Yesterday marked the eighth anniversary of And So it Begins.
Eight years. Holy hell, where does the time go? Exactly three years ago, I posted
my
Top 10 Films of All Time, and it’s about time I follow that up with the next
10. Keep in mind, this list only serves as a reflection of my own personal
tastes. For better or best, this is how I see them. A huge thank you to all the
readers of this blog, and the friends I’ve made because of it.
20. Somewhere
(2010)
dir. by Sofia Coppola
What do you give a man who can have anything? He’s rich, he’s
famous, young, good looking – what is there to give? Nothing. You can give him
nothing, because he has no idea who he is. He’s completely unaware of his place
in the world. He’s surrounded by people in love with his celebrity, yet he’s
utterly alone. What will it take for Johnny Marco to feel like a person again?
A question explored with transcendental, melancholic bliss in Sofia Coppola’s beautiful
film.
19. The Big Chill (1983)
dir. by Lawrence Kasdan
My favorite film ever made about friendship, and how it
changes with decades of history and love and sex and death on top of it. “‘Hey,
mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?’ He just grinned and
shook my hand, ‘no’ was all he said.”
18. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
dir. by Sidney Lumet
Efficiency doesn’t get enough credit. Films that introduce
the thing, then carry it out with no
missed beats.
Dog Day Afternoon
wastes no time hooking us in for every single moment of its brisk 125 minutes.
In contains Al Pacino’s most vulnerable performance, a flawlessly confused John
Cazale, and an audacious turn from Chris Sarandon that always breaks my heart.
As iconic as American ‘70s cinema gets.
17. Cool Hand Luke (1967)
dir. by Stuart Rosenberg
Here’s another perfectly efficient film. Everything about
Cool Hand Luke works. It’s a marriage of
every aspect of film forming together to create a lasting cinematic union. I’ve
never found a bad time to put this one on. It just plays.
16. Rashômon
(1950)
dir. by Akira Kurosawa
Rashômon taught me
many things. It taught me the value of the unreliable narrator, the mastery of
the fractured narrative, the beauty of not taking things at face value, and
much more. It also taught me that epic films don’t need to clock a certain
runtime to qualify as epics.
Rashômon
comes in at 88 minutes, and it needn’t be a second longer. Make no mistake, this film is
massive.
15. Raging Bull
(1980)
dir. by Martin Scorsese
I saw
Raging Bull
on the big screen a few months ago, and it made me fall in love with the film
all over again. The beatings never sounded so ferocious, the animalistic
cries never so terrifying. And the extended tracking shot of Jake La Motta
walking from his dressing room to the ring brought tears to my eyes. It’s a pure
cinema moment in a film full of them.
Raging
Bull is as viscerally powerful as films get.
14. A Place in the
Sun (1951)
dir. by George Stevens
I was 11 years old when my dad showed me
A Place in the Sun. Even though I had
already developed a healthy taste for compelling cinema, a black and white
romance movie from the ‘50s didn’t sound to appealing. But once it began, I sat
utterly captivated. I marveled at the tortured performances of Montgomery
Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters, and wondered aloud how in the hell a
movie with such taboo themes was able to get made in 1951, let alone win six
Oscars. How, indeed.
13. Fanny and Alexander (1982)
dir. by Ingmar Bergman
If “Of All Time” is mentioned in the title of one of my
posts, there’s a good chance a film from Ingmar Bergman will make the cut.
Fanny and Alexander is the best “big”
film I’ve ever seen. I spent three years enjoying its expertly paced three hour
film version, but once I discovered its faultless 312 minute version (made for
Swedish television), I fell in love with the film like never before. Seeing the
extended cut was like discovering a whole new personality trait of someone you
love. It’s familiar, but new in all the best ways.
12. The Thin Red Line
(1998)
dir. by Terrence Malick
The finest war film ever made. I know I have
The Deer Hunter ranked higher, but that
film is primary about the effects of coming home from war, whereas Malick’s
classic is about the hell of war in real time. The prolonged set pieces are
enough of a marvel, but the fact that we truly
care about the characters makes the hell of their reality all the
more disturbing. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that this is inarguably one of
the most gorgeous-looking films ever made.
