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Ok so I lack the creative wit of a Joss Whedon or that stripper bird turned screen writer, but give me cred for giving it a go, eh? As i'm sure you're all well aware by now, i'm conducting my very own 'Greatest Films Ever Made' list and i'm trying to make it as comprehensive as I possibly can.
This was partly inspired by fellow Brit Pyro's 'Visual Pleasures' list and some other MoFo similarly themed thread.
As you can see, 'm taking this VERY seriously and i've been preparing for about 3 days now. I've thought long and hard about why so so film deserves it's spot and which ones belong in the top 50, etc. I've tried to look at the film for what it is what it's aims, ambition and whether or not it's successful at achieving the goals it sets out to do. I'ma do about 10 titles a day. Not too exhausting but lengthy enough to hopefully engage you all.
Anyways, I should stop chatting horses bollocks and get on with the damn thing. Bare in mind this is MY opinion and I don't speak (or type for those who want to be literal) for anybody else. So shall we commence? And here..we...go!
100: Sin City (Robert Rodriguez, 2005)
Robert Rodriguez's 2nd best film caught me by surprise. I had never heard of the the Sin City graphic novels and wasn't even that hyped for this when it first came out in the cinema. However, I was pleasantly surprised by just how imaginative, violent and fun this film was.
The idea of combining colours with black and white photography had been done before in 1997's Pleasantville. However, it had never been done so well and it definitely served Frank Miller's novel adaptation really well. It's an almost traditional film noir yet with that comic twist that really gives Sin City's it's edge. The standout in the ensemble cast is clearly Mickey Rourke's Marv. A hulking neanderthal who's beast-like looks belies a heroic figure. Great fun.
99: Jurassic Park (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
I must have been something like 8 when this film came out. I never got to see it in the cinemas, but boy did I not care at the time. This is one epic family film and despite the fact that i'm a little bit of a detractor of Spielberg, the man conjured up something we had never really seen before at that time. Something...immersive...man I love that word
The special and creature effects were OUTSTANDING. The late great Stan Winston truly made his mark here and writing about this film definately makes me miss that creative man even more. An interesting theme about the consequences of messing with nature and yadda yadda yadda. At the age of 8, these themes are a lot more profound than they may seem when a person is older, trust me. One of Spielberg's best blockbusters.
98: X-MEN 2 (Bryan Singer, 2003)
I think it's safe to say that Bryan Singer raised the bar as far as comic book sequels goes in this fantastic (and best) installment of the X-Men trilogy . The film has a good 30 mins on it's predecessor, and you really wouldn''t think so. The witty script is even sharper and the spectacle more dazzling than even before with Hugh Jackman's popular Wolverine getting the best lines and the most screen time.
But this is Singer's film, and the talented director makes good on his hints in the first film. He hinted at a real clash between the mutants and humans, and boy did he give it to us. The subtext or racism and prejudice is even more apparent here than it was in the first one, and one of many themes to raise this film from very good to GREAT.
97: Scum (Alan Clarke, 1979)
Not a lot can be said for Alan Clark's vicious and honest film, except that while really well executed in it's direction, it's really not for the faint of heart. Ray Winstone's Carling is the main 'daddy' in this film and it's fair to say that his performance probably adds a full star to it. All I can say is that this film is packed with frequent moments of brutality, but at the same time, it's a compelling piece of drama.
96: The Faculty (Robert Rodriguez, 1998)
Ok, this is gonna sound very strange. Maybe even stranger than seeing a male dressed up in female nurse gear and with clown make up smeared all over his face. But yes, Josh Hartnett was ICONIC in this film. There, I said it. This is my opinion of obviously but I really think that the Zeke character was brilliant. I don't know how but Josh Hartnett must've brought some charisma odor from somewhere because he has since been as bland as a school corridor since.
But yeah, Kevin Williamson's sharp and witty script really helps raise this generic sci-fi/horror thriller to great. It's a cult classic and the combination of The Breakfast Club meets Invasions Of a Body Snatcher concept really makes this film appear fresh. The group dynamics work and theres some brilliant exchange between the characters. Yes, it's silly stuff and the theme of kids having to rely on drugs to get them out of trouble may raise some eyebrows, but I still think it's Rodriguez's best film...and his most underrated.
95: Superman: The Movie (Richard Donner, 1978)
I am NOT a fan of Superman at all. In fact, i'd go as far as to say I dislike the character a lot. HOWEVER, I can give credit to where credit is due and in this case, the credit is due to Richard Donner's ambitious and epic origin take on the 'Man Of Steel'. This is the film that basically set the template for Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and featured a wonderful performance by the late Christopher Reeve.
For it's time, the special effects were pretty stunning. It also gets credit for being one of the first 'superhero' flicks to be taken seriously.
94: London To Brighton (Paul Andrew Williams, 2006)
I really liked Paul Andrew William's debut. It was fresh and something different. But I find myself rarely watching it because it's just so nasty. The film deals with underage prostitution, paedophilia, gangsters, some awful 'sex' sequences, people being cut and left to bled. You name it, this film is an exercise in brutality.
