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.
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.
To Be or Not to Be
To Be or Not to Be is a uniquely fun screwball comedy that handles its subject matter well with plenty of irreverent laughter without ever actually stepping into the realm of making light of the struggles of others, earning a clear spot among the Greatest Films of All Time as it does so.
Chimes at Midnight
Welles takes the lion’s share of the credit for the greatness of Chimes at Midnight in both his direction and acting, giving us a portrayal of the works of Shakespeare that stay true to the original content while highlighting their universal nature, earning the film a spot among the greats along the way.
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.
Foreign Correspondent
Strong espionage story, action, and characters elevate the screenplay and story of Hitchcock’s Foreign Correspondent to a place of cinematic greatness.
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.
Mrs. Miniver
Mrs. Miniver’s cast lends a much-needed sense of weight and emotion to this film about surviving the turmoil of the early days of World War II, earning it a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
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.
Love and Death
The way that Woody Allen interposes his own style within the world and expectations of Russian period dramas and the other influences of Eastern Europe feels so seamless and hilarious that the placement of Love and Death among the Greatest Films of All Time feels more fitting than just about any other film from the writer/director.
To Have and Have Not
To Have and Have Not is full of a slew of iconic characters that help set it apart from its predecessors with similar stories and still earn a deserved spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
M*A*S*H
The true success of M*A*S*H lies not so much in its humor or characters but in the authentic sense of disconnectedness that permeates the film, leaving the audience with the sense that these soldiers, joking though they may be, deserve our sympathy, marking the film as one worth remembering in cinematic history.
Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda does the important work of showing audiences that the Rwandan Genocide was carried out by actual people as the result of European colonization of the nation, all of it with engrossing performances from its lead man and chief supporting lady, warranting recognition as one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Hacksaw Ridge
Led by Andrew Garfield, populated by Gibson’s directorial vision, and ultimately driven by Doss’s own convictions in favor of peace and pacifism, Hacksaw Ridge undeniably earns its place among biopics, World War II films, and, ultimately, the Greatest Films of All Time.
Life Is BeautIFUL
Life Is Beautiful stands the test of time thanks to its strong central performance from actor/writer/director Roberto Benigni that speaks to the film’s message of fighting back against tragedy and oppression through celebrations of life and love, ultimately making the film one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Born on the Fourth of July
Born on the Fourth of July features a masterclass performance from Tom Cruise in the leading role that ties the film together, allowing it to present its thoughts on veterans and the military industrial complex to the audience in a compelling way that earns the film a place of greatness.
Darkest Hour
Darkest Hour serves as a vehicle for one of the great performances of the current century in Gary Oldman’s Churchill, earning it a spot among the greats.
