This week I'd like to take a step away from my typical article to get a little more personal. I went through the arduous task of compiling a top 10 list of my favorite films and why. My list spans several genres including comedy, action/adventure, science fiction, and even a foreign film was thrown in. I'd also like to clarify that these movies aren't what I consider to be the "best" films I've seen but the ones I personally love. For example, the Deerhunter is probably one of the best films I have ever seen in its technicality, screenwriting, and character driven plot... but I wouldn't consider it a film that I'd love to pop into my DVD player and on my free time.
So let's travel into the inner recesses of my mind and take a look at my favorite films of all time.
10. The Big Lebowski
We're going to kick this list off with The Dude. The Joel and Ethan Cohen classic has me rolling on the floor every time I watch it. From the inflammatory Vietnam veteran Walter to the bowling guru Jesus, this movie has such a colorful cast of characters that each could have their own individual spinoff. The humor is just so raw and outlandish that you have to laugh. So many scenes are classics in my opinion. The "Requiem" scene where Mr. Leboswki is explaining the problem he faces. Walter botching the million dollar trade off with a bag of gym shorts. Even the completely out of place introduction of Jesus is just so stupid you have to laugh. The Dude will always be one of my favorite characters and his indifference to his surroundings is a clear lesson in living a life of peace (or being couch potato).
9. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The best Western movie of all time... no question about it. The story of three people in the middle of the Wild West who are searching for a treasure of unthinkable wealth is anything short of an epic. Clint Eastwood's nameless protagonist set the standard for an entire genre of spaghetti westerns. The final scene of the graveyard shootout is the definition of a beautiful shot. The soaring music, close ups to each of their eyes, and a level of suspense that had me leaning on the edge of my seat. The atmosphere of the Spanish-American war in the middle of practically unsettled land is absolutely thrilling. Any fan of the Western film genre NEEDS to see this classic.
8. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
This movie is the definition of comedy gold. I could sit for hours making references like the knights that go "NEI", the dynamics of a swallow carrying a coconut to the British Isles, the black knight who refused to give up (pictured above), the sorcerer known as Tim, the holy hand grenade of Antioch, and the best insult in movie history by the taunting Frenchman. In fact, I've probably watched the Frenchman's taunt over 30 times and I still die of laughter at his over exaggerated accent and biting insults of Arthur's mother and father. This film is just so innovative and funny that it really puts the more formulaic comedies of my time to shame. The Holy Grail is a timeless movie that will have people on the verge of tears for decades to come... as long as they know the airspeed of an unladen swallow.
7. No Country For Old Men
Man do I love this movie. The Coen brothers are some of the best in the business and this best picture award winner proves it. No Country is a modern take on the western that is suspenseful to the highest degree. Anton Chigur (pictured above) is one of the greatest villains in cinema history with his nihilistic principles and horrifying indifference to murder. He dominates every scene he's in and by the end leaves the audience guessing as to whether he's the devil incarnate or a just a complete nut job. The desolate setting of the Southwest makes the danger feel ever present for our pseudo-protagonist, Llewelyn Moss, who is on the run from Chigur, the Cartel, and the visibly outmatched Sheriff Bell. This film has enough philosophical themes and references to fill a 500 page book and it was one of the first movies that got me interested in the art of filmaking and storytelling.
6. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
You guys really thought I would've made a top movies list without Star Wars? Where do I even begin with TESB. This movie has so much sentimental value to me since it is one of the movies I grew up watching. I've seen TESB AT LEAST 50 times in the 19 years I've been on this planet. From the beginning of the movie our heroes are in trouble, and what I love is how this tone stays throughout the film. Unlike the first movie, the protagonists almost always feel outmatched by the Empire and there is a constant feeling of urgency throughout. My favorite scene has to be Yoda's effortless use of the force to save Luke's ship and teach him a lesson about faith. This is easily the "best" Star Wars film when it comes to directing, screenwriting, and even character development. I will forever love this film and I wont be surprised if I see it another 50 times in the next 19 years.