11. Shame (2011)
dir. by Steve McQueen
Shame is the film I’ve
discussed the most on this blog. Even though I first saw the film four and half
years after starting this site, Steve McQueen’s haunting masterpiece
continually manages to find its way into my posts. The reasons for this are boundless,
but the two most important are as follows:
Shame
reconfirmed my love for cinema (which is a priceless gift), and it is the film that most inspires my own filmmaking. I’ll
be indebted to it forever.
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I'm...shocked. Really. Not that I don't like your list but it has quite a few surprises. I knew you love Somewhere but I was 'wow, that great?'. Of course I love the movie a lot and it's a nice surprise. Dog Day Afternoon is the most surprising of them ALL. Because 1.it's on the list and 12 Angry Men isn't and 2.it's the only '70s movie on the list. Cool Hand Luke is maybe even more unexpected (maybe because I never watched). Since when Rashomon is an epic. Seriously wtf? It has 3 sets, a handful of actors and an 88 minutes runtime. Great film though, certainly Kurosawa's best film and also one of my favorites. Raging Bull...yeah also one of my favorites. I didn't heard much about A Place in the Sun, but I'm lookin forward to it. I was expecting Fanny and Alexander because Bergman. Shame, it grew on me a little. I'd give it an A+, though the score is a bit problematic. No Herzog? That is interesting.
ReplyDeleteI guess Rashomon just feels HUGE. The film presents four masterfully developed stories and then knots them together into one colossal mystery that we STILL haven't solved. If that isn't epic, I don't know what is. Shame grew on me too Budai. Didn't like it much first time. Watched it again two weeks ago and have seen it three times since then. Flawless.
DeleteBudai: About Rashomon, the point of my comment was that movies like Rashomon are proof that epics do not need to be technically long to be considered an epic. That is one of the most epic films ever made. It changed cinema. 12 Angry Men would come in at 21 or 22 on my list. The lack of Herzog surprised me too. He's my favorite living filmmaker, but I suppose I love his entire body of work, as opposed to just loving a few of his films, if that makes sense. Still, Woyzeck would come in somewhere at 22-30.
DeleteMark: Totally agree about Rashomon. So glad you came around to loving Shame. It still floors me.
I've poured over your "Top 10 Films of All Time" list countless times. Its such a beautifully written post, full of an undying, genuine love for cinema. This list is just as affirming and articulate. Love that both a Coppola and Malick film made the list!
ReplyDeleteThanks Angela, what a nice comment! I'm so glad you like both of those posts, it means so much to me :)
DeleteWow, great list. Intense stuff here though!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I do LOVE intense flicks.
DeleteSomewhere?? Really? I'm surprised. It's the only Sofia Coppola movie that I absolutely couldn't get into, but to each his own. Glad to see Shame on here! I really need to revisit that one :)
ReplyDeleteSomewhere just gets it, you know? I adore that film. And Shame... forgetaboutit. So good.
DeleteWow man. Eight years, that's great! You think you can get to ten, or are you going to be too busy with the actual filmmaking? Either way, best of luck!
ReplyDeleteCool list by the way. Big Chill caught me by surprise, but knowing a lot of what you've written here, it makes total sense man. That's cool. I'm also surprised that Shame ranks so low ;). Most of these I've been meaning to get to watching for a while, especially Raging Bull, Fanny and Alexander, Dog Day Afternoon, Shame, and A Place in the Sun.
"If 'Of All Time' is mentioned in the title of one of my posts, there’s a good chance a film from Ingmar Bergman will make the cut." I could say the same about Kubrick. He's the closest thing to a god that I worship.
I always try to make a Top Ten or Twenty list of my own but it always changes every day. I guess twenty I would consider, in no particular order, would be:
2001: A Space Odyssey
Dr. Strangelove
A Clockwork Orange
Barry Lyndon
The Shining
Under the Skin
Her
Beasts of the Southern Wilde
No Country for Old Men
The Big Lebowski
Assault on Precinct 13 (the original version, the REAL version)
Amour
Cache
Funny Games
Mad Max: Fury Road (When was the last time an action blockbuster had this much vision behind it?)
