167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present)
.... OR SEE AT LEAST ONCE! Members used to message me asking for a list (back when the IMDb still offered that messaging feature). Took a while to get it done, had to go through 1000s of titles, but thar' she blows! Hope you find something you missed!! GUARANTEE YOU WILL FIND NO LIST LIKE THIS ANYWHERE ELSE! And here's a tip: Hollywood would remake the evening news if they thought there was a buck to be made. But in real life the number of remakes/sequels better than the original can be counted on the fingers of one hand ... not counting the thumb. (See, for ex., item #27 below.) Finally, for film historians of the far future, note that this list was launched in 2017, a period before Mankind collectively began a period which may, in that same far future, be remembered as "the Troubles." It was launched at a time when an upstart company originally known for loaning DVDs by mail was able to convince total strangers to loan them tens of billions of dollars to compete with Hollywood -- which itself has become old and senile and disturbingly set in its ways. Plus -- explained in the detailed "NOTES" below -- the subsequent Cancel Culture and Woke movements changed the industry so much that many earlier productions, not considered standouts at the time, suddenly gained entertainment value because of their pre-censorship authenticity. It is my hope that this list, which features SOME OF THE GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME from the 20th century, will offer discerning viewers a window on an era now lost, but still very much worth finding. And that it will survive me when I ultimately move to the Cloud.
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- DirectorGavin O'ConnorStarsTom HardyNick NolteJoel EdgertonThe youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.Best MMA film ever made. Tom Hardy back in the days when he could morph into whatever character he wanted to. Script pushes buttons you didn't even know you had. (see also entry #189 below).
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenDorothy ComingoreFollowing the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'If you are in film class, here is the secret of the movie that will get you an "A" on your next paper -- Welles was the undisputed master of radio and voice so he built this movie with a soundtrack so perfect you could listen to the sound only and still follow the film. Try it.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodGian Maria VolontèMarianne KochA wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge.Not merely great but created a new genre of film, launched a superstar, changed the way sound was done, introduced one of the greatest directors of all time ... and no I am not referring to Eastwood! The opening scene ("Apologize to my mule, he is very sensitive") had theatre patrons jumping out of their seats. Based on the Japanese classic YOJIMBO, but the sequels were 100% pure Leone.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.Citizen Kane of Superhero movies. Tom Hardy, behind a mask, steals the film.
- DirectorMitchell LeisenStarsFredric MarchEvelyn VenableGuy StandingThe Grim Reaper takes the form of a Prince in an attempt to relate to humans and, along the way, also learns what it is to love.Ignore the wretched remake, the original oozes class.
- DirectorRob MinkoffStarsJackie ChanJet LiMichael AngaranoA discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King.International wushu with the dual leads (Li and Chan in the same film!) done to perfection. The double climax is ... wonderful.
- DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsSean ConneryAlec BaldwinScott GlennIn November 1984, the Soviet Union's best submarine captain violates orders and heads for the U.S. in a new undetectable sub. The American CIA and military must quickly determine: Is he trying to defect or to start a war?More testosterone than a football team.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsFranka PotenteMatt DamonChris CooperA man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and attempting to regain his memory.Possibly the best adaption of a bestselling action novel ever ever ever. First 3 sequential entries "tie" with Lord of the Rings for Best Trilogy. The 4th entry is (gag!) cringe-worthy.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenOrlando BloomA meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.A true trilogy -- each film in the series as good as the next. Wow.
- DirectorMakoto ShinkaiStarsRyunosuke KamikiMone KamishiraishiRyo NaritaTwo teenagers share a profound, magical connection upon discovering they are swapping bodies. Things manage to become even more complicated when the boy and girl decide to meet in person.Not merely the greatest love tale of all time but done as anime.
- DirectorChuck RussellStarsJim CarreyCameron DiazPeter RiegertBank clerk Stanley Ipkiss is transformed into a manic superhero when he wears a mysterious mask.'The' film that launched Carrey into hyperspace after a certain un-named 3-letter Hollywood agency had been carrying him for years. The film was so successful, the star turn so historical, that the producers simply could not afford to bring Carrey back for the sequel. This is a perfect film. Two extra bonuses -- one of the very few roles by Richard Jeni (an astonishingly talented standup) before his untimely death. And Diaz at late stage of her modelling career yet the early stage of her Hollywod career -- almost a time capsule.
- DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossWhen a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.Close to perfect. Watch over and over. Ignore part II and III. And if you can remember when this was credited to "the brothers Wachowski" then your age is showing.
- DirectorOrson WellesFred FleckRobert WiseStarsTim HoltJoseph CottenDolores CostelloThe spoiled young heir to the decaying Amberson fortune comes between his widowed mother and the man she has always loved.Don't make em like this anymore. Learn why. (HINT: look closely at the credits!)
- StarsPeter KrauseJulianna MarguliesPeter JacobsonA detective investigates a mysterious motel room which acts as a portal to anywhere in the world.Technically a mini-series but so astonishing, so one-of-a-kind, I'll make an exception.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsSigourney WeaverTom SkerrittJohn HurtThe crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.The title is now iconic. Director at the peak of his craft. PS -- promise to never mention "Prometheus" to me and we'll be pals for life.
- DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisAlan RickmanBonnie BedeliaA New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.Launched a superstar and a franchise, although quality of sequels is uneven. And no it is not "Yippee Coyote."
- DirectorRobert MontgomeryStarsRobert MontgomeryAudrey TotterLloyd NolanThe lady editor of a crime magazine hires Phillip Marlowe to find the wife of her boss. The private detective soon finds himself involved in murder.Wow -- Montgomery stars and directs in a film shot first person POV (rare) co-written (unbilled) by Chandler himself. Totter's performance is to die for.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsJames StewartDonna ReedLionel BarrymoreAn angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.This film actually belongs at the top of this list so I apologize. Definitely one of the greatest films of all time. See one of the 3 colorized versions! Textbook "fantasy" script from the era turbo-charged by perfect casting, direction, scripting and acting. Could be Stewart's greatest work (and many of his facial expressions only become clear in color). The scene at the 45:00 mark where Stewart's character is "hooked" into a proposal like a fish chasing bait is one of the most unique and fascinating in the entire history of film. Iconic. Mesmerizing.
- 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 parting gift from Leone, YOU MUST SEE THE UNCUT VERSION!!! Uncredited performance by Jennifer Connelly steals the show!
- DirectorRouben MamoulianStarsTyrone PowerLinda DarnellBasil RathboneA young Spanish aristocrat must masquerade as a fop in order to maintain his secret identity of Zorro as he restores justice to early California.Best adaptation, best-ever on-screen sword fight. (Also the longest ever filmed.) For fanboys, the 1920 version is considered one of the best silent films of all time.
- DirectorDavid TwohyStarsVin DieselJudi DenchColm FeoreThe wanted criminal Richard Bruno Riddick arrives on a planet called Helion Prime and finds himself up against an invading empire called the Necromongers, an army that plans to convert or kill all humans in the universe.Best film from both actor and director, massively and mind-bogglingly under-rated.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanIan McKellenIn a world where mutants (evolved super-powered humans) exist and are discriminated against, two groups form for an inevitable clash: the supremacist Brotherhood, and the pacifist X-Men.Perfect adaptation, and each sequel worse than the previous one.
- DirectorDavid TwohyStarsRadha MitchellCole HauserVin DieselA transport ship crashes and leaves its crew stranded on a desert planet inhabited by bloodthirsty creatures that come out during an eclipse.A gem that came out of nowhere, so it seemed! See also #21 above.
- DirectorRichard LesterStarsGene HackmanChristopher ReeveMargot KidderSuperman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.Best of the pre-CGI crop, has massive heart.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel CraigEva GreenJudi DenchAfter earning 00 status and a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, Montenegro.I love Connery but this entry is still the best Bond film. Craig captures the essence of macho -- "a man who could jog home from his own vasectomy." Terrible writing in the sequel destroyed the new franchise so quickly it deserves a mention in Guinness.
- DirectorCarroll BallardStarsKelly RenoMickey RooneyTeri GarrAfter being shipwrecked with a magnificent horse off the coast of Africa in the 1940s, a boy bonds with the stallion, and trains him to race after their rescue.Want to remember being a kid? Defines the term "timeless."
