The final honourable mentions before the BIG 100. You’ll be thinking to yourself, how can he leave so many great films off a 100 greats list, well it’s difficult you and in this list there are some corkers.
Hopkins wows as disgraced President
- Nixon (1995, Oliver Stone, US)
Rambling, long and way overstated, like the titular bloke himself then? Stone’s Nixon biopic is savagely underrated even now featuring Anthony Hopkins’ finest performance
- Once Upon a Time in America (1984, Sergio Leone, Ita/US)
Leone’s final film is a sweeping gangster epic, superbly directed and brought to the screen even at 220 minutes you are short changed.
- The Prestige (2006, Christopher Nolan, UK/US)
Like magic itself it does not reveal it’s finest secret until the end, leading us down a road of false hands and cheap tricks to a wonderfully bizarre denouement.
- The Princess Bride (1987, Rob Reiner, US)
Without Princess Bride, Shrek would not exist, nor would any postmodern fairytale. Great fun and still a wonderful film to behold visually.
- Princess Mononoke (1997, Hayao Miyazaki, Jap)
A crowning achievement in animation, a visually superb and narratively daring work which challenges viewers of every age. My favourite Ghibli.
- Quadrophenia (1979, Franc Roddam, UK)
British cinema explosion of the 70′s led to this, a story of mods vs rockers with drugs, sex and violence. Great soundtrack by the Who too.
- Requiem for a Dream (2000, Darren Aronofsky, US)
A very tough and important film about drug addiction with a great central performance by Ellen Burstyn, some films just don’t need to be seen again after one viewing.
- Scream (1997, Wes Craven, US)
While it is easy to attribute blame to this film for all the terrible post modern slasher movies, this holds up for being both wickedly funny and genuinely scary.
The expansive West
- The Searchers (1956, John Ford, US)
The seminal classic western, shot in stunning VistaVision and with one of John Wayne’s finest performances, a must for any film fanatic or cowboy hound.
- Secrets + Lies (1996, Mike Leigh, UK)
A heartbreaking and utterly engrossing family drama from the most challenging of British filmmakers working now. Blethyn and Spall are a terrific pairing.
- The Shining (1980, Stanley Kubrick, UK/US)
While this is a fairly overrated work by the supreme craftsman it still houses plenty of chills along the way and Jack Nicholson’s performance is wonderfully twisted.
- Slumdog Millionaire (2008, Danny Boyle, UK/Ind)
Oscar gobbling wonderment from the master of contemporary British cinema, pacy, energetic, bursting with life and a great screenplay a joy from beginning to end.
- The Straight Story (1999, David Lynch, US)
The exact opposite to anything of Lynch’s career, still a very tragic and heartfelt piece of work, as Alvin Straight travels across America on a tractor to meet his dying brother.
- Strangers on a Train (1951, Alfred Hitchcock, UK/US)
Fantastically tense, packed with terrific performances and odd sexual overtones. This is Hitchcock firing on all cylinders, a classic.
- Terminator 2 Judgment Day (1991, James Cameron, US)
He may have lost his spark in recent years but Cameron does know how to construct mind blowing action sequences which are thrilling and emotionally involving.
The terror of Texas
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper, US)
A nihilistic, nasty, evil spirited and utterly terrifying cult horror flick, which has endured brilliantly despite it’s 35 year age.
- The Thing (1982, John Carpenter, US)
Adding, in his own unique way, to the body horror subgenre, Carpenter provides his own twist on it, giving us a story about conflict rather than gore.
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, Robert Mulligan, US)
Still powerful, still emotionally gut wrenching and now of course up there with the great modern film classics, Gregory Peck’s Oscar very well deserved indeed.
- Tokyo Story (1953, Yasujiro Ozu, Jap)
Ozu’s great masterpiece is a parable of family and politics set against stunning backdrops and the very fresh and plain shooting style is beautifully rendered.
- Traffic (2000, Steven Soderbergh, US/Mex)
A brutal and superbly constructed intertwining stories movie, Michael Douglas is the stand out of a terrific ensemble cast, the Oscar winning direction by Soderbergh stands out.
- Twelve Monkeys (1995, Terry Gilliam, US/UK)
A very harsh and grim portrayal of the future, where a disease has wiped out almost all of the population. Gilliam’s trademark direction is on full display here.
- United 93 (2006, Paul Greengrass, US/UK)
A gutting and extremely intense but highly emotionally driven story of the 4th plane hijacked during 9/11 which never hit its target.
- Volver (2006, Pedro Almodovar, Sp)
Almodovar has been known for very strong female characters, but here they are his strongest. Penelope Cruz wows in this masterpiece about hidden secrets.
- WALL-E (2008, Andrew Stanton, US)
Never has animation been so involving and beautiful. A very fine film with a strong eco message and fantastic visuals which warrant repeat viewings.
- When Harry Met Sally (1989, Rob Reiner, US)
This entirely loveable and still pinnacle romantic comedy, holds up for the great performances by Ryan and Crystal and witty script by Ephron.
I'll have what she's having
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