Jurassic Park (Yes, Jurassic Park. Without it I'd be a significantly different person today.)
Jaws
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Rushmore
Moonrise Kingdom
The Life Aquatic (I have never understood the hate this movie got, and probably never will)
Annie Hall
Blazing Saddles
GoodFellas
Fight Club
Zodiac
Pather Panchali
House (or Hausu as it's also known)
...
...That's more than 20 isn't it? :(
Great list! I really enjoy most all of those films. 2001 is just so goddamn good. A perfect film that will never age.
DeleteI think I'll make it to 10 (or at least I hope!). But it'll definitely be at the same rate I post now, if not less. Five posts a month max. We shall see. Thanks so much for the comment and for being such a loyal reader!
2001's just the best isn't it? 50 years later and it still feels way ahead of anything we're doing now.
DeleteLooking back at the list, I can't help but think of all the essentials I somehow forgot to mention (mainly The Kid, Eraserhead, Inland Empire Robocop, Texas Chainsaw Massacre). 20 just isn't enough, you know?
You have such a great blog here, dude. Even with films where I completely disagree with you, I still think to myself, "This guy gets it" and eagerly await every next post. Hopefully you can make it long enough to review one of my own movies here, I got some doozies I'd love to hear your thoughts on. But hey, if you move on to bigger and better things, I wish you the best of luck. Maybe one day we'll bump into each other at a festival.
Man, how cool would it be to be at a fest together? Trust me, I'm proof that it can happen. You can turn that crazy idea in your head into an actual, tangible thing and have people see it. Fuckin' wild man. Fuckin' wild.
DeleteI'm embarrassed to have only seen three out of the ten (Dog Day Afternoon, Raging Bull, and The Thin Red Line, all of which I love), but now I look forward to seeing the remaining seven.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations!
My pleasure! I hope you enjoy them. Let me know what you think!
DeleteOK, of the films in the list. I haven't seen Dog Day Afternoon (hangs head in shame) and A Place in the Sun. With the exception of The Big Chill (which I think is good but overrated), I'm totally on board with everything else so far...
ReplyDeleteGood stuff man. See Dog Day ASAP. It's a film masterpiece.
DeleteYesssss to all of these! This is just, SUCH a great list. The variety here is just so awe-inspiring. I need to go re-watch all of these films now! And, even though I think Streetcar is the best film of 1951, I'm very glad that at least someone has acknowledged the brilliance of A Place in the Sun (why is it that no one ever really talks about/remembers that film?).
ReplyDeleteAnd a very happy (belated) 8th anniversary to And So It Begins... and here's to another 8 :)
Thanks Aditya! I adore Streetcar. I think Brando gives the best acting performance of all time in that film. Truly. But yeah, I wish A Place in the Sun was discussed more. Younger generations never speak about that film. So, so good.
DeleteGreat post! Having followed your writing for a few years, I had an inkling that most of those films were firm favorites of yours.
ReplyDeleteA Place in the Sun is in my top 100, a very compelling story. The Big Chill is so rewatchable and I never get bored with it.
Didn't know you loved Cool Hand Luke so much! I love prison movies, the 50 eggs scene is unforgettable, and it's a film I need to revisit.
Nice man, so glad you like those films too. Anyone who can get down with A Place in the Sun and The Big Chill is a friend of mine. Ha. Love them.
DeleteYES! Thrilled you decided to do this and love the choices. Never took to Raging Bull myself but everything else here I adore- and several make it into my own top 30 :D Nice surprise to see The Big Chill there, as was Dog Day. Films certainly don't get enough praise for efficiency.
ReplyDeleteEfficiency, right? Such an undervalued trait of a film. Really glad to hear you're a fan of so many of these!
DeleteThe King of Lists strikes again, with a Top...11-20 and they are great! Love the diversity here. That shows the well roundedness of your cinephile status, that you can appreciate and adore so many varied expressions of film. I bounced over to your Top 10 and there's even more love...and more diversity!
