Listal's 100 Movies To See Before You Die {revamped}

This time around, things will be a little more organised. This is a continuation of this pile. This top post will get shorter as things sort themselves out. It won't be such a hefty read once people have updated their nominations.

"These are films that every person should watch before the day of their timely or untimely death. It should include unique, enthralling, emotional and epic movies."

Any member can nominate a film for this list. Put the title in bold and then explain why you think it should be included. A sentence or more. 'Nuff said' does not qualify as a valid reason. You need to explain yourself to everyone.

After a film is nominated, it needs 4 Backings from other members to be put on this List. A backing doesn't require an explanation as such, you can though if you feel your opinion of the film differs from the Nominator.

If you disagree with a Nominated film, then you can simply 'Unback' it. You don't necessarily need to write why but it can help to explain to other members.

Now, as different from before, for every film you nominate you have the right to 'Back' two others. This way people are actually contributing to the size of the nomination list as opposed to waltzing in and just saying a bunch of film titles.

Then for every two nominations, you have the right to 'Unback' a film. The other thread became quite negative toward the end so I wanted to make it more restrictive.

For example;

Prelude has nominated 8 films thus far. Which earns him the right to 16 Backings and 4 Unbackings. He has however, backed 9 films and unbacked 4. So he can no longer unback any films, but still has 7 backings to his name. So by making more efficient and worthy nominations will earn him the right to snub and praise those around him.

Every 1 nomination gains you 2 Backings.
Every 2 nominations gains you 1 Unbacking.

As this criteria wasn't present before, some people went over their boundaries. Until they sort out there stuff, I can't go forward with the list at present. So the following people:

Yui - Nominated 4, Backed 12, 0 Unbacks. You need to nominate 2 more films before you can add to this list.
DoK - Nominated 1, Backed 1, Unbacked 1. You need to nominate 1 more film before you can add to the list.
Manling - Nominated 0, Backed 2, Unbacked 0. You need to nominate before you can add to this list.
Prelude - Nominated 13, Backs 28, Unbacks 5. You need to nominate another film before you can add to the list.

Stats for Members within Boundaries:
GemLil - Nominated 15, Backs 29, Unbacks 4.
Grand Assault - Nominated 19, Backs 21, Unbacks 3.
Voxy - Nominated 6, Backs 3, Unbacks 3.
The Antagonist (Gunza Blazin)- Nominated 14, Backs 24, Unbacks 3.
Yama (Wolf-Paw)- Nominated 3, Backs 6, Unbacks 0.
Saritha Ann - Nomiantes 6, Backs 3, Unbacks 2.
vanious - Nominated 19, Backs 24, Unbacks 5.
Claudia - Nominated 9, Backs 17, Unbacks 2.
Chibiyusa - Nominated 17, Backed 23, Unbacks 6.
robelenator - Nominated 9, Backs 15, Unbacks 0.
Munky - Nominated 5, Backed 10, Unbacks 0.
jgnikila (DC) - Nominated 20, Backed 40, Unbacked 0.
spiegalr - Nominated 2, Backed 3, Unbacked 0.
Bael - Nominated 6, Backs 4, Unbacks 3.
rb6k - Nominated 24, Backed 26, Unbacked 8.
doudouce - Nominated 61, Backed 46, Unbacked 28.
Thilian - Nomianted 4, Backed 8, Unbacks 0.
coyoteblue - Nominated 3, Backed 4, Unbacked 0.
Dionysian Child - Nominated 12, Backed 15, Unbacked 6.
col - Nominated 7, Backed 10, Unbacked 2.
Vix - Nominated 3, Backs 6, Unbacks 1.
Moz La Punk - Nominated 8, Backs 16, Unbacks 4.

(I'll delete a lot of the above stats when everyone makes sorts out their boundaries.)

Only 20 Members have contributed to this list so far, so I'm hoping word of mouth from y'all will get some new suggestions and people in. I did send a round of PMs to choice members but if we all pitch in we can make this list quite formidable.

