Top 50 Movies of All-Time
30. Crash (2004)
Directed by: Paul Haggis
Starring: Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Terrence Howard
IMDb Page
Typically as a rule of thumb, I don't give movies that cast rappers as actors a chance (that goes for you too UHF), but because of the ensemble nature of Crash, I let it slide. Easily the most racist movie ever made, Crash didn't tip-toe around the sensitive race issue. It took a sledgehammer, melted it down to a ball, put that ball in a cannon, and fired it directly into your nutsack. "Sure white people are racist, but so is everyone else, so who cares!"
When my college roommate and I finished watching it for the first time, we both just kind of sat quietly. We both wanted to make a cute, snarky comment, but were both scared to open our mouths. It's no wonder it won the Oscar for Best Picture over a couple gay cowboys, who has the balls big enough not to vote for this powerful of a movie?
Starring: Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Terrence Howard
IMDb Page
Typically as a rule of thumb, I don't give movies that cast rappers as actors a chance (that goes for you too UHF), but because of the ensemble nature of Crash, I let it slide. Easily the most racist movie ever made, Crash didn't tip-toe around the sensitive race issue. It took a sledgehammer, melted it down to a ball, put that ball in a cannon, and fired it directly into your nutsack. "Sure white people are racist, but so is everyone else, so who cares!"
When my college roommate and I finished watching it for the first time, we both just kind of sat quietly. We both wanted to make a cute, snarky comment, but were both scared to open our mouths. It's no wonder it won the Oscar for Best Picture over a couple gay cowboys, who has the balls big enough not to vote for this powerful of a movie?
29. Zodiac (2007)
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards
IMDb Page
Hurdy Gurdy Man will just never be the same. David Fincher, with Robert Graysmith's novel, was able to take one of the scariest, most infamous serial killers in US history and put him into a more "realistic" perspective. Previous Zodiac movies had seen the killer made out to be some mythical, unstoppable monster, where Fincher paints the picture as it truly was for the Bay Area in the 70's: a series of killings spanning years, and the struggles of the police department to track him down.
Fincher even managed to throw a couple quick jabs at the previous incarnations, by having the lead detective Dave Toschi respond to a comment about a hunch and following up despite not having hard evidence, "Easy, Dirty Harry" as well as having him walk out of the screening of "Dirty Harry" citing it's inabilities to depict what real cops go through. Easily one of the best films of the past decade.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards
IMDb Page
Hurdy Gurdy Man will just never be the same. David Fincher, with Robert Graysmith's novel, was able to take one of the scariest, most infamous serial killers in US history and put him into a more "realistic" perspective. Previous Zodiac movies had seen the killer made out to be some mythical, unstoppable monster, where Fincher paints the picture as it truly was for the Bay Area in the 70's: a series of killings spanning years, and the struggles of the police department to track him down.
Fincher even managed to throw a couple quick jabs at the previous incarnations, by having the lead detective Dave Toschi respond to a comment about a hunch and following up despite not having hard evidence, "Easy, Dirty Harry" as well as having him walk out of the screening of "Dirty Harry" citing it's inabilities to depict what real cops go through. Easily one of the best films of the past decade.
28. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Raj Zutshi, Anil Kapoor
IMDb Page
Slumdog was talked about for a number of months prior to Oscar season in 2008, how it was making such a huge impact at film festivals across the world. But nobody was actually talking about what it was about, which for me, was a brilliant move. I went into the theater not know anything about the plot, just that it took place in India and was directed by Danny Boyle's freakishly large melon.
As you begin to see the story unravel in front of you, you realize you're watching something special. Literally, destiny is coming true before your eyes. Dev Patel and Freida Pinto have such great chemistry that it hurts to see them apart. I was initially pissed after it swept Fincher's Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the Globes before I had actually seen it, but after watching it post-Globes, I knew it was a shoe-in for Oscar.
Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Raj Zutshi, Anil Kapoor
IMDb Page
Slumdog was talked about for a number of months prior to Oscar season in 2008, how it was making such a huge impact at film festivals across the world. But nobody was actually talking about what it was about, which for me, was a brilliant move. I went into the theater not know anything about the plot, just that it took place in India and was directed by Danny Boyle's freakishly large melon.
As you begin to see the story unravel in front of you, you realize you're watching something special. Literally, destiny is coming true before your eyes. Dev Patel and Freida Pinto have such great chemistry that it hurts to see them apart. I was initially pissed after it swept Fincher's Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the Globes before I had actually seen it, but after watching it post-Globes, I knew it was a shoe-in for Oscar.
27. Jaws (1975)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
IMDb Page
The movie's almost 35 years old, yet I still watch it every time it's on tv. The movie that officially put Spielberg on the map was almost a completely different movie. The original idea was to have the shark appear often on screen, but when "Bruce" (the mechanical shark) had multiple malfunctions along with countless delays because of other problems, they were forced to look at re-writes involving having the "hidden fear" angle become more prevalent.
