Those pesky Oscar nominations got in the way these past few days, but it's time to pick the gauntlet back up with reader Rob's choices. His list, and my comments, follow.
1. Casablanca (1942) - Can anyone rightly argue with this one, even if it's not on their own list? I mean, really.
2. Amelie (2001) - Wouldn't put it as high as number two of all time, but it was certainly one of the best films of that year.
3. Garden State (2004) - Still another movie I quite liked, although I could never place it this high.
4. Roman Holiday (1953) - The film that gave the world Audrey Hepburn. Lovely.
5. Vanilla Sky (2001) - Wow. I thought the film was underrated myself, but among Cameron Crowe pics, the highest for me would be Almost Famous.
6. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) - People are two hard on this film, but the BEST of the original trilogy? Really? I favor the 1977 original meself.
7. Punch Drunk Love (2002) - Gutsy choice, my friend. I must admit I got a giant kick out of Adam Sandler's fans (and most other people) give this movie a giant WTF? But Paul Thomas Anderson is surely used to it by now.
8. Spirited Away (2001) - Might just be my very favorite non Disney hand-drawn animated film, outside of Yellow Submarine.
9. Mulholland Dr. (2001) - An often spellbinding film, but a bit overrated in my book. The more it gets away from Naomi Watts, the less interesting it is.
10. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - My favorite romance of the past decade. Just might be my favorite movie of the past decade.
11. Sabrina (1954) - An easy film to love, but I love the other Wilder/Hepburn pic Love in the Afternoon, even more.
12. Magnolia (1999) - Ribbit.
13. Fight Club (1999) I always thought this one was overpraised. Some mesmerizing ideas and visuals to be sure, but even now, I still don't quite buy the reveal at the end.
14. Spider-Man II (2004) - The best of the series. Easy.
15. Office Space (1999) I can understand why a lot of people love this movie, but maybe because I've rarely worked in a conventional office environment, I don't laugh at this comedy as much as other people do.
16. Pulp Fiction (1994) - That was fuckin' trippy.
17. The Princess Bride (1987) - Everybody quotes the Inigo Montoya line. I was always rather fond of the rodents of unusual size.
18. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - Over Raiders? Really?
19. The Matrix (1999) - Still great fun to watch, despite the increasingly labored sequels.
And no, I didn't lop off Number 20 - Rob did.
Keep em coming, folks!
2 comments:
First off, I'll say my list is very much a "favorites" list and not a "best" list. It's very much about what films have really grabbed me and less about the technical merits of the film.
Intellectually I know Empire is "better" than Jedi, but I was 3 when Jedi came out and darn it, those Ewoks were right up my alley.
So much of it's just a matter of timing. Movies like Amelie, Garden State, and Vanilla Sky really struck me at just the right moment in my life to really resonate.
I understand perfectly, Rob. Forgive me if I sounded a bit quizzical, but I appreciate the spirit in which your list was made, and I thank you for contributing. I know where you're coming from. I always tell people I know Empire is a better-made movie than the original Star Wars, but I gravitate to the original because for me, nothing tops that thrill of discovery.
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