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsJeff GoldblumGeena DavisJohn GetzA brilliant but eccentric scientist begins to transform into a giant man/fly hybrid after one of his experiments goes horribly wrong.Maybe the best remake of all time. (Also check out HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL 1999.)
- DirectorMark HermanStarsBrenda BlethynJane HorrocksMichael CaineA shy reclusive lady is convinced by an invisible entity to sing. Subsequently, she finds herself noticed by a sleazy talent agent and her talent being showcased on-stage. She also meets a kind but nervous man who becomes her best friend.Unique and defies description. A film actually built around the star!
- 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 Citizen Kane of noirs, appropriately featuring the star of Citizen Kane. And that soundtrack doesn't "zither" around!
- DirectorHarold YoungStarsLeslie HowardMerle OberonRaymond MasseyA noblewoman discovers her husband is The Scarlet Pimpernel, a vigilante who rescues aristocrats from the blade of the guillotine.Lost classic, perfect acting, script, love story, iconic novel, list goes on. Historically, the first fictional hero with a secret identity -- in other words, THE FIRST SUPERHERO. (So popular -- this has never happened before or since -- the same production team "reimagined" the story just a few years later, set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany, and that film release was a hit too!)
- DirectorWilliam DieterleStarsJennifer JonesJoseph CottenEthel BarrymoreIn Depression-era New York, an impoverished painter has a chance encounter with an enigmatic, old-fashioned little girl in Central Park who inspires him and changes his destiny.One of the two PERFECT Cotton/Jones pairings and a must see.
- DirectorWilliam DieterleStarsJennifer JonesJoseph CottenAnn RichardsAllen Quinton writes a fellow soldier's love letters; tragedy results. Later, Allen meets a beautiful amnesiac who fears postmen...One of the two PERFECT Cotton/Jones pairings and a must see.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsTyrone PowerMarlene DietrichCharles LaughtonA veteran British barrister must defend his client in a murder trial that has surprise after surprise.One of the two best courtroom films of all time
- DirectorOtto PremingerStarsJames StewartLee RemickBen GazzaraAn upstate Michigan lawyer defends a soldier who claims he killed an innkeeper due to temporary insanity after the victim raped his wife. What is the truth, and will he win his case?One of the two best courtroom films of all time
- DirectorAlexander HallStarsRobert MontgomeryClaude RainsEvelyn KeyesBoxer Joe Pendleton dies 50 years too soon due to a heavenly mistake, and is given a new life as a millionaire playboy.The blackout scene is unforgettable. Can't say the same about Beatty's remake.
- DirectorRobert MulliganStarsGregory PeckJohn MegnaFrank OvertonAtticus Finch, a widowed lawyer in Depression-era Alabama, defends a Black man against an undeserved rape charge, and tries to educate his young children against prejudice.Gregory Peck makes you feel privileged just to be able to watch.
- DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsCatherine DeneuveIan HendryJohn FraserA sex-repulsed woman who disapproves of her sister's boyfriend sinks into depression and has horrific visions of rape and violence.Never seen it? What are you waiting for?
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsNathan FillionGina TorresChiwetel EjioforThe crew of the ship Serenity try to evade an assassin sent to recapture telepath River.Before Whedon became a film God -- and the Whedon family a dysasty -- this was his pet project after Buffy. Vastly under-rated.
- DirectorPrachya PinkaewStarsTony JaaPhetthai VongkumlaoPumwaree YodkamolWhen the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.The release of this Thai treat was a knockout blow to China and Japan both. Ignore the sequels.
- DirectorRichard C. SarafianStarsBarry NewmanCleavon LittleCharlotte RamplingDuring the 1970s, car-delivery driver Kowalski delivers hot rods in record time, but always runs into trouble.Love cars? (And the remake is as bad as the original is good.)
- DirectorSimon WincerStarsTom SelleckLaura San GiacomoAlan RickmanSharpshooter Matt Quigley is hired from Wyoming by an Australian rancher paying a very high price. But when Quigley arrives Down Under, all is not as it seems.Best western, gets all the various parts of the recipe just right. (Kinda ironic that the best westerns of the last 60 years were filmed in Italy and Australia, respectively?)
