My Top 100 and Beyond (Outdated)
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This is a comprehensive and growing list of my personal favorite films, which includes documentaries, short films, TV movies, series, videos, and screensavers. The top 100 is in order and is then followed by several pages of films arranged by release year.
context:
If objective quality in film exists, people wouldn't be able to accurately measure it. Thus, my list reflects my subjective opinion and you won't necessarily find some famous acclaimed titles on here as a result.
I subscribe more to the concept of "death of the author" than I do auteur theory, preferring to focus on what a given text says rather than what the author intends for it to say. That said, a successful auteur will communicate his/her message within their text efficiently. The two contrasting theories can be applied together and can make studying film quite interesting.
This list represents a mass amount of categories. I am really open to watching any type of film but I especially like fantasy. I gravitate towards extremities, whether that be ultra-surrealism or ultra-realism, childish sentimentality or bleak melancholy, minimalist or complex. The best films to me are ones that appeal to my sensibilities, whether that be emotional, spiritual, or political. However, politics can make or break a film for me; that is not to say a film's politics must align with my ideology, but that they must be reasonably consistent and sound within themselves.
The list may be rather large, and the term favorite may become diluted, but I really don't care; it's my list and I include many films because I like many films.
navigation:
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) |
This is a comprehensive and growing list of my personal favorite films, which includes documentaries, short films, TV movies, series, videos, and screensavers. The top 100 is in order and is then followed by several pages of films arranged by release year.
context:
If objective quality in film exists, people wouldn't be able to accurately measure it. Thus, my list reflects my subjective opinion and you won't necessarily find some famous acclaimed titles on here as a result.
I subscribe more to the concept of "death of the author" than I do auteur theory, preferring to focus on what a given text says rather than what the author intends for it to say. That said, a successful auteur will communicate his/her message within their text efficiently. The two contrasting theories can be applied together and can make studying film quite interesting.
This list represents a mass amount of categories. I am really open to watching any type of film but I especially like fantasy. I gravitate towards extremities, whether that be ultra-surrealism or ultra-realism, childish sentimentality or bleak melancholy, minimalist or complex. The best films to me are ones that appeal to my sensibilities, whether that be emotional, spiritual, or political. However, politics can make or break a film for me; that is not to say a film's politics must align with my ideology, but that they must be reasonably consistent and sound within themselves.
The list may be rather large, and the term favorite may become diluted, but I really don't care; it's my list and I include many films because I like many films.
navigation:
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) |
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- DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsAlisa FreyndlikhAleksandr KaydanovskiyAnatoliy SolonitsynA guide leads two men through an area known as the Zone to find a room that grants wishes.Consistently engrossing through its powerful images, poetic narrative, philosophical themes, symbolism, and blend of science fiction and fantasy, Stalker is more similar to a dream than it is a film and a rather good dream at that. Stalker embodies everything a film should and more. The constant immersion this film has leads me to feel I am watching less of a film, and more of edited footage from another fantastical world I am not accustomed to. The film constructs a fantasy world that no other film I have seen has been on par with. Watching this film is an experience, thinking about it is another as it has permanently left its place in my subconscious.
- DirectorPier Paolo PasoliniStarsPaolo BonacelliGiorgio CataldiUberto Paolo QuintavalleIn World War II Italy, four fascist libertines round up nine adolescent boys and girls and subject them to 120 days of physical, mental, and sexual torture.While definitely not a film for everyone, Salò is uncompromising and pushes extremes to make its point. This emotionally draining film leaves its viewers with the feeling of emptiness and disgust in order for it to comment on society. Even within its dark and abhorrent subject matter that is overwhelming for many, there are subtle moments that imply humanity even within the worst conditions; through this aspect, the film finds beauty in its ugliness, even if it can be too far to grasp.
