The Top Twenty Best Films In Existence
So as the title suggests, this is the list of my personal best/top twenty films that i have seen so far - 13/04/2011
They have been ranked for various reasons: For basic good film techniques such as good performances, cinematography, appropriate and effective soundtrack, solid and sensible story etc. but what makes or breaks a film's placement on my list is artistic elements, symbolism, ingenuity, overall presentation and most importantly (for me) the film's ability to connect with me on an emotional level/ emotional effects.
PLease feel free to make suggestions of films to watch or to ask about anything.
Thanks
OH they are ranked in order, and position 1 and 2 are tie first place and the rest follow accordingly.I have also included a rating out of ten for each film and a general comment about each film.
Enjoy!:)
They have been ranked for various reasons: For basic good film techniques such as good performances, cinematography, appropriate and effective soundtrack, solid and sensible story etc. but what makes or breaks a film's placement on my list is artistic elements, symbolism, ingenuity, overall presentation and most importantly (for me) the film's ability to connect with me on an emotional level/ emotional effects.
PLease feel free to make suggestions of films to watch or to ask about anything.
Thanks
OH they are ranked in order, and position 1 and 2 are tie first place and the rest follow accordingly.I have also included a rating out of ten for each film and a general comment about each film.
Enjoy!:)
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- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsDaveigh ChaseSuzanne PleshetteMiyu IrinoDuring her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.# 1
*THIS FILM IS TIE 1ST PLACE WITH REQUIEM FOR A DREAM!!* The best and most indescribably whimisical, beautiful and brilliant film in the world. The film develops such and incredibly detailed story that explores both the film and Chihiro's emotional progression brilliantly. The film is drenched in symbols and artistic depth both lurid and inadvertent which add to the film's power. Apart from its originality and ingenuity, this film has earned its place on this list due to the fact that it's just freakin' amazing. Could this be the world's best film? Yes.
10/10 - DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsEllen BurstynJared LetoJennifer ConnellyThe drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island people are shattered when their addictions run deep..# 1
The best and most brilliant film i have ever seen. Honestly i watched this film several times searching for flaws but i just couldn't find any. Technically, i think it's flawless, particularly the soundtrack and guillotine shots used in several of the actual drug taking scenes. The film has a fantastically composed disturbing undertone, enhanced by the amazing performances from all four main characters, particularly Ellen Burstyn. I find it diffcult to describe how good this film is, and i dare to call it perfect. There is no parallel to what this film brings to the table both typically and artistically.
10/10 - DirectorPascal LaugierStarsMorjana AlaouiMylène JampanoïCatherine BéginA young woman's quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child leads her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity.# 2
Brutal, beautiful and brilliant. This film holds nothing back. Alot of people will underrate this film and pass judgement based on its harsh content, but if you look past its jagged exterior, there lies within a beautiful, artistic and ingenious film that needs serious attention. Technically it holds solidly and never tries to be artistic, which allows for the content to appear more brash and effective. Believe me this film is not for the faint hearted, but if you're willing to sit through its difficult content i hope that you too will find a beautiful and incredible concept that leaves nothing to be desired. It deserves its #2 ranking without a doubt in my mind.
9.8/10 - DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsChieko BaishôTakuya KimuraTatsuya GashûinWhen an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.# 3
A faster paced version of Spirited Away. This film is uncannily good, and in my opinion underrated. The story is beautiful and unfolds in such an amazing way. Even with its whimsical nature, it still holds some sense of socio-realism. The soundtrack is incredible and once again, Miyazaki's popular love theme emerges to create an emotional charged yet brilliant work of art. Aesthetically is leaves nothing to be desired, and even though it's animated, the film still has underlying themes that appeal to a mature audience. I love this film, and it rightfully deserves its #3 rank on this list.
9.7/10 - DirectorMary HarronStarsChristian BaleJustin TherouxJosh LucasA wealthy New York City investment banking executive, Patrick Bateman, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies.# 4
This stands out for me as one of the greatest films of all time. Christian Bale's performance is nothing short of exceptional and is, personally, his best performance to date. The film has incredible psychological exploration into Bale's character which is the primary reason for it's position on the list. And let's not forget its incredible surrealist twist towards the end that leaves you suspended in mid air with nothing definite of which you can be sure. OUtstanding film that is both clever and enjoyable.
9.4/10 - DirectorAng LeeStarsJake GyllenhaalHeath LedgerMichelle WilliamsEnnis and Jack are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them get married to their respective girlfriends.# 5
I don't cry in films. No movie to date has reached me enough to actually cause me to cry. I cried four times in this film. Whether you are gay or straight, man or woman, this film hits a little to close to home. Both Gyllenhaal and Ledger performed flawlessly. The soundtrack and camera work is amazing. But above all, Ledger and Gyllenhaal's relationship is what makes this film beautiful (by the way neither of the two are gay in the film). The film expresses the sublimity of love in a way that no other film has or could ever express. It is a beautiful and exceptionally powerful film that left me breathless and drained after watching it. It rightfully deserves 10/10, but lacked something that the higher films on this list have.