The film just refuses to age as time goes on. Listening to Quint, Hooper, and Brody converse in the bowels of the ship about their times at sea, matched with the suspense created by this iconic beast makes Jaws a movie that will go on til the end of time.
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
IMDb Page
The movie's almost 35 years old, yet I still watch it every time it's on tv. The movie that officially put Spielberg on the map was almost a completely different movie. The original idea was to have the shark appear often on screen, but when "Bruce" (the mechanical shark) had multiple malfunctions along with countless delays because of other problems, they were forced to look at re-writes involving having the "hidden fear" angle become more prevalent.
The film just refuses to age as time goes on. Listening to Quint, Hooper, and Brody converse in the bowels of the ship about their times at sea, matched with the suspense created by this iconic beast makes Jaws a movie that will go on til the end of time.
26. A Few Good Men (1992)
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Pollack
IMDb Page
Yes, yes, we all know the line, we all have our impressions. That 5-word line about handling truth has been parodied almost so much that one may be inclined to forget the power of that entire scene. Not this guy though. What made that scene brilliant wasn't Jack shouting, it was Tom Cruise's Daniel Kaffee tip-toeing around Colonel Jessep's stance and wording. They both knew what really happened, but it was Kaffee's responsibility to make the truth come out in a legal court of law from a man who had zero intention of letting it out. It's this type of writing that makes the "legal thriller" a genre in it's own.
A superb supporting cast including the more famous Bacon Brother, Jack Bauer, and that southern guy who always seems to play some racist dick make me able to say that I have two Rob Reiner films in my top 50. Scary.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Pollack
IMDb Page
Yes, yes, we all know the line, we all have our impressions. That 5-word line about handling truth has been parodied almost so much that one may be inclined to forget the power of that entire scene. Not this guy though. What made that scene brilliant wasn't Jack shouting, it was Tom Cruise's Daniel Kaffee tip-toeing around Colonel Jessep's stance and wording. They both knew what really happened, but it was Kaffee's responsibility to make the truth come out in a legal court of law from a man who had zero intention of letting it out. It's this type of writing that makes the "legal thriller" a genre in it's own.
A superb supporting cast including the more famous Bacon Brother, Jack Bauer, and that southern guy who always seems to play some racist dick make me able to say that I have two Rob Reiner films in my top 50. Scary.
25. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Jason Flemyng, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran
IMDb Page
It's tough to decide who's a more badass Vinnie Jones character: Big Chris, or Bullet Tooth Tony. Lock, Stock is a wonderful movie showing a comical "underground" to London. Sure, some of the dialogue can be tough to understand for us Americans, but it could be a silent movie and still be an amazing twist-ridden film.
With the exception of Tarantino, Guy Ritchie has the ability to make some of the best soundtracks from any movie. Also, I'm aware that Hatchet Harry is not real, but I will always pay on time for fear of being pounded with a big...well, let's just say it wouldn't be pleasant.
Starring: Jason Flemyng, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran
IMDb Page
It's tough to decide who's a more badass Vinnie Jones character: Big Chris, or Bullet Tooth Tony. Lock, Stock is a wonderful movie showing a comical "underground" to London. Sure, some of the dialogue can be tough to understand for us Americans, but it could be a silent movie and still be an amazing twist-ridden film.
With the exception of Tarantino, Guy Ritchie has the ability to make some of the best soundtracks from any movie. Also, I'm aware that Hatchet Harry is not real, but I will always pay on time for fear of being pounded with a big...well, let's just say it wouldn't be pleasant.
24. The Prestige (2006)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson
IMDb Page
There comes a certain time in a director's career that his body of work is so great that he earns me as a customer for life regardless of whether or not his future projects look entertaining or not. For David Fincher, it was Fight Club, Tarantino was Kill Bill, Michael Mann was Collateral, and for Chris Nolan, it was The Prestige. I had absolutely loved his previous entries (Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins), but it was with the Prestige that I realized that Nolan had an absolutely uncanny ability to make a film enthralling from start to finish. He even managed to make Scarlett Johnansson act like a normal human being, not an "above the world" sex goddess. And for some reason, David Bowie as Nikolai Tesla just makes perfect sense and was a perfect casting.
The thing that I loved about The Prestige was the competition. Two men unaware of anything around them except the drive to out-perform the other. It also had one of the most satisfying endings that could have been imagined.
