My 10 Favorite Movies

As the guy who’s into movies and even studied it at university, it’s inevitable that favorite films is something of an icebreaking topic of conversation with me. Especially since I moved to the US and find myself completely out of my depth when it comes to sports talk. If only I could converse with the Texans I find myself surrounded by on topics like Tevez refusing to play, the England cricket team’s uncharacteristically good form or good old Wales making it to the semi finals of the Rugby World Cup. Alas! Until I become a pro at the nuances of discussing the Cowboys, Rangers and Mavericks, it seems that cinema will be our common ground of conversation.

I’ve been asked many times what is my favorite movie. I used to answer Jurassic Park. Although I’m quite sure I’d seen other films at the cinema prior to Jurassic Park, that’s the first experience which I remember quite vividly. So it was largely for sentimental reasons that it quickly became my stock answer. After all, how does one truly pick their favorite all time movie? Personally, I think it’s impossible.

For some reason the topic has been stuck on my mind for the past week or so. I think I’ve come up with a list of ten favorite movies – at least for the moment. A couple of disclaimers: Firstly, I reserve to change this list at any time. Films drop in and out of favor all the time. However, having given this more thought than is strictly necessary, I think I have a fairly solid list. Secondly, please remember that this is a list of favorite films, not necessarily those films I consider the “best” films. So you’ll find no Godard, no Lynch, no Kubrick and no Malick. And you’ll find the films are almost exclusively from the past fifteen years or so. Sorry. Deal with it.

And so, without further ado (and in no particular order)…

Jurassic Park (Dir. Steven Spielberg, 1993)
This image encapsulates everything I want to say about this film. The scene where the visitors to the island first see the real life dinosaurs is awesome. You can see it on the actor’s faces and you feel the wonder with them. When I first saw this movie in the cinema with my dad I was 10 years old. Damn right I was blown away. Since then, I’ve seen the movie dozens more times. It’s quite possibly the film which really instilled in me the desire to grow up and become a storyteller myself.

There Will Be Blood (Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007)
In a certain corner of the internet where I spend much of my time, this film is affectionately known as “Chere Mill Be Blood” (check out the poster font). Already I can hear some of you complain how this is supposed to be a favorite film list, not a best film list. This is one of my favorite films! I’ve seen it probably as many times as Jurassic Park and it just keeps getting better with every viewing. Tip: enjoy a bloody steak and chilled neat vodka prior to (and during) the viewing of this film and you’ll feel like you cinema itself is pumping through your veins by the end.

American Beauty (Dir. Sam Mendes, 1999)
Since winning the Best Picture Oscar, this film has taken a lot of flack over the years. In my opinion, however, I still rate it as a quality piece of cinema. It’s so theatrical and so inspiring, despite the sometimes shady subject matter. But regardless of who you are, I defy you not to identify with Lester Burham when he realizes his dream of quitting his job. This is compulsory viewing for me every couple of years or so.

The Dish (Dir. Rob Sitch, 2000)
Chances are that you’ve probably never even heard of this movie. You owe it to yourself to track it down and check it out. It’s the perfect Sunday afternoon film, by which I mean it’s fun for all the family and a real joy to watch. The film centers on the small crew of the Australian satellite dish used to broadcast the video of Armstrong landing on the moon, as well as other colorful characters in the small town. There’s nothing incredibly special about the film, but it’s honesty and sincerity translates into a truly heartfelt and emotional film.

Finding Nemo (Dir. Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich, 2003)
There was a time when I didn’t like this film. Sad, but true. I must have been negatively influenced by the copycat trash Dreamworks Animation shoveled out. Fortunately, after such gems as Ratatouille, Wall-E and Up, I found my way back to Pixar and now consider myself one of their biggest fans. So why Finding Nemo? Let’s just say that since becoming a Daddy the film has taken on incredible new qualities, and it will forever be compulsory Father’s Day viewing in my house.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (Dir. Steven Spielberg, 1981)
Yes, I know it’s another Spielberg list, but considering he is the Godfather of the modern blockbuster, it’s hardly surprising is it? I literally grew up on Indiana Jones. Han Who? Bond What? Marty McWhere Now? I was an Indy boy all the way. The original trilogy (let’s forget that stillborn fourth installment) are entertainment at it’s very best. Even in spite of the retro special effects – or more likely because of them – the films still possess that very real sense of magic they had when I first saw them all those years ago. And Raiders is undoubtedly the best of the bunch.

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Dir. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1943)
It was my dad who introduced me to many of the classic British war-era movies, although it was ironically me who introduced him to Colonel Blimp. There is much in-depth analysis which could be written about the film (and likely has) but for me it’s another sprawling movie I like to throw on every so often and just forget about the world. And honestly, who couldn’t love a film with such jokes as “We’re having the vicar for tea.” “Oh really? I hope he’s tender.”

The Darjeeling Limited (Dir. Wes Anderson, 2007)
Criminally underrated, this is the Wes Anderson film which really struck a chord with me. While it has the director’s trademark style, it’s the polar opposite of both his previous film, The Life Aquatic, and his next, The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Truthfully, he’s never made a film this “loose” before. Yes, it’s still hyper-constructed, but it’s almost as if the guerilla-influenced filmmaking necessitated by shooting throughout India brought a much-needed touch of realism which balances nicely with Anderson’s established style.

Easy Rider (Dir. Dennis Hopper, 1969)
Aside from having my all-time favorite poster: “One man went looking for America and couldn’t find it anywhere,” this film also embodies a forgotten spirit from the hippie generation and that of the classical American dream. There are definitely some parallels with American Beauty, not in a crude sock-it-to-the-boss kind of way, but in an uplifting life-is-what-you-make it way. It’s another cracker of an inspirational gung-ho movie, the downer ended excepted. “There not afraid of you,” says George Hanson to the two bikers. “They’re afraid of what you represent: Freedom.” Fuck yeah.

In Bruges (Dir. Martin McDonagh, 2008)
This is one of those films I first discovered on late night TV and saw in several bits and pieces out of order before finally buying the DVD and watching it all over start to finish. It’s just an incredibly funny film. Colin Farrell has never been better in his pitch-perfect portrayal of an emotionally immature hitman and Brendan Gleeson more than hold his own (his phonecall scene alone is legendary.) If you haven’t seen this film and are in need of a good laugh, you owe it to yourself to see it.

So that’s it. Good films all. Writing this now makes me want to have my own mini marathon of all of them. As for the ones which missed the cut? Well, there’s certainly others which I’ve rewatched numerous times or have a special place in my heart for what other reason, but none which really could bump off any of the films listed above. I’ll be honest, it was hard to single out one Pixar movie, but I think my notes on Finding Nemo do speak for themself and I’m more and more certain that I made the right choice.

Aside from those great auteurs I listed at the start (they made great films, not necessarily favorite films) there are a handful of other filmmakers I feel deserving of a nod: Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro), Joel & Ethan Coen (favorites include O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Fargo, The Big Lebowski… pretty much everything up to and including The Man Who Wasn’t There… I’ve disliked everything they made since) and Quentin Tarantino (for Jackie Brown, hands down his best movie, no question.)

Probably the director who came closest to joining this list was David Fincher who made three films I once claimed as favorites but all of which are somehow lacking something which earns them the status of true favorites. The films of his which I heartily applaud are Fight Club, Zodiac and The Social Network. But none of them are bonafide favorites.

So there you have me. That’s my list and I’m sticking to it (for now).

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