Greg's Movie List 100

I should add: I've excluded animations (at least I think I've excluded them all), documentaries, and for some movies by indicating the first in a series I mean to imply that perhaps some others in the series are included as part of that movie. Like the first and third Indiana Jones movies.

Very good list. I think I have seen them all. Might I suggest the following:

"Trancers" (1985) - a sort of SF film noir ("It was July, and I was tired.") Wouldn't you like a time cop named Jack Deth? The film is also very short - 75 minutes - so as to not stretch one's credulity too far. Many sequels, but don't watch them.

"Seven Days in May" (1964) - great Rod Serling script. Supposed to be fiction, but these days I'm not so sure.

"Count Dracula" (BBC production 1977) - just became available on DVD. Very faithful to the novel and Louis Jourdan is a fascinating Dracula. Uses locations featured in the book.

"The Stunt Man" (1980) - overlooked Peter O'Toole film with the tag line, "If God could do the tricks that we can do, he'd be a happy man."

Here endeth (for the moment.)

I think I've seen about seventy of them. Off the top of my head I would add the silent films "Metropolis" and "The General," the Sam Peckinpah western "The Wild Bunch" (it makes a great double feature with "The Magnificent Seven"), the first big budget comedy "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World," and couple more Hitchcocks.

I can see by your list of movies (most of which I have seen) that you and I do not have similar tastes in movies. However, after skimming your list - I still stand by my recommendation for you to watch Forest Gump.

I think it would fit your style of movie. --- Anyone disagree?? I think it won "Best Picture" the year it came out.

Personally, I enjoy stupid fraternal humor movies. (Adam Sandler, Will Farrell, etc...)

Come to think of it - I notice that "the classic" fraternity house movie is not on your list -
"Animal House". I am now sad :-( .

Interesting list. Ive made a copy to take to the library and pick up some DVDs. In the meantime, I have two recommendations of classics:

Christ Stopped at Eboli: The true story of an Italian dissident artist/physician who was exiled by the Fascists to a town so remote that even Christ didnt go there. The austerity of the scene makes our depression look like a golden age.

The Siege of Algiers: Also based on a true story, the uprising of the native population against the occupying power, France.

Rashômon (1950) - Academy award winning Kurosawa film about a murder and how everyone remembers it differently. Spawned the term "Rashômon Effect"

Stacy: There is no movie called "Animal House." It is called "National Lampoon's Animnal House and it is very definitely on the list. Be happy!

By the way, not being on this list might mean that it was in the 40 or so that I deleted to get the list to 100.

Sadly, there was only room for two Leslie Nielson movies ....

I've only seen a quarter of these in full. I don't think you and I see movies for the same reasons. However, there are a few here I've been meaning to see. Trade you.

Reasons? There are reasons?

OK, here are two examples of reasons. All the good, and older movies I saw because Dan wanted to see them. All of the 1980s movies (and there are not many) I saw because I was on an airplane. The others, mostly not possible to articulate.

Going to look at your list now ...

There are only about a dozen or so here that I haven't seen.
I'll get right on it.
teehee Movie Marathon!!
I'll stock up on Wine and BBQ chips (I know, I know, it sounds gross. I don't have them together.).

Could work. Depends on the wine. I think I'll have the bottle of Crozes-Hermitage Cuvee Louis Belle 1999 I've been saving with something meatier. Like a hamburger or something. No, no, cheeseburger. No, no, wait ... La Berger avec Fromge. Yes, that's it.

I've seen the vast majority of your list and agree with most of them.
May I suggest a couple older ones that are both great movies in their own right and which also showcase some of the best stars of an earlier time:

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof -1958 - Paul Newman, Liz Taylor, Burl Ives
The Lion in Winter - 1968 - Peter O'Toole, Kate Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins

You also seem to be a bit short on Alec Guinness, but there are so many good ones, both serious and comedy, that it's hard to name just one.

OH Thank Goodness!! My Bad - I was looking under "A" obviously when I took a peek back to make sure it was there and of course I didn't see it. I AM happier now! ... WHEW!!

I thoroughly enjoyed Bubba Hotep, if you're looking for comedy with chin.

LIFE OF BRIAN!!!??? Monty Python takes on religion. It is a must see - & must laugh. With an ending to die for. I don't know how or why it is not on your list, but do yourself a favor and go get it and watch it.

You know who also makes great movies? Non-Americans..I know, I know..you have La Dolca Vita and maybe a couple other ones I missed but c'mon Greg. Kurosawa, Bergman, Herzog, Truffaut, Godard...They're worth your time. Unless you have watched them and decided you didn't like them. In which case, I'll say good day to you sir! :)

Well, I have reasons for seeing movies. Actually, I have reasons for not seeing movies. I've read some of your picks (Forster, du Maurier) that I don't want to see. I don't need the extra impact of the visual medium or a score, and I want time to take them at my own pace.

Totale: I don't like Herzog. He's lucky I didn't put Burden of Dreams on my list, but since that is a