Author Topic: Top Films of All Time  (Read 944359 times)

1SO

  • FAB
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 36128
  • Marathon Man
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3730 on: September 11, 2012, 11:45:47 PM »

04. Comrades (1986, Bill Douglas)

Of all the films on all the lists, this is the one that most comes out of left field. Never heard of the film or the director. (IMDB rates this his worst film?!?) Don't remember reading a review. Couldn't be more curious.

Loving all the lists. Could do a marathon of all your favorites that I haven't seen. Would probably be around 100 films. (A sequel to my current marathon?)

oldkid

  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 19044
  • Hi there! Feed me worlds!
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3731 on: September 12, 2012, 12:14:45 AM »
I went all out with my top 100.  It is a complete reboot, although my top 10 may not seem to reflect that much.  I took the 650 favorites from my ICheckMovies list, and then posted a ranking and a review for them all on Criticker.  Then I took all the 90 and above ranked films on Criticker (250 films), and put that list in order.   Took the top 100 off of that, and Bob's your uncle.

Then today I added a question to each film on my top 100.  This question is one that comes from reflection on the film, but doesn't necessarily relate to a major theme of the film.

Before I give my list, I want to express my sorrow over the films that didn't make it:

Another Year or Vera Drake—If I was going to put in a Mike Leigh film, these are my favorites.  But not a single film of his is really powerful enough for me to put in my top 100, on its own.   I wish I could give Mike Leigh an award of honor for his work as a whole, though, its so powerful.

7th Heaven—It really stirred me, but it just didn’t make it.

The Wizard of Oz—It almost made it, but I had to take something out to fit The General in.

A Canterbury Tale—Amazing film, but I had to make room

Joyeux Noel—Dropped from last year. Probably the movie that emotionally moved me the most.  But its flaws still kept it out.

Casino Royale—Alone with Die Hard and Terminator 2, the great action films.  But they just didn’t make it.

Jack-Jack Attack—And Duck Amuck and a couple other cartoon shorts I adore.  I decided not to put in cartoon shorts as much as I adore them.  Wallace and Gromit almost made it, but not quite.  There are a couple short films on my list, like The House is Black, but they were too powerful to be left off.  These comic cartoons I left off were slight, but deeply loved anyway.

M, A Scanner Darkly, The Gods Must Be Crazy, AI: Artificial Intellegence, Sling Blade, Duck Soup, District 9—All films I had on my list last year and are missed.  These are not the only ones that got dropped.  It was a major reboot this year.  But I am most sad about kicking them off.

All About Eve—Every year this one creeps up closer to the top 100.  It’s a narrow miss this year.  Perhaps next year it will make it.

Talk To Her—I am on a high after watching this one.  Perhaps this is the Almadovar that will make it next year.

And now for our feature presentation:
The order is: Film title (year)  Criticker rank question for the film

1.   Spirited Away (2002)   100
What would a spirit world look like, both connected and disconnected with humanity?

2.   The Double Life of Veronique (1991)   99
What is the line to be drawn between the corporeal and the aesthetic?

3.   Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)   99
What should be the relationship between nature and humanity?

4.   The Mission (1986)   99
How does one respond to the open oppression of the innocent?

5.   Finding Nemo (2003)   99
How protective should we be of our children?

6. Wendy and Lucy (2008) 98
In a world of callousness, who can survive?

6a.   Rear Window (1954)   98
In what context is voyeurism a positive trait?

7.   In America (2002)   98
What joys are to be found in urban poverty?

8.   To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)   98
How do we respond justly and kindly to systemic injustice?

9.   Amélie (2001)   98
What is the joyful life?

10.   (1963)   98
What is the relationship between playfulness and creativity?