There are moments of beautiful cinematography yet it's contrasted with the most disturbing sequence. A little known film to watch assuming you can stomach it.
93: Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee, 2005)
Forget the whole homosexual theme that the film is generally known for. This film is truly about man's need for male companionship. At least that what it seemed to be saying to me. That subtext is so strong that I almost found the homosexuality aspect to be irrelevant. Ang Lee clearly went out of his way to make sure every shot composition was of equal importance. A good love drama with a revelationary turn by Heath Ledger.
92: The Deer Hunter (Michael Cimino, 1978)
This film isn't very high on my list for a reason. Yes, I do think there theres an undertone of racism in the vietcong scenes, and I think such a scene justifies why I would think such a thing. The sad part is the film is so tragic and emotionally compelling in all it's other areas that I really couldn't just ignore it.
Robert DeNiro and Christopher Walken give arguably the best performances of their career. And DeNiro's signature line, 'this is this!' still has me thinking about the meaning of his rather arkward outburst. Michael Cimino is not interested in the war but rather the repurcussions that war has on individuals and how they respond. I think I even cried when i watched this film when you know who dies at the end.
91: Casino Royale (Martin Campbell, 2006)
I'm not even a big Bond fan, but one has to appreciate the risk and reinvention they took with this. It was risky hiring an actor who wasn't coventionally attractive to the female eye, yet, Daniel Craig's Bond is up there with Sean Connery as a man who's as charming as he is violent. You can feel the influence of the Bourne franchise is Bond's recent outing, and that's not a bad thing at all.
However, as great as Daniel Craig is, I have to give a heads up to Eva Green. France's finest had me fooled with her English accent. I honestly thought she was a Brit until I read that she was actually french. Her performance is also the best out of any Bond bird i've seen and I generally felt sad when you know what happened to her.
Anyways, standout scene has to be the torturing of Bond and his privates! As painful as that scene looked, Daniel Craig had me in fits of laughter with THAT line. Probably the best Bond film thus far.
90: Dressed To Kill (Brian DePalma, 1980)
Believe it or not, but Brian DePalma was once an exciting director who was apart of the new breed of cinema with the likes of Scorsese, Spielberg, Coppola, etc. This film, despite a slight misogynistic undertone to it, was the film that defined him. Yes, it borrows heavily from Hitchcock to say the least, but it's still a damn fine thriller from a man who makes no secret of his love for Hitchcock's work. A creepy performance by Sir Michael Caine doesn't hurt it either. I also have to add that it has one of the best openings to a film ever, and I don't mean that in a pervy sense
Ok guys, that's it for now and i'll post 10 more tomorrow.
This was partly inspired by fellow Brit Pyro's 'Visual Pleasures' list and some other MoFo similarly themed thread.
As you can see, 'm taking this VERY seriously and i've been preparing for about 3 days now. I've thought long and hard about why so so film deserves it's spot and which ones belong in the top 50, etc. I've tried to look at the film for what it is what it's aims, ambition and whether or not it's successful at achieving the goals it sets out to do. I'ma do about 10 titles a day. Not too exhausting but lengthy enough to hopefully engage you all.
Anyways, I should stop chatting horses bollocks and get on with the damn thing. Bare in mind this is MY opinion and I don't speak (or type for those who want to be literal) for anybody else. So shall we commence? And here..we...go!
100: Sin City (Robert Rodriguez, 2005)
Robert Rodriguez's 2nd best film caught me by surprise. I had never heard of the the Sin City graphic novels and wasn't even that hyped for this when it first came out in the cinema. However, I was pleasantly surprised by just how imaginative, violent and fun this film was.
The idea of combining colours with black and white photography had been done before in 1997's Pleasantville. However, it had never been done so well and it definitely served Frank Miller's novel adaptation really well. It's an almost traditional film noir yet with that comic twist that really gives Sin City's it's edge. The standout in the ensemble cast is clearly Mickey Rourke's Marv. A hulking neanderthal who's beast-like looks belies a heroic figure. Great fun.
99: Jurassic Park (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
I must have been something like 8 when this film came out. I never got to see it in the cinemas, but boy did I not care at the time. This is one epic family film and despite the fact that i'm a little bit of a detractor of Spielberg, the man conjured up something we had never really seen before at that time. Something...immersive...man I love that word
The special and creature effects were OUTSTANDING. The late great Stan Winston truly made his mark here and writing about this film definately makes me miss that creative man even more. An interesting theme about the consequences of messing with nature and yadda yadda yadda. At the age of 8, these themes are a lot more profound than they may seem when a person is older, trust me. One of Spielberg's best blockbusters.
98: X-MEN 2 (Bryan Singer, 2003)
I think it's safe to say that Bryan Singer raised the bar as far as comic book sequels goes in this fantastic (and best) installment of the X-Men trilogy . The film has a good 30 mins on it's predecessor, and you really wouldn''t think so. The witty script is even sharper and the spectacle more dazzling than even before with Hugh Jackman's popular Wolverine getting the best lines and the most screen time.
