussWhen a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.No matter how many times it's made fun of, Jaws will always be masterful. The opening sequence is the best example of well-built tension in film. In fact, the first hour, in which we only get fleeting glimpses of the film's antagonist, is extremely taut as a whole. When we finally do see the shark, it's still really thrilling and still just as tense. The mechanical shark looks all too real. What Spielberg did here, with his restraint and style, is something almost any other director couldn't accomplish.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMatthew ModineR. Lee ErmeyVincent D'OnofrioA pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.Stanley Kubrick's most intense journey is Full Metal Jacket. It's an extremely disturbing movie to watch, but one that I dare you rip your eyes away from. Beautifully shot, it's one long miserable trip through desolation and terror. It may feel like two movies sandwiched together (the latter being the lesser of the two), but it's undoubtedly well-written and poignant.
- DirectorNeil MarshallStarsShauna MacdonaldNatalie MendozaAlex ReidA caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.The Descent is bar none the most terrifying film I've ever seen. I've returned to it several times (all during the day, of course!) and it still scares the crap out of me. Why is that? Because it prays on two innate fears: that of tight spaces and that of the dark. Both are constantly featured in this film. The result is better than warranted for a film that relies so heavily on jump scares. But the film delivers in its own unique way with an ending that's both dark and daring.
- DirectorGiuseppe TornatoreStarsPhilippe NoiretEnzo CannavaleAntonella AttiliA filmmaker recalls his childhood when falling in love with the pictures at the cinema of his home village and forms a deep friendship with the cinema's projectionist.For any film lover, this movie is a must-see. We've all been in little Toto's shoes. We've all been that kid who just wanted to talk about movies. Or if it wasn't movies, it was something else. But still, Tornatore's extremely personal tale of a life devoted to film is something everyone can relate to. By the end, there's guaranteed to be a lot of tears running.
- DirectorMichael LehmannStarsWinona RyderChristian SlaterShannen DohertyAt Westerburg High where cliques rule, jocks dominate and all the popular girls are named Heather, it's going to take a Veronica and mysterious new kid to give teen angst a body count.Heathers is one of the most underrated movies ever made. It's unfortunately been forgotten as a cult classic, but for me, it's one of my favorite comedies. The writing in this is so sharp and so mean-spirited that it almost hurts watching it. What's even scarier is that it became an accidental precursor to some of the events involving teenagers in the 90's. Regardless of its legacy, Heathers' wry wit is still hilarious and very much potent.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsMarcello MastroianniAnita EkbergAnouk AiméeA series of stories following a week in the life of a philandering tabloid journalist living in Rome.Fellini's other great film about film is La Dolce Vita. The movie is artistic, groundbreaking for its sincerity, and compelling. Fellini managed to lift up the glossy veil that tabloids place over Hollywood (in this case, Cinecitta) and show us what celebrity is really like. A fine movie from one of film's greatest masters.
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherLuke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.Arguably better than The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars is the films that started the revival of sci-fi. Lucas' first big feature is great. It's a nonstop ride that comes at you fast. Basically, it's a classic tale of good versus evil turned on its head and put in space. The brilliance of it: starting in the middle and seeing what unfolds after, then seeing what unfolded before.
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsBrad PittSean PennJessica ChastainThe story of a family in Waco, Texas in 1956. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence and struggles with his parents' conflicting teachings.The Tree of Life is about as pretentious as film gets, and yet it's hard to fault this one. This movie is outrageously beautiful, making it bar none the most gorgeous film ever made. Malick's symphonic meditation on innocence, religion, and childhood is an experience to behold. This is the most ambitious film since 2001: A Space Odyssey, flinging the viewer between the beginning of time and the end of our days constantly. I've never been more moved by a film. An absolute work of art.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsWilliam HoldenGloria SwansonErich von StroheimA screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.Another great film from Billy Wilder, Sunset Blvd. is a noir rendition of that typical Hollywood story about the rise and tragic fall of a celebrity. Gloria Swanson is ghastly and horribly real as a silent movie star that has descended into her own fantasy world in which she's still a big deal. The ending, corny as it may be, is still disturbing. "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodViggo MortensenIan McKellenGandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.The ultimate and perfect ending to the Lord of the Rings trilogy is The Return of the King. It keeps a lot of what was great from the first two (the cinematography, the special effects, the direction, the editing, etc.), except this final movie improves on the direction and writing even more. It's truly a nonstop thrill ride start to finish. The battle scenes are exhilarating, and even when the movie slows down a lot in the final half hour, it's still emotional and glorious. Jackson's masterpiece.
