At The Movies: Part Three (I Think)
The American Film Institute has updated it's "100 Greatest American Films" list to accommodate the efforts released after their first list was introduced (I've forgotten when that actually was, although I want to say 1998 or so.) So, because I feel like it, I shall post the list here and include in bold those that I've actually seen. The first number in parentheses is obviously the year that the film was released. The second number is where the film fell on the previous version of the list. I've also included my own commentary where appropriate. Special thanks to Edward Copeland's blog, where I found the list to begin with (and where I subsequently stole it from):
1. Citizen Kane (1941) (1) - Hey! Nice sled!
2. The Godfather (1972) (3) - Still don't see what the fuss was about, but I admittedly need to watch it again.
3. Casablanca (1942) (2) - Thought I was gonna hate it. Loved it. Great film.
4. Raging Bull (1980)(24) - THIS is the highest rated Scorcese film? Man, I could think of three others that could take it's place. Still good, though.
5. Singin' in the Rain (1952)(10) - Been awhile. Forgot most of it.
6. Gone With the Wind (1939)(4) - If you're gonna be stupid enough to name a house, why the hell would you pick something as plain as 'Tara?' I'd have gone with Mildred, myself.
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)(5) - Yawn.
8. Schindler's List (1993)(9) - Rewatched it recently. Excellent and powerful... but #8?
9. Vertigo (1958)(61) - NOT to be trifled with. My man Alfred is all over this list. Incidentally, I'd have swapped this with Rear Window, further down.
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939)(6) - Take a hit and then start 'Dark Side' at the third roar of the MGM lion, dude.
11. City Lights (1931)(76)
12. The Searchers (1956)(96) - Hope they found it.
13. Star Wars (1977)(15) - What can you get a wookie for Christmas (when he already owns a comb?) - Track #4
14. Psycho (1960)(18) - Coming, mother!
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)(22) - Another artsy fartsy film that I thought would suck, but ended up loving. Paved the way for all space related sci-fi to come.
16. Sunset Boulevard (1950)(12)
17. The Graduate (1967)(7)
18. The General (1927)
19. On the Waterfront (1954)(8) - Have it at home from Netflix now. Will probably watch it tomorrow.
20. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)(11) - Mah mouth's bleedin', Burt! Mah mouth's bleedin! Should be #1 - no question.
21. Chinatown (1974)(19)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959)(14) - but they don't know how hot 'til they try! (Bum, Bum! Bum, Bum! Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, BUM!)
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)(21) - Gee Willikers, Martha! Them grapes sure are angry! - I won't watch this until I've read the book, which might happen in 2043.
24. E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)(25) - A tad overrated, but man it rocked my world when I was, like, five.
25. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)(34) - I'm still afraid of Boo Radley, but I LOVE this film.
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)(29)
27. High Noon (1952)(33) - Sounds like college.
28. All About Eve (1950)(16) - Hey! I didn't know porn was allowed on the list.
29. Double Indemnity (1944)(38) - Really, just a plain old indemnity would have sufficed, but I love the noir aspect of it all.
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)(28) - Now? You mean NOW now or 1978 now? Either way, I call bullshit.
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)(23) - Dashiell Hammett. Word.
32. The Godfather Part II (1974)(32) - Think this placement'll cause a riot? Me too.
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)(20)
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)(49) - Grumpy lives.
35. Annie Hall (1977)(31)
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)(13)
37. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)(37)
38. Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)(30) - Blech. Shouldn't have made it at all, much less this high.
39. Dr. Strangelove (1964)(26) - Classic line: Gentleman, you can't fight in here! This is the war room! Love it.
40. The Sound of Music (1965)(55) - The hills are still alive.
41. King Kong (1933)(43)
42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) (27)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)(36)
44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)(51)
45. Shane (1953)(69)
46. It Happened One Night (1934)(35) - Well, that clears things right up.
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)(45) - Sucked. Screw Brando. He's King Shit because he knows how to scream, "Stella!" like a hyena?
48. Rear Window (1954)(42) - Must see, even if it does sound raunchy.
49. Intolerance (1916)
50. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - Wow. Deserving, but I thought this was the worst of the trilogy.
51. West Side Story (1961)(41) - OK, answer me something. When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way from your first cigarette to your last dying day, right? So... is it possible to have a first dying day, then? How 'bout a third?