Starring: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson
IMDb Page
There comes a certain time in a director's career that his body of work is so great that he earns me as a customer for life regardless of whether or not his future projects look entertaining or not. For David Fincher, it was Fight Club, Tarantino was Kill Bill, Michael Mann was Collateral, and for Chris Nolan, it was The Prestige. I had absolutely loved his previous entries (Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins), but it was with the Prestige that I realized that Nolan had an absolutely uncanny ability to make a film enthralling from start to finish. He even managed to make Scarlett Johnansson act like a normal human being, not an "above the world" sex goddess. And for some reason, David Bowie as Nikolai Tesla just makes perfect sense and was a perfect casting.
The thing that I loved about The Prestige was the competition. Two men unaware of anything around them except the drive to out-perform the other. It also had one of the most satisfying endings that could have been imagined.
23. Goldfinger (1964)
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
Starring: Sean Connery, Gert Frobe, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton
IMDb Page
The quintessential Bond film remains the strongest despite its age. It's filled with the most infamous Bond references throughout the entire franchise: best Bond (Connery), best hysterically named female (Pussy Galore), best henchman (Oddjob), best car (Aston Martin DB5), hottest Bond girl (Shirley Eaton) and best intro!
One of the greatest points of Goldfinger is the fact that Bond doesn't do anything throughout the whole movie to stop Operation Grand Slam. He lets Jill Masterson get killed, he actually thwarts Tilly Masterson from killing Goldfinger, spends a day golfing with the main villain, gets captured by said villain, and almost gets his nuts fried off by a laser. The only thing that Bond does in the whole movie to prevent the main crime of the plot is by turning Pussy Galore by sleeping with her. He literally saves the world with his dick!! He doesn't even defuse the bomb at the end as the FBI agent does that. Now THAT'S a spy movie!
Starring: Sean Connery, Gert Frobe, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton
IMDb Page
The quintessential Bond film remains the strongest despite its age. It's filled with the most infamous Bond references throughout the entire franchise: best Bond (Connery), best hysterically named female (Pussy Galore), best henchman (Oddjob), best car (Aston Martin DB5), hottest Bond girl (Shirley Eaton) and best intro!
One of the greatest points of Goldfinger is the fact that Bond doesn't do anything throughout the whole movie to stop Operation Grand Slam. He lets Jill Masterson get killed, he actually thwarts Tilly Masterson from killing Goldfinger, spends a day golfing with the main villain, gets captured by said villain, and almost gets his nuts fried off by a laser. The only thing that Bond does in the whole movie to prevent the main crime of the plot is by turning Pussy Galore by sleeping with her. He literally saves the world with his dick!! He doesn't even defuse the bomb at the end as the FBI agent does that. Now THAT'S a spy movie!
22. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper
IMDb Page
From the quintessential spy movie, to the quintessential war movie. Spielberg and Hanks have always put such love and devotion into their projects, but Saving Private Ryan saw a new level of intense honesty in how they depicted World War II. Anyone who can watch the first 20 minutes of SPR and not want to go hug a veteran can suck it.
The film also sports one of the best supporting cast performances in film history, with ass-clowns like Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, and Adam Goldberg actually making me believe they were soldiers, you knew Spielberg had something special. Barry Pepper kicks serious ass as sniper Pvt. Jackson. Hell, even Daniel Faraday teaches us what FUBAR means.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper
IMDb Page
From the quintessential spy movie, to the quintessential war movie. Spielberg and Hanks have always put such love and devotion into their projects, but Saving Private Ryan saw a new level of intense honesty in how they depicted World War II. Anyone who can watch the first 20 minutes of SPR and not want to go hug a veteran can suck it.
The film also sports one of the best supporting cast performances in film history, with ass-clowns like Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, and Adam Goldberg actually making me believe they were soldiers, you knew Spielberg had something special. Barry Pepper kicks serious ass as sniper Pvt. Jackson. Hell, even Daniel Faraday teaches us what FUBAR means.
21. The Big Lebowski (1998)
Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman
IMDb Page
Typically once a comedy reaches a level where every douchebag you know quotes it, it starts to sour (see Borat, Austin Powers, any Judd Apatow movie). But for some reason, The Big Lebowski never gets old. I know it's Jeff Bridges underneath that robe, but his portrayal only allows me to see The Dude. I know it's John Turturro licking that bowling ball, but it feels more like Jesus.
Another film on the list that is supremely enhanced by the soundtrack, the Coens found just the right songs at the right situations.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman
IMDb Page
Typically once a comedy reaches a level where every douchebag you know quotes it, it starts to sour (see Borat, Austin Powers, any Judd Apatow movie). But for some reason, The Big Lebowski never gets old. I know it's Jeff Bridges underneath that robe, but his portrayal only allows me to see The Dude. I know it's John Turturro licking that bowling ball, but it feels more like Jesus.
Another film on the list that is supremely enhanced by the soundtrack, the Coens found just the right songs at the right situations.