The Top 100: 80-61; Chapter 2: The Next Chapter

so that all was a lot more fun than i anticipated it being... so fuck it, i'm ahead of schedule here, but full steam ahead.

80. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) - 71% on RT, 8.1 (#189) on IMDB

take everything i wrote about "Snatch." earlier, and combine a slightly better story. and boom, you've got a slightly better film. quintessential guy ritchie. it's smart, it's sleek, it's stylized, it's brutal, and it's funny as hell. there aren't too many caper films with "laugh out loud" moments. the story follows a group of london friends who fall into debt with the wrong people and the consequences therein. it doesn't stop, make sure you watch it sober, b/c it can be hard to follow... there's a lot going on, but it's worth it. there's always something new, no matter how many times you watch it. that, my friends, is the hallmark of a great film.


79. Terminator 2 (1991) - 100% on RT, 8.5 (#61) on IMDB

Terminator was a great film. this is an amazing film. like i said earlier, james cameron completely changed the game with this one. it came out in 1991, and the effects are on par with pretty much that's been made sense. edward furlong is completely believable as the 12 year old john connor, and linda hamilton does "bat shit crazy" pretty damn well. the governator in his greatest role, and the T-1000 is fucking terrifying. watch this film, you won't check your watch once. now of course, effects alone don't make a film great, and cameron never fails to disappoint w/ his characterization. the first R-rated film i ever saw, and just a fucking great movie.


78. Swingers (1996) - 76% on RT, 7.7 on IMDB

the above clip says it all. i love movies that appreciate what they are and don't try to do too much. swingers knows exactly what it is, and excells at it. jon favreau writes and stars as a nice guy who recently left NY for LA and left his longtime girlfriend behind. vince vaughn (either on coke or pre-mcdonald's habit - as he's about 100 lbs lighter) in the role that made him a star, is utterly hilarious, as the smooth-talking clown best friend T. they, and others, look for love and a good time in the nightlife of LA, and have completely believable and hilarious interactions and adventures along the way. is it dated? sure... who has answering machines anymore? but the interactions and feelings involved are 100% authentic. "Vegas baby! Vegas!"


77. The Last King of Scotland (2006) - 87% on RT, 7.8 on IMDB

the tagline says it all: Charming. Magnetic. Murderous. the film that won forrest whitaker oscar gold. james mcavoy (in a star-making turn) plays a young scottish doctor who decides he's fed up with life in the UK and decides to see the world. a point on a spin of the globe sends him to uganda, and a twist of fate forever links him to a military dictator named idi amin. the terror, madness, paranoia and brutality of amin's regime, as well as his personal charisma are witnessed from the inside by an outsider in a truly rewarding commentary on the human condition and one of the 20th century's most brutal dictators. terrifically acted and executed.


76. The Prestige (2006) - 75% on RT, 8.4 (#83) on IMDB

There are three parts to a magic trick. The Pledge, the Turn, and the Prestige. Chris Nolan, one of the best in the game today, brings a film that plays out like a magic trick to life. christian bale, per usual, brings his A game, the underrated hugh jackman is more than adequate, michael caine is outstanding, and david bowie is an unexpected surprise as the mad genius nicola tesla. this is a tale of a friendship that becomes a rivalry that becomes an obsession that takes over two mens' lives and ultimately destroys them both. utterly transfixing.


75. Cinderella Man (2005) - 80% on RT, 8.0 on IMDB

A true modern classic. sentimental? sure. but the tale of james braddock, a washed-up former boxer who ends up on welfare during the depression and makes the most of his last chance, becoming a hero to the struggling working class in the process, is a great one, and ron howard gives it its just deserts. in my opinion, the best boxing movie since raging bull. i firmly believe that if russell crowe hadn't thrown a phone at a hotel bellboy and fought around the world with tugger, he would have taken home another statue for this one. paul giamati and (the usually obnoxious) renee zellweger are also terrific. if you don't have tears in your eyes at the end of this one, you don't have a heart.


74. The Constant Gardener (2005) - 84% on RT, 7.7 on IMDB

a british diplomat in mourning uncovers a conspiracy that claimed the life of his beloved wife, and goes far deeper than anyone could have imagined. a powerful commentary on multinational corporations, the pharmaceutical industry and western attitudes to africa, through its characterization this film manages to be so much more. rachel weisz brought home a best supporting oscar for her sweet but fiery portrayal of tessa quayle, and the always great ralph fiennes gives a terrific, subtle and nuanced performance as her quiet husband who gets sprung into action. a truly beautiful film, with gorgeous cinematography, a great love story, and terrific acting. if you haven't seen this film, please do so immediately.


73. JFK (1991) - 84% on RT, 8.0 on IMDB

completely engrossing, oliver stone delivers a terrific film, turning a piece of americana into a thriller/mystery. an absolutely STACKED cast does not disappoint, and you become engrossed in garrison's (costner) paranoia. whatever you think about the kennedy assassination, the theories about which have taken on a life of its own, this film will make you think (even if certain liberties were taken). the fact that it's an outstanding film just adds to the whole thing.


72. V for Vendetta (2005) - 73% on RT, 8.2 (#170) on IMDB

in the near future, america has fallen, and britain stands under a right wing fascist totalitarian government. against this government fights a product of its horrors, a vigilante who commits acts of terrorism in a campaign to topple the regime that quashes individual liberty and personal choice in favor of peace and order. do you realize the balls it took to make and release a film with a sympathetic viewpoint to terrorism just 3 years after 9/11? only the wachowski's could pull it off. and pull it off they did. while i haven't read the source material, i don't need to. i love this film.