ReplyDeleteGreat list.
Thanks man, what a nice thing to say! I really appreciate that :)
DeleteHappy 8th anniversary! You have come such a long way in that time. :-) I am glad we met through your blog because, as you know, I've come to value your friendship.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'm actually surprised that Shame is only #11. :-)
Thanks Steph! I value our friendship so much too, so glad we were able to connect via this blog. In all honesty, Shame might actually be number 10 ;)
DeleteGreat list! Thin Red Line is definitely on my Top 11-20 films! Rashomon is hands down, a flawless picture. Do Day Afternoon is fun as hell but I'm still confused if I love it more than 12 Angry Men. Is Scorsese your 2nd favorite director? :) Haven't seen Shame but I would really love to!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY 8TH ANNIVERSARY! Haven't seen Fanny and Alexander too, I better borrow a Criterion copy from my friend, can't buy it yet. And I gotta get Cries and Whispers yet!
Thanks! Scorsese and Werner Herzog are my two favorite living directors for sure. I'd love to know what you think about Shame, Fanny, and Cries. All flawless films in my eyes.
DeleteCongrats on the anniversary! I admit I'm very surprised that you haven't had any movement in your top 10 over the last three years; mine tends to shift ever-so-slightly around every year or so as I revisit/re-evaluate old favourites. Love Fanny and Alexander here in particular; caught it for the first time this year, and it's one of only 2 new(to me) films that've been able to work its way into my top 100 this year (the other was All That Jazz).
ReplyDeleteThanks! That's probably why I've never created a Top 100, because I feel like it would shift all the time. I'm still down with my Top 10, though Shame just might come in at number 10. So good that Fanny broke your Top 100.
DeleteWow. Congratulations on eight years of doing this. It's a fantastic film blog and i always enjoy reading the new posts. I haven't gotten to visit that much lately because i have been super busy with a new job and moving to a new place, but today i finally have some time to myself so i have a lot of fun reading to do here now. This is a great list. A lot of my favorites are here and on your top 10 list as well. And there are some movies i definitely need to check out as well. I still haven't gotten around to watching Shame yet even though i have the blu-ray and has put it among the blu-rays i need to watch.
ReplyDeleteI always have problems making a favorite movies list because i feel like it changes all the time. Maybe i'll see if i can get one together as well during the day and post it here. Movies like Dog Day Afternoon, The Thin Red Line and Cool Hand Luke will probably make my list as well.
Thanks so much, Henrik! I've always appreciated you reading and commenting on the site, all good that you've been busy lately. Busy is a good thing!
DeleteI don't make "Of All Time" lists often, because I want them to be as "right" for me as they can. Definitely don't want to be changing the titles around, you know?
Yeah, it's almost impossible to make lists like that because you can never agree with yourself. I tried to make one, but i certainly can't agree with myself at all. There are so many movies i want to put on it. This is definitely something that is gonna take some time.
DeleteFor sure. And the cool thing is, there's no rush at all.
DeleteI have been thinking about this for a while now and i think i finally agree with myself on a list now. For now at least. It will probably change again in a week or two.
Delete20. Alien (1979)
19. Heat (1995)
18. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
16. Drive (2011)
15. The Prestige (2006)
14. Toy Story (1995)
13. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
12. Halloween (1978)
11. Taxi Driver (1976)
10. Fargo (1996)
9. Die Hard (1988)
8. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
7. Zodiac (2007)
6. Rocky (1976)
5. Jurassic Park (1993)
4. GoodFellas (1990)
3. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
2. Back to the Future (1985)
1. Collateral (2004)
Movies like The Thin Red Line, Chinatown, The Departed, Dog Day Afternoon, Mystic River and In Bruges just missed the cut.
