My 25 Favorite Films
The List No One Asked For
(updated October 2019)
I feel the need to preface this list with a few disclaimers. These are my favorite films. This does not mean that I in any way intend this to be an objective list of the greatest films ever made. I’m not quite that arrogant or that stupid. On the contrary – I recognize the flaws in each of these movies all too well. Also, this list is definitely in a specific order.
01
Funny Games (US, 2007)
I am definitely someone who resents the idea of the “needless American remake”, and Funny Games U.S. certainly appears to be just that. It’s a shot-for-shot remake of the Austrian film Funny Games from 1997. There are several factors here that explain why I believe the American version is superior, most of which you can find in my review. Michael Haneke directed both films, and U.S. is essentially his second chance at perfection. In my opinion, the cast is leaps and bounds above the original. Michael Pitt is amazing, and Bradey Corbet, Tim Roth, and Naomi Watts really act the hell out of this movie. Most importantly, however, is the fact that the film’s examination of violence in cinema and a viewer’s relationship to that violence feels more relevant to American cinema than Austrian. Yes, Michael Haneke hates you so much that he remade his own film.
02
Vertigo (1958)
A longtime favorite of the notorious Sight & Sound polls (famously dethroning Citizen Kane as the ultimate movie for film snobs), Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo will always hold a soft spot in my heart. It’s certainly up there as one of the films I watched the most as a child, and I’ll always maintain immense admiration for it.
03
Mulholland Drive (2001)
If I start talking too much about Mulholland Drive, this list will quickly become insufferably long. Narratively, it’s anything but straightforward. Its production history is odd. Regardless, it is David Lynch at his most David Lynch, outside of Twin Peaks season 3 of course.
04
Suicide Club (2001)
From 2001 to 2010, Sion Sono directed a string of excellent films (Hazard, Noriko’s Dinner Table, Strange Circus, Love Exposure, and Cold Fish.) Sono hasn’t seen much success (or respect) in America, but Suicide Club saw some exposure as ‘that movie where a bunch of Japanese students jump in front of a train’, which you could find rotting on the shelves of any Hot Topic. This is all very unfortunate, because Suicide Club transcends that reputation immensely, and is one of the most complex and interesting films I’ve ever seen.
05
Melancholia (2011)
Lars Von Trier has a reputation for really pushing his audiences, and generally being a despicable human being. Melancholia is his most accessible film, which is usually a bit of a turn-off for me, but it’s also his most emotional and visually-stunning work to date. Even after naming The House That Jack Built my favorite film of 2018, I still have to admit that Melancholia is the better movie.
06
Persona (1966)
This is my favorite Bergman film, so of course it belongs on this list. The oft-imitated concept of the story-line itself is executed in a way that only Bergman could deliver. His juxtaposition of faces is notorious. The monologue about weird sex on the beach is eternally memorable.
07
The Shining (1980)
Just about any list of movies needs a Kubrick film on it. The Shining is, in my opinion, nowhere near Stephen King’s best book, but Kubrick’s adaptation is one of the greatest films ever made – in part because of the ways in which Kubrick deviated from the source material. Take that, King.
08
Psycho (1960)
Hitchcock’s daring masterpiece of suspense is a film that maintains its impact even over 50 years later, after its notorious plot twists have become common knowledge. Also – FIRST TOILET!
09
Jesus Camp (2006)
I have easily seen this more than any documentary out there, and much of that is for personal reasons. Jesus Camp explores the culture that surrounds a Pentecostal church camp, and without any forceful editing or extreme bias, manages to capture with crystal clarity the many ways in which this camp has had a negative impact on its attendees. Also, “Warlocks are enemies of God!”
10
Holy Mountain (1973)
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain is one of the trippiest films you’ll ever see. Borrowing much imagery from the tarot, the film concerns several individuals and their search for immortality. To say any more about the plot would be… difficult.
11
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Yorgos Lanthimos quickly became one of my favorite working directors after the release of 2009’s Dogtooth. The Lobster became a moderate success in 2015, and was nominated by the Academy for Best Screenplay. In 2018, The Favourite was nominated for 10 Oscars, winning Best Actress for Olivia Coleman. Somewhere in between, Lanthimos released The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which flew under the radar fairly significantly. All of the awkward dialog used for the sake of humor in his other films is actually, in my opinion, more conducive to building tension than creating odd jokes. This is personal proof that Lanthimos needs to bring his talents to horror/suspense more often.
12
Annie Hall (1977)
I am most likely in the minority when I say that Annie Hall deserved the Academy Award for Best Picture over Star Wars. The film encapsulates everything I’ve ever loved about Woody Allen. It’s so good, in fact, that it almost makes me forget about Allen’s bizarre sexual misconduct. Almost.
13
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Lynne Ramsay’s visionary direction, Ezra Miller and Tilda Swinton’s incredible performances, and the plot’s slow climb to its inevitable conclusion all make for one of the most compelling films of the last decade. Also, John C. Reilly doesn’t suck in this movie. That’s a real mark of talent for the director.
