100 Favourites from the Future

So here we go with my top fifty...



50. Starship Troopers (Paul Verhoeven 1997)

Cracking imperialist satire from Paul Verhoeven loosely based on the classic Robert A. Heinlein novel of the same title. When Earth attempts to colonise an alien planet inhabited by intelligent giant bugs, the critters hit back and destroy Buenos Aires. So begins an extremely bloody conflict on the Bug's home planet. We follow Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) and friends as they join the military and get alot more than they bargained for. There seems to be no middle ground with this movie, people either love it or hate it. All the performances are deliberately hammy, and the plot daft, but the films message is extremely relevant. Plus the action scenes and special effects are both excellent. I thought the film was a hilarious pastiche of gung ho Vietnam war movies, loved the cheesy acting, and was thoroughly entertained throughout. Great.

49. Bonnie and Clyde (Arthur Penn 1967)

Based on the real life exploits of the two iconic American outlaws, Bonnie and Clyde is one of the best films of the 1960's. Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) a drifter just out of prison, seduces Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) into a life of crime as an escape from the poverty of 1920's depression era America. What transpires is an often violent string of robberies stretching across the southwest. The two gain celebrity status and are revered by the public, but the police see them only as killers, and plan a fatal ambush. Superb film that explores the disfunctional relationship between the two outlaws whilst never shying away from their often violent activity. Masterfully directed, with some beautiful photography giving a real feel for the hardship of the period. The lead performances are outstanding , as is the support from the likes of Gene Hackman, Michael J. Pollard, and Estelle Parsons. This is a timeless classic, and also features Gene Wilder's first big screen appearance.

48. Fitzcarraldo (Werner Herzog 1982)

Delightful jungle epic from Herzog starring the brilliant Klaus Kinski, as the opera loving dreamer of the title. Fitzcarraldo plans to make a fortune in the rubber trade so he can build an opera house deep in the middle of the jungle. The success of his plan all hinges on dragging a steam boat over land to an adjoining river with the help of a local tribe. Keeping the Indians motivated however proves as impossible as the task itself. Another Herzog masterpiece filled with breath taking imagery and a typically edgy performance from Kinski. Truly an unforgettable film about obsession, dogged determination, and the price of failure.

47. Videodrome (David Cronenberg 1983)

It took me multiple viewings before I started to appreciate Videodrome (I'm still not sure I fully understand it). James Woods (in a typically manic performance) stars as Max Renn, a sleazy cable TV executive who becomes obsessed with a sinister pirate torture show called Videodrome. Despite warnings that the show is dangerous Max obtains copies, but in viewing the material he begins to suffer nightmarish hallucinations, and becomes embroiled in an evil government conspiracy. It soon becomes apparent that he's been brainwashed into becoming a Manchurian Candidate like assassin. Another genuine original from the brilliant and disturbing mind of David Cronenberg, Videodrome is like a bad acid trip that gets right under your skin. Rick Baker's amazing makeup effects add an extra layer of horror to the proceedings, as does Debbie Harry as Max's S&M loving girlfriend. Brilliant.

46. Diamonds Are Forever (Guy Hamilton 1971)



45. Day of the Dead (George A. Romero 1985)

Underrated third installment in Romero's dead series. With zombies now outnumbering the living four hundred thousand to one, we join a group of scientists and army sexists holed up in an underground missile silo. The army want a way to kill all the zombies, the scientists to domesticate them in some way. What follows is a tense standoff between the two groups which inevitably explodes into violence. The darkest of the series, Day of the Dead is gritty and depressing, but ultimately the most believable. Tom Savini's makeups are the best the genre has to offer, Romero's choice of location is inspired, and the film plays with some intelligent moral dilemmas. The acting is strictly second rate, but that doesn't mean it's not fun, Joe Pilato is gleefully OTT as Captain Rhodes, and Richard Liberty is equally amusing as Dr. Logan. Not to mention Sherman Howard us Bub (pictured), the zombie with a soul. A thinking man's splatter movie.

