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M. William Griffiths

  1. The Swimmer (Frank Perry, 1968)
  2. Hardcore (Paul Schrader, 1979)
  3. Hail Mary (Jean Luc Godard, 1985)
  4. Seconds (John Frankenheimer, 1966)
  5. The Killing of a Chines Bookie (Cassavetes, 1976)
  6. The Brown Bunny (Vincent Gallo, 2004)
  7. The Vanishing (George Sluizer, 1988)
  8. Peeping Tom (Michael Powell, 1960)
  9. Teoreme (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1968)
  10. Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984)
Top 10 Directors
  1. Pier Paolo Pasolini
  2. Kenneth Anger
  3. Stan Brakhage
  4. John Cassavetes
  5. Robert Bresson
  6. Andrei Tarkovsky
  7. Mario Bava
  8. Michelangelo Antonioni
  9. Nicholas Roeg
  10. Sam Peckinpah

tally after this list / June 7, 2009


Edward Copeland

  1. The Rules of the Game (Jean Renoir, 1939)
  2. Dr. Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
  3. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941)
  4. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942)
  5. Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975)
  6. Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
  7. Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976)
  8. Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)
  9. Sunset Blvd. (Billy Wilder, 1950)
  10. The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen, 1985)

Edward Copeland is a film critic. His work can be found at Edward Copeland on Film

tally after this list / June 5, 2009


Nicolas Lincy

  1. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)
  2. Mulholland Dr. (David Lynch, 2001)
  3. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
  4. Once Upon a time in America (Sergio Leone, 1984)
  5. The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
  6. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
  7. Inland Empire (David Lynch, 2006)
  8. Marnie (Alfred Hitchcock, 1964)
  9. Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone, 1968)
  10. The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955)
Top 10 Directors
  1. Alfred Hitchcock
  2. David Lynch
  3. Clint Eastwood
  4. John Ford
  5. Francois Truffaut
  6. Brian De Palma
  7. Stanley Kubrick
  8. Jean Luc Godard
  9. Fritz Lang
  10. Charles Chaplin

Nicolas Lincy is a 17 years-old french student, who loves cinema and lists and one day hopes to be a filmmaker.

tally after this list / May 23, 2009


Jan Lambert Albion

  1. Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999)
  2. Dr. Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
  3. Persona (Ingmar Bergman, 1966)
  4. Jeux interdits (René Clément, 1952)
  5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (M. Gondry, 2004)
  6. Amelie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001)
  7. Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999)
  8. Lawrence of Arabia (David Lean, 1962)
  9. Shadow of a Doubt (Alfred Hitchcock, 1943)
  10. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)
Top 10 Directors
  1. Eric Rohmer
  2. Akira Kurosawa
  3. Ingmar Bergman
  4. Preston Sturges
  5. Luis Buñuel
  6. Marcel Carne
  7. Michael Powell
  8. Billy Wilder
  9. Luchino Visconti
  10. Alfred Hitchcock

Jan Lambert Albion is a 25 year old aspiring filmmaker/grad student.

tally after this list / May 16, 2009


Dave Hicks

I'm limiting myself to only one film from a director. So, this eliminates a few of my other favorite films (Apocalypse Now, Psycho, The Godfather II, among many), but it was the best way for me to try and whittle it down to 10. The first five are pretty much interchangeable depending on my mood at any given time, but I've tried to rank them as best I can.