10/10 - DirectorSimon RumleyStarsLeo BillRoger Lloyd PackKate FahyA descent into Hell is triggered when "Ex-Lord" Donald Brocklebank finds that he must leave Longleigh House for London to find a way to pay for the medical treatments for his wife Nancy. Alone, his over-protected, delusional, adult son, James, fancies himself in charge of the manor house with his terminally ill mother, and barricades the two of them into the house for a series of ever more panicked home treatments, mistakenly protecting her from the arrival of Nurse Mary and any outside help.# 6
This is a tiny, art-house horror film that desperately needs attention. The first time I watched it i didn't like because i found it confusing and over-the-top. However, i gave it a second chance and i am very glad that i did. The story and setting are simple, but it takes no mercy in forcing the audience into a genuinely artistic, disturbing film. I don't think I have the vocabulary needed to describe how brilliant this film is technically, and i think that it pushes some boundaries but never goes too far. If you can find it, watch it, it has alot of artistic depth that needs appreciation.
9.1/10 - DirectorGaspar NoéStarsMonica BellucciVincent CasselAlbert DupontelEvents over the course of one traumatic night in Paris unfold in reverse-chronological order as the beautiful Alex is brutally raped and beaten by a stranger in an underpass tunnel.# 7
The title says it all. With a reverse chronological storyline and nauseating cinematography, the film has the potential to cause confusion. This in conjunction with its highly graphic and disturbing content can cause any normal viewer to turn it off and deem it ridiculous. However, if you are "brave" enough to endure entire film, the rewards the leaves with you are well worth it. As i said, the title says it all, what you witness is irreversible, but this is a good thing. If you stand back and look at the film as a whole, with everything in mind, hopefully you'll make the same discovery that I made and realise the importance and brilliance of this film as an artwork.
9.2/10 - DirectorLars von TrierStarsWillem DafoeCharlotte GainsbourgStorm Acheche SahlstrømA grieving couple retreat to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage, but nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.# 8
It reputation is fitting. It is graphic, very graphic, and melodramatic, and incredibly confusing. However once i understood the film, i was so blown away by what the movie had produced that I had no choice but to put it in my top ten. It presents the most sickening content in the most beautiful camera work (which works excellently and makes so much sense when you discover what the film means). It is almost too artistic, but I think that that was a choice that von Trier made and it worked flippin well. I could not stop thinking about this film for days after watching it, and I can't wait to revisit it. It bears some of the most unique film techniques I have ever seen, and apart from its technical perfection, artistically it leaves you with so much that you could spend the rest of your life trying to solve the entire film. It is definitely not a film for everyone, but I found it to be a true work of cinematic art.
8.9/10 - DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsNatalie PortmanMila KunisVincent CasselNina is a talented but unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her artistic director and a seductive rival, Nina's grip on reality slips, plunging her into a waking nightmare.# 9
My new favourite film. Like Martyrs and AntiChrist, it is a beautifully disturbing film whose message is much needed in today's society. The camera work is what stands out for me, as i found it intoxicatingly beautiful and graceful. Portman performed incredibly well, and her transformation was powerful and unsettling. Being quite an artistic film i can guarantee that this is not a mainstream film goer's saturday night movie pick, but for those who appreciate art in film, go no further. I found myself lost in the film, as it sucks you into its surreal nightmare and doesn't let you go until the final second has passed.
8.9/10 - DirectorGregg ArakiStarsBrady CorbetJoseph Gordon-LevittElisabeth ShueTwo pre-adolescent boys both experienced a strange event and later it affects their lives in different ways. One becomes a reckless, sexually adventurous prostitute, while the other retreats into a reclusive fantasy of alien abduction.# 10
I cannot stop thinking about this movie. Firstly, Gordon-Levitt and Corbett were outstanding. This film stood out for me because it dealt with such a touchy social issue in such a unique and clever way. It takes a look at pedophilism from two completely unusual perspectives and left me not knowing how to feel about it at the end. It is also one of those unusually beautiful films that carries some disturbing content. I really appreciate its symbollism and social commentary on both pedophilia and teen sexuality which are both sensitive topics currently. I thoroughly loved this film and think that it needs more praise for its truths and wonder as an amazing film.
8.8/10 - DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsYôji MatsudaYuriko IshidaYûko TanakaOn a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami's curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime.# 11
As the third Miyazaki film on my top twenty list i think we know what to expect from it. Amazing aethetics, a beautiful soundtrack, a sub-theme of love, a whimsical atmosphere, but Princess Mononoke has one slight difference. It is dark, sinister and twisted, and i loved it for that very reason. It's social commentary on man vs nature was exceptionally well delivered. Overall its sinister and more mature nature brings out its seriousness as a film whilst still maintaining the Mayazaki magic. It is suprisingly violent, but still beautiful and enticing to watch.
