11) Unforgiven
Clint's best film. I may enjoy watching the first half of Josey Wales more, but from the top to the bottom Unforgiven is a stunning depection of self-delusion. Every man in the film, except Eastwood's Bill Munny, is telling himself he's something he's not. Convincing himself he's a killer, a lawman, a gunfighter, a writer etc. The heroes are the ones who wake up to who they are (no matter how bad) and the villains refuse. David Peoples' script is worthy of emulation and envy.
12) Raiders of the Lost Ark
The film that solidified Harrison Ford as the greatest hero in screen history. His particular form of 'over-acting' is perfect for Indiana Jones. It was here that we realized he could carry any film. Spielberg's gift for storytelling reinforces Lawrence Kasdan's script nicely. The pace and tone are perfect.
13) Pulp Fiction
Three words. Sam Jackson luminous. Unbelievable performances, brilliant script, inventive use of time and a protagonist split into three separate characters, all wrapped inside a simple morality play. I love this movie for everything it attempts and everything it accomplishes.
14) Fight Club A true black comedy about misdirected male energy that gets funnier and sadder every time I watch it. Fight Club is what happens when men don't have anything to do and no women to provide for. I am Jack's misspent youth riding a magic bus on Ritalin to masturbate in a public park over the Wall Street Journal while listening to Jewel.
15) Breaker Morant
Antiwar films have a special place in my heart. This one in particular has some of the most poignant dialogue I've ever encountered. If you have not seen this gem from Bruce Beresford, you are doing yourself a great injustice. It is all the more relevant today considering events surrounding the Bush administration's foreign policy. This is what comes of empire-building indeed.
16) Outlaw Josey Wales
What is there to say about this movie that hasn't been said before? Clint's commentary on the betrayals of the American Government to the Ideals of America is witty, exciting, dark and most importantly all too predictable. That Josey Wales finds some measure of peace underscores the lesson that no matter how bad things get, we should 'endeavor to persevere.'
17) Rope
Surprisingly the only Hitchcock film on my list, and only because it is the one I've seen the most times and am consistently impressed with both the craft and the story. Rope is the single best indictment of condescending elitism and, by extension, socialism I've seen. It's an amazing whodunnit, because the conflict is really about whether evil will get away with it or not.
18) Citizen Kane
I'm sure some would be surprised at how low this film rates in my opinion. But, to be frank, as much as I love Citizen Kane, I have a hard time sitting still through it anymore. In a list of 'great' or 'important' films, then without question Kane is top 5 material, but while I appreciate the film, I don't enjoy it as much anymore.
19) Casablanca Now, on the other hand, is the great crowd-pleaser Casablanca. Words don't do this film justice. And, Ingrid Bergman.... *wow*
20) Fargo Oh, you betcha. The Coen Brothers examination of 'normalcy' in Minnesota is a brilliant train-wreck of a film. Frances McDermott's Marge Gundarsson is quite simply one of the great characterizations ever, with the possible exception of William H. Macy's Jerry Lundegaard. Joel and Ethan Coen could do worse than for their legacy to be this film.
Ta,
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