11.   The Tree of Life (2011)   97
How should we live: for ambition or mercy?

12.   Apocalypse Now  (1979)   97
How deeply does madness run within war?

13.   Children of Men (2006)   97
What would an international crisis look like?

14.   Citizen Kane (1941)   97
What is the cause of ambition in any individual?

15.   His Girl Friday (1940)   97
How fast can two people talk and still be understood?

16.   Groundhog Day (1993)   96
How would you live if you could do it over again?

17.   Amadeus (1984)   96
What is the relationship between giftedness and piety?

18.   The Dark Knight (2008)   96
What is the base nature of humanity?

19.   The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)   96
What is the saints' response to martyrdom?

20.   Lawrence of Arabia (1962)   96
How is heroism exemplified?

21.   Léon: The Professional (1994)   96
How much should we sacrifice to protect another?

22.   United 93 (2006)   96
How would we respond when we see death?

23.   A Serious Man (2009)   96
Why does life crumble around us?

24.   Mary Poppins (1964)   96
What is the responsibility of a parent?

25.   Three Colors: Blue (1993)   96
What color is grief? What about forgiveness? Or trust?

26.   Tideland (2005)   96
How resilient is the creative child?

27.   WALL•E (2008)   96
How do we recognize love?

28.   Ostrov (2006)   96
What must be done when seeking forgiveness, especially when we don't receive it?

29.   Princess Mononoke (1997)   96
What is the relationship between ambition and sustainability?

30.   Malcolm X (1992)   96
How do we react to an unjust society?

31.   Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)   96
How does one respond when all hopes crumble?

32.   Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)   96
Is obsession, even in a good thing, worth the cost?

33.   Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)   96
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

34.   The Godfather (1973)   95
Just how insidious is corruption?

35.   I'm Not There (2007)   95
What does it take to be constantly creating?

36.   In the Mood for Love (2000)   95
What does deep longing look like?

37.   Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)   95
What are the best response to pure evil?

38.   It's a Wonderful Life (1946)   95
Is it worth living the life we did not dream of?

39.   The Lives of Others (2006)   95
What can do we do when complicit in an injustice?

40.   In a Lonely Place (1950)   95
Can love endure under suspicion?

41.   Seven Samurai (1954)   95
Is noble intention enough to stop injustice?

42.   F for Fake (1973)   95
In aesthetics, is anything true?

43.   Melancholia (2011)   95
What is the relationship between depression and crisis?

44.   Network (1976)   95
What is the driving moral force behind mass media?

45.   A Short Film About Love (1988)   95
Should we ever toy with another’s affection?

46.   Ran (1985)   95
What is the result of bad judgment?

47.   Sweet Smell of Success (1957)   95
What does a world look like where ambition alone rules?

48.   The House Is Black (1963)   95
What is the face of the sorrowful life?

49.   The Lion King (1994)   94
What responsibility do we have toward power we have but do not want?

50.   Where the Wild Things Are (2009)   94
Are we responsible for our uncontrollable rage?

51.   Eternal Sunshine of the Spotted Mind (2004)   94
Is love a choice or destiny?

52.   Dancer in the Dark (2000)   94
How are the meek martyred?

53.   The Emperor's New Groove (2000)   94
Wait, how did we get here?

54.   Planet Terror (2007)   94
What is the perfectly imperfect film?

55.   Hunger (2008)   94
How much sacrifice can one make?  And it is worth it at all?

56.   Rachel Getting Married (2008)   94
How do we deal with the one we love but can’t stand?

57.   Red Beard (1965)   94
How important is compassion to healing?

58.   Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring (2003)   94
How do the stages of life relate to spiritual growth?