- DirectorBrett RatnerStarsNicolas CageTéa LeoniDon CheadleA fast-lane investment broker, offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a mini-van and wife.Tea Leoni did not make enough films. Cage made too many. This is the perfect compromise.
- DirectorPaul Michael GlaserStarsD.B. SweeneyMoira KellyRoy DotriceA temperamental figure skater and an arrogant former hockey player attempt to win the Olympic Gold Medal as a figure skating pairs team.Disney likes to keep this on the down-lo, but the original in this unusual franchise was not merely successful, it "touched" audiences to a degree even the studio could not believe. The result was (count 'em!) 3 sequels for a low-budget original that most people have still never heard of. This hi-endorphin feel-gooder is not only a joy to watch and re-watch, but it contains elements of "The Taming of the Shrew" not seen since Burton and Taylor took to the big screen. Definite classic.
- DirectorRenny HarlinStarsGeena DavisSamuel L. JacksonYvonne ZimaSamantha Caine lives in a small town with her daughter. Eight years ago she emerged, two months pregnant, from a nearby river with no memory of her past or who she is. However, she's getting closer to finding out about her past.Many flaws, yes, but overall this film has a way of overcoming its failings and racing to the finish. I am embarrassed to say how many times I have seen it. Geena Davis created an odd, unforgettable, female version of Bourne which deserves to be cherished, not ignored. There are key tropes and set pieces here which have never been equalled. "Chefs do that" is one. And the scene where Davis (a professional killer with amnesia who had been living a life as a housewife/schoolteacher) crosses paths with one of her former young students who was sneaking a cigarette behind a hedge. She addresses him seemingly the way a teacher would address her charge, yet the boy senses the "change" in Davis -- and pees himself. This is a vastly under-rated film.
- DirectorCarl ReinerStarsJohn DenverGeorge BurnsTeri GarrWhen God appears to an assistant grocery manager as a good natured old man, the Almighty selects him as his messenger for the modern world.Nobody does it better. Skip the two sequels.
- DirectorEmile ArdolinoStarsPatrick SwayzeJennifer GreyJerry OrbachSpending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle.Did you catch the paradox? Over 230K IMDb votes for a film which supposedly grossed almost nothing? The producers were passionate about this cult hit ... and it shows. Ignore the remake -- you're better than that.
- DirectorJerry LewisStarsJerry LewisStella StevensDel MooreA timid chemistry teacher discovers a magical potion that can transform him into a suave and handsome womanizer.In your present generation, whatever it is, it will be hard to believe how big a star Lewis was in his day. This is likely his best work, the most nuanced, and the "inside joke" in Hollywood at the time was that, when he played Buddy Love, the Jekyll character, he was really playing himself. As always, ignore the remake (even though in his later years Lewis literally lived off sales of the rights to his earlier productions). A timeless film that says a lot about what it means to fit in. See also #139 for the real deal.
- DirectorJohn IrvinStarsCraig WassonAlice KrigeFred AstaireTwo generations of men find themselves haunted by the presence of a spectral woman. When the son of one of the elderly men returns to his hometown after his brother's mysterious death, they attempt to unravel her story.Peter Straub set out to create the ultimate ghost story ... and he succeeded.
- DirectorJean CocteauRené ClémentStarsJean MaraisJosette DayMila ParélyA beautiful young woman takes her father's place as the prisoner of a mysterious beast, who wishes to marry her.The original!
- DirectorFritz LangStarsRudolf Klein-RoggeOtto WernickeThomy BourdelleA criminal mastermind uses hypnosis to rule the rackets after death.Rare Fritz Lang sound film -- a treat. Even the first two minutes are unforgettable.
- 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.Magical and under-rated. Stunning female leads.
- DirectorHenry SelickStarsDanny ElfmanChris SarandonCatherine O'HaraJack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.Now this is indeed odd. When I first saw this in a theatre, I was so bowled over that I rushed home to research Burton. I found he was at that time a young man (relatively) and this gave me the hope that many more extraordinary films just like this one would follow. But they did not. There were attempts here and there, sure, but I have (so far) seen this at least 10 times and I have yet to find anything like it in terms of its ability to hypnotize and mesmerize the viewer. A completely extraordinary one of a kind film, it turns out. It touches the heart.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsSam WorthingtonZoe SaldanaSigourney WeaverA paraplegic Marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.OMG! WoW! (The tardy sequel manages to do something extraordinary, it literally sucks all the joy and wonder from the franchise. If you watch the sequel, you may never enjoy the original again!)