I used to always say Back to the Future was my favorite movie, it has been since the first time i saw it as a child, but in the past few years i have grown to love Collateral more and more. I have seen that movie countless times since it's release and i always find something new to love about it on each viewing. I even remember thinking it was just an alright movie the first time i watched it. 7/10 or something. And then i bought the DVD and eventually blu-ray and now i watch it several times a year. It is one of the few movies i can pretty much quote from beginning to end no problem. Everything about it from the story and characters to the visual style and soundtrack are all so perfect. A lot of people complain about Michael Manns digital look these days, but it worked absolutely perfectly in Collateral and i don't think L.A. has ever looked better. Just talking about it again now makes me want to watch it again. I could probably go on and on about this movie forever so i'll just end it here.
Damn man, I love that list. Had no idea you loved Collateral that much. I love it as well and also think it looks perfect. Expert use of early digital style. It's funny, I watched it after living in LA for a year, and I don't think any film executes the technical geography of LA any better. You can literally track their entire route, and it is perfectly plausible. A lot of films, including Heat, butcher LA's geography (no one gets from there to there that quickly), but Collateral is spot on. I like or love every other film you listed. Great stuff.
DeleteI've seen 5 of the 10 and love them all. I agree so much with your justification of Rashomon as an epic. It's perfect. Love that something so recent as Shame ranks so highly. Debating whether or not I am going to watch The Thin Red Line because Malick. We'll see. Great list. Congrats on 8 years! Hope you have 8 more in you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dell! The Thin Red Line is a film that understands the hell of war. It's Malickian for sure, but not obscure like his post-New World work. It's a story told straight, but with heavy narration, of course. A lot of people get pissy because you don't always know which character is giving the narration, which is exactly the point. In war, everyone is the same.
DeleteHey congratulations Alex! It's super awesome that your blog has been around for 8 years, that's amazing man, and what a terrific post to celebrate it! I found a couple of these movies because of you, and I am so glad I did, quite many of these are in my best of all time list (I have been trying to make a top 100 list for about 3 years now, still in its early stages honestly). I can't thank you enough for continuing your blog and allowing me to find so many of these just astonishing films.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see so many of these films on here, especially Shame, Thin Red Line, Raging Bull, Rashomon, Cool Hand Luke, and Dog Day Afternoon. Just an amazing collection of some of the best of the best. These lists are just so filled with passion, it truly is a joy to read them. Fanny and Alexander is one that I haven't seen but have had a wish to for awhile, I was expecting Bergman on this list, but actually not that one, Fanny and Alexander will have to be moved up on the list for watching sooner.
A Place in the Sun is one I've read about on your blog and have always wanted to watch it since, I just haven't gotten the chance or really went out of my way to get a hold of it, that's another one to move up in the list.
Somewhere is the third that goes for, seen your posts about it and read about it but just haven't watched it, got to get going on some of these.
The Big Chill I have never even heard about, looked at some brief stuff on IMDb, looks pretty good, I'll have to check that one out as well. You know I really don't have a problem with reorganizing the list to prioritize films that you love, you and your blog have never really mislead me. I've really enjoyed just about everything that I've watched because of your blog.
Speaking of your favorite movies, I just watched Blood of the Beasts 4 days ago...dear heavens, no bullshit I haven't eaten meat since. That was something else, I honestly don't think I've ever been that moved in 20 minutes, and I knew it was coming too, but I wasn't really prepared. Another example of not being mislead by you and your blog.
Hey and just again congratulations, it's awesome that your blog is 8 years old and doing well, I enjoy reading all your pieces, and then re-reading your pieces. Honestly it makes my day when you post pieces. It adds so much to a day, I don't have much time anymore to watch too many movies since I started college, but I get to read and still build a knowledge base with film with your blog, and it helps often. And thanks so much for the fantastic movie recommendations that your blog gives, it makes for good weekends. Thank you, and hope And So It Begins... continues for 8 more years (at least)!
Thanks Geordan! Can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciate your support and comments over these years. It really has meant so much to me. SO happy that you’re on board with the picks here, and that you like the lists in general!
DeleteFanny and Alexander… if you can get ahold of that 5 hour version, definitely do. It cruises by, such a revelatory experience. Can’t wait to hear what you think about that, A Place in the Sun, Somewhere and The Big Chill.
