Absolute best movie of all time, in your opinion, of course

[steve2470]

I need to see Citizen Kane, but I loved this one:

Grand Canyon. It had a very spiritual vibe about it, so that's why I liked it. I won't dare to say it ranks with Citizen Kane, but I liked it.

[CBGLuthier]

1. The Best years of Our Lives

is a personal favorite American film of great quality. As is The Godfather II.

Outside America I am very fond of La Jette, The Conformist, The Professional (1981, not to be confused with Leon:The Professional), Stalker, A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Yes, that is the title) and Tokyo Story.

The first three films of Jaques Tati (Mr. Hulot's Holiday, Mon Oncle, and Play Time) are my favorite comedies. I would kill to see Play Time on a big screen.

I find it impossible to decide which is the best, these are merely the films that come immediately to mind that I have seen more than once and some what or wholly cherish. I have seen over 5,000 movies some of them more than ten times.

A "new' one I need to see again, preferably in one sitting is Satantango. It is 7 1/2 hours long and in B&W and may be the greatest film ever made.

[steve2470]

2. FWIW, Wiki.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_considered_the_best

[mythology]

3. It's kind of cliche, but Casablanca is my favorite movie

But given that It's a Wonderful Life is my second favorite, maybe I'm just a milksop deep down underneath all of the disappointment in humanity.

[joeybee12]

4. Gone with the Wind...story-telling at its finest...nt

[hlthe2b]

12. It surely held one's interest despite being nearly 4 hours (with intermission)

Still a landmark movie despite its attendant controversies...

[joeybee12]

15. I just re-read the book...it's pretty disgusting...

While some parts of the movie make you cringe, there are fortunately not many...the book, however, is a re-writting of history and rsacist beyond words.

[hlthe2b]

16. It has been a while, but I'm sure that's the case. It was a product of the times...n/t

[clarice]

5. Wizard of Oz. nt

[Coventina]

6. Comedy category: UHF

Tragedy category: The Bridge on the River Kwai

To me, comedy and tragedy are two different art forms, and require two different answers.

[Boom Sound 416]

7. Life is Beautiful

Still tops for me

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. La Grande Illusion, Schindler's List, City Of God, Ikiru, and Casablanca are on my list

as masterpieces. It's hard to pick one.

[kairos12]

9. L.A. Confidential

[First Speaker]

10. Honest answers...Chinatown, Duck Soup, Swing Time, Out of the Past, Arsenic and Old Lace, and--

--Where Eagles Dare. Yeah, Where Eagles Dare...wanna make something of it...?

[irisblue]

36. Heck yes! Richard Burton stole my heart

so yeah.....

[Skittles]

11. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

excellent

[sendero]

24. I loved that movie..

... though I only saw it one time at a theater during its initial release.

I have never watched it again because I don't think I could stand seeing it again. It was a great film but not easy to watch.

[IronGate]

32. A Clockwork Orange was outstanding also.

Jack Nicholson was great in One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest.

[Tribalceltic]

13. M*A*S*H

Maybe from going to see it with my father

[Avalux]

14. To Kill a Mockingbird.

I saw it first as a child, and felt like I was IN the movie. Even though I'm an adult, I still feel that way if I watch it. Emotionally powerful.

[sendero]

25. Me too..

.... I saw that film while visiting an aunt in San Antonio in early 60s. I was about 10 years old and it just blew me away. It's probably my all time favorite.

[Sherman A1]

17. 12 O'Clock High

Casablanca

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid

Paths of Glory

[hifiguy]

18. Two that stuck with me for ages

were "The Tree of Life" and "Mulholland Drive." That kind of staying power in the old bean makes them exceptionally fine films by my account.

[First Speaker]

19. Mulholland Drive was fascinating...

...it's a movie I very much wish I liked. I respect it, I'm intrigued by it, but I can't say that I "like" it...:-/...

[A Simple Game]

21. Mulholland Drive was required viewing in my Film Analysis class. Here is what I had to say about it.

Discuss ways in which Mulholland Drive both portrays and parodies American views on how stars are made.

First of all this film makes me think that I am wasting my time and have learned nothing in this course. Film Analysis? I had no idea what was going on for most of this movie. When I did think I was starting to figure it out towards the end, it didn’t take long for the movie to bring me back to reality. Reality? Yes, the only reason this movie was made was to screw with my mind! I wish I hadn’t seen it, never want to see it again, and will try to forget everything I know about the movie. STUPID MOVIE!!!

Now to the subject, Mulholland Drive and American views on how stars are made. I just talk about women because that is all I saw for examples in the movie, but the same stereotypes fit men also. There is often talk about stars sleeping their way to the top, surprisingly this movie didn’t go there. I saw two examples that fit the discussion question, Betty and Camilla.

First is Betty who fits the stereotype of being the small town and/or foreign girl who goes to Hollywood to make it big in the movies. She’s not glamorous but is pretty in the girl next door way, smart but not brilliant, and has some talent that can be beneficial to the industry if only she gets the big break to show it. All in all a nice and probably reliable girl. This woman is not used to being pampered and will not be high maintenance, she won’t be fussy, won’t throw tantrums, and will get along with everyone on and off the set. She will do what she is asked and do it well.

Then there is Camilla, the girl with the powerful connections. In this case it seems to be the mob, but it could just as well be a powerful figure in the industry, a politician, friend of someone powerful, etc. My first thoughts of Camilla before I saw her audition was that she would have little talent and have to be lead along every step of the way, this thought was probably enhanced by the directors string of bad luck. In this case she is the girl that really does have it all, confidence, talent and looks, but is unfairly placed at the head of the line. We would like to think of her as someone used to being pampered, becoming a high maintenance person, demanding, hard to get along with, throwing tantrums, someone ok to good but not really worth the trouble. I didn’t get that impression from this woman as she was ready for the audition, and performed exceedingly well without any complaints or fuss. She is probably the exception to the rule and could have made it on her own without the strong arm tactics.

[shenmue]

20. Jaws

The first one. The sequels don't count.

[YankeyMCC]

22. Forbidden Planet

[mucifer]

23. "Night Nurse" with Barbra Stanwyk and Clark Gable. Hilarious!

BTW I was a pediatric night nurse when I saw this my first time:

It's precode. There is a bootlegger in it. Evil rich people, evil doctors. It's got a great precode ending. It's awesome!

[valerief]

30. Fab movie. It's on right now! nt

[NV Whino]

26. Olivier's Hamlet

But, I tend to watch Gattaca over and over. So, i think that has to be in the running.

[bigwillq]

27. Goodfellas

Followed closely by Pulp Fiction

[ashling]

28. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

followed by 12 Angry Men (1957)

I use them both in assignments in some of my government classes

[valerief]

29. Auntie Mame.

"Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!"

That's inspiring from a figurative perspective, but from a literal one, it's oh-so sadly true.

I loved the Yul Ullu scene best, I think.

[IronGate]

31. Comedy wise?

Blazing Saddles, there is no way such a movie could be made today.

Best romantic: A Walk to Remember.

Best action: The Last Castle.

Best Drama: And the Band Played On, with Philadelphia a close second.

Best Documentary: The History of the Vietnam War.

Best war movie: Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers.

[pokerfan]

33. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential films in the history of cinema. The dramatic score by Maurice Jarre and the Super Panavision 70 cinematography by Freddie Young are also highly acclaimed. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won seven in total including Best Director, Best Sound Editing, and Best Picture.



I got to see during its 1989 70mm re-release which blew me away. If you ever get the chance...

[orleans]

34. i always liked "don't look now" (promoted as a psychic thriller)

"The British Film Institute ranked Don't Look Now #8 on their list of the top 100 British Films. The Times also ranked the film #18 on their list of 100 greatest films

"In 2011, both co-star Donald Sutherland and producer Peter Katz issued rebuttals to the longstanding rumor that Sutherland and Julie Christie had engaged in unsimulated intercourse during their characters' sex scene
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069995/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069995/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[Algernon Moncrieff]

35. "Schindler's List" is the best American film ever made, IMHO

In saying this, I'm trying to separate personal favorites from films that made lasting impact and advanced the art.

Not In Order

1. Schindler's List
2. The Godfather
3. Casablanca
4. The Wizard of Oz
5. GWTW
6. Star Wars
7. It's a Wonderful Life
8. Citizen Kane
9. The Great Dictator
10. Duck Soup

I could come up with literally 100 honorable mentions, and I don't argue with anyone else's choices.

My personal favorites (a very different list): Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, The Day of the Jackal, Lover Come Back, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sting, You've Got Mail, Casablanca, Young Frankenstein, Star Wars, Red River, The Grapes of Wrath, Silverado, The Verdict, & Field of Dreams. (That's today's list -- it changes a little each time one asks)