Cinemavens' Top 100 Films: 71-80

It's a day late, but we are still counting down our list of Top 100 Films, and this week we present numbers 71-80 of the Cinemavens' Top 100 Films List. If you missed our previous posts, catch up with numbers 81-90 and 91-100 on our list. Remember to comment below, or like us on Facebook to stay updated. We love to hear your feedback!

And so we begin this week's list with #80:

Watching Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” is quite the experience. After an insane opening scene, we are offered a look at the glamorous and enticing world of the gangster. Watching those mob bosses bust out wads of one-hundred dollar bills and laugh and be friends with everybody sure looked like fun. Then over the next 2 hours, Scorsese craftily exposes the underworld for what it is: dishonorable, violent, prideful, and family-destroying. He does this with the help of incredible cinematography and dialogue. And we haven’t even mentioned the perfect acting by Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco and Ray Liotta.

The gritty back story of Bruce Wayne is excellent. This Batman movie is much more focused on Batman’s character, and is in some ways better than The Dark Knight. Unfortunately, the second half does not measure up to the first half, as "Batman Begins" falls prey to what we call the superhero-origin-story-conundrum, where the origin story part is excellent, but then it seems like they didn’t know what to do for the second half, so they threw together a plot that just doesn’t quite satisfy. (Iron Man, Captain America, X-Men: First Class). With that being said, the movie is overall very good dives deep into issues and is realistic, making Batman Begins feel much more intimate and suspenseful than other superhero movies. We can’t go without mentioning Tom Wilkinson, who gives a very enjoyable performance as mob boss Carmine Falcone.

Set in 1989 Brooklyn during a large heat wave, Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" is a great film that takes a deeper look into race tolerance and violence. The film follows a young man in this neighborhood, played by Spike Lee himself, Mookie.  In this neighborhood everybody is black except for the two main business owners. Sal's pizzeria is owned by a white Italian family and the general fruit store is owned by a Korean Family. A man, referred to as "Buggin-Out", walks into the Pizzeria and complains that there are no "men of color" on his wall of famous people. This adds tension to the neighborhood as the heat wave brings people's moral down. Slowly all the characters are drawn into one giant fight of racism and all tolerance is lost. The film does not take sides but portrays a realistic view of how people deal with one another and their differences.

Juliette Binoche treats us to the performance of a lifetime in this mind-bending drama.  The film explores the complex relationship between an usual couple over the course of one sunny afternoon in Italy.  They may have been married for 15 years, or they may have just met for the first time.  "Certified Copy" weaves themes of family, love, and the nature of truth into this unusual framework.  It is a movie that must be seen multiple times to be fully appreciated; its depth only builds with each subsequent viewing.  Take the time to explore its mysteries, and you will be given the pleasure of watching a truly emotional relationship displayed on the screen.

Although it’s technically a remake, the script is very different from the original.  Director Steven Soderbergh pieced together this film with an enjoyable story, unique style and an all-star cast.  There are a lot of memorable stills that make me laugh no matter how many times I’ve seen it, but the true genius lies in the cast.  Watching this cast on scene gel so seamlessly is a true joy to watch.  George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and company, really come together so brilliantly, that the audience almost feels as if they are part of the group.  This will be remembered as one of the most fun heist movies ever made.

Nominated for all the big awards for 1958, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” boasts strong and thoughtful dialogue.  Director/Writer Richard Brooks really put together a thoughtful piece in this film.  When Paul Newman’s character is talking to his father in the basement, really listen to their back and forth banter, there are extremely well thought out lines that make you ponder deeper meanings.  In addition to its’ strong dialogue, Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor were both nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress respectively.  While I wouldn’t call this a career defining role for Taylor, as she already was Oscar nominated before this film, but her wearing the white dress in this film became a defining image for many. 

“Letters from Iwo Jima” is the sister film of “Flags of our Fathers,” and both are directed by Clint Eastwood. What makes “Letters from Iwo Jima” unique is its humanistic portrayal of war. The film follows two Japanese soldiers, Lt. General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) and Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya), as they nervously await and attempt to repel the American invasion on the island of Iwo Jima. Instead of focusing on action, we witness Kuribayashi and Saigo deal with the intense fear and horrifying nature of war. Their performances are powerful, and the film’s themes are stirring.

