OK. It's time. The big one. I've been doing these
top 10s for a bunch of months now. The same movies keep popping up again and
again. Now it's time to figure out where they all go. It's time for my top
movies of all time. Except, a top 10 isn't enough. Nothing short of 100 will
do.
I like to build my top 100 every couple years,
just to give me an idea of where things rate in my head. Since I'm in the
business of posting ranked lists, I figured taking a week to put this all
together was the right thing to do.
Now, this undertaking is a little different than
a simple top 10. A number of my standard rules don't apply. To start, I'm not
going to include the pool of movies I'm choosing from. This is going to be long
enough. No need to add a list of 3000 movie titles as well. You're welcome.
Next, is that I needed a few ground rules to avoid some crazy variance in the
rankings. No movies from 2017 and 2018. I need a little time to sit on the
movies before I start placing them among my pantheon. I suffer from enough
recency bias as it is. The other big qualifier is that I must've seen a movie
at least twice. For the most part, that isn't a problem. It's mainly in place
to prevent movies I only recently saw for the first time from artificially
inflating their position (i.e. shielding myself from a different kind of
recency bias). I don't think that's too much to ask. It only affected a handful
of movies anyway. I'm sure by 2020, they'll find a way on.
So, "favorite movie". What does that
even mean? Luckily, it's my own personal list, so I don't have to answer to
anyone at the end of the day. I can try though. For me I compare my life now
with what my life would be like had I never seen the movie. Whichever movie has
the greatest difference between those two things is the better movie. This impossible
metric considers many things. Quality is certainly a large part of it. I want
to think I like good movies. There's more to it though. Context matters. Did I
have great memories about when I first saw it? Do I remember the delight of it
surprising me and being much better than I expected? Is it a movie that got me
through a hard time? I consider individual installments in a series separately
on the list, but belonging to a series I love carries some additional weight.
There are so many things I consider with each movie and each ranking. That's
why I'm including an explanation for each pick. Hopefully, that clears things
up some.
I didn't build this list to make myself look
good. There are a lot of movies I'd put higher if I wanted to look more educated.
Other movies I have no academic defense for how highly they rate. In order to
stop myself from second-guessing and curating the list, I put it all together
as blindly as I could, with a program that sorted things automatically after
doing a bunch of head-to-heads. Once the program spit back out the list, I
didn't movie anything around. I kept it as is.
I did a quick numbers breakdown. The average year
of release for the movies is 2001. The median year is 2006. It's tough to say
how this compares proportionally to what movies I've seen. I'm certainly
modern-skewing in my selections, so those years sound about right. A whopping
10 movies come from the same year (2015), which isn't too surprising given how
much love I have for that year's movies. The next highest is 2013 (7 movies),
followed by 2011 (6), 1999 (5), 2003 (5), 2012 (5), and 2014 (5). This list is
a snapshot, not an unchanging final product, so I'm OK with some of these more
recent films still settling in.
In case you were wondering. These are the movies
that nearly made the cut:
Big
The Big Lebowski
The Departed
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Finding Nemo
Funny People
Groundhog Day
Happy Gilmore
Hoop Dreams
The Iron Giant
Jurassic Park
The Lion King
Love and Death
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Office Space
Paranormal Activity
Punch-Drunk Love
Rosemary's Baby
Sleepwalk with Me
Spider-Man
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Toy Story 2
Tropic Thunder
When Harry Met Sally...
OK, time for the list.
When I First Saw It? September 6, 2017 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I'm a fan of RomComs in general.
Daniel Racliffe and Zoe Kazan play off each other really well. There's also
something charming about how it's a 2014 movie that belongs more in 2004 or
even 1994. This wouldn't've been here even a month ago, but I recently
rewatched it and convinced myself that the joy I got out of watching it the
first time wasn't a fluke.
99. The Devil Wears Prada
When I First Saw It? ~2007 (HBO)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: Meryl Streep is incredible, I
think this is the only movie with her on my list somehow, so I need to say this
now. She is the best. You'll see that I love it when an actor/actress can take
over film by being too damn good to
deny. That's exactly what happens in what would be an otherwise forgettable
mid-00's comedy. That said, I would've watched it anyway because of Anne
Hathaway and Emily Blunt (although I didn't know who she was at the time).
98. Toy Story
When I First Saw It? November 1995 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: I try not to include movies on the
list because of legacy, but the importance of Toy Story did help secure
Pixar a third film in my list. Beyond just being an enjoyable movie and setting
up Pixar as a force in animation, this packs a large emotional punch into an
efficient screenplay.
97. Before Midnight
When I First Saw It? June 16, 2013 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: Get used to seeing the Before
movies. I nearly lumped them all together, but that felt like a cheat. Midnight
could just as easily be the best of the three. Few film series have built on
the previous movies as smartly and deeply as these. We've grown with Celine and
Jesse. Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, who both picked up screenplay credits with
this one, give exceptional and real performances.
96. The Imposter
When I First Saw It? ~2013 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: None
Why It's Here: The surprise factor helps this one
a lot. It's a documentary that is told like a thriller. The twists are as good
as any screenplay and the central character, a grown European man who
successfully impersonates a kidnapped American teenager, is among the most
interesting documentary subjects I've come across. This is one of only two
documentaries that made the cut (although future editions will certainly have
more). That's how much I like this movie, even the second time I saw it, when
there weren't any surprises left.
95. The Last Samurai
When I First Saw It? December 2006 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I certainly have some nostalgia
tied to this one. I get that it's cultural reappropriation - an American is the Last Samurai. If it came
out now, I'd probably look at it like The Great Wall. But, if it took
Tom Cruise to get this made, I have a hard time caring. Cruise is fine. Ken
Watanabe is excellent. I love the idea of the old world clashing with the new
world. Mostly though, I enjoy watching good Samurai action.
When I First Saw It? July 21, 2012 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I was a little surprised to see
this make the cut. I guess the reason it did is that I'm an unabashed
Christopher Nolan fanboy and even a big drop off from The Dark Knight is
still a pretty damn good movie. This is a big movie. Nolan justifies the size.
