"What did you do this summer?" I hate that question. In the less than twenty-four hours I've been on campus I've been asked that countless times. Normal college students will find themselves spending their summer working, interning, or building orphanages overseas. I tried, and failed, to find a job, so that's fun to point out. I'm not motivated enough to apply for an internship or to leave my home and family for the summer, so I did the next best thing: I tore through my irritatingly long list of must-see movies.
I'm a bit of a fanatic about movies, so if I hear a personal or professional recommendation several times over it goes on the list. This summer I managed to fit in 74 (!) movies in between my family time and summer classes. That's either pretty impressive or pretty pathetic. Maybe a little of both.
The following is a list of all 74 movies ranked from what I thought was the greatest to the least impressive. The time frame is from the day my last final ended (May 8th) until the first day of classes, today, and all the movies listed I had seen for the first time. Some are classics, some are brand new, most are in-between. Some I rented on my own and others I watched with family or friends.
I only included those that I watched in their entirety, there were several that I simply couldn't or wouldn't finish. I've included a blurb on each of a description of the movie or an explanation as to why it's placed there.
Read it, disagree with it, or just look at the pictures:
1. All That Jazz (1979)
Bob Fosse (a writer, director, and choreographer of the original Broadway production of Chicago) wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical drama about a Broadway choreographer's decline in health. As the protagonist loses his physical well-being, as well as his sense of reality, the genre of the film shifts to a full-out musical, transforming those closest to him into entertainers in a spectacular psychological and dreamlike sequence. It features one of the greatest movie endings I have ever seen.
2. Mulholland Drive (2001)
Mulholland Drive is David Lynch's masterpiece (keeping in mind that I have not yet seen Blue Velvet) and Naomi Watt's breakout as a bright eyed actress freshly arriving in her aunt's LA home to find a woman with a purse-full of cash and a mysterious blue key but suffering from amnesia. I rented this after reading that it was the only American film of the 2000s to appear regularly on movie critics "all time greatest" lists. It's very confusing, but more than that it's exciting and captivating. Every part of this film feels magical and it's not hard to see where the acclaim is coming from.
3. Kicking and Screaming (1995)
Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Fracnes Ha) makes his directional debut with this witty portrait of college graduates adapting to life after education. Many can't help but stay where they're comfortable, but their exchanges become the meat of the film. Hilarious and deeply relateable for anyone who has ever been a college student.
4. The Ice Storm (1997)
The focus of this drama is two families over Thanksgiving in the middle of, you guessed it, an ice storm. The characters deal with infidelity, coming of age, political stance, and grief. It's fascinating and moving, and worth seeing alone for the young and inspired performances by Toby Maguire, Christina Ricci, and Elisha Wood.
5. The Departed (2006)
The Departed is one of the most exciting thrillers made in the past decade. In my opinion, it is the most exciting thriller made in the past decade. I'm baffled that it took this long for me to watch it. If I had not known who Scorsese was, I may still have not seen it. The Japanese film it's based on, Internal Affairs, has moved to the top of my must-see list.
6. Kill Bill vol 2 (2004)
I watched both of the Kill Bills for the first time this summer, and though I loved both, the second part gets the edge here mostly because of the emotional stakes involved, but also because of the awesome eye-snatching and snake stashing. You finally discover the depth of The Bride's motives (and her name!) and understand the urgency to Kill Bill. Also... you meet Bill!
7. Cloud Atlas (2012)
Many complain that it's a mess, to me it's a beautiful mess. I love the overlapping stories, whether it's Halle Berry's motivated reporter from the 1970's, a cloned waitress rising to her purpose or Tom Hanks' uneducated tribesman. It's long, but the stories and the music seamlessly intertwine to make a powerful experience.
8. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
If you missed this one shame on you. This delightful quirky comedy swept the awards (Nominations for Best Actress, Actor, Supporting Actor and Actress, Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, etc.) and for good reason, it's simply irresistible. And hilarious.
