1. The Godfather - 1972
I know I’ll probably be hated for this – but I didn’t really care for this movie/see why its been ranked so high on all these lists. I guess that’s why I am not a pro. However, I did think that Al Pacino did an amazing job and thought he was the best character/role. It also seems to be an accurate portrayal of how Italian families/the mob worked back in the 1940s & 50s.
2. Schindler's List – 1993
Such a long film, but so worth the wait for the last hour. Yes the beginning two hours were important, but it really touched me when they started to pull it all together/end the film. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), what a great man that saved 1,100 Jews during WWII. Liam did an outstanding job at this role, and so did his “costar” Ralph Fiennes (as the antagonist). Even though this was filmed in ’93, the black and white really made it seen as if you were back in the 1940s. Overall an exceptional film that deserves some of the highest marks.
3. Shawshank Redemption – 1994
Even though I have only watched four of the movies on my list so far, I can say this is/will be a favorite. What an amazing story of friendship, freedom, and hope – Tim Robbins & Morgan Freeman play prisoners in Shawshank Prison. It really teaches you to never give up hope and to “get busy living or get busy dying.” Loved it!
4. The Graduate – 1967
This is one of the older movies on my list – from 1967. To me, it was a good storyline for the time and probably led to all of the romantic-drama-comedy type movies that are popular today. It didn’t 100% keep my attention, most likely because I am not used to watching old movies and the “action” compared to today is a lot different. However, I could see why it is a classic and of course Dustin Hoffman did a great job acting the part of a college graduate that has an affair with Mrs. Robinson, but ultimately falls in love with her daughter Elaine.
5. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – 1975
I wasn’t too sure about this movie, but I really really enjoyed it. Maybe because I have always liked Jack Nicholson and I am interested in psych-related topics. But that aside, his acting in this movie is amazing. The movie is a perfect combination of funny, dramatic, and sometimes a bit of downright disturbed! Great story of a man in a psych unit tormented by the dreaded Nurse Ratched. By the end however, Mr. McMurphy strangles Ms. Ratched (she survives) which leads him to being punished – has a lobotomy. What a way to end the movie.
6. The Dark Knight - 2008
The sequel to Batman Begins doesn’t disappoint. The action scenes in this movie make it an amazing movie to watch – too bad I never saw it on the big screen. I also think that Heath Ledger playing the role of The Joker is what makes this movie so great – I have always been a fan of Heath but he hits it out of the park with this sadistic role. Christian Bale & Aaron Eckhart are also both talented actors that make this movie a must see, even if you aren’t a Batman fan!
7. Pulp Fiction - 1994
John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, & Uma Thurman star in this quirky, eclectic farce. You want to laugh at some of the things that are said, but it’s outright violent or just plain vulgar so I didn’t know whether to laugh or be shocked. I’m not into these types of movies and it was hard to “follow” for 2.5 hours – random stories intertwining. I guess that is what you get with Quentin Tarantino films.
8. Fight Club - 1999
This was definitely not my kind of movie – too weird & violent. Maybe there is some kind of deep meaning and I’m sure you could analyze a lot of different points, but I was too distracted by the gang mentality and violence. That said I guess it had a type of interesting “spin” because Tyler Durden was a projection of the narrator the whole time...along with many underlying psychosocial themes.
9. Memento – 2000
Interesting movie about a man that loses his short-term memory. His wife is raped and murdered and he vows to get revenge on the man that committed this crime. Problem is...he can’t remember anything after the murder, so he tattoos memories, takes Polaroid pictures, and writes things down so that he can look back at the “facts”. The movie is a tad confusing because it is going back and forth in time throughout the entire thing, but it is a unique idea for a movie – definitely a psychological thriller!
10. The Pianist – 2002
What an amazing story of a Polish Jew pianist (Adrien Brody) surviving through WWII. I mean clearly I didn’t live through the time of the war or can’t imagine what it would have been like – but this to me seems to be a pretty accurate portrayal of the immensely difficult times. Jews are shot at point blank range, starvation occurring, so much hardship – but Adrien survives to the end to once again continue his professional career as a pianist.
11. WALL-E - 2008
WALL-E is only animated film on this list and it definitely wasn’t a “kids” movie – in my opinion. I had heard a lot about the deeper meanings behind it and that proved to be so – no one is on planet Earth anymore because of all the contamination, pollution, trash, etc. It isn’t a life-sustaining place and all the humans now live in space. They don’t walk, really move or do anything – they are obese and just eat liquid food all day and do basically whatever they want in this “perfect” world. The movie doesn’t have any acting or voices really (minus a few words) so the score has to hold its own. I wish I could have seen it on the big screen with surround sound because the graphics and music were great! A love story was also intermingled in this portrayal of consumerism and humanity, which gave it a positive ending and hope for the future.
12. Requiem for a Dream - 2000
Definitely an interesting film by Aronofsky. Jared Leto and Ellen Burstyn do a flawless job of portraying addiction and the psychological/physical trauma that accompanies it. I love the camera shots/videography of this film – so unique. The amphetamine and heroin effects on these characters are gut wrenching and sometimes even hard to watch (when Jennifer Connelly’s character turns to prostitution in front of crowds to support her habit). It ends sadly with all characters basically at the end of their ropes.