93. The Witch
When I First Saw It? February 21, 2016 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: The best horror lingers. The
Witch doesn't go for big scares. It burrows down and stays with you for
days or even weeks. I was prepared for The Witch to disappear from my memory
eventually. It still hasn't. I love the look of this film and Anya Taylor-Joy's
work in the lead role.
92. Almost Famous
When I First Saw It? Early 2000s (HBO)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: When a Cameron Crowe movie works,
it's almost impossible to say why. Almost Famous is a great example of
this. The performances are all unforced, relaxed. It's a large ensemble with
someone new to notice every time I watch it. I don't know if I even care for
the plot. I just like hanging out with these characters for a couple hours. And
I don't men to undersell the performances. This is career best work from Kate
Hudson and Patrick Fugit if not Billy Crudup and several others.
91. Before Sunrise
When I First Saw It? March 2013 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: When this movie came out, it was
just a love story, much like Roman Holiday
but with even less of a clear ending. Even without the two follow up features
that have deepened Celine and Jesse's relationship, this was a beautiful story
of two strangers bonding over a single night and creating memories that could
last a lifetime.
90. Mean Girls
When I First Saw It? Mid-2000s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: To date, this is Tina Fey's only
film screenplay to be produced, and it's a great screenplay. I came away from
this movie caring about more characters than there are minutes in the film
(slight exaggeration). It pulls off the magic trick of establishing memorable
characters in only a line or two. The movie covers are entire school year and
never feels like it's taking shortcuts. It's pretty amazing to think that this
was so good that it could've derailed Rachel McAdams' career. She is the quintessential "lovable female lead" but she's nearly iconic as the
hateful Regina George. It's another film with a cast that looks better and
better with each passing year.
89. Whiplash
When I First Saw It? November 16, 2014 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: I don't particularly care if this
is a realistic depiction of what music school is like. Damien Chazelle's debut
film is a testament to blood, sweat, and tears. Few movies have ever depicted
how much work goes into being great. It's the perfect use of J.K. Simmons, who
is both terrifying and relatably human.
When I First Saw It? 1990s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: In the broadest sense, my biggest
sweet spot in film is when someone takes a single part or aspect of a movie and
turns it into an entire film; when the filmmaker tries to drill things down to
the purest essence. T2 is one big chase, That's all there is too it.
There's some mythology thrown in there, sure, but the only thing driving the
movie is Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to stay ahead of the new terminator. In
hindsight, making Arnold into the good guy looks like the safe move. At the
time, I'm not sure that's true. The Terminator from the first film is among the
great movie villains ever. If anything, making him the good guy is a
head-scratchingly risky decision for James Cameron to make. Even nearly 30
years later, it's tough to find a more propulsive film experience than T2.
87. Eye in the Sky
When I First Saw It? April 3, 2016 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: Another thing I love in a movie is
plate spinning: how much can a screenplay take on without letting anything
fall? Eye in the Sky takes a simple premise - a British military officer
decides if she should order a drone strike on a locating with a known
terrorist - and systematically expands
it out to reveal all the complexities of a single decision. The more things
expand out, the further up the line everything goes, the more impressed I am
when it retracts and wraps everything up so the audience feels the weight of
the decision.
86. Bowfinger
When I First Saw It? ~2014 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: This movie is funny. I love Steve
Martin. It has a surprisingly strong cast with Eddie Murphy, Heather Graham
and Christine Baranski. But, I'll be honest, this only made the cut because I
adore the scene at the end when they go to the movie premiere. In that single
scene, it captures the pure joy of seeing something you made, something you
worked hard to create getting its day in the sun. I love the sincere joy of
that scene. The film resists the urge to make fun of them. They refuse to be
stripped of their dignity. Also, the movie makes me laugh.
85. Spotlight
When I First Saw It? November 27, 2015 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: I thought I was tapped out on
stories about the priest scandal in the Catholic church. I grew up with it. I
went to Catholic school when the worst of it was going down. I'm pretty tired
of hearing about it. Then this came out to remind me that if something is
executed well enough, there's always room for more. This is a great example of
what I call "People doing their damn jobs" movies. Watching people
being good at their job is interesting. The movie is all about the process of
reporting, from beginning to end. With an ensemble cast as good as this one,
that's engaging enough.
84. La La Land
When I First Saw It? December 26, 2016 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I've loved Emma Stone and Ryan
Gosling together ever sine Crazy, Stupid, Love (more on that in a bit).
Then you add good music, colorful costumes, and a picturesque presentation of
Los Angeles. This is a simple movie that's all about what's on the screen.
Trying to look at it any deeper is a mistake.
83. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
When I First Saw It? Early 2000s (Video)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: Over the years, I've realized that
while this movie has plenty of camp, it's not bad or even awesomely bad. It's
just plain good. The music is incredible. The story is coherent despite how
bizarre it is. The performances, not just Tim Curry's iconic Dr.
Frank-n-Furter, are perfectly calibrated. It's a shame this is so often
mentioned in the same breath as movies like The Room. It's so much
better than that.
When I First Saw It? November 20, 2016 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: Another movie type you can add to
my list of soft spots is "coming of age". Hailee Steinfeld carries
this as the sarcastic, self-centered but ultimately lovable Nadine. She's
supported by the likes of Woody Harrelson, Haley Lu Richardson, and Blake
Jenner all doing great work. Nadine puts this in my top 100 though. I love that
character and how this movie pulls not punches. And it's about good people.
This doesn't try to forces worse circumstances than it needs. Most of Nadine's
problems are her own doing.
When I First Saw It? July 13, 2014 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: This latest Planet of the Apes
trilogy was an achievement, and Dawn marked the high point. Andy Serkis
and Toby Kebbell's motion capture work is incredible and Gary Oldman is the
best villain of the films (Woody Harrelson is a close second though). This is a
major studio action movie with some real thematic heft.
80. Pitch Perfect
When I First Saw It? October 26, 2012 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: We all need more room for joy in
our lives, right? There isn't a single person in the cast I wouldn't describe
as delightful. Before this, I didn't know I could like a cappella. I also
didn't realize how funny Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Elizabeth
Banks, and many others could be.