9. Victor Victoria (1982)
Julie Andrews plays Victoria, a down and out singer who can only get a job once she pretends to be a man... pretending to be a woman. "Victor" becomes sensational as a drag performer, and James Garner is great playing a gangster who finds himself attracted to this performer and will go to great lengths to prove Victor's true femininity. I was apprehensive about this movie, but its hilarious and so much fun.
10. Kill Bill (2003)
The Kill Bills were the last of the Tarantino movies l had left to see (as of the release of Django). Aside from Inglorious Bastards, I watched all of his films within one month's time. Kill Bill was much more magnificent than I had expected, it's essential Tarantino. The ending action sequence is long, but you've got a great Tarantino villain in the dangerous Gogo.
11. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
This was the last Wes Anderson movie I had left to watch (as of the release of Moonrise Kingdom), and being a huge Wes Anderson fan, I was very excited. This comic and moving story of three brothers on a trip to India to find themselves exceeded my expectations. After Rushmore and Tenenbaums, this is probably my third favorite of Anderson's. I was particularly fond of Anjelica Huston's portrayal of the mother that abandoned her sons to live in an Indian convent. Bill Murray and Natalie Portman play small but endearing roles.
12. Death Proof (2007)
This was the first movie I watched on summer break. The week of my finals I had watched Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and Jackie Brown all for the first time, so by the time I got home I was eager to check out whatever Tarantino my library had to offer. Death Proof (Half of the Grindhouse feature along with Planet Terror) is known for being the least loved within the Tarantino fanbase but I adored it. It's a classic Tarantino revenge flick about a group of thrill-seeking young women who stand up against a killer of women.
13. Upstream Color (2013)
Shane Carruth is the man. He wrote, produced, directed, edited, scored, and starred in two sensational low budget but high concept films. Upstream Color is his sophomore voyage after the mind bending time travel drama Primer. In Upstream, Carruth plays one of two individuals who are left to rebuild their lives after falling prey to an elaborate theft. This movie is a splendid dose of science fiction that incorporates biology in a fascinating way.
14. Trainspotting (1996)
I caved and watched the film adaptation of Trainspotting after trying, and failing, to read the book (I just couldn't get past the written phonetics). When watching this tale of Irish youth, I realized that I was enjoying the movie far more than I would imagine myself enjoying the book. That said, I do plan to read the book one day now that I've familiarized myself with this story. I was very pleased with the aesthetics in the film, bravo Danny Boyle.
15. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
The hilarity of this movie endues today, or maybe I just have a dated sense of humor. Regardless this was one of the funniest movies I have seen in recent years and the characters were exceptional, especially Keven Kline's Otto. I was surprised at the boldness of the humor without venturing into terribly raunchy territory (He ate the fish!), something that is rare today. This is one for the books, and I will be checking out the unofficial sequel (or as the creator calls it, the "equal") shortly.
16. The Legend of 1900 (1998)
I watched this gem on the recommendation of a friend. I had never heard of it before, but I take his recommendations very seriously. This fabulous story is of a man named 1900 (Tim Roth) who is born on an immigrant ship and never steps foot on dry land. He also happens to be an exceptional piano player, better than the inventor of Jazz himself! The world will never really know his talent because he refuses to leave the ship. This movie had some corny parts, but it plays out like a fairy tale, and is ultimately irresistible.
17. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Hayao Miyazaki, the man behind such anime masterpieces as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, shows his greatest storytelling talent in one of his earlier pieces. My Neighbor Totoro tells the story of two girls who move to the Japanese countryside and befriend a spirit in the woods called Totoro. This is a magical coming of age tale that blends mysticism with reality, set to gorgeous Japanese music and exquisite hand-drawn animation.
18. Being There (1979)
This charming movie tells the story of a gardener named Chance who is burdened (or as the movie may make the case, blessed) with a simple mind, one that may be called a disability today. When Chance's master dies and he is forced to leave the confines of his garden, he encounters the world for the first time where he is treated as a sort of modern-day prophet. The film has some religious parallels that give it enough profundity to be genuinely special.
