Top 100 Movies of All Time

Below is a list of the top 100 films that the American Film Institute has deemed the best of all time. 

Take a look and see what you think.

How many have you seen?

# MOVIE YEAR 1 CITIZEN KANE 1941 2 THE GODFATHER 1972 3 CASABLANCA 1942 4 RAGING BULL 1980 5 SINGIN' IN THE RAIN 1952 6 GONE WITH THE WIND 1939 7 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 1962 8 SCHINDLER'S LIST 1993 9 VERTIGO 1958 10 THE WIZARD OF OZ 1939 11 CITY LIGHTS 1931 12 THE SEARCHERS 1956 13 STAR WARS 1977 14 PSYCHO 1960 15 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968 16 SUNSET BLVD. 1950 17 THE GRADUATE 1967 18 THE GENERAL 1927 19 ON THE WATERFRONT 1954 20 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946 21 CHINATOWN 1974 22 SOME LIKE IT HOT 1959 23 THE GRAPES OF WRATH 1940 24 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 1982 25 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD 1962 26 MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON 1939 27 HIGH NOON 1952 28 ALL ABOUT EVE 1950 29 DOUBLE INDEMNITY 1944 30 APOCALYPSE NOW 1979 31 THE MALTESE FALCON 1941 32 THE GODFATHER PART II 1974 33 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST 1975 34 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS 1937 35 ANNIE HALL 1977 36 THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI 1957 37 THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES 1946 38 THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE 1948 39 DR. STRANGELOVE 1964 40 THE SOUND OF MUSIC 1965 41 KING KONG 1933 42 BONNIE AND CLYDE 1967 43 MIDNIGHT COWBOY 1969 44 THE PHILADELPHIA STORY 1940 45 SHANE 1953 46 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT 1934 47 A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE 1951 48 REAR WINDOW 1954 49 INTOLERANCE 1916 50 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING 2001 51 WEST SIDE STORY 1961 52 TAXI DRIVER 1976 53 THE DEER HUNTER 1978 54 M*A*S*H 1970 55 NORTH BY NORTHWEST 1959 56 JAWS 1975 57 ROCKY 1976 58 THE GOLD RUSH 1925 59 NASHVILLE 1975 60 DUCK SOUP 1933 61 SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS 1941 62 AMERICAN GRAFFITI 1973 63 CABARET 1972 64 NETWORK 1976 65 THE AFRICAN QUEEN 1951 66 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 1981 67 WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? 1966 68 UNFORGIVEN 1992 69 TOOTSIE 1982 70 A CLOCKWORK ORANGE 1971 71 SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1998 72 THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION 1994 73 BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID 1969 74 THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 1991 75 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT 1967 76 FORREST GUMP 1994 77 ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN 1976 78 MODERN TIMES 1936 79 THE WILD BUNCH 1969 80 THE APARTMENT 1960 81 SPARTACUS 1960 82 SUNRISE 1927 83 TITANIC 1997 84 EASY RIDER 1969 85 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA 1935 86 PLATOON 1986 87 12 ANGRY MEN 1957 88 BRINGING UP BABY 1938 89 THE SIXTH SENSE 1999 90 SWING TIME 1936 91 SOPHIE'S CHOICE 1982 92 GOODFELLAS 1990 93 THE FRENCH CONNECTION 1971 94 PULP FICTION 1994 95 THE LAST PICTURE SHOW 1971 96 DO THE RIGHT THING 1989 97 BLADE RUNNER 1982 98 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942 99 TOY STORY 1995 100 BEN-HUR 1959 Congratulations to our 60th Primetime Emmy Award nominees Outstanding Nonfiction Special Gary Smith, Executive Producer Frederick S. Pierce, Executive Producer for AFI Dann Netter, Producer Bob Gazzale, Producer Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming Barry A. O'Brien, Editor Debra Light, Editor Marlise Malkames, Editor AFI's 100 YEARS...100 MOVIES - 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2007) List of the 400 nominated films with key information on each List of the 100 greatest films with built-in comparison to the 1997 edition Click here to go to the list downloads page

Marilyn, Marilyn, Marilyn

Marilyn Monroe in the movie The Seven Year Itch

--> Although it has been 51 years since her death, Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most iconic movie stars to date. Everyone recognizes her platinum blonde hair and her curvaceous body. In fact a film about her came out in 2012 titled My Week With Marilyn, starring Michelle Williams which highlighted a brief time of her life. Audiences ran to the theater eager to get a glimpse on the fascinating star's life.