79. Romy & Michele's High School Reunion
When I First Saw It? Early 2000s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: I don't know who let this movie
get made. It got an R-rating in an era when that kind of movie would've gotten
a PG-13 rating. A significant portion of the movie is a dream sequence. It
bombed at the time but has grown a following ever since, because it's
hilarious. In case you are wondering, this is why Lisa Kudrow will always have
my vote as the best of the Friends cast.
78. Room
When I First Saw It? December 11, 2015 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: Brie Larson is incredible is this
and Jacob Tremblay gives one of the great child performances you'll ever see.
The movie is divided into three parts that would each make a good movie on its
own: introducing the audience to Jack's isolated world, the harrowing escape
from Room, and acclimating to a life outside Room.
77. Citizen Kane
When I First Saw It? March 5, 2016 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I'm as surprised as anyone that I
like this film so much. I was prepared to hate it and rant about how overrated
it is; give it the Network treatment (I do hate that movie). I sincerely
like this movie though. Structurally, it's so unique. We never know the
reporter doing all the research on Charles Foster Kane. It reveals Kane's life
story in overlapping chapters. Ultimately, the answer to the
"Rosebud" question leaves the audience with as many questions as it
does answers. Biopics are always trying to find the best way to cover a
person's entire life in a single film. Even though Charles Foster Kane isn't
technically real, Citizen Kane is arguably the most successful biopic
ever made.
When I First Saw It? ~2011/12 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: Part of me wants to dislike this
movie because the all-male cast feels antiquated. I can also see how it would
be even better to see as a play. However, with this all star cast delivering
the rapid rat-a-tat David Mamet dialogue, I could watch this countless times.
For those who have seen it, this is among the easiest to quote films ever made.
Coffee's for closers, after all.
75. Sunset Boulevard
When I First Saw It? April 23, 2016 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: One of the first great examples of
Hollywood commenting on the destructive nature of fame. Norma Desmond, as
played by Gloria Swanson, is an incredible character. Another thing you'll see
a lot in my list is that a great ending goes a long way with me, and this is
one of the all-time great endings.
74. Margin Call
When I First Saw It? April 28, 2017 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: A drama about the 2008 market
crash sounds like the dullest thing imaginable, but somehow, Margin Call
makes it work. Similar to Eye in the Sky, I love how the characters move
further and further up the chain of command over the course of one night. This
film gets bonus points too for taking characters who are millionaire Wall
Street traders and making you empathize with them. I reward films for degree of
difficulty, and it doesn't get much harder than that. This screenplay is so
great.
73. Stand By Me
When I First Saw It? August 21, 2015 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: This is a pantheon "coming of
age" film. It's the moment when most people realized how much potential
this River Phoenix kid had. Wil Wheaton too (even though he eventually forged
his own path). Then there's fact that I just love young children swearing. It's
a weird sort of verisimilitude.
72. The Ring
When I First Saw It? ~2003 (Video)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: The higher up the list I get, the
more films you'll see that I can't reasonably justify by quality alone.
Nostalgia and the context of when I first saw it matter. This is my top
100 movie list, after all. The justifications don't have to be great. The Ring
has its problems. I don't think it would hold up if I saw it for the first time
now, but it scared the bejesus out of me back in 2003. I've seen it countless
times since. I love the idea of a tape spreading this curse. The mythology
behind it is explained only enough to make sense (The sequel
went too far and took all the fun out of that). Even as I watch it now, the
ways that's it's over the top I find endearing.
71. Gone Girl
When I First Saw It? October 8, 2014 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: This is on the list because I keep
watching the movie. When I saw it in theaters, I figured I was done. Then I saw
it was on HBO and I watched it again. I saw it on sale and decided to buy it
and have watched it more since. I find myself in the mood to watch this movie
far more than I can justify. I just plain enjoy watching it. Fincher's ominous
direction perfectly contracts the dark humor of the film. And let's not ignore
how impressive it is that this movie actually made me like Tyler Perry.
When I First Saw It? ~2013 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I guess I'm a masochist, because
what I love about this movie is how unsatisfied I feel every time I watch it.
When paired with The Stories We Tell (the documentary about the true
story of writer/director Sarah Polley's parents that inspired Take This
Waltz), this is even more devastating. I already knew that Michelle
Williams was great, but the performances from Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman
were surprises.
69. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil
When I First Saw It? ~2011 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I love the first half of this
movie so much that it doesn't matter that the second half loses steam. The
misunderstanding at the center of the movie - a group of teens thinks two
sweet, simple country guys are menaces straight out of a horror movie - is a
brilliant set up, especially when the teens keep killing themselves in freak
accidents. Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine play the titular country bumpkins
perfectly. A good deal of this ranking is owed to a particularly great midnight
showing of the film I attended with some friends.
68. Schindler's List
When I First Saw It? ~2005 (Cable)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: You know, just because it's
obvious doesn't mean it's wrong. This is an exceptional movie and a beautiful
tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. It's not a movie I want to watch
often, but it's a powerful experience every time.
67. The Road Warrior
When I First Saw It? May 29, 2015 (Video)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here:
So, I watched Fury Road when it first came out. I ate it up. At
the same time, I kept hearing reviews that debated whether or not it was better
than The Road Warrior. I assumed this was a case of older critics not
being able to let go of nostalgic preferences. And, I was wrong. The final
sequence in The Road Warrior is one of the great action sequences ever.
In an age when CGI couldn't clean things up in post, they pull off crazy
stunts. I may not prefer it over Fury Road, but The Road Warrior
won me over entirely. I can't believe it's a nearly 40-year old film.
66. Hugo
When I First Saw It? December 7, 2011 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: This is why I like seeing so many
movies in theaters. I never would've considered this movie. I looked up nothing
about it beforehand. I only saw it because I needed to see something that week
and the start time lined up. So I watch it. I'm enjoying this little movie
about an orphan boy in a eccentric Parisian train station. Then, out of
nowhere, it turns into one of best love letters to film history I've seen. The
fact that Scorsese could make a left turn like this is among the greatest
proofs of his greatness.
65. Knocked Up
When I First Saw It? June 6, 2007 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I've covered this exhaustively in
a post already. To sum it up though, Judd Apatow assembled an exceptional
ensemble that fully embraced his loose direction for maximum comedic effect. It
introduced Seth Rogen as a leading man and gave so many others a platform to
showcase their talent. Remember, this is the film that convinced Ken Jeong to
go into comedy full time.