19. Sunset Blvd (1950)
Sunset Blvd follows a young Hollywood writer who finds himself at the manor of Norma Desmond, a wealthy washed-up actress. She lures him into looking at a screenplay she wrote for her big comeback and attaches herself to him, hungry for attention. It's a dark story of loss and jealousy with great moments of intrigue.
20. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
One genre of film that I've never cared for is the biopic. I don't find movies based on real renown people appealing. The Assassination of Jesse James is not strictly a biopic since it was adapted from a novel so I was eager to see it. Also I had heard great things about the film. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck both give outstanding performances as Jesse James and Robert Ford. Had the roles been cast differently the film would have been significantly less interesting. Bonus points for the inclusion of the lovely ladies Mary-Louise Parker and Zooey Deschanel.
21. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Eighty percent of this movie is an engaging drama about a husband and wife drifting apart and the other twenty percent is just about the creepiest thing you've ever seen, escalating the stakes of the movie to someplace dangerous. The "party" sequence is dreamlike, or nightmarish would be more accurate, and like waking from a dream you slip back into the marital drama once again. It's thrilling and there's nothing else quite like it.
22. The Exorcist (1973)
By the time I actually got around to watching The Exorcist, I had seen the key scenes reenacted and spoofed enough that they didn't come as much of a shock as a first time viewer should have. That said, there were some frightening sequences. Strangely enough I thought the scariest moment was the desecration of the Virgin Mary, as well as that face that keeps popping out of the darkness. The rest of the film was quite solid and overall I was very impressed.
23. In the Mood for Love (2000)
This wonderful Japanese film is about two neighbors during the 60s, a man and woman, who discover that their spouses have started seeing each other. Instead of confronting their spouses, our protagonists talk, go out for noodles, and write a kung-fu novel together. They become friends (or is it something more?) and it's truly a wonderful thing to watch.
24. Fargo (1996)
This Best Picture winner focuses on a string of crime in the town of Fargo, North Dakota and the charming heavily-accented pregnant police chief (Frances McDormand) that investigates it. A hilarious related subplot involves William H. Macy hiring crooks to kidnap his wife.
25. The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Dude. This was hilarious and a lot more cohesive that I thought it would be (for some reason I had it in my mind that The Big Lebowski was some kind of psychological comedy?). The highlight was, surprisingly Jon Goodman. The narrator was a nice touch.
26. True Romance (1993)
Two bright-eyed movie-loving kids fall in love with each other and try to clean out their messy lives so that they can start fresh together. Unfortunately, their problems multiply when they accidentally get their hands on a suitcase full of drugs. Tarantino wrote the script for this one which reveals why it's such a likable film. The late great James Gandolfini makes a memorable turn in a scene difficult to watch and Gary Oldman plays an over-the-top druglord.
27. Ghost World (2001)
Most comic books adapted into movies are either about superheros or Scott Pilgrim. Ghost World, on the other hand, focuses on two girls fresh from high school graduation. They are unsure what they want to do with their lives but that isn't really a problem. All they care about is bothering the locals and getting an apartment. Thora Birch rocks as eccentric Enid and a young Scarlett Johanson plays the slightly more square Rebecca. Together they are a hilarious force to be reckoned with, but as their individual priorities change their friendship is tested.
28. All of Me (1984)
All of Me is a movie that sounds lousy on paper, but with the right actor and actress it soars. Lily Tomlin plays a wealthy invalid who hires an Indian sorcerer to transfer her spirit into the young and healthy body of her gardener's daughter. Steve Martin is the skeptical lawyer sent to oversee her affairs and the body that her soul is accidentally transferred into. Tomlin controls half of the body and Martin controls the other. Hilarity ensues.
