My 25 Favorite Movies as of 2024
I enjoy movies that are true to life and touched by wonder.
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- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.The ultimate example of Magic Realism at the movies focuses on a young girl who becomes a Christ-like savior for her baby brother, during a brutal era when freedoms are destroyed by a fascist regime in Spain. A fairy tale for adults, like Alice in Wonderland but uncompromisingly true-to-life.
- DirectorWim WendersStarsBruno GanzSolveig DommartinOtto SanderAn angel tires of his purely ethereal life of merely overseeing the human activity of Berlin's residents, and longs for the tangible joys of physical existence when he falls in love with a mortal.Wim Wenders' deeply poetic movie finds an angel wanting to become human after falling in love with a radiant female circus trapeze artist.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsLiam NeesonRalph FiennesBen KingsleyIn German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.One of the most passionately made movies of all time is also admirably restrained, showing just enough of the brutal terrors of the Holocaust to make it real. We also get an honest portrait of a flawed driven protagonist whose conscience comes alive as he sees that even children will suffer terribly when hatred and bigotry turn an entire society into a furnace of destruction.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodViggo MortensenIan McKellenGandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.The depth of Tolkien's fantasy trilogy comes magnificently to life in Peter Jackson's rousing conclusion to his Lord of the Rings trilogy. An intimate epic tale that's refreshingly aware of the frailty we'll find in the greatest leaders.
- DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter the Rebel Alliance are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.The Star Wars movie adults enjoy most, graced by a gothic atmosphere, intelligent humor, unexpected romance, subtle dialogue, spectacular battles (that are not traumatic to watch), epic music, and characters for the ages.
- CreatorMark FrostDavid LynchStarsKyle MacLachlanMichael OntkeanMädchen AmickAn idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.Lynch's stunning feature film is the pilot episode for his classic surrealistic TV series, where wonderful things (nature's splendor, passionate romance, eccentric humor, dreamy music) can still be found in the midst of terrible tragedy.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHenry ThomasDrew BarrymorePeter CoyoteA troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape from Earth and return to his home planet.Spielberg's masterful heart-mending story of a lonely boy who meets a lost gentle visitor from another world.
- DirectorNorman FergusonT. HeeWilfred JacksonStarsDickie JonesChristian RubMel BlancA living puppet, with the help of a cricket as his conscience, must prove himself worthy to become a real boy.Endlessly re-made, but how could anyone match the humor, wonder, humanity, and dread of Disney's original animated adaptation of Pinocchio.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsDaveigh ChaseSuzanne PleshetteMiyu IrinoDuring her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.Miyazaki's animated classic about a girl who must find her highest qualities when she is thrust into a spooky enchanted world, on a quest to rescue her captured parents.
- DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsElle FanningAJ MichalkaKyle ChandlerDuring the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.J.J. Abrams' heartwarming coming-of-age movie about a group of suburban kids who encounter an otherworldly presence and become heroic.
- DirectorGus Van SantStarsRobin WilliamsMatt DamonBen AffleckWill Hunting, a janitor at M.I.T., has a gift for mathematics, but needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life.An unsentimental life-affirming look at a young genius whose potential might be wasted, unless a caring no-nonsense therapist, a true friend, and a potential love interest can inspire him.
- DirectorFrançois TruffautStarsJean-Pierre LéaudAlbert RémyClaire MaurierA young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.If you care about kids, see this movie.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsHitoshi TakagiNoriko HidakaChika SakamotoWhen two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.A couple kids discover a big furry friendly creature in the forest, and a super-cool living cat-bus, in one of Miyazaki's most captivating animated films.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsCate BlanchettMatt DamonLiam NeesonA five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him.A young mermaid girl finds a boy companion who is as awe-struck as we are, in this intoxicatingly imaginative animated movie.
- DirectorVíctor EriceStarsFernando Fernán GómezTeresa GimperaAna TorrentIn 1940, after watching and being traumatized by the movie Frankenstein (1931), a sensitive seven year-old girl living in a small Spanish village drifts into her own fantasy world.A clear influence on Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. Stunning cinematography, and a wonderful soundtrack with a music-box melody, in a touching tale about a young girl intrigued by the movie Frankenstein.
- DirectorSam WoodEdmund GouldingStarsGroucho MarxChico MarxHarpo MarxA sly business manager and the wacky friends of two opera singers in Italy help them achieve success in America while humiliating their stuffy and snobbish enemies.The Marx Brothers at their iconic hilarious best, accompanied by soaring durable songs.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinVirginia CherrillFlorence LeeWith the aid of a wealthy erratic tippler, a dewy-eyed tramp who has fallen in love with a sightless flower girl accumulates money to be able to help her medically.Effortless hysterical comedy, and a touching story. One of the greatest endings at the movies.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsMarcello MastroianniAnouk AiméeClaudia CardinaleA harried movie director retreats into his memories and fantasies.A dazzling tribute to the movies, made by Fellini when he had writer's block about what his next movie should be about - so he made a terrific film about a director who didn't know what his next movie should be about.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsGiulietta MasinaFrançois PérierFranca MarziA waifish prostitute wanders the streets of Rome looking for true love but finds only heartbreak.For me, Fellini's ultimate statement on the importance to not let life destroy our inner child.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenDorothy ComingoreFollowing the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'Much more than technical breakthroughs. Try to find the spectacular energy behind the craft, and the poignant emotion in the story.
- DirectorRobert RossenStarsPaul NewmanJackie GleasonPiper LaurieAn up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match.A classic cautionary tale, in which billiards genius "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman) turns his back on his pal Charlie Burns (Myron McCormick) to pursue the big time with a cunning and cruel businessman. A haunting, stunningly well-crafted movie about passion and friendship.
- DirectorPreston SturgesStarsJoel McCreaVeronica LakeRobert WarwickHollywood director John L. Sullivan sets out to experience life as a homeless person in order to gain relevant life experience for his next movie.About a comedy movie director who wants to make a serious movie, made by a comedy movie director who wanted to make a serious movie.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsTim RobbinsMorgan FreemanBob GuntonOver the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion.Heartbreakingly wise on essential life topics: resilience, friendship, finding beauty during terrible hardship, and hope.
- DirectorHarold RamisStarsBill MurrayAndie MacDowellChris ElliottA narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day.Like a fantastic hilarious 100-minute Twilight Zone episode.
- DirectorGeorge DunningStarsPaul McCartneyGeorge HarrisonRingo StarrThe Beatles agree to accompany Captain Fred in his yellow submarine and go to Pepperland to free it from the music-hating Blue Meanies.One of the greatest animated movies, a supernova of awe and wonder.