When I First Saw It? August 2014 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: Optimism is an increasingly scarce
resource, which makes this hidden gem of the Disney Animation catalogue even
more precious. When I was told to check this movie out by a friend, I wasn't
excited. My opinion of Disney Animation 2000-2008 was pretty low. It's much
higher now, entirely because of this sweet movie about family and
positivity.
When I First Saw It? September 19, 2015 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: Wow. I love this movie, plain and
simple. Tom Hanks gets to have amazing chemistry with three different Meg Ryan
characters. Hanks is the ultimate every man. Ryan has a blast playing characters
with varying degrees of exaggeration. The story is wacky. Check back in another
two years. This may be even higher once I get it on blu-ray.
62. The Princess Bride
When I First Saw It? 2000s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: This might be the perfect movie.
Really, there are a lot of my favorite movies that if you don't like them, I
get it. However, if you don't like The Princess Bride, I sincerely wonder what
is wrong with you. It's clever and funny while still being a sincere adventure
movie. It's perfectly quotable from beginning to end and nearly impossible to
get tired of watching. I literally don't have a bad thing to say about it and
have no good explanation for why it's this low.
61. Neighbors
When I First Saw It? May 14, 2014 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne are two
of my bigger obsessions (for very different reasons). This movie just plain
makes me laugh and avoids many of the most annoying comedy tropes. For example,
Rogen and Byrne stay on the same side and are actually equals in how ridiculous
they are. Bonus points for fitting the whole movie in nearly 90 minutes.
When I First Saw It? July 24, 2015 (Video)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: The closer I get to the top, the
more my reasoning is going to be a lot of gushing about the movies with no
strong argument attached. Singin' in the Rain is perhaps the most
deliriously happy film ever made. I can't watch this without a smile across my
face the entire time.
59. Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
When I First Saw It? April 25, 2008 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: Context matters. I saw this on the
opening weekend in a mostly full theater, sitting next to friends who were all
as ready to laugh as I was. This movie is much more excessive than the original
and goes for broke. Normally, that turns me off, but it didn't this time. There
was such commitment to going big that I had to love it. Then I got the DVD for
the movie and was won over all over again with the "Dude, Change The
Movie" feature. I'm not sure how they could've sold this movie any more
perfectly.
When I First Saw It? ~1999/2000s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: None
Why It's Here: Good luck finding 10 movies I've
seen more times than this one. Thanks to a healthy presence on USA Network's
schedule for years, I've seen this movie many times. And why wouldn't I? Heath
Ledger, in his lifetime, was my favorite actor. He's at peak-charm. Julia
Stiles is delightful too and an aggressive, lone wolf way. It's got a baby
Joseph Gordon Levitt, Larry Miller in goofball mode, and a scene-stealing
Allison Janney. I have an age-appropriate affection for the high school
comedies of this era, and this stands out as the best of them.
57. Transformers
When I First Saw It? July 2, 2007 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I've never bought into all the
Michael Bay hate. He has his faults. He also has his strengths, and they are
all on display in Transformers. This movie is beautifully cheesy:
something it embraces fully. This is big and loud and full of dumb jokes. I saw
this movie several times in the theater. I'm an unabashed fan, even though I
admit that the sequels have been garbage.
56. Thank You for Smoking
When I First Saw It? April 14, 2006 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I wasn't ready for this movie. In
2006. I hadn't run across this kind of satire before. It's still surprising,
some of the jokes they make. The confidence of Jason Reitman's direction and of
the Nick Naylor character drive the movie. Everyone else in the cast takes
great delight playing often awful people.
55. The Aristocrats
When I First Saw It? ~2006 (Video)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: Paul Provenza uses this
exploration into comedy history as an excuse to make one of the most foul
movies ever made. This is the hardest R-rating I can find for a movie with no
on-screen violence or nudity*. Modern stand-up is built on the idea that
everyone is doing original material. You rarely get to see how two different
comedians interpret the same material. So much emphasis is on the writing, not
the performance. This is a fascinating look at the art of stand-up, as multiple
comedians take a crack at the same joke and each leaves a different imprint on
it.
*Perhaps there's some incidental nudity. I
forget.
54. Tomorrowland
When I First Saw It? May 24, 2015 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: This is another film I love for
its inherent optimism. Once I get past the fact that there isn't much actual Tomorrowland
in the film, there's a lot else to love. The dynamic between the three leads
(George Clooney, Britt Robertson, and Raffey Cassidy) is unexpected and
entertaining. Brad Bird builds inventive set pieces and, along with Damon
Lindelof and Jeff Jensen, builds a great mythology that the film only scratches
the surface of. It took a couple viewings to really figure out what I thought
of the movie, and I like it that way. It means there's some meat on those
bones.
When I First Saw It? June 27, 2015 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: I ate this movie up. It's a quirky
Sundance coming of age dramedy, which is like giving Garfield lasagna on any
day that's not a Monday. The ending of
this movie devastates me every time. I love the eclectic cast. Honestly, the
only negative thing I have to say about the movie is that I now question myself
because I have a crush on "the dying girl". Is there any way to paint
that as a good thing?
When I First Saw It? Early 2000s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: That was a hell of a thing. I
think the best thing I can say about this movie is that I'm mostly indifferent
about Star Trek and I still love this movie. The best parody comes from
a place a love. Co-writer David Howard only has two credits to his name (Galaxy
Quest and something called Trek: The Movie). This comes from a true
fan, and the detail of the humor in this reflects that.
51. Monty Python's Life of Brian
When I First Saw It? ~2005/06 (Video)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: Holy Grail is fine, but Life
of Brian is my pick, all the way. This movie is hilarious and an insightful
examination of religion to boot. Few movies in my top 100 are as smart or as
funny as this. I suppose the only thing working against it is that "Always
Look On the Bright Side of Life" gets stuck in my head for a week every
time I watch this.
50. The Producer
When I First Saw It? January 1, 2006 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: This is another nostalgic pick. I
realize that the movie is too long and it's Mel Brooks trying to keep a 40 year
old idea relevant. I don't care. I love the music. Matthew Broderick and Nathan
Lane return to the roles with aplomb. For me, I have such a strong association
with how I bonded with my friends in college over this movie. I can't think of
this movie without dozens of great memories flooding my brain. I will always love
this movie because of that.
