My Top-30 Favorite Films

Alright, folks, to know the man you must know what has shaped the man. If anyone (anyone?) is going to read this blog then you must understand what makes me tick, cinematically at least. Over the course of time you’ll certainly find out what makes me retch, as I’m sure I’ll highlight some of Hollywood’s lesser efforts in a vain attempt to stop these insidious films from being made. So, now is the opportunity to see what makes me happy, blissful, and otherwise merry. Embrace the moment, people, because my average temperament causes me to rant on the inadequacies of all things less-than-stellar.

Below you’ll find a list of my top 10 favorite films….or, at least what was supposed to be my top 10 films. Believe me, it’s difficult trying to whittle down a list of your top 10 favorite anything (except Commandments), so picking my most beloved films out of the vast oblivion of film history was no easy task. A top 10 became a top 20 list, which, in turn, formed a top 30 list. I’ll spare the dissertations on the lower ranking ones and just leave a small blurb stating my reason for inclusion.

Before I get to the list I’d like to point out some tendencies that encapsulate my tastes and distastes. It’s plainly evident upon first glance that I enjoy 3 things: samurais, film noirs, and the Coen Brothers. I’m an idiot for all three of those and I refuse to change. These are my desert island kind of films; strand me with food, water, samurai films, film noirs, and the Coen Brother’s catalogue and I’ll live a blissful existence. And, now, to the list!!


30. The Princess Bride - Rob Reiner (1987)

This flick has it all: fantasy, romance, action, the most quotable dialogue ever, and Mandy Patinkin. I’ve never met a person who hasn’t loved this film.

29. Blood Simple - Joel & Ethan Coen (1984)

Coen Brother’s first outing is a heavily stylized thriller that refuses to let you smile. Morally corrupt characters in bad situations = a damn fine film that won’t allow you to root for any one character.

28. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang - Shane Black (2005)

A buddy/mystery/action/comedy. Shane Black dances through many different genres with relative ease, which is no easy feat. The most entertaining first 45 minutes of a movie I’ve ever seen.

27. Night of the Living Dead - George A. Romero (1968)

Not the first zombie flick, but the most important. Romero sets the chaos in rural America and employs an African-American as the hero. A round of applause for a bold and brilliant move.

26. M - Fritz Lang (1931)

The first serial killer ever portrayed on film, by Peter Lorre no less. Great film that asks the question: if we can’t control our own urges, whether criminal or not, can we be held accountable for them?

25. A Hard Day’s Night - Richard Lester (1964)

Pure joy. Shot documentary style, the film follows The Beatles during their early fame in a fun, day-in-the-life musical.

24. Throne of Blood - Akira Kurosawa (1957)

“Macbeth” set in feudal Japan. Toshiro Mifune is the second-in-command general who gets played by his scheming, power hungry wife. Broads.

23. Swingers - Doug Liman (1996)

The first, and most honest, man’s guide to dating. Jon Favreau wrote and starred in this cult classic that never seems to be out of date.

22. Leon: The Professional - Luc Besson (1994)

One of the odder buddy pictures you’ll ever find. Strangely, the pairing of a young girl seeking restitution for her murdered family by enlisting the help of a professional hit-man works beautifully.

21. Ichi the Killer - Takashi Miike (2001)

Cat-and-mouse gorefest that will test your stomach and your mind. Read the article below if you’re THAT interested.

20. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope- George Lucas (1977)

Does anything really need to be said? The space epic that started it all. Essentially a sci-fi fantasy with bad dialogue and futuristic characters wearing 70’s clothes and hair-do’s. But, that doesn’t take away the magic that audiences felt the first time they wandered into this bizarre new world. The bar scene at the space station early on is filled with strange characters that demonstrate George Lucas’ imagination, which sadly became childish and commercially driven by the third film. But, this one is a gem.

19. Black Hawk Down - Ridley Scott (2001)

An all-out assault on all senses. Based on Mark Bowden’s book, it’s a relentless war movie that never stops for a breath once the action begins. The nighttime firefight is absolutely stunning. Do yourself a favor, turn the volume way up and just feel this movie as it plays out. You’ll fall in-love with it.

