Fellow blogger Nathan Bransford recently came up with a list of his favorite 100 movies, and challenged readers to do likewise. I was intrigued by the idea and couldn’t help making a list just to see what I might come up with.
The list below isn’t necessarily what I consider the BEST movies (best produced, acted, directed, etc,) but they are the ones I remember ENJOYING the most. Ones I wouldn’t mind seeing more than once. Or twice.
I was surprised at what ended up on my list. Some I never expected to see there weaseled their way in. While others I fully expected to see were politely rejected.
The movies that did make the list seem to fall in three categories: edgy, artsy, and feel good. The best fit all three categories, like True Romance and Wings of Desire.
Even so, Pulp Fiction is top dog on my list, though I’m not sure why.
It’s certainly edgy enough, and some would say artsy, but feel good??
Not unless you see Butch sacrificing freedom for honor and coming back to save Marcellus from the perverts with a samurai sword as “feel good” (it kinda was). Or you see Vincent stabbing Mia in the heart with a needle to save her and then having the incredible good sense to stay loyal to his mobster boss and refrain from seducing his wife as “feel good” (it kinda was). Or you see Jules keeping Hunny Bunny from peeing her pants and getting her and Pumpkin–the young lover-robbers–out of the restaurant before they kill anyone as “feel good” (it really was, wasn’t it?). And Jules transformation from hit man to the Good Shepherd? Now wasn’t that something!
But Vincent getting popped on the pot was just too too sad, and the college kid getting his head accidentally blown off when the car goes over a bump–what a bloody bummer!
So you see my dilemma–how can you NOT put Pulp Fiction at the top of the list? Just talking about it makes me want to go twisting down the hall, all Mia-like, and pop it in the DVD player.
Then there’s the 81/2 and Nine rating dilemma. Which goes higher on the list? I mean, how can you top Fellini–that winged statue flying through the sky, that luscious scene on the beach, and the circus at the end, for goodness sake! What’s not to love?
But then there’s Daniel Day Lewis in Nine! I mean, come on–Daniel Day Lewis! And all those beautiful woman singing and dancing–Fergie on the beach belting it out for the boys, Penelope Cruz pole dancing and slithering down the stairs, and Kate Hudson all dolled up singing “It’s Italia” in this husky sex-kitten voice (who knew she could sing?).
And then there’s the amazing, marvelous Marion Cotillard stripping off her clothes while she flings her heart on the floor for that two-timing fool, begging him to “Take it all!”. (Don’t do it, honey, he’s not worth it!) Talk about HOT, HOT, HOT!!! (Did I mention Sophia Loren? Nicole Kidman?)
And what to do about all those King Kongs? Who knew I liked the big hairy lug so much? But apparently I do, because all three versions of King Kong made my list.
So which gets top billing? You’d think it would be THE CLASSIC Kong. And while I do love Faye Wray, Naomi Watts climbed right over her (don’t let all that sweet vulnerability fool you). But even she couldn’t compete with the cheesier produced 1976 version starring bad boy Jeff Bridges and the sultry Jessica Lange–I mean, once again, HOT HOT HOT.
Then there’s the Before Sunrise and Before Sunset duo. Who knew walking and talking could be so sexy and entertaining? But how do I rate them?
Putting Sunrise first would seem to make sense. I mean, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy were So Damn Cute in the first film, it just about broke your heart. While nine years later when Sunset was filmed, well, did you see those deep furrows on poor Ethan’s face, as Julie so indelicately pointed out? Shudder!
But, OMG, that sweet, funny song Julie sings at the end strumming her little guitar! I knew poor Ethan was a goner right then and there. And so was I. Age before beauty, I say. Before Sunset gets top billing, no question.
Finally, what do I do with all those other classy foreign films I love so much– Ran, Rashomon, Ikiru, La Dulce Vita, La Strada, Fanny and Alexander, Wild strawberries–how do you rate those?
Well I didn’t. I clumped them all together somewhere in the top third of the list. Just thinking about which one to put first made my head hurt. Just throw them in there and get it over! I told myself. And so I did.
But what, you say? Where’s Casablanca? Gone with the Wind? All those Hitchcock classics? Woody Allen, for Pete’s sake?
You can’t tell me Fight Club and Grease beat their films! Well, sadly, they do. I’m quite ashamed. Really.
The truth is, I just never liked Gone with the Wind. Rhett was all right, but that Scarlett was a bitch! The whole movie was ruined for me by her whiney voice, pointy chin, meany-eyes, and temper-tantrums. And Casablanca? Did you see the ending?? Unbelievable!
Now I know Hitchcock and Woody should be in there somewhere, but oddly, none of their films rose to the top of mind as being truly memorable.
Yes, there were certain scenes I’ll never forget–the plane chasing the guy in the cornfield, and all those birds!! (terrifying). And then there’s Woody’s droll face and priceless banter and Diane Keaton, all cute and clueless and helpless looking. I truly did enjoy them. Didn’t I?