59.   The New World (2005)   93
Is it better to be with the one you love or the one who loves you?

60.   Once (2007)   93
Can working together with creativity create a lasting love?

61.   Pan's Labyrinth (2006)   93
How can a child solve the injustices toward her mother?

62.   Before Sunset (2004)   93
What is the nature of romantic relationship?

63.   Dead Man Walking (1995)   93
What is the healing of the evil-doer?

64.   I Heart Huckabees (2004)   93
What is the relationship between intellectual idealism and everyday life?

65.   Pulp Fiction (1994)   93
What is the process of conversion?

66.   The Man Without a Past (2002)   93
Who are we without our memory?

67.   Caché (2005)   93
How responsible are we for what we did in another life?

68.   The Castle in the Sky (1986)   93
How do we deal with inherited power that destroys?

69.   Dog Day Afternoon (1975)   93
How do we retain our humanity when the worst happens?

70.   Scenes from a Marriage (1973)   93
Are the very things that make a marriage work also that which destroys it?

71.   The Apostle (1997)   93
Is emotive spirituality positive or destructive?

72.   Barton Fink (1991)   93
What is hell for a writer?

73.   Toy Story 2 (1999)   93
How far should loyalty for a friend go?

74.   Taxi Driver (1976)   93
Is insanity the natural state of a New Yorker?

75.   Millions (2004)   93
How does one live spiritually in a corrupt world?

76.   There Will Be Blood (2007)   93
How far does ambition corrupt?

77.   Being There (1979)   92
What does it mean when our leaders simply reflect our values?

78.   Fight Club (1999)   92
What is the relationship between mental breakdown and revolution?

79.   Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)   92
What is perfect discipline? Is it worth it?

80.   Memento (2001)   92
Is obsession under our own control?

81.   The Princess Bride (1987)   92
Is true love worth all this?

82.   The Red Shoes (1948)   92
What is the cost of art?

83.   Paprika (2006)   92
Can we live in our dreams?

84.   Brazil (1985)   92
How far must we go to obtain our dearest desire?

85.   City Lights (1931)   92
How can you show love to one who cannot see?

86.   Ordet (1955)   92
Is religion real?

87.   The Player (1992)   92
Just how hypocritical is Hollywood?

88.   American Splendor (2003)   92
Is the average life art?

89.   Brick (2005)   92
Is truth worth the pursuit?

90.   Certified Copy (2010)   92
Does a relationship actually change?

91.   The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)   92
How is a man’s life measured?

92.   Ace in the Hole (1951)   92
Does journalism report or create the news?

93.   Spirit of the Beehive (1973)   92
Can a child break the spirit of oppression?

94.   Chinatown (1974)   92
Can corruption be defeated?

95.   Edward Scissorhands (1990)   92
Are the outcast ever truly welcome, even by the most well-meaning?

96.   Ghostbusters (1984)   92
What do you say when a spirit asks you if you are a god?

97.   Kung Fu Hustle (2004)   92
Just how far can the mystical powers of kung fu be stretched?

98.   Lilo & Stitch (2002)   92
Can anyone be a part of family?

99.   The General (1927)   90
What can a simple worker do to help his country?




« Last Edit: February 27, 2013, 04:00:44 PM by oldkid »
"It's not art unless it has the potential to be a disaster." Bansky

ArmenianScientist

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 753
  • They don't think it be like it is, but it do.
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3732 on: September 12, 2012, 12:19:42 AM »
@Verite: I love seeing The Kid With a Bike, and The Godfather: Part II so high! A repertory theater near my college will be showing The Long Day Closes soon, and I can't wait to see it.

Have you gotten a chance to see The Deep Blue Sea?

Edit: @oldkid: The questions are great and I'm pleased to see Veronique at #2!
« Last Edit: September 12, 2012, 12:23:00 AM by ArmenianScientist »

Junior

  • Bert Macklin, FBI
  • Global Moderator
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 28709
  • What's the rumpus?
    • Benefits of a Classical Education
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3733 on: September 12, 2012, 12:20:04 AM »
Love it all, OK, a lot of good stuff there. Great mix of classic, and dnew and more obscure stuff.
Check out my blog of many topics

“I’m not a quitter, Kimmy! I watched Interstellar all the way to the end!”

¡Keith!