13. The Hurt Locker – 2008 (2009 in the US)
One of the newest films on my list and a winner of many Academy Awards (6 wins including Best Picture). A shockingly honest view of the war in Iraq – this portrays the lives of three Army men in the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit. I have to say, this is definitely one of the best war movies I have seen – such a gritty portrayal of courage, human spirit, trauma and struggles. I was on edge the whole time waiting to see what happened next – definitely a movie to see.
14. Crash – 2005
Apparently for years I thought this movie was something completely different than it was. However, it was a fascinating movie about racial and social tensions in LA. The story intertwines many different characters from all types of backgrounds and walks of life. It really made me think about issues that people face in this world – at some points it was hard to watch – but overall a great movie.
15. It's A Wonderful Life – 1946
I watched this for the first time ever this year on Christmas Eve. It’s a heartwarming tale of a man that has big plans for himself but ends up staying in his hometown to take over the family business. Time goes on and they show moments of George Bailey’s life – Clarence his guardian angel comes – and they then see what life would have been like without George Bailey. He realizes how much of a difference he has made and how wonderful his life really is – with his family. Great classic movie.
16. Gone With the Wind - 1939
At first I was kind like okay...gone with the wind...*rolls eyes* BUT I see what the hype is about. I really enjoyed this classic, timeless movie featuring the romance of Scarlet O’Hare (Vivien Leigh) and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). I also actually found myself cracking up at many of the lines Scarlet had – too funny.
17. Chicago – 2002
What a wonderful musical!! The songs, dancing, acting all were well sung, danced, and performed! Roxie Hart (Zellweger) and Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) are in prison in Chicago in the 1920s for murder and this is their story. Richard Gere & John Reilly also have performances that were on point. Overall a great rendition of a classic musical!
18. A Beautiful Mind – 2001
This movie portrays the life of a man who has schizophrenia, John Forbes Nash – but he is also a genius – an amazing mathematician. I think that this sheds insight into the life of a man with mental illness who struggles but also overcomes many challenges. But you also have to remember that everyone with schizophrenia is not like this or destined with this outcome. All that aside, it’s an inspirational and emotional film that I really enjoyed.
19. Rain Man - 1988
The second Dustin Hoffman movie on my list and he definitely doesn’t disappoint in this – acting as a man that has Autism (especially in the 80s) is not an easy task. Charlie Babbett (Tom Cruise) is an arrogant SOB who finds out he has a brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) when his father dies leaving Raymond all his money in his will. Charlie “steals” Raymond in hopes of getting half of the money. They end up bonding over a week’s period. This was a great heartwarming story of a man opening his heart for a brother with Autism!
20. The Prestige – 2006
A mysterious thriller in which two magicians in late 19th century London will go to almost any length to become the best of their time. A tale of deception, trickery, obsession and sacrifice in which the end mat surprise you! I realized once starting this movie that I had seen it before a while back, but couldn’t remember the whole thing so continued watching. I definitely appreciated it a lot more this time and would recommend it to an older audience. Great acting by Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale & Michael Caine (also has Scarlett Johansen & David Bowie).
21. The English Patient - 1996
This is a love/war story staring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe & Kristin Scott Thomas. A man (Fiennes) is burned in an explosion and a nurse (Binoche) takes care of him during this time. The movie flashes back to Fiennes life in Africa and love story that develops between him and Thomas. For the most part I liked this movie, but I think it was a little long for the plot (2hr 41min). Not a favorite, but a deep love story and good acting by the main characters. I think I need to watch it again to appreciate the true beauty of this film.
22. City of God - 2002
This is the only foreign film on my Top 25 list – its in Portuguese and set in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the 60s-80s. It tells a true story of the crime ridden and drug crazed slums during this time. It’s crazy seeing kids/adolescents/adults...basically everyone carrying around guns and killing people left and right, stealing, smoking pot, doing crack etc but it seems to be an accurate portrayal of such poverty/crime/drug use. “Rocket” narrates the story and wishes to be a photographer – he captures pictures of the “war” and ultimately the death of the boss.
23. Psycho - 1960
I think this is my first time to see an Alfred Hitchcock film, so I am glad one made this list (one of the few black and white films on my list as well). The “old timey” movies just have a different feel to them – one of rawness as well as innocence. There dress is different, acting, voices, all of it is fairly unique for the times. Anyway, this is a classic horror/psychological thriller movie in which Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) takes 40,000 from her boss. Long story short she stops at the Bates Motel where she is murdered (famous shower scene). The plot thickens when we finally found out (so surprising...*sarcastic*) that Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) has multiple personality disorder! I think what makes this film half of what it is is the music/score – dramatic!
24. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – 2001
I can definitely see why this movie is on top lists – the computer graphics, special effects, beautiful scenery, costumes, acting, fantasy & adventure – it has it all. It also leaves it open for the next two films for Frodo Baggins and the rest of the gang to try and destroy the ring.
25. The Goonies - 1985 - courtesy of Kristin – haha
Glad I finally got to see this classic 1980s movie. A family story of adventure – filled with pirates, treasure, and of course the bad guys! I know everyone raves about this but honestly it was so corny at times it was hard to watch. I guess I have to remember that it is 26 years old. I am biased because I prefer movies of this time like Pirates with Johnny Depp, perhaps in 26 years they will be saying the same thing about that movie. It was funny at times and of course the classic line of “hey you guyyyss!!” I could probably live without seeing it again though :)
