Anyway, here goes:
It's A Wonderful Life
Directed by Frank Capra, 1946
This is o
ne of the most sentimental films of all time, which usually I hate, but this is different, in a whole different spectrum. James Stewart gives his best performance here as George Bailey, the man stuck in his small hometown Bedford Falls for his entire life, longing to travel, go somewhere, be someone. This never materialises as we watch his story unfold through a series of flashbacks. Capra paces the film brilliantly and the excellent script makes sure everything unfolds and is revealed at the right time for maximum effect. The ending is so emotional I would be shocked if you failed to cry.
ne of the most sentimental films of all time, which usually I hate, but this is different, in a whole different spectrum. James Stewart gives his best performance here as George Bailey, the man stuck in his small hometown Bedford Falls for his entire life, longing to travel, go somewhere, be someone. This never materialises as we watch his story unfold through a series of flashbacks. Capra paces the film brilliantly and the excellent script makes sure everything unfolds and is revealed at the right time for maximum effect. The ending is so emotional I would be shocked if you failed to cry. Number 9
Blue Velvet
Directed by David Lynch, 1986
Lynch's most accesible film, and als
o his masterpiece. Another film set in small town America which you do find frequently in Lynch's films. This is the story of Jeffrey Beaumont, who one day stumbles upon a severed ear, and he begins to discover his supposedly perfect town is hiding a dark world beneath the white fences and perfect green lawns. Lynch uses very symbolic imagery of good and evil in this film and it is much easier to follow as it is his most linear plot. This is not the reason I call it his masterpiece though, his direction is superb, the performances from McLachlan, Dern, Rosselini and Hopper (especially Hopper) are the main factors towards. A very suspenseful and tense film, it is thrilling up until it's climax.
o his masterpiece. Another film set in small town America which you do find frequently in Lynch's films. This is the story of Jeffrey Beaumont, who one day stumbles upon a severed ear, and he begins to discover his supposedly perfect town is hiding a dark world beneath the white fences and perfect green lawns. Lynch uses very symbolic imagery of good and evil in this film and it is much easier to follow as it is his most linear plot. This is not the reason I call it his masterpiece though, his direction is superb, the performances from McLachlan, Dern, Rosselini and Hopper (especially Hopper) are the main factors towards. A very suspenseful and tense film, it is thrilling up until it's climax. Number 8
O Lucky Man
Directed by Lindsay Anderson, 1973
The amazing, hypnotic, surrea
l and mesmirising story of Mick Travis during his days working for a coffee company and beyond. This is Lindsay Anderson's second film in the excellent Mick Travis trilogy. If... and Britannia Hospital are both brilliant but both are not quite as masterful as O Lucky Man!, a film that showcases Anderson's brilliant direction and script writing. His journey is brilliantly eventful and exciting but most of all surreal, which is of course what makes Anderson's films what they are, and makes them so original. Added to this is Alan Price In the recording studio (where Travis ends up at one point) providing an excellent soundtrack.
l and mesmirising story of Mick Travis during his days working for a coffee company and beyond. This is Lindsay Anderson's second film in the excellent Mick Travis trilogy. If... and Britannia Hospital are both brilliant but both are not quite as masterful as O Lucky Man!, a film that showcases Anderson's brilliant direction and script writing. His journey is brilliantly eventful and exciting but most of all surreal, which is of course what makes Anderson's films what they are, and makes them so original. Added to this is Alan Price In the recording studio (where Travis ends up at one point) providing an excellent soundtrack. Number 7
Back To The Future
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, 1985
I am not ashamed one bit t
o include this in my list, infact i'm proud. A film that is above all else entertaining and always makes you smile. A film that anyone, anywhere can enjoy and is also so original. The story of teenager Marty McFly and his friendship with failing inventor Doctor Emmett Brown. When Doc Brown shows Marty his best invention to date and Marty forced back to the year 1955, a race against time to save his family and himself begins. Even explaining it make me smile. Huey Lewis' soundtrack is also very pleasing. I love it!
o include this in my list, infact i'm proud. A film that is above all else entertaining and always makes you smile. A film that anyone, anywhere can enjoy and is also so original. The story of teenager Marty McFly and his friendship with failing inventor Doctor Emmett Brown. When Doc Brown shows Marty his best invention to date and Marty forced back to the year 1955, a race against time to save his family and himself begins. Even explaining it make me smile. Huey Lewis' soundtrack is also very pleasing. I love it! Number 6
Tokyo Story
Directed by Yasujiro Ozu, 1953
Widely considered as Ya
sujiro Ozu's masterpiece this films is the brilliant tale of one families conflicts between generations. The sad tale of two generations, the parents and the children. The aprents come to Tokyo to visit their fully grown children but soon come to realise that they are neither needed or wanted by the children. A tale about life and it's chanigng meaning, and an amazing emotional journey. Ozu's style is probably most noticeable in this film and his direction also. Hara and Ryu are superb in two of the leads.
