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.
Juno
Between a stellar cast owning the feel and energy that the film seeks to capture and a script that refuses to become overtly caught up in the “issues” at the heart of its story, instead highlighting the humans that engage with those issues, Juno is more than deserving of recognition among the all-time greats.
Precious
Precious is a deeply moving film carried by its front and center performances that has plenty to say about poverty, literacy, and the ways that humanity can overcome in even the darkest of places with the right support systems in place, well-deserving of a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Letters from Iwo Jima
Clint Eastwood has given us a superior war film in Letters from Iwo Jima that brilliantly portrays the dehumanizing nature of warfare with poignant stories that humanize those we often view as the enemy, fully deserving of a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Leaving Las Vegas
It’s a film carried by its performances, but they’re certainly strong enough to do so, earning it a place among the greats.
Talk to Her
It’s well-written, excellently acted, and contains plenty of meditations on the complexities of the human experience to earn its recognition as one of the greats.
The Lion in Winter
Across the board, the film is well acted and well-put-together, providing a weighty and deeply engaging treat for any who give it the time of day, fully deserving of recognition among the greats.
The Bad and the Beautiful
The Bad and the Beautiful succeeds at telling an excellent story with excellent characters that simultaneously rips and celebrates Hollywood without ever gilding anything with a sense of nostalgia or reverence, earning the film a place of greatness.
Chariots of Fire
As it goes, Chariots of Fire holds up as a strong, well-acted, entertaining, and beautifully scored sports film that actually does earn its accolades and holds up fairly well on rewatch.
Moulin Rouge!
Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! is a delight of a musical, complete with big numbers, catchy tunes, strong production value, and two romantic leads that fit the film’s needs perfectly all working in harmony to prove the film’s place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
RRR
RRR feels in many ways like the ideal entrance for Western audiences into the world of Indian cinema; with a dramatic story that’s equal parts familiar and foreign and music and action that feel like the best of what Hollywood has ever tried to offer, it earns its place among the greats.
Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One isn’t just one of the best monster/kaiju movies ever made, but simply one of the best films ever made thanks in large part to its great visuals and compelling story that blends excellently the two factors that make such films so popular.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is ultimately a triumph of both the animation craft and of storytelling, though, more than deserving of a place among the greats.
The Producers
Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder provide the proper leading performances to bolster the brilliant satire of Mel Brooks in The Producers, cementing the film’s place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
As Good as It Gets
An amazing trio of performances from Nicholson, Hunt, and Kinnear carry the film and its message in As Good as It Gets, selling the romance, comedy, and drama that the film needed to earn a place among the greats.
Son of Saul
While Son of Saul is not quite as ubiquitously digestible as Spielberg’s Schindler’s List or Benigni’s Life Is Beautiful, it still offers yet another unique and impactful take on the Holocaust that goes beyond showcasing its horrors or garnering sympathy for its victims to celebrate the will of those who lived through it, earning this film also a spot among the greats.
A Place in the Sun
Ultimately, A Place in the Sun is an inconsistent film, carried by strong leading performances bolstered by some interesting social commentaries that end up falling short of their potential due to the norms and mores of the era.
Harlan County U.S.A.
Harlan County U.S.A. presents a hopeful and realistic look at the plight of laborers and unions in the United States, showcasing the potential efficacy of media in cooperation with the common person and earning a place of greatness in the process.