Nominations so far:

--------------------------Made the Cut--------------------------
Blade Runner
Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Aliens
Seven Samurai
The Shawshank Redemption
Pan's Labrynth
Princess Mononoke
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Back to the Future
The Truman Show
Forrest Gump
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Groundhog Day

Reservoir Dogs
The Matrix
Oldboy
Dr. Strangelove
Se7en
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Pulp Fiction
Singin' in the Rain
The Big Lebowski
The Wizard of Oz
Rear Window
Battle Royale
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
North by Northwest
Edward Scissorhands
Fight Club
The Green Mile
The Princess Bride
Gladiator

--------------------------3 Ratings--------------------------
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
City Lights
Downfall
The Sound of Music
The Blues Brothers
Shaun of the Dead
Children of Men
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Apocalypse Now
The Lion King
Some Like It Hot
American History X
Gone with the Wind
The Usual Suspects
Schindler's List
12 Angry Men
Memento
Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope
--------------------------2 Ratings--------------------------
Brotherhood
V for Vendetta
It's a Wonderful Life
Alien
Monty Python's Life of Brian
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Casablanca
Life is Beautiful
The Gods Must Be Crazy
A Clockwork Orange
O Brother, Where Art Thou
The 39 Steps
True Romance
The Shining
Jurassic Park
The Godfather
The Maltese Falcon
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Sixth Sense
Metropolis
A Fish Called Wanda
Rocky
American Beauty
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Stand By Me
The Fifth Element
The Departed
Spirited Away
Citizen Kane
Uncle Buck
Heat
Mary Poppins
Philadelphia
Saving Private Ryan
The Crow
--------------------------1 Rating--------------------------
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Withnail & I
The Evil Dead
The Thing
The Fly
The Warriors
Casino
All Quiet on the Western Front
Godzilla (1954)
Once Upon A Time in the West
Bringing Up Baby
To Kill a Mockingbird
A Bout de Souffle
Peking Opera Blues
The Name of the Rose
Leon: The Professional
Collateral
Sunset Boulevard
Chocolat
Crash
Legends of the Fall
Phliadelphia Story
Forbidden Planet
Hot Fuzz
Top Hat
Duck Soup
Enter the Dragon
Dracula (1931)
City of God
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Run Lola Run
Beauty and the Beast
An American Tail
Lucky Number Slevin
Falling Down
A Hard Day's Night
Port of Shadows
Taxi Driver
The 25th Hour
Christmas Vacation
Hardboiled
Doctor Zhivago
Twelve Monkeys
Akira
Platoon
The Terminator
Braveheart
My Girl
Trainspotting
Strictly Ballroom
La Traviata
Glengarry Glen Ross
Ben-Hur
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Secret Garden (1993)
Goodfellas
The Graduate
Fiddler on the Roof
Howl's Moving Castle
Phantom of the Opera
Lost in Translation
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Beetlejuice
Dogma
Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Goonies
The Last King of Scotland
Corpse Bride
Outbreak
Kill Bill: Volume 1
--------------------------Nominated--------------------------
Jaws
Office Space
The Land Before Time
Top Gun
Toy Story
Boondock Saints
Gangs of New York
21 Grams
Glory
Brian's Song
Double Indemnity
Silence of the Lambs
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Unforgiven
Chungking Express
Year of the Dragon
The Roaring Twenties
To Have and Not Have
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Salvador
Wild Zero
Goldfinger
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Blue Angel
The Bicycle Thief
7 Brides for 7 Brothers
Les Diaboliques
Giant
An Affair To Remember
La Dolce Vita
The Sting
Tootsie
Fanny & Alexander
Out of Africa
The Colour Purple
Nine Queens
Bagdad Café
Mr Canton and Lady Rose
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
An Officer and a Gentleman
Dead Poets Society
Dirty Dancing
Ghost
Sleeping with the Enemy
Splash
West Side Story
Last Man Standing
My Neighbour Tortoro
L.A. Confidential
Cabaret
Superman (1978)
Chicago
Path of Glory
Inherit the Wind
The Sea Hawk
La Samourai
The Last Samurai
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Apocalypto
What Dreams May Come
War Games
My Fair Lady
Lawrence of Arabia
Speed 2 Cruise Control
Blazing Saddles
Rio Bravo
Driving Miss Daisy
Harvey
Alfie
Shakespeare in Love
Sabrina
The Mirror has Two Faces
The Tiger & the Snow
Children of Paradise
Finding Nemo
Uptown Girls
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Sin City
Brazil
Amelie
Bridges of Madison County
Full Metal Jacket
Yojimbo
The Great Dictator
Logan's Run
Tom's Midnight Garden
Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm
No Country for Old Men
Shaolin Soccer
Serenity
Annie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Total Recall
Die Hard
Snatch
East of Eden
Tommy
Hero
Star Wars - Episode VI: Return of the Jedi