sujiro Ozu's masterpiece this films is the brilliant tale of one families conflicts between generations. The sad tale of two generations, the parents and the children. The aprents come to Tokyo to visit their fully grown children but soon come to realise that they are neither needed or wanted by the children. A tale about life and it's chanigng meaning, and an amazing emotional journey. Ozu's style is probably most noticeable in this film and his direction also. Hara and Ryu are superb in two of the leads.Number 5
Rear Window
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, 1954
This'll b
e very debateable i'm sure but I have always said that this is the Hitch's masterpiece. James Stewart once again shines in his role as LB Jeffries, an injured journalist forced into a wheelchair for a few weeks. During this period he begins to watch his neighbours with some binoculars and believes he has seen a murder. Hitchcock's title as the master of suspense is never better demonstrated than here. A film that creates so much tension and suspense at times it is unbearable to watch on without shouting. Hitchcock has the camera in Jeffries' room for the entire film which creates a great feeling of helplessness. A cinematic experience that should be seen by all.
e very debateable i'm sure but I have always said that this is the Hitch's masterpiece. James Stewart once again shines in his role as LB Jeffries, an injured journalist forced into a wheelchair for a few weeks. During this period he begins to watch his neighbours with some binoculars and believes he has seen a murder. Hitchcock's title as the master of suspense is never better demonstrated than here. A film that creates so much tension and suspense at times it is unbearable to watch on without shouting. Hitchcock has the camera in Jeffries' room for the entire film which creates a great feeling of helplessness. A cinematic experience that should be seen by all.Number 4
Stranger Than Paradise
Directed by Jim Jarmusch, 1984
Jarmusch ha
s made many brilliant pictures but none as brilliant as Stranger Than Paradise. A film which has little plot but manages to keep the viewer interested through it's brilliant characters, two men and a women who you are fixated with from the moment you learn their names. Willie and Eddie, two friends in New York, find themselves accomodating Eddie's cousin from Hungary when she visits. After she leaves they go on a trip to visit her. That is about it in terms of plot, but don't be fooled, Stranger Than Paradise is one of the best films ever made, undoubtedly.
s made many brilliant pictures but none as brilliant as Stranger Than Paradise. A film which has little plot but manages to keep the viewer interested through it's brilliant characters, two men and a women who you are fixated with from the moment you learn their names. Willie and Eddie, two friends in New York, find themselves accomodating Eddie's cousin from Hungary when she visits. After she leaves they go on a trip to visit her. That is about it in terms of plot, but don't be fooled, Stranger Than Paradise is one of the best films ever made, undoubtedly. Number 3
Chinatown
Directed by Roman Polanski, 1974
Roman Polanski is a film-m
aker I hold in very high regard and I hold many of his films in very high regard but this film, made in 1974, is undoubtedly his masterpiece. Film Noir of the highest standard with one of the greatest actors ever in the lead. Jack Nicholson is brilliant as JJ Gittes, the private eye who is recruited by Evelyn Mulwray when she suspects her husband of having an affair, he exposes him but later he is found dead. Gittes then finds out he has been mislead when the real Evelyn Mulwray turns up at his office. She recruits him eventually, which leads him into another world of lies, which all seem to lead to the cities water supply. Unmissable.
aker I hold in very high regard and I hold many of his films in very high regard but this film, made in 1974, is undoubtedly his masterpiece. Film Noir of the highest standard with one of the greatest actors ever in the lead. Jack Nicholson is brilliant as JJ Gittes, the private eye who is recruited by Evelyn Mulwray when she suspects her husband of having an affair, he exposes him but later he is found dead. Gittes then finds out he has been mislead when the real Evelyn Mulwray turns up at his office. She recruits him eventually, which leads him into another world of lies, which all seem to lead to the cities water supply. Unmissable. Number 2
Late Spring
Directed by Yasujiro Ozu, 1949
I have alr
eady included Tokyo Story, the film most consider to be Ozu's masterpiece. I disagree with that stance, this is Ouz's masterpiece. Late Spring is about a widowed father who want's his daughter to be married however she doesn't want to be married and want's to look after him. After she is married he realises how lonely it is without her and how happy she was before. A very sad and moving picture, with Ryu and Hara once again giving brilliant performaces. Hara especially is superb and gives her overall best performance here. Ozu at his very best.
eady included Tokyo Story, the film most consider to be Ozu's masterpiece. I disagree with that stance, this is Ouz's masterpiece. Late Spring is about a widowed father who want's his daughter to be married however she doesn't want to be married and want's to look after him. After she is married he realises how lonely it is without her and how happy she was before. A very sad and moving picture, with Ryu and Hara once again giving brilliant performaces. Hara especially is superb and gives her overall best performance here. Ozu at his very best.Number 1
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Directed by Milos Forman, 1975
An epic film, funny, movi
ng,uplifting, majestic. It is an astonishing piece of work. The story of Randle McMurphy who claims to be mentally disturbed in order to avoid going to prison. There he encounters Nurse Ratched, a subtly tyranical head nurse who rules his ward and strikes fear in the patients. From the moment he arrives McMurphy sets out to change this, this is the film. The entire cast gives great performances to make this the truly amazing film it is.
ng,uplifting, majestic. It is an astonishing piece of work. The story of Randle McMurphy who claims to be mentally disturbed in order to avoid going to prison. There he encounters Nurse Ratched, a subtly tyranical head nurse who rules his ward and strikes fear in the patients. From the moment he arrives McMurphy sets out to change this, this is the film. The entire cast gives great performances to make this the truly amazing film it is.
