Greetings, reader!
We have now entered the top half of my Top 100 countdown, as I begin to explore the fifty greatest films ever made. This is getting exciting!
50. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"
I mean, it's a wonderful film. It's fantasy and reality blending beautifully to form a universally beloved yuletide classic that has stood the test of time. It's James Stewart being breathtaking in the iconic lead role as down-on-his-luck everyday hero George Bailey. It's one of the most sure-fire movies to lift one's spirits and give one hope when feeling down.
In case some of my readers missed this classic in the cinema and have been meaning to watch it for the last 75 years without getting around to it, I can't really spoil anything, and there's only so much one can say about this film without spoiling it. What I can say is that the film is a powerful testament to the fact that despite everything wrong in the world, at the end of the day it truly is, in fact, a wonderful life.
49. Fight Club (1999)
"The things you own end up owning you"
The sheer chaotic energy of David Fincher's Fight Club is something that couldn't be re-achieved if one tried. The combination of casual violence, all-over-the-place dialogue, anti-materialistic rants, empty Starbucks cups and Brad Pitt and Edward Norton providing killer performances in an effortless-seeming fashion is just so damn unique that no other film belongs to the same category.
When talking about Fight Club (a.k.a. breaking the first and second rules), people always bring up the twist ending. But here's the thing - that's not even one of the film's best elements in my opinion. Sure, it's a memorable and well-built twist that one may or may not see coming beforehand, but the greatness of the film goes so much beyond that plot twist that I find it a bit too overhyped in comparison to the film's other strengths. When I think about Fight Club's ending, I don't think about the big reveal close to the end, but rather the very final scene that happens after it. The main character (Ed Norton) and Marla (Helena Bonham Carter) standing hand in hand while [SPOILERS REDACTED] in front of them, as the Pixies song Where is My Mind creates the perfect soundscape, is one of the most atmospheric and haunting moments ever seen on the silver screen. It is a whole vibe of its own, as I can't think of any specific emotion to describe the sensation yet it is an immensely powerful sequence to experience.
48. Eraserhead (1977)
"In heaven, everything is fine"
David Lynch's debut film is on par with Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York (2008) as one of the strangest films I've ever seen. Furthermore, it is on par with Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993) and McQueen's 12 Years a Slave (2013) as one of the top films in the "Once was enough, thanks" category for movies I don't feel like re-watching no matter how great they were. It is also, in my honest opinion, the forty-eighth-greatest movie of all time.
Watching Eraserhead is a physical experience. Like much of David Lynch's art, the imagery is often disturbing and unsettling, but it is also so meticulously crafted and incredibly unique that it ends up being unforgettable in a fascinating way. What other filmmaker could possibly come up with visual scenery like the the Lady In The Radiator (Laurel Near) singing her strange heaven song in front of a curtain, the baby making its uncomfortable first appearance, or the signature look of protagonist Henry Spencer (Jack Nance) with his strange haircut and anxious facial expressions? Eraserhead is one of a kind, and a profound representation of cinema as an art form if I ever saw one.
47. 12 Angry Men (1957)
"Bright? He's a common ignorant slob. He don't even speak good English"
"He DOESN'T speak good English"
This Sidney Lumet classic is a minimalist masterpiece of the highest order. No gargantuan budget, no ambitious set design, nothing particularly grand in terms of production value whatsoever. The entire film is basically a "bottle episode", as we follow twelve jurors trying to reach a verdict on a possible death sentence. That is all that the film needs, as the impeccable dialogue, exquisite acting and thought-provoking themes are certainly enough to keep the viewer enthralled. The conversations throughout the film are fascinating and tense, as a human life hangs in the balance while the titular angry men debate everything from laws and witness accounts to ethics and moral dilemmas as they try to figure out whether or not their man is guilty.
