Eighth Grade
A welcome blend of authentic humor and drama suffuse Burnham’s script that then receives an even bigger boost from the performance of Elsie Fisher, taking the whole film to a place of all-time greatness.
Another Round
Vinterberg’s Another Round is the perfect dark buddy comedy for a modern audience, using alcohol, authentic teacher experiences, and great acting to convey a universal reminder about the beauty and fragility of life and its need to be lived.
Short Term 12
The ensemble cast of Short Term 12 help make Destin Daniel Cretton’s beautifully real film into something truly great, full of emotion, originality, and humanity, as it earns a spot on this blog’s list.
God’s Own Country
With strong showings from its leading men to bolster its story about loneliness and human connection, God’s Own Country tells a very British romantic story in a fashion worthy of a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Last train Home
Last Train Home excels through its focus on a unique and necessary subject and a filmmaking style closer to drama films than documentaries, setting itself apart in that world and earning a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Wings of Desire
Wenders invites audiences into an engaging celebration of the human race through his story of angels and humans and life and its struggles and celebrations that coalesce to make the complete film that is Wings of Desire, a film worthy of a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Before Sunrise
Through the chemistry and delivery of Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke and the brilliant writing of Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan, Before Sunrise sets itself apart in the world of romantic dramas, elevated to a place of greatness that only improves with its sequels.
Husbands and Wives
Judy Davis’s strong turn as the wildly entertaining Sally only does so much to distract the audience from Woody Allen’s well-written defense of his own troubling life choices, which make this film great, but probably shouldn’t earn it a spot on anyone’s must-watch list.
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
With two quality performances, tactfully done explorations of human relationships, and an infectious amount of authenticity baked into its every moment, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore distinguishes itself as a highlight in Scorsese’s filmography and truly one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Class
The Class’s experiential take on education from the point of view of a single teacher gives the audience a unique but very authentic take on the world of the classroom that feels more real than just about any other film made on the subject, earning it a much-deserved spot among the greats.
Incendies
Adapting Mouawad’s play of the same name, Incendies benefits from a strong nonlinear story that gives each of its three main characters plenty of space to play in the haunting and war-torn world of the film that Villeneuve and Turpin worked hard to create on the screen, warranting it a spot solidly among the greats.
A Star Is Born (1937)
In what is the first of many films of this name, A Star Is Born (1937) establishes its universal story of hopes, dreams, love, addiction, and heartbreak with the help of two fantastic leading performances from Janet Gaynor and Fredric March.
The Magician
In The Magician, Bergman has crafted his own sideshow, blending genres and subplots and skillful camerawork together into a singularly unique and entertaining piece of film, deserving of mention among the greats.
Mulholland Drive
David Lynch’s iconic ode to the dreams and realities of making it in Hollywood makes its place among the Greatest Films of All Time with the help of its two leading ladies and its ability to continually engage new audiences with each watch and rewatch.
The China Syndrome
The China Syndrome is a satisfying and thought-provoking journalistic thriller that reaches the heights of greatness thanks to strong showings from Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, and Jack Lemmon.