5. The Last Samurai
This movie is criminally underrated. Following an alcoholic US army captain sent to Japan, the movie takes a different route from the "white-savior" cliche. Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is captured by a rebellious group of self proclaimed samurais trying to preserve their ancient order in the industrial world of the 19th century. It is through the hospitality and friendship the chief of the samurai, Takamori, offers Nathan that he decides to not only learn the ways of this foreign culture but fight alongside them. The Last Samurai is a heartfelt story that explores the dangers of industrialization, western views of the world, personal strife with past mistakes, and the intricate culture of Japan. Also Hans Zimmer's soundtrack for this film is impeccable with highlights such as A Way of Life and the Red Warrior. The long shots of the Japanese landscapes are breathtaking and the training sequences (such as the one above) give the film an epic feel to it. This emotional story of self-redemption in a land far away from home will always serve as a source of inspiration for me.
4. The Seventh Seal
This movie is where the famous motif of Death playing a chess game with a knight comes from. This dark tale of a knight, Antonius, returning from the Crusades to a land ravaged by the plague is truly ahead of its time. The Seventh seal explores the theme of Man's relationship to God and God's silence. We follow Antonius as he questions the very existence of the God he bled for while stalling Death to avoid his own end. This movie asks the big questions of theology and provides a very existential answer, that we truly don't know what will happen to us when we die. We can either accept Death when he comes or live our life in constant fear of his arrival. I believe that this is an amazing film that may be too grim for some, but is thought provoking for those who are like me and love to question everything.
3. Casino Royale
It was tough deciding between Casino and Skyfall as my favorite Bond film but Daniel Craig's debut as 007 has gone down as one of the best action movies ever made. From the beginning, we are introduced to a Bond who just got his license to kill. He's cold and ruthless, but arrogant. Our antagonist is the complex Le Cheffre, a man who seems in devilish from the outside when in reality he is nothing more than a cornered man who is a pawn for a larger syndicate. But what makes this movie stand out is 007's vulnerability to Vesper. Our usual idea of Mr. Bond is that of a womanizer who is almost detached from emotion towards others. Casino Royale shatters this conception and places Bond in the greatest disadvantage for a special agent, love. Lastly, the poker scene at the Casino is cinema gold. Just please don't ask James if he wants his Martini shaken or stirred... does it look like he gives a damn?
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001 was the first film that I finished feeling distraught. It didn't have a normal story line, characters, so many abstract shots (like the one above), and an ending that had zero explanation. 2001 eased me into my love of studying the art of filmaking. I researched everything I could about what the monolith meant, why the ending was a giant space baby, and how Stanley Kubrick pulled off such amazing visual effects in the 60s. After nearly a month of analyzing this film, the story made even less sense to me... but I realized this was exactly what Kubrick was aiming for. This masterpiece of cinema will forever be one of my favorites and it's the only film that I've seen which feels different almost every time I watch it.
Honorable Mentions: Halloween, The Last Temptation of Christ, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Fistful of Dollars, Interstellar, and Apocalypse Now
1. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
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Was this really a suprise? I cannot stop loving this movie. It was the first movie I ever saw and I would have no qualms if it was my last. From my favorite scene EVER, the Binary Sunset (pictured above), to the tension fueled dogfights over the Death Star, A New Hope shines in every way. Is it a perfect film? No. Is the Empire Strikes Back a "better" film? Yes. But the intrinsic value this movie holds for me is something that no other movie has or ever will reach. If I've seen the Empire Strikes Back more than 50 times I definitely surpassed 100 viewings with this blockbuster. The mythical hero's journey makes its story line feel so unique yet familiar. I love how each protagonist has such a vibrant personality (my favorite being the swashbuckling Han Solo of course). The action has such weight, you really worry for Luke as he rides through the trenches of the Death Star and when escaping the massive space station. I still get this overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and joy each time I pop the DVD in. While George Lucas may have failed us with the prequels, I will forever be thankful to him for creating this movie.
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