|
|
10 Best Movies Top 10 Movies and only Top 10 films for Epinions 10th Birthday!!!!Sep 09 '09 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line 10 Best Movies, 10 Greatest Movies all time. See 'em. On the happy occassion of Epinons 10th Anniversary let me take this opportunity to deliver a new 10 best Films of all Time list.. There’s a few changes from my previous lists, and I updated my comments about each film, linked them to some reviews so you can read further if you are so inclined . I look forward to reading and responding to your comments. (Have you seen them all? More than once? In a Theater? On a good quality DVD and Television?) 1) Citizen Kane (1941, Orson Welles) Barely disguised un-authorized critical biography of William Randolph Hearst; features incredible cinematic innovations, frame compositions, lighting, deep focus techniques, narrative tricks and more, rarely (if ever) used on film before., There's superb acting, a strong script, it is that rarity in film–ART. It's also easy to appreciate if you're not too anxious to reject it's greatest film of all time moniker. It is the best. (It’s also got one of the rudest inside jokes ever made public…). And if you don’t enjoy it for it’s acting, story, style, dialogue, then just know it influenced more movie-makers than any other film in history. It was the subject of a huge multi-million dollar publicity campaign by William Randolph Hearst who tried for more than a decade to not only destroy the film itself but Orson Welles’ reputation. He partially succeeded on de-railing Welles…but not in destroying the film. One of the best essays I’ve ever read on the film is right here: http://www.epinions.com/review/mvie_mu-1004218/mvie-review-4874-81FD18C-38741497-bd4 (No I didn’t write it…) 2) ChinaTown (1974- Roman Polanski) Polanski took Robert Towne's brilliant screenplay, improved what would have been a compromised ending and re-invented film noir. The screenplay has been put up on a pedestal and declared one of the most perfect ever written—which of course demands some sort of back-lash …but …we are right. The complex screenplay was a nearly perfect blue-print for an incredible film and Polanski and crew fulfilled the promise. As perfect as a film can be, but is stronger in intellectual emotion than some prefer. You pretty much have to watch the film several times to fully appreciate it. 3) Rear Window (1954, Alfred Hitchcock) A daring, years-ahead of it's time suspense thriller, which plays on several levels at the same time and remains for me, Hitchcock's and James Stewart's finest. There are many technical innovations, and how various story elements, characters are blended into the whole is worthy of a 10,000 word essay at least. There’s a whole bunch of psycho-sexual relations in terms of the 1950s until today to discuss too. But you know what… it’s a very exciting, entertaining film to watch just for the fun of it. In fact that is why.. Window is here rather than the possibly more cinematically important and daring Vertigo (1958, Alfred Hitchcock). Daring because several things about Vertigo on it’s surface don’t make any sense but it goes for an emotional truth few films ever have—risking everything in the process, dangling by fingers from a … oh but we are talking about Rear Window here…. 4) The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928, Carl Theodore Dreyer) Please read my long review about this incredible film when you get a chance. A work of Art that remains powerful and a must see for any self-proclaimed lover of cinema. No excuse not to see it now that there is a beautiful Criterion DVD presentation now available. I hope you’ll read my review of it.. here: http://www.epinions.com/review/mvie_mu-1053799/mvie-review-5A8C-25CC2E3-39ABBC8B-prod1 (but wait Chris.. don’t you have here at Epinions a list of best movies with Wizard of Oz as the 4th Best….. Yep, Wizard is a classic, and there’s an amazing story about how the different pieces all came together against all odds to make the movie we have today…. In terms of Best, meaning artistic, influential, important Passion is now where it needs to be.. 5) Keaton Shorts (Cops, Sherlock Jr.) I realize calling several shorts the 5th best movie of all time is a bit of a fudge, but Keaton's shorts where mini-masterpieces of comedy. Besides the incredible acrobatics and sight-gags, there was the Keaton timing, the constant challenge to himself to do something a little different a little more clever, a little smarter or a little better than anyone else was doing. He was innovative, brilliant and finally taken for granted and discarded. Thankfully re-discovered before his death and recently re-discovered in part thanks to Jackie Chan!!! And yes Chaplin is just about as deserving to be here too...but I give the slightest edge to Keaton and quite honestly he doesn't drown me in pathos like Chaplin sometimes does. Sherlock Junior in particular not only expanded what was technically possible with in-camera effects, but showed how to incorporate the innovation into (a still worthy of intense analysis and discussion) an utterly brilliant and screamingly funny