71. The Wrestler (2008) - 97% on RT, 8.5 (#71) on IMDB

probably the best "sports movie" i've ever seen, although sports are really incidental to everything that's going on with this film. remember earlier when i said i appreciated films that knew what they were and didn't try to do too much? well here you go. this film knows EXACTLY who and what it is, and just puts it out there. it's stripped down, simple, raw, and incredible. one of the best 3 or 4 performances i've ever seen.. it's truly a crime that mr. rourke didn't take home oscar gold. this much i do know, people will remember mickey rourke for this role, and you should too.


70. Mystic River (2003) - 87% on RT, 8.0 (#236) on IMDB
(forgive the arabic subtitles)
Clint Eastwood has crafted a modern american classic with this one, as he's been liable to do over the last decade or so. a simply haunting film that will stay with you. an incident happens to three young boston friends that changes their lives forever. the murder of one of their daughters 30 years later brings them back together. an engrossing film. there's a reason why it took home both acting statues.


69. In Bruges (2008) - 80% on RT, 8.1 (#202) on IMDB

like dark comedies? i've got one for you... the best film of 2008 that no one saw or even really knows about. it's been on HBO lately, check it. a tale of two hitmen told to lay low "in bruges" after one of them accidentally kills a child. hilarity ensues. filled with witty, inane banter, it manages to skate the "guy ritchie" line i was talking about earlier, where people are dying and serious shit is going on, but you're still laughing your ass off. has room for a nice little love story too. colin farrell resurrects his career. another film that knows exactly what it is, and excels its ass off at being just that. damn near a perfect film... personally, i can't wait to see what martin mcdonagh's career will bring us.


68. Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - 96% on RT, 8.5 (#70) on IMDB

A twisted, creepy as hell fairy tell for grown-ups set in a little girl's imagination while her brutal stepfather fights spanish rebels during WW2 in spain. the creator of the hellboy films brings the twisted creatures of his imagination to light once more in a truly beautiful film. this film succeeds in twisting and bending genres, and bringing a beautiful story to light. see it, even if you will be a little creeped out.


67. The Verdict (1982) - 96% on RT, 7.7 on IMDB

one of paul newman's best performances. maybe i've always been partial to this film b/c of my choice of career paths, but newman's character's path to redemption is an endearing one. a once promising attorney, reduced to ambulance chasing and alcoholism, gets one last chance to prove himself and do some good. in my opinion, the best courtroom drama of all time. you literally cannot take your eyes off of newman when he's on screen. RIP paul, you were one of the best.


66. Back to the Future (1985) - 96% on RT, 8.3 (#101) on IMDB

a crackpot mad genius in 1985 inadvertently sends his friend marty back to 1955, family craziness and some legitimately sweet moments ensue. marty mcfly, doc brown, biff tannen, george mcfly, creepy oedipus-like mother-son scenes. i'm talking about, of course, a childhood favorite of mine and a film that continues to stand up despite its inherent silliness, Back to the Future. it manages to successfully straddle the line between serious and silly that so many films fail to capture.



65. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou - 52% (ouch!) on RT, 7.2 on IMDB

wholly unique. wes anderson's most ambitious film to date... i have never seen a film as hit or miss as this one. i, of course, am obsessed with it, and find it has something new to offer every time i watch it, but i've watched this film with wes anderson fans who think it blows chunks. there's something brilliant about that. an egotistical, fading, immature, increasingly irrelevant jacques cousteau character loses his best friend, meets a man who may or may not be his son and sets out on one last quest after the shark that ate his friend with his (not-so) loyal crew, a bond company stooge, and a pregnant english reporter in tow. it's laugh-out-loud hilarious at times, has an amazing soundtrack, a terrific cast (cate blanchett never fails to deliver) and several legitimately sweet moments. one of the only films i know that makes me laugh hard and cry hard. there's something to be said for that.


64. Fight Club (1999) - 81% on RT, 8.8 (#21) on IMDB

fight club changed my life. i think if you talk to most men of around my age, they'll say the same thing. a great book, an incredible film. wholly original, stylish, sleek, smart, serious and at the same time fun as hell. something about fight club taps into the root of young men, and doesn't let go. supremely cynical, and offering a brand new way of looking at the world, i've watched this film at least 100 times, and i get something new out of it every time.


63. Collateral (2004) - 86% on RT, 7.7 on IMDB

classic michael mann. stripped down dialogue, sharp sets, great use of rock music to highlight his scenes. one night, in a cab, in LA. tom cruise is terrific as a ruthless hit man on a mission, and jamie foxx is perfect as the unwitting cabby brought into it all. this film has a lot to offer, and i feel that its extremely underrated.


62. Patton (1970) - 97% on RT, 8.1 (#220) on IMDB

there's a reason why this film brought home a boatload of oscars. it features one of the best performances i've ever seen. george c. scott becomes general patton, the greatest american field commander of the second world war, and a true american icon. beloved by his troops like no leader of the 20th century while being punished for berating and striking them, general patton's life is a study in contradictions. a fitting salute to an american icon. they just don't make 'em like george patton anymore.


61. Twelve Monkeys (1995) - 87% on RT, 8.1 (#188) on IMDB

what a terrific sci-fi film. bruce willis is sent back from 2035 to find the source of a man-made plague that wipes out most of humanity. but this is no typical sci-fi time-traveling thriller.. you feel the disorientating impact that the time jump has had on cole and the plot twists leave you utterly transfixed. if you can keep up, this film has a lot to offer. a true modern classic. probably brad pitt's best acting performance as well.. he scares the shit out of me.


there's part two. expect part three this weekend.