29. Nashville (1975)
With Nashville I fell in love with the work of director Robert Altman. This ensemble portrait of a few days in Music City looks as genuine as an extremely well-done documentary. The music is wonderful and the people behind it are hopeful, selfish, and brutal.
30. Rust and Bone (2012)
Marion Cotillard is exceptional in every role she plays. In this French film, she is an Orca trainer who falls into her tank and has both legs bitten off. The rest of the movie is her coming to terms with her newly handicapped body through the help of a newfound friendship with a vagabond underground boxer. The acting is sublime and the story is moving, don't let the language barrier keep you from enjoying this one.
31. What Ever Happened To Baby Jane (1962)
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, two actresses with a real-life rivalry, star as sisters in this disturbing tale of jealously and abuse. Both put so much into their roles, I don't know how this film isn't more iconic in today's culture.
32. Natural Born Killers (1994)
This controversial movie is a modern Bonnie and Clyde where a young couple on a killing spree become adored by the media as celebrities. It had a lot of the same spirit as True Romance. Very artfully done.
33. The Wicker Man (1973)
A Christian cop investigates a young girl's disappearance on an island overtaken by a pagan cult. The behavior of the islanders is disturbing in its own right, but the twist ending is a horrifying shock. A quiet but effective (and good!) horror movie.
34. Run Lola Run (1998)
Lola gets a call from her boyfriend. He is in trouble and he needs to obtain $100,000 within twenty minutes. Lola does not know how or where she will get this money, but she starts to run. When the clock runs out and Lola fails, she returns to checkpoint A, just like a character in a video game. Then Lola runs again, a little wiser and a little faster. This German film boasts a simple formula and packs a lot of thrill.
35. Mean Streets (1973)
Scorsese's breakout film set in New York's organized crime world also features a young Robert DeNiro as loose canon Johnny Boy. Fascinating as each artist's introduction to the world, this film is also a gem in its own right.
36. The Red Shoes (1948)
Decades before The Black Swan, The Red Shoes blurred the lines between ballet and reality. It's central dance sequence is a visually striking fantasy. It's a must see for any lover of dance but will be enjoyed immensely by any film lover.
37. Schindler's List (1993)
One of Spielberg's great masterpieces (perhaps the Spielberg masterpiece?) is the greatest Holocaust film I've ever seen. The shower scene at Auschwitz is one of the most genuinely frightening moments in all of cinema. The sentimental ending is particularly powerful.
38. The Great Gatsby (2013)
I'm a big fan of Baz Lurhman as well as F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel so I was plenty excited for The Great Gatsby to happen. I loved the soundtrack, even Lana Del Rey's "Young and Beautiful" that seemed to play fifteen separate times throughout the film. I was pleased with the finished product, but the film didn't exceed my expectations, which made it a slight disappointment.
39. Trading Places (1983)
This comedic masterpiece with an irresistible cast is worth watching if only for seeing Dan Aykroyd in blackface. Eddie Murphy and Jamie Lee Curtis play equally offensive stereotypes but all in good fun.
40. Argo (2012)
2013's Best Picture winner tells the true story of a thrilling rescue mission disguised as a science fiction movie. The last few minutes will leave you breathless.
41. Ginger & Rosa (2012)
Elle Fanning shines in her role as Ginger, a politically active young girl whose relationship with her best friend Rosa is tested when one starts a romantic relationship with the other's father.
42. Annie Hall (1977)
Woody Allen's most acclaimed film is fantastic. I'm not as in love with it as most people are, but I found it hilarious and irresistible. Diane Keaton is magnetic as the titular Annie.
Poltergeist was one of the scariest movies I've seen in recent years. I'm a little embarrassed to say so, since it's considered a family-friendly horror movie, but it's true. It is also refreshingly free of vulgarity.
44. The Intoucables (2011)
This film made a large splash in Europe but not many people have seen it here in North America (probably because it's in French). The Intouchables is a great crowdpleaser. It tells the true story of a wealthy quadraphonic who forms an unlikely friendship with the unusual caregiver he hires. Its touching and hilarious. It would be difficult to not it.