  1. Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) - There are three or four Hitchcock films that I consider perfect (or near perfect) masterpieces, but Rear Window always retains its position as my favorite movie from the master. It works on so many levels. At times, it can be seen as a comedy, as Jeff, Lisa and Stella interact with each other. But it is best known as a thriller, although not in the traditional sense. There is no violence or shocking scenes like Hitch utilized in other films. It is just good old fashioned suspense and it was never done better than in this film.
  2. Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990) - I've debated other film fanatics many times on what actually is Martin Scorsese's greatest film. The larger film community seems to have settled on Raging Bull, which is a truly amazing film, or Taxi Driver. But I will always place Goodfellas in a class by itself. Technically speaking, it's a masterpiece. The two famed tracking shots of the entrance into the Copa and the introduction of Henry's friends are brilliant. This is another instance where multiple individual performances come together perfectly. Ray Liotta was never better than when portraying Henry Hill. Joe Pesci won an Academy Award, and rightfully so. Robert De Niro, Paul Sorvino, Lorraine Bracco were all amazing.
  3. The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972) - Maybe it is a bit cliche to list this film near the top of a favorites list, but there's no denying its greatness. There is no substitute for storytelling and the epic sweep of the Corleone family is as compelling as anything ever put on film. The dark photography gives the movie an almost noir-like feeling, so it is aesthetically outstanding as well. And the number of great performances in this film truly are staggering. One could reasonably argue that Robert Duvall, Al Pacino, James Caan, _and_ Marlon Brando were never better than in The Godfather.
  4. JFK (Oliver Stone, 1991) - The film is a mish-mash of various assassination conspiracy theories, ranging from crackpot to very possible, and the overall argument as to who actually initiated the assassination of President Kennedy simply is not true. But you know what? The movie is so well made and entertaining, it doesn't even matter. I genuinely believe that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing JFK... and yet, I still love this movie. If I am looking for complete historical accuracy, I do not turn to a Hollywood major motion picture. Instead, Stone set out to put forth ideas of what "could" have happened or raise doubt about the actual circumstances of the assassination. He succeeds and does so in a tour-de-force of a film. The editing of this film is incredible, creating a mosaic of traditional shots, flashbacks, recreations, and actual documentary footage that is stunning. This movie always has been controversial and polarizing among movie fans, but it will always remain among my favorites for one supreme reason: I am so thoroughly entertained by it.
  5. Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks, 1959) - I've finally come to the conclusion that Howard Hawks is the greatest American filmmaker and I feel quite certain that this is his best film. I go back and forth as to what is my favorite western -- alternating between this and #8 on the list -- but this is hard to top. Supposedly Hawks was inspired to make a rebuttal to Fred Zinnemann's High Noon, and not only did he respond but he blew it out of the water. Dean Martin is unexpectedly excellent as a cowboy. Walter Brennan proves that he may be the world's best character actor. The Duke is the Duke. Angie Dickinson is as stunning as ever. I could go on and on. The only remotely valid complaint I've ever read about the movie is that Ricky Nelson is a bit stiff in his role as Colorado. But I honestly do not mind Nelson and think he is more than adequate.
  6. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942) - Overall, Michael Curtiz is an incredibly underrated director. He made many great films and the only reason that I can think of as to why none of his other masterpieces (Angels With Dirty Faces, Mildred Pierce) are not as highly regarded is that they are all dwarfed by the greatness of Casablanca. Is it wartime propaganda? Most certainly. And it matters not a bit. Far better people than myself have waxed poetic on this movie, so I'll stop here and just say that I never tire of watching it.
  7. Out of the Past (Jacques Tourneur, 1947) - I am a film noir lover, so picking my favorite of the genre is no easy task. However, the one I continually come back to is this. In fact, if I were going to recommend a noir to someone who knew absolutely nothing about the genre, it would be either this or Double Indemnity. This one has everything that can be asked of a noir -- the convoluted plot, the witty dialog and one-liners, the femme fatale, and the tough guy private eye. It's quintessential Robert Mitchum and all around great fun. Plus, it has possibly the greatest line of dialogue ever delivered in Hollywood -- after Kathy says that she doesn't want to die, Jeff (Robert Mitchum) answers: "Neither do I, baby, but if I have to I'm gonna die last."
  8. Unforgiven (Clint Eastwood, 1992) - With all due respect to the legendary work he did Sergio Leone in the Man With No Name trilogy, this is the best Eastwood I've ever seen. Another great ensemble performance, as Eastwood, Freeman and Hackman are all perfectly cast. The ending is legendary and quite possibly my favorite of all time. It is both the personifaction of the macho cowboy image that made Eastwood famous in the 60s and heartbreaking as you realize everything that the William Munny character has lost in the process.
  9. Kiss Me Deadly (Robert Aldrich, 1955) - Criminally underrated and overlooked, this is a highly stylized noir that is among the best in the genre. In this film, the hardboiled detective fiction meets Cold War paranoia, and I could not love it any more. Right from the start, which contains the memorable opening credit sequence of a naked woman running down the middle of the road, right through to the explosive finish, Robert Aldrich is at his finest. The film looks spectacular as Aldrich is able to use shadows and camera angles to convey to the audience the same type of confusion that P.I. Mike Hammer is experiencing. Some people may be put of by the course that the plot ultimately takes, but if put in the proper context, it works perfectly. This film has attained something of a cult following, but it deserves so much more recognition.
  10. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Andrew Dominik, 2007) - I understand that it might be seen as a little overkill to have a third western in my all-time top 10 movies, but I've come to the conclusion that it's impossible for me to keep this off of my list. In reality, this is less a western in the traditional sense than just a character study -- of both Jesse James, played very well by Brad Pitt, and Bob Ford, played by Casey Affleck in a show-stealing performance. The film is visually stunning as well, reinforcing the fact that director Andrew Dominik and cinematographer Roger Deakins are among the best working at their crafts today. The scene of the Blue Cut train robbery is is nothing short of spectacular.
Excruciating to leave these off the list: A Place in the Sun (Stevens), Sweet Smell of Success (Mackendrick), Le Samourai (Melville), Les Diaboliques (Clouzot), The Big Lebowski (Coen), The Searchers (Ford), Mafioso (Lattuada), Mulholland Dr. (Lynch), Criss Cross (Siodmak), Pulp Fiction (Tarantino), L.A. Confidential (Hanson), All About Eve (Mankiewicz) The New World (Malick).

tally after this list / May 11, 2009


Aaron Dumont

  1. Out 1 (Jacques Rivette, 1971)
  2. Hi, Mom! (Brian De Palma, 1970)
  3. Berlin Alexanderplatz (R.W. Fassbinder, 1980)
  4. Dog Star Man (Stan Brakhage, 1962-64)
  5. In a Year of 13 Moons (R.W. Fassbinder, 1978)
  6. The Roaring Twenties (Raoul Walsh, 1939)
  7. The Age of the Earth (Glauber Rocha, 1980)
  8. The 47 Ronin (Hiroshi Inagaki, 1962)
  9. Que viva Mexico! (Sergei Eisenstein, 1932)
  10. Titicut Follies (Frederick Wiseman, 1967) - TIE
  11. Our Hitler (Hans-Jürgen Syberberg, 1977) - TIE
Top 10 Directors:
  1. Rainer Werner Fassbinder
  2. Kenji Mizoguchi
  3. Brian De Palma
  4. Robert Bresson
  5. Ingmar Bergman
  6. Michelangelo Antonioni
  7. Orson Welles
  8. Stan Brakhage
  9. Anthony Mann
  10. Samuel Fuller
Worst Films:
  1. The Postman
  2. Battlefield Earth
  3. Waterworld
  4. What Dreams May Come
  5. I Know Who Killed Me

Aaron Dumont is a hardcore cinephile and an aspiring writer.

tally after this list / Apr 4, 2009

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