 There remains as much fascination today as there was while she was alive. Maybe even more. College students still put posters of her up on their walls. She has 118,573 followers on twitter and Macy’s is even introducing a Marilyn Monroe clothing line. The same cannot be said of any other star of that time.

For an actress who was in Hollywood for a fairly short time, she only starred in 14 movies between 1952 and 1961, it is interesting that she remains such a vibrant icon even after her untimely death. The big question is why? Why does Marilyn Monroe stand out among all the other Hollywood stars of the 20^th century?

Many would argue that Monroe’s image is just that…an image. Born with the name Norma Jean Mortensen, she had brown hair and a troubled life. She spent her childhood going back and forth between foster homes because her mother was mentally unstable.

After being discovered by a photographer, Norma Jean began modeling and found herself on the cover of magazines throughout the country. It is at this time, when she was becoming a star, that she changed her name, died her hair platinum blonde and started making movies.

Monroe started out making films that failed. In fact, many did not believe she was talented enough to make it, but believed her beauty was enough. Her first noteworthy film was Don’t Bother to Knock, in which she ironically played a mentally unstable woman. Her most famous films include Gentleman Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, The Seven Year Itch, Bus Stop and Some Like it Hot. 

One thing that all of these films have in common is not that Marilyn plays the part of a dumb blonde. Rather they all share the whim and energy that Marilyn manages to bring to the screen.

As Bosley Crowtherof the New York Times says of the film Gentleman Prefer Blondes
"There is that about Miss Monroe that keeps you looking at her even when she has little or nothing to do. Call it inherent magnetism. Call it luxurious coquetry. Call it whatever you fancy."

In my opinion, the same can be said for all the other movies mentioned.

Here is what I would like to know. Have Monroe fans today actually watched these movies, or are they fans simply because of the sensation surrounding her?

She became a star virtually over night, she married Joe Dimaggio, and then Arthur Miller. She had an affair with President John F. Kennedy and was investigated multiple times by the FBI. If this is not enough to make her a subject of interest then I don’t know what is. But still, this was decades ago. Why is she still so infatuating today?

This is what I think. Most fans today have not seen her movies. Nevertheless Marilyn Monroe was the first big sex symbol in Hollywood. There was no one like her. She brought something to the screen that made people wonder about the girl behind the breathy voice and curvy body. There was a vulnerability to her that caused people to become interested in who she really was. Since she died at the young age of 36, the image of her as a beautiful, young actress has not been tampered with. We never saw her age, or become anything less than what she appeared to be.

That image of a young, vibrant woman is etched into everyone’s memories, whether or not they have seen her movies or not.

Hitchcock

We’re in a Hitchcock moment. “Hitchcock,” the movie starring Anthony Hopkins, was recently in theaters. “The Girl,” which focused on the directors “thing” for cool blondes, was on HBO. And check out the classic movie channels. There always seems to be a Hitchcock movie showing.

It’s been 37 year since Alfred Hitchcock directed his last movie, “Family Plot.” But I’m not the only one who can’t get enough of him.

Why? Because he made scary movies that were truly frightening without tons of Hollywood blood. 

Today, the idea of not showing a monster or a murder on screen is unheard of. Most people would wonder what's the point of not seeing the horror in a horror movie? But that very idea is what made director, Alfred Hitchcock the master of horror and suspense.

Hitchcock, who was the mastermind behind films such as Psycho, Rear Window, Vertigo, The Birds, North by Northwest and Dial M for Murder, used genius techniques revolutionizing scary movies.

For example in Rear Window he shot the entire movie in one room, using the camera to serve as the eyes of the protagonist, Jimmy Stuart. We only saw what he saw. This caused suspense and made the audience feel as though they were experiencing his situation.

In his most credited film, Psycho, Hitchcock created the famous shower scene. This is one of the most notorious scenes to ever be filmed in cinema's history, and yet we never see the victim (Janet Leigh) get stabbed. We see a knife being brought down to her body, but the camera cuts away before we see the outcome. After three minutes the audience is shown blood running down the drain. Unlike horror movies today, we can imagine what happened but we will never see it.

Critic Bill Gibron said "Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho set the standard and post-modern horror has been hobbling to catch up ever since."

The decision not to show the actual stabbing is not the result of 20th century cinema values. The effect of cutting away before we see the stabbing is a method of suspense and horror. It makes viewers never want to take a shower again. The camera cuts and angles make it appear as if the camera is our eyes in that horrific situation. The viewer feels as if they are in that shower.