  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 26774
  • Bitch, I been around since LimeWire.
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3734 on: September 12, 2012, 12:25:47 AM »
Decided to drop the last seen columns - with the spread of various streaming services & downloads it all would've been too much.
20122010  Film  Year  Director
1
1
  The Godfather  1972  Francis Ford Coppola
2
2
  Dr. Strangelove  1964  Stanley Kubrick
3
3
  Citizen Kane  1941  Orson Welles
4
4
  There Will Be Blood  2007  Paul Thomas Anderson
5
5
  Fight Club  1999  David Fincher
6
6
  Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind  2004  Michel Gondry
7
7
  Paris, Texas  1984  Wim Wenders
8
8
  Trainspotting  1996  Danny Boyle
9
9
  Virgin Suicides, The  2000  Sophia Coppola
10
10
  Breathless  1961  Jean-Luc Godard
11
11
  Network  1976  Sidney Lumet
12
12
  Battle of Algiers, The  1967  Gillo Pontecorvo
13
14
  Miller's Crossing  1990  Joel & Ethan Coen
14
15
  Requiem for a Dream  2000  Darren Aronofsky
15
16
  Lost In Translation  2003  Sophia Coppola
16
19
  Wings of Desire  1987  Wim Wenders
17
17
  Moulin Rouge!  2001  Baz Luhrmann
18
18
  The Godfather Part 2  1974  Francis Ford Coppola
19
21
  Paths of Glory  1957  Stanley Kubrick
20
32
  North By Northwest  1959  Alfred Hitchcock
21
20
  City of God  2003  Fernando Meirelles
22
13
  Almost Famous  2000  Cameron Crowe
23
24
  Kids  1995  Larry Clark
24
25
  Raging Bull  1980  Martin Scorsese
25
26
  Le cercle rouge  1970  Jean-Pierre Melville
26
28
  Shadow of a Doubt  1943  Alfred Hitchcock
27
29
  Pulp Fiction  1994  Quentin Tarantino
28
48
  Blade Runner  1982  Ridley Scott
29
30
  Die Hard  1988  John McTiernan
30
22
  Donnie Darko  2001  Richard Kelly
31
31
  Until the End of the World  1991  Wim Wenders
32
33
  Yojimbo  1961  Akira Kurosawa
33
27
  Alien  1979  Ridley Scott
34
34
  Festen  1998  Thomas Vinterberg
35
36
  Capturing the Friedmans  2003  Andrew Jarecki
36
37
  Y tu mamá también  2001  Alfonso Cuarón
37
42
  Starship Troopers  1997  Paul Verhoeven
38
38
  Ferris Bueller's Day Off  1986  John Hughes
39
39
  O Brother, Where Art Thou  2000  Joel & Ethan Coen
40
40
  Jackie Brown  1997  Quentin Tarantino
41
41
  Let the Right One In  2008  Tomas Alfredson
42
35
  Into the Wild  2007  Sean Penn
43
44
  Beyond the Valley of the Dolls  1970  Russ Meyer
44
43
  Mr. Smith Goes to Washington  1939  Frank Capra
45
46
  Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas  1998  Terry Gilliam
46
47
  Band of Outsiders  1964  Jean-Luc Godard
47
79
  Days of Heaven  1978  Terrence Malick
48
49
  Groundhog Day  1993  Harold Ramis
49
50
  Aliens  1986  James Cameron
50
51
  Gimme Shelter  1970  Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
51
52
  Strange Days  1995  Kathryn Bigelow
52
53
  Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The  2007  Julian Schnabel
53
54
  Dancer In the Dark  2000  Lars von Trier
54
96
  Lost Highway  1997  David Lynch
55
55
  Kontroll  2005  Nimród Antal
56
NEW
  The Sweet Smell of Success  1957  Alexander Mackendrick
57
56
  Sullivan's Travels  1941  Preston Sturges
58
NEW
  Gamer  2009  Neveldine/Taylor
59
65
  Matrix, The  1999  Larry & Andy Wachowski
60
58
  Children of Men  2006  Alfonso Cuarón
61
59
  All About My Mother  1999  Pedro Almodóvar
62
45
  Good Thief, The  2003  Neil Jordan
63
60
  Oldboy  2005  Chan-wook Park
64
57
  Princess Mononoke  1999  Hayao Miyazaki
65
61
  Planet of the Apes  1968  Franklin J. Schaffner
66
63
  Monsoon Wedding  2002  Mira Nair
67
67
  Princess Bride  1987  Rob Reiner
68
68
  Boogie Nights  1997  Paul Thomas Anderson
69
66
  Mulholland Dr.  2001  David Lynch
70
69
  La Haine  1995  Mathieu Kassovitz
71
82
  Gattaca  1997  Andrew Niccol
72
70
  Lives of Others, The  2007  Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
73
71
  Fargo  1996  Joel & Ethan Coen
74
77
  Goodfellas  1990  Martin Scorsese
75
NEW
  A Trip to the Moon  1902  Georges Méliès
76
89
  Metropolis  1927  Fritz Lang
77
81
  Rock, The  1996  Michael Bay
78
64
  Schindler's List  1993  Steven Spielberg
79
72
  Look Back In Anger  1959  Tony Richardson
80
74
  American Movie  1999  Chris Smith
81
75
  Le Samourai  1967  Jean-Pierre Melville
82
76
  Ed Wood  1994  Tim Burton
83
78
  Silence of the Lambs, The  1991  Jonathan Demme
84
NEW
  The Last Picture Show  1971  Peter Bogdanovich
85
23
  Wizard of Oz, The  1939  Victor Fleming
86
87
  Being John Malkovitch  1999  Spike Jonze
87
NEW
  Moonrise Kingdom  2012  Wes Anderson
88
83
  Elephant  2003  Gus Van Sant
89
84
  Chinatown  1974  Roman Polanski
90
NEW
  Drive  2011  Nicolas Winding Refn
91
88
  Halloween  1978  John Carpenter
92
94
  Big Lebowski, The  1998  Joel & Ethan Coen
93
85
  Bonnie and Clyde  1976  Arthur Penn
94
91
  Rififi  1955  Jules Dassin
95
93
  Rashomon  1951  Akira Kurosawa
96
62
  Kill Bill Vol. 1  2003  Quentin Tarantino
97
90
  Before Sunrise  1995  Richard Linklater
98
86
  Sandlot, The  1993  David M. Evans
99
92
  Tron  1982  Steven Lisberger
100
99
  Se7en  1995  David Fincher