- DirectorKar-Wai WongStarsTony Leung Chiu-waiMaggie CheungSiu Ping-LamTwo neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs.Wong Kar-Wai's gorgeous film about repression is a wonder. Its plot moves like molasses, and the images literally do as well, but it's an outrageously beautiful film. Wong works without a script again, making Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung's life tough, yet they still pull it off. The transcendental ending set at the Angkor Wat is worth watching on its own. What's also great is Wong's use of music as cues for emotions. A truly spectacular experience.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsToshirô MifuneMachiko KyôMasayuki MoriThe rape of a bride and the murder of her samurai husband are recalled from the perspectives of a bandit, the bride, the samurai's ghost and a woodcutter.Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon is, in short, a film about the malleability of truth. Told from several perspectives, the film seems trivial in many ways, but its legacy is important. Kurosawa's style is paramount and what saves this movie from being a total mess.
- DirectorFernando MeirellesKátia LundStarsAlexandre RodriguesLeandro FirminoMatheus NachtergaeleIn the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.City of God is a complex grouping of stories cleverly nested within each other. Fernando Mereilles' direction, though a bit too much inspired by that of Tarantino, is glorious. The way he uses his actors, the screenplay, and music to tell every angle of one story is impressive. Gangster movies are usually to the point, but this one is not. Mereilles gives the film a visual verve that many its genre lack.
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsEllen BurstynJared LetoJennifer ConnellyThe drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island people are shattered when their addictions run deep..Darren Aronofsky's films are always intense to the point where it's uncomfortable. Even The Fountain got pretty heavy at the end. The best film that he's made yet is Requiem for a Dream, though Black Swan isn't far behind. His style, marked by fast montages of drug use and shocking visual motifs, is masterful. The film wants you to cry. It wants to change your life. And it does.
- DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczStarsBette DavisAnne BaxterGeorge SandersA seemingly timid but secretly ruthless ingénue insinuates herself into the lives of an aging Broadway star and her circle of theater friends.Bette Davis' most chilling performance isn't actually in her later horror films where she plays an evil sister or a deluded victim, rather it's in Mankiewicz's All About Eve. It's a classic story about showbiz glitz and competition, one that feels layered with depth and oddly compelling. It's not something we haven't seen before, but it works oh so well here.
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsFaye DunawayWilliam HoldenPeter FinchA television network cynically exploits a deranged former anchor's ravings and revelations about the news media for its own profit, but finds that his message may be difficult to control.Network, Sidney Lumet's best film, is a stark raving mad snapshot of the politics of the media in the 70's. Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway top a cast that really pushes the movie into places most other films are afraid to go through the intensity of their performances. Not many scripts have come along that are better than this one.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroCathy MoriartyJoe PesciThe life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.Raging Bull is film that immerses its audience so deeply in its main character's mind that it's hard not to be rocked by Scorcese's intentionally bland, oddly gorgeous B&W photography. Robert de Niro gives a tour-de-force performance in his best role ever. If nothing else, the slow-motion boxing sequences set to Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" are worth its place on this list.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsRichard DreyfussFrançois TruffautTeri GarrRoy Neary, an Indiana electric lineman, finds his quiet and ordinary daily life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO, spurring him to an obsessed cross-country quest for answers as a momentous event approaches.Spielberg played around with aliens a lot in his movies, but Close Encounters is a very different experience from his other movies. Tense but funny, entertaining yet parabolic, Close Encounters is that rare time where aliens are nice. What the film is not is something where humans run around screaming from space invaders. What the film is, is a meaningful, sweet picture about xenophobia. The most unique sci-fi experience out there.
- 19641h 35mPG8.4 (519K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.Kubrick's only comic venture is yet another masterpiece. But like all his others, it's a journey through the consciences of his characters. Serious or not, Kubrick always had a way with putting us into the mindset of the film. We feel like we're there, and it's damn hard to be there too. As a comedy, the film is hilarious. As a drama, it's taut as hell. Dr. Strangelove works in every way.
- DirectorMilos FormanStarsF. Murray AbrahamTom HulceElizabeth BerridgeThe life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.Milos Forman's magnum opus is clearly Amadeus. Clocking in at 160 minutes, not a single bit of the film is boring. Tom Hulce delivers one of the strongest performances ever filmed, while F. Murray Abraham plays off him brilliantly. The art direction and costume design are just as immersive as the performances, direction, and writing. Amadeus is the ultimate film about art and creation, a damn gorgeous and thrilling story that is simply brilliant.