- DirectorLav DiazStarsAngeli BayaniPerry DizonRoeder CamanagThree people engage in a strange therapy to get away from their agonies.Similar to the characters within it, this film's narrative structure and the story takes on a role of its own as it serves as a metaphor for depression. Unwatched by many, Melancholia is a film one must experience on their own, preferably alone with dedicated attention. The three-part narrative, black-and-white color scheme, seven and a half hour runtime, and long scenes in which little happens all aid in expertly matching the sense one gets while experiencing long lasting depression and through their method of coping by adopting a new persona so they are able to act as if everything will be fine, something the characters within this film act on to a large extreme.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsMax von SydowGunnar BjörnstrandBengt EkerotA knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.Expertly utilizing shadows and light to reflect upon the characters' mindsets and emotions, this film is an example of expertise in every technical way. It consistently embraces two opposite extremes. It is both depressing and cheerful, both comedic and tragic, both spiritual and nihilistic, both dark and light. The film is thought-provoking, philosophical, fantastical, existential, inspirational, and innovative. The writing, direction, cinematography, performances, and music are all brilliantly executed. The Seventh Seal is the film that led me to the love of cinema that I have today.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.Pan's Labyrinth beautifully blends fairy tale and folklore fantasy with the horrors of war and death as seen through the eyes of a child. Through its large body of references and symbolism as well as its themes of choice, disobedience, and sacrifice, this film both utilizes and subverts old ideals and sensibilities found within its sources and references the film borrows from. The art design and score for this film is also rather exceptional to me.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKeir DulleaGary LockwoodWilliam SylvesterAfter uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000.2001 is the greatest English language film in my opinion. With an unconventional narrative and incredible effects and sense of scale, Kubrick managed to create a work of art that is entertaining and mentally engaging, containing themes of human and technological development and evolution throughout while climaxing with the ineffable unknown.
- DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsMargarita TerekhovaFilipp YankovskiyIgnat DaniltsevA dying man in his forties remembers his past. His childhood, his mother, the war, personal moments and things that tell of the recent history of all the Russian nation.The Mirror is a film less to be comprehended and analyzed in literal terms, and more to be felt. This is yet another Tarkovsky film that seems like a sublime dream.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsBibi AnderssonLiv UllmannMargaretha KrookA nurse is put in charge of a mute actress and finds that their personae are melding together.Wonderfully written and acted, the cryptic and surreal, Persona's unique approach to cinema and narrative structure continues to leave its viewers thinking. The film left me in continuous intrigue and appreciation of its craft.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroRobert DuvallThe early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.Slightly surpassing its predecessor for me, The Godfather: Part II not only is the greatest sequel in my opinion, but also the greatest American film after 2001. The double narrative and expansion of characters are incredible. This film contains the greatest ensemble cast of characters, and nearly every single scene is classic and memorable.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanDon Vito Corleone, head of a mafia family, decides to hand over his empire to his youngest son, Michael. However, his decision unintentionally puts the lives of his loved ones in grave danger.As it is universally agreed upon, The Godfather is a fantastic film with understandable and lifelike characters. The script is powerful and raw, allowing viewers such as myself to be consistently intrigued and emotionally engaged.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsRobert De NiroJames WoodsElizabeth McGovernA former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan 35 years later, where he must once again confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.Perhaps the greatest epic film set on Earth, Leone's passion project is contemplative and leaves an potent impact on its viewers, bringing them to appreciate a film about horrible people performing heinous acts and find beauty within the film's poetic execution.
- DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsAnatoliy SolonitsynIvan LapikovNikolay GrinkoThe life, times and afflictions of the fifteenth-century Russian iconographer St. Andrei Rublev.Andrei Rublev is proof that a Christian film can be a great one. While adopting the recurring aesthetics and qualities that heighten Tarkovsky's masterwork, Rublev examines the psyche of a religious painter and the time and culture he lived in, acting as both a biographical war epic and a spiritual drama. One can feel for this film's characters and somewhat relate heir inner turmoil, just by looking at a character's face as Tarkovsky's direction shines through his film's lifelike characters and rich imagery.
- DirectorCarl Theodor DreyerStarsMaria FalconettiEugene SilvainAndré BerleyIn 1431, Jeanne d'Arc is placed on trial on charges of heresy. The ecclesiastical jurists attempt to force Jeanne to recant her claims of holy visions.Led by a riveting and potent performance by Maria Falconetti, The Passion of Joan of Arc is my choice for the world's greatest silent film. This is yet another example that proves the potential for religious cinema.
