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I will publish the final 1-100 list. It will have a few corrections. I considered extending the list to 150 then stopped considering it when I realized that I was going to include films that I respect more than I like-- i.e.: Raging Bull, Pulp Fiction, Twelve Angry Men, etc.
So this twenty unit installment was the most difficult one of the five to make. Unlike most of the other lists, I re-watched a lot of these films to be absolutely certain that I wanted these selections to close it out.
There were a few Billy Wilder films that I've placed one the back burner for a long time-- and, in one case, too long.
100: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Quentin Tarantino's favorite film. It's dangerously close to being a film that I respect more than I like, and obviously I think that it's overrated. But it's definitely worthy of inclusion on anyone's top one hundred movies list. As always, Clint was a badass actor in a western, but as I stated in a previous list, his best acting ever is in...
99: The Beguiled (1972)
I didn't even know that I was going to put this one on the list until I saw Sofia Coppola's remake a couple of weeks ago. Her version is fairly good on its own merits, yet it's inferior to the original in almost every regard. When I consider Clint's outstanding acting, the great use of master shots, the lingering, slow Southern gothic pace of the film, the weirdness of it all (all of which is missing from Coppola's work)-- it's a great film.
98: Braveheart (1995)
It's the sixth film from 1995 that is on this list (others: "Casino," "The Usual Suspects," "12 Monkeys," "Seven," "Jackie Brown"). "Dead Man" and "Die Hard with a Vengeance" barely missed the cut. That year was the best year for movies in history. I have only one problem with this film: Mel Gibson's fictionalization of history. When I researched my genealogy years ago, I learned that I'm almost certainly related to Robert the Bruce. So I must state that Robert NEVER BETRAYED WILLIAM WALLACE.
97: It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
Orson Welles thought that James Stewart was a joke as a actor, but even he admitted that this movie is irresistible. It's the mostly widely loved and viewed Christmas movie in American history-- and for good reason.
96: What About Bob? (1991)
A few days ago I met Richard Dreyfuss at an autograph convention. When I presented this poster to his personal assistant, the following exchange occurred:
Him: "I must tell you in advance that he will draw marks through Bill Murray's face before he signs it."
Me: "Excuse me?"
"Bill Murray was an ass to him throughout the entire shooting of that film, so he marks through his face."
"So it's not like a comedic move? He hates him in real life, too? I know that it's in the movie, but..."
"Yes, he hates him in real life as well."
"There is no way that I CAN'T have marks on Bill Murray's face?"
"No."
So when I placed the poster that is shown above on Dreyfuss's table he made the same sort of moaning/humming noises that he made in the movie as he defaced the image of Bill Murray. Swear. To. God.
Apparently he actually lived that hell, which makes this film even more legendary to me.
95: Lonely Are The Brave (1962)
There are only two Dalton Trumbo-written films on this top 100 list (the other: "Papillon"). As is the case with most Trumbo-written screenplays, there is a lot of depth in the characters and the story with none of the pretensions that usually accompany such things in movies. A few smart cinephiles have told me that this film is their favorite Kirk Douglas movie. It has one major flaw: Carrol O'Connor's character (who is rather meaningless and should have remained so until the end) has far too much backstory.
94: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
When I saw it for the first time in a theater last year I realized that I enjoyed it as much as the first time when I saw it as a child-- possibly more because I know now that its story is partly rooted in historical fact. Hitler actually did scour the Mideast for mystical artifacts that could assist the reich. Harrison Ford is among a handful of actors who could balance being an action star with being a legitimately good leading man in dramas.
93: Listen to Me Marlon (2015)
Even if you have reservations about Marlon Brando as a person (and I understand it), you will probably like this documentary just because it's so uniquely and well crafted. I've probably watched it eight or nine times. For my money, Philip Seymour Hoffman was the best actor of all time, but Brando is definitely in my top five.
92: Thirteen Days (2000)
When Fidel Castro died last year, I was reminded of this film. It focuses almost exclusively on President Kennedy's thirteen day nuclear weapons standoff with him. If you've watched the great documentary "The Fog of War" then you're familiar with a lot of its content, which includes the late Defense Secretary McNamara revealing that Castro told him personally that he was chomping at the bit to use his arsenal, even if it resulted in the decimation of Cuba. It was a very delicate situation that the Kennedy brothers handled with great finesse. Bruce Greenwood is a tour de force in this film.