You have no idea how happy it makes me that you even gave Blood of the Beasts a chance. It’s a rough ride, for sure, but it really did change my life.
Man, your final paragraph is one of the nicest things anyone has ever left on this site. Thanks for that. Made my day/week/month/year! Cheers buddy!
Firstly, CONGRATS on your 8th blogaversary Alex! Amazing that you continue to run this great blog on top of your film directing duties.
ReplyDeleteGreat list here, some I haven’t seen yet though. As for Somewhere, y’know I didn’t dig it the first time I saw it but it’s growing on me and I’ve actually downloaded the script and it’s one I’ve had on file for inspiration now.
A Place in the Sun is on my Blind Spot this year, which I sort of put in the back burner for now but I might watch that before year’s end. The Thin Red Line is my favorite war film as it focuses on the psyche of the soldiers instead of the battles that are often so violently-depicted on screen.
Congrats again Alex!
Thanks so much, Ruth! I really appreciate that. I'm so glad to hear that you came around on Somewhere, I absolutely adore that movie.
DeleteCan't wait to hear what you think of A Place in the Sun. I still can't believe that film was released in 1951. Such taboo subjects.
Dog Day Afternoon is in my top 10 and one of those films I have seen numerous times. It's compulsively watchable and contains my favorite use of music in a film.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that Rashomon made it in too. I love Kurosawa's samurai stuff, but his morality tales resonate with me just a little more.
I am holding off on the 5 hour version of Fanny and Alexander until December (seems appropriate)
Great stuff here!
Thanks Luke! DDA is playing at amazing theater right near me in mid-October and Pacino is doing a Q&A after. But the tickets sold out in like 3 minutes! So I'm gonna miss that one. So bummed.
DeleteCouldn't agree more about Kurosawa's work. That man did morality better than anyone.
This is A+-list sir. Great as always! I love how unexpected a couple of these were (even though I was aware of how much you loved them) - Cool Hand Luke, A Place in the Sun, Somewhere. Damn fine choices sir. A Place in the Sun is underrated as fuck imo. Not enough credit given to that film in the history of "melodrama" despite how successful it was when it came out, it just seems like people have forgotten about it, unfortunately. :(
ReplyDeleteThough I have to say what surprised me most was not seeing Boyz n the Hood on here.
Also congrats on having this thing going for 8 years sir! (and fuck me for forgetting to post this in the first comment lol)
DeleteThanks man! Boyz would definitely make the next 10. Nice pull there. So glad to hear your praise for A Place in the Sun. What a gem of a film that is.
DeleteThe Big Chill! I bought that at a flea market because I remembered seeing it mentioned on here (in the Marvin Gaye post). Then when I watched it, I was like "this is way better than just the use of Marvin Gaye." So glad I picked that up. Thanks! Still need to watch a few from the rest of the list.
ReplyDeleteHell yeah! Waaaayyy better than just the use of that song. I love that damn movie. So funny too, right?
DeleteI absolutely loved it. I thought the chemistry was incredible. I made an agreement with my roommate to only watch movies with him that neither of us had seen because he felt bad always having me pick a movie I'd already seen that I thought he would like. First thing I said to him when he got back from summer vacation: "Dude, we have to watch this movie."
DeleteHaha awesome. Hey, if it's THAT good, who cares about sitting through it again. The final shot of the movie kills me. It's so simple and evocative. The silent apology between Berenger and Hurt brings tears to my eyes.
DeleteAwesome list and congrats on so many years of blogging! This is really admirable list because it has so many heavy films in it - I myself cannot bring myself to watch heavy ones often so they usually end up around 30-40 spots on my list. I adore the love for Somewhere going on at your site, it's such an atmospheric movie.
ReplyDeleteWill you review Sicario?
Thanks! You know me, I love that heavy shit. And it's funny, I was actually telling a friend about your Somewhere/Earrings post last night (he just watched both for the first time), and he loved it!
DeleteSicario will be mini-reviewed in my Villeneuve Director's post, which will be up in a few minutes!