49. Before Sunset
When I First Saw It? March 2013 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I want you to know that I don't
say this lightly: Best Ending Ever*. I love the entire Before trilogy,
but none of the films carry the tension that this one does. Sunrise is a
classic will they/won't they. In Midnight, they are already together and
it's about maintaining the relationship. Sunset is a dance and we don't
know where either Celine or Jesse stand. For the entire movie, we don't know
where things are going. Then with one line, Julie Delpy says everything.
Especially after seeing Before Midnight, the end of i is one of the most
beautiful things I've ever seen.
*Please don't make me do an actual ranking. That
would take a long time.
48. This is the End
When I First Saw It? June 15, 2013
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I like how Seth Rogen and Evan
Goldberg's movies are attempts to entertain themselves that happen to get made
into movies. This takes the highest of high concepts - the Rapture - and uses it as a chance for self-parody.
Another one of my favorite types of movie is putting a bunch of characters in a
room and seeing how they bounce off one another. That's the majority of what This
Is The End is.
47. Clueless
When I First Saw It? 1995/96 (Video)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I was 8 when this came out and I
didn't get it at the time. My sister loved the movie and I tolerated it,
because sitting around and watching it was still better than going outside and
being an active and healthy child. Over the years, I've come to love the movie
even more. Amy Heckerling's talent with dialogue is nearly unparalleled (I
enjoy her work so much that the generally disliked Loser also nearly
made my list top 100). Alicia Silverstone couldn't've been more perfect for the
trust fund princess, Cher.
When I First Saw It? August 5, 2011 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: I'm a fan of RomComs and this
cast, but the main thing that puts this on the list is the scene in the
backyard at the end when all the stories converge in hilarious fashion. This
took me by complete surprise the first time. I didn't realize things were going
to converge.I wasn't looking for it at all. The way that things keep escalating
and building on each other is hilarious. It is one of my favorite comedies
scenes in any genre.
45. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
When I First Saw It? Early 1990s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: None
Why It's Here: Prepare for a lot of Star Wars.
I was a little late on the Star Wars bandwagon, but once I got on, I
never got off. After A New Hope revolutionized
film and The Empire Strikes Back gave one of the great movie twists, Return
of the Jedi could never meet the expectations people had for it. All it
could do was not mess things up, and that's what it did. It ended the trilogy
in a satisfying manner. Seeing the Emperor in the flesh didn't disappoint. I'm
even a fan of the Ewoks, as silly as they are. Mostly though, this is a Star
Wars movie, and that comes with so many points built-in.
44. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
When I First Saw It? ~2004 (Video)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: A proper Odyssey puts the main
characters through more than they can deal with. HaKGtWC escalates the
situation repeatedly and embraces every crazy twist and turn. I love how much
fun it has playing with stereotypes without ever taking itself too seriously.
This is a wild good time and that's all it aspired to be.
43. Seabiscuit
When I First Saw It? ~2004 (HBO)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I think I was introduced to this
movie in just the right way. It was an HBO staple and I kept coming into it
midway through. Each time I watched it, I started a little further back than
the time before. It's a slow movie in the beginning, but the payoff is well
worth it. Mostly, this is in the category of films that I find endlessly
watchable. I've never gotten tired of watching it no matter how many times I've
watched it. I always get caught up in the match race with War Admiral and the
comeback win at the Santa Anita Handicap.
42.The Matrix
When I First Saw It? ~1999 (HBO)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: This movie is so damn cool. The
effects revolutionized filmmaking and inspired countless imitators. The
language of the film has infiltrated our everyday speech. I stand by The
Matrix Reloaded as also being really enjoyable, but nothing beats the
original.
41. Cloverfield
When I First Saw It? January 25, 2008 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: You know what? Marketing works. I
remember the first teaser trailer for this before Transformers. I was
intrigued and made sure to see this mystery movie on opening weekend. I wasn't
disappointed. I love the use of the found footage style and how it doesn't try
to answer every question. It's been fun seeing how much of the cast of then
unknowns have found careers since then.
When I First Saw It? October 4, 2015 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: Currently, this is my go-to,
"there's never a bad time to watch this" movie. I watch this whenever
I get bored and always buy into in completely. I still laugh at the jokes. I
still get nervous about if they can pull everything off. This is probably the
most universally crowd pleasing movie among my top 100.
39. 21 Jump Street
When I First Saw It? March 17, 2012 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I'm in awe of Lord & Miller's ability to make
a bad idea into a good idea. A movie about the barely-remember Fox series from
the late 80s is a bad idea. They know that and have as much fun as humanly
possible with the idea. This is the movie that also convinced me that Channing
Tatum is awesome. He is a comedic force and I didn't expect that. One of the
defining characteristics of my top movie list when compared to other "Best
Movies" lists is that I appreciates comedies more. The difficulty with
that is that comedy is more specific than drama. We can all recognize drama
done well. Different things make us laugh though. I refuse to allow that to
hurt comedy's place in my list. It's my favorite genre, after all.
38. Ex Machina
When I First Saw It? April 26, 2015 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: I already loved Domhnall Gleeson
and Oscar Isaac. I was ready to fall for Alicia Vikander. So, this was an easy
sell. It's another one of those movies that's about putting a few characters in
a room together and seeing what happens. This is a strange and
thought-provoking movie with a devastating ending.
37. (500) Days of Summer
When I First Saw It? January 2010 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: Again, context matters. This movie
was in healthy rotation on HBO exactly as I was a breakup. It hit me at the
perfect time. It helps that Zooey Dechanel and Joseph Gorden Levitt are cute
together and Chloe Grace Moretz is an all-time great "kid who swears".
The screenplay is very clever. I'm aware of all the flaws of the film. I just
don't care. I love this movie.
36. Raiders of the Lost Ark
When I First Saw It? Early 1990s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: None
Why It's Here: The perfect adventure movie. I
don't have much else to say about it. All adventure movies made since 1981 have
tried to be this movie and all of them have failed. Indiana Jones is the
perfect action hero. Harrison Ford is the perfect lead for this movie. The
score is iconic. The only thing hurting this movie is that I don't have any
particular emotional attachment to it. Once you get this high in the list, if I
don't have a memory or emotion tied to the film, it's hard to move any higher.