45. The Sessions (2012)
This touching yet provocative Oscar darling tells the story of a man paralyzed from the neck down who works with a sex surrogate so that he can lose his virginity. It's often sad, and surprisingly funny, but is an undisputed emotional journey.
46. To The Wonder (2012)
Terrence Malick's followup to The Tree of Life lacks the profundity of his last film but captures the same humanity and sweeping imagery. Like any Malick film, it requires patience.
47. Best in Show (2000)
I watched two of Christopher Guest's mockumentaries this summer, Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman, and of the two I thought this came up stronger. There was less madness than Guffman and stronger laughs. Jane Lynch and Jennifer Coolidge were a very welcome addition to the cast.
The Shining is often considered in the elite of horror movies (and often of all movies), and while I don't dispute its quality I couldn't consider it to even be in the top three horror movies I watched this summer. It had some scary moments ("All work and no play...") and I thought the premise was wonderful. The movie just seemed to drag at parts and the payoff was a little less than I had expected.
49. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
I was never a huge fan of Disco or the Bee Gees so I wasn't too excited to see Saturday Night Fever. To my surprise it wasn't just the Dirty Dancing of the 70's but had some substantial drama elements that were totally believable. Bravo.
50. Spring Breakers (2012)
Another interesting drama disguised as a cheap party flick. It proved to be one of the more interesting crime dramas in recent memory. The scene with Britney Spears' "Everytime" was particularly fantastic.
When does it become apparent that Dr Strangelove is a comedy? Some may catch on right away while it might take until after the film is over for others to realize, that's what makes this dark, dark comedy so ingenious. The subject is, of course, nuclear war, and the ending is, well, explosive.
52. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Christopher Guest writes, directs, and stars in this mockumentary about a local theater troupe who hear that a NYC theater critic named Guffman will be attending the premier of their new musical. Hilarity ensues.
53. Garden State (2004)
Zach Braff's writing/directional effort had some wonderful moments, most involving Natalie Portman, but I couldn't shake his pretentiousness while watching it. I liked it, a lot perhaps, but not as much as I was supposed to.
54. 9 to 5 (1980)
Three women struggling in the workforce kidnap their oppressive boss. That is the premise of this hilarious 80's romp starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton. The highlight is when Tomlin steals what she believes to be her boss's dead body. Hilarious.
Miyazaki's newest film to reach North America, Arrietty is an adaptation of the beloved story The Borrowers. The film is, often, enchanting. It is rated this low solely for the villain. It seems that in every Miyazaki film there is an unusually ugly woman that plays a distasteful character. The taste of that character in this story was so bad that, for me, she ruined the taste of the whole story.
Robert Altman directs the movie that inspired one of the longest-running series on television The film is hilarious (the funeral scene) and interesting, though I did not find the realism that I expected of Altman.
57. No Country for Old Men (2007)
I found this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel to be boring. There were some great suspenseful parts (the beeper) and by far the greatest aspect was Javier Bardem's flawless villain.
58. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
I wasn't a huge fan of the Star Trek that came into theaters in 2009, I've always been more of a Star Wars guy, but this one looked cool and for the most part it was. I loved the planet in the beginning. If the whole move had taken place there that'd be okay with me.
59. Four Rooms (1995)
I watched this anthology just for the Tarantino-directed adaptation of a Hitchcock skit in the last quarter, which was pretty cool. Overall the film was forgettable, especially the first and third acts. Tim Roth brought some humor to mix but you can't make a good movie from a bad script.
60. Synecdoche, New York (2008)
In the midst of my love affair with Charlie Kaufman's work I found this beyond meta artwork. I had to watch it after hearing the late great Robert Ebert's acclaim for it. It is very possible that this is one of the greatest movies ever made. However, it is such a metaphysical headache that it is impossible for a normal viewer to appreciate. The theme of life imitating art imitating life and so on seem quite profound but, unfortunately, unreachable.