Ahhh crapsicles, I totally missed this. Anyway, happy blogversary! 8 years is mental, especially seeing how well you keep up this blog. Great list obviously. Super stoked to see a Sofia Coppola film here. I haven't seen Big Chill from this list so it's obviously going on my watchlist now.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up. You're awesome! :)
Thanks Nat! Haha "crapsicles." Awesome. Glad you dig the list, and I hope you're doing well!
DeleteHappy belated anniversary man! :) Love that you're still in the game.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant list! I'm a fan of every film, too, and it's so awesome that The Big Chill made it. That film is endlessly rewatchable. I've only seen the theatrical version of Fanny and Alexander, so I really need to check out the complete version. Plus, I've only seen the shorter version ONCE. Need to remedy that.
Thanks Josh! That long version of Fanny is astonishing. I love reserving a whole day for it, watching it in one sitting, then just thinking about it for hours. So special.
DeleteSo glad you like the list!
Happy belated anniversary and great post. So sorry for being absent for a while.
ReplyDeleteThanks man! It's all good, no worries.
DeleteOut of curiosity, where would There Will Be Blood rank on your list? I'm rather surprised that it wasn't on this one.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely up there. Love that film. Will forever by my favorite PTA.
DeleteSo good to see Shame here. You know I love it too. I think it's one of the few films that I even remember what I did after leaving the theatre. It had such an impact on me... it let me devastated. Cool hand luke was one of my favorite films since I saw it at a very young age and same goes with Fanny and Alexander, what a unique piece. I’m glad to see it here because it’s one of my favorite Bergman films. It's hard to choose but I think my three favorites are The Magician, The Seventh Seal and that one, but people often forget about Fanny and Alexander when they talk about Bergman. And I'm glad to see your kind words on Somewhere too.
ReplyDeleteAll the other films are also essential. Quite funny how now everybody talks about the “Rashomon style”. The only two I haven't seen are Dog Day Afternoon and A Place in the Sun, so I will try to watch them soon.
Thanks for the comment! I think you'll quite enjoy A Place in the Sun. It has that special kind of melancholy that you and I both appreciate. Obviously love your praise for Bergman. I had no idea you liked The Magician that much. I've only seen it twice, so I'm due for a rewatch for sure.
DeleteA whole top 20 (If you count having to make both the lists)... Damn that must have been hard. Well...
ReplyDelete1. Five Easy Pieces
2. Scenes From A Marriage
3. All Things Fair
4. The Conversation
5. Sideways
6.Lost In Translation
7.Taxi Driver
8.The Master
9.Adaptation
10.Kaminey: The Scoundrels
11. Pulp Fiction
12.Whiplash
13. Broken Flowers
14. Badlands
15. The Piano Teacher
16. Fallen Angels
17. Raven's End
18. Persona
19. Salam Bombay
20. Gangs Of Wasseypur Part 1 And 2
Wow man, that's a great list right there. Love that Taxi Driver, Pulp and Persona make the cut. I just rewatched Five Easy Pieces, and though I loved it before, I like it so much better now that I'm older. Nicholson, man. Dude always had it.
DeleteJohn Smith:
DeleteYes he did (:
It is a movie that will always inspire me, if i ever feel like I'm not getting anything done when it comes to movie scripts, friends, acting i go back to examine Bobby Dupea. I don't know why maybe it is the isolation and sadness the character gives of? I don't know hahahaha. Look at me rambling on, my favorite movie can make me talk for hours (:
I rewatched it since that last comment of mine, and yeah man, that movie just holds up. It will never, ever get old.
DeleteI'm afraid of seeing The Deer Hunter and The Thin Red Line. I have both movies available but i just don't wan't to be emotinally crushed.
ReplyDeleteThey're intense man. But perfect films, no question.
DeleteHave a friend that I discuss movies a lot with, and he tells me how he watched Shame with his sister, and I'm like "wow you chose like the worst film to watch with your sister, almost as bad as watching Bruno with my parents or something"
ReplyDeleteHa, yeah Shame can make for an awkward viewing experiences depending who you're watching it with. That movie is actually in my top 10 of all time now.
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