So why are they all melting together in my mind? Why does a surge of endorphins go dancing through my veins singing “fun fun fun” when I remember Independence Day, for pity’s sake, while the same endorphins just look at each other and shrug when I mention North by Northwest or Annie Hall.
It’s not my fault. I myself would gladly choose to like the others more, but, alas, it appears I don’t.
So there you have it, my 100 favorite movies, the first third or so in semi-order of preference, with the second third more loosely assessed, and the bottom third, well they just didn’t get as much attention.
I’m sure other movies that didn’t get on the list will be clambering for my attention, and telling me off for leaving them out. And no doubt, I may have been too hasty in putting this together. By next year, I may have a brand new list. I have no 2012 movies listed here, for instance. But for now, I’m done. Whew!
What were your favorite all-time movies? Which would you add to or leave out of my list?
Maybe now I’ll pull together my 100 favorite all-time books! That should be fun–if it doesn’t make my head spin too much (ah, The Exorcist)!
My Favorite 100 Movies
- Pulp Fiction
- True Romance
- Wings of Desire (original)
- American Beauty
- Lord of the Rings
- The Two Towers
- Return of the King
- Nine
- 8 ½
- The Gladiator
- Fargo
- Before Sunset
- Before Sunrise
- The Godfather I
- The Godfather II
- Selma and Louise
- LA Confidential
- King Kong (1976)
- King Kong (2005)
- King Kong (1933)
- Fight Club
- Se7en
- Mystic River
- An Officer and a Gentleman
- Boys Don’t Cry
- In Bruges
- Crash
- Ran
- Rashomon
- Ikiru
- Fanny and Alexander
- Wild Strawberries
- La Dolce Vita
- La Strada
- Love, Actually
- Silence of the Lambs
- Training Day
- The Usual Suspects
- The Graduate
- The Big Chill
- District 9
- Donnie Darko
- Dangerous Liaisons
- Tootsie
- Mullholland Drive
- Rebel Without a Cause
- Wizard of Oz
- The Big Easy
- Body Heat
- A History of Violence
- A Beautiful Mind
- Good Will Hunting
- Risky Business
- Philadelphia
- The Crying Game
- Tree of Life
- A River Runs Through It
- Wall Street
- The Interpreter
- Dead Man Walking
- Eastern Promises
- Star Wars
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
- Seven Samurai
- The Dark Knight
- Legend of the Fall
- Sideways
- Urban Cowboy
- Primary Colors
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Amadeus
- The Exorcist
- The African Queen
- Dog Day Afternoon
- Chinatown
- Serpico
- Independence day
- Born on the Fourth of July
- Top Gun
- A Few Good Men
- To Die For
- When Sally Met Harry
- Sleepless in Seattle
- Grease
- Easy Rider
- Pretty Women
- To Kill a Mocking Bird
- Winters Bone
- Reservoir Dogs
- American History X
- Braveheart
- Pride and Prejudice (1996)
- Forrest Gump
- Bridget’s Jones Diary
- The Bone Collector
- Groundhog Day
- Some Like It Hot
- Trading Places
- The Mexican
- As Good as it Gets
Pulp Fiction is a fine choice for a #1 movie. Easily one of my favorites as well.
I didn’t realize it would be #1 until I started putting together my list. Was so much fun doing this, and I learned a bit about myself in the process.
Great list…I also love some on your list, i.e. Love Actually, The Big Chill, Mystic River, Forrest Gump, The Graduate, Born on the Fourth of July (so heartbreaking that one), Amadeus, and of course, Grease! I’m tempted to write my own list now! It would probably take a while.
I’ll be honest, I’m not a Tarantino fan…the gratuitous violence in the worlds he builds usually turns me off. Plus, the dialogue always comes across as so…pompous. That’s my opinion, though Pulp Fiction can be appreciated for it’s post-modernistic structure…I thought that aspect of the film was pretty neat.
Thanks Katherine. People are always surprised that I’m fan of “Pulp Fiction” for the reasons you mention, and I’m not sure I’ve been able to really ferret out why I’m a big fan, but definitely the postmodern structure and deconstruction of morality is part of it. I don’t like all that Tarantino does though–not a big fan of Kill Bill or Inglorious Bastards. Haven’t seen the newest one out. Anyway, it was an interesting exercise to put this list together, and I lot of fun too.
Now I know where to look when my husband and I need a movie to watch. And, I can’t believe I’ve never watched Pulp Fiction – it’s my son’s favorite movie and he’s been trying to get us to watch it – well, this weekend.
Your list is amazing. Thank you.
Yes, you’ve go to see it–but expect it to be pretty shocking–language, violence, etc. For all of that, it is riveting, and fun. Let me know what you think afterwards.
Glad you like the list!
Just watched Jackie Brown, same director – I liked it.
Good list – some great movies in there! 🙂 Before Sunrise & Before Sunset are two of my favorite romantic films (and I’m not into girly romances). I should do a top 100 too! I pretty much have already – I have 50 and then a good 40 more I added at the end of the list so I should just make it into 100. 🙂
I feel so culturally deprived! I don’t think I have even watched 100 movies. Or half that.