18. Gladiator - Ridley Scott (2000)

Ridley Scott's second-in-a-row on this list is a sword-and-sandals epic revenge tale of the highest quality. Give credit to Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix for their yin-and-yang performances. Crowe’s “Maximus” is a picture of determination and heart that carries the film all the way through, while Phoenix’s “Commodus” is the cowardly manipulator who plays the perfect foil to our hero.

17. The Godfather - Francis Ford Coppola (1972)

An exercise in perfect casting and storytelling. What can I say that hasn’t been said already? It’s the seminal American film about the mafia that never tires. The story unfolds with classic scene after classic scene and dialogue that has never strayed from the vernacular.

16. Clerks - Kevin Smith (1994)

A slice-of-life film for the younger generation of slacker culture. Kevin Smith’s first venture into the filmmaking fray yielded a dialogue-heavy classic that is so real it almost feels like it was shot through a store security camera. The black-and-white, grainy feel only adds to the realistic vibe.

15. The Maltese Falcon - John Huston (1941)

The original film noir. It’s got it all: a hard-nosed detective (who else but Humphrey Bogart?), a femme fatale, snappy dialogue, a convoluted plot, and the most famous piece of movie memorabilia ever. Add in Peter Lorre as a creepy henchman and there’s no reason you haven’t seen this film yet.

14. Seven Samurai - Akira Kurosawa (1954)

Credited as the first action film ever. Akira Kurosawa’s epic samurai film about a small band of samurai warriors defending a poor farming village from pillaging bandits served as the basis for the American remake, “The Magnificent Seven”, but is far superior in character development and story than the star-studded Hollywood affair. The lunacy and sheer joy that is Toshiro Mifune is on full display here.

13. Casablanca - Michael Curtiz (1942)

Another Bogart classic that stands the test of time. Greatest romance movie ever? I think the argument could be made. Great performances and a snappy script elevate this one into the discussion of top films of all time.

12. Miller’s Crossing - Joel & Ethan Coen (1990)

The gangster film re-imagined with the trademark Coen Brothers wit and humor. Heavy on style and rich with intertwining plot elements, it’s a classic noir with a slight edge from two of the finest filmmakers alive today.

11. Sword of Doom - Kihachi Okamoto (1966)

Another samurai flick on the list, but not Kurosawa this time. A remorseless samurai master goes on the run with the wife of the man he wrongfully killed. His lack of morality makes him an engrossing anti-hero you can’t take your eyes off of. The crazy finale will leave you speechless.

10. Pan’s Labyrinth - Guillermo del Toro (2006)

A finely crafted fairy-tale set during the Spanish civil war. The film weaves the story of a young girl forced to live with her mother’s new husband, a relentlessly sinister army colonel, and a fairy-tale world where she takes refuge from her harsh reality. The war is a perfect back-drop for the grim normalcy that has filled her life, especially being the step-daughter of a militant. But, it’s the fairy-tale world, sparsely seen during the film, that will leave you enthralled. The cinematography is stunning and the characters are complex, which complements a riveting story that bounces back and forth between the two worlds seamlessly. Guillermo del Toro’s finest work to date.

9. City of God - Fernando Meirelles (2002)

This is a Brazilian gang film set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro that laces so many storylines together you’ll be amazed how the filmmakers made it all work. The narrative bounces around in time and space, showcasing one character after another until it seems all the characters have some kind of common bond. The story is stunningly complex and well-told with a sense of realism that’s almost shocking. This mini-review could never begin to scratch the surface of this film, so I’ll just say: See it!

8. Se7en - David Fincher (1995)

The combination of Andrew Kevin Walker’s amazing screenplay and David Fincher’s dark photography blend perfectly together in this most clever of thrillers. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt partner up to track down a serial killer motivated by the Seven Deadly Sins. The standard detective story is freshened up with a twist near the end and then the ultimate twist ending of them all. Anyone who knows what I’m talking about can attest to the power of the climax. It’s a rare film that only improves during the third act. Know any other movies like that?

7. Yojimbo - Akira Kurosawa (1961)

Another Kurosawa samurai film that was Americanized as classic Sergio Leone spaghetti western “A Fistful of Dollars”. A nameless samurai wanders unknowingly into a village with a gang war brewing. Toying with both sides, he manipulates each to his own liking and advantage until he chooses a side to help. The incomparable Toshiro Mifune delivers another incredible performance as the nomadic warrior with a good heart and a sharp tongue. This is samurai films at their finest.

