Ok, well I've received over 45 emails within an hour of the AFI 100 Great American films, and they all wanted to know what I thought, so I wrote it all up. So here ya go. I comment on each and every film. It took about 3 hours to type and a massive injury to my brain. I'll do further updates later today.... Thank you... Oh, one bit. This is how I would have handled it. That doesn't make me right, or even you wrong. The fun of lists like this is you get to comment and open up a discussion. I mean we exist in a world where they would nominate and elect FARGO over TOUCH OF EVIL.... That's wrong in my eyes. However, for those that have never seen TOUCH OF EVIL, or that saw it, and felt Welles was tooooo weird, so be it, I pick it over FARGO any day of the week.
1) CITIZEN KANE (1941)
Ok, finally the big daddy of em all. I saw this film in the shadow of SAN SIMEON at a motel looking up at Welles' inspiration for XANADU. Somebody get Ridley Scott to do RKO 281, it needs to be made. Please. Somebody do it, it needs to happen.
2) CASABLANCA (1942)
A film to live in. The world to exist in. When noone is ugly and everyone is a character. A world where anything and everything is for sale. A film that you lip sync to, that you get choked up dearing, a film that has more great lines than any other film ever. A film that sat in the Warner Vaults for a while cause they didn't know if it worked or not.
3) THE GODFATHER (1972)
Move into the twenties and replace with KING KONG. Damn film snobs, ya have to fight em at every turn. Never a moment's relaxation...
4) GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
One of the 4 reasons the projector was invented.
5) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
A film that boggles the mind.
6) THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
A sheer work of perfection. No flaws, a perfect diamond.
7) THE GRADUATE (1967)
Dump the film for ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD. There is no comparison. Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman vs Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Olivia DeHavilland, Alan Hale, Patrick Knowles... etc. Simon and Garfunkel vs Erich Wolfgang Korngold? Technicolor vs reallovision. "Are you trying to seduce me Mrs. Robinson?" vs "You speak Treason," Rathbone, Flynn retorts, "Fluently" Long live ROBIN HOOD!!!
8) ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
A perfect film. A film I own in 16mm, that is soo good it almost makes you not want to make movies, for fear of never finding your Brando, Steiger or Malden. An amazing film, and so damn perfect it makes you numb.
9) SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
The last perfectly great film I've seen. Powerful compelling, watchable. The fact that you can view it again and again, especailly with the subject matter is a testement to the filmmaking skills of Steven Speilberg. Jamus Kaminski becomes a god of cinematography.... Williams amazes...
10) SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
Cinematic Joy. Pure Joy divided up into 24 frames per second. Another poster I have above my bed. A movie that makes you wish life were a musical, if for only the rainy moments.
11) IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
I began crying after 10 seconds of footage was shown. Quite simply one of the most powerful films made about the human existence. Another required viewing film for everyone everywhere. A film about spirit, and self worth. A film that healed a country after a great war. A film that warms and cuddles it's viewers. A film that stays there with you throughout all the days of your life. It's not a film, it's a testement to the human condition. God I miss Jimmy Stewart....
12) SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
ummmm.... I don't like this one anywhere near the level of say..... THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD!!!! The greatest adventure film of all time!!!! Damn heelots, stealing the best spots for their love of Billy Wilder who was an absolute genius and the film enthralls to today, but still, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD holds up better, has a better cast, better score, editing, production design, photography, swordfights... Yeah, there ain't one single sword fight in SUNSET BLVD. What's up with that? I mean sheesh!!!
13) THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
Agreed.
14) SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
Ok, first off, if ya have to have a Marilyn Monroe film, then SEVEN YEAR ITCH has to be the one. Tom Ewell is sooooooooooooooooo good in it. Marilyn is magical... though I've always have had a soft spot for NIAGRA, but then that's a Robert Mitchum sort of thi.... wait a sec.... NIGHT OF THE HUNTER isn't on this list. What's going on.. Who's knocking off the great films of America? Hey didn't that star Robert Morley?
