10. Se7en (1995)
I love director David Fincher. His other works are all worthy of this list (i.e. The Social Network, Fight Club, Netflix's House of Cards), but this film goes above and beyond with one of the most disgustingly original crime stories of all time: a serial killer commits murders, each representing the Seven Deadly Sins. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt star as Detectives Somerset and Mills respectively in an unnamed, constantly raining city who must track down the killer before he reaches all 7 sins. Although being a relatively new director at the time, Fincher's trademark style is as unmistakable as it is unforgettable: gritty, disturbing, haunting, exciting, and unprecedented.
POTENTIAL SPOILER: My absolute favorite part of this film is Kevin Spacey as the serial killer who goes by the name John Doe. I claim that Spacey is one of my favorite actors, and this film is mainly why. Once he turns himself in--part of his elaborate game against Somerset & Mills--Doe gives a chilling monologue in which he explains his killing spree and justifies his evil deeds. Just watch below.
This isn't a list of the Top 10 Movie Villains (a list I want to make in the future), but Kevin Spacey's John Doe from Se7en definitely has earned his way to that list, too.
I have a love/hate relationship with comedies. I either love them, or I hate them. Call me a buzzkill, but most comedies I hate. There are a few rare gems that come across every now and then that not only make me laugh, but also present to me a quality film complete with a good story, great acting, timing, and everything a comedy needs. My Cousin Vinny is one of those films.
Joe Pesci, best known for his work in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas among other gangster films, plays a New York City lawyer a little too fresh out of law school who is called by his nephew to defend him in an Alabama state court. This fish-out-of-water tale uses to its benefit an established Pesci persona and hilariously places the typical Italian-American New Yorker into a Southern setting. To quote the brilliant (and Academy-Award winning) Marisa Tomei as Pesci's girlfriend, "Yeah, you blend."
Speaking of Tomei, she truly shines as Ms. Mona Lisa Vito. She steals every scene she's in with her clever one-liners and long monologues, all executed perfectly. Check out my favorite scene of Tomei where she explains to Pesci why animals actually don't give a fuck what kind of clothes hunters wear.
Genius.
There are only a couple of movies I can quote front and back without even thinking of it, but I'm pretty sure Back to the Future would be the most accurate. This unique and classic blend of sci-fi and 1980's teen comedy has certainly stood the test of time (No pun intended. Or maybe it was. Sue me).
Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly and Christopher Llyod's Doc Brown create an oddball team with a time machine incorporated in a DeLorean sports car...what could go wrong, right? Well, Marty does mess up his family lineage and must put it back in order to save his own existence...and watching him get there is hilariously entertaining. The following sequels fall short of the original's quality, but do work well together in telling one complete story.
Approaching it's 30th anniversary, Back to the Future still feels as fresh and new as it did in 1985...that is to say it feels like a movie from 1985. Which is the whole point. So kudos, Mr. Zemeckis.
Second sci-fi movie in a row? Yeah, I'm a nerd and this is the king of nerd-tastic movies. George Lucas defined a generation and defied all odds when he released Star Wars (now labeled as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, but we'll just use it's original name).
I will say it: without this movie (and yes, without George Lucas), the science-fiction genre would look a lot different than it does today. Unprecedented in special effects, music, and sound effects, moviegoers owe a lot to this film. Lucas' "original" space opera effortlessly adapts Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey" theory into...a completely original sci-fi adventure. The following two sequels form one of the greatest and iconic film trilogies in cinematic history (and don't kill me, but at least Episode III of the prequel trilogy isn't all that bad...)
I will argue that Star Wars is the most recognizable film in the world. From its unforgettable characters that feel like household names (Luke, Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, etc.), the unmistakable score by John Williams, the iconic opening scroll, lightsabers, droids, etc etc...it's difficult to imagine a world without this tale from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
*For shits and giggles, watch the ORIGINAL opening scroll (sans that whole Episode IV nonsense) and be reminded why this movie will last till the end of time.
Speaking of iconic openings, every time I see a sunrise I just have to yell out of impulse: "NANTS INGONYAMA BAGITHI BABA / SITHI UHM INGONYAMA" (Yes, those are the actual lyrics to the chant).
Disney knew what they were doing when they were inspired by Shakespeare and (very loosely) adapted "Hamlet". Definitely one of Disney's finest and arguably the greatest animated film of all time, The Lion King proves that a movie about talking animals can be as emotionally profound as it is lighthearted and funny. Elton John provides some of Disney's greatest songs ("Circle of Life", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?", "Hakuna Matata") and the voice acting is astonishingly well executed.
The following scene proves just how mature and relevant this film is:
Everyone can relate to how Simba feels: lost, alone, and unsure of himself. And to think this is coming from a cartoon.
