11.The Host directed by Bong Joon-ho, released 2006. A Korean monster movie that incorporates elements of horror, drama, and comedy. My love for horror movies aside, the performances in this film are incredible and the way the director shows the monster and its impact are among my favorites. Other factors that give it a place of honor on my list are the political commentary (critical of both the United States and South Korea), and the scenes focused on the main family. It shows what a normal family can do when forced into extra-ordinary circumstances.
10.Alien directed by Ridley Scott, released 1979. As stated on a special on Bravo this is a haunted house movie in space. You can't escape what is hunting you, no matter how much you might want to. Despite being set in the far future, the environment is incredibly realistic, and the slight sense of claustrophobia that the film brings about, is all to real. Furthermore, the reaction to the chest-buster in the film is nothing short of priceless.
9.El Laberinto del Fauno directed by Guillermo del Toro, released 2006. Something of a dark fairy tale for adults. The fantastic elements are well incorporated with the historical backdrop of the Spanish Civil War. The creatures as performed by Doug Jones are... lacking a better descriptive term, were magical. At the end of the film, we are not sure exactly what is real or what was imagined. Perhaps the combination of reality and fantasy is what made the film as poignant and as touching as it was.
8.Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock, released 1960. A classic suspense thriller. The twist at the end of the film is also justifiably famous. Also, the score is rather justifiably famous. There isn't much to say about Psycho personally that most likely hasn't been said already by persons much more eloquent then myself. All I can say is that one doesn't get a much better first exposure to Hitchcock than this film. While all of his films are brilliant, this film will always for me, be among his best.
7. Mar Adentro directed by Alejandro Amenábar, released 2004. This film beautifully deals with some of the most complex issues of our days. End of life and euthanasia are never easy subjects to confront, and this film shows both sides of the 'debate' surrounding ending of life decisions. The characters are brilliantly acted, and some scenes do make me cry, and I willingly and freely admit that by the end of the film I was choked up. Not much more that I can say about this film rather than if you have a chance to see it, do as soon as possible.
6Princess Mononoke directed by Hayao Miyazaki, released 1997. Honestly, this film is tied with another of Miyazaki's pieces, Spirited Away. While the quality of animation in Spirited Away might be higher, the story is what drives Princess Mononoke onto the list. The conflict between humanity and nature is represented beautifully. Also, the mythology in Princess Mononoke is incredibly rich, and with a life time love of mythology, perhaps I was bound to be more attracted to it. Also, while both films have complex characters, I find that the interactions in Princess Mononoke are more fulfilling.
5.Misery directed by Rob Reiner, released 1990. An adaptation of a Steven King novel of the same name, what makes this such a strong film for me are the performances. Kathy Bates and James Caan play brilliantly off of each other, and the confined space that James Caan very much becomes a character in the movie itself. Another strong point in the film's favor is that compared other of King's work, the villain is completely human. Something about that makes the film more real, and thus the character more terrifying. I can only shudder at the thought of meeting a person like Annie Wilkes in the real world, and the truly frightening thought is that there are people like her out there in the world.
4.Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf directed by Mike Nichols, released 1966. A completely character driven piece. It is one of the closest adaptations of any stage production. The interactions between Burton and Taylor in this film are completely enthralling. The ending of the film is one of the most powerful moments captured on film. Drawn into the world of the four characters, when the final moment arrives the viewer comes to the same powerful psychological moments as the characters.
3.To Live directed by Zhang Yimou, released 1994. The drama of China in transition from Post World War II through the aftermath of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. We feel deeply for the family, rejoice with them and mourn with them. We see just what one family does to survive in extra-ordinary circumstances, and we see that there are no things such as heroes in villains, rather there are only people who are forced into places through the choices that they make. As a watcher of film, I could not be be connected to all of the triumphs and failings of this fictional family, and know that while this is a fictionalized account, it reflects many things that could have or might have happened to countless individuals.
2.Rashomon directed by Akira Kurosawa, released 1950. A classic for a reason. The examination of a single event from multiple perspectives has been done both before and since, but the way that Kurosawa tackles it is simply brilliant. We learn much about the characters by the way that they present their story, and we are left questioning what is really "true" at the end of the film. The way that Kurosawa frames the ending of such a film, while hopeful, is also ambiguous. Also, for the time it was made, some of the shots were nothing short of masterful. This film perfectly demonstrates why Kurosawa was dubbed Kurosawa-sensei.
1.The Seventh Seal directed by Ingmar Bergman, released 1957. The first time I was exposed to this film, I was too young to understand it. When I came back to the film later on, I was shocked and awed by it. It deals in with fear, Doubt, life, and of course Death. The scenes with Death playing chess are MUCH parodied, but never truly equaled. Although not historically accurate, the story is moving, the shots are brilliant, and the characters are complex/well acted.
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