I enjoyed this movie up until the plot started twisting. It asks an interesting question: how accountable are we for our own actions when we are under the influence of prescription medication? The cast was awesome as well: Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Channing Tatum (who plays the one dimensional husband just fine). Some parts were juicy, others aggravating, but overall its an important film in a political spectrum. It's when the agenda shifts from political to personal that the film becomes petty.
62. Blow-Up (1966)
In Blow-Up a fashion photographer captures on film what he believes is a murder. This was recommended to me by a friend and I have since seen it on several critical 'Top 100' lists. The central plot isn't revealed until a good ways into the movie; the beginning is fluffed with insight into the world of European fashion. Interesting, but not for everyone.
63. The Pajama Game (1957)
I hadn't really heard much about this movie when I bought it, I only recognized the title of the musical and Doris Day. Day plays a union leader at a pajama factory who starts a romantic relationship with her new boss. When the rest of her workers demand a raise (and rightly so), her relationship is tested. The songs are catchy and the movie is fun.
64. Warm Bodies (2013)
My brother insisted that we all watch this zombie romance movie that took a comedic turn on the zombie genre. It was much more than "Twilight but with zombies" or any other zombie movie, if only because you left the film with a sense of hope. And it was funny.
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65. Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)
Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones play married best friends who are going though an unusually amicable divorce. Of course, they really can't live without each other. Samberg and Jones are foremost comedic actors, and while they are given some funny material they seem handicapped by the serious script.
66. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
This story about the hunt for Bin Laden was at times very exciting. A good chuck of it, though, left excitement to be desired.
67. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
This would have been higher on my list if it wasn't so, so depressing. A bright eyed simple cowboy moves to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a male prostitute. When he gets there, he is cheated and ridiculed and fights to even survive. He befriends a man who is quite short of being pleasant and the story starts to resemble Of Mice and Men.
68. Cabaret (1972)
I found this musical very strange. Liza Minelli plays a cabaret singer in Germany just as Nazism is growing in popularity. The songs were just okay, with a few exceptions, and the whole thing is very glum. None of the characters ever seem to make a good decision either.
I watched this because of the director (Aronosky), cast (Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weiz), and its similarities to Cloud Atlas, but I didn't get the appeal at all. The premise appealed to me, but the execution came up short. There was too much of an emphasis on a spiritual or supernatural connection. It may require a second viewing, but of the movies I watched this summer, this weighed in near the bottom of the list.
70. Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Morgan Freeman drives around Jessica Tandy. It's about as exciting as it sounds, though a bit more heartwarming.
No, I have never been a fan of the biopic. Nor am I a history aficionado. I found this historical journey agonizingly boring, things got interesting near the end though. I didn't hate this movie, I just expected much more from a Spielberg film.
72. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
The premise for this crowd-pleaser is a handful of retiree strangers run away from their lives and stay in a hotel in India that is less than "The Best." They bond with each other and the local community and I guess find themselves. It's an appealing idea, and the setting of India is very pleasant, but the film is not nearly as wonderful as it thinks it is.
73. Struck By Lightning (2012)
There were some things about this movie that I loved. I loved the premise: a high school student blackmails his peers to contribute to his literary magazine. I loved Rebel Wilson. Otherwise, the script was poor and much of the acting was too. Chris Colfer fell short I thought. Allison Janney and Christina Hendricks were welcome.
74. Idiocracy (2006)
The premise of this comedy is that an ordinary man (Luke Wilson) is the subject of an experiment gone wrong and wakes up 500 years in the future to an over-commercialized and significantly less intelligent world where he learns that he is literally the smartest man on earth. The idea is great, and Maya Rudolph is hilarious as a hooker that is sent to the future alongside him, but the portrayal of our society's direction (similar to its portrayal in Wall-E) was too disturbing for me to truly enjoy the movie. Also the comedy was pretty low level, but I guess that fits the essence of the film.
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