52. Taxi Driver (1976)(47) - Hell yeah, I'm talkin' to you! SHUT UP!
53. The Deer Hunter (1978)(79)
54. MASH (1970) (56)
55. North by Northwest (1959)(40) - Probably my least favorite Hitchcock film on this list. Good crop dusting scene, though.
56. Jaws (1975)(48) - Gotta plug the Bunnies again.
57. Rocky (1976)(78)
58. The Gold Rush (1925)(74)
59. Nashville (1975)
60. Duck Soup (1933)(85)
61. Sullivan's Travels (1941)
62. American Graffiti (1973)(77)
63. Cabaret (1972)
64. Network (1976)(66)
65. The African Queen (1951)(17)
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)(60)
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) - Will someone tell me what this movie is about, please? I'm sick of hearing about it. Even now.
68. Unforgiven (1992)(98)
69. Tootsie (1982) (62)
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971) (46)
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Never got the credit it deserved. Everyone was too shocked by the first 10 minutes. A FANTASTIC film.
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - My favorite film on the list, and a welcome addition.
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)(50)
74. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)(65) - Everybody do the Buffalo Bill dance!
75. In the Heat of the Night (1967) - Foul Owl on the Prowl! (How many people got that? Raise your hands!)
76. Forrest Gump (1994)(71) - Deah God, make me a bird, so ah kin fly fah. Fah, fah off'n this here list.
77. All the President's Men (1976) - couldn't put Humpty together again.
78. Modern Times (1936)(81)
79. The Wild Bunch (1969)(80)
80. The Apartment (1960)(93)
81. Spartacus (1960) - I, Spartacus! No, I Spartacus! - Oh wait, I mean Claudius
82. Sunrise (1927)
83. Titanic (1997) - Iceberg! Right ahead! We like Kate Winslet here at Murky Words.
84. Easy Rider (1969)(88) - Stupid hippies.
85. A Night at the Opera (1935)
86. Platoon (1986)(83)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957) - That's right! A-N-G-R-Y, ANGRY! Another favorite of mine.
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)(97) - Hey, yo! Baby is brought UP!
89. The Sixth Sense (1999) - Wow. I liked it, but, just... wow. Shocking placement.
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie's Choice (1982) - Pick me, Sophie! Pick me! I kick ASS in dodgeball!
92. GoodFellas (1990)(94) - Should be in the top 10. Rally against this injustice!
93. The French Connection (1971)(70) - Rented it a year ago. Fell asleep 3/4 of the way through. Loved the afro's though.
94. Pulp Fiction (1994)(95) - Should have cracked the top 40. Samuel L. Jackson's performance is sheer brilliance.
95. The Last Picture Show (1971) - Well, I guess we're ALL screwed then. No more lists!
96. Do the Right Thing (1989) - MOOKIE! Why you gotta play me like 'dat! MOOKIE!!! That's enough, Rosie. Thanks. Really.
97. Blade Runner (1982) - I saw the blade. It ran. End of story.
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) (100)
99. Toy Story (1995) - No way does this belong up here. Before The Little Mermaid? Please.
100. Ben-Hur (1959)(72) - Great for sore leg muscles.
So, by my count, that's 56 movies on this list that I've seen, including all of the top 10. Not bad, but I'm still going to make an effort to see even more of them. Since I'm the worst film critic I know, I'm in no position to really say how good of a list this is, so I'll assume they know what they're talking about, and let you voice your opinion in the comments. How many have you folks seen? Anything not included that should have been or vice versa? Whither Trainspotting or When Harry Met Sally? Have at it, folks. I'll catch you tomorrow.
1. Citizen Kane (1941) (1) - Hey! Nice sled!
2. The Godfather (1972) (3) - Still don't see what the fuss was about, but I admittedly need to watch it again.
3. Casablanca (1942) (2) - Thought I was gonna hate it. Loved it. Great film.
4. Raging Bull (1980)(24) - THIS is the highest rated Scorcese film? Man, I could think of three others that could take it's place. Still good, though.
5. Singin' in the Rain (1952)(10) - Been awhile. Forgot most of it.
6. Gone With the Wind (1939)(4) - If you're gonna be stupid enough to name a house, why the hell would you pick something as plain as 'Tara?' I'd have gone with Mildred, myself.