--------------------------Discredited--------------------------
Clerks
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Romeo + Juliet
300
Ong-bak
Castaway
Robocop
Titanic
Ghostbusters
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Donnie Darko
Fantasia
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Moulin Rouge
Bourne Ultimatum
The Passion of the Christ
Mirror Mask
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Grease
Independence Day
Little Miss Sunshine
The Chronicles of Narna: The Lion, The Wicth and the Wardrobe
Mr & Mrs Smith
Sweeney Todd
Bridget Jones' Diary
Blade





--------------------------Mentioned but not expanded upon--------------------------
Frankenstine (??)
Flubber
Radio
Remember the Titans
Primer
The Time Machine
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park III
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Norbit (Prelude!)
Thilian: A Life in Pictures

Okay, here are my two nominations:

First, Hitchcock deserves at least one entry on the list. He has so many great films to his name that its hard to pick just one, but if there's any one film that I would say anyone *must* see, it would be North by Northwest. Now, I personally think Vertigo is a better film, but NxNW is more accessible and it's referenced in pop culture constantly. You've got Cary Grant giving a fantastic performance, as always. You've got Bernard Herrmann's awesome score. You've got a plot that has enough twists and turns to keep even jaded modern audiences satisfied. It's just a damned fun little adventure movie.

Second, we've got Chaplin on the list, so how about some Marx Brothers? In my mind there hasn't been a more iconic comedy team on film since. As with Hitchcock, they have so many fantastic movies that it's hard to pick just one, but for the sake of accessibility, let's go with Duck Soup. It's less than 70 minutes long and it's front to back a non-stop series hilarious of verbal and slapstick gags. It doesn't feature Chico or Harpo on any musical asides, which is A Bad Thing (tm) for a dedicated Marxist like myself, but probably a plus for those new to the brothers.

Adding All Quiet on the Western Front. A superb historical film (slightly dramatized) based on one of the most renowned anti-war novels in European history. A very unglorifying view of World War One. Universal in it's message, though it occurs from the point of view of a German soldier, which I think gives great insight into another side of the story that those of us in the Commonwealth don't really get exposed to.

Now, since I have 7 backs in the bank and two more from this I think I'll spend a few. I'm backing: Forrest Gump, Fight Club, Edward Scissorhands, Princess Mononoke and The Wizard of Oz. All of which are good, maybe not excellent but worth seeing.

One more for now:

Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven. The revisionist western. Yeah, Peckinpah had been mucking up the Western genre long before Unforgiven, but his directorial style always seemed to skirt the line between condemnation and glorification. Eastwood, by contrast, gives us a clear, brutal, and heartbreaking meditation on the destructiveness of violence, murder, and revenge. And Eastwood's camera, unlike Peckinpah's, "gets out of the way" of the story rather than calling attention to itself, distracting the viewer. Finally, Eastwood's gravitas as an actor, especially as a Western actor, lends Unforgiven a certain air of genre authenticity through continuity, if nothing else.

