Never seen
Cabaret, but I imagine I'd probably admire it from a technical standpoint more than I'd enjoy the film itself, which was my reaction to Fosse's other 70's entry,
All That Jazz.
I never considered myself a fan of science-fiction. The few exceptions were movies that combined with other genres---
Alien (sci-fi/horror) or
The Matrix and
Terminator 2 (sci-fi/action). Movies that took place on other planets and featured flying saucers and laser-shooting aliens just seemed way too geeky for my tastes. I never watched
Star Trek or
Star Wars for fear of waking up the next morning with my virginity magically restored. About four years ago, however, I found myself back home with my parents, done with college yet unable to find a job. Out of boredom, I started watching a ton of stuff on the science channel, especially programs relating to the universe (but none of that
Ancient Aliens or UFO crap that will leave you locked in a closet with a tinfoil helmet). I became fascinated with learning as much as I could about the universe, and I started reading and researching and watching stuff about it every day. The more I learned, the more mysterious and incomprehensible everything seemed. Dark matter, dark energy, particles that exist in multiple places except when observed, theories about the multiverse, the bizarre world of quantum mechanics. I started going outside every night just to gaze at the stars. I even took to calling myself a Pantheist. The level of awe and reverence I felt was the closest that I had ever come to being religious or spiritual.
It was during that time that I watched
2001: A Space Odyssey and
Solaris, and both films hit me like a supernova. They remain the two best science-fiction movies I've ever seen. I'll reserve my thoughts for
2001 for when it hopefully wins or finishes in the top 3 of the 60's Countdown, but
Solaris, even though it's much more concerned with human nature than space, using the genre, setting and concept to look within us rather than "out there," remains one of the only science-fiction films I've seen that comes anywhere close to capturing the level of mystery and reverence and wonder that I felt during that soul-searching period of my life. The movie is haunting, mysterious, ambiguous, chilling, thought-provoking. Yeah, it's slow and ponderous, too, but instead of boring me, the pace adds to the movie's meditative nature, pulling me deeper and deeper into its world. It was #18 on my list.
My List So Far:
#4)
The Last Picture Show
#8)
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
#9)
Nashville
#10)
The Holy Mountain
#11)
Paper Moon
#13)
Five Easy Pieces
#18)
Solaris
#22)
Straw Dogs
#23)
The Outlaw Josey Wales
#24)
Mean Streets