44. Charley Varrick (Don Siegel 1973)


43. (Tie) Chinatown (Roman Polanski 1974)


Night Moves (Arthur Penn 1975)


42. The Shootist (Don Siegel 1976)

Brilliant sombre western from Siegel starring John Wayne in one of his last roles. Wayne plays John Bernard Brooks, a notorious gunfighter who discovers he's dying of rectal cancer. He takes a room in a guest house owned by Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall) wanting to spend his last few weeks peacefully. Once Bond discovers who he is however, she's disgusted and asks him to leave. Her compassion takes over when Brooks tells her he is dying, and she gradually comes to accept him. Brooks is in turn idolized by Bond's son Gillom (Ron Howard), and soon word of his presence spreads throughout the town. This panics the local sheriff, and attracts the attention of glory hunting gunslingers seeking to make a name for themselves. I love this melancholy, thoughtful take on the western, there's a strong anti gun message there, and some great understated performances.

41. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese 1976)

Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle a Vietnam veteran who drives a New York taxi cab to escape from his insomnia. Lonely and completely alienated from every aspect of society, Bickle gradually slides into madness. He first tries to woo Betsy (Sybil Shepherd) a political campaign worker, which goes well until he deliberately takes her to a porn theater. Bickle then plots to kill a senator, before trying to lure a young prostitute (Jody Foster) away from her possessive pimp and life of degradation. When this fails he turns to violence in the films bloody and shocking finale. Powerful and disturbing, Taxi Driver immortalized De Niro and earned him a best actor Oscar nomination. Scorsese appears as one of Travis's fares, a jealous lover. Memorable, iconic stuff

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100 Favourites From The Future: REWIRED

What a great list so far there are quite a few favourites of mine

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Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Buddha

Quite an interesting list. Tons of mixes and taste. Excellent stuff there.

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Hi Mrs. Darcy, hope you enjoy it.

La Dolce Vita is the only Fellini movie I've seen, I keep asking for his films at the library but it's the only one they've got. They won't order in audio visual stuff from other libraries, so short of just buying them outright (Fellini is expensive here) there's not a lot I can do. Very frustrating because La Dolce Vita is brilliant.

Thanks Nebbit

I like your new avatar by the way, much better than the old one

Thanks Bill, glad people are looking at it

Yeah, that is a bit annoying how expensive they are, though La Dolce Vita is the most expensive i've come across- managed to pick up 8 1/2 for around £7 as well as Amacord. They normally crop up in HMV or Zavvi sales if you dig in the World Cinema section. I prefer 8 1/2 personally, mainly because when i saw La Dolce Vita in a lecture, they said there was a big orgy in it! Was somewhat disappointed but whenever i think about the rest it makes me want to watch it again, a real grower

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*Sigh* being a film student must be fun.

Yourself and Pyro have similar taste in films. You both have a guilty pleasure for 'guilty pleasures' and you love your cult flicks. Gotta say I like a lot of what you have on the list thus far. In fact, you've made me want to give Videodrome another chance. Didn't like it too much when I first saw it, but thats mainly because I didn't understand it.

Keep up the good work.

I'm not sure if my sarcasm detector is tingling, or not?

No sarcasm intended, I studied photography and wish I'd chosen film instead. The sigh was me reflecting on mistakes gone by.

Ah, fair. It's not exactly the most 'respected academic' degree so tend to get easily defensive. In retrospect i kinda wish i didn't take 3 years to study it, would have been fun extra curricular but to base my future roughly on it, nah.

40. The Big Lebowski (Joel Coen 1998 - Ethan Coen uncredited)

Wonderful shaggy dog story from the Coen brothers. Jeff Bridges (in a role he was born to play) is Geoff 'The Dude' Lebowski, an unemployed hippy with a penchant for White Russians and bowling. When a case of mistaken identity results in two dim wit thugs breaking into his bachelor pad and urinating on his rug, The Dude visits the intended target (The 'Big' Lebowski) in search of compensation. Shunned by the millionaire, he nevertheless accepts a job from him involving an exchange of money. Before he knows it El Duderino is knee deep in intrigue, as everyone from an L.A. porn baron, to German kidnappers want a piece of him. This is hilarious stuff, full of great comic performances from the likes of John Goodman, Julianne Moore, John Turturro and Philip Seymour Hoffman (to name but a few). Eminently quotable film from two of the best film makers around today.