15) STAR WARS (1977)
Ok, I'll settle for that. BUT IT AIN'T A BETTER FILM THAN KING KONG, dag dum it. OH... Was I the only one a bit insulted by showing a clip from the Special Edition, instead of the original?
16) ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
Can't say a bad thing about it, except that personally I prefer THE THIN MAN to this film. If ya have to have your Bette Davis, then OF HUMAN BONDAGE, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE and PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX come to mind.
17) THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
Ok, switch this with TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE. NO comparison, this film is great, but it ain't no TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE!!!
18) PSYCHO (1960)
Ok, Hallenbeck's gonna kill me, but PSYCHO along with VERTIGO, I just don't care for that much. I think the shot selection in this film, the score and the editing are some of the most brilliant work in those fields I have ever seen. BUT.... I feel the film feels dated. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU REMAKE IT!!!! I just have never gotten through it happily.
19) CHINATOWN (1974)
Stricken from the obilesque. Removed. Destroyed. This film must be replaced with TOUCH OF EVIL!!!!
20) ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
Move to 22, I told ya.
21) THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
You all know how much I love this film, but while I'm here, let me just say that John Ford's THE INFORMER with that mean ol big guy (it's late), How Green Was My Valley (damn film beat out some damn fine films), The Quiet Man, the Calvary Trilogy , and someother's that are escaping my thoughts are very good, but this. Grapes of Wrath, is a superior film. In fact it and MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON and MEET JOHN DOE form my thought patterns and ethics with every repeat viewing, which is often.
22) 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
Trade places with One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. This film goes well beyond any traditional narrative. It is brilliant, it is still ahead of it's time, and the effects have yet to be matched. The concept that anyone would rate a Milos Foreman film above one of Kubrick's Masterpieces is sacrilege.
23) THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
Hmmmmmm.... BIG SLEEP has Lauren Bacall, TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT had her say the put your lips together and blow, but this is my fave Bogie dick film. When he pushes the hell out of Elisha Cook Jr... I cheer. When he picks on the effeminate Peter Lorre, I watch. And when he goes against the second greatest fatman ever. The first being ORSON WELLES in TOUCH OF EVIL.... WAIT A SECOND..... TOUCH OF EVIL isn't on the list!!!!!!!! Ok, destroy CHINATOWN all together and replace it with TOUCH OF EVIL!!!
24) RAGING BULL (1980)
Ugh. One of the films that I try to love, that I try to see as the greatest film of the eighties, but damn it, I prefer THEY LIVE. And that ain't even my pick for the eighties. I think the fight sequence is amazing, DeNiro is beyond reproach, but I just don't enjoy or care to spend any time with these characters. I say we move CHINATOWN to here, replace CHINATOWN's place with THE GODFATHER and replace THE GODFATHER with KING KONG!!!
25) E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
My sister is holding a knife to my throat, I can't say anything other than. Good show. Very good vote.
26) DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
Hmmmmmmmm... I'll have to think about this one. No, I'd definately replace it with SPARACUS. Yup, ok, move this one to 27, dump BONNIE AND CLYDE, place SPARTACUS as number twenty-six. Yup, there ya go.
27) BONNIE & CLYDE (1967)
IXNAY ON THIS ONE!!!! Cut cut cut. GUNCRAZY is a better film, and more significant in terms of cinema verte, in terms of Independent film production, and I just plain like it better. But then I'm not a Warren Beatty or Joan Craw... I mean Faye Dunaway fan. It's that whole wire coathanger thing, I can never forgive her for that, and besides, it ain't nowhere near as good or as important as KING KONG. Have I mentioned that it's supposed to be higher than 43, what brainless zombies.... I know, somebody hooked those groovy headphones that Spock wore in that one episode up to the final voters and just zapped their alleged brains away.
28) APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
I've never been real sure what to think of this film. This is the trip I don't get, I wasn't there then, I wasn't with those thoughts. A film too weird for me. All I knew in 79 was that Han Solo was in the movie.
29) MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON) 1939)
EEEeeeeeeeeeek, another Top ten film sabotaged by morons. The people that picked this order were obviously at a bingo center and just assigned numbers as they were drawn out of a hamper. This is passionate film making, this is acting folks, this ain't no sit back and watch the interest grow sorta film. There were no easy breaks in this film. This is a film that makes you understand what this country was and is about. Even though the mass of our society has forgotten it, allowed the crooked Edward Arnold's and Lionel Barrymoore's confuse us with their attention to scandals, the uprooting of innocence. Everything this film stands for. As John Cassavettes said, "Maybe there never was an America, maybe there was only Frank Capra." Amen brother. Look at this film without the eyes of a cynic, but instead with the eyes of a dreamer, and you'll come away a better person.
30) THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
Ummmmmm this is a TOP TEN film. Pure genius. Fantastic film. Not as good as KING KONG, but real real reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllll close. Put this in the top ten. The condemning of yuppism predicted, 35 years before it infected our world, by John Huston. Brilliant performances by all. One of the greatest 10 films of all time.
31) ANNIE HALL (1977)
Ok. This isn't my Woody Allen film, that belongs to PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, but hey, it's just me. This is one of them relationship ones that well, I guess I'm just too imature to fully appreciate, probably because that pasty black & white guy in the Trench Coat in the corner of my eye tells me it's the girly Woody Allen film. Here come the men in white coats...
32) THE GODFATHER, PART II (1974)
Wow, you know critics didn't pick the list, cause this would've been ahead of the Godfather.
33) HIGH NOON (1952)
Yea!!!!! Script written by a Congressionally black listed writer, kicks all them old farts in the ass, because the film is brilliant. This is one of them westerns that will make you want to rip Garth Brook's cowboy hat off, and say... "YOU AIN'T NO GARY COOPER!!!!"
34) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
Another film that every man, woman and child should see at least twice a year, and 3 times on Sunday. A film that has no weak links. Brock Peters would have made the greatest John Coffey in THE GREEN MILE, and just imagine Jimmy Stewart in the Tom Hanks role. Wow.
35) IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
WHAT!!!!! Ahem. Uhhhh.... Screw it I don't know what to say. Yeah I do. You telling me THE GRADUATE is a better and more deserving film than IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT? HUH? Did Dustin Hoffman actually actively campaign? How the hell does Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft beat Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert? Not in my game of poker.
36) MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
Ok, this belongs.... behind KING KONG!!!!
37) THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
Screw this, put in Ray Milland in THE LOST WEEKEND!!!!
38) DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
What the hell? No friggin way this deserves to be the token Film Noir. Not when you have THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, OUT OF THE PAST, MURDER MY SWEET, WHITE HEAT (HEY WAIT A SECOND, FUCKING WHITE HEAT DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST!!!! HOW IN THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN. Kick West Side Story out, put in WHITE HEAT!!!!
39) DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
A great love story, but not as good as the one between Kong and Ann Darrow. This was based on a book, KONG was strictly written for the screen. It's the screen's great original tale. And them morons voted it 43. "KILL THEM ALL," as William Holden would say....
40) NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
Not quite as good as KING KONG, but a great film nevertheless. I met Ernest Lehmen at the University of Texas, and saw the film at a fantastic theater that the prigs at the University closed down so a bunch of tutu voyeurs could get off to Swan Lake once a year. Man, that theater was great. Especially when this film graced the screen.
41) WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
It's not better than KING KONG, but it deserves it's place as being one of the great Broadway to film musicals, and it is much better than Sound Of Music, which was also by Robert Wise. Boy that guy could do Sci-Fi, Horror and dancing singing gang warfare. That's diversification!!
42) REAR WINDOW (1954)
It's not better than KING KONG, but it's perfect at 42. One of my favorite Hitchcock films.