film. If you absolutely insist that I put a full length movie here, then enter THE GENERAL. When you first watch it, it will seem slow and dated to you. First Civil War photographs were painstakingly recreated to create the look of the film by Keaton. Rather than make it an all out acrobatic comedy, he was interested in being historical accurate and in creating a human drama with comedic and romantic moments. Mission accomplished a brilliant film. 6) Singin' in the Rain (1952 Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly) Combining the best of the old, with some of the most beloved cinematic sequences ever filmed, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Jean Hagen and Debbie Reynolds were never better. It represents romantic musical comedy better and more completely than any film I know of. It’s also a story about the movies and it sets its story at the time when the talkies replaced silent cinema. Good back drop for a romance since communication and love are important factors in creating healthy long lasting relationships. Of course there’s not even a hint in the fun glossy colorful entertaining movie itself that there may be a wealth of interesting psychological things to examine and discuss. So there you go…. Forget it.. I’m just singin’ and dancin’ in the rain….then I’m gonna make’em laugh 7) Duck Soup (1933, Leo McCarey) The pinnacle of the Marx Brothers madness is captured in this film which though not a flop, was not the hit the studio expected and so it was considered a flop and meant the Marx Brothers’ film contract with Paramount was NOT renewed and they were OUT. . Harpo's finest moments can be found here, Groucho is in peak form and Chico ain't no slouch either. There’s also all that anti-war and anarchy stuff that you can latch onto here as well. My all-time favorite Marx Brothers film is still Horsefeathers, (1932, Norman Z McLeod) because it makes me laugh the hardest and loudest but it’s not as consistent or as ‘important’ as Duck Soup. 8) ) Bride of Frankenstein (1935, James Whale) A sequel better than the original. The King of all gothics. Touching, human, funny, warm, disturbing and unforgettable. The German gothic influence, the use of light and shadow, the way in which the fantastic is simply made part of the film… and the very human elements that are part of the story all make this film an entertaining to delight to experience. It’s also the single most influential horror film ever made. It was popular enough to gain some respect for the genre, and it married the literary with science fiction, horror and comedy… not to mention romance. See it again, soon. 9) Godfather Part 2 ( 1974, F.F. Coppola) Impossible as it seems, Coppola topped his Godfather with this perfect near-opera epic of a very dysfunctional family. Pacino at his very best, but everyone is superb. It didn't seem possible that anything could possibly top the original Godfather-- particularly Brando's acting tour de force but it happened… Coppola took a decent popular novel and turned into a gangster opera masterpiece. Somehow he was able to do it even better the second time around !!! He gives a broader stroke in Part 2 retracing the history of the Corleone family and the continuation of the story bringing out some of the best performances ever witnessed on film from an impressive cast that includes Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton, John Cazalle, and Robert Duvall who are all eclipsed by a stunning performance from Al Pacino. Powerful, memorable, a stunning brilliant film. WOW. and to think Francis didn't want to make the movie and only agreed to do it after he got the okay to make another masterpiece which makes my top 25 list….The Conversation !!! My review of The Godfather Collection DVD package: http://www.epinions.com/review/mvie_mu-1108865/content_43426025092 10) Wild Bunch (1969 Sam Peckinpah) Acting, direction, screenplay, lighting, staging, pacing, photography, editing, music. Each set-piece scene better than the one before building to that incredible controversial climax. It is still influencing how movies are made. It was finally restored in 1981 to its original un-censored glory and intended length. No it is not as shocking today as it was in 1969, but it’s value is far beyond it’s ground-breaking rule breaking shock factor but in the way in updated and incorporated the best of Ford and Hawks and went further. Wonderful details, breathtaking sweep, once in a life-time cast… an amazing American classic . http://www.epinions.com/review/mvie_mu-1059489/mvie-review-151E-3BBDFCFD-3A1F3006-prod6 The Top 50 Movies review I wrote up in 2003 http://www.epinions.com/content_3162742916 As Epinions celebrates it's 10th and I reflect on being part of the community for over 9 years it's been a memorable ride. Watching so many people grow as writers and members has been the best part of sticking around through the thick and thin. Remembering some of the people who are no longer with us but shared some of their writings here is priceless.  |
| Read all comments (2)|Write your own comment |
in Movies
- Top 10
by cdm72
by jeff_wilder78 by Stephen_Murray