Masters of the trade from Lee J. Cobb to Martin Balsam provide dynamite performances, but the MVP is certainly Henry Fonda in his iconic role as Juror #8. For much of the film's duration, his character is the only one who believes the defendant to be innocent, and he uses every trick in the book to try and persuade his fellow jurors to think again before they hand the man a death sentence. Fonda's performance is humorous, touching and riveting all at the same time. Fans of legal dramas, spirited debates or just minimalist movies, 12 Angry Men should definitely be on your shortlist.
46. Titanic (1997)
"Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people. I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it"
It has always bugged me how people seem to discuss Titanic as a love story and a love story only, with a lot of people calling the film boring or overrated because they're not into romantic films or "chick flicks". I've heard this argument tons of times, and it annoys me because it glosses over the fact that romance or no romance, Titanic is a cinematic masterpiece and an exceptionally well-made film - after all, you don't win eleven Academy Awards by just being a nice love story.
Of course, for people like me who enjoy a good romantic film, Titanic is all the better as the love story between Jack (Leo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) is filled with sweet dialogue, great chemistry and powerful moments. But Titanic goes way beyond just telling a good love story, as James Cameron's sublime directing and the film's thoroughly unmatched set design make for a grandiose account of a grim historical event. The first half of the film feels so elegant and glorious, only for the sheer panic and chaos of the film's tail end to feel insanely gripping as things start to go wrong. You might think of Titanic as another mere romantic film, but trust me - and this pun is very much intended - that's just the tip of the iceberg.
45. Die Hard (1988)
"Welcome to the party, pal"
Ah, the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Jokes aside, this late 80's classic that does indeed take place on Christmas is one of those select films that embody the point of perfection for a certain genre - the genre in question this time is, obviously, action. Die Hard is quite literally the perfect action film from start to finish. No unnecessary filler material, no dull moments, just an intense-as-hell plot in an exciting setting full of twists, turns, catchphrases and badass moments.
The film follows quintessential action hero John McClane (Bruce Willis), as he goes up against one of cinema's greatest villains, Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) in a riveting setting - a Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza becomes ground zero for a massive hostage situation, with McClane being the one person in the building that the terrorists haven't caught. With the police forces outside the building not being able to help and the media only making matters worse, it's up to McClane to take the terrorists out one by one. This leads to a multitude of close calls, suspenseful sequences and adrenaline rushes, culminating in a final 15 minutes that is one of humanity's greatest achievements.
44. Star Trek (2009)
"Whoa...how do you know my name?"
"I have been, and always shall be, your friend"
Today, in the category of "films in Veikko's Top 100 that normal people like but definitely wouldn't have anywhere near an all-time Top 100", we have J.J. Abrams's reboot of the Star Trek franchise from 2009. To understand my deep-running love for this film, one has to understand my deep-running love for the entire franchise (reading the linked post might help), which is right up there with Tolkien's fantasy world as the setting for my very favorite stories in the realm of fiction. And for such a franchise, bringing it back to life and re-introducing it to a new generation in the best possible way is something that deserves multitudes of respect.
First of all, the casting. Whoever did the casting for this reboot deserves a medal. All of the main characters of the original Star Trek crew are cast with perfection, as their new actors strike a perfect balance between channeling their original counterparts but bringing enough of an original twist to the character so that it doesn't feel like copying. Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, it's all just right. Furthermore, Abrams's directing style combines the addictive entertainment value of modern sci-fi blockbusters with the exploratory nature and core values of classic Star Trek, while the story throws some seriously well-written time travel and powerful moments into the mix. Add to that one of my favorite ending scenes in cinema, and you have a film that isn't just a great crowd-pleaser for Trek fans, but a powerful testament to just how amazing the fictional world created by Gene Roddenberry really is, and how it just keeps giving and giving.
43. The Lion King (1994)
"You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life"
"How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be"
"Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king. Remember who you are"
With its soundtrack full of Elton John bangers, its vibrant and colorful scenery, and its delightful signature humor, The Lion King certainly checks all the boxes of a successful animated Disney musical with the potential to be a childhood favorite. However, the film goes far and beyond its expectations to provide a story of much more epic proportions than one would ever expect from a children's movie. There is something so untouchable and larger-than-life about The Lion King, that watching the film has always left me in awe, no matter what age I am.