43) KING KONG (1933)
Ok, what bunch a fucking morons voted. Orson Welles ranked this one above his own film that sits atop this prestigeous pill of dog dung. I'm enraged. KING KONG. It it wasn't for that film, well.... holy shit, it's only one of the top five films of all time, and a buncha drunk Dino DeLaurentis groupies sitting around twiddling their collective thumbs think they remember this film as being dated. I screened this in the back yard for an audience of 65... not a single person got up to get a drink, not a single person nodded asleep. It holds up better than WIZARD OF OZ and GONE WITH THE WIND. This is a film that made every little boy want to make a movie. What sort of braino-disentigrotor ray made these idiots vote it down here!!!!! Hanging's too good for em, burnings too good for em, they ought to be torn into itsy bitsy pieces and buried alive!!!!
44) THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
Ok, though it's cultural significance in undeniable, according to the criteria that Ms. Foster spoke of at the opening, this film ages badly, it's overly long and painful to sit through. Though it does have points for remaining contreversial to today.
45) A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
Great film, no arguements.
46) A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
This wasn't British!!!! Wow. I had totally forgotten that this was a Warner Brothers flick. Shit. Well, Yeah it sure as hell belongs.
47) TAXI DRIVER (1976)
Influential, contreversial, and a kick ass film to boot. This is THE Scorsese film in my book. Travis Bickle could take that Jake LaMotta dweeb in a quarter second.
48) JAWS (1975)
Perfect placing. In the top 50. Right where it belongs.
49) SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
Ok, for the significance, I'm gonna let it go, but let's face it, even though Snow White is awfully cute, PINNOCHIO was the better film. Let's not kid around here. SNOW WHITE had the annoyingly high pitched voice, and the over use of Rotoscoping. All fixed by the time PINNOCHIO came along.
50) BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
Cut this fucker in a New York second and slap ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN in place. Thank god the morons didn't put THE STING in, my Dad would of grabbed the Watusi Lion Spear and gone after some voters.
51) THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
My only complaint here is that it ain't higher.
52) FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
Personally in the realm of Burt Lancaster films, I prefer ELMER GANTRY, CRISS CROSS and BRUTE FORCE. In the realm of Frank Sinatra films I prefer MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, SUDDENLY and MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, in the realm of Ernest Borgnine, I prefer THE WILD BUNCH, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and THE BLACK HOLE and a little film he did called MARTY which is ummmm brilliant. But HEY, I'm just a film illeterite punk kid in my bedroom masterbating to STAR WARS...
53) AMADEUS (1984)
A film in the top 500 not the top 100.
54) ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
Everyone everywhere should be forced to watch this film, Schindler's List and Das Boot in 4th grade where you would be instantly traumitized into non-violence. Maybe then we'd have an end to these idiotic teenagers with their gunsprees.
55) THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
I'm in total agreement. I love the film, though it would have been nice to see Robert Wise represented for his brilliant THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL or THE HAUNTING. But hey, I understand the 'SQUARE-NESS" of the AFI, they have a buncha uptight congressmen to answer to.
56) M*A*S*H (1970)
Ok, so M*A*S*H gets in, but NO FUCKING PRESTON STURGES!!!!! NO SHIRLEY TEMPLE FILM!!!! NO NO NO NO NO!!!! NO HAROLD LLOYD NO BUSTER KEATON NO LAUREL AND HARDY. Where is WAY OUT WEST, Where is THE GENERAL? This just goes to show me that the people that were choosing these films were not really that educated in cinema. This film does not hold up well today. I saw it about 6 months ago with a group of people and it didn't get the laughs it did in the 70's. The TV show outclassed it. And, by definition any film with ELIOT GOULD can not be in the top 100.
57) THE THIRD MAN (1949)
Words can not do this film justice. I must travel to Europe, I must walk the cobblestone streets while the eerie drifts of the zither permeate the ancient air. I must ride the gigantic Ferris Wheel, and I must change my last name to Lime.
58) FANTASIA (1940)
Brilliant film. First stereo film. First film to utilize a new for of celluloid that wasn't based on nitrate. Experimented in new paint techniques, innovative in every possible way. Was not accepted at it's time, but has since found a gigantic following, the very definition of the power the film medium has.
59) REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
This is legendary Hollywood film making perfection. Wouldn't touch a frame, couldn't improve a thing. If I ever hear of Luke Perry or Brad Pitt or Brad Renfro or Matt Damon or any other guy in film so much as itching their head in the midst of a brain fart conception of a remake, I'll personally drive Hallenbeck and his baseball bat over to break some kneecaps of the producers whose half watt light bulb of a brain conceived the abomination.
60) RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
Having this on the list is life affirming. BUT.... I would kick it off the damn list in a quarter second for ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, GUNGA DIN, FOUR FEATHERS, THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON, SANTA FE TRAIL, etc... I hold the film holy mind you. Shit, I have the poster on my cieling, but then I'd peel it off for posters of any of the above listed films as well. Once again a reason to kick some other films off the list. Like... UNFORGIVEN or FRENCH CONNECTION or GOODFELLAS or.... ARGH!!!!
61) VERTIGO (1958)
I'm not the world's biggest VERTIGO fan. In fact I put it behind NOTORIUS, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, REAR WINDOW, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, ROPE, LIFEBOAT, SHADOW OF A DOUBT, TROUBLE WITH HARRY, SPELLBOUND, THE BIRDS, THE WRONG MAN, SUSPICION and then when you dig into the GB productions like 39 STEPS, LADY VANISHES.... well you get my point.
62) TOOTSIE (1982)
WHERE THE HELL ARE THE PRESTON STURGES' COMEDIES? MEET JOHN DOE? LOST HORIZON. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes I saw Dustin cry, unfortunately I do not share his personal devotion to the film.
63) STAGECOACH (1939)
Every frame of this film should be studied. And George Miller paid attention on THE ROAD WARRIOR. Significant for birthing one of the true legends of all time, film or otherwise.
64) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
Sheer power of filmmaking unleashed here. Musically, visually, acting-wise, this is Spielberg most wonder-inducing film for me. Real characters that are trying to deal with issues that noone would believe, and that a government would keep hush hush.
65) THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
Over time, this movie will raise up the list.
66) NETWORK (1976)
Agreed
67) THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
Agreed.
68) AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
Gene Kelly is brilliant and in the post modern art Paris number, you just see how brilliant a musical can get. To bad nobody ever pays attention to the magical nature of the musical that Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire embodied and danced around on screen.
69) SHANE (1953)
Read my feelings all the way down on SEARCHERS. There are some amazing aspects to this film, but I just prefer films like THE SEARCHERS or THE NAKED SPUR or BROKEN ARROW or THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE. This would be like comparing Alec Baldwin in a western to a Clint Eaatwood. There really isn't a comparison.
70) THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
Agreed.
71) FORREST GUMP (1994)
I love Forrest Gump, but move it into THE SEARCHERS' position.
72) BEN-HUR (1959)
Ok, this is just about a hanging offense in my book. How dare this film be this low. There is no way Forrest Gump deserves to be ahead of it, same with AMADEUS or THE FRENCH CONNECTION or any number of other films on this list. I watch this film two or three times a year, and I can put it on at 3am and not goto sleep. There aren't very many films you can do that with.
73) WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
Well given I don't care for this film at all, well, that eliminates this one. Ummm... how about JANE EYRE instead. Orson Welles is always better than Lawerence Olivier in my book.
74) THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
Another brilliant Chaplin piece, but I'd trade THE GENERAL, SHERLOCK Jr., COPS, any day of the week for this one.
75) DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
Oh god, no. No no no no no. You have to be fucking kidding me to think for one damn second that this is a superior film in anyway to THE SEARCHERS or LITTLE BIG MAN, JEREMIAH JOHNSON, A MAN CALLED HORSE. This is friggin' Costner propaganda that has permeated the world. A nice same politically crorect film that just makes ya wanna scream.
76) CITY LIGHTS (1931)
A top 10 film for me. There can be no better American comedy in my book. The sheer enormity of pathos in this film is amazing. The brillance of the blind girl, Chaplin's own 'Smile' music... Brilliant in all aspects, not lacking in one iota. Holds up to today's standards? On the contrary, today's standards do not hold up to it. We should be so lucky to have films to look down upon this one from. Unfortunately comedies with pathos today just do not exist.
77) AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
A photograph of a generation. With Wolfman Jack on the otherside of the broadcast frequency, I know have to fight back tears everytime I hear him over the dial. And when you see him with his ice cream.... wow. It gets me. The last night amongst friends you may never see again. It's a painful film for anyone that had the experience. I often times wonder what happened to a lot of my 'clic' from High School. Where is EDWARD SHELTON, PAUL HART, BOBBY MOORE? What happened to them? Are they still around, are they successful, are they raising sheep in the sahara?
78) ROCKY (1976)
One of the great underestimated films. A film often times judged by the mistakes of the sequels. Though, hell I love Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago, not to mention Brigette Nielson... rawr... A film I would take with me to a desert island, in my endless voyage across the galaxy, if for no other reason than the indomitable power of the human spirit.
79) THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
Personally I feel there is too many Vietnam films here, I'd cut DEER HUNTER, in favor of WAKE ISLAND, which is one of the more haunting films I've seen. Fighting to the last man, in a hopeless situation. Likeable men, that just drew the short end of the straw of life.
80) THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
At 80 I feel this is the perfect placing. Did y'all see this film when it was rereleased with a full digital surround soundtrack. Fan-fucking-tastic...
81) MODERN TIMES (1936)
This is a top 50 films for me. I'd move it up in the list, and give the nine times nine spot to THE GREAT DICTATOR which warned the world of the dangers of Hitler, in a film that Chaplin first had the words to speak, the first time he had something that couldn't adequately be said on a placard. The film initially caused great problems for Chaplin, cause at the time, there were a whole bunch of pro-Hitler types in the Hollywood elite, before they realized what Hitler was really like.
82) GIANT (1956)
Being's that I'm not a Rock Hudson fan, nor an Elizabeth Taylor fan, but a huge James Dean fan, I have to exclude this film from the list in my mind, and let's see.... I'll replace it with hmmmmmm.... BOOM TOWN with Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy. Wonderful film about the Burkburnett oil fields...
83) PLATOON (1986)
I saw the film with a group of Vietnam vets in north Texas, and it took them twenty minutes to clear the theater, due to grown men crying. A film that touched on the exact feeling these men felt. If it has that type of universal feelings...well then it is completely deserving...
84) FARGO (1996)
It's not even the best Coen brother film. That's BLOOD SIMPLE, so this is a retarded, I just saw it recently kneejerk reaction. What is the filmmaking significance? In the same exact genre of crime in the middle of nowhere, I vote for PETRIFIED FOREST, Bogart first role that made him on screen with Leslie Howard. Duke Mantee kicks Peter Stormare's ass up and down the block.
85) DUCK SOUP (1933)
I've always prefered A NIGHT AT THE OPERA and HORSEFEATHERS...
86) MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
No arguements everyone is great. Far better than the Brando version or the Mel Gibson/Anthony Hopkins' THE BOUNTY...
87) FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
Ok, now this is where I go a bit ballistic. What sort of moron group chose FRANKENSTEIN over BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, which is FRANKENSTEIN's superior in every single possible way. There is not one single aspect of filmmaking or importance that BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN doesn't clobber Frankenstein with. Ok ok, Bride was a sequel.... so the hell what! Damn, SON OF FRANKENSTEIN is a better film in my opinion. Sure the original has the fevered face of Colin Clive exclaiming the monster was ALIVE... ALIVE I TELL YOU!!, but hell, Bride has the bride, Ernst Theiseger, the blind man, "We Belong DEaaaaaad!" Oh man. Bride Kicks ass!!!
88) EASY RIDER (1969)
This is a perfect inclusion for a list like this. First of the cultural significance, it's a bookmark in history. The style of filmmaking was innovative. Affected film forever, a major advance in the world of early independent film. And after the affects of THE WILD ONE wore off, it gave birth to a whole run of Biker films like THE LOSERS, HELLS ANGELS ON WHEELS as well as opening the door for other trippy films like THE TRIP. Put Jack Nicholson on the map, first really cool dialogue about UFOs, great great GREAT soundtrack. No arguements here.