6. The Battle of Algiers - Gillo Pontecorvo (1966)

This one almost feels too real. An absolutely engrossing story of Algerian separatists seeking freedom from French occupation. The back-and-forth between the French military and the Algerian freedom fighters is a classic game of who can one-up the other. It hits too close to modern times occasionally as the Algerians resort to terrorist tactics to attain their goal of freedom, while the stone cold French military commander calmly exacts revenge is his own malicious way. But, make no mistake, you will be rooting hard for the Algerians, to the point of hating the French by the time the credits roll. And I like that.

5. No Country For Old Men - Joel & Ethan Coen (2007)

Javier Bardem creates one of the strangest, most captivating villains ever put on screen (a killer with a menacing air canister?) in what could have been a ho-hum standard chase film. However, it’s Tommy Lee Jones’ character that pushes the poignancy of the film to the forefront. There’s two stories happening at once, both chases in a sense, and both of which are interesting enough to make their own film. But when focused on viewing the film through the weathered eyes of Jones’ town sheriff, you begin to understand the point of the story. The ending gets a bad rap for being too abrupt, and I know people who really disliked it, but there’s more there than just an attempt at a pretentious ending that will confuse audiences. Jones’ character makes the engine run, and that final scene cements his place in the story. If you’ve seen it, watch it again. If you haven’t seen it, I’m upset.

4. The Third Man - Carol Reed (1949)

Set against the backdrop of post-war Vienna, this mystery/thriller is one of those old fashioned whodunit’s, albeit with a few more twists and turns. The infamy of this movie stems from the fact that Orson Welles wrote all of his own dialogue, though he has very limited screen time in the film. Welles’ “Harry Lime” is the purest picture of a con man ever put on film, and no one other than him could play the slimy yet debonair criminal who works all the angles. Joseph Cotten plays the snooping, yet unassuming friend in search of the “deceased” Harry Lime along with Alida Valli’s in-denial girlfriend of the assumed dead. Carol Reed crafted a classic, check it out.

3. Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Peter Jackson (2001 - 2003)

Well, folks, there’s over 11 hours of film to be absorbed here, so don’t expect me touch every base of greatness in this awe-inspiring trilogy. You can’t pick one….you just can’t. One film does not exist without the others. At gunpoint, I’d have to say my favorite is “Return of the King”, simply due to the amped-up tension and raw emotion and heroism displayed throughout the climax. But it doesn’t reach that status without the previous two films setting up the great characters and situations that get to play out in full in the grand finale. It’s beautiful to look at and features an amazing quest that’s unrivaled in the history of film.

2. Brick - Rian Johnson (2005)

Here’s the oddball pick from me (I’m sure some people are saying “Yeah, sure, THIS is the oddball pick...look at the rest of this wacky fuckin' list!!”). But, that’s neither here nor there. Rian Johnson does what very few people would be capable of: take the dialect and colloquialisms of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler novels, set the action in the present, and oh, by the way, have the setting be a high school in California, throw it in a hat, shake it all up, throw it down on film and have it actually WORK. I mean WORK, BABY! The premise sounds like a parody of old film noirs, and in a sense it is, but in a way that honors those gems of the golden age of cinema. Joseph Gordon Levitt owns this movie in every way. I can’t recommend this film enough, especially repeat viewings.

1. L.A. Confidential - Curtis Hanson (1997)

Perfection. This is as good as film gets for my buck. A film noir set in 1950’s Los Angeles featuring star-making turns from Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce, alongside veterans Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, David Strathairn and Kim Basinger. This film has so many twists and turns that catch you by surprise, it makes you wonder who writes incredible material like this. I can’t even go into the plot here, as there’s so much that happens I would wind up writing page after page about how great this film is. The characters are so well drawn that each is forced to make tough decisions and deal with the consequences of those decisions in a way that’s specific to only that character, which is the very definition of character. From Crowe's intense muscle-head "Bud White" to Pearce's politically savy bookworm "Ed Exley", each actor molds their creations then chews up the dialogue and spits it back on screen with a deft touch. Don’t hesitate, this one is worth watching multiple times.