But this is Singer's film, and the talented director makes good on his hints in the first film. He hinted at a real clash between the mutants and humans, and boy did he give it to us. The subtext or racism and prejudice is even more apparent here than it was in the first one, and one of many themes to raise this film from very good to GREAT.
97: Scum (Alan Clarke, 1979)
Not a lot can be said for Alan Clark's vicious and honest film, except that while really well executed in it's direction, it's really not for the faint of heart. Ray Winstone's Carling is the main 'daddy' in this film and it's fair to say that his performance probably adds a full star to it. All I can say is that this film is packed with frequent moments of brutality, but at the same time, it's a compelling piece of drama.
96: The Faculty (Robert Rodriguez, 1998)
Ok, this is gonna sound very strange. Maybe even stranger than seeing a male dressed up in female nurse gear and with clown make up smeared all over his face. But yes, Josh Hartnett was ICONIC in this film. There, I said it. This is my opinion of obviously but I really think that the Zeke character was brilliant. I don't know how but Josh Hartnett must've brought some charisma odor from somewhere because he has since been as bland as a school corridor since.
But yeah, Kevin Williamson's sharp and witty script really helps raise this generic sci-fi/horror thriller to great. It's a cult classic and the combination of The Breakfast Club meets Invasions Of a Body Snatcher concept really makes this film appear fresh. The group dynamics work and theres some brilliant exchange between the characters. Yes, it's silly stuff and the theme of kids having to rely on drugs to get them out of trouble may raise some eyebrows, but I still think it's Rodriguez's best film...and his most underrated.
95: Superman: The Movie (Richard Donner, 1978)
I am NOT a fan of Superman at all. In fact, i'd go as far as to say I dislike the character a lot. HOWEVER, I can give credit to where credit is due and in this case, the credit is due to Richard Donner's ambitious and epic origin take on the 'Man Of Steel'. This is the film that basically set the template for Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and featured a wonderful performance by the late Christopher Reeve.
For it's time, the special effects were pretty stunning. It also gets credit for being one of the first 'superhero' flicks to be taken seriously.
94: London To Brighton (Paul Andrew Williams, 2006)
I really liked Paul Andrew William's debut. It was fresh and something different. But I find myself rarely watching it because it's just so nasty. The film deals with underage prostitution, paedophilia, gangsters, some awful 'sex' sequences, people being cut and left to bled. You name it, this film is an exercise in brutality.
There are moments of beautiful cinematography yet it's contrasted with the most disturbing sequence. A little known film to watch assuming you can stomach it.
93: Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee, 2005)
Forget the whole homosexual theme that the film is generally known for. This film is truly about man's need for male companionship. At least that what it seemed to be saying to me. That subtext is so strong that I almost found the homosexuality aspect to be irrelevant. Ang Lee clearly went out of his way to make sure every shot composition was of equal importance. A good love drama with a revelationary turn by Heath Ledger.
92: The Deer Hunter (Michael Cimino, 1978)
This film isn't very high on my list for a reason. Yes, I do think there theres an undertone of racism in the vietcong scenes, and I think such a scene justifies why I would think such a thing. The sad part is the film is so tragic and emotionally compelling in all it's other areas that I really couldn't just ignore it.
Robert DeNiro and Christopher Walken give arguably the best performances of their career. And DeNiro's signature line, 'this is this!' still has me thinking about the meaning of his rather arkward outburst. Michael Cimino is not interested in the war but rather the repurcussions that war has on individuals and how they respond. I think I even cried when i watched this film when you know who dies at the end.
91: Casino Royale (Martin Campbell, 2006)
I'm not even a big Bond fan, but one has to appreciate the risk and reinvention they took with this. It was risky hiring an actor who wasn't coventionally attractive to the female eye, yet, Daniel Craig's Bond is up there with Sean Connery as a man who's as charming as he is violent. You can feel the influence of the Bourne franchise is Bond's recent outing, and that's not a bad thing at all.
However, as great as Daniel Craig is, I have to give a heads up to Eva Green. France's finest had me fooled with her English accent. I honestly thought she was a Brit until I read that she was actually french. Her performance is also the best out of any Bond bird i've seen and I generally felt sad when you know what happened to her.
Anyways, standout scene has to be the torturing of Bond and his privates! As painful as that scene looked, Daniel Craig had me in fits of laughter with THAT line. Probably the best Bond film thus far.
90: Dressed To Kill (Brian DePalma, 1980)
Believe it or not, but Brian DePalma was once an exciting director who was apart of the new breed of cinema with the likes of Scorsese, Spielberg, Coppola, etc. This film, despite a slight misogynistic undertone to it, was the film that defined him. Yes, it borrows heavily from Hitchcock to say the least, but it's still a damn fine thriller from a man who makes no secret of his love for Hitchcock's work. A creepy performance by Sir Michael Caine doesn't hurt it either. I also have to add that it has one of the best openings to a film ever, and I don't mean that in a pervy sense
Ok guys, that's it for now and i'll post 10 more tomorrow.
Last edited by The Prestige; 08-01-10 at 11:16 AM.
....but you'll have to wait to see rest my list 