6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (S. Kubrick, 1968)


Technically I've seen this film twice, but I feel like I've only really seen it once. The first time I saw it was when I was 9, and for whatever reason my dad decided to rent it for my family to want. To say the least, I was weirded out. It wasn't until earlier this year that I decided to give in and try watching it again, and boy am I glad I did. It's probably the single most ambitious movie ever made, and that it achieves practically everything it sets out for is awe-inspiring. It's a story that begins at the dawn of men, connects that to an epic story of space exploration and ends it all with what can be interpreted as the ultimate destination of mankind. Plenty of films have done stories like this, but none with quite the authority and seriousness that Kubrick does, and instead of coming off as ridiculous he makes it all work. Kubrick was of least fascinating when he missed, and endlessly amazing when was on. He was never more on than he was here.

Lunch break time, will be back with the Top 5 in a bit. I will give one hint: Every film in the Top 5 is from a different decade, with plenty of spread.

Jon I love your list. Your top 10 is so far AWESOME (I'm pretty meh on 2001, but hell - CoM was enough to make the top awesome).

Nice with all the Kubrick love but Childern of Men.

Did I miss something because I have suffered to see the film two more times to see its greatness.

You must have exploded by now with all that lunch

Need to see The Producers. Love the rest of the top ten so far.

Man you done yet?

Just about. Sorry, I feel like Argos taking forever.

5. Singin' in the Rain (S. Donen + G. Kelly)


Cinematic euphoria. That's the phrase that always crosses my mind when I think of this movie. Oh so charming, oh so fun, oh so happily sappily romantic, and oh so magical. Everyone in this movie is having the time of their lives, and that energy transfers in a way that so few movies ever have. The three leads are excellent, from Gene Kelly's leading man knowing hamminess to Debbie Reynolds young charmer to especially Donald O'Conner, sacrificing life and limb to entertain us, especially with that wonderful number "Make 'em Laugh." And of course the title number, so full of wonderful life and love and passion and oh, I could watch this movie every day and not get tired of it.

Actually, you've taken longer than Argos

4. The Passion of Joan of Arc (C. T. Dreyer, 1928)


I debated with whether or not this should really be THIS high. I mean, I've only seen it once before, four years ago, and it's not exactly something I would pop in on a dull Saturday night. But there is also probably not a single other film that struck me so hard so fast upon first viewing, with its unforgettable sequences, the almost unbearable close-ups (The majority of the film is shot in close-ups, FYI), and that rightfully legendary central performance. Pauline Kael apparently once called it the possibly the greatest performance ever put to celluloid, and from what I've seen of the movies I'm inclined to agree. What rawness, what emotion! I didn't cry, but once it was over I sat there, pondering what I had seen. For my money this is probably the single most expertly made movie I have ever seen. If I was to had out awards for the greatest direction I have ever seen, it would probably be a tight race between Stanley Kubrick for 2001 and Carl Theodor Dreyer for this, and I would probably ultimately lean towards Dreyer. Bravo.

I would not doubt that. Watch out for Heath Ledger's Death at #3.

I've seen only a short clip of Passion, and it blew me away. Definitely one on my 'to watch' list.

I foresee some woody sunsets and lights coming up...

Terrific picks!

Ugh, sorry for the break.

3. Before Sunset (R. Linklater, 2004)


The best sequels can take the already-good predecessor and spin its story into something so much bigger, and no other film has done that better than Before Sunset, in my opinion. It takes the already magical tale of Jesse and Celine's day-long rendezvous and launches it forward nine years, showing just how much that one night of perfection meant to them. The first 50 minutes are much like Sunrise with the walk/talk and beautiful scenery, and it does quite well in matching its predecessor, but it's in its final 30 minutes that the film reaches this high of a status, as these two wounded souls vent and reveal themselves with such conviction that it almost becomes unbearable, but it's all made well (Well, about as well as it can be) in probably the second most perfect ending. Ever.

2. City Lights (C. Chaplin, 1931)


Yes, I am a romantic. A sad, little, unapologetic romantic. And this is probably the greatest, simplest most perfect romances of them all. Much like Singin' in the Rain, I could watch this over and over and over and never tire of it. In terms of consistency, Keaton has Chaplin beat, but I have yet to see Keaton reach the awe-inspiring heights Chaplin did here. The comic set pieces are all classic and still make me smile despite their datedness, but it's the romance here that makes it work. From their first meeting to their following dates to his sacrifice to the single most perfect scene I have ever seen, end, beginning, middle or otherwise, that final scene made so perfect with only three title cards.

"You?"
"You can see now?
"Yes. I can see now."

Absolutely perfect.

Right there with ya.

1. Ed Wood (T. Burton, 1994)


When I was 12, I went to a Dollar General and was browsing the VHS collection they had, and spotted Ed Wood. I knew it had won Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars, I knew it was a comedy and it was cheap, so I decided to buy it. I expected a decent entertainment. I got much, much more. Something about the film struck me upon that first viewing. It was hilarious as I expected ("Boris Karloff doesn't deserve to smell my SHIT!"), and Martin Landau delivers a funny, kind and tragic performance as Bela Lugosi, but something about its spirit was unlike anything I had seen before.

It was an artist's portrait focusing on an artist with no talent, but it was so much more poignant than any other stories about tortured geniuses. Someone I talked to about the movie once said it was liked by aspiring filmmakers because they know after watching it they can make a better movie. But there's so much to it than that. Ed Wood followed what he wanted to do, against what everyone else thought and what his (lack of) talent could handle. But he did it. It's handled perfectly by the screenplay, by Burton and especially by Depp in far and away his greatest performance. There are more perfectly made movies, but I'm not sure anything will stick with me the way Ed Wood has, ever.

And that's a wrap! Thanks for finding me even though the thread name was NEVER changed (Thanks mods), and sticking around as I procrastinated on finishing it up.

Ready when you are, excel.

Ed Wood is a great and unique #1. It's as heartfelt as it is hilarious.

Wtf did I miss with Ed Wood? : (

Oh bih Im up....hmmm....this will be started tomorrow

Do you have a spot reserved for TDK already?

Im waiting to finish the list until I see it tonight

The #1 spot looks tempting...