Junior

  • Bert Macklin, FBI
  • Global Moderator
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 28709
  • What's the rumpus?
    • Benefits of a Classical Education
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3735 on: September 12, 2012, 12:27:57 AM »
Love Gamer, hate Oldboy.
Check out my blog of many topics

“I’m not a quitter, Kimmy! I watched Interstellar all the way to the end!”

Verite

  • Elite Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 4479
  • Maybach School of Film Studies
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3736 on: September 12, 2012, 07:31:34 AM »
I've been looking forward to your list most of all, your tastes and mine seem to gel.

 8)

In preparation, I looked over your list to see if I forgot anything for mine.

Quote
Many of the above are already on my list, and I'll be looking into the others for more to add.  So glad to see Scent of Green Papaya enter your list (though I would have sworn it was on there last year too).  I think Tristram Shandy might make my list with a third viewing.

Since you were in a band, I'm most curious about seeing what you think of Persian Cats.  Three of the four songs in La France are catchy as hell.  Those three would make my top songs list.  The only Tran in my previous lists was Vertical.  Papaya was close-but-not-quite-there for some time.  I see that Tristram moved from green to teal in your rankings.  Seeing it at #1 (and #2 for AAAutin) moved me to revisit it.


04. Comrades (1986, Bill Douglas)

Of all the films on all the lists, this is the one that most comes out of left field. Never heard of the film or the director. (IMDB rates this his worst film?!?) Don't remember reading a review. Couldn't be more curious.