39. (Tie) The Getaway (Sam Peckinpah 1972)


Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia (Sam Peckinpah 1974)


38. The Terminator (James Cameron 1984)

The original and still the best in my opinion. In the future a war between man and machines has decimated the planet. With the human race nearly extinct, one man, John Connor, has turned things around and dealt a fatal blow to the robots. As a last gasp attempt to win the war, the machines have sent a near indestructible cyborg back in time to eliminate Connor's mother before he is born. The humans respond by sending Sarah a human protector, Kyle Reese. Darker and nastier than the sequels Cameron's original definitely has the edge for me. It's a masterful action flick, superbly edited, with an absolute knockout premise, and a career defining role for Schwarzenegger. The effects may be low budget and dated, but no-one can deny that The Terminator changed the face of action movies. Often imitated, but rarely bettered, this is legendary stuff.

37. Jaws (Steven Spielberg 1975)


36. (Tie) Demon Seed (Donald Cammell 1977)


Westworld (Michael Crichton 1973)



35. Sons of the Desert (William A. Seiter 1933)

The film the Laurel and Hardy fan club took their name from, Sons of the Desert is an endearing comedy masterpiece. Stan and Ollie swear an oath to the exhausted ruler (the head of their Freemason like club) that they'll attend the group's annual convention in Chicago. When Ollie tells his wife however, she flips, insisting that he accompany her on a holiday to the mountains instead. So begins an elaborate deception (with the aide of Stan) in which Ollie feigns illness, and pays off a doctor (though Stan hires a veterinarian) to say he needs a holiday in Honolulu. His wife takes the bait, and the pair head off to Chicago instead, things go wrong however, and the duo are found out. I love Laurel and Hardy, and have seen most of their talkies. Stan and Ollie were masters of comic timing, their facial expressions and delivery were priceless, and their films wonderfully innocent. Sons of the Desert is perhaps the finest example of their comedic art, superb.

34. Yojimbo (Akira Kurosawa 1961)

Another classic from the great Kurosawa, famously remade by Sergio Leone as Fistful of Dollars. Toshiro Mifune's Sanjuro arrives in a small nineteenth century village under the control of two rival gangs. Sanjuro quickly devises a strategy to play each of the warring factions off against each other. His plan is jeopardized however, by Unosuke (Tatsuya Nakadai) the gun wielding son of one of the gangsters. Initially beaten by Unosuke, Sanjuro hides in a nearby temple to recover. It is there that he plans his victorious return to the village. High on style, full of Mifune's laconic charm, and sporting some thrilling swordplay (the severed arm was homaged in Star Wars). Yojimbo is a genre classic, sports a memorable musical score, and was Oscar nominated for its costume design.

33. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola 1979)

Notoriously troubled production that went way over schedule, and nearly killed it's leading man. Based on Joseph Conrad's novel Hearts of Darkness, Apocalypse Now is like a stoned trip through the hell of the Vietnam war. Martin Sheen stars as Captain Willard sent on a classified assassination mission up river into Cambodia. His target is Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a man with an exemplary military record, who has seemingly gone mad in the jungle. Along the way Willard encounters various eccentric characters lost in the madness of war. All the while he ponders his inevitable rendezvous with the enigmatic Kurtz, coming to respect the man he hasn't met. Unforgettable experience that divided audiences and critics, beautifully shot, with great music from The Doors. I'm not a fan of war movies in general but Apocalypse Now transcends the genre for me. Coppola's film verges on high art, has a great cast, stunning set pieces, and many quotable lines. 'Never get out of the boat...absolutely G*****n right'.

32. They Live (John Carpenter 1988)

Another underrated gem from John Carpenter that plays with some very neat ideas. John Nada (Roddy Piper) is a drifter who arrives in L.A. looking for work, but instead stumbles on a global alien conspiracy. He hooks up with a group of vagrants living in a shanty town, and becomes drawn to the activity at a nearby church. On further investigation Nada discovers a box of sunglasses, and in putting them on is faced with the terrifying reality that humans are under subliminal alien control. The sunglasses enable him to see hidden messages in everything, as well as the aliens themselves. Convincing others of this reality however, proves nigh on impossible, and soon the aliens are onto him. They Live cleverly satirizes media manipulation, and political corruption, and surely influenced the likes of The Matrix. It's highly entertaining, even if it does descend into standard action trappings for the final third. Carpenter left a studio system he felt was stifling his creativity to make this film. In doing so he created a flawed, fun, original, ambitious sci-fi actioner, and yet another cult movie to add to his impressive repertoire.