- DirectorRobert StevensonStarsJulie AndrewsDick Van DykeDavid TomlinsonIn turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.Transformative.
- DirectorHarold RamisStarsBill MurrayAndie MacDowellChris ElliottA narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day.The first of its kind -- set the bar. Murray shines.
- DirectorVincenzo NataliStarsNicole de BoerMaurice Dean WintDavid HewlettA group of strangers awaken to find themselves placed in a giant cube. Each one of them is gifted with a special skill and they must work together to escape an endless maze of deadly traps.Also the first of its kind. But no means the last. Check out EXAM 2009, another lost gem.
- DirectorJean-Pierre JeunetStarsAudrey TautouMathieu KassovitzRufusDespite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.Sweet but not filling. And, prior to the ascent of Anya Taylor-Joy, the most piercing eyes in the history of the medium.
- DirectorLothar MendesAlexander KordaStarsRoland YoungRalph RichardsonEdward ChapmanAn ordinary man suddenly finds that anything he says comes true. Or at least, almost anything.The 100% perfect original, not a horrid knock-off. (Word is, the Wells estate will not license a remake so Hollywood is forced to shamelessly "steal" the story over and over -- while spending millions a year chasing those who 'share' movies..?)
- DirectorMilos FormanStarsJim CarreyDanny DeVitoGerry BeckerThe life and career of legendary comedian Andy Kaufman.Carrey's best work and under-rated to the point of insanity. Does not merely play Kaufman, he is channeling him.
- DirectorJohn HughesStarsMatthew BroderickAlan RuckMia SaraA popular high school student, admired by his peers, decides to take a day off from school and goes to extreme lengths to pull it off, to the chagrin of his Dean, who'll do anything to stop him.Set the bar for a voice-over "youth" movie.
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsRichard DreyfussRon HowardPaul Le MatA group of teenagers in California's central valley spend one final night after their 1962 high school graduation cruising the strip with their buddies before they pursue their varying goals.OMG! (Test your friends with "Name a Harrison Ford movie where he doesn't break a sweat")
- DirectorWilliam DieterleStarsEdward ArnoldWalter HustonJane DarwellA nineteenth-century New Hampshire farmer makes a pact with Satan for economic success, then enlists famed orator Daniel Webster to extract him from his contract.A timeless tale with perfect craftmanship. Originally released as THE DEVIL and DANIEL WEBSTER. Hard to find treat but worth the effort.
- DirectorLuc BessonStarsJean RenoGary OldmanNatalie Portman12-year-old Mathilda is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin's trade.Uneven here and there but truly paints a portrait of a "pro." And don't overlook Portman as the waif.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodEli WallachLee Van CleefA bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.Leone! Leone! Leone!
- DirectorPierre MorelStarsLiam NeesonMaggie GraceFamke JanssenA retired CIA agent travels across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been kidnapped while on a trip to Paris.Launched world's oldest action figure. Whatta script! WARNING: The Surgeon General says the sequels can damage your brain.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsMatthew BroderickRutger HauerMichelle PfeifferThe thief Gaston escapes the dungeon of medieval Aquila through the latrine. Soldiers are about to kill him when Navarre saves him. Navarre, traveling with his spirited hawk, plans to kill the bishop of Aquila with help from Gaston.Not merely one of the greatest love stories, but the actors never looked better.
- DirectorMark OsborneStarsJeff BridgesMackenzie FoyRachel McAdamsA little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to prepare her for it. Her neighbor, the Aviator, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of the Little Prince.Animation done to perfection. Even the title score is perfect.
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsChristian BaleSteve CarellRyan GoslingIn 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the United States mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.A little piece of history from one of the most corrupt ages in the saga of Mankind. Ask your grandfather to explain it. And mourn the fact that no one paid attention to the warning.
- DirectorJames Ward ByrkitStarsEmily BaldoniMaury SterlingNicholas BrendonStrange things begin to happen when a group of friends gather for a dinner party on an evening when a comet is passing overhead.Lost gem. Script to die for. Both entertainment and an IQ test. You have to watch at least twice to see what you missed. Seriously.