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)(5) - Yawn.
8. Schindler's List (1993)(9) - Rewatched it recently. Excellent and powerful... but #8?
9. Vertigo (1958)(61) - NOT to be trifled with. My man Alfred is all over this list. Incidentally, I'd have swapped this with Rear Window, further down.
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939)(6) - Take a hit and then start 'Dark Side' at the third roar of the MGM lion, dude.
11. City Lights (1931)(76)
12. The Searchers (1956)(96) - Hope they found it.
13. Star Wars (1977)(15) - What can you get a wookie for Christmas (when he already owns a comb?) - Track #4
14. Psycho (1960)(18) - Coming, mother!
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)(22) - Another artsy fartsy film that I thought would suck, but ended up loving. Paved the way for all space related sci-fi to come.
16. Sunset Boulevard (1950)(12)
17. The Graduate (1967)(7)
18. The General (1927)
19. On the Waterfront (1954)(8) - Have it at home from Netflix now. Will probably watch it tomorrow.
20. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)(11) - Mah mouth's bleedin', Burt! Mah mouth's bleedin! Should be #1 - no question.
21. Chinatown (1974)(19)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959)(14) - but they don't know how hot 'til they try! (Bum, Bum! Bum, Bum! Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, BUM!)
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)(21) - Gee Willikers, Martha! Them grapes sure are angry! - I won't watch this until I've read the book, which might happen in 2043.
24. E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)(25) - A tad overrated, but man it rocked my world when I was, like, five.
25. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)(34) - I'm still afraid of Boo Radley, but I LOVE this film.
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)(29)
27. High Noon (1952)(33) - Sounds like college.
28. All About Eve (1950)(16) - Hey! I didn't know porn was allowed on the list.
29. Double Indemnity (1944)(38) - Really, just a plain old indemnity would have sufficed, but I love the noir aspect of it all.
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)(28) - Now? You mean NOW now or 1978 now? Either way, I call bullshit.
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)(23) - Dashiell Hammett. Word.
32. The Godfather Part II (1974)(32) - Think this placement'll cause a riot? Me too.
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)(20)
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)(49) - Grumpy lives.
35. Annie Hall (1977)(31)
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)(13)
37. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)(37)
38. Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)(30) - Blech. Shouldn't have made it at all, much less this high.
39. Dr. Strangelove (1964)(26) - Classic line: Gentleman, you can't fight in here! This is the war room! Love it.
40. The Sound of Music (1965)(55) - The hills are still alive.
41. King Kong (1933)(43)
42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) (27)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)(36)
44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)(51)
45. Shane (1953)(69)
46. It Happened One Night (1934)(35) - Well, that clears things right up.
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)(45) - Sucked. Screw Brando. He's King Shit because he knows how to scream, "Stella!" like a hyena?
48. Rear Window (1954)(42) - Must see, even if it does sound raunchy.
49. Intolerance (1916)
50. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - Wow. Deserving, but I thought this was the worst of the trilogy.
51. West Side Story (1961)(41) - OK, answer me something. When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way from your first cigarette to your last dying day, right? So... is it possible to have a first dying day, then? How 'bout a third?
52. Taxi Driver (1976)(47) - Hell yeah, I'm talkin' to you! SHUT UP!
53. The Deer Hunter (1978)(79)
54. MASH (1970) (56)
55. North by Northwest (1959)(40) - Probably my least favorite Hitchcock film on this list. Good crop dusting scene, though.
56. Jaws (1975)(48) - Gotta plug the Bunnies again.
57. Rocky (1976)(78)
58. The Gold Rush (1925)(74)
59. Nashville (1975)
60. Duck Soup (1933)(85)
61. Sullivan's Travels (1941)
62. American Graffiti (1973)(77)
63. Cabaret (1972)
64. Network (1976)(66)
65. The African Queen (1951)(17)
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)(60)
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) - Will someone tell me what this movie is about, please? I'm sick of hearing about it. Even now.
68. Unforgiven (1992)(98)
69. Tootsie (1982) (62)
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971) (46)
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Never got the credit it deserved. Everyone was too shocked by the first 10 minutes. A FANTASTIC film.
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - My favorite film on the list, and a welcome addition.
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)(50)
74. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)(65) - Everybody do the Buffalo Bill dance!