P.S. Yes, I still get emotional after the stampede scene when Simba goes "Dad? Dad, c'mon, you gotta get up..." So many feels.
5. Crash (2005)
This little film that could which turned into a Best Picture winner is probably one of the most under-appreciated movies in the past decade. Several tales sprawling over the greater Los Angeles area examine the bigotry of our times by cleverly intertwining said tales. The cast is stellar: Sanda Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, and many more actors give their all. You can tell this story affected these actors all in a personal way that is emotionally reflected on screen.
Although it surprisingly (and many say wrongfully) beat out Brokeback Mountain at the Oscars, Crash remains a quiet socially relevant piece that studies humanity in a truthful way that is hard to accept.
There is no other movie on God's good earth that I hate to love--and love to hate--more than Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Too smart and artsy for anyone to actually understand, no other film can captivate and confuse the savviest film goer. I'm being honest when I say that after reading the novel and writing a research paper on the film's connection to philosopher Friedrich Nietzche's "Thus Spake Zarathustra", I still have only begun to vaguely understand what the hell this is about which frustrates the hell out of me.
But that's why I love this movie so much. It makes you think. Its not your typical sci-fi space adventure. This is a thought-provoking and philosophical tale that sparks multiple discussions about faith, God, man vs. machine, and our own species' transformation into a greater power. Kubrick's amazing use of visual, sound, and the creepy incorporation of the HAL-9000 all combine to create this odyssey of a movie.
Where do I begin with this one? This is not just a superhero/comic book movie. This is a full-blown and well thought-out crime thriller/psychological drama that asks one very important question: What makes someone good or evil? Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) said it best: "You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
The film is a loose adaptation of the Batman graphic novel The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and follows the Caped Crusader (Christian Bale) as he works with Detective James Gordan (Gary Oldman) and Gotham City's District Attorney Harvey Dent to fight the mob. Behind the scenes, the villainous Joker (Heath Ledger), works his evil ways to influence the mob and psychologically destroy Dent, Gotham's "White Knight."
It goes without saying that the star of this film is Heath Ledger's haunting performance as the Joker. Ledger portrays this infamous character in a way that has never been done before: dark, twisted, smart, and sickly funny. The following scene is probably one of my favorite scenes in any movie. The execution is perfect on Ledger's part (and Bale isn't too bad, even with the Batman growl).
That is a prime example of what I would call a "perfect" scene. There's not too many of those. As for the movie, while not "perfect", it gets pretty damn close. And there's not too many of those, either.
I said at the beginning of this post that this list is NOT a top 10 greatest-film-of-all-time list. However, if it were that kind of list, this film would most certainly still be at this #2 spot (or even one more up...highly debatable).
Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece can probably be deemed one of the few "perfect" movies. Everything works. I mean EVERYTHING. The story, adapted from Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, follows Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his family in 1940s New York City as the ties between the other crime families begin to crumble.
The following film, 1974's The Godfather: Part II is just as good as the first (some would argue its even better), showing Al Pacino's rise as Michael Corleone while simultaneously showcasing Robert De Niro's rise as the young Vito Corleone. While the third film falls short of the first two, it does complete the rise-and-fall of the Corleone family creating a near-perfect trilogy. The Godfather is one of those movies that will never go away. It will remain as one of the greatest films ever made till the end times.
I remember watching Pulp Fiction for the first time. It was playing on Cinemax and I set it to record on the family DVR since it was airing way past my bedtime. I watched it and I was so blown away, I immediately watched it again. The nonlinear storyline along with Tarantino's delicious (and Oscar winning) screenplay work to the actor's benefits: Jackson, Travolta, Thurman, and Willis all work with Tarantino's material and the result is this accomplishment of modern cinema.
Pulp Fiction was one of the most influential movies of the early 1990's and paved the way for young, independent filmmakers who work without the interference of major studios (i.e. Robert Rodriquez, Steven Soderbergh). While certainly not the greatest movie of all time, Pulp Fiction changed the way movies are told and will always stay in my heart as my favorite movie.
Honorary Mentions:
The Social Network (2010): David Fincher directing a brilliantly written screenplay by Aaron Sorkin? This movie could do no wrong.
Memento (2000): Christopher Nolan's first major success, 2000's Memento is one movie that demands to be watched over and over and over...and its like watching it for the first time each time.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003): I commonly cite this movie as being THE movie that made me like movies. It was my first ever DVD and I remember watching the behind-the-scenes special features and thinking "I want to do that." Look at me know. Thanks, Pirates.
So there you have it, my 10 (well...13) favorite movies of all time! Be sure to check back for more lists, reviews, and other cool stuff. You (hopefully) won't regret it!