8.7/10 - DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsMark WahlbergJulianne MooreBurt ReynoldsBack when sex was safe, pleasure was a business and business was booming, an idealistic porn producer aspires to elevate his craft to an art when he discovers a hot young talent.# 12
Everything that you ever wanted to know about porn in one highly entertaining, truthful, sad and really amazing film. This film is just one big comment on the entertainment industry and it is incredibly true.. I feel that this movie didn't really leave anything to be desired for me at the end. I just thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the film's take on what "talent" is in the context of the entertainment industry. Some dodgy camera work in some places i will admit, but i loved the soundtrack and Wahlberg's performance was outstanding. One of my personal favourites and overall a superb film.
8.7/10 - DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittEdward NortonMeat LoafAn insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.# 13
The greatest twist in any film that I have ever seen in my life. Technically the fim is remarkably clean and well shot. Pitt and Norton's performances are nothing short of flawless. This is in my opinion Ficnher's masterpiece. I have nothing else to say other than the fact that this movie is just really really cool, and incredibly good.
8.6/10 - DirectorSam MendesStarsKevin SpaceyAnnette BeningThora BirchA sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.# 14
This is one of those films where you try really hard to find something that doesn't fit, but there is just nothing wrong with it. Kevin Spacey proved his talent as an actor in this film. The theme of the search for beauty was constructed very well and left nothing to be desired from a depth perspective. I liked the fact that the film took the quest for beauty from both a teenaged and a middle-aged perspective, puberty and a mid-life crisis and how it compared the differences and similarities between the two was really clever. It sells itself really well and presents an aesthetically pleasing, excellently produced film.
8.6/10 - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsGuy PearceCarrie-Anne MossJoe PantolianoA man with short-term memory loss attempts to track down his wife's murderer.# 15
This is Nolan's best thus far. What made this film so good for me was its intelligence as a film. Its plot was intricate but brilliantly executed in a reverse chronological order. The idea/ concept itself is ingenius but simple, and the fact that he can't remember stuff added something extra to the film that made it that much more entertaining and yet i can't identify why. Pierce performed well. I found it slightly confusing towards the end, but once the air had cleared and I found out what was going on i realised the true greatness of this film. Great revenge film that sits comfortably on my top twenty.
8.5/10 - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.# 16
This film was surprisingly violent and frightening. The pale man and the faun actually scared me a little. The film was really well assembled and its beautifully surreal atmosphere drew me into it. The concept was really unusual but unique and i liked that alot about the film. The violence and fear mixed in with the beauty of the film creates a really unique and amazing feeling about the film. The ending is sad but finishes the movie off really well. If you're a fan of Guillermo del Toro then you'll love this one, this is his best work by far.
8.5/10 - DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.# 17
As old as it is, it stil has an impact today. This film took art in film to the next level and is still a cinematic masterpiece. It is disturbing, let there be no mistake, but it is done for a good reason and aids the message and concept of the film really well. The last fifteen or so minutes confused me and i felt it was rather superfluous. However, if you want to see a true example of art in film then this film is for you. The film is shocking and it excellently presents relevant social commentary, and challenges higher authorities. Overall, this is the first true controversial film to emerge in film and is a must see.
8.5/10 - DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsRyo IshibashiEihi ShiinaTetsu SawakiA widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be after all.# 18
It is understandable how at its premier in 2001 several audience members passed out due to pure shock at what they saw. I read so much about this film before i saw it that i thought that the film wouldn't get to me. Nothing can really prepare you for what you see. The first eighty odd minutes are used to lure you into a false sense of security, with soft lighting and intimate dialogue, which only makes the last twenty minutes that much more horrifying. Technically it works, because it creates such a comfortable atmosphere. The gore works with the film to make it what it is, not just for shock value. The ending is brutally sad, and the film makes a serious comment about "love". Overall it is an incredible power behind it and i loved it.
8.3/10 - DirectorDavid FincherStarsMorgan FreemanBrad PittKevin SpaceyTwo detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives.# 19
When you place two of the world's finest actors in a film directed by one of the world's finest directors, you know that you are going to get an A grade film. Seven is just a very well made, well written, well directed, well constructed film. The film is clever, it has substance and it holds a disgusting undertone the entire film. The concept is phenomenal, and it was extremely well executed, especially considering the twist at the end. It is just one of those films that encompasses everything that a good film should have.
8.2/10 - DirectorSatoshi KonStarsMegumi HayashibaraTôru EmoriKatsunosuke HoriWhen a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.# 20
I am very exited to watch more of Satoshi Kon's films. Honestly, being the anime version of the apparently brilliant film Incpetion, i think that it runs circles around Inception. The concept was taken in extreme depth which was nice to see. Even though it did confuse me a little, the story was well constructed. The surrealist atmosphere is what made the film for me. It lost me in the film because there was absolutely no way that you can tell the difference between what's real and what's not. The ending was a bit out there which in some sense detracted from the film's overall effect. Aesthetically it's a pleasure to watch, and some of the more unsual disturbing content was really effective. If you enjoy films that make you think and launch you into a world of no boundaries, this is the one to watch.
8.2/10