"All those who still get a chill every time they step into a hotel shower, say aye. That, you see, is the power of Psycho." said critic Mary Elizabeth Williams of Salon.com. 

The planning and filming of Psycho are appreciated and depicted in the 2012 movie Hitchock. 

The sad truth is, that we rarely see this methods in today's scary movies. The directors of recent films such as Cabin in the Woods and Silent Hill seem to believe that as long as blood, guts, monsters and murder are on screen, the audience will be scared and entertained. Rather than build suspense and keep the audience on the edge of their seats, the graphic pictures are enough to entertain and satisfy today's audience.

Today's movies rely on graphic images rather than nail biting, edge of your seat suspense. This may be enough to satisfy some people, but not me. There has to be some sort of build up to all the horror, otherwise it becomes repetitive.

Here is the infamous shower scene in Psycho. Try not to be scared the next time you take a shower.

Why "Argo" Won Best Picture

The 85th Academy Awards named Ben Affleck's, Argo best picture of the year. While this Oscar was well deserved, it did not come as a surprise to me based on past winners.

Many factors are considered when determining this award, and it is not box office success or popular actors that decide the winner. If you look at past winners and their competition, it is clear that the award does not always go to the best picture, but the picture that reflects what society values at that time.

I am not suggesting that Argo did not deserve to win. Not at all. But for those who are confused about how this film made its way up and crushed films like Les Miserables and Lincoln, let me voice my opinion.

Aside from being a dramatic, deep, emotional and witty movie (a trend at the Oscars year after year), think about the story Argo tells. It's about the joint CIA-Canadian operation to rescue six American diplomatic personnel from Iran in 1980. Even if this plan did not involve something as interesting and sneaky an elaborate fake movie, the historic story is vital as to why the film won.

Foreign affairs is a current “hot topic” in the U.S now. There is a lot of discussion and debate about our relationships with countries, such as Iran. The CIA plan that the movie dramatizes, helps to explain our current relationship with Iran. 

As Denver Post movie critic Lisa Kennedy said

“"Argo" deals with one of the most volatile moments in American foreign affairs in the last 50 years: the storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979. Reverberations from the toppling of the Shah, the rise of the Ayatollahs and the forging of an Iranian theocracy continue to inform the U.S. relationship to Iran and Middle East.”

This film depicts a piece of contemporary history, in which the United States was the hero. This reflects the values that are important today.

The trend of Oscars going to movies reflecting current values has been seen time and again in Hollywood. Perhaps that is why Shakespeare in Love beat the more critically acclaimed movie, Saving Private Ryan in 1998. Maybe society wasn't ready for such a graphic depiction of war so soon after Rwandan genocide and the civil wars in Afghanistan. Maybe they valued a small romantic comedy instead.

Mrs. Minniver won in 1942. A movie about World War II. This shows us that the Academy valued the depiction of the current war. The same is true the following year when Casablanca won.

In 1951, the Academy showed us that after the war, when the country was flourishing, and music and dancing were popular, An American in Paris reflected the mood of the nation more than A Streetcar Named Desire.

The true greatness of the Oscars is not that they tell us what the greatest films are. They convey what society values at the time.

For more examples click here

What the heck happened to musicals?

How did we go from this...

To this...

Gone are the days when a musical required talented singers and dancers. Now all a musical needs is flashy lights, costumes and loud music to drain out the singing voices.

Acting doesn't seem to be a skill needed to star in this genre either. Musical Stars such as Ginger Rogers and Shirley Temple have been recognized as some of the greatest actresses of their time. Today musical stars like Ashley Tisdale and Demi Lavato would do better off at acting school. 

 These days as long as someone has a nice face and can hit a few notes, they are golden. With all the voice modification available, raw talent is not an essential for musicals. 

Not to mention the camera. If you look at an old musical, you will notice that when a performer is dancing, the camera will not leave their sight. There are no dramatic cutaways or different angles. For me, this is good because it lets the viewer see the full routine and appreciate the talent. Moving the camera in every different direction works as a device to create distraction and illusion. 

As Fred Astaire said "Either the camera will dance, or I will."

The songs and their content have changed as well.  For example in the classic musical Singin in the Rain the songs are easy to hear, and articulated well. The dancing and music does not overpower the lyrics. This is far off from most musicals today. For example in the 2010 musical Burlesque, viewers do not even now what the lyrics are saying because they are too busy watching the half naked women singing them. 

