Yuri Wainwright is a film critic who writes satirical reviews of films. If you enjoy sarcasm and/or pointing out the illogical elements of films, you will appreciate this blog. I highly recommend it for a good laugh and a non-brown-nosing form of reviewing for films.
It took a while for me to come up with this list. There are so many films I love so much. But for this list, I chose the ones that to me felt the most timeless and have the most replay value of all. I chose the films that I feel personally will stand the test of time and will always be magnificent works of art. I have tried to stay away from classics we have all heard of or seen. I always have felt that those movies have become very overrated over the years and that there are so many other films out there that are just as good that don't get enough recognition. I can already tell you you will disagree with many of my choices, but that is why this is a list based on opinion. Here are my top 25 films of all time in no particular order!!
OLDBOY (2003)
Here is a film that is more than just a movie. Directed by Chan-wook Park, it is a tale of vengeance, love, and questions about what is truly right or wrong. It has an amazing plot with one of the greatest twist endings ever. OLDBOY follows a man who is kidnapped and locked up for 15 years in a small cell. Once out he has to figure out who locked him in and why. Considered the greatest film in Korean history, OLDBOY is one of the most beautifully done films to ever grace the silver screen. Coupled with an amazing soundtrack, great fight sequences and amazing acting, this film will forever be a testament to the human soul. I have seen many films try and display the fractured logic and reasoning of humans, but I have never seen one do it quite like OLDBOY. This film is more human than any other I have ever seen.
ELYSIUM (2013)
Already disagreeing with me? Good. That's why this list is based on opinion and not fact. Directed by Neil Blomkamp, Elysium is a tale about redemption and retribution. The film follows Max de Costa (played by Matt Damon) as he is accidentally exposed to radiation and has to get to Elysium to save himself. All of the people deemed less important live on an overpopulated and polluted Earth while the rich live on Elysium where all sickness can be cured and everything their heart desires is amongst them. It has a lot of class warfare elements to it and too many people have tried nabbing it into a political motif. This film is anything but. It is a science fiction action film to its very core. With an electrifying performance by Sharlto Copley as Kruger, the film rarely slows down in intensity and offers up some very interesting concepts I have yet to see in other science fiction films. It has been hated by many, primarily those expecting District 9 two, but by those like myself, it is loved dearly for what it is: a great film. Perhaps if not for people expecting District 9's sequel and those trying to make it into a political propaganda film, it may have been loved more.
INSIDIOUS (2010)
Enter perhaps the most original horror film of all time. After releasing films like Saw and Death Sentence, director James Wan, with writer and best friend Leigh Whannell, decided to do what too many directors nowadays are too scared to try: create something different and original. It is about a boy named Dalton who falls into a mysterious coma after a fall. Once under, strange things begin happening and ghosts begin haunting not the house, but him. It's got an interesting plot twist that will leave you pleasantly surprised. Insidious is an amazing horror film shot on a micro budget with amazing sequences and several practical effects. The film itself goes to show that you can have a cheap film but still have an amazing quality. It is the best horror film to come out in a very long time (the sequel was just as good) and is by far my favorite horror film ever.
AMERICAN HISTORY X (1998)
Ever see a movie that made you think it could change people's lives? Director Tony Kaye's American History X is that film for me. I feel that if this film was shown in high schools with gang problems that it would really open a lot of misguided young people's eyes. It follows a man named Derek who dove into a neo-Nazi gang after his father died and who subsequently went to prison for murder of two black men that were trying to steal his father's car. In prison he learns the truth behind gang life and once out aims to keep his young brother Danny (played by Edward Furlong) from experiencing the same path. With an unforgettable tour de force performance by the aptly underrated Edward Norton, American History X sheds light on the truth behind gangs and gang violence. A very hidden gem of cinema to the average moviegoer, American History X will make you laugh, cry, grip the armchairs with anticipation and above all leave you feeling like something has changed deeply within you.
PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997)
Director Hayao Miyazaki has brought the silver screen some of its most beloved animated films. A genius of the fantasy genre and anime-style of cartooning, Miyazaki has brought to the table so many great films that this was a difficult choice. But by the end of the day, I feel PrincessMononoke will stand the test of time forever. It follows a young man named Ashitaka who becomes infected by a demon and seeks a way to cure his illness. He ends up going on an adventure like no other. The film offers a wide range of interesting concepts and theological intrigue. From epic battle scenes to religious mysticism, Princess Mononoke may just be the greatest animated film ever made. And it may be one of the only animated films that can succeed at being animated and also a film honestly targeted for adults. I am sure many children have seen and loved this film, but there is no way it is a kid's film in design. Above all, Princess Mononoke is a great film that will make you fall in love from the first scene and have you wanting more by the time the credits roll.
DONNIE DARKO (2001)
Before Jake Gyllenhaal was starring in films like Source Code and Brokeback Mountain, he was a young man searching for the film to give him true star power. He may have never been noticed if it hadn't been for the raw energy produced by his breakthrough film Donnie Darko. Directed by Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko is one of the greatest psychological thrillers of all time. It follows a young man named Donnie who has been diagnosed with a few mental problems. He starts being followed by a six foot tall bunny who tells him the world is going to end. The bunny, named Frank, does many strange things. This all begins happening after Frank apparently saves Donnie from a tragic accident that would have resulted in his death. Is he schizophrenic? Is it all real? So many questions rise through its two hour length. Richard Kelly has a clear cut explanation to everything in the film, but I myself feel it is better to watch Donnie Darko and have the idea that it is up for interpretation. The film dared to go places that people had never seen before and though not at first successful, has since become a cult phenomenon. Donnie Darko is a beautiful film from start to finish and though dreary, will captivate the viewer with a strange energy that is inimitable.
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
The Coen Brothers have brought many good films to the silver screen. Between Fargo, True Grit (2010), Blood Simple and many others, it was a difficult choice to decide between their many achievements. At the end of the day I had to go with 2007's No Country For Old Men. A film that is very unique, it is unrivaled in intensity and has some of the most amazing shots I have ever seen. It follows a man who finds millions of dollars in drug money and decides to take all of the cash. He is then followed by a psychotic killer who has been hired to retrieve the money and return it to the rightful owners. Yes, it sounds like a simple plot, but it is anything but. Strangely enough, there is no soundtrack to this film. And even though it is lacking of a score, most people don't even realize this fact until it is pointed out. That alone shows the entertainment value of this film. With a haunting performance by Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men will one day be considered an American classic.
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (2012)
Okay, I am not a big comedy fan. This is one of two comedies on this entire list. I must say I was pleasantly surprised with David O. Russel's film. Besides being the most accurate depiction of Bipolar disorder in a film that I have ever seen, it's overall a great film that will leave you feeling powerful and confident in yourself. It follows a man who is just getting out of a mental institute after beating the man who his wife was cheating with almost to death. Once out, he just wants to be with his wife again, but soon finds unwanted, but eventually needed, love in another woman who shares mental problems like him. Jennifer Lawrence turned in a wonderful performance and Bradley Cooper surprised many with his depiction of a man diagnosed with untreated manic depression. It is a sweet film with many tear jerking moments wrenched inside of a hysterical comedy. It is drama, romance, comedy and more all rolled into a big ball of silver screen gold.
PROMETHEUS (2012)
Much like Elysium, Ridley Scott's Prometheus was unjustly panned by critics and audiences alike. It is funny to think that when Alien first came out, it received and garnered the same exact energy from critics and moviegoers alike. Many famous critics, like Leonard Maltin for example, called Alien "unoriginal", "lacking in coherent plot", and "depthless". Prometheus was called the same exact words. This makes me think that twenty years from now, Prometheus will be considered a classic. It follows a group of scientists who believe they have found the location of the beings that created mankind. They get a research vessel, named Prometheus, and head to this planet in search of the answers. But what they find is anything but pleasant. Many people expected this to be a prequel to Alien, and in a sense it is, but the ties to Alien are so minuscule that if you have never seen Alien and went to see this movie, it could easily be considered a stand alone film. I consider it to be its own movie in and of itself. It, in my opinion, is the greatest science fiction horror film ever made and hopefully one day people will appreciate it the same way they ended up appreciating Alien. It has many great things about it including a magnificent score by Marc Streitenfeld, amazing cinematography and great acting by Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace in particular.
THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
With perhaps the greatest performance ever filmed in the history of cinema by the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight is in itself a masterpiece. It is one of those films that comes along every fifty years that imprints itself so deep into the soul of cinema that there is no way it will ever be forgotten. It follows the caped crusader Batman as he goes to war with a new criminal mastermind named the Joker who is intent on killing the Batman and causing complete and total anarchy in Gotham. When the Dark Knight was first being advertised, I remember thinking as most people were thinking, "man, this is gonna be great!". But no one expected a Batman film of all things to be so monumental and unforgettable. One of the things I kept thinking, and still think, after I saw the film was that the man on screen was NOT Heath Ledger. It was the Joker. Heath Ledger in the making of the film, was absent and replaced by a completely different person. Heath Ledger was known to be a method actor but no one expected the handsome Aussie to be the man he was on screen in TDK. It has great scenarios, amazing dialogue and sequences, great acting from all parties, and some of the most legendary images ever put on the silver screen.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995)
"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist." Yes, indeed Mr. Spacey, yes indeed. Before Bryan Singer brought the X-Men out of the comics and onto the silver screen, he directed this film. It is about a group of thugs and their past history all narrated from a cripple to the police by the name of Verbal. His stories begin circling a mysterious figure of the underground named Keyser Soze. It has perhaps one of the most famous twist endings of all time and is extremely gripping albeit slow throughout. Usual Suspects shows us that a film does not need nonstop action or shock tactics to be entertaining and suspenseful. Psychological thrillers don't get much better than this and the ending still to this day will make viewers yell "What??! No way!!!".
THE SIXTH SENSE (1999)
This M. Night Shyamalan film is legendary. No person on this green Earth hasn't heard the famous line "I see dead people". Before Shyamalan's career took a downward spiral, The Sixth Sense followed up his first big hit Unbreakable. The Sixth Sense follows a boy named Cole who has the terrible gift of being able to see the dead as if they were still alive. When I watch films, I put myself in the characters' positions to try and make it as suspenseful or joyous as possible and I will tell you now that this film terrifies me with that considered. I think about being in Cole's position and experiencing what he experiences in the film and it chills me to the bone. Some of the most unforgettable ghost movie scenes take place in this film and if the ending hasn't already been spoiled for you (thanks loud mouthed bigots), prepare for a jaw-dropping ending.
ONLY GOD FORGIVES (2013)
Okay, I am a huge Nicolas Winding-Refn fan. I loved Bronson, Drive and other films of his work. I think most, if not all, of you are going to completely and utterly disagree with me on this choice. Many people absolutely hated this film. To be completely honest with you, I did too upon my first viewing. I thought it was monotonous, senseless, only aesthetically pleasing, so on so forth. But upon my second and third viewings I have learned to love the film more than any of Refn's other work. The film follows a man named Julian who runs a Muay Thai gym as a facade to cover a drug trafficking business. His brother is killed after murdering a 16 year old prostitute and Julian's mother comes down ordering him to exact revenge on the people who killed his brother Billy, one being a cop by the name of Chang who is God in Bangkok. This film may not be your normal flick, but it is not meant to be. If I had to explain what it is like to people who have not seen it, think if David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick did a film together, it would be Only God Forgives. There are so many interesting elements in the film that upon understanding can be appreciated so much. It is truly a work of art. With Cliff Martinez returning on the score for Refn and Ryan Gosling returning as the lead role, this film is dazzling from start to finish. Chang, played by Vithaya Pansringarm, is possibly the greatest villain cop in film history (yes, even badder than Oldman's Norman Stansfield from Leon). The film is an acquired taste and I recommend it to anyone who can simply appreciate film for what it is: art.