Princess Bride

Classic. I still don't understand the system.

I'm nominating It's a Wonderful Life A movie that can always make you feel better about life and people in general. George Bailey is my hero. Makes you think about how your actions affect those around you. A movie I watch at least once a year.

Also, I'll add To Kill a Mockingbird. One of the few great adaptations of a book. Very big issues tackled through the innocent eyes of children. One of the most important films to watch dealing with racial injustice. Atticus Finch is one of the most courageous characters I have seen.

Thanks guys for your speedy responses. It'll work out in the end!

Let me see.

12 Angry Men
My favourite Fonda role. One man stands against 11 others over a murder case. The ultimate jury 'thriller'. Every performance is pristine and believable. That is whats good about having such a confined cast, you get to know them better. Their motivations, their strengths and weaknesses. A true tale of intellect and logic, should never be missed!

Heat
Michael Mann before he got corrupt. This film is so rewatchable, I can't get enough of this film and how much this film belongs among the greats. Not only have you got two Hollywood Heroes duelling off against each other, but a intricate story of two men from different backgrounds who harbour similar demons within their own psyche. Masterpiece.

Shaun of the Dead
Considering the quality of parodies and spoofs today, this has got to be a valley above the rest. A fantastic homage to George A. Romero and his effortless attempt to master his own genre. Shaun of the Dead speaks volumes on how one perculiar event can change the life of an everyman. One of the few comedies that can appeal to everyone.

Anyway:

I'm unbacking Donnie Darko, no question about it. Gyllenhaal et al are terrible and it makes you feel nothing but contempt at how robbed you feel by the ending.

I feel Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Princess Mononoke and Pan's Labrynth need to make this list. Backed!

I'm backing Pan's Labyrinth, It's a Wonderful Life, and going to give The Blues Brothers a bump to push it onto the official list :)

(i have 4 more backings I can do later)

In meantime, I don't know how I forgot to nominate Rear Window, probably my favorite Hitchcock film. Simple yet mesmerizing filming style makes you feel as if you are actually right there in the room while you spy on everyone's inter-connected lives. The beauty of it is that it's just as watchable today as it was when it came out, which not all classics seem to be able to do. Add in a murder-mystery plot that will keep you guessing and second-guessing yourself til the end, and you're in for a wild ride.

You already voted for Blues Brothers. ACCESS DENIED!

ah right, my bad. In that case, I'd like to back American Beauty.

I wish to back
The Truman Show
The Lion King
Jurassic Park
Rear Window

I wish to nominate:

O Brother Where art thou? - Such an alternative comedy: The KKK scene is genuinely frightening; George Clooney does a Grade A southern druel. The music is beautiful and the whole Homer's Odessy parallel is such a good idea.

Gladiator - Russell Crowe vs Joaquim Pheonix! One of the best epic movies of all time; raping , pillaging and revenge. A real underdog story.

Jaws - Iconic, famous and terrifying for the time. Speilbergs most famous film and one of cinemas most terrifying baddies.

Some Like it Hot- Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in drag; you couldnt ask for more. Hilarios comedy; way before its time. Tomy Curtis' impression of Cary Grant is enough to have this film up here alone.

Jurassic Park - Utterly unprecidented, visually astounding. Everyone in the world recognises that scene with the ripples in the water. The dinosaurs were terrifying and the Dr Malcolm and Dr Grant are legends.

I nominate:

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Just as relevant today as it was in 1986. Anyone who has ever gone to high school should be required to watch this movie.

Spirited Away - If we're mentioning Howl's Moving Castle, then we can't forget Spirited Away, which in my opinion is the superior film. The animation, score, and storytelling make this a must see for everyone, not just anime fans.