35. Oculus
When I First Saw It? April 12, 2014 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I love the horror genre but I
dislike most horror movies I see. Too often, the scare is the measure of the
movie. The filmmakers often think that if they get a rise out of an audience,
that is all that matters. That isn't good enough for Oculus. The
brilliance of this movie is that the main characters do everything right. They
are among the smartest of any horror movie leads, but they run into a force
that is too powerful for them to beat. When I watch this movie, it haunts me
for days.
When I First Saw It? November 5, 2014 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: The first time I watched this
movie, my jaw was agape the entire time. Jake Gyllenhaal commits fully to this
role. Louis Bloom is a singular character, unlike anyone I've seen before. I
feel uneasy watching this from beginning to end. While I can't root for Bloom,
I find myself respecting his tenacity, which leaves me questioning my own
morality.
33. Love Actually
When I First Saw It? ~2004 (Video)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: What can I say? I'm a sucker for
what Richard Curtis has to offer. This is one of the great ensemble casts. I
don't care for the implications of all the stories, but I do love the ability
to juggle so many different stories so effectively. For over a decade now,
American filmmakers have tried to use the same formula to make movies about
every holiday under the sun. With each major failure, it's even more clear how
impressive it is that Curtis pulled Love, Actually off without the film
buckling under the weight of expectations and star demands.
When I First Saw It? January 12, 2014 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: As much as I love the Coen
brothers, their movies often leave me too cold to connect with them. The
nihilism of their art is great, but I need something more to buy in fully. The
music of Inside Llewyn Davis is that something more. It has one of my
favorite film soundtracks. It introduced me to Oscar Isaac (it's crazy to think
that just five years ago, I didn't know who Oscar Isaac was). Now he might be
my favorite actor after Domhnall Gleeson. The rest of the cast is equally
spectacular. The music puts it in my top 40.
31. Inside Out
When I First Saw It? June 19, 2015 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: When Pixar tries to be clever,
they succeed. They took just about the most cerebral idea imaginable and
turned it into a family-friendly film that's funny and packs an emotional
punch. In Disney/Pixar fashion, this movie is overflowing with ideas and puts
together a non-obvious, ideal voice-cast.
30. Memento
When I First Saw It? ~2005/06 (Video)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: While I love Christopher Nolan in
mega-blockbuster mode, he's a damn good indie director too. The way this movie
plays with time keeps it feeling fresh every time I watch it. It has one of my
favorite screenplays.
29. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
When I First Saw It? December 18, 2003 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: It's hard to blame Peter Jackson
for not being able to end this movie simply. This trilogy was so massive that
no single ending would fit the scale of it all. It's the epic conclusion that
we all assumed they could pull off. It's hard to separate the three films. This
one only suffers by comparison to the first two films, which were somehow even
better.
When I First Saw It? March 21, 2009 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: As with most comedies, the most I
can really say about this is that it makes me laugh. It's the best showcase
I've seen for either Paul Rudd or Jason Segel as comedic performers. The movie
is full of odd casting choices that I love, like Lou Ferrigno, Joe Lo Truglio,
and J.K. Simmons in complete goofball mode.
27. The Nice Guys
When I First Saw It? May 22, 2016 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: Buddy cop movies are irresistible
when done right. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are a comedic duo I never
would've thought of, but they are brilliant together. The late 70s setting and
the cynical humor of the movie pair together just as well. This is another
movie I could watch at any time and never tire of. I already watch it too much
as is.
26. V/H/S/2
When I First Saw It? ~2013 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: There are few things I love more
than a good horror anthology. Horror, I think, works best in smaller doses. Go
in, get the scares, and get out. The longer it goes, the more need filmmakers
feel to explain things, which only dulls the impact. The V/H/S movies
are horror anthologies that experiment with different forms of found-footage.
In short, it combines all my favorite horror elements together. Not every short
in V/H/S 2 works, but the ones that do are tremendous. Gareth Evans'
apocalyptic cult segment, "Safe Haven", is balls-out insanity. That
part by itself would probably rank in my top 100.
25. Forrest Gump
When I First Saw It? ~1994 (Video)
Expectations Going In: None
Why It's Here: Forrest Gump is the bacon
of movies. People who love it flip out if you don't also love it. The people
who don't care for it feel the need to over-assert how much they don't like it.
Personally, I love the movie, even if it is potentially about nothing. It's a
fun, ground-level look at all the high points of Boomer nostalgia. The fact
that it's so over-quoted obscures the fact the so many moments are worth
quoting. Tom Hanks playing a somewhat mentally handicapped character has become
a derided Oscar-bait move, which distracts from the fact that it's a terrific
performance. Any movie this successful is going to have its fair share of
haters, especially when it's a film that on paper shouldn't've been such a
success. I'm here to say that I'm not one of those haters.
24. My Cousin Vinny
When I First Saw It? Early 2000s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I'm also here to tell everyone
that My Cousin Vinny isn't a guilty pleasure movie. It isn't
"better than it should be". It's not simply "very
watchable". It is an excellent movie. Few movies have ever explained court
proceedings more accurately or entertainingly. Often, with older movies, I find
them funny in a way where I have to calibrate for the humor of the time. That's
just the nature of comedy - it develops and changes over time. Punchlines that
were once fresh, become known and built upon. So much of My Cousin Vinny's
humor still feels new and makes me laugh though. Finally, everyone who
references Marisa Tomei's Supporting Actress win as an Oscar miss can go fuck
themselves. She's fantastic in this. Not only in the famous courtroom scene at
the end but throughout the movie. Please, leave your anti-comedy bias to
yourself.
23. The Shawshank Redemption
When I First Saw It? Early 2000s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: Moderate
Why It's Here: Is this movie over or underrated?
It isn't a Best Picture winner. It's wasn't a massive box office success. It
did get some Oscar nominations though and it's been the top movie in IMDB's top
250 for years. Few films have gained such a great reputation since their
release. Like fellow 1994 release, Forrest Gump, this is a "bacon
movie". People who love it are a little insufferable. Although, it did
become so popular for a reason. It's insanely watchable and that Morgan Freeman
narration is the gold standard.