- DirectorNina PaleyStarsAnnette HanshawAseem ChhabraBhavana NagulapallyAn animated version of the epic Indian tale of Ramayana set to the 1920s jazz vocals of Annette Hanshaw.Takes the longest and most incomprehensible tale in human history WHICH MAY ACTUALLY BE BASED ON FACT and makes it ... fun! (Inside joke -- the producers slyly gave Annette Hanshaw a full title credit even though the popular artist from the 1920's is used only for the soundtrack -- "that's all!")
- DirectorSteve BinderStarsElvis PresleyD.J. FontanaCharlie HodgeAfter making movies for many years, Elvis Presley makes a comeback tour in 1968.The year was 1968. The British Invasion of Pop was in full swing. And the man, the legend, with the 3 Octave voice who was considered the King of Rock N Roll had to dig deep and show the world who he really was. Decades from now, historians looking back at our present time period will note that, of the many dozens of Conspiracy Theories floating around, the Bob Joyce controversy was the only one that could actually produce a smile. As this is written in late 2022, Bob is still very much with us, and is planning (OMG!) a new X-Mas album. The world is a brighter place with him in it. Do your own research. Start with "Clark Kent Syndrome."
- DirectorDuncan JonesStarsJake GyllenhaalMichelle MonaghanVera FarmigaA soldier wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train within 8 minutes.Seen it a dozen times .. so far.
- DirectorWill GluckStarsEmma StoneAmanda BynesPenn BadgleyWhen Olive lies to her best friend about losing her virginity to one of the college boys, a girl overhears their conversation. Soon, her story spreads across the entire school like wildfire.Vastly under-rated, perfect script, acting, direction, flawless. Could teach it in film school.
- DirectorAndy FickmanStarsAmanda BynesLaura RamseyChanning TatumWhen her brother decides to ditch for a couple weeks, Viola heads over to his elite boarding school, disguised as him, and proceeds to fall for his school's star soccer player, and soon learns she's not the only one with romantic troubles.She is indeed the Man and this is her BEST film in an otherwise shortened career. The scene where (pretending to be her own twin brother) she has to react to a "groin injury" is outrageously and unforgettably funny.
- DirectorMark WatersStarsLindsay LohanJonathan BennettRachel McAdamsCady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.Iconic. Part of the language now. Typical of Tinseltown, Lohan was 18 at the time but McAdams was 26 playing "younger."
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsFred WardDavid WarnerJulianne MooreIn a fantastical 40's where magic is used by everyone, a hard-boiled detective investigates the theft of a mystical tome.HBO may have done the right film for the wrong reasons but this is a perfect timeless classic.
- DirectorJae-young KwakStarsCha Tae-hyunJun Ji-hyunIn-mun KimA young man sees a drunk, cute woman standing too close to the tracks at a metro station in Seoul and pulls her back. She ends up getting him into trouble repeatedly after that, starting on the train.Timeless love story (quirky and genre-bending) shamelessly copied a million times all over the world, maybe best Korean film ever.
- DirectorRudolph MatéStarsEdmond O'BrienPamela BrittonLuther AdlerFrank Bigelow, told he's been poisoned and has only a few days to live, tries to find out who killed him and why.Perfect noir, right down to the point of view. Again, ignore the remake.
- DirectorMelvin FrankNorman PanamaStarsDanny KayeGlynis JohnsBasil RathboneA hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful King....gotta be a Danny Kaye in here somewhere ... at the peak of his wacky craft, and Johns never looked better, the set pieces here are the stuff of legend, including the "flagon with the dragon" and the super-speeded-up knighting... real belly laughs
- DirectorDavid SwiftStarsJane WymanHayley MillsRichard EganA young girl comes to an embittered town and confronts its attitude with her determination to see the best in life.Another near-perfect film lost to time. Adaptation is better than the book, morphed into a major "feel-good" film with a breakout star. Also, this was one of the projects that Walt himself personally supervised, so it had a "blank-check budget" ... and it showed.
