My Favorite Movies

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My 100 Favorite Movies

  TimHTaylor's Rating My Rating
1
City Lights 1931,  G)
City Lights
City Lights is absolutely my favorite film of all-time. A brilliant mix of comedy and pathos, with a bit of social commentary mixed in as well, although not as much as in some of Chaplin's other films, especially Modern Times. Although overused (specifically in Oscar montages), the last shot of the movie is one of the most heart-wrenching moments in film history. I have used that last shot as my profile picture, but to fully understand it you must see all that leads up to it. If you can tolerate silent films I can't recommend City Lights higher.
2
Citizen Kane 1941,  PG)
Citizen Kane
The concensus pick as the greatest film of all-time, it actually does live up to the hype. You must watch it multiple times to fully understand its greatness; I've seen it about 30 times and I still see something new every time I watch it. Remember that Orson Welles was only 25 years old when he co-wrote, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane, the only film he had complete control over.
3
Crimes and Misdemeanors 1989,  PG-13)
Crimes and Misdemeanors
My favorite Woody Allen film (and that's saying a lot). A mix of comedy and drama, with two separate stories: one a comedy with Woody, Mia Farrow, and Alan Alda, the other a heavy drama about conscience and faith with Martin Landau, tied together by a couple of common characters.
4
October Sky 1999,  PG)
October Sky
One of the more underappreciated movies of the last 10 years, if only because I don't think enough people have seen it. I don't think it is possible to see this movie and not like it. It is in my top 5 all-time, and not likely to drop anytime soon.
5
Annie Hall 1977,  PG)
6
Somewhere in Time 1980,  PG)
7
The Manchurian Candidate 1962,  PG-13)
The Manchurian Candidate
This is the original 1962 version, not the recent remake, which is a decent movie but made some significant and unnecessary changes that really leave it a poor film comparatively. Avoid that one and see this one, especially for the sequence involving the soldiers who have been reprogrammed, with the scene shifting between the women's auxiliary meeting (their perception) and the Communist doctor (the reality); that probably doesn't make sense, but if you've seen the movie you know what I'm talking about, and if you haven't you need to see it as soon as possible.
8
Once 2007,  R)
9
Reservoir Dogs 1992,  R)
10
The Man in the Moon 1991,  PG-13)
The Man in the Moon
My favorite coming-of-age movie by far. If you like small, character-driven stories then you will definitely like this movie. Incidentally, this is Reese Witherspoon's first film.
11
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962,  Unrated)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
My favorite John Ford movie, my favorite John Wayne movie, and my favorite Western (although that is sort of saying the same thing).
12
Schindler's List 1993,  R)
13
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 1980,  PG)
14
Taxi Driver 1976,  R)
15
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope 1977,  PG)
16
Fight Club 1999,  R)
Fight Club
Not for all tastes, but those who can appreciate it tend to like it a lot. The twist that comes about 3/4 of the way through the movie defies logic and I know a lot of people are thrown off by it, but if you can accept it at face value then you will probably enjoy the movie. This has one of the absolute best endings in film history (and if it had been set to be released after Sept. 11, 2001, the ending almost certainly would have had to have been altered).
17
Vertigo 1958,  PG)
Vertigo
My favorite Hitchcock movie, ahead of North by Northwest and Psycho, and the only Hitchcock film that has a moment in it that truly scare me (but you'll probably never guess which moment it is; ask me about it).
18
The Secret Garden 1993,  PG)
The Secret Garden
One of the few movies geared toward children that adults can enjoy equally, if not more. Far superior to any other filmed version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's book.
19
The Crowd 1928,  Unrated)
The Crowd
My favorite non-Chaplin silent film, the themes are beyond anything that had been dealt with (especially in the U.S.) at the time. Still not available on DVD, but hopefully it won't be much longer.
20
Lost In Translation 2003,  R)
21
Memento 2000,  R)
22
Raising Arizona 1987,  PG-13)
Raising Arizona
My second-favorite Coen brothers movie (behind Barton Fink) and possibly the funniest movie ever made.
23
The Station Agent 2003,  R)
24
Barton Fink 1991,  R)
Barton Fink
My favorite Coen brothers movie. This one is not for everyone, as it takes a rather surreal, symbolic turn toward the end (although that is not uncommon in their movies) that many people will find confusing.
25
Murderball 2005,  R)
Murderball
My favorite documentary. It may not be as important as An Inconvenient Truth, but its cast of compelling characters (who are far more interesting than the characters in virtually any fictional film) puts it on top for me.