When I First Saw It? July 17, 2010 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I don't trust any director with a
$100 million budget more than Christopher Nolan. Inception is his best
marriage of ambition and imagination. The visuals in this movie are
breathtaking. The cast is great. And, the end of the film is a litmus test for
your view of the world.
21. Casablanca
When I First Saw It? ~2005/06 (Video)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I don't pretend to be more of a
student of film history than I am. Not a lot of older films are in my top 100.
I refuse to pad the numbers to make myself look more - I don't know -
sophisticated. There are a few older films that I unabashedly adore though. Casablanca
is almost too obvious. There's a reason for that. It's a great movie. The first
time I watched it, I couldn't believe how many famous quotes came from the
movie. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are electric together.
When I First Saw It? December 18, 2015 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I can't separate my excitement for
the return of Star Wars from my opinion of this as a movie. J.J. Abrams
did an excellent job bringing Star Wars back to the tone of the original
trilogy while still keeping it modern. They basically cast every up and coming
actor worth getting exciting about. I'll be curious to see how this ages once
the rest of the trilogy is out.
19. 12 Angry Men
When I First Saw It? ~2005/06 (Video)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: It's such a simple movie. It's
another one of those that involves putting a bunch of characters in a room
together and seeing what happens. This movie is unabashedly idealistic and a
testament to the best of the American spirit (if that's something you buy
into). I know Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch gets credit as the greatest
American hero. Personally, I'd take Henry Fonda's Juror #8 over him any day of
the week. I do wish that it could be more than just 12 white dudes, but that
much is a reflection of the time that can't be "fixed" now. Otherwise,
it's an exceptional play put to screen.
18. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
When I First Saw It? Early 1990s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: None
Why It's Here: The seismic shift in the film
industry that followed the release of this can never be understated. I don't
think I have to really defend this pick. At least four other picks in my list
owe everything to the movie. That alone gives it a place. By itself, it's a
rollicking space Opera that introduces so many great characters. Alec Guiness
caps off a legendary career and Harrison Ford announces himself as the next
great movie star.
17. Bridesmaids
When I First Saw It? May 13, 2011 (Opening Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I nearly shit with laughter
watching this. This movie has several amazing set pieces. The sequence at the
bridal shop is an all-timer. The parts on the airplane too. Watching that in
the theater on opening night was so much fun. Kristen Wiig got a chance to
prove herself as a star and screenwriter and she knocked it out of the park.
Then there's Melissa McCarthy, who is nothing short of a revelation.
I don't know. I guess you could not like this
movie. That's fine. Some people don't like laughing.
When I First Saw It? ~2013 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: In placing this higher than V/H/S
2 (DON'T SEE V/H/S: Viral),
I'm picking consistency over peak. Nothing in V/H/S matches the cult
sequence in V/H/S 2, but the six segments in this are all great. I
rewatch this movie even though the scares barely have an effect anymore. The
filmmakers in this are all on the top of their game.
15. Up
When I First Saw It? May 29, 2009 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: This has no business being this
good. Before I saw it, I was convinced that this was the moment when Pixar
finally ran out of ideas...and it turns out that I'm a fool. Those opening minutes
of the movie have become infamous for a reason. It's the greatest short film
Pixar has made. Even beyond that heartbreaking, brilliant sequence, this is a
great movie. Dogs are my weak spot, so Dug is among my favorite Pixar
characters. Curmudgeon Carl and dutiful Russell too.
14. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the
Ring
When I First Saw It? December 19, 2001 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: Two movies had the most profound
effect on my appreciation of movies, so it's fitting that they're next to each
other on the list. The first time I saw The Fellowship of the Ring, it
broke my brain. I didn't know a movie could be that. The scale of the movie was
epic. The world it built was incredible. There wasn't a trace of irony to it.
I'm not sure I'd be the movie fan I am now had this movie never come along.
13. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
When I First Saw It? May 1999 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: Roll your eyes all you want.
Before this movie came out, I wasn't much of a Star Wars fan. After the
first time I watched this, I left the theater obsessed with the franchise. Yes,
it is different than the original trilogy. Yes, Jar Jar Binks was a mistake.
Midichlorions were a dumb idea. Most of the stuff with little orphan Anakin was
stupid.
I just don't care.
I love this movie. I loved it the first time I
saw it. I've loved it ever since and that hasn't waned. The Dark Maul
light saber fight is a franchise best. "Duel of the Fates" is every
bit as great as the original score or the Imperial March. Pod racing was an
under-appreciated invention. If more fans could just accept that this isn't the
original trilogy, there is a ton to love about it.
12. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
When I First Saw It? ~ 2009 (Netflix)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: Oh my god, Charlie Kaufman's
screenplay is brilliant. So is the way the Michel Gondry visualizes it. Jim
Carrey in dramatic mode is exceptional. I don't think anyone needed more proof
that Kate Winslet was great at that point. It's such a beautiful movie with an
ending that's somehow romantic, depressing, and hopeful, all at the same time.
It's an incredible movie. #12 feels too low.
11. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes
Back
When I First Saw It? Early 1990s (Cable)
Expectations Going In: None
Why It's Here: It's among the greatest sequels
ever. It managed the impossible challenge of improving on a film that rocked
the world. The "I am your father" moment is the greatest movie twist
ever. There are many other great ones, perhaps ones that were better
foreshadowed or more clever, but none had the cultural impact of The Empire
Strikes Back. Even without that, this is the movie that introduces the
coolest guy in the Galaxy, Lando Calrissian, adds Yoda to the mythology, and
features Han Solo's ultimate badass moment ("I know"). On an overall
note, I can't believe that no Star Wars movie broke into my top 10. I
suppose I like the series more as a whole than in individual parts. Four in the
top 20 is nothing to scoff at though.
When I First Saw It? July 18, 2008 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I promise, this is the last Christopher
Nolan movie on my list, and of course it's going to be The Dark Knight.
This movie came with a wave of hype even before Heath Ledger's untimely death.