- DirectorElem KlimovStarsAleksey KravchenkoOlga MironovaLiubomiras LauceviciusAfter finding an old rifle, a young boy joins the Soviet resistance movement against ruthless German forces and experiences the horrors of World War II.Expertly juxtaposing strong visuals with diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, Come and See depicts the almost surreal horrors of World War II in the Soviet Union, as seen through the eyes of a child.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroCathy MoriartyJoe PesciThe life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.I believe Raging Bull is without question Scorsese's greatest film to date. Subtle, stunning, and emotionally intriguing, both Scorsese and De Niro bring their audience into the lives of a fictionalized version of Jake LaMotta, which is undoubtedly one of the greatest performances in the film.
- DirectorCharlie KaufmanStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanSamantha MortonMichelle WilliamsA theatre director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he creates a life-size replica of New York City inside a warehouse as part of his new play.Overly depressing and draining, Synecdoche, New York aims to tell the truth through an intelligent albeit hard-to-follow plot and narrative structure while engaging deeply into its protagonist's obsession with death and melancholy. The film not only plays with one's emotions but also one's mind regarding time, place, person, fact, and fiction.
- DirectorGodfrey ReggioStarsEdward AsnerPat BenatarJerry BrownA collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on the relationship between nature, humanity, and technology.With images as vigorous as the music that accompanies them, this film comments on nature and civilization without ever uttering a word, leaving the viewer to think for themselves. Koyaanisqatsi is definitely the greatest documentary I have seen, with Shoah being a close second
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.Apocalypse Now Redux | (197 mins.)
Perhaps the finest American war film ever created, Apocalypse Now escapes the boundaries of the war film genre and borders into psychodrama reaching near surrealism. A marvelous character piece and study of combat, murder, corruption, and power. - DirectorRobert BressonStarsAnne WiazemskyWalter GreenFrançois LafargeThe story of a mistreated donkey and the people around him. A study on saintliness and a sister piece to Bresson's Mouchette.Au Hasard Balthazar achieves in simplicity in ways that no other film has. Every shot is elegant.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsIngrid ThulinGunnar BjörnstrandGunnel LindblomA small-town priest struggles with his faith.This is a film without any flaws. It is a perfectly crafted and written case study on spirituality and doubt and definitely one of Bergman's best works.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsVictor SjöströmBibi AnderssonIngrid ThulinAfter living a life marked by coldness, an aging professor is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence.Intellectually stimulating, humane, humorous, and light-hearted, Wild Strawberries is one of Ingmar Bergman's most hopeful and optimistic films.
- DirectorClaude LanzmannStarsSimon SrebnikMichael PodchlebnikMotke ZaïdlClaude Lanzmann's epic documentary recounts the story of the Holocaust through interviews with witnesses - perpetrators as well as survivors.Bold, exceptional, and unique, Shoah expertly uses its punishingly long runtime to its advantage as it showcases eyewitness accounts of one of the darkest times in human history. The film's editing structure is one of the best that cinema has to offer.
- DirectorSergei EisensteinStarsAleksandr AntonovVladimir BarskiyGrigoriy AleksandrovIn the midst of the Russian Revolution of 1905, the crew of the battleship Potemkin mutiny against the brutal, tyrannical regime of the vessel's officers. The resulting street demonstration in Odessa brings on a police massacre.This is the first silent feature I saw, and one of the most effective. Eisenstein heightens suspense and intrigue within each scene through his adroit direction and editing. A famous scene within this film pulled me in, gripped me tightly, and still has yet to let go. An absolutely essential historical film for cinephiles to see.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsIsabella RosselliniKyle MacLachlanDennis HopperThe discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.Intentionally campy yet energetic and raw, Blue Velvet acts as a tacky crime mystery film of the past, while there is something much more malicious to be found under the surface within its subtext.
- DirectorGaspar NoéStarsPhilippe NahonBlandine LenoirFrankie PainA horse butcher's life and mind begin to break down as he lashes out against various factions of society while attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter.Expanding upon Taxi Driver's approach to film and continuing where Carne left off, I Stand Alone is a film made specifically for mature audiences and is easily one of the most disturbing films I can call great. The film's clever writing delves into ugliness and nihilism, successfully leaving its audience feeling sympathetic to the film's emotionally torn, angry, sociopathic, violent protagonist.