I back:
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Back to the Future
The Truman Show

Now I must run off to watch the movies on the list o_o

I'm backing Casino

Discredied movies have more Unbacks than Backs.

For example:

Blade was nominated by Munky (1 Point).
Then Prelude, GemLil, Saritha Ann and myself all unbacked (-1) it. So as of this moment its score is -3. Unless 7 people back it. It will never reach the Cut.

Anything in the discredited zone has accumulated no or minus points.

I'm backing Good Bad and Ugly, Gladiator, Truman Show

I back Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Shaun of the Dead and Gladiator. Will nominate more later.

Nominating Robocop, the first one that is. Yes it spawned two terrible sequels, but it was also a cult classic of its own right. It's full of social commentary and insightful views of the future of corporate/social relations. It stands up as a decent action film with an excellent science fiction twist and great (often comical) dialogue.

Now, to use up a few more backings. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Pan's Labrynth, Gladiator, Shaun of the Dead, O Brother, Where Art Thou and The Truman Show.

That should bring my backs up to date and 2 remaining unbacks to use later.

why hasn't shawshank made the list yet? what gives, folks?

Nomination: The Land Before Time
-it was a wonderful childhood movie filled good morals. and it also had very lovable characters we could relate to.

REPORT

Thanks for all your wonderful nominations. The list is looking better by the day. We've just reached 100 nominations but not every film on the nomination list is worthy of the final list so keep your Nominations and Backings coming. At this point we have 15 who have qualified for the list so we have a way to go presently.

i back:

Seven Samurai
Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

i unback:

Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Amelie
Bridget Jones' Diary

i nominate:

Once Upon a Time in the West

this movie is one of the best westerns ever made. visually stunning, emotionally gripping, it's thrilling until the bitter end. sports a marvelous score from Ennio Morricone.

Monty Python's Life of Brian

being one of the best comedies, this movie has it all. a genuine story, puns, sarcasm, slapstick and brilliant actors. if you are sceptical about religion there is no way you won't adore this movie.

Alien

i really wonder how nobody didn't nominate this gem yet. it practically founded a whole genre and remains until this day a gripping, grim and scary masterpiece of horror. H.R. Giger's desing was groundbreaking and the direction top-notch.

Metropolis

Fritz Lang's partially lost magnum opus depicts in phenomenal pictures a grim tale about control, power and desperation.

Pulp Fiction

undoubtedly a true classic, it perfectly pushes a captivcating
story with genuine characters whose fates are intertwined brilliantly. the visuals, the score and the cast are magnificent.

A Clockwork Orange

one of the many masterpieces of Stanley Kubrick, this movie is an emotional rollercoaster, driving you from many a feeling to another for the pro/antagonist. the psychedelic score matches the visuals perfectly.

I'm backing Alien and Battle Royale.

I back:

Clockwork Orange
Pulp Fiction
Life of Brian.

I also nominate Platoon, a great war movie with great actors and well done acting, plus not a one sided story at all.

And I nominate City of God (Cidade De Deus), the South American movie about a young kid from the ghetto growing up and seeying his friends lose their lives in the progress. Very powerful movie with its own distinct style that has been given so many praise that it's crazy it hasn't been mentioned before. It probably won't make the final cut because not enough people know it, which is a shame. It's actually a downright embarresment for movie fans everywhere that it won't make the cut.

I have 6 backings left (including the above two movies) so I am backing: The Shawshank Redemption, Reservoir Dogs, Pan's Labyrint, American History X, Office Space and Apocalypse Now.

I can do 4 unbackings, so:
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Ghostbusters
Toy Story
Gladiator

Not that these are bad films, but a top 100 worthy? No, not in my book.

Here are the movies I choose to nominate.
(Sorry in advance for the long post, I just had to get those off my chest!)

The Blue Angel (Der Blaue Engel)
Marlene Dietrich! Need I say more? Seriously, her performance is brilliant, perfect and beautiful. The unglamorous reality of the street and of the stage is well presented here.