FRAILTY (2001)
Frailty is one of those hidden gems that almost nobody has seen. Want to know the most interesting part? It is directed by Bill "game over, man" Paxton! The film is a great psychological thriller with many twists and turns. It leads you on for the better part of the film, only to stun you with an amazing twist ending that will leave you speechless. The film follows a man who turns himself into the police with knowledge of where bodies are buried of people that were murdered by a serial killer. On the trip to where the bodies are buried, the man tells the police officer of his childhood. He tells a story of him and his brother growing up with their dad one day suddenly thinking he was a soldier of God and that demons were amongst them that needed to be killed. These demons look like normal people and the story that ensues is both disturbing and alluring. With a rather great acting role by Matthew McConaughey and a twisted role by Bill Paxton, Frailty will lead you into dark places and searching for the truth. If you have not seen this film, I highly recommend it.
LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL (1994)
Ah yes, Gary Oldman. Undoubtedly the greatest actor ever, and most underrated too. Leon is a fabulous movie from Fifth Element director Luc Besson. It follows a "cleaner" who takes in a young Natalie Portman after her family is murdered by the evil Norman Stansfield played by the one and only Oldman. Did I mention Oldman is a dirty cop? Oh yeah, it gets pretty unbelievable in some parts. This film offers a beautiful bond between a lost assassin who knows nothing else but how to kill and an innocent but confused young girl in search of the chance to be unconditionally loved. It is very heartfelt at times and gritty with intense action at other times. It is one of the greatest action films ever made and if it isn't in your to-watch list, put it there right this instant!
THE THING (1982)
Stranded in Antarctica for several months? Check. Alien parasite that can perfectly imitate a human being? Check. Paranoia and lack of trust between the people stranded together? Check. Kurt Russel's awesome beard? Check. What else do you need for a great film? Probably John Carpenter's best film ever, The Thing is a classic in its truest form. Perhaps the most interesting and beloved thing about this movie is its use of practical effects. No CGI is used throughout the length of the entire film. I find it quite humorous that the 2011 remake/prequel looked worse with its CGI than this 1982 film with only practical effects and makeup. That goes to show that you can have all of the green screens and CGI in the world and still make an awful movie. It also goes to show that you can make a great movie with little to no special effects. The Thing is one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, science fiction horror films ever made and if you haven't seen it, you're in for one hell of a ride.
LIMITLESS (2011)
A pill that can make you able to access one hundred percent of your brain? You have to be kidding yourself if you say that you watched this film and didn't want to take NZT. Bradley Cooper's character Eddie goes from hobo-ish wanna-be writer to full blown BA in this Neil Burger-directed movie. With a great supporting role from Robert Deniro and an interesting plot with uniquely stylized directing, Limitless is one of those films that really makes you wish it was reality.
SE7EN (1995)
"What's in the box??!" Don't look, Brad. Don't look. When Se7en burst on screen in 1995, audiences around the world were stunned by its crafty and original plot. It has quite a few twists and turns that leave you hooked from a very early point. This is David Fincher's sophomoric effort after the critically panned Alien 3. It follows a soon-to-retire detective played by Morgan Freeman and a young up-and-coming detective played by Brad Pitt as they track down a serial killer who bases his crimes off of the seven deadly sins. It is a great thriller with grotesqueness that does not take away from the film but magnifies the gruesome nature of John Doe (the killer) even more. Can you guess who plays the killer? I'll give you a hint, he's bald and always extremely creepy.
ALIENS (1986)
One of the few examples of a sequel being better than the original, James Cameron's Aliens is a gem of the science fiction genre. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley but is very grown up and now a complete soldier in every aspect of the word. It has some very famous moments and is still today a huge inspiration for many science fiction filmmakers and even is a heavy inspiration for the HALO video game franchise. I follows Ellen Ripley as she is brought out of a 57 year hyper sleep and is soon recruited, or tricked into, going on a mission to a terraformed planet that is experiencing problems with the same alien creatures that killed her crew in the first film. This time instead of one xenomorph, there are hundreds and we get to see our first queen. This film is electrifying in its action scenes and beautifully directed. James Cameron nailed nervous intensity with this film between his efforts in lighting, sound and of course the beeping of the map blip systems on the guns of the marines.
AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000)
Enter: Patrick Bateman. He is a young, successful, handsome man who hides a very discrete but vicious animosity towards almost all forms of life, yes sadly dogs are included. Christian Bale puts on an amazing performance in this Mary Harron-directed flick. It is not for everyone but since its release it has gained a cult following. If you can stomach very strange and twisted films, I would recommend this one. It is based on the novel of the same name and is considered responsible for blasting off the career of Christain Bale as an adult. Probably one day will be considered a classic, American Psycho is an interesting film to say the least. Between Paul and Huey Lewis and the News, this film has some very unforgettable sequences and lines.
INCEPTION (2010)
Ever had a dream within a dream within a dream? Yeah, me neither. It's an intriguing concept though. Christopher Nolan followed up the Dark Knight with this spectacular film. It is about a world in the future where dreams can be accessed, changed, and possibly even used to completely change a person's personality. It loses many people as it absolutely must be followed closely and kept up with. If you miss one plot element you may become completely and utterly lost for the rest of the film. It has amazing and innovative special effects and has one of the most original plots of the past 25 years. If you are looking for something to completely lose yourself in, I would recommend Inception. It is a great film with a great cast and above all, an original concept. It is rare nowadays to find a movie with originality, and besides that originality that is entertaining and not too terribly blundered by attempts at artistic bravado. Inception is already being considered as one of the greatest cinematic achievements ever and rightfully so.
SNATCH. (2000)
The only other comedy on this list, Guy Ritchie's Snatch. is very entertaining from beginning to end and although called a copy of his other film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch. is hilarious in and of itself and has highly stylized direction with a jazzy score that makes you feel like you're watching a contemporary masterpiece. With no true main characters, the film has an amazing ensemble and follows several groups of characters who are all after a "diamond the size of a fist". With an amazing and hysterical performance by Brad Pitt as a gypsy boxer with an inaudible way of speaking, Snatch. will likely become one of your favorite films just upon first viewing.
FIGHT CLUB (1999)
Few films are as absorbing and memorable as David Fincheer's Fight Club. Based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuck, the film follows a man suffering from Insomnia who meets a confident, handsome and exhilarating character by the name of Tyler Durden. It has some of the most quotable lines ever in cinema and was hated upon release. But now it is considered as one of the greatest films ever. With a dark and foreboding atmosphere, Fight Club really delves on a lot of political and philosophical ideas that really make you wonder about the intentions and mistreating of the government and the people who are above you on the food chain. Fight Club has some of the most interesting theories on society and by itself can create a following that may even be deemed as religious. It is an astounding work of art and if you have not seen the film, I highly recommend it.
SAW (2004)
James Wan is one of the only directors on this list that has two films. Many of you may be thinking I'm crazy for putting a Saw film on here. But let's be completely honest, before the franchise was started and sequels were produced that were nothing more than mere torture porn flicks that are intended to test your limits of vomiting and barfing in a film, the first Saw was and is a masterpiece. It has a twist ending that will leave any viewer speechless. I personally do not consider the other Saw films to even exist because they completely ruined the reputation of this film. There is barely even any real gore in this film! I've seen worse in a PG-13 movie. The film follows a doctor and an unknown man (played by Leigh Whannell ironically, who is the writer and best friend of James Wan) who wake up in a mysterious room with their legs chained to the wall. They have to figure out with help from each other why they are there and how to get out. It is an amazing thriller and though a lot like Se7en, I believe it holds its own and has enough originality to be considered an original. It is the first horror film in a long time to be considered a classic of the genre and I recommend it to anyone who appreciates good twists and an interesting and alluring plot.
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)
Oh, James Cameron you did it again! You made a sequel that easily surpasses the first film! Terminator 2: Judgement Day is an amazing film filled with action, drama, some cases of horror, and love. It builds on the momentum of the first installment from 1984. The film features strong lead performances from Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong. It also has much evolved and improved acting coming from Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film follows the T-800 as he is sent back in the past to protect the young John Connor from the ever-terrifying T-1000. It conjures some very unforgettable action sequences and some lines that are forever engraved in cinema's history books. Cameron proved with this film that he really is one of the greatest directors ever and that he is always improving. It overall is one of the best science fiction films ever made and is considered that deservedly so.
Well that is the list everyone. Hope you enjoyed and if there are any films you haven't seen on here, as always I highly recommend them. Let me know what you think and until next time, take care!
