Godin & Barquin’s Cinephile’s Choice: Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time
5. Videodrome (David Cronenberg, 1983)
Part sci-fi shocker, part body horror, and part wild essay film about the effects of TV, David Cronenberg’s Videodrome is a singular piece of work. Hallucinatory set-pieces and gloppy special effects dance with industry critique and an unnervingly slimy performance by James Woods. It’s a beautifully visceral descent into madness and the dangers of obsessiveness both personal and professional.
4. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
It’s hard to deny that Woody Allen’s best picture winner Annie Hall is one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time. Moving away from the slapstick humor that filled his earlier work, Hall really takes a look at the relationship and just what makes it tick. On a technical level, Allen uses cinematic techniques that were unheard of in the genre, whether it’s the addition of subtitles to humorously contradict on screen dialogue, the split screen during therapy, or even the use of double-exposure while Alvy and Annie talk about having sex without drugs. It may not have the happiest of endings, but its realism and charm makes it something that will forever stay in the hearts of audiences.
3. Fargo (Joel & Ethan Coen, 1996)
Is Fargo the great American film? You betcha! Joel and Ethan Coen’s particular brand of humor blends together beautifully with what could have been a simple tale of murder, crafting something unexpected and absolutely irresistible. The film, beyond its amazing cast and breathtaking cinematography, is also the prime example of the Coens’ ear for dialect. You might consider one or two things to be a little funny-looking but that’s just the Coen’s working their charm before delivering something that’ll blow you away.
2. Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
How do you follow up a really great science fiction film with another really great science fiction film? Only Ridley Scott knows that, but we can all be thankful that this early pique brought us what is, quite frankly, the greatest dystopian, neo-noir, philosophical science fiction film of all time, and the best Philip K. Dick adaptation to boot. Harrison Ford is reliably solid as Rick Deckard, but the show undeniably belongs to Rutger Hauer. All existential motifs aside, Blade Runner is a cult film that has inspired and influenced the style of hundreds of science fiction films that followed it.
AND THE GREATEST FILM OF ALL TIME ACCORDING TO OUR MOTLEY CREW OF FILM ENTHUSIASTS IS…
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