91: Batman (1989)
Aw, yeah. You knew that I was going to fit some comic book films onto this thing eventually. I know almost every line that is in this film-- and I'm proud of it. Tim Burton's version isn't nearly as cartoonish as his "Dark Knight"-loving critics claim. It's dark in its own right. Plus, Michael Keaton is incomparable as Batman.
90: Full Metal Jacket (1987)
When I was a kid, my best friend's war vet father told us that this film has the most realistic depiction of basic training that he has ever seen in a movie. If you've seen this film, let that claim sink in. It doesn't pack the same profound message that "Paths of Glory" had, but its realism, legendary lines and haunting scenes place it firmly at number five on my list of favorite Kubrick films.
89: Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1972)
When you watch this film, be certain that you watch only director Sam Peckinpah's version. It's rated fairly low on imdb (7.4) partly because older people remember the version that was foisted on them by the studio. Peckinpah's cut is superior, and it would be regarded as a classic western if the studio had honored his vision. Peckinpah, James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson deserved Academy nominations for it.
88: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
My favorite comic movie. Its awesome anti-globalism, anti-imperialism messages set it a few notches above "Batman" for me. As I've said time and again, when Chris Evans is in character as Cap/Steve Rogers he is unbelievably reminiscent of my grandparents' generation. He nails it.
87: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
It's one of a few Billy Wilder films that I've had on the back burner for a while. Joe Rogan's sidekick Brian Redban said that he leaves it on in the background at his house constantly just because it's so weird. It maybe even comforts Angelenos to know that the things that are true about Hollywood now were true even many decades ago. I have only one complaint about this film: it would rank much higher with me if Gloria Swanson hadn't overdone her performance. I understand that her character was profoundly delusional and sheltered from reality, but she would have seemed much creepier (less comedic) and believable if she had more touches of humanity.
86: Robocop (1987)
It's actually a satire about America's constantly-increasing militarization of its police force and the marriage of corporations with the government, so it's very damn prescient. People say that we aren't far away from the actualization of "Idiocracy." Fuck that. Police forces that believe that they are at war with the public is the reality. Last month someone who I know (white guy) had a cop pull a gun and aim it at his face because his hands weren't on his steering wheel during a traffic ticket stop. I also greatly admire this film's efficiency of dialogue and shots. It cuts straight to the point in almost every scene, which isn't an easy task. Such a method isn't appropriate for every movie, but when it's done appropriately and well it's amazing.
85: Match Point (2005)
Scarlett Johansson in her physical prime steaming things up as a hot little tramp? YES, PLEASE. When Scarlett (among other actors, but especially her) is in one of Woody Allen's films he tends to linger on her facial expressions, and you can see the full range of her acting. In addition to great sex scenes, this film also has an outstanding story about life's random nature.
84: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
Elizabeth Taylor's best acting in anything. Anyone who has seen this film knows that the cast and crew did the original Tennessee Williams play great justice. As was the case in Don Siegel's original "The Beguiled" and many other old films that were set in the South, its director Richard Brooks was unafraid to let the shots linger and use master shots to set the slow-paced, Southern tone.
83: Midnight Cowboy (1969)
"There's this movie that I think you'll like
This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City
This cowboy's running from himself
And she's been living on the highest shelf"
82: Double Indemnity (1944)
Barbara Stanwyck played the mischievous MILF role to pure perfection, and I always love to see Fred MacMurray in any ancient film, especially this one and "The Apartment." Barbara's use of subtle sexiness causes any straight guy to understand why a lonely bastard like Fred's character goes to such lengths for her. It has a couple of riveting and believable twists near the end that elevate it from greatness to an all-time classic.
20: Ace In The Hole (1951)
Billy Wilder's best film-- literary, realistic, dark, timeless. And, yes, that ranking is correct. In my final top 100 rankings, this film will be in the #20 spot, and "Dirty Harry" (which I watched last for the first time in a theater late last year and reassessed) will occupy the #81 spot. It was always on my mind since I started making this list, but when I re-watched it a few months ago I realized that I had vastly underestimated its greatness. It has all of the prescience of an overzealous media that doesn't care about people's lives and is just trolling for dollars (as we're seeing in spades now) and just common, shitty people who exploit a tragic situation for their own personal gain. It's "heartwarming" to remember that the world has always blown.
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