Masculin Féminin
Masculin Féminin is a masterclass from Godard, telling a story, giving social commentary, and engaging the audience all at an incredibly high level, worthy of its position among the greats.
Trainspotting
Trainspotting is a smashing success of the druggie dramedy genre, offering plenty of social commentary, humor for all types, and compellingly memorable characters on its way to all-time greatness.
The 39 Steps
Hitchcock manages to pull off a winning formula for early greatness in The 39 Steps, utilizing a relatively innovative (for the period) style that blends lightness with suspense and a charismatic leading man tying it all together to cement the film’s place in history.
Mean Streets
Scorsese’s first widely touted crime flick, Mean Streets, has earned its reputation thanks to Harvey Keitel’s strong delivery of Scorsese’s story of youth in Little Italy and De Niro’s unhinged wrench in the works that turns the whole thing on its head.
One Night in Miami…
Regina King’s directorial debut holds up thanks to some creative work from her and excellent performances from her four leads, who come together to tell the story and portray the themes of One Night in Miami… in quality fashion, warranting a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Murderball
Taking the elements of a good sports documentary and compiling them to form a moving film about resilience, humanity, disability, and, yes, sports is how the filmmakers turned Murderball into an all-time great documentary.
Inherit the Wind
Incredibly modern and important themes couched in a brilliantly written and excellently acted two hours and eight minutes (give or take credits) earn Inherit the Wind a place of prominence among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Born on the Fourth of July
Born on the Fourth of July features a masterclass performance from Tom Cruise in the leading role that ties the film together, allowing it to present its thoughts on veterans and the military industrial complex to the audience in a compelling way that earns the film a place of greatness.
Once Upon a Time in the West
Excellence in its cinematography, score, story, and casting have made Once Upon a Time in the West one of the Greatest Films of All Time – a film consistently making its way toward the top of the favorite films lists for most people who’ve seen it.
The Terminator
The Terminator is a classic of the sci-fi/action/thriller genre, introducing us to James Cameron’s world of cyborgs, artificial intelligence, time travel, and Sarah Connor in satisfyingly original fashion, anchored by a portrayal of 1980s L.A. that cements its place in dystopian stories and gives it a spot among the greats.
In Cold Blood
The film adaptation of Capote’s In Cold Blood earns its place among the greats with cinematography and pacing that feel beyond their time and an exploration of the criminal mind and the justice system that seeks to punish them that should still raise discussions today.
Winter’s Bone
Winter’s Bone succeeds on the merits of its top performers and a dedication to tell an authentic story in a setting that feels real and lived-in from writer/director Granik, earning it a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Darkest Hour
Darkest Hour serves as a vehicle for one of the great performances of the current century in Gary Oldman’s Churchill, earning it a spot among the greats.
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Searching for Bobby Fischer offers viewers a direct critique of the pressures parents place on their gifted children, showcasing in a poignant way the positive and negative impact that parental interactions can have on their children, setting itself apart from similar sports films and earning a spot of greatness.
Young Frankenstein
Mel Brooks’s blend of homage and comedy make Young Frankenstein a masterful parody that captures the wonder and technical achievements of the classic films while also introducing a basic level of comedy that elevates the whole thing to a place of greatness alongside the films it seeks to mimic.