Haven't written a review of it.  Did rank it 4th in my 2009 discoveries list and 5th in my 1986 list in 2010.  Really admired it back then but didn't fully embrace the pace and some of the performances.  The film has grown on me a lot.  It's like, sort of, like, say, Ken Loach's Land and Freedom and Wind That Shakes the Barley with a better eye for imagery (like a mixture of Ford and Anthony Mann).  More images:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews46/comrades_blu-ray.htm

If you want to know more about it, these are good reads:
http://cinema-scope.com/cinema-scope-magazine/columns-dvd-bonus-light-show-bill-douglas%E2%80%99-comrades/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jul/18/comrades-tolpuddle-martyrs-bill-douglas

No director or critic voted for it in the 2012 Sight & Sound poll but his earlier trilogy received 4 total votes (1 for the first, 2 for the second, and 1 for the last).  Don't like the trilogy as much as I used to.  It's pretty depressing.  I'd encourage people to start out with Comrades instead.


@Verite: I love seeing The Kid With a Bike, and The Godfather: Part II so high! A repertory theater near my college will be showing The Long Day Closes soon, and I can't wait to see it.

 8)  8)  8)

Quote
Have you gotten a chance to see The Deep Blue Sea?

Yup.  It's a quality flick.  Have a feeling it'll grown on me, but for the time being, as far as his adaptations go, The Neon Bible and The House of Mirth are much more impressive.  I did have really high expectations, though; very possible I'm underrating The Deep Blue Sea.  Try your best to make it to one of the The Long Day Closes screenings!!
« Last Edit: September 12, 2012, 07:34:04 AM by Verite »
"When in doubt, seduce."
                   -Elaine May

MartinTeller

  • FAB
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 17864
  • martinteller.wordpress.com
    • my movie blog
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3737 on: September 12, 2012, 10:07:00 AM »
oldkid, I love the questions.  Great to see Kaurismaki on there.  Once, Wendy and Lucy and Malcolm X are ones that were tough for me to leave off my own list.  Haven't seen:

4.   The Mission (1986)   99
7.   In America (2002)   98
28.   Ostrov (2006)   96
35.   I'm Not There (2007)   95
53.   The Emperor's New Groove (2000)   94
56.   Rachel Getting Married (2008)   94
63.   Dead Man Walking (1995)   93
64.   I Heart Huckabees (2004)   93
71.   The Apostle (1997)   93
75.   Millions (2004)   93
88.   American Splendor (2003)   92


Keith, nice presentation, very orderly.  Glad to see Sweet Smell enter your list.  And yay, more love for American Movie!  Haven't seen:

20122010  Film  Year  Director
9
9
  Virgin Suicides, The  2000  Sophia Coppola
31
31
  Until the End of the World  1991  Wim Wenders
51
52
  Strange Days  1995  Kathryn Bigelow
58
NEW
  Gamer  2009  Neveldine/Taylor
71
82
  Gattaca  1997  Andrew Niccol
79
72
  Look Back In Anger  1959  Tony Richardson
98
86
  Sandlot, The  1993  David M. Evans
« Last Edit: September 12, 2012, 10:13:36 AM by MartinTeller »

oldkid

  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 19044
  • Hi there! Feed me worlds!
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3738 on: September 12, 2012, 10:38:58 AM »
Martin, I'd love to hear your opinion about some of those films, especially In America, Ostrov, The Apostle and American Splendor.
"It's not art unless it has the potential to be a disaster." Bansky

MartinTeller

  • FAB
  • Objectively Awesome
  • ******
  • Posts: 17864
  • martinteller.wordpress.com
    • my movie blog
Re: Top Films of All Time
« Reply #3739 on: September 12, 2012, 11:06:14 AM »
Like 1SO, I'm thinking of doing a marathon of movies I haven't seen from all your lists.  I think I've got well over 100, though.  I probably wouldn't get to it for a while.