The Kids Are All Right
Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right hits the right notes in its examination of the complex nature of family thanks to the combination of her writing and the perfect trio of leading performers to make it sing, earning it a place among the greats.
The Iron Giant
The many positive aspects of The Iron Giant – its comedy, resonance, themes, and animation – coalesce into a near-perfect animated film, worthy of a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Midnight in Paris
Midnight in Paris utilizes its nostalgia to remind its audience that the present has just as much to offer as the past if only we choose to pursue it, a worthy entry into the annals of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Sita Sings the Blues
Paley’s blend of animation styles go a long way in keeping the film engaging, but it’s really the actual retelling of the Ramayana that give Sita Sings the Blues the edge that it needs to earn a place among the greats.
Licorice Pizza
The leading performances of Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman help anchor Paul Thomas Anderson’s combination love letter to the 1970s and coming-of-age tale to a place that is worthy of mention alongside the greats of cinema.
Erin Brockovich
As a vehicle for Julia Roberts’s leading performance, Erin Brockovich shines, shaping every bit of itself toward cementing its leading lady’s place in history (both the real Brockovich and Roberts for her performance), more than earning itself a place among the Greatest Films of All Time in the process.
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.
Local Hero
The blend of comedy, message, and optimism contained in Local Hero make it an easy and memorable film that deserves its place in the spotlight.
Ernest & Celestine
While its animation and style would make for a great film on their own, Ernest & Celestine’s message of overcoming prejudices in order to forge bonds of friendship that lead to the cultivation of one another’s strengths makes it a film worthy of all-time great status.
King Kong (1933)
King Kong stands the test of time thanks to its innovative approach to visual effects and a genuinely engaging display of monster movie magic that combine to earn it a spot among the greats.
Capturing the Friedmans
By exploring the inconsistencies of the American legal/judicial system and the confirmation bias inherent to many police investigations and interviews, Capturing the Friedmans asserts itself as one of the premier true crime documentaries.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish shows that children’s sequels don’t have to be simple cash grabs and that animation can offer mature themes, fun action, and interesting characters to audiences of all ages, making it a film worthy of recognition among the greats and one worth celebrating for years to come.
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.
A Patch of Blue
A Patch of Blue delivers its much-needed message of tolerance through the powerful performances of its four central characters and the musical score that plays behind all their actions, reminding us of the human need for acceptance, which earns this film a spot on the list.
Promising Young Woman
Carey Mulligan’s leading performance pairs perfectly with Emerald Fennell’s script and story in Promising Young Woman to give audiences a film that captures the outrage of victims of sexual assault across the world who have been silenced because of the inconveniences of their plights, making this one of the most necessary and greatest films ever made.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The speed and execution of the story in Invasion of the Body Snatchers make it one for the ages, delivering a high intensity thriller that’ll leave you questioning just enough to come away satisfied, marking it as one of the greats.
The Theory of Everything
Two stellar leading performances make what could otherwise be a paint-by-numbers biopic combined with an okay example of a period romantic drama into a showcase of acting capabilities and moving performances in The Theory of Everything, saving its place among the greats.
My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro checks so many of the boxes for what makes a film good: from its animation and music to its story and themes, Miyazaki gives audiences a gloriously fun film that is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who watches it.