9. Reservoir Dogs
This is a good one to illustrate the very floppy standings of my top ten favorite films - it's impossible for me to lock in my 10 favorites , they change every day depending on how I feel.
"What we need here is a little solidarity !"
Each character here is assigned a color and each of them are their unique personality - I love the cast , I love the dialogue - I could quote this movie for hours. Brilliant usage of non-linear story telling and a surreal usage of music. Harvey Keitel is perfect as the veteran thief who's principles have fallen behind the times.
"OK ramblers let's get rambling"
8. LOTR : Fellowship of the Ring
"Your late"
"A wizard is never late , nor is he early , he arrives precisely when he means too"
7. LOTR : The Two Towers
"It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they are often mistaken for dwarf men. And this in turn has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women, and that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!"
6. LOTR : Return of the King
Any film seems small in comparison to this breath taking 12 hour epic trilogy , each film made on par of quality as each other. This is one of the largest collaborations of story telling , fictional universe , period situational acting , lighting , cinematography , visual effects , music , and the man charged with the monumental task of directing it. It's everything movies should strive to be , completely absorbing and emotionally effective.
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Beautifully written and directed film within a dream , it's genius mixture of reality and impossibility makes for one of the most interesting - emotionally gripping movies that has ever resonated with me.
4. Hot Fuzz
This one never gets old , tells a unique and unexpected story of a top class big city cop trying to adjust to life in the quiet country. Even though there isn't even any shooting for the majority of the film it's shot in a hyper-exciting fashion and brings the thrills as well it does the laughs.
Coming towards the end of the show , you get the gigantic 30 minute epic action shootout extravaganza - perfectly in sync with the over the top techno orchestra soundtrack.
"Ever fired your gun in the air and yelled, 'Aaaaaaah?"
3. Kikujiro
Possibly the most unexpected film from the director of such bleak films as Sonatine , Fireworks - this is one of the happiest , funniest , most enjoyable films I've yet to see. Kitano's beautiful visual style works great here with the recurring theme of a scrapbook throughout. Critics didn't especially warm to this one , but it has really connected with me - one of the best of all time in my book.
"You're a farmer, huh?"
"No, no. I'm a banker."
"You're kidding. With a face like that?"
2. Goodfellas
I don't need to tell you how good this one is , extremely realistic atmosphere - the cast loves each other like family , it doesn't only tell you how gangsters live their life - but how almost everyone does. Scorsese's wild , fast style really works here as it continually churns out two and half hours of movie gold.
It really feels like a unique group effort , I mean you got DeNiro and Pesci talking to Scorsese's mom it feels like something right out of my very own life. I almost know these people , they do bad things - but they aren't exactly bad people , or maybe they are ... great film.
1. The Big Lebowski
I live my life by the dude's rules , I have no job and pretty much all I do is sit on my lazy behind and watch movies and play games. Obviously as both me and the dude realize it's not going to last forever , eventually you got to get paid and there's where I separate my own life from the film.
Big Lebowski features one of the most enjoyable soundtracks put on film. What a lovable cast of characters , scene after scene of gut busting hilarity - it's one of the most inventive creative films I've seen. The occasional dream sequences are a welcome intermission to this crime mystery , taken about as seriously as the dude takes anything.
Walter and Lebowski continually keep messing things up , they care but they're lazy - it's a impractically wise and deep film that perfectly captures many of my own sensibilities. Serious things are happening , but you that dosen't mean you need to take them seriously.
"F**k it dude , let's go bowling"