The Critics Speak

Steph's Top 10 (or top 50)

I decided that I should make a top ten of my favorite movies. This is not movies that I think are the best, or the most influential, or what I think are "must sees." It's just my favorite ones to sit down and watch. They include a variety of movies that I watch depending on my moods or my needs. Some are awesome movies that are just awesome, some are artsy, some are kids flix, some I just love because of particular actors, or I just like the movie for no good reason. So, here it is, my top ten. And, if you're crazy enough to care, you can click the extended entry to see the top 50. I may re-do the list later in time as things change for me...but this is what I came up with for today!

Oh, and I also tried to count how many movies I've seen and hit around 700, then stopped counting. And I keep thinking of more and more movies to add to that list. So, these are the ones that I've cherished and loved over my short life from all the ones I've seen. Here goes:

1. Nashville: I've heard it said that this was the movie Robert Altman was born to make. Man, if more of us could make stuff this amazing in our lifetimes.... This movie is so eloquently made, it uses so many words yet so few words. There is an insane amount of characters, all of them distinctive and memorable. All around, this has been my favorite movie for quite some time. There are so many things to love about it.
2. High Fidelity: One of my favorite authors is Nick Hornby, and his novel is turned to film here by one of my favorite directors, Stephen Frears. This movie is hilarious and quotable. I think this is John Cusacks best movie yet, and there are also phenomenal showings by Jack Black and Tim Robbins. I've seen this movie way too many times and I still laugh and love it.
3. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: This has been one of my favorites since I was a small child. Now that I'm an adult, I still love it. Dick Van Dyke is so cool, the movie is beautful and singable and has really cool costumes and a really neato plot and you have to love the car, Chitty!
4. Persona: This is a very bizarre movie and I am frustrated that I can't find a widescreen version on DVD. Anyway, the reason I love it is because I love strong character acting, and Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann really embody what I believe good acting should be. I also love the beautiful photographic shots and the deeper questions the plot asks about existence, lying, and identifying who we really are.
5. Sense and Sensibility: This is my favorite period piece. I love it first because of the excellent acting by Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet and of the way that this film exquisitely shows female relationships. I also love this movie because I've seriously seen it over 100 times. Reason is, when I had to stay up late in college to finish homework or artwork or whatever, I'd stick this movie in and watch it while I worked. It kept me alert enough to stay awake, but was calm and slow enough that I could keep working. I also keep discovering lots of little nuances in the acting by all performers. I love to impersonate the way Hugh Grant's character walks. Heh heh.
6. Spirited Away: This is by far my favorite animated movie. First, I love the creativity in the plot and in the way the movie is stylized. There are so many plot turns that are bizarre and never could have existed in my own imagination because, well, Miyazaki is more imaginative than me. I love Chihiro, the main character, her personality is innocent and good and weak, all while being brave and strong. She's a cool heroine! I never grow tired of seeing it! Miyazaki has an awesome mind!
7. Singin' In the Rain: This is such a classic! I love Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. They sing great, they act great, and they dance great! I sing along with this and I love the sense of joy that the characters have as they approach their lives. The movie also has some weird interludes of random dance or performance, it reminds me of a little vaudeville in the middle of the movie!
8. The Jerk: Another totally quotable movie, and I think it's Steve Martin's best. Again, the subtle acting and bizarre script totally cracks me up. I feel sorry for Navin, and yet I love to laugh at him. This movie makes me excited about the small things in life, like picking out a thermos or finding my purpose.
9. Whale Rider: First, Keisha Castle-Hughes is a phenomenal actress and really carries the movie. I am in love with the person she is in this film and root for her the entire time. On top of that, the movie really has an excellent plot, great writing, and beautiful cinematography. It really delves into the fears of a dying culture and the strength of the people who love their culture and want to see it thrive. It's extremely emotional and gripping, like a superhero story except without the superhuman powers...just the strength of a young girl fulfilling her destiny.


10. The Aviator: Martin Scorsese made a film that works on so many levels with this one. DiCaprio is awesome (wow!...a movie where he's not annoying!) as Howard Hughes. His character really evolves throughout as do his relationships and his impact on film and aviation. Scorsese has an awesome way of bringing out character depth through how he works with his actors as well as through his awesome direction of cinematography. I also think the editing of this film rocks...it's just smooth and works!

11. Life is Beautiful
12. Mary Poppins
13. Lost in Translation
14. City of God
15. Amelie
16. A River Runs Through It
17. 2001: A Space Odyssey
18. Punch-Drunk Love
19. The Pianist
20. Being John Malkovich
21. American Splendor
22. The Little Princess
23. X-Men
24. The Wizard of Oz
25. Garden State
26. Adaptation
27. Strictly Ballroom
28. Legally Blonde
29. Ponette
30. Lord of the Rings, Return of the King
31. In America
32. Frida
33. Pirates of the Caribbean
34. The Color of Paradise
35. An Ideal Husband
36. What Dreams May Come
37. Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
38. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
39. Schindler's List
40. Pulp Fiction
41. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
42. Grosse Point Blank
43. Muriel's Wedding
44. Monsoon Wedding
45. That Thing You Do!
46. Duets
47. Best in Show
48. Rain Man
49. Star Wars
50. Knight's Tale