A Place in the Sun
Ultimately, A Place in the Sun is an inconsistent film, carried by strong leading performances bolstered by some interesting social commentaries that end up falling short of their potential due to the norms and mores of the era.
My Life as a Zucchini
My Life as a Zucchini brilliantly portrays its coming-of-age story with stellar writing and strikingly unique animation, earning a spot among the greats along the way.
Billy Elliot
The characters and story of Billy Elliot, portrayed excellently by its leading cast, turn this coming-of-age tale into something even more universal and topical and earn this film a place 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.
Pride & Prejudice
I could talk in circles about the brilliance of Pride & Prejudice for days, but suffice it to say that it’s one of the most complete romance movies ever made, excelling in every aspect, fully deserving of a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Sweet Hereafter
Atom Egoyan’s The Sweet Hereafter tells audiences a cohesive and compelling story of grief and the ways that humans seek to deal with it, showcased in every aspect of the film, which work together to make something worth a spot among the greats.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein offers a near-perfect look at the genre of sci-fi/horror, giving the audience plenty to ruminate on while also providing sheer entertainment in the form of iconic characters, visuals, and locales, earning the film a place of greatness.
I Vitelloni
For me, the stories told in I Vitelloni present a universally relatable look at young adulthood and the changes that the world forces on us, offering the best and worst ways to handle those changes, which certainly earns it a spot among the all-time greats.
Harlan County U.S.A.
Harlan County U.S.A. presents a hopeful and realistic look at the plight of laborers and unions in the United States, showcasing the potential efficacy of media in cooperation with the common person and earning a place of greatness in the process.
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
The strong leading performances from Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant are bolstered by a well-written script and solid direction from Marielle Heller to make Can You Ever Forgive Me? into a refreshingly unique and excellent take on the biopic, earning it a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Hidden Fortress
Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress is a well-put-together film that holds up all the better thanks to its familiar story with innovative beats and filmmaking tricks and a charismatic lead in Toshirô Mifune, which earns it a spot of greatness.
Inside Llewyn Davis
If the Coen Brothers, folk music, good acting, and/or great writing are your thing, Inside Llewyn Davis has them all in spades, and that amalgamation earns it a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Beauty and the Beast (1946)
Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast offers a familiar but fresh take on the timeless fairy tale, delivering production excellence and compelling character arcs that earn the film a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
The ways that Won’t You Be My Neighbor stays true to the message and legacy of Mr. Rogers are what makes the film so excellent, offering an equal parts biography of Rogers and life lesson from the man himself even beyond the grave.
The Odd Couple
The script and actors in The Odd Couple have done a phenomenal job of playing with audience expectations about comedy and comic archetypes, giving us a refreshingly original take on the buddy comedy in the process that deserves a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Nun’s Story
Between Audrey Hepburn’s strong leading character study and the thematically appropriate cinematography, The Nun’s Story captures something about an era of film that deserves a place among the greats.
Spider-Man 2
The visuals and story of Spider-Man 2, highlighted by iconic moments, an unforgettable villain, and a compelling arc for Peter coming to terms with his role as both person and superhero, make the film not just one of the best superhero films of all time but simply one of the Greatest Films of All Time.