Godin & Barquin’s Cinephile’s Choice: Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
After having conquered the heist film, the sword-and-sandals epic, and the black comedy, Stanley Kubrick set out to create what he called “the proverbial good science fiction film.” And boy did he succeed. 2001: A Space Odyssey can easily claim to be the best film ever made. It is a work of art on both a narrative and technical level, a feature-length feat of cinematic wizardry, and a brilliant abstract allegory for what it means to be sentient. Not to mention that it features what is likely the best use of program music in a film, bar none.
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A very big thanks to those of you who participated in this poll. Without you and our mathematical voodoo, none of this would have been possible. Here’s to you: Amy, Anna, Alex, Austin, Chris, Chris G., Chris M., Conrad, Daniel, David, Dennis, Drew, Eric, Finn, Francisco M., Francisco P., Jackie, Jo, Joseph, Juan, Kerri, Kyle, Malory, Marya, Michelle, Mitchell, Owen, Rick, Roberto, Ross, Spencer, Sacha, Sam, Sara, Sean, Sean D., Steph, Teresa, Vicky, and Yiannis!
How about my heart sorta just sang a little bit when I read this. I have to say, YAM’s lists are always more interesting than anything I’ve ever read… and that’s not just me saying it because I write for YAM. Truly, when it comes to lists, there’s always something that you wouldn’t expect, always something intriguing, and always a sense that this is just a list made of people who ENJOY film, music, whatever, not a list made out of pretentiousness or a desire to be thought of as “high and mighty”.
I think this list is damn-near perfect. A few of these films I’ve never seen and I feel totally lacking as a result *sigh* However, two films that I would’ve considered are The Exorcist — one of the most beautifully stylistic and certainly most imfluential horror films ever made (I mean, any film that can make people pass out in hysterics and fear being in the same house as its VHS is one powerful piece of cinema) — and The Grave of Fireflies — easily one of the most heartbreaking films ever created of ANY genre.
But, in any event, your list is beautiful and I’m glad I got the chance to read it!
@Camiele, Grave of the Fireflies would have had two votes. xD
And yeah, I think a list this varied is hard to dispute as it’s at least not boring.
Thanks for considering me for the vote, Juan. ~~~
@amy, Awww… HaHa. It’s definitely one of best animated films of all time. Story alone was just completely touching. But, oh well :(
But I always get excited when that YAM Ranks tag is put into effect!
Honoured to be a part of this list! I think it’s a great alternative to the often boring and predictable more academic lists and it gives great insight to which films truly capture everyone’s hearts and minds, critics, filmmakers, audiences and bloggers alike. Well done! It would also be interesting to see the individual lists published at some point down the line!
@Ross Birks, I don’t know about the other voters… but my Top10 list is out in the open. xD