OK, I couldn’t stop at 10. Here’s 11-20 in my greatest films of all time. Some of these might surprise you.
11) Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989, Woody Allen) I think this is Woody’s best film ever. It explores moral dilemmas, the human conscience and the ability to live with the radical choices sometimes made in life. Martin Landau’s performance is outstanding as a man tormented by his soul and what he’s done.
12) Born On The Fourth Of July (1987, Oliver Stone) Released one year after “Platoon,” it’s a look at the Vietnam experience from a totally different point of view. Should have earned Tom Cruise an Oscar for his bravura performance. At least Stone got the Best Director prize.
13) The Verdict (1982, Sidney Lumet) For my money this is Paul Newman’s best performance. He’s an alcoholic trial lawyer who takes on one last case that finally wakes him up and makes him care again. A study of how lawyers don’t always have hearts of darkness. This is the movie for which I think he got his make-up Oscar when he won for “The Color of Money” in ‘86.
14) Jaws (1975, Steven Spielberg) No list is complete without the first true blockbuster of all time. It changed the way movies are made and marketed, but more than that its story never gets old. Even 30 plus years later it is still fascinating how it scares you more when you don’t see the shark than when you do. Plus it is filled with classic dialogue.
15) The Godfather Part II (1974, Francis Ford Coppola) Probably the only sequel in the history of American cinema that critics say is better than its original. I happen to disagree only because Brando was in the original. Al Pacino has never been better as we watch the meltdown of Michael Corleone’s heart before our very eyes. Oh, and DeNiro is pretty good too as a young Vito.
16) The Children’s Hour (1961, William Wyler) Much like “Network,” it is decades ahead of its time in its depiction of female homosexuality and what happens when people become hysterical about the subject. I had never heard of it prior to finding it recently. I couldn’t believe a film with Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner was that obscure. This is also a very underrated film and is more than relevant today.
17) Quiz Show (1994, Robert Redford) Covering the quiz show scandals of the 1950’s, it is a very informative piece of American history. It is fascinating to see the tainted history of something we take for granted every day: television game shows. Redford shows us that the TV industry can be as ruthless as any business in its quest for ratings.
18) The Contender (2000, Rod Lurie) A political thriller with riveting performances by Joan Allen and Gary Oldman as the two square off in the battle to nominate the first woman to the vice-presidency. It shows the dirty tricks and scandals put forth by those in governmental power in order to keep the status quo. We see up close what we already suspect is going on in Washington, D.C.
19) Mildred Pierce (1945, Michael Curtiz) Oscar winning comeback performance for Joan Crawford as a mother who will sacrifice anything for her daughter, no matter the cost. Ann Blyth is the ungrateful recipient of Crawford’s love and sacrifice. The best movie on the mother-daughter dynamic since “Stella Dallas.” Both performances are excellent in this great film noir piece.
20) Being There (1979, Hal Ashby) Peter Sellers’ final film before his death and another underrated gem of a movie. The story of how a simple man comes to have a lot of influence on the world despite seeing it through the eyes of a child. Excellent support from Shirley MacLaine and Melvyn Douglas, who got a best supporting actor prize. Sellers was nominated for best actor and it’s easy to see why.