89) PATTON (1970)
Ok, instead of PATTON, I vote for another film that George C Scott is in, but then again, so is Paul Newman, Piper Laurie and Jackie Gleason as the brilliant Minnesota Fats. Fantastic, significant, Oscar winning, and a far superior film with George C Scott.
90) THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
Ok, this get's in under historical significance. For me though I always prefered Eddie Cantor...
91) MY FAIR LADY (1964)
Oh for Christ's sake. Elijah Doolittle?!?! What about BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S or CHARADE or FUNNY FACE.... All vastly superior in my book. Ugggh...
92) A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
Yeah yeah yeah... whatever. I woulda voted for CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF about a billion times before this one. But then I've never been that much of a Montgomery Cliff sorta fan.
93) THE APARTMENT (1960)
I've just never been a fan of this film. It just didn't work on me. And to think that a film like ohhhh let's see... ummmm THE THIN MAN isn't here, but this is. Or how about SHERLOCK JR or THE GENERAL or SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS.... UNFAITHFULLY YOURS. Yeah... where the hell is a Preston Sturges film?!!!!??!?!?!!?
94) GOODFELLAS (1990)
I completely disagree with this film's inclusion. I feel the movie is brilliant, but personally I preferred Scorsese's CASINO, AGE OF INNOCENCE, MEAN STREETS, etc... I have it on tape, but I don't put it on very often. I don't think it affected society or permeated the main stream conciousness. I also don't feel it offered anything particularly significant other than simply being a brilliant film. But then there are a lot of brilliant, unincluded films not on this list. Hell, you could say that JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS or SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD or FORBIDDEN PLANET or DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL or WAR OF THE WORLDS have had a major impact on filmmaking than this film. Personally, I'd of loved to have seen SCARFACE (either version) instead. (Boy I'm gonna catch hell for that one.)
95) PULP FICTION (1994)
I love the film. However, there is a part of me, that really feels that (kinda like the Post Office) a film should be aged a bit before being decided on to be a classic. Of course the importance of PULP FICTION is undeniable. It, El Mariachi, Slacker, Clerks... they all signaled a revolution in independent filmmaking which we are still feeling today. And this film, had a whole hell of a lot to do with that. I was watching the DVD of Pulp tonight on the DVD-ROM player on this computer, and though I've seen it too much, I couldn't turn the damn thing off.
96) THE SEARCHERS (1956)
What the hell is this doing all the way down here? This is quite simply one of the greatest films (top 30) ever. To drop this in, alllll the way down here is a major snub for me. The combination of changing the western for all time. The rascist issues raised. The brilliant cinematography, score, storytelling, and dialogue make this on an even keel with any and all films on this list.
97) BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
No arguements whatsoever...
98) UNFORGIVEN (1992)
Ok, UNFORGIVEN is a pretty damn good Western. Some irresponsible critics labeled it the 'last western', meaning the genre should be retired, that nothing more could be said. Personally I believe that's a pile of bullshit. Unfortunately Eastwood's spaghetti westerns were disqualified, due to their Italian origins, so that leaves me with saying, the best (in my opinion) of the Eastwood Westerns would be OUTLAW JOSEY WALES. But of course in my opinion, if you couldn't have one of the Sergio Leoni masterpieces, then choose no Eastwood western at all. Instead go with something like THE OX-BOW INCIDENT or RED RIVER. In my opinion RED RIVER is a sheer work of genius that rivals and suppasses SHANE in my book. Of course that is just my opinion.
99) GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
Wonderful film, but for my money I still prefer IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT or THE DEFIANT ONES with Poitier. Of course, it's like apples and oranges, but ultimately this isn't a bad choice, just a difference in taste.
100) YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)
I absolutely agree with this film being included. One of my all time favorites. The film that made me first inquire..."What's VARIETY?" Though for the part of black and white Warner Brother's Cagney Musical, my vote is for FOOTLIGHT PARADE from 1933. For one, it has Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers, Guy Kibbee, Dick Powell, and has three of the greatest Busby Berekeley musical numbers of all time.
