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.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a powerfully acted film that reminds us of our duty to stand up for those who can’t stand for themselves, especially in the world we currently live in, certainly deserving of mention alongside great films.
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.
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.
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.
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
The strong leading performances from Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant are bolstered by a well-written script and solid direction from Marielle Heller to make Can You Ever Forgive Me? into a refreshingly unique and excellent take on the biopic, earning it a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Reversal of Fortune
The leading performances of Reversal of Fortune are what have earned it a place among the all-time greats, but none stand taller than Jeremy Irons’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Claus von Bülow, which keeps the audience guessing and almost rooting against the narrative at every turn while staying fully hooked into how it’ll all play out.
An Education
Between its artful, innovative, and unique coming-of-age story and the wonderful performance from Carey Mulligan, An Education more than earns its place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
I, Tonya
Bolstered by a message that goes beyond the negative effects of sex, drugs, and rock and roll and by a leading cast that collectively give some of the best performances of their careers, I, Tonya is elevated above the typical biopic fare to be a film that fully deserves a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Intolerance
Credit is owed where it’s due, and for D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance, credit is owed greatly to its filmmaking techniques that gave audiences a historical epic interwoven with a tale of the Christ, a French historic melodrama, and a modern parable of legalism and capitalism, earning it a place among the greats.
Bloody Sunday
Told with such a gripping style, Bloody Sunday showcases its greatness and Greengrass’s skill as a filmmaker by refusing to let you look away from the atrocities that it seeks to depict, cementing a place beside the Greatest Films of All Time as it does so.
BlackBerry
Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton shine as the leads in BlackBerry, giving contrasting performances that elevate its historic tale to levels of dramedy excellence, earning the film a place among the greats.
The Straight Story
The Straight Story features an excellent combination of execution from actor and director with Farnsworth’s grounding performance allowing Lynch’s surrealist sensibilities to shine and vice versa, giving audiences a tale that’s equal parts relatable and thought-provoking, earning a place of greatness.
The Great Escape
The brilliant pacing, storytelling, and character work done by all those involved in The Great Escape have turned it into one of the most iconic and Greatest Films of All Time.
Dead Man Walking
With his two shining leads in Sarandon and Penn, Tim Robbins delivers a truly nuanced and heartfelt look at the death penalty, emphasizing the universality of human dignity and the need of all people for love in the process, earning this film a place among the greats.