Overall Favorite Pieces of Media Ever
These are the films/shows that stick out to me the most in my mind, often having me crawling back for a rewatch only to continue to hold up. I have tendency to favor crime/drama/horror films, so if you're a miserable prick like me, you'll probably enjoy these faves too. Kinda in order from best to "worst" in terms of my faves starting with #1 and ending in #48 but they're all freaking great.
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- CreatorDavid ChaseStarsJames GandolfiniLorraine BraccoEdie FalcoNew Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.Hands down, the best show I have ever seen. This show ruined all other tv shows, so watch at your own risk.
- CreatorDavid SimonStarsDominic WestLance ReddickSonja SohnThe Baltimore drug scene, as seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law enforcement.A close second in terms of the best show I've ever seen. No show (GOT nearly came close for its first 3-4 seasons) have successfully shown large-scale social/institutional issues like The Wire, gets better every rewatch.
- DirectorHideaki AnnoShinji HiguchiStarsHiroki HasegawaYutaka TakenouchiSatomi IshiharaJapan is plunged into chaos upon the appearance of a giant monster.The kind of Godzilla movie I've always wanted. Serious, grounded, and ballsy-weird.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.Despite loving a large category of films, Oldboy always first pops up in my head when I get asked about my favorite movie ever. So, that has to count for something for this messed-up gem.
- DirectorFernando MeirellesKátia LundStarsAlexandre RodriguesLeandro FirminoMatheus NachtergaeleIn the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.A nearly perfect movie. I've seen this probably 5-10 times and it never gets old.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsJack NicholsonShelley DuvallDanny LloydA family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter, where a sinister presence influences the father into violence. At the same time, his psychic son sees horrifying forebodings from both the past and the future.One of the best horror movies of all time. Duvall still deserved better though.
- DirectorJaume BalagueróPaco PlazaStarsManuela VelascoFerran TerrazaJorge-Yamam SerranoA television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying.My personal favorite found-footage horror movie ever. Just the right amount of realism and chaos to get a viewer stuck to the screen.
- 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.I have a nostalgic attachment to this film as I saw this (and 10-20 times more at this point) when I was 5 and living in Japan. Probably my favorite animated movie ever.
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoLee Sun-kyunCho Yeo-jeongGreed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.I still think about this movie a lot even after all of the buzz has died down a bit.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroCathy MoriartyJoe PesciThe life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.Probably my favorite Scorsese movie. It felt like his most personal and has arguably started his rise into the legendary director that we all know today.
- StarsRobert DurstCharles BagliAndrew JareckiFilmmaker Andrew Jarecki examines the complicated life of reclusive real estate icon Robert Durst, the key suspect in a series of unsolved crimes.My favorite docu-series of all time. Go in completely blind and you'll get engrossed in it by the last episode.
- DirectorAndré ØvredalStarsOtto JespersenRobert StoltenbergKnut NærumA group of students investigates a series of mysterious bear killings, but learns that there are much more dangerous things going on. They start to follow a mysterious hunter, learning that he is actually a troll hunter.A close second to REC in my favorite found-footage film. However, it is completely different from REC and deserves to be honored as the legendary movie it is.
- DirectorGabriela CowperthwaiteStarsTilikumDave DuffusSamantha BergA documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.This documentary has stuck to me harder than any other. Possibly because I saw Tilikum perform (and went to Seaworld a fair amount as a kid) about six months before he killed Dawn. Haven't been to Seaworld since then.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsRoy ScheiderRobert ShawRichard DreyfussWhen a massive killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Long Island, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.A movie I would say as a child was my favorite movie. It still holds up and is dear to my heart to this day. This movie is a big reason I became interested in cinema.
- DirectorBob ClarkStarsPeter BillingsleyMelinda DillonDarren McGavinIn the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.A wholesome and hilarious Christmas movie. Probably my favorite holiday movie.
- StarsHitoshi MatsumotoMasatoshi HamadaHôsei TsukiteiA mix of game show, talk show and reality show. Downtown sees five comedians humiliate and torture themselves and each other for our amusement.'...ten ten.' Insanely funny series that's best known for its 24-hour No Laughing specials. I recommend "participating" in any of the ones made around early 2000s-2007.
- DirectorNeill BlomkampStarsSharlto CopleyDavid JamesJason CopeThirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth to find refuge. Separated from humans in a District 9, they are managed by Multi-National United. When a field agent contracts a virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place to hide.Another film I keep going back to since I watched it over a decade ago. Just an overall great film that visually holds up to this day.
- DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsBill MurrayScarlett JohanssonGiovanni RibisiA fading movie star falls for a lonely young woman in Tokyo.This is another nostalgia-bias since I lived in Japan in 2003 incidentally, but it's a great "romance" too. And to me personally, it expresses melancholy/depression in a way that no other film has been able to resonate with me since.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanThe aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.Practically a perfect film, and got me into the mad lad that is Marlon Brando (he deserved to marry Wally Cox in a perfect world).
- DirectorYorgos LanthimosStarsOlivia ColmanEmma StoneRachel WeiszIn early 18th-century England, the status quo at the court is upset when a new servant arrives and endears herself to a frail Queen Anne.I just love this movie. I love the director and this fantastic film I think best expresses his strange absurd themes while appealing to the mainstream period dramas that get over-nominated every year (this actually deserved 'em all this time).
- DirectorFritz LangStarsPeter LorreEllen WidmannInge LandgutWhen the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt.A movie that holds up EXTREMELY well for something made at a time when movies were barely adjusting to the transition of sound.
- DirectorAri AsterStarsToni ColletteMilly ShapiroGabriel ByrneA grieving family is haunted by tragic and disturbing occurrences.A terrifying horror movie that happened to have great marketing (Midsommar deserved better marketing imo still really like Aster's second film though).
- DirectorSean BakerStarsBrooklynn PrinceBria VinaiteWillem DafoeSet over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Walt Disney World.This movie is great in terms of showing modern American issues but keeps it light with a (super well-acted) child's perspective.
- DirectorAmy BergStarsEvan HenziMichael Egan IIIMark RyanAn investigation into accusations of teenagers being sexually abused within the film industry.Directed by an Oscar-nomineed director, I can't help but think this was purposely suppressed by the industry it exposes a bit of. A must-watch.
- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsEllen BurstynMax von SydowLinda BlairWhen a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.A fantastic drama that happens to also be a horror film. Exorcist 3 deserves an honorable mention too.