26
Rocky 1976,  PG)
Rocky
My favorite sports movie, and one of the rare ones in which the underdog doesn't win at the end, although obviously that is not what's important at that point (I hope I didn't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but the movie's actually about having the heart of a champion, not necessarily being one).
27
Back to the Future 1985,  PG)
28
A League of Their Own 1992,  PG)
29
A Mighty Wind 2003,  PG-13)
30
The Music of Chance 1993,  R)
31
The Game 1997,  R)
32
Pan's Labyrinth 2006,  R)
Pan's Labyrinth
The best movie of 2006, probably the best war picture AND fantasy film I've ever seen.
33
Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 1964,  PG)
34
Garden State 2004,  R)
35
Hoosiers 1989,  PG)
36
North by Northwest 1959,  Unrated)
37
Run Lola Run (Lola rennt) 1998,  R)
38
The Usual Suspects 1995,  R)
39
Spoorloos (The Vanishing) 1988,  R)
40
This Is Spinal Tap 1984,  R)
41
Psycho 1960,  R)
42
Groundhog Day 1993,  PG)
43
A River Runs Through It 1992,  PG)
44
Laura 1944,  Unrated)
45
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi 1983,  PG)
46
Sneakers 1992,  PG-13)
47
What's Eating Gilbert Grape 1993,  PG-13)
48
Magnolia 1999,  R)
49
Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985,  PG)
50
Take the Money and Run 1969,  PG)
51
Glory 1989,  R)
52
The Player 1992,  R)
53
Pleasantville 1998,  PG-13)
54
Sunset Boulevard 1950,  Unrated)
55
12 Angry Men (Twelve Angry Men) 1957,  Unrated)
56
Bob Roberts 1992,  R)
57
The Shawshank Redemption 1994,  R)
58
Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills 1996,  Unrated)
59
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang 2005,  R)
60
Grease 1978,  PG)
61
Dogfight 1991,  R)
62
Sixteen Candles 1984,  PG)
63
Searching for Bobby Fischer 1993,  PG)
64
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 1963,  G)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
The first and best of the free-for-all race-to-get-money movies, it's really a showcase for virtually every comedian working (or alive) in 1963. Worthwhile just for the performances of Ethel Merman, Sid Caesar, Jonathan Winters, Phli Silvers, Buddy Hackett, and Terry-Thomas.
65
Animal Crackers 1930,  G)
Animal Crackers
My favortie Marx brothers movie.
66
The Squid and the Whale 2006,  R)
67
An Inconvenient Truth 2006,  PG)
68
Sunshine 1999,  R)
69
Sleeper 1973,  PG)
70
The Day the Earth Stood Still 1951,  G)
71
Bridge to Terabithia 2007,  PG)
Bridge to Terabithia
Thankfully, the movie is very loyal to the book. Disregard any previews you may have seen that focus on the fantasy elements; only a very small percentage of the film is in the fantasy world (and, as in the book, it is made clear that the childrens' imaginations are creating the world). Without giving anything away, I will say to those that have read the book that no major plot elements have been changed. This is easily the best family film in recent years and it does not dumb down any of the subject matter as is typical of movies made for children. I had a few complaints, like the casting of Leslie (although Annasophia Robb was very good, just not as tomboyish as she is in the book) and the lack of development of the relationship between Jess and Miss Edmonds, but I admit I'm overly critical because this was my favorite book when I was a kid. This is a movie that was very poorly marketed in an attempt to get the Chronicles of Narnia crowd to see it; fortunately, it deals with much more real and complex issues than the fantasy world that the trailers portray, although if you pay attention you will realize the fantasy world parallels the real world for these kids, illustrating the depth that this movie has that most films intended to be family friendly do not. This will definitely be on my top 10 list for 2007, something I cannot normally say about a movie this early in the year.
72
Little Miss Sunshine 2006,  R)
73
His Girl Friday 1940,  Unrated)
74
Napoleon Dynamite 2004,  PG)
75
National Treasure 2004,  PG)
76
The Truman Show 1998,  PG)
77
The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de Motocicleta) 2003,  R)
78
Sullivan's Travels 1941,  Unrated)
79
Modern Times 1936,  G)
80
The Third Man 1949,  Unrated)
81
Better Off Dead 1985,  PG)
82
Say Anything... 1989,  PG-13)
83
The Lost Weekend 1945,  Unrated)
84
The Royal Tenenbaums 2002,  R)
85
Angus 1995,  PG-13)
86
Clerks 1994,  R)
87
Field of Dreams 1989,  PG)
88
National Lampoon's Vacation 1983,  R)
89
The Heart of the Game 2005,  PG-13)
90
Broadway Danny Rose 1984,  PG)
91
Double Indemnity 1944,  Unrated)
92
Love and Death 1975,  PG)
93
Unbreakable 2000,  PG-13)
94
Anatomy of a Murder 1959,  G)
95
Scoop 2006,  PG-13)
96
The Spanish Prisoner 1997,  PG)
97
Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns) 2002,  Unrated)
Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)
A Documentary about one of my favorite bands, They Might Be Giants. If you like their music you must see this movie.
98
Duck Soup 1933,  Unrated)
99
Bonnie and Clyde 1967,  R)
100
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion 2001,  PG-13)

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