31. Annie Hall (Woody Allen 1977)

One of Woody's best, he plays successful neurotic comedian Alvy Singer, who has just split up with his equally neurotic girlfriend Annie Hall. The film is Alvy reminiscing over their relationship, what went wrong, and the general nature of male female relations. Annie Hall is full of classic one liners, and intelligently funny vignettes featuring the likes of Christopher Walken (great as Annie's psycho brother), and Shelly Duvall as one of his ex girlfriends. My favourite scenes include Alvy sneezing away a line of cocaine, and his hilarious exchange with an arrogant movie buff. Classic thinking man's comedy.

Soderbergh's Solaris is a great choice, along with Fitzcarraldo.

This is a great list Yesterday looking forward to your top ten

30. Dawn of the Dead (George A. Romero 1978)

The best zombie movie ever made? Set shortly after the events of Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead follows four friends who flee the city and take refuge in a huge out of town shopping mall. After locking out the zombies, they become distracted by the material wealth surrounding them until a group of bikers decide they want a piece too. Whether Romero intended the films consumerist allegory or not (I think he did) Dawn of the Dead is still a thrilling ride. The film effortlessly flings the viewers emotions around, it's by turns funny, sad, frightening, and tense. I don't subscribe to it being art house horror though. Dawn of the Dead to me has always been just a fun, exciting comic book movie. Some of the editing is a little on the rough side, and Tom Savini's effects haven't aged too well, but the film is still hugely enjoyable, and the best the genre has to offer. The soundtrack by legendary Italian band Goblin is another highlight. Beware of edited versions though, if your copy isn't 140 minutes long, you may have Argento's inferior cut (though the soundtrack features more of Goblin). Romero's directors cut is the one to go for.

29. High Plains Drifter (Clint Eastwood 1973)

After working on three films with Sergio Leone, Eastwood made his own Italian style western in High Plains Drifter. The resulting film is a grim, nasty, and super stylish piece of cinema, with an atmosphere you could cut with a knife. Eastwood's mysterious stranger rides into the town of Lago, where three gunmen immediately try and kill him. After dispatching them with nonchalant ease, the towns people ask for his protection against a group of bandits shortly due to return. The Stranger accepts, but his conditions prove hard to swallow for the townsfolk. I love the almost supernatural atmosphere of High Plains Drifter. It has a wonderful dark sense of humor, and the scene in which Eastwood has everyone 'paint the town red' renaming it Hell, is classic.

28. To Live and Die in L.A. (William Friedkin 1985)

Extremely underrated sleazy cop thriller, and a brief return to form for Friedkin. William Petersen (in one of his best roles) plays Secret Service agent Richard Chance, who when his aging partner is killed by counterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem Defoe) decides to take him down any way possible. Assigned a new partner in meek Agent Vukovich (John Pankow), Chance sees his obsession through to the bitter end, risking both their careers in the process. To Live and Die in L.A. might sound like any other 80's cop thriller, but it's in the film's shocking story turns, and attention to detail that it shines. People are shotgunned in the face, all the leads are corrupt, and anyone is fair game to be killed off. Add to that excellent urban cinematography, one of the best car chases ever filmed, and great performances (including John Turturro as a sleazy con) and the result is a forgotten 80's gem. I also like the Wang Chung synth-pop soundtrack (though it's not for all tastes). It's also worth noting that the scenes of money counterfeiting were so realistic, Friedkin and co were investigated by the F.B.I.

