My "Top-31" Favorite Movies...
...I was having lunch with a friend the other day and the subject of movies came up. I was appalled that "The Sound of Music" would even be mentioned as a member of anyone's top movie list. So... I got to thinking... My eyes were half-slits as I thought, "What are the 31 (because I like that number) BEST movies of all time?" Now, before you start throwing rocks at me -- "Best" can mean anything you want it to mean. As an example, I think Steven Segal is one of the "Best" actors who ever lived, and I can't believe the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences overlooks his dumb ass every year... See what I mean, Gene?
Here are my nominees (with reasons) in descending order:
1) The Bridges of Madison County – had nothing to do with adultery, and everything to do with love.
2) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – most people think it’s a western, but it’s actually a
love story.
3) The English Patient – Remember the last scene? Could you leave the woman you love to die in a
cave?
4) The Bridge on the River Kwai – Brilliant story of perseverance and pride.
5) Breakfast at Tiffany's – Who can’t like Audrey Hepburn in this movie
6) Casablanca – Superior everything – actors, script, photography, image, etc.
7) In Harm's Way – It’s a John Wayne movie, maybe his best. “Paul, come over here, I want to talk to
you.”
8) American Graffiti – It defined an age, -- the 60’s – Also, it was the first movie to have a continuous
soundtrack.
9) Sleuth – There were only two people in the whole movie, Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine…
totally spellbinding….
10) Death Wish – Charles Bronson died not too long ago... gotta tip my hat to him.
11) Ice Station Zebra – Howard Hughes’ favorite movie, one of mine too.
12) The Sixth Sense – Couldn’t figure out the plot till it was halfway through.
13) Prime Cut – One of the best Lee Marvin films ever made, (that not many people ever saw)
14) The Magnificent Seven – Makes me want to join the Peace Corps and live a better life.
15) Gone with the Wind – The Civil War was the only significant event we’ve ever had in America
16) The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – An actual true spy movie
17) Dances with Wolves – Portrayed the west as it was, (probably)
18) Ishtar – Arguably, one of the worst movies ever made, therefore it’s “good” because it was so
“bad”.
19) Pulp Fiction – Best movie that came out of the 90’s, ironically depicted the “gangsta” life.
20) Chocolat – I LOVE that Binoiche chick ever sine I saw her in The English Patient.
21) Room with a View – a little Victorian presence never hurt anyone. AND.. It provokes memories for
me.
22) Children of a Lesser God – Interesting view of the hearing-impaired.
23) Shane – Contains, arguably, the best verbal dialogue of any western movie ever made:
(Shane) "Yer a low-down Yankee liah.... -- (the bad guy) 'Prove it."
24) The Longest Day – Great war epic starring everyone in Hollywood.
25) The Great Escape – Another great war epic. ‘cept this time you get to watch Steve McQueen jump
his motorcycle.
26) Searching for Bobby Fisher – ya gotta understand chess to “get” this movie.
27) The Matrix – Probably a real depiction of our current society.
28) South Pacific – Good musical with real words, (or, good war movie with music)
29) True Grit – The only movie John Wayne won an Oscar for. (Whether he deserved it or not.)
30) Rocky – "Yo… Adrian…" (‘nuff said)
31) (And last, but not least) – My Dinner with Andre – VERY intellectual movie… not liked by most.
There you have it… Tom’s "Top-31", with reasons. If you disagree, tell me why, and show me YOUR list…
Fair enough??
Here are my nominees (with reasons) in descending order:
1) The Bridges of Madison County – had nothing to do with adultery, and everything to do with love.
2) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – most people think it’s a western, but it’s actually a
love story.
3) The English Patient – Remember the last scene? Could you leave the woman you love to die in a
cave?
4) The Bridge on the River Kwai – Brilliant story of perseverance and pride.
5) Breakfast at Tiffany's – Who can’t like Audrey Hepburn in this movie
6) Casablanca – Superior everything – actors, script, photography, image, etc.
7) In Harm's Way – It’s a John Wayne movie, maybe his best. “Paul, come over here, I want to talk to
you.”
8) American Graffiti – It defined an age, -- the 60’s – Also, it was the first movie to have a continuous
soundtrack.
9) Sleuth – There were only two people in the whole movie, Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine…
totally spellbinding….
10) Death Wish – Charles Bronson died not too long ago... gotta tip my hat to him.
11) Ice Station Zebra – Howard Hughes’ favorite movie, one of mine too.
12) The Sixth Sense – Couldn’t figure out the plot till it was halfway through.
13) Prime Cut – One of the best Lee Marvin films ever made, (that not many people ever saw)
14) The Magnificent Seven – Makes me want to join the Peace Corps and live a better life.
15) Gone with the Wind – The Civil War was the only significant event we’ve ever had in America
16) The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – An actual true spy movie
17) Dances with Wolves – Portrayed the west as it was, (probably)
18) Ishtar – Arguably, one of the worst movies ever made, therefore it’s “good” because it was so
“bad”.
19) Pulp Fiction – Best movie that came out of the 90’s, ironically depicted the “gangsta” life.
20) Chocolat – I LOVE that Binoiche chick ever sine I saw her in The English Patient.
21) Room with a View – a little Victorian presence never hurt anyone. AND.. It provokes memories for
me.
22) Children of a Lesser God – Interesting view of the hearing-impaired.
23) Shane – Contains, arguably, the best verbal dialogue of any western movie ever made:
(Shane) "Yer a low-down Yankee liah.... -- (the bad guy) 'Prove it."
24) The Longest Day – Great war epic starring everyone in Hollywood.
25) The Great Escape – Another great war epic. ‘cept this time you get to watch Steve McQueen jump
his motorcycle.
26) Searching for Bobby Fisher – ya gotta understand chess to “get” this movie.
27) The Matrix – Probably a real depiction of our current society.
28) South Pacific – Good musical with real words, (or, good war movie with music)
29) True Grit – The only movie John Wayne won an Oscar for. (Whether he deserved it or not.)
30) Rocky – "Yo… Adrian…" (‘nuff said)
31) (And last, but not least) – My Dinner with Andre – VERY intellectual movie… not liked by most.
There you have it… Tom’s "Top-31", with reasons. If you disagree, tell me why, and show me YOUR list…
Fair enough??