Often considered to be Woody Allen's greatest work in a long list of directorial efforts, "Annie Hall" also ranks among the best romantic comedies ever crafted.  Allen constantly breaks the standard conventions of movie-making, often breaking the fourth wall and frequently transporting his characters through time and space to witness events that they couldn't have seen in reality.  Allen himself stars as a neurotic Jewish comedian, and the film follows his relationship with Annie, played wonderfully by Diane Keaton.  There are fundamental differences in the personalities of these two characters, which allows the movie to explore the pitfalls (and occasionally the joys) of relationships.

Not at all an easy story to witness. Great movies about tragedies like this give the viewer a taste of the horror but show the strength and resilience of human character in adversity. This movie is a perfect example of that. Movies like this are also very important, as they raise public awareness of the horrifying things going on outside of our safe little bubble. Don Cheadle does an incredible job acting as well.

“Million Dollar Baby” adds yet another impressive directorial effort from Clint Eastwood. The film depicts a lonely, irritable boxing trainer (played by Clint Eastwood) who initially refuses to train an eager but inexperienced boxer (Hillary Swank), but eventually he capitulates and trains her. Their rocky relationship eventually grows, and Eastwood starts to consider her like a daughter. The development of their relationship is a pleasure to witness, and the film leaves a potent emotional impact on the audience.

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Cinemavens' Top 100 Films: 81-90

Today we resume our countdown to our #1 film, and this week we give you numbers 81-90 of the Cinemavens' Top 100 Films List. If you missed numbers 91-100 from last week, click here to catch up. Remember to comment below, or like us on Facebook to stay updated!

And so we begin this week's list with #90:

“A Separation” depicts an Iranian couple’s impossible situation – whether to stay in Iran and look after a parent with Alzheimer’s or leave the country to improve their boy’s life – in a setting and culture that is very foreign to us Westerners. Every character faces a unique challenge in this dialogue-driven, family drama. The story builds and builds, becoming more interesting every minute, and each character is sympathetic and all share some guilt in the unfortunate situation. The human drama is heavy, and “A Separation” shows how divorce, pride, and lies can destroy families and devastate the lives of the innocent. 

“50/50”, directed by Jonathan Levine, is a drama-comedy based on a true story that tells of a young man, Adam(played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who discovers he has a rare cancer which has a 50/50 chance of survivability. He claims at first that he his fine and is handling with his illness well, but he slowly loses control as the reality of his condition sets in. The story deals with how he, his friends, and his family handle the situation. While heartbreakingly sad, the movie is also very funny as his best friend Kyle(played by Seth Rogen) tries to keep his life exciting. The drama and the comedy both make “50/50” relatable and real. 

Alfred Hitchcock, the Director of Suspense, brought to film one of the most iconic films of all time.  Despite its’ lack of accolades, it’s one of the best films to come out of 1960.  Cary Grant is as brilliant as ever in this roller coaster ride as he is framed for murder and mistaken as a government spy by foreign groups.  Academy Nominee James Mason is grippingly chilling in his antagonist role.  If you like suspense and adventure, this is definitely a film for you.  

“Psycho”, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is a classic among classics and is generally considered to be one Hitchcock’s greatest films.  “Psycho” is a film about a generally innocent woman who happens to steal $40,000 from a client and flees, and on her way stops at a motel for rest. Her mental state slowly deteriorates with the guilt and paranoia. It was not the acting in the movie that has made this film so famous, nor was it the famous shower-knife scene, but Hitchcock’s ability to manipulate the audience and focus on the fears of the people. “Psycho” jump started the thriller genre.

“Once” is an Irish musical film, set in Dublin that follows the relationship between two people and their connection through music. “Once” consists of a simple story line that deals with connection, friendship, inspiration, and love. What makes “Once” unique is that the main actors are not actually actors but musicians (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) who composed the entirety of the film’s music themselves. In 2007 “Once” won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, “Falling Slowly”.  The film perfectly combines the simple story and beautiful music to make magic, and it is a must for music lovers.

“You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?” It’s classic line from a classic movie. Director Martin Scorsese's neo-noir film, “Taxi Driver,” features Robert De Niro as Travis Binkle, an unstable Vietnam veteran who returns to New York and nabs a job driving a cab. Binkle becomes increasingly deranged as he drives the streets of a depraved New York City and then takes it upon himself to violently clean up the City’s scum and impurity. De Niro is at the top of his game in “Taxi Driver,” and he flawlessly portrays a character who is interesting, sympathetic, and terrifying at the same time.