His work as the joker is one of the great villain performances ever. Nolan's
work in IMAX is second to none. Everything from the bank robbery at the
beginning to the armored car chase is the result of a master at work on a large
scale. Mixing the anarchy of the Joker with the fall of Harvey Dent represented
all the best the franchise had to offer.
9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the
Black Pearl
When I First Saw It? July 2003 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: I love the happy accident of this
movie. If it was just the story of the Disney park attraction, that would've
been an entertaining enough movie, full of large scale pirate action with a
supernatural twist. What sets it apart is Captain Jack Sparrow. What works so
well about him is that he's essentially a supporting character who is allowed
the freedom to take over the movie. Johnny Depp does inspired work, plain and
simple. The sequels have veered too much into Capt. Jack. In The Curse of
the Black Pearl, Jack is butting heads with the story. No one told him the
movie is not about him. It is one of my favorite movies to quote, even beyond
Jack's lines. It's hard to have more
popcorn fun than in this movie
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
When I First Saw It? December 2002 (Theater)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: The Battle of Helms Deep. That's
it. I love The Fellowship of the Ring. I love The Return of the King.
Neither has anything to compare to the grand scale of Helms Deep. It is the
definitive epic sequence in any film.
When I First Saw It? May 17, 2015 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: To quote one of my friends after
seeing this, "I think I took two breaths the whole time". This is a
masterclass in sustained, large-scale action. This movie is almost always in
movement. The score is propulsive. The production design and costuming manage
to take inspiration from the original films without veering into camp. This is
perhaps the most perfect action movie ever made. I keep waiting for my excitement
over it to wane and it hasn't happened.
6. Warrior
When I First Saw It? September 13, 2011 (Opening
Week)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: I saw one trailer for this that
gave away the entire story. I read one favorable review beforehand. I have no
interest in MMA fighting. I still saw this movie, and I loved it. The
performances are uniformly strong. The film sets up the stakes unbearably well.
I still don't know which brother I'm really rooting for. I think the reason I
keep coming back to this movie is because the matches are shot so well. I care
every single time. When Brendan taps out the mighty Koba, I stand up and cheer
(not an exaggeration). When Tommy knocks out opponents in a single punch, I
pump my fist in solidarity. This move sucks me in every time. Frankly, I'm
confused how this isn't on its way to being considered a classic.
5. A Knight's Tale
When I First Saw It? ~2002 (HBO)
Expectations Going In: None
Why It's Here: It's hard to break into my top 5
because four of the movies have been set for over a decade and are personal
picks so much more than qualitative picks. I have watched this movie many, many
times. It's the closest I've come to being able to quote an entire movie. Heath
Ledger was my favorite actor until his death. I
find him tirelessly watchable. Paul Bettany's Chaucer is a quote machine
of the highest caliber. Roland and Wat are two of my favorite sidekicks in any
movie. The 70's soundtrack is perfectly counter-intuitive. The movie doesn't
want to be accurate. It has its own agenda and it's one I love.
When I First Saw It? ~2002 (Rental)
Expectations Going In: Low
Why It's Here: The way the plan comes together
dazzled me the first time I watched this, and it still does. The confidence of
both Stephen Soderbergh's direction and the cast's performances make it
impossible to look away. No movie is as cool as this one and they make it look
effortless. That ease is exactly what makes this so rewatchable. I've seen this
movie two dozen times, if not more, and I'm still picking up new details that I
never noticed before. It's such a dense movie in unexpected ways. I've always
described this and its sequels as an excuse for a bunch of actor buddies to
subsidize a vacation. When it delivers a film this slick and fun, I'm fine with
that.
3. About Time
When I First Saw It? November 17, 2013 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: Medium
Why It's Here: This is a fundamentally good
movie.It's normally sold as a RomCom. For a large chunk of it, that's what it
is. There's so much more to it though. It's about living your best life. Tim
(Domhnall Gleeson) is a decent person and having a power like time travel
doesn't corrupt him. When given the opportunity to cheat, he doesn't. When
given the chance to manipulate the lives of others, he only does so to help
them out. Even when he does manipulate to run into Mary, it's only after their
first genuine connection is derailed by him helping his playwright friend. I
adore all the delightfully quirky characters like Kit Kat and Uncle Desmond.
The end of the film is devastating in the best way. As corny as it may sound,
watching this movie restores my faith in the decency of humanity.If you can
find a movie like that for yourself, never let go of it.
2. Superbad
When I First Saw It? August 18, 2007 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: Of my favorite movies, this is the
one I question the most. It has pretty well cemented itself in this spot
though. Over the years, I've gobbled up every bit of information I can about.
I've watched all the extra features on the DVD and Blu-rays. I've listened to
the commentary. I've downloaded the soundtrack. At one point I even put together
a mix of all the music featured in the movie in any way. I bought the book
collection of all the penis pictures. I threw a 21st birthday party that was Superbad
themed. I love this movie. The love certainly started with seeing it
opening weekend and having one of the best in-theater experiences watching
that. I've since grown a love for the Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg partnership. The
fact that this screenplay is something those two began writing when they were
13 and completed over a decade later I find fascinating. You can see it in the
screenplay too, how certain parts don't exactly line up and the type of humor
has different levels of sophistication. People point out that musicians have
their entire lives to make their first album and only a year or so to make the
second album. That's how I feel about Superbad when compared to their
later films. There's a lifetime of ideas in it. I shudder to think of all the
drafts there were of the screenplay. I may not be able to convince anyone of
the merit of the movie. I can only prove the sincerity of my love for this high
school buddy comedy.
When I First Saw It? November 2006 (Opening
Weekend)
Expectations Going In: High
Why It's Here: I'm never going to explain it
better than in my essay about the movie from last year. I like it more than I
like most people; more than nearly anything. Will Ferrell uses his established
persona to give an unexpectedly nuanced performance. The way the film plays
with narrative and, more specifically, narration allows it to go in directions
not immediately apparent. Like About Time, or many of my favorite films,
it's fundamentally about living your best life. I don't think it's hard to
psychoanalyze my thoughts and fears based on the movies in my list. None more
than Stranger Than Fiction tell my story. I get something new out of it
every time I watch it. I cannot imagine a film making me feel more deeply about
it than Stranger Than Fiction, but I welcome any of them to try.
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