Fruitvale Station
Strong performances from Spencer and Jordan support a well-crafted message of humanity and the need for police reform in Fruitvale Station, making its place among the Greatest Films of All Time unquestionable.
Beasts of No Nation
As a well-crafted study of masculinity and dangerously charismatic leaders, Beasts of No Nation shines thanks to strong performances from both Abraham Attah and Idris Elba, who help the film communicate its message effectively.
F for Fake
With the personality of its writer/director/narrator Welles coming through in every meticulously edited moment, F for Fake delivers a shining example of what documentaries/film essays can be – worth watching, entertaining, and informative all at once.
Monsieur Lazhar
Monsieur Lazhar is a triumph of emotional storytelling, combining an authentic look at life on a school’s campus with a deeply touching story of grieving in a narrative that is carried by its three lead actors.
Nobody’s Fool
Nobody’s Fool takes a strong lead performance in Paul Newman, supported by solid outings from Bruce Willis, Jessica Tandy, and Melanie Griffith, and combines it with a wholesome story that blends comedy and drama masterfully to create a film that deserves a place among the Greats.
Stand by Me
Stand by Me’s familiar coming-of-age narrative is bolstered by its leading performers and a deep level of emotional poignancy, making this particular Stephen King adaptation worthy of its place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Passenger
Nicholson’s uncharacteristically subtle and nuanced performance played against a script with themes of dissatisfaction that many can relate to combined with an incredibly shot climax help make The Passenger as great as it is.
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.