The 39 Steps
This film was the first clear creative peak in Hitchcock’s British period, and the first fully successful film in his deepening oeuvre. This film introduced one key Hitchcock first: the notion of the wrong man, the innocent bystander accused, pursued or punished for a crime he didn’t commit. Nonstop string of action sequences, chase scenes punctuated by witty dialogue and riveting suspense.

Bringing Up Baby
This is probably the best screwball comedy ever! The laughs are real, almost disguising its analyses of 1930s-style gender expectations, sex and marriage. My favorite scene is when Cary Grant wears a feathery feminine bathrobe; this scene contains one of the first popular appearances of the word “gay” being used to mean something other than “extremely happy”; and it is truly hilarious. This is definitely one of the true masterpieces of celluloid wit.

Gone with the Wind
It became the benchmark for popular epic cinema for decades. The film is monumental enough to be beyond criticism. It tidies up a lot of complex history… Dressed up with 1939 Technicolor, pastel-pretty for the dresses and blazing red for the passions, and a thunderous Max Steiner score, this still has a fair claim to be considered one of the best pictures of Hollywood filmmaking.

The Maltese Falcon
This is an exceptional film noir, with superb acting performances, scriptwriting and directing. Enough said 

The Bicycle Thief
While this film is correctly known as one of the key works of Italian neorealism, this masterpiece is also one of the great communist films. It also received the 1949 Oscar for best foreign film! This film contains what is possibly the greatest depiction of a relationship between a father and a son in the history of cinema, full of subtle fluctuations and evolving gradations between the two characters in terms of respect and trust. Moreover, it’s an awesome heartbreaker.

Sunset Boulevard
It’s a hard and cynical film, which struggles with its doomed but sweet “normal” love affair. It has some of the best and most memorable lines (“I am big, it’s the pictures that got small”, and “nobody walks out on a star!” come to mind).

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
It is a profoundly sexist musical, with splendid choreography and direction; it’s also got a great score with memorable tunes.

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Les Diaboliques
Clouzot directs with a cruelty that combines a nastily tangled storyline worthy of Hitchcock with three strong performances (one of which is the beautiful Simone Signoret) and a seedy setting. There are scenes of physical horror, but Clouzot also sets the flesh creeping with incidences of ordinary nastiness.
The remake with Isabelle Adjani, Chazz Palminteri and Sharon Stone just isn’t as scary or eerie as the 1954 original.

Giant
A sprawling family saga, with James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Dennis Hopper and Rock Hudson – what more could you ask for? The performances are outstanding, and the Texas landscape is just plain beautiful. Let’s not forget the film also deals interestingly with both racial and class differences.

An Affair to Remember
A definitive chicks’-night-in flick, it’s one of the best love stories of all times – even if it’s a remake of Love Affair (1939) with Irene Dunne. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr are unforgettable.

La Dolce Vita
An epic about triviality, this is a film that paradoxically set as many fashion styles as it set out to demolish. And of course, there are the splendid performances by Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg and Anouk Aimée.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Several reasons to see this chicks’-night-in flick: Audrey Hepburn, who frankly outdid herself (no one, not even Marilyn Monroe could have outdone her performance), she’s so brilliant; Hepburn’s elegance and chic attitude; Henry Mancini’s score, more specifically Hepburn’s singing Moon River because it is enchanting; classic cinematic moments that make you want to see this film over and over. It’s one of Hollywood’s most delightful romantic dramas.

Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg)
The fact that this film’s dialogue is entirely sung, makes it a mandatory viewing. Director Jacques Demy incorporated song and dance in the service not of escape, but of realism. The effect is riveting and profoundly moving. Everyone should see this for several reasons: Michel Legrand’s score is superbly enchanting; Catherine Deneuve gives an outstanding, convincing and unforgettable performance, probably the best in all her career; since, in the real world, not all stories have a happy ending, the director was deft enough to convey that with emotional honesty, magic and maturity.

