Number 42: 12 Angry Men



One of the tightest screenplays ever produced, this film has no room for manuvor, its got its one area 12 actors and thats it. What it does with them is nothing short of amazing, pulling tension and intrgie out of every scene. It's a brilliant concept but the fact they pulled it off so well is the real acheivement.

Number 41: Magnum Force



The Dirty Harry series had fallen intot he realms of tired re-tread by the time the final film in the form of Dead Pool had rolled around. But the first two never suffered this and in Magnum Force Eastwoods anti-hero cop contined to fire on all cylinders while serving as a respose to those who complained he was nothing more then a Facist bully.

Number 40: Dirty Harry



The birth of the architypal anti-hero Dirty Harry is a great early example of the genre style. Clean Cut was out and complex and ambiguous was in. And I'll fully admit the big ass Magnum was a big allure as well

Number 39: The Butcher Boy



Neil Jordan's tar black comedy set in the rural depth's of 60s Ireland acheives its stunning result due to the quality of the main cast and the greatness of the source material. The film is filled with freakish oddities and macabre motivations and yet remains in an odd way very realistic. No other film could jump from comedy to a mother being hacked up like a pig with such ease.

You know I love the Blade Runner, Fight Club, LOTR, SPR, 12 Angry Men love...

Clerks is alright, but far from a cult classic. I've never understood the love for the Evil Dead trilogy.

Still, great list!

Number 38: The Great Escape



A Christmas Day ritual that never gets old The Great Escape is the very definition of a timeless film. You'll always end up rotting for the plan to succeed, always have a big grin on your face when the Escape occurs and always wish you were half as cool as Steve McQueen. Old School excellence that isn't done anymore.

Number 37: Escape From New York



Carpenters seminal Dytopian film Escape is lo-fi and gritty in look but burns with a punkish energy I find intoxicating. Kurt Russell was born to play the growling Plisskin and the melding of a hellish futuristic vision with 80s paranioa is pulled off perfectly. Almost a time capsule of a film now, but a damn good one.

Number 36: Memento



Its a ballsy exercise and one that 9 times out of 10 would fail badly. Go job Nolan is at the helm then as in Memento he produces an ever twisting murky tale of revenge that demands full attention at all times. Guy Pierce is a man who loves off kilter roles and Memento is no different filling Leonard with untold depth and fasination. Requires a few views to fully appreciate as well.

Number 35: Groundhog Day



Bill Murray's best ever performance, a film that could have turned out to be a one note joke that gets old fast instead becomes a witty, hilarious and in the end touching ode on life. Murray's hangdog expression was perfect for the role his jowls sinking with each repeated day. But its when he finally decides to turn things around that the film truly hits its sweet spot. 2nd Best Comedy of the 90s.

Number 34: The Usual Suspects



One of the best screenplay's of the modern era The Usual Suspects is far more then just a one trick pony. The twist is the main talking point but there is so much more, the pin sharp dialgoue the constant intrugie and the powerhouse performances of all the main players. Even a lesser Baldwin brother is excellent in this! Fully deserving of its high praise.

The Blues Brothers



Its an insane live action cartoon of a film with a great soundtrack backing it up, Blue's Brother's is a fitting swansong for Belushi and his manic comedic energy. Ackroyd isn't to shabby either and the gloriously silly side characters and villains provide able back-up. Those car chases ain't half bad either.

Number 32: The Snapper



The best of the Barrytown Trilogy and the funniest film of the 90s The Snapper is best described (on this site anyways) as the dirty working class cousin of Knocked Up. It's raw and laced with every swear word under the sun but its got a warm underlying message and bristles with trademark Dubin energy. If only the gits would release it on Region 2.

Number 31: The Wind That Shakes The Barley



Ken Loach's Cannes winner is a film that oozes authenticity out of every frame. Zero glamour or hollywood shine is present, instead we get a view into what happens when brother turns on brother after a war has been won. Loach was a spark of genius to cast locals in scenes as much as he could and Cillian Murphy doesn't need to act to produce the perfect dislay, instead simply being a Corkman will suffice. You'll come out from the experince angry and sad but you'll realise what a good job Loach did to illicate those feelings.

It's an oddly paced film, but such a powerful ending.

Number 30.5: Three Colours Blue/Three Colours Red



It screws up the list slightly but damned these needed to be included. I've never seen films with since an incredible ability to convey all they need thru nothing but images. Words are but a pointless piece of noise in many areas. I'm pretty sure these films will rise on more viewings but this placing will do for now. If only the White disc I got wasn't defective

Number 30: The Untouchables



Its not realistic and if one was to be very harsh its bordering on comic book fantasy but that doesn't stop The Untouchables from being one of the best films the 80s ever produced. Its the pulp to De Palma's brutal Scarface, and even though it may rip on films like Battleship Potemkin its still a rousing affair. And most importantly at the end of the day we sometimes like to see Good win out in a situation we can pretend is real.

Number 29: The Wild Bunch



Peckinpah's seminal masterpiece The Wild Bunch is the repose to the happy clean era Westerns and a violent hello to a ragged end and a symbolic death. Now don't get me wrong I like old style, I'll happily watch Red River and the like anyday but my own personal preferance is to last stands and nihilism and The Wild Bunch rolls towards that with great skill.

Number 28: Children Of Men



One of the most surprising and stunning experiences I have ever had in a theatre I left CoM shell shocked and stunned at the steer brilliance of what Cauron had produced, The most realistic vison of Dystopia ever put to screen CoM is filled with tense moments and stunning cinematography. And the soundtrack kicks ass to boot.

Memento + Usual Suspects + Untouchables are all fantastic films. And of course CoM is a masterpiece. Never even heard of "The Snapper".

Number 27: Dr.Strangelove



One has to give Kubrick credit, the last thing you assume is a rich vein for comedy would be nuclear destruction. But then again the absurdity of it means you can't do much more then laugh. This film is a Sellars show however, its his greatness ever performance and a multiple one at that. Would love to see that alternate pie fight ending thou.

Your next one is too low!!

Number 26: Lord of the Rings, Return of the King



A fitting end to a generation defining trilogy, King has it all and more. The extended edition is even better. In fact stick with the Extended editons for all 3, the theatrical versions are but appatizers. Peter Jackson will likely never make films as good again but its no complaint.

Get out of my head!!

Number 25: The Matrix



People can tend to be a bit jaded about The Matrix due to the shoddy sequels and the insane amount of times its bullet time sequences have been ripped off. But for me it remains an exillerating film, and I remember when I saw it in the cinema my jaw dropped at the scene where the camera swoops around Trinity, I wasn't expecting that and I doubt anybody was. Action cinema Genius.

Number 24: Life of Brian



Python were a group that the world only gets once, no way another gang of lunatics would get as much backing in todays super safe TV world. So lets be thankful we have those nutty TV episodes and Film counterparts to enjoy. Life of Brian is marginally the best of the bunch, not a single moment that doesn't have grinning like an idiot and what a great silly crucifiction ending.