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

I woild like to back... 300, Spirited Away, and An American Tail

Well, Voxy, this one is for you! :)

Romantic comedy nominations:
Shakespeare in Love
It's a witty, sexy story revolving around the timeless tale of the greatest love story ever told.

Sabrina (directed by Billy Wilder)
Audrey Hepburn shines, Bogart is amazing. A most lovely romantic comedy, directed by one of Hollywood's greatest, Billy Wilder, perhaps not as funny as his *Some Like it Hot*, but it's still worth a nomination. Entertaining.

The Mirror has Two Faces *not* one of my favorites at all, but I do think it's worth seeing once in your life. The story is very romantic. It is an inspiring movie in which the lovers have personal quirks, a lot of emotional baggage and no sex. Somewhat clichéd, yet still enjoyable - once.

The Tiger and the Snow (Il Tigre e la Neve)
Benigni as the director signs here a film about war in Iraq, love, survival, romance, life, poetry and most of all, human relationships during a time of war. His opinions are clear. This is not a simple comedy or drama. Great performances by Nicoletta Braschi and Jean Reno. Well directed and with great music by Nicola Piovani.


And a couple of other nominations, foreign films that deserve at least 1 nomination, if no back up!

Quai des Brumes (Port of Shadows)
Fabulous acting by Jean Gabin and beautiful Michèle Morgan. A story of doomed love. Poetic realism. Spellbinding ending. Witty dialogue by Carné and Prévert.

Les Enfants du Paradis (Children of Paradise)
One of the greatest French films of all time. Though over 3 hours long, time goes by fast when you watch it. The script mixes romance, melodrama, farce, and tragedy. Great French actors. The script is witty, has a lot of grace and passion. Marcel Carné was a mind-blowing director.

Id like to add an extreme unbacking to Sin City any film that allows Jessica Alba to have a career gets an instant thumbs down from me, but this film just takes the biscuit.

I won't try and defend the decision to cast her, but I don't think her performance in any way ruined the film as a whole. I loved the film, but then, maybe you have to have read the comics to truly appreciate it.

I'm not mad :) just a really big movie fan, and good stuff I like to think ;o You should see all the movies I own!!! Crappy and great stuff.

I disliked Sin City for many reasons but maybe it's just me... Also unbacking that one.

Some Like it Hot: A timeless comedy, just as funny today as it was decades ago. Speaking from personal experience, this black & white classic has divine power in its ability to bring together a teenager and his parents to watch a film together in the same room.

Doctor Zhivago: When they say 'they don't make movies like they used to', they must be referring to this epic film, complete with its breathtaking panoramic scenery, an endless love affair, and its portrayal of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Communism.

edit: aaah bugger! both have already been nominated. :)
Do I have enough 'credits' to back them?

I've already nominated Some Like it Hot big P! Looks like a backing for me :D

I think its about time we hit the backing only stage GeeZee! You're gonna have a revolt on your hands.

In order to hit the backing only stage, GemLil, 100 nominations need have been done and the top choices should be left.
Not sure if there are 100 nominations left with all the unbacking... Guess we have to wait til Gunza Blazin's return.

Yes! I found a few that haven't been nominated yet (no idea WHY these haven't)

Trainspotting: If you want your kids to stay off drugs, this scottish film would be a good place to start. Rather than showing the spiral down to the bottom that drug abuse can cause, Trainspotting goes the other way - the long hard crawl back out of it, with a goal to 'live life'. A killer soundtrack and many hilarious moments add even more to this shocking drug drama.

25th Hour: Excellent portrayal of human emotions of one man who has 24 hours before he has to report to prison to start a seven year sentence. Also the sharpest monologue ever, dealing with fear and distrust of anyone and everyone in a post 9-11 New York.

A Fish Called Wanda: Like a flattened little dog, this comedy is to die for. I don't recall any other comedy that manages to blend Brit-style humor (from none other than Monty Python regulars) with American-style vulgar comedy (Kevin Kline's finest hour) so perfectly. Oh no, its' K-K-K-K-Ken c-c-c-coming to k-k-k-k-kill me!

