My Top Films of all Time
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- DirectorChantal AkermanStarsDelphine SeyrigJan DecorteHenri StorckA lonely widowed housewife does her daily chores, takes care of her apartment where she lives with her teenage son, and turns the occasional trick to make ends meet. However, something happens that changes her safe routine.Jeanne Dielman is a mesmerising perfect film which follows three days in the life of its protagonist as she works and maintains order. Each scene is composed of beautiful long ponderous shots that are framed masterfully. Also a great exploration of gender politics.
- DirectorYasujirô OzuStarsChishû RyûSetsuko HaraYumeji TsukiokaSeveral people try to talk 27-year-old Noriko into marrying, but all she wants is to keep on caring for her widowed father.Late Spring is not a complicated movie. The camera rarely moves at all and when it does it only pans, the story is a simple family drama concerning arranged marriage and yet it manages to be the most beautiful movie I've ever seen. Each shot is perfectly composed (an advantage of not moving your camera), acted flawlessly and Ozu creates one of the saddest films of all time whilst avoiding melodrama.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsBertil GuvePernilla AllwinKristina AdolphsonTwo young Swedish children in the 1900s experience the many comedies and tragedies of their lively and affectionate theatrical family, the Ekdahls.Ignore the advice to watch the theatrical cut, it may take 5 hours but Fanny and Alexander is worth it. The story of the twists and turns that befall 2 children of an aristocratic family in Sweden is shown to us by Bergman at a slow pace but it works. The first hour is spent setting up all the pieces of this drama and fleshing out their rich characters and this only accentuates the brutal drama we see unfold in act 2. A joy to look at and the finest acting on this list.
- DirectorYasujirô OzuStarsChishû RyûChieko HigashiyamaSô YamamuraAn old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but receive little attention.Another family drama from Ozu, but the 'Tofu maker' was perfect at his craft, particularly in the Noriko trilogy. This story of the respect an elderly couple receive from their children (or lack thereof) is again told simply but in such a way that you may find yourself in tears at the end.
- DirectorPawel PawlikowskiStarsAgata KuleszaAgata TrzebuchowskaDawid OgrodnikA novice nun about to take her vows uncovers a family secret dating back to the German occupation.The most beautiful black and white film ever shot, Ida is the story of an initiate nun's quest to discover herself. The whole film is a joy to look at and the acting knocks it out of the park. The story is superbly told and brutally depressing. The film also explores deeper themes concerning Communist Poland and guilt, something that the films artful deployment of quiet moments allows time to ponder.
- DirectorClaude LanzmannStarsSimon SrebnikMichael PodchlebnikMotke ZaïdlClaude Lanzmann's epic documentary recounts the story of the Holocaust through interviews with witnesses - perpetrators as well as survivors.Not the easiest film to watch both for its length and for its horrific subject but it is a must see. Without using any archival footage but rather actually more powerful current shots of the locations, Lanzmann looks into not the why's of the Holocaust but rather the how's. I sat spell bound for 10 hours marvelling both at the beauty of this movie and the horrors of its subject matter.
- DirectorBernardo BertolucciStarsJean-Louis TrintignantStefania SandrelliGastone MoschinA weak-willed Italian man becomes a fascist flunky who goes abroad to arrange the assassination of his old teacher, now a political dissident.The Conformist is not only a brilliant film in the technical field with its brilliant cinematography and framing of shots but also in the deep themes it examines including fascism, sexuality and yes conformity. Jean Louis Trintignant's dubbed performance (unfortunate but necessary as he can't speak Italian) encapsulates his character perfectly and the films interesting structure further enriches it.
- DirectorSteve McQueenStarsMichael FassbenderLiam CunninghamStuart GrahamIrish republican Bobby Sands leads the inmates of a Northern Irish prison in a hunger strike.Steve McQueen's first feature film is a stunning look at the Hunger strike of Bobby Sands. A brilliant performance from Fassbender and supporting cast is coupled with strikingly beautiful cinematography which contrasts with the brutal subject matter sharply. The 15 minute single shot dialogue scene is breathtaking even if McQueen is clearly showing off.
- DirectorKrzysztof KieslowskiStarsIrène JacobWladyslaw KowalskiHalina GryglaszewskaTwo parallel stories about two identical women; one living in Poland, the other in France. They don't know each other, but their lives are nevertheless profoundly connected.Another Kieslowski which is strong in much the same way as Three Colours. Potentially even more prettily shot than any of his other works, this film ponders fate and coincidence in such a relaxing beautiful manner that one cannot help but be blown away. Even stronger on a second viewing.
- DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsMargarita TerekhovaFilipp YankovskiyIgnat DaniltsevA dying man in his forties remembers his past. His childhood, his mother, the war, personal moments and things that tell of the recent history of all the Russian nation.When going into Mirror, it is best if one goes in looking for poetry more than a story. The film weaves between time periods, employing the same actors as different people in this gorgeous and yes confusing movie. Let the scenes wash over you and just enjoy the art, the very clever shots and the set pieces.
- DirectorRainer Werner FassbinderStarsMargit CarstensenHanna SchygullaKatrin SchaakeA troubled fashion designer strikes up a romance with a much younger woman.It is difficult to tell when watching the Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant that this film was essentially written on a plane journey. The script is brilliant and flows perfectly through the films which is constructed of but a few scenes. The all female cast are brilliant at delivering their thoroughly unlikable characters (with the exception of the friendly Marlene.)
- DirectorKrzysztof KieslowskiStarsJuliette BinocheZbigniew ZamachowskiJulie DelpyA woman struggles to find a way to live her life after the death of her husband and child.One of the most coordinated colour schemes a movie has ever achieved, Three Colours: Blue manages to deliver Kieslowski's signature stunning cinematography and a beautifully serene plot concerning loss and grief. At the centre Juliette Binoche's deep and puzzling character, secures this as Kieslowski's greatest achievement (of many.)
- DirectorCarl Theodor DreyerStarsMaria FalconettiEugene SilvainAndré BerleyIn 1431, Jeanne d'Arc is placed on trial on charges of heresy. The ecclesiastical jurists attempt to force Jeanne to recant her claims of holy visions.Famed for being one of silent cinema's best, the Passion of Jeanne d'Arc delivers with a knockout performance from Falconetti who is given all the time in the world by the camera which spends most of its time in Medium and close up shots. Not a film for those interested in the history but rather for those interested in seeing pure emotion.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsNaomi WattsLaura HarringJustin TherouxAfter a car wreck on Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.I will never fully be satisfied in my understanding of Mulholland Drive, even after having watched countless videos offering compelling theories as to the meaning of its rich symbolism and carefully wound plot. Lynch creates a mesmorizing masterpiece that requires a second viewing (and third) but at the same time can be enjoyed as a great movie even without comprehension. Excellent acting and imagery accompanies the mysterious plot.
- DirectorYasujirô OzuStarsChishû RyûShima IwashitaKeiji SadaAn aging widower arranges a marriage for his only daughter.Another Ozu, another film on this list. Similar in themes to Late Spring this film instead draws its emotional richness from the father as opposed to the daughter in examining the tragedy. The camera doesn't move once allowing you to enjoy Ozu's flair for composition and framing, the film that shows he can make colour film as well as he can black and white.
- DirectorRainer Werner FassbinderStarsHanna SchygullaKlaus LöwitschIvan DesnyMaria marries Hermann Braun in the last days of World War II, only for him to go missing in the war. Alone, Maria puts to use her beauty and ambition in order to find prosperity during Germany's "economic miracle" of the 1950s.Another Fassbinder masterpiece with each shot composed of exquisite colours and creative camerawork. Acted magnificently by the usual cast of fairly unpleasant characters this film enraptures in its tale of success, marriage, gender and values until its explosive conclusion.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsMarcello MastroianniAnouk AiméeClaudia CardinaleA harried movie director retreats into his memories and fantasies.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsDaniel Day-LewisPaul DanoCiarán HindsA story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.A character study of an incredibly unlikable man played flawlessly by Daniel Day Lewis, this film is an interesting and deep exploration of religion, capitalism, family and greed. With a star studded cast all giving it their all, the film is completed by the brilliant camera work and creepy score.
- DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsAnatoliy SolonitsynIvan LapikovNikolay GrinkoThe life, times and afflictions of the fifteenth-century Russian iconographer St. Andrei Rublev.Although not quite reaching the heights of his other masterpiece, Tarkovsky delivers another beautifully shot haunting movie, with an ethereal camera which glides through the countless long shots of the movie, weaving back and forth effortlessly. A slowly paced movie to be sure, but one well worth the time.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.Dazzling cinematography with its beautiful use of rich colours, this story about a descent into madness in Vietnam is Coppola's finest. The madness of the film is brilliantly communicated not only in the story but also in the visuals and the subtle performance of Sheen. With biting moments of satire this film also has its funny moments particularly in the sequences around Kilgore. I would recommend watching the Redux version, it adds some enriching scenes.
- DirectorYasujirô OzuStarsSetsuko HaraChishû RyûChikage AwashimaA family chooses a match for their daughter Noriko, but she, surprisingly, has her own plans.The second film in the Noriko trilogy is another masterpiece from Ozu. Brilliantly following the destruction of a family unit over a longer run time than many other Ozu features, giving space for the characters to display more nuance and depth. An unusual level of movement by the camera does not disrupt his masterful eye for composition.