14
The Innocents (1961)
Jack Clayton’s adaptation of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw is actually one of the first films I can remember seeing (and the first film I can remember invoking the emotion of sheer terror.) A gothic horror tale with some seriously questionable implications, this film was a little too much for me when I was young. Now, it’s a personal favorite.
15
Ghost World (2001)
Every generation since the first talkies has a series of films that have shaped the vernacular of the youth of its day. Ghost World never became popular enough to have this level of an impact on my peers, but it certainly had an impact on my own manner of speech.
16
Pulp Fiction (1994)
It’s Pulp Fucking Fiction.
17
Donnie Darko (2001)
I revisit Donnie Darko every six months or less, and while repeated viewings have soured the experience for me a bit, I still love it to death. It’s a great first film that should have indicated a long and productive career for its director. Clearly, Richard Kelly was a one-trick pony, and every film he’s made since is incompetent and boring. Or I just really, really love Donnie Darko, and nothing else can compare.
18
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
The ultimate glossy, Hollywood film noir, Sunset Boulevard’s central performances make it infinitely re-watchable. Gloria Swanson absolutely shines as Norma Desmond, a silent film actress hell-bent on making a comeback in spite of her age. It’s a story that will always be relevant in the entertainment industry, and what’s more – it’s entertaining as hell.
19
Chinese Roulette (1976)
This sneaky West German film concerns a young crippled girl out for revenge against her parents – both of whom are cheating on one another. She manipulates both her parents and each of their lovers into showing up at the same vacation home for a weekend, and gradually, the crippled girl exacts her revenge in some rather clever and unexpected ways.
20
Parasite (2019)
It’s a bit odd to put this on the list before the year is even over, but Parasite is THAT entertaining. Its commentary on class relations is actually fairly apt without being too on-the-nose, and generally speaking, it’s nearly perfect on every technical level.
21
Irréversible (2002)
As much as I admire Gaspar Noé’s work, it’s awfully hard to recommend his movies to general audiences. Irreversible takes place in reverse, much in the same way that Memento does, except to greater effect. The film’s 9-minute, unedited rape scene is as disturbing as it sounds, and will probably result in most audiences failing to reach the “uplifting” ending. Still, it’s a triumph of cinema, and I’ll admit that I’ve definitely seen it more than once.
22
3 Women (1977)
Perhaps 3 Women faded into obscurity because it’s a little too avant-garde for its own good. Altman’s experimental nightmare fosters notable performances from both Sissy Spacek and Shelley Duvall. Were it not for Carrie or The Shining, I’d like to think this is the film they’d be most remembered for.
23
The Rules of Attraction (2002)
I think I understand why, but nobody really seems to respond the way I do to this film. I find every moment immensely gratifying. Its source material is my favorite novel, so I may be biased.
24
Blue Velvet (1986)
Once again, we have David Lynch going full-on Lynch. Dennis Hopper’s performance alone makes this film special. If I ever randomly shout, “Baby wants to fuck Blue Velvet!” you’ll know why.
25
The Master (2012)
I’m sure there’s a Scientologist waiting outside my door as I type this, but Paul Thomas Anderson’s intepretation of L. Ron Hubbard (and the woman allegedly behind all his success, played admirably by a quiet Amy Adams) is an absolute masterpiece. Whether you think the film is out to trash L. Ron himself or not (it is), the performances of all its leads make this an absolute must-watch.
Honorable Mentions:
These are the films that at one point made it into my top 25, but have been unfortunately forced out by slightly superior films:
Happiness (1998)
Kicking and Screaming (1995)
Little Children (2006)
The Ice Storm (1997)
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Metropolitan (1990)
A Serious Man (2009)
Martyrs (2008)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Love Exposure (2008)
Dazed and Confused (1993)
An Elephant Sitting Still (2019)
Lost Highway (1997)
Buffalo ’66 (1998)
Polytechnique (2009)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Election (1999)
Rushmore (1998)
American Psycho (2000)
Stoker (2013)
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
American Beauty (1999)
The End of Evangelion (1997)
The Sound of my Voice (2011)
Magnolia (1999)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
God Loves Uganda (2013)
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
The Royal Tenenbaums (2005)
Battle Royale (2000)
Dogville (2003)
Annihilation (2018)
Visitor Q (2001)
Rebecca (1940)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Casablanca (1942)
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Cache (2005)
The Witch (2015)
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Inland Empire (2006)
Les Diaboliques (1955)
Dial M for Murder (1954)
Personal Shopper (2016)
Rear Window (1954)
Some Like it Hot (1959)
Peeping Tom (1960)
8 1/2 (1963)
The Birds (1963)
Winter Light (1963)
Phantom Thread (2017)
First Reformed (2017)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Teorema (1968)
The Damned (1969)
They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Harold and Maude (1971)
The Exorcist (1973)
F for Fake (1973)
Carrie (1976)
Eraserhead (1977)
Taxi Driver (1976)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Hereditary (2018)
Alien (1979)
A Zed and Two Noughts (1985)
Revolutionary Road (2008)
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
Heathers (1988)
Ken Park (2002)
Spring Breakers (2012)
Cecil B. Demented (2000)