- DirectorPaul W.S. AndersonStarsKurt RussellJason Scott LeeJason IsaacsA soldier trained from birth is deemed obsolete and dumped on a waste planet where he is reluctantly taken in by a community of defenseless, stranded wayfarers.Another one that fell through the cracks. "Lifetime" actor Kurt Russell (who started with Disney, and even appeared in Rin Tin Tin) in his late 40s outperforms actors 20 years younger and generates enough testosterone and stoic good looks to steal this massively under-appreciated actioner away from Jason Scott Lee and the beautiful Connie Nielson. If you break down the script, the direction, the acting, it is a nearly perfect film that builds to a perfect climax. Seen it at least a dozen times.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsJackie Earle HaleyPatrick WilsonCarla GuginoIn a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.The strange work done by Snyder after this amazing film -- especially the horrific Superman entries, including the one where Clark actually lets his dad die for no clear reason ??!! -- belie the notion one might otherwise get from Watchmen that Zack can do no wrong. Seems, only in Watchmen, a nearly perfect film from beginning to end, can he actually do no wrong. Never gets old, never gets stale.
- DirectorHenry SelickStarsDakota FanningTeri HatcherJohn HodgmanWandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, an 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice.I think classes in film exist simply to discuss how films like this -- with no obvious special features that should make it pop to the surface -- can end up being one of the most memorable bits of animated fun you are ever likely to see in your lifetime. At first I thought it was just me, but then I found other members who had the exact same emotional connection with the film I did. See it. As many times as you like.
- DirectorPaul McGuiganStarsJosh HartnettBen KingsleyMorgan FreemanA case of mistaken identity lands Slevin into the middle of a war being plotted by two of the city's most rival crime bosses. Under constant surveillance by Detective Brikowski and assassin Goodkat, he must get them before they get him.Finally -- the 100% perfect "clever" script. Hartnett has never been this cool, either before or since.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsWill FerrellJames CaanBob NewhartRaised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.Seems perhaps like an odd pick but I am sticking to it. Back in the day, once you were an established comedy star you could, like Bob Hope or Jerry Lewis, make movies for literally decades. Hollywood of today is crueler. Stars become "hot" and then Hollywood cranks out as many comedies as possible with that star until the star himself, the writers, and even the audience burn out. Adam Sandler is an example. So is Ferrell. Yet, six years before Ferrell did Land of the Lost (possibly his low point), one of the most gifted directors in the biz, Jon Favreau, put together an A-list supporting cast (Newhart, Steenburgen, Caan, Deschanel) and backed it with a killer soundtrack -- and voila, an instant classic. Seen it a half dozen times.
- DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsRobin WilliamsKirsten DunstBonnie HuntWhen two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped in it for decades - and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.Yes, I am aware of bad reviews. Yet, somehow, I have seen it 8 times and fully intend to see it another 8. Explanation: Robin Williams, for all his enormous talent, simply did not get enough roles like this. Bonnie Hunt acts her heart out here, and then somehow disappears into the Hollywood ether. Joe Johnston, an unpredictable director at the best of times, does some of his best work. And if there were an IMDb list called "Endings That Hollywood Did Not Screw Up' - and I may start one -- this would be near the very top. So, is this a lost classic? Damn right! Ignore the sequel - your brain will thank you.
- DirectorPaul W.S. AndersonStarsSanaa LathanLance HenriksenRaoul BovaDuring an archaeological expedition on Bouvetøya Island in Antarctica, a team of archaeologists and other scientists find themselves caught up in a battle between the two legends. Soon, the team realize that only one species can win.Given the uneven quality of both franchises, this should not work but it works a treat. The script is deceptively tight, the story is interesting, bordering on fascinating (especially given the recent interest in Antarctica) and Sanaa Lathan does a great imitation of a distaff Clint Eastwood before vanishing from Hollywood's A-list. Vastly under-rated.
- DirectorVictor SalvaStarsGina PhilipsJustin LongJonathan BreckA brother and sister driving home through isolated countryside for spring break encounter a flesh-eating creature which is in the midst of its ritualistic eating spree.Another homerun nobody expected. The two stars carry this really really creepy film to the finish line. Gina Philips did a whole bunch of forgettable B and C films but in this one she almost glows. Ignore all the sequels.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsKathleen TurnerNicolas CageBarry MillerPeggy Sue faints at a high school reunion. When she wakes up, she finds herself in her own past, just before she finished school.Launched Nicholas Cage, surprisingly fun to watch.