Scenes like Mufasa's (James Earl Jones) head forming in the clouds to send Simba (Matthew Broderick) a message, or Rafiki (Robert Guillaume) discovering that Simba is alive and coloring the drawing of him on the Tree of Life, send shivers down my spine every time. Due to the movie's Shakespearean power dynamics that come naturally with the Hamlet-inspired plot, as well as the overall memorability of the characters and the major events, The Lion King is a large-scope, high-stakes classic in addition to being just a damn good kids' movie. A true childhood favorite, that continues to hold up to this day.
42. Memento (2000)
"OK, so what am I doing? Oh, I'm chasing this guy. No...he's chasing me"
All in all, Memento is indeed quite the unconventional and creative masterclass in storytelling, as my strange way of writing this review has hopefully demonstrated to some degree. The supporting performances by Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano are amazing, and the film's ending is just the mind-blowing game-changer one could expect from Christopher Nolan. Leonard's journey is one of vengeance, as he uses notes and tattoos to slowly and surely track down the man who killed his wife. Through this insanely creative way of storytelling, Nolan tells the story of Leonard (Guy Pearce), a man with short-term memory loss.
It's all very confusing, but once you've watched the film enough times to get a grasp of the big picture, it's incredibly satisfying. But, as a delightful extra twist, there are black-and-white sequences in between that take place outside the rest of the narrative. The main narrative progresses backwards, as many of the scenes end right where the previous scene began. When you watch Memento for the first time, it is incredibly difficult to stay in the loop through Christopher Nolan's creative way of telling the story. Thus the gimmick of putting my sentences in reverse order. To give you some idea on just how confusing Memento is to watch, I'll try to make my description of it feel like watching the film.
41. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
"I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!"
Ah, The Godfather: Part II - truly the Godfather of all movie sequels, wouldn't you say?
This stone-cold classic from the mid-70's proves just how great a sequel can be, as more or less everything is on par with the original film. Not only that; many aspects even improve in the second film, as the story expands its reach while remaining very true to its original feel. Al Pacino continues to provide the greatest movie acting performance of all time in his role as Michael Corleone, whose character arch continues to be riveting and dramatic. The continuation of this storyline expands the plot of the Corleone crime syndicate into Cuba, which makes for some fascinating historical context, all while the intriguing family drama of the first film picks up right where it left off as Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire all reprise their dynamite performances.
Parallel to this story, The Godfather: Part II also uses its 3-hour-22-minute runtime to tell the backstory of Vito Corleone, the original mafia don who was portrayed by Marlon Brando in the first film. Playing the young version of cinema's possibly most iconic and untouchable character is quite the near-impossible feat, but luckily they found just the right man for the job: if anyone can fill such shoes, it's Robert De Niro. One of the six Academy Awards that this sequel won was De Niro's award for Best Supporting Actor, which he deserved by providing a performance that channels just the right amount of Brando to be believable while also bringing a completely new side to the young version of the character. The parallels between following the young Vito's journey from refugee to crime boss, and Michael's ongoing journey of expanding his father's enterprise while struggling to keep his friends close and enemies closer, are just as Shakespearean in their dynamics and memorable in their dramatic dialogue and unforgettable moments as anything from the first Godfather. This is how you do a sequel.
Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for the next instalment of the countdown, as I explore movies #40 - #31; these include my all-time favorite horror film, the funniest movie of all time, the only action movie better than Die Hard, and one of the only two documentaries to make the list.
P.S. I recently saw DC's new film The Suicide Squad, and I thoroughly recommend checking it out at your local cinema. For a comic book film, it was remarkably Tarantino-esque, boldly written and clearly true to director James Gunn's unique vision instead of the usual scaled-down studio interference we often get from DC. Much, much, much better than the original Suicide Squad (2016).
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