Doctor Zhivago
The greatest screen epic (and love story) ever produced, it’s a pretty accurate adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s novel which chronicles the discontents of early 20th-century Russian society. This film has riveting action, and most importantly depicts one of the most important historical events: the disastrous effects of World War I on the country, the revolution that destroyed the old order, the political turmoil and insecurity. Well-known actors like Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Alec Guinness and Klaus Kinsky deliver amazing performances.

The Sting
Paul Newman and Robert Redford are my two reasons for watching this. I don’t recall seeing such astonishing, mind-blowing performances. The witty dialogue, the soundtrack, the themes of loyalty and deception are the other reasons.

Tootsie
A classic comedy, it pioneered a new style in mainstream cinema: lots of subplots, pop allusions, dramatic complications, subversive implications, a happy ending, and marvelous performances by Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, and my favorite, Teri Garr, who isn’t as popular as she could be. I never get tired of watching this film.

Fanny och Alexander (Fanny and Alexander)
Perhaps one of Bergman’s least known movies, this I consider to be one of his best. This is an autobiographical tale of a brother and sister born in an aristocratic family in Sweden. The story is part Dickensian drama, part mystical fairy tale. Yes, it is long and slow, and may put modern action viewers off, but every image is worth seeing. The entire film has a dreamy sense of the unreal, a relief during its more tragic moments.

Out of Africa
I find this is one of the best films ever shot in Africa. The landscapes are simply awesome and mind-blowing. This isn’t the only reason the film won an Oscar for Best Picture. Meryl Streep and Robert Redford’s performances are simply amazing and unforgettable. The true gems though are Sydney Pollack’s direction and David Watkin’s marvelous frames. This is also one of the best screen adaptations of a book ever.

Brazil
The film combines the worst features of 1940s British bureaucracy, 1950s American paranoia, Stalinist totalitarianism, and the ills of the 1980s, all set “somewhere in the 20th century”. The screenplay is written by director Terry Gilliam with Tom Stoppard, making the film a more dramatically-engaging film than it would have been if Gilliam had written it alone. The black humor and bizarre visuals exist alongside a credible and horribly fact-based depiction of a regime which charges its victims for the electricity and labor that goes into their own torture. This is truly the most bizarre, yet the most typical film ever directed by Terry Gilliam, who is at his best here; definitely his masterpiece.

The Color Purple
A lot of people may not know that this was directed by Spielberg. I know I didn’t, when I watched it, so I was surprised. However, I’m not surprised that he would pull off such a great direction with then relatively unknown actors like Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg; their performances are impressively emotional. This film proves that Spielberg doesn’t just direct blockbusters; he does take risks and I now respect the man for that.

Stand by Me
I can’t believe this hasn’t had one nomination yet!
This film is such a gem. This is beautifully adapted for the screen (from a Stephen King non-horror short story), and the chosen cast is amazing, from Keifer Sutherland to Jerry O’Connor and River Phoenix, who here give their best performances ever. The movie depicts the fears, games, catchphrases, debates and secrets by four young boys. The story doesn’t look intriguing at all, but what comes out of it – the characters’ friendship – is simply brilliant and well-portrayed by director Rob Reiner.

Top Gun
This is probably *the* plane movie to watch, simply because of the impressive flight scenes. Yes, Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis are also good reasons to watch the film, especially considering Cruise’s performance here, which turned him into a megastar. A hit soundtrack and young actors (Meg Ryan, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tim Robbins, Adrian Pasdar) are worth mentioning.

The Usual Suspects
Possibly one of the best original scripts out there, it has complicated plotting, macho repartee, Bryan Singer’s remarkable direction and an astonishing male cast: Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Pollak, Benicio del Toro and Giancarlo Esposito. This is truly of the best thriller movies about blackmail and betrayal.