Contrary to what people may think, gaudy costumes, pretty faces, and upbeat music is not necessary for the success of a musical. 

Look at the famous scene from Top Hat. It is a simple number, with no superfluous characteristics. There may not be loud singing or sexy costumes, but the incredible talent of Fred Astaire is apparent. In short, that is the point of a musical. 

It's up for you to decide. Below is a clip from the musical Singin in the Rain. Underneath that clip is a song from the musical Burlesque. Notice the differences and see what you think. 

"The Shop Around the Corner" versus "You've Got Mail"

Movie remakes is a controversial subject. Usually the new film doesn't capture the magic of the original. However there are some instances where this is not true.

The remake of the movie "The Shop Around the Corner" is one of those films. In "You've Got Mail" Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan fall in love through email. Many people don't know that this is a remake of the 1940 film titled "The Shop Around the Corner," starring none other than Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan.

Unlike some remakes including "King Kong" and "Guess Who," which are insults to the original, "You've Got Mail" manages to transition the original story to a more modern audience while still keeping the romance, plot and quality of the original.

The original plot follows two co- workers at a small gift shop, who do not like each other. They get annoyed and frustrated with each other on a daily basis. What they don't know is they are actually falling in love. They are each other's anonymous pen pals. They just don't know it.

The 1998 version is more or less the same plot. Only the two lovers do not work together. They are business rivals. And instead of falling in love through letters, they do so through emails.

So the big question is...Which movie is better?

I cannot answer that for everyone. But for me, it's "The Shop Around the Corner." This is a narrow win though. I cannot say that one film is better directed or acted. I cannot even say that I enjoyed one over the other. The difference is the charm that the 1940 movie and its stars have to offer. It's the era. It's classic.

As blogger Dan E. Newton said "You've Got Mail still lacks the otherworldly fantasy that The Shop Around the Corner achieves. I'm still unsure if this is a good thing or not. It is certainly indicative of the era."

The era is the biggest difference of the two movies. If "The Shop Around the Corner" were made in 1998, it would be laughed at because let's face it, no one writes letters anymore. But the fact that "You've Got Mail" managed to keep the story almost exactly the same and still appeal to a 
contemporary audience is a big deal. 

The better movie may not be clear, one might not triumph the other. So the choice is up to individual preference, a rare instance for a remake.

Now check out these lists of worst movie remakes...

 http://www.totalfilm.com/features/50-worst-movie-remakes

http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/worst-horror-movie-remakes-ever-153400642.html

The Original Gangster Squad

With the Oscars just a few weeks away, I thought I'd celebrate a movie that won an Oscar, in fact many Oscars. I'm talking about Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather." This movie snagged the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Director in 1973, along with some other important awards since its debut. 

 The American Film Institute considers this movie, starring the infamous Marlon Brando, as the third best movie of all time.

Now why is this movie so good? Here is my opinion...

Gangster films are timeless. They spark so must interest and captivate audiences. Just look at all the movies  about famous mob bosses, gangs and organized crime. "The Godfather" was made 40 years ago, and gangster movies are still going strong today. 

"The Godfather" is not just any gangster film though. It is extremely well done. The story, in all honesty is nothing too noteworthy, but the details, the camera, the script, the acting and every other aspect is done superbly. 

  As Time Magazine critic Jay Cocks wrote “In its blending of new depth with an old genre, it becomes that rarity, a mass entertainment that is also great movie art.” 

And now a look at "Gangster Squad,"Which opened in January.  It was popular at the box office, but not so much with reviewers. 

"In spite of heavy gun fire, Gangster Squad misses," said Robert Denerstein of Movie Habit. 

You would think that a movie whose plot and genre is similar to the third best movie of all time would be more critically acclaimed. So what's the difference? "Gangster Squad" certainly does not lack a strong leading actor or drama. 
 

In fact while the bulk of gangster Mickey Cohen (played by Sean Penn) in “Gangster Squad” is action based, the bulk of Corleone's actions are talking and negotiating. 

It looks like actions do not always speak louder than words. 

 "The Godfather" is not just a source of entertainment, it's a cinematic masterpiece. 

As critic Roger Ebert said "The screenplay of `The Godfather' follows no formulas except for the classic structure in which power passes between the generations.”

While other wise guys movies like "Gangster Squad" fall back on violence to allegedly  entertain and engage, "The Godfather" turns such scenes into them art. That is the core difference.