27. Once Upon a Time in America (Sergio Leone 1984)

Some people say this is overblown, but I think it's a masterpiece, and one of the best gangster movies ever made. The film was also notoriously re cut in chronological order by the studio, something Leone was dead set against, and resulted in American audiences not taking to the film. The European cut of the film was Leone's vision, and his director's cut remains the only version of the film worth watching. Once Upon a Time in America follows the lives of a group of New York Jewish gangsters from childhood in the 1920's, through prohibition in the early 30's, to their eventual reunion in the 60's. We follow Noodles (Robert De Niro) and Max (James Woods) the gang leaders, their friendly rivalry, and Max's eventual betrayal of Noodles. The film is as much about love and friendship as it is about racketeering, and it's all hauntingly scored by Ennio Morricone. Unforgettable.

26. (Tie) Escape From New York (John Carpenter 1981)


2019: After The Fall Of New York (Sergio Martino 1983)


25. Repo Man (Alex Cox 1984)

Instant cult film from Alex Cox about a Chevy Malibu with alien remains in the boot that vaporize people when they look at them. Emilio Estevez (in easily his best role) plays Otto, a punk loser who gets inducted into a life of repossessing cars by Harry Dean Stanton's Bud. At first rebellious and skeptical, Otto comes to love the life after Bud gives him speed, and they're involved in a car chase with some rival Mexicans. Then the Chevy with it's huge reward comes to their attention, and so begins an every man for himself hunt for the elusive car. Repo Man is subversively funny stuff, and has some excellent comic timing and supporting performances. I particularly love Cox's blatant lack of product placement, as cans of food simply have 'food' written on them, and beer cans 'beer'. The soundtrack is also great featuring the likes of Iggy Pop and the Stooges. Plus verbal exchanges like: -
Debbie: 'Duke let's go do some crimes',
Duke: 'Yeah. Let's go get sushi and like...not pay.'

24(tie). Robocop (Paul Verhoeven 1987)


The Thing (John Carpenter 1982)


23. Mad Max 2 aka The Road Warrior (George Miller 1981)

Undoubtedly one of the most imitated films of all time. Mad Max 2 is another visually stunning action movie, that has wonderful costume design, and a great sense of kinetic energy. Max is now a drifter, destroyed by the death of his family, scavenging gasoline, and shunning human contact. He encounters a society refining gasoline in the desert, observing them as a group of depraved marauders lay wait outside their compound. Eventually his sees an opportunity to ingratiate himself with them by rescuing one of their group from the marauders. In doing so he strikes up a deal with their leader, that he deliver a tanker to haul their gasoline in return for as much fuel as he can carry. It seems a lot of people look down on this film, viewing it as lowbrow trash. I think there's a lot going on in the movie, even if on the surface the story is relatively simple. Miller injects a lot of subtle symbolism into the film, retains the odd atmosphere of the original, and delivers the best car chases and stunts ever filmed. Oh yeah, and all before the advent of CGI, classic.

22. Planet Of The Apes (Franklin J. Schaffner 1968)




21. Midnight Cowboy (John Schlesinger 1969)

Naive, but good natured Texas bumpkin Joe Buck (John Voight) travels to New York thinking he can make a fortune as a stud service for bored socialites. Instead he meets and takes pity on 'Ratso' Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman giving a knockout performance) a down and out small time semi crippled con man with Tuberculosis. Rizzo initially sees Buck as a meal ticket, but the money quickly runs out, and his business plan with the ladies proves to be a disaster. Struggling to survive the two gradually form a close bond, united together in an unforgiving city. This film really moved me, and I was blown away by Hoffman's performance. It really captures a city (admittedly I've never been there) in the throws of excess, poverty, prostitution and shattered dreams. I also found Rizzo's optimism uplifting, and the ending unbearably sad. Midnight Cowboy should probably be higher on my list.

Nice choices -- Repo Man, RoboCop, The Thing, Apocalypse Now, Brazil...

Your list is turning out with quite a lot of similar choices to mine thus is still excellent Get paid on monday and i'm gonna take a list of all your entries i haven't seen to HMV and buy em up.

Everyone seems to have Repo Man on their lists, kicking myself for falling asleep when it was on early morning on Film 4

Awesome list, no doubt.

DVD is your friend.

UF - nice work. Plenty of my favourites in those last two posts alone, and plenty of others I still need to re-watch as well.

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Iro's Top 100 Movies v3.0