- DirectorAlain ResnaisStarsDelphine SeyrigGiorgio AlbertazziSacha PitoëffIn a strange and isolated chateau, a man becomes acquainted with a woman and insists that they have met before.Last Year at Marienbad doesn't have much of a plot, none of its characters have names, the location is unclear and whether any time passes is similarly obfuscated. Stripped of most of these conventional elements a brilliantly confusing masterpiece is presented with haunting visuals, ethereal camera work and fascinating opportunities for theorising.
- DirectorRainer Werner FassbinderStarsBarbara SukowaArmin Mueller-StahlMario AdorfA seductive cabaret singer-prostitute pits a corrupt building contractor against the new straight-arrow building commissioner, launching an outrageous plan to elevate herself in a world where everything-and everyone-is for sale.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanThe aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.The Godfather is highly regarded for a reason. This classic tale of corruption into gangsterism, features stunning performances from both its lead (Pacino) and supporting cast. Coppola is in his prime creating a gorgeous movie to behold with rich colours, brilliant shots and masterful editing.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsRobert De NiroJames WoodsElizabeth McGovernA former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan 35 years later, where he must once again confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.A sadly butchered epic in America upon its release (and still lacking in some footage that Leone had initially wanted), the gangster epic still manages to hold up regardless. With perhaps one of the longest narratives for a crime drama allowing us intimate understanding of Noodles and the relationships he builds and destroys over his life.
- DirectorCarol ReedStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenAlida ValliPulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, Harry Lime.The Third Man reminds the viewer of the joy of black and white. Shadows are controlled masterfully by director Carol Reed, who creates a noir like vibe in this post war thriller. Brilliantly written with standout scenes like the fairground wheel this film bowls one away with its beautiful lighting and atmosphere.
- DirectorKar-Wai WongStarsTony Leung Chiu-waiMaggie CheungSiu Ping-LamTwo neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs.
- DirectorChantal AkermanStarsChantal AkermanNiels ArestrupClaire Wauthion'Je' is a girl voluntarily lock up in a room. 'Tu' is the script. 'Il' is a lorry driver. 'Elle' is the girlfriend.
- DirectorLuis BuñuelStarsFernando ReyDelphine SeyrigPaul FrankeurA surreal, virtually plotless series of dreams centered around six middle-class people and their consistently interrupted attempts to have a meal together.
- DirectorMikhail KalatozovStarsSergio CorrieriSalvador WoodJosé GallardoFour vignettes about the lives of the Cuban people set during the pre-revolutionary era.
- DirectorCharlie KaufmanStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanSamantha MortonMichelle WilliamsA theatre director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he creates a life-size replica of New York City inside a warehouse as part of his new play.
- DirectorYasujirô OzuStarsShin SaburiKinuyo TanakaIneko ArimaA businessman clashes with his elder daughter over her choice of a husband.
- DirectorLuca GuadagninoStarsTilda SwintonFlavio ParentiEdoardo GabbrielliniEmma left Russia to live with her husband in Italy. Now a member of a powerful industrial family, she is the respected mother of three, but feels unfulfilled. One day, Antonio, a talented chef and her son's friend, makes her senses kindle.
- DirectorDziga VertovStarsMikhail KaufmanElizaveta SvilovaA man travels around a city with a camera slung over his shoulder, documenting urban life with dazzling invention.
- DirectorYasujirô OzuStarsGanjirô NakamuraSetsuko HaraYôko TsukasaThe family of an older man who runs a small sake brewery become concerned with his finances and his health after they discover him visiting an old mistress from his youth.
- DirectorYasujirô OzuStarsSetsuko HaraYôko TsukasaMariko OkadaA widow tries to marry off her daughter with the help of her late husband's three friends.
- DirectorPier Paolo PasoliniStarsMaria CallasMassimo GirottiLaurent TerzieffAfter his quest to retrieve the fabled Golden Fleece, Jason returns to Greece with powerful sorceress Medea. However, when the king banishes her, it's only human that Medea plots her furious revenge. Can they escape her wrath?
- DirectorLav DiazStarsAngeli BayaniPerry DizonRoeder CamanagThree people engage in a strange therapy to get away from their agonies.
- DirectorAsh MayfairStarsHong Chuong NguyenLong Le VuNu Yên-Khê TranIn 19th century rural Vietnam, May is ready to become the third wife of a wealthy landowner. Little does she know that her hidden desires will force her to decide between living in safety and being free.
- DirectorAleksandr DovzhenkoStarsStepan ShkuratSemyon SvashenkoYuliya SolntsevaIn the peaceful countryside, Vassily opposes the rich kulaks over the coming of collective farming.