When I joined this forum I had already created a top 25 favorite movie list. But upon arriving here I noticed that most users had lists ranging from top 50 to 100, and occasionally more than that. So I took it as a challenge to add to my list and I decided that a top 50 would be best. This way you get a feel for my cinematic tastes, and I do not feel like I am throwing movies onto the list at random. This list covers several different genres, most of the MPAA ratings, ranges across several decades, and a ton of distribution companies. Some you may disagree with me, some you might agree. Keep in mind this is not a list of what I believe are the greatest movies ever made, this is a list of my favorite movies of all time. So even if I say it is one of the greatest movies of all time and it is not very high on the list, it is because it is not due to it being a lesser movie, it just is not as personally loved to me as other films on this list. And be warned that some of the selections I have made may give you sudden jerking movements of the neck from a result of you saying “why the hell is this movie on the list” or “He ranked this movie above that! HERETIC!” So you have been warned. I also try to include some data such as the year of release, rating, production company, the country of origin and the rating from Rotten Tomatoes. So sit back relax, and enjoy the ride. These are my top 50(ish) favorite movies of all time.
50.
The Battle of Algiers: 1966 (NR)
Algeria (Italian Production) / Rizzoli, Rialto Pictures
99% (CF)
This movie is on my list less in terms of entertainment, but more of what it presents and achieves from a cinema standpoint. The movie details the guerrilla war between the native Algerians and the French. On one side in the FLN or National Liberation Front; a group of Algerians who use many different forms of urban warfare and terrorism to strike at their enemies. The film goes into detail on their cells, how the FLN is organized, tactics, and gazes into the motivations and lives of the FLN members. We see who they are and the horrible crimes they commit from murdering police to setting bombs to target the non Algerian civilian population. On the opposite end is the French military, which do not fare much better in terms of depiction. They are lead by Lieutenant Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin), and they crack down hard on the FLN with their own set of atrocities including brutal torture including the use of blowtorches straight beatings. No party in this film is glorified, and everyone can be condemned for their actions. The purpose of this film is not to celebrate either side, it is a look at urban warfare. The film is shot in a way that tries to make it look like a documentary or footage taken from a news crew. It allows the viewer to feel that they are actually in the Casbah while the movie plays on. The film is shot in Algeria, spoken in both French and Arabic, and is an Italian production. They also take a page from Italian neo realism and use non professional actors for most of the roles. In fact only the role of LTC Mathieu is played by a professional actor. The rest were normal people and the extras in this movie numbered in the thousands. I think this adds to the effectiveness of the movie since doing a movie like this which is supposed to be about regular people and shot so that it looks like real footage, it would be distracting to see professional actors in the lead roles. This movie also has some controversy. For starters the film was banned in France for 5 years due to the nature of the films subject matter. In addition, this movie was not only a big hit with the art movie and foreign film crowd, but also with the left wing radical sectors of the 1960s. Now it is said that some of the films terrorist acts were copied by certain political groups including the Provisional IRA, the Black Panthers, and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. This gave the movie a bit of a reputation for inspiring political violence. A reputation I think is bull****, these groups did not need inspiration to commit violence, and they would have done it anyways. They were violent radicals before and remained violent after seeing the movie. Just because it is Andreas Baader’s favorite movie does not mean the film is dangerous. The film is excellent in its own regard and should continue to be viewed. And The Battle of Algiers begins my list at number 50.
50.
The Battle of Algiers: 1966 (NR)
Algeria (Italian Production) / Rizzoli, Rialto Pictures
99% (CF)
This movie is on my list less in terms of entertainment, but more of what it presents and achieves from a cinema standpoint. The movie details the guerrilla war between the native Algerians and the French. On one side in the FLN or National Liberation Front; a group of Algerians who use many different forms of urban warfare and terrorism to strike at their enemies. The film goes into detail on their cells, how the FLN is organized, tactics, and gazes into the motivations and lives of the FLN members. We see who they are and the horrible crimes they commit from murdering police to setting bombs to target the non Algerian civilian population. On the opposite end is the French military, which do not fare much better in terms of depiction. They are lead by Lieutenant Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin), and they crack down hard on the FLN with their own set of atrocities including brutal torture including the use of blowtorches straight beatings. No party in this film is glorified, and everyone can be condemned for their actions. The purpose of this film is not to celebrate either side, it is a look at urban warfare. The film is shot in a way that tries to make it look like a documentary or footage taken from a news crew. It allows the viewer to feel that they are actually in the Casbah while the movie plays on. The film is shot in Algeria, spoken in both French and Arabic, and is an Italian production. They also take a page from Italian neo realism and use non professional actors for most of the roles. In fact only the role of LTC Mathieu is played by a professional actor. The rest were normal people and the extras in this movie numbered in the thousands. I think this adds to the effectiveness of the movie since doing a movie like this which is supposed to be about regular people and shot so that it looks like real footage, it would be distracting to see professional actors in the lead roles. This movie also has some controversy. For starters the film was banned in France for 5 years due to the nature of the films subject matter. In addition, this movie was not only a big hit with the art movie and foreign film crowd, but also with the left wing radical sectors of the 1960s. Now it is said that some of the films terrorist acts were copied by certain political groups including the Provisional IRA, the Black Panthers, and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. This gave the movie a bit of a reputation for inspiring political violence. A reputation I think is bull****, these groups did not need inspiration to commit violence, and they would have done it anyways. They were violent radicals before and remained violent after seeing the movie. Just because it is Andreas Baader’s favorite movie does not mean the film is dangerous. The film is excellent in its own regard and should continue to be viewed. And The Battle of Algiers begins my list at number 50.