Run Lola Run
A visually inventive, exciting movie, it is also surprisingly original, despite its very simple plot. The writer-director, Tom Tykwer, is simply brilliant: he used animation, color and black-and-white film, music video effects and camera tricks to tell Lola’s adventures – an imaginative way to convey a movie’s story. The film has funny moments, but it is mostly the breathless excitement that makes it a film worth watching.

Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas)
This is my favorite of all times – amongst the foreign pictures  This Argentinian film tells the story of two swindlers who meet by pure luck, or is it really? and they set up together a scam surrounding the Nine Queens stamps. Director Fabian Bielinsky has a passion for Wilder and Mankiewicz’s films, and more precisely for their elaborate double-crossing deceits, as is obvious in this film. The movie is a true gem that is most unfortunately forgotten because of all the blockbusters; it should definitely be on everyone’s list to watch as the ending is quite surprising.

Bagdad Café (Out of Rosenheim)
At first you’ll be wondering why you’re watching this, because it lingers a lot. But if you give it enough time, you’ll fall in love with the characters and discover a movie about … friendship and more. The characters create an offbeat, charming film with real emotional depth that avoids becoming overly cutesy. Jack Palance and Marianne Sagebrecht star in Percy Adlon’s no-deaths, no-funerals, no-car-chases, no-love-scenes, no-murders, no-suicides, no-explosions, no-deaths, no-births movie.

The Name of the Rose
The finest piece of literature (Umberto Eco’s eponymous book) gave birth to one of the best thrillers ever directed. Sean Connery’s performance confirms why he is such an astounding actor. Christian Slater in, I believe, his first role shines here. But most importantly, the cinematography and set are sublime (and trust me, I am not biased because I personally knew Tonino Delli Colli), it is truly sublime.

Gone with the wind
39 Steps
Usual Suspects

Seconded.

After a while I think that it wouldn't be necessary anymore to be required to nominate before backing, all the good ones will be taken!

There is a system in place to get all the noms in currently. It won't be like this forever.

More nominations :)

The Chronicles of Narnia
This is quite a nice adaptation to the big screen. It has everything needed for a great family time: imagination, fantasy, lovely children, and that magical feeling.

Children of Men
An important and amazing production. Unforgettable. A true masterpiece. A stunning work of direction. Gigantic performances by the entire cast. Should be mandatory viewing for all.

At Play in the Fields of the Lord
Mind-blowing scenery, a superb cast, this film is just another forgotten gem that should be watched. I don’t care for most of the cast (Daryl Hannah, John Lithgow and Tom Berenger), though I do love Aidan Quinn and Kathy Bates’ performances. This is an examination of the ways in which human ignorance and most of all arrogance overcome innocence, idealism and civilization. Yes, it is quite long (no, it’s not out on DVD yet!) but I sincerely hope that if you do have access to it, you will find yourself, like me, wanting to see more of the scenery… and the story. Director, Hector Babenco, outdid himself here, even more so than his previous film, The Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Raiders of the Lost Art
The first and the best of the Indiana Jones trilogy, it has everything needed to justify watching it every year: the iconic but intellectual hero, the adventure and the chases, the epic spectacle, John Williams’ outstanding score, and sheer excitement throughout! Do I need to give more reasons? :)


Backing up:
12 Angry Men
A bout de souffle (Breathless)
Back to the Future
Blade Runner
Casablanca
Gladiator
Heat
Life is beautiful
North by Northwest
Pan’s Labyrinth
Pulp Fiction
Rear Window
Seven Samurai
Singin’ in the Rain
Some like it Hot
Star Wars
The Fifth Element
The Gods must be Crazy
The Shawshank Redemption
The Truman show
The Wizard of Oz
To kill a mockingbird

Unbacking:
12 Monkeys
Amelie
American Beauty
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Collateral
Independence Day
Pirates of the Caribbean
Robocop
Titanic

Backing Children of Men

Unbacking Bridget Jones' Diary

Come on people, we have to get Gladiator on this list!