75. In the Heat of the Night (1967) - Foul Owl on the Prowl! (How many people got that? Raise your hands!)
76. Forrest Gump (1994)(71) - Deah God, make me a bird, so ah kin fly fah. Fah, fah off'n this here list.
77. All the President's Men (1976) - couldn't put Humpty together again.
78. Modern Times (1936)(81)
79. The Wild Bunch (1969)(80)
80. The Apartment (1960)(93)
81. Spartacus (1960) - I, Spartacus! No, I Spartacus! - Oh wait, I mean Claudius
82. Sunrise (1927)
83. Titanic (1997) - Iceberg! Right ahead! We like Kate Winslet here at Murky Words.
84. Easy Rider (1969)(88) - Stupid hippies.
85. A Night at the Opera (1935)
86. Platoon (1986)(83)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957) - That's right! A-N-G-R-Y, ANGRY! Another favorite of mine.
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)(97) - Hey, yo! Baby is brought UP!
89. The Sixth Sense (1999) - Wow. I liked it, but, just... wow. Shocking placement.
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie's Choice (1982) - Pick me, Sophie! Pick me! I kick ASS in dodgeball!
92. GoodFellas (1990)(94) - Should be in the top 10. Rally against this injustice!
93. The French Connection (1971)(70) - Rented it a year ago. Fell asleep 3/4 of the way through. Loved the afro's though.
94. Pulp Fiction (1994)(95) - Should have cracked the top 40. Samuel L. Jackson's performance is sheer brilliance.
95. The Last Picture Show (1971) - Well, I guess we're ALL screwed then. No more lists!
96. Do the Right Thing (1989) - MOOKIE! Why you gotta play me like 'dat! MOOKIE!!! That's enough, Rosie. Thanks. Really.
97. Blade Runner (1982) - I saw the blade. It ran. End of story.
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) (100)
99. Toy Story (1995) - No way does this belong up here. Before The Little Mermaid? Please.
100. Ben-Hur (1959)(72) - Great for sore leg muscles.
So, by my count, that's 56 movies on this list that I've seen, including all of the top 10. Not bad, but I'm still going to make an effort to see even more of them. Since I'm the worst film critic I know, I'm in no position to really say how good of a list this is, so I'll assume they know what they're talking about, and let you voice your opinion in the comments. How many have you folks seen? Anything not included that should have been or vice versa? Whither Trainspotting or When Harry Met Sally? Have at it, folks. I'll catch you tomorrow.
posted by Eric at 10:00 PM
8 Comments:
Funny comments. I think it's a good list. I'll never understand Godfather either. I think the Matrix should have been top 50. Also Five Easy Pieces, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Raiders. Before you waste time on Grapes of Wrath, read East of Eden. One man's opinion.
Dude! I can't believe you dissed Blade Runner - to my mind, it should be in at least, at least, the top 30 films. And I mean, its so cliqued to have Citizen Kane as number one - its good, but is it really that good? I wonder.
Oh, wait. I just noticed that this was a Top 100 American Films list which is why Trainspotting wasn't inckuded (not that it would have been anyway), or say, Seven Samurai. Kind of brings the list down a notch in my belt, then, but whatever.
Stuart, I did NOT diss Blade Runner. It was great. I just happened to see it ten years too late.
AK - The Matrix? Huh. Maybe so. Hadn't thought about that. East of Eden, eh? I'll give it a shot.
See, I'd go with Grapes over Eden...
But either way, please cut Titanic from the Top 100. Please, please, please. Victor Garber was the only good thing about that movie. Any song by Celine Dion makes me want to hurl myself in the Gulf (sorry, Wynne - I know you like the theme).
Add When Harry Met Sally, Top Hat, and Waiting for Guffman!
Oh, and I want to add that Forrest Gump's accent is not a real Southern accent.
That's all I have to say about that.
Was that Apocalypse Now Reduh? or the original? I remember this was the first R rated movie I ever went to see...snuck in and was blown away by it. Not so sure about it anymore. The horror.
Regarding #6: If you're going to be silly enough to name a house, there's really only one acceptable name. It's Fort McAwesome.
I think Titanic is only on here because of the Great Canadian Songbird.
And I agree with Eric--Rear Window is a great movie, better than Vertigo.
The movie I cannot understand is The Graduate. Anyone care to explain its brilliance?
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