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsJulie HarrisClaire BloomRichard JohnsonHill House has stood for about 90 years and appears haunted: its inhabitants have always met strange, tragic ends. Now Dr. John Markway has assembled a team of people who he thinks will prove whether or not the house is haunted.Want terror? Watch the bed scene with the voiceover. Want more terror? Watch the awful 1999 remake and wonder who is running Hollywood these days.
- DirectorDave McKeanStarsStephanie LeonidasJason BarryRob BrydonIn a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a fifteen-year-old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.So astonishing am at a loss for words. Takes you to another world and leaves you there. Perfect film, another lost classic.
- DirectorJ.A. BayonaStarsBelén RuedaFernando CayoRoger PríncepA woman brings her family back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend.Horror done right. Horror done perfectly. Creepy.
- DirectorSarah SmithBarry CookStarsJames McAvoyJim BroadbentBill NighySanta's clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with Grandsanta to give out a misplaced present to a young girl in less than two hours on Christmas Day.Being "seasonal" can be the kiss of death for a film because it limits the audience. This one should not be limited. It is literally perfect for any time of year. The story is universal and the film is hypnotic.
- DirectorGeorge SeatonStarsEdmund GwennMaureen O'HaraJohn PayneAfter a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa Claus at Macy's, she is startled by his claim to be the genuine article. When his sanity is questioned, a lawyer defends him in court by arguing that he's not mistaken.Yet another seemingly "seasonal" film that is nothing of the sort. This perfect gem of a film is about people, integrity, loneliness, faith, corporate arrogance, love, kindness and cruelty .. in short, about everything we deal with daily. Please ignore the official remake as well as all the faux remakes from the Great Canadian X-Mas Movie Machine.
- DirectorSam WoodStarsJean ArthurRobert CummingsCharles CoburnA tycoon goes undercover to ferret out agitators at a department store, but gets involved in their lives instead.Where did this gem disappear to? The final irony is that, ignore the date, and the story is as relevant today as it was then if not moreso.
- DirectorLudwig BergerMichael PowellTim WhelanStarsConrad VeidtSabuJune DuprezAfter being tricked and cast out of Bagdad by the evil Jaffar, King Ahmad joins forces with a thief named Abu to reclaim his throne, the city, and the Princess he loves.You owe it to yourself to track down this treat. Designed for the days when the darkness of the theatre allowed you, for a few brief moments, to truly believe you were in another world. The only reason for no remakes is the current fascination with "political correctness," in this rare case a blessing in disguise.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.Based on his later work, Scott achieved something with this early project that even he did not fully understand. It is sci-fi, a morality tale, a detective story, an actioner -- and yet there is also something visceral and profound here. IMDb members of the future may, with hindsight, feel it heralded the era of Transhumanism by at least a half-century.
- DirectorSteve MinerStarsJulian SandsLori SingerRichard E. GrantA warlock flees from the 17th to the 20th century, with a witch-hunter in hot pursuit.One of those rare B-movies which, after you see it six or seven times, you realize was really an "A" movie with self-esteem issues. Magical in more than one sense. Only movie with instructions on how to "unmake Creation."
- DirectorW.S. Van DykeStarsJohnny WeissmullerNeil HamiltonC. Aubrey SmithA trader and his daughter set off in search of the fabled graveyard of the elephants in deepest Africa, only to encounter a wild man raised by apes.A million remakes but this one still tugs the heart. Quality of the sequels is uneven, each worse than the other.
- DirectorSteve BoxNick ParkStarsPeter SallisHelena Bonham CarterRalph FiennesWallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.Once again, in doing a list which I believe will reside in the Cloud for years to come, long after this writer has met his reward, how could I NOT include a WALLACE AND GROMIT? Not only did this series earn the respect of animators around the globe for its painstaking "stop-frame" animation, but this film, the end product, is a total delight. Sometime in the far future, someone will create software that mimics these characters in a fully CGI format, and they will create a full length feature in less than a hour. But until that day comes, this is as good as it gets.