Blood Simple
The Coen Brothers’ first outing – Blood Simple – suffers at times from its small budget and limited scope but is bolstered by their familiar style, a proto-No Country story, and a stellar breakout performance by Frances McDormand as their leading lady.
Tender Mercies
Tender Mercies is perhaps the quintessential country music film, combining original music with a deeply emotional performance and a very real-feeling setting to produce something that embodies country music as a genre.
The Kid with a Bike
Solid, realistic acting on the parts of Doret and de France help to ground The Kid with a Bike’s familiar story, bringing home its fresh take on the coming-of-age story.
A Fantastic Woman
A refreshingly original take, a consistently solid lead performance, and some beautifully framed shots bring greatness to A Fantastic Woman.
An Officer and a Gentleman
An Officer and a Gentleman is a near perfect blend of 1980s synth-y music, cheesy romance, and military drama, augmented by some skillful performances from its main actors.
35 Shots of Rum
35 Shots of Rum benefits from Claire Denis’s subtle storytelling that invites the audience deeper into the story and from a story that is so honest and mundane as to be relatable to most audiences.
My Dinner with Andre
Artful storytelling on the part of Andre Gregory and an increasingly relevant overall message help make the seemingly simple and potentially dull dialogue of My Dinner with Andre into a Great Film.
Animal Kingdom
When framed as a family drama that happens to be crime-crime associated, Animal Kingdom’s greatness shines through thanks to some solid casting and good writing from the filmmakers.
Richard III (1955)
High-class Shakespearian actors and breathtakingly beautiful sets and costumes make Laurence Olivier’s Richard III one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
In America
Honesty about the grieving process, powerfully emotional adult performances, and surprisingly well-done child acting are the building blocks that make In America a great film.
The Band’s Visit
The Band’s Visit’s unique blend of comedy, family drama, and romance creates an exceptional film, worthy of its place among the Greats.
Places in the Heart
Ultimately, Places in the Heart serves as a flawed vehicle for some excellent performances, which make it one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Song of Bernadette
Skillful acting from its young lead and a message of personal faith overcoming societal pressures make The Song of Bernadette worth watching.
Seven Days in May
A classic political thriller, Seven Days in May triumphs through its skillful acting and consistently resonant themes of hope in democracy and peace over fascism and militarism.
I Lost My Body
I Lost My Body’s unique structure and premise are what make it so great. Simple narrative, basic themes, and a mildly problematic attempt at romance keep it from rising higher on this list, but originality makes it a film that still bears watching.
Boiling Point
Stephen Graham’s skilled performance as Chef Andy and the film’s genuinely stressful one-shot cinematography help the audience see past Boiling Point’s lack of major statements about the many issues that dance around its periphery.