Midnight Express
It’s problematic at almost every thematic level, but the technical excellence and even the strong supporting performances make it a film that you can’t fully look away from once you turn it on.
Mildred Pierce
Mildred Pierce is a delight of a noir, taking a fresh look at the typical themes of greed and corruption and mixing them with the social dramas often seen in stories about women, led by a powerhouse performance from Joan Crawford, all coming together to make one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Arguably, the importance of the message and themes of Good Night, and Good Luck. has only increased in the twenty years since its release.
We Were Here
The barebones style of documentary filmmaking showcased in We Were Here makes it a highly effective form of information distribution, earning it a place among the all-time greats.
Before Sunset
It’s a beautiful look at the what-if’s of life and the passion that comes with maturing, and it’s arguably a better film than the first, which is excellent in its own right, and for those reasons, I’d argue that it unquestionably deserves recognition as one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Jules and Jim
It is a film carried by its performances and style, especially the showing from Jeanne Moreau, which makes it an easy film to enjoy and appreciate, definitely deserving of consideration among the greats.
Still Walking
It’s a brilliant film that also happens to be well-acted and emotionally impactful because of how well it depicts the reality of family relationships, earning it a spot among the greats.
The Lost Weekend
Through Milland’s lead performance and Wilder’s writing and direction, it’s easy to see how The Lost Weekend earned the Best Picture Oscar and a place among the greatest films of all time.
Michael Clayton
The acting and intensely gripping plot of Michael Clayton have helped it stand the test of time to become one of the all-time greats.
Wicked
Inspired casting of two incredible leads, both of whom fully deserve their awards recognition, and some excellent work in the costume and production design combined with Chu’s ability to translate a musical to screen in a way that feels uniquely cinematic makes Wicked one of the films that will surely stand the test of time from 2024.
The Brutalist
Strong performances and fantastic visuals earned The Brutalist enough recognition from critics, audiences, and awards bodies to earn it the title of top film of 2024 according to this blog’s formula.
The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot certainly deserves recognition as one of the best films of 2024 thanks in large part to its stellar voice cast, universal story, and beautiful animation work, and down the road, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it recognized as one of the best of all time either.
How to Train Your Dragon
Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders gave us a near perfect family animated film in How to Train Your Dragon with a story, characters, animation, and score that all work in harmony to produce a film that became an instant classic and is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats.
The Sound of Music
Regardless of how you feel about the film’s overwhelming optimism, there’s no doubt that The Sound of Music continues to stand the test of time thanks in large part to its music and characters, especially the performances from its two leads, and it certainly deserves recognition as one of the Greatest Films of All Time.