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Forget Charles Dickens, forget Scrooge, forget Christmas Story or Miracle on 34th street. Christmas Vacation is what has become required yearly viewing during the holiday season. Why? It deals with the true christmas spirit - packed malls, annoying relatives, bitchy neighbors, spoiled kids, and an evil boss. Hilarity ensues.

Nominating:
Finding Nemo. This would have to be my fave Disney animated movie, with great effects and originality like no other film has to offer; Finding Nemo seems worthy of a top 100 movies list for sure.

(thanks for the suggestion, doudouce)Beetlejuice. I can't say that this is my fave Tim Burton movie, because it's so hard to choose, but it is certainly one of his best. Beetlejuice is a movie like no other I have seen before; with striking originality and an impressive Tim Burton 'style', I would easily put this on the list.

Backing: 25th Hour (Loved this one, thanks for the nomination Prelude)

backing Fish called Wanda and Taxi Driver

Claudia, if I can get to watch Beetlejuice this week-end, I may back it up ;) - and you're welcome!

We have borderline 200 films nominated now but I want to push for a little bit longer so people can use up their earned Backings and the people out of quota can sort their shit out. If anyone talks to Manling (1), Vix (1), DoK (1), Yui (2) or Moz la Punk (3). Tell them to get their nominations in. We need to make this fairererer! Depressed Tenshi will not get any coverage due to her lack of profile!

Sin City deserves to be on this list! Along with Christmas Vacation and A Hard Days Night.

I'm unbacking Sin City. It was a great movie, but I'm also looking at a Top 100 Films list as movies I could recommend to anyone without hesitation, and I can't ever see myself recommending Sin City to my parents, or my wife's parents.

And I'm backing Donnie Darko. The brit-crew on Listal seem to have a personal vendetta against DD, but I loved it.

Nominating:
Strictly Ballroom: A parody of the cutthroat world of ballroom dancing that is funny, sweet and emotional. Baz Luhrmann's directorial debut may lack the glitz and glamor of his later movies but it's an engaging film that everyone can enjoy.

I'm backing Rocky.

I know I'll be alone on this one, but I'll go ahead and nominate La Traviata (1983). It's a film version of a classic opera. Really a beautiful film, photography and costume-wise. And the music is, of course, outstanding. It's a very accessible film, too. It opened my eyes to the magic of the opera form.

I'll back Hard Boiled and A Fish Called Wanda.

On Apr 26 18:36 jgnikkila wrote:

Now, I personally think Vertigo is a better film

Me too, but why do you always link to IMDb instead of the listal page you traitor?!

IMDb has better info than Listal. I love Listal for, well, listing, but it's not yet a one-stop all media shop.

Sorry about the lack of updates lately team. I've been swamped in 'real life' so was only able to get back tonight to update this thread. Looks like Prelude went a little trigger happy with his backings ;)

Anyway, before moving this show on I'm going to list a mass list of films that haven't been nominated which are quite renowned in the wide world. So if you want to pick from the list and say your piece. Feel free.

See below!

Backing La Traviata (no, you're not alone on this one, Vix!) and Strictly Ballroom

Nominating The Bridges of Madison County
Human sensibility. Emotions. Meryl Streep is marvelous in this movie, and her performance is beyond belief. Clint Eastwood is excellent and so many miles away from his Dirty Harry performances. This movie is the story of two people that discover the beauty of happiness, but who understand that it can not replace a comfortable and happy life. "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all. - Samuel Butler." That quote summarizes the movie perfectly.

Nominating Full Metal Jacket. I know I must have been one of the last people to see this, but I now know why. This is beyond a long lasting series of cultural references or a simple war film. Like much of Kubrick's mastery, it adds twisted humour to harsh realism and leaves a mark on the history of film.

Nominating Memento. When you discuss non-linear story telling two examples come to mind; Reservoir Dogs, and Memento. The story alone makes this film worth watching, but the unique style of progression makes this a must see.

Nominating Dogma. Rogue angles, dope dealers, mass murder, the end of the world, this film is missing nothing. Who doesn't want to see the last descendant of Jesus' blood line save the world from Ben Affleck

Nominating Citizen Kane. Written and directed by, and starring the late, great Orson Welles. An inspiring story of fame, glory and lost innocence. One of the greatest and best known films in history, bar none.

Nominating Yojimbo. An epic story of a former samurai who is left to wander without a master after the fall of the imperial age. One cannot properly discuss westerns, especially the "A Fist Full of Dollars" trilogy, without discussing the film that inspired them.

Nominating The Great Dictator. A delightful criticism of Hitler by the timeless Charlie Chaplin. Apparently he knew full well how much that moustache made him look like the famous dictator. A great mix of topical political satire and the seemingly lost art of physical humour.

Nominating Logan's Run. A dystopian tale within a Utopian world, or perhaps the other way around. In a lot of ways this was ahead of it's time, discussing real issues in a fictional world, yet its dated appearance seems to echo an age of cliché science fiction which has all but disappeared. Really a must see.

Oh, and on a side note, if anyone nominates Equilibrium I'd like to use all of my unbacks to knock it off the list, that film sucked.

I'll nominate Glengarry Glen Ross. Al Pacino's psychotic/sociopathic persona is utilized perfectly in this film-- it's over-the-top, but without straying into caricature (as in Scarface). Jack Lemmon is heartbreakingly pathetic, and Alec Baldwin delivers the greatest motivational speech ever filmed.

"What's your name?"
"Fuck you. That's my name."

Backing The Nightmare Before Christmas and Memento.

Gee, can't we just nominate that whole list of movies you posted GB?

Not with out an explanation, otherwise there is no description for the list! Also, I didn't nominate them as I haven't seen about a 1/3 of them. I also want to keep this ball rolling! I'll nominate some when/if I get home tonight.

nd I'm tired now. Can someone please please please nominate more? I'll totally back them. Promise.

No bribery. ;-)

Backing Ben-Hur, Citizen Kane, Glengarry Glenn Ross, Memento

Unbacking
Little Miss Sunshine, E.T.

No Country for Old Men
Anton Chigurh has to be the greatest film villain of the 21st century! Javier Bardem has definitely been spotted on the radar now! Watching this film purely for his flawless performance would be enough to make this list. The story details one man scavenging from a illegal trade gone bad. He finds and takes a case of money. The hunt is on. Interesting and eerie throughout.

I'm backing Uncle Buck for the ultimate family film.

Nominating Goodfellas. Scorcese's best mob movie (just a notch above Casino), and quite possibly the best mob movie ever made (vying for the position with Godfather and Godfather II). Funny, frightening, timelessly stylish.

I've got 4 unused backings. I'll back Memento, Brazil (this and Amelie do not deserve such poor treatment from you meanies!), and 12 Monkeys. The last backing I'll save for later, I guess.

Nominating Shaolin Soccer. Stephen Chow is a comic genius. This is an absolutely hilarious homage to / lampooning of Eastern martial arts films and Western sports movies. Kung Fu Hustle was really good, too, but the free-associative style of Shaolin Soccer makes the latter far more fun. I haven't laughed this hard during a movie in a long, long time.

Unkey Buck gets my final backing.

Backing: Fifth Element, Platoon, The Terminator

Unbacking: 300, it was really lowest common denominator. I might have almost liked it as a gratuitous action film with little to no plot, but it grinds my gears that it gets mistaken for historical fact.

Backing Goodfellas
Unbacking 300

Gunza Blazin, I'd love to know how many (un)backings I have left to my name...

Nominating The Graduate because it is one of the ground-breaking films of the sixties. It's a superb satirical comedy about the exploitation of confused youth and innocence. Great performances by the cast (Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross), especially Dustin Hoffman, whom I believe to be at his best here. And it is (in my opinion) one of director Mike Nichols' best.

Nominating
Philadelphia: This was the movie that showed the world that Tom Hanks is more than a comedic actor. An emotional and sad but ultimately life affirming drama about AIDS, homophobia and family.

Serenity: The sci-fi/action movie that hardly any one saw is a gem combining a good script, excellent acting and outstanding special effects. It evokes a feel like that of the first Star Wars movies - a rollercoaster adventure but on a more smaller scale.

Backing: The Secret Garden: 1993, Groundhog Day, The Departed and The Usual Suspects

Unbacking: Mr and Mrs Smith