Director and writer Christopher Nolan’s unique and unorthodox style in “Memento” makes the film a superb psychological thriller and one that will keep the audience guessing until the credits roll. Guy Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, a man who loses his short-term memory after he is attacked by a man who murders his wife. Shelby vows to track down his wife’s killer, but he must write notes, take Polaroid photographs, and pen tattoos on his body to remember the details of his pursuit. What makes “Memento” clever is its storytelling; rather than progressing forward in time, the storyline travels backward. And, of course, Nolan pulls it off masterfully.

In one of the most atmospheric films ever crafted, Ridley Scott directs a masterpiece with just his third feature film.  "Blade Runner" perfectly blends the science-fiction and film noir genres, resulting in a methodical and visually absorbing movie.  It features solid performances from the likes of Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer, and Daryl Hannah, who each inject an appropriate level of haunting sadness into their respective characters.  It is a dark and melancholy world that these individuals inhabit, one that is underlined by the movie's somber tone.  Beyond these aesthetic highlights, the film is elevated into greatness by its insights into the nature of humanity.  It questions the very meaning of human existence, and in doing so cements its place among the best sci-fi films of all time. 

“The Graduate” is perhaps the best coming-of-age movie ever filmed. Dustin Hoffman plays Benjamin, a disaffected and aimless college graduate who is seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson. As the two carry on their illicit affair, Benjamin falls in love with Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, Elaine. Benjamin’s journey of finding meaning and direction in his life while navigating through his troubled love life is emotional, funny, and a pleasure to witness. It is also worth mentioning that “The Graduate” boasts one of the most famous soundtracks in history. Simon & Garfunkel recorded the music, and their melancholic melodies capture the film’s mood perfectly. (Have you heard of the song “Mrs. Robinson?” Yeah, that came from this movie.) 

With its wonderful premise -- a man whose entire life has been broadcast on the ultimate reality program -- "The Truman Show" critiques modern America's obsession with observing the lives of others.  Released on the advent of the explosion of reality TV, the film both predicts and satirizes the widespread use of this form of television.  We witness the oddities of Truman's life, brought to the screen brilliantly by Jim Carrey, by viewing both the mundane and extraordinary aspects of his artificial world.  Carrey is extremely effective in a role that allows him to explore a dramatic pathos, a portrayal far superior to some of his more simplistic comedic endeavors.  There is even room for the actor to insert his quirky charm into the character, creating an individual who is relatable and memorable.

What did you think of our list so far? Feel free to comment below or on our Facebook page! 

Next week we will unveil numbers 71-80 in our Top 100, so please stay tuned! Also, if you missed our recent review of Haywire and our Oscar picks, be sure to read them by clicking on their links. 

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Cinemavens' Top 100 Films: 91-100

Starting today we will release a list of our top 100 films for the next few weeks. Each of us made our own list of favorite movies, and then we used a point system to compile our lists and create the Cinemavens’ Top 100 Films. When we completed the list, some of the rankings surprised us, and we think you will be surprised as well.

We realize that you may think, “How could they forget [such-and-such movie]?” We admit that there are a lot of movies we have not seen , so the absence or low ranking of a great movie will most likely indicate that most of us have not seen it yet.  If you have suggestions for films that deserve to be in the Top 100, let us know in the comments below, and we will try to watch them!

We also anticipate that you may think, “How can that movie be listed in the Top 100?” If you disagree with our rankings, please comment below! We love discussing movies, so we welcome your thoughts and criticisms.

So, without further ado, we present numbers 100-91 of our Top 100 Films: 

Lars Van Trier wants to show us the paradox of mental illness. During Part One, one easily judges that Justine has mental problems, and that Claire is perfectly normal. Claire is level headed and tries to make the evening run smoothly. She planned and ran this elaborate wedding party, while Justine seems incapable of even simply going through the motions. In Part Two however, the roles reverse, as the planet Melancholia draws nearer to Earth Claire becomes less and less capable of rationality while Justine calmly embraces the inevitable. Who is crazy then? Who has mental illness? She who is calm and organized during a frivolous, meaningless formality or she who is calm and collected at the possible destruction of all living? Read the Cinemavens' review of Melancholia here.

What a twist! “The Sixth Sense” arguably contains one of the most surprising twists in cinematic history, but that is only one element that makes this film superior to other modern thrillers and ghost stories. M. Night Shyamalan masterfully maintains a cold, moody, and suspenseful tone throughout “The Sixth Sense” and peppers the film with brief moments of horror to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Haley Joel Osment also deserves special mention. Child actors tend to be the “kiss of death” for many films due to their inexperience, but Osment delivers a superb and believable performance in "The Sixth Sense.” Too bad we haven’t seen much from this talented actor since this film.

"Fiddler on the Roof" combines relatable and likable characters, incredible musical numbers, powerful and universal themes, and an epic story in the cold of Tsarist Russia to be arguably the greatest film adaptation of a Broadway musical. The film has an ensemble of great characters, but the movie is anchored by Chaim Topol’s perfect performance as the brash, struggling Tevye, who finds himself torn between his love for his family, his traditions, and the increasingly dynamic and dangerous political climate of the time.

"Traffic" is a complex, multi-layered film with a great ensemble cast ranging from Michael Douglas to Benicio Del Toro to Katherine Zeta-Jones. It is constantly surprising and even shocking, with a pronounced style and solid acting all around.

"Gandhi" is a film that appropriately takes its time to fully explore the life of the titular character. Who but Ben Kingsley could embody this remarkable man with poise, grace, and spirit, allowing viewers to experience a characterization that offers not only depth, but a natural sincerity as well?

"A Clockwork Orange," directed by Stanley Kubrick, is a film about extreme violence and cultural decay. Inspired by the satire in the 60’s and 70’s on crime and punishment, "A Clockwork Orange" is set in futuristic England where a gang of teenagers get high and run around the town finding people to fight and harass. The leader of this group is caught after killing someone and is then “treated” to abhor violence of any type. This film slowly draws the viewer in with its atmosphere, music, and the disturbing question of what will happen next. Kubrick uses amazing juxtaposition of ultraviolence and calmness to create an in-depth look at how society deals with violence and how we treat it.

Not only did "Raiders of the Lost Ark" introduce Indiana Jones, one of the most iconic characters to appear on the big screen, but it also stands among the greatest action-adventure movies ever filmed.  We follow Jones from thick jungles filled with booby traps, to the snow-capped Himalayas in Nepal, to the Egyptian desert as he races to discover the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. The exotic destinations and characters, witty humor, enthralling action, and Jones’ charming machismo (i.e., pure awesomeness) in “Raiders” establish the film as the epitome of escapism.

"The Philadelphia Story" is easily one of the top movies of 1940.  It features an all-star cast: Oscar nominee Katherine Hepburn for Best Lead Actress, Oscar nominee Ruth Hussey for Best Supporting Actress, and Oscar winner James Stewart for Best Actor.  Even though he was snubbed by the Academy, Cary Grant still delivered a superb performance.  Combine these with an Oscar winning script, and you’re in for a real treat.  With all three main male characters falling for the same girl, you don’t know how it finishes until the very end.  Movies like this remind us of what romantic comedies should be: light, romantic and quick-witted.  Some lines give it a slight hint of a screw-ball comedy, but the audience is never distracted from the film's true romantic nature.  Romantic comedies today are so predictable and boring, thus making this movie a must-see for all generations.  

"Network’s" themes of dehumanization, insanity, and corporate exploitation along with insights of human nature are impeccably elucidated by an ensemble of excellent acting, so excellent, in fact, that the movie won five acting Oscars. The movie is also incredibly ironic and darkly funny; and it contains some of the best rants ever heard on screen. We love a good rant, especially when the time we live in is so chaotic and political; and frankly we're sick of it all too. “I’m a human being goddamn it, my life has value! I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

All the elements of "Apollo 13" come together seamlessly under Ron Howard's solid direction. The drama is handled with realism and a fitting level of intensity, combining historical accuracy with cinematic excitement.

What did you think of our list so far? Feel free to comment below or on our Facebook page! 

Next week we will unveil numbers 81-90 in our Top 100, so please stay tuned! Also, if you missed our recent reviews of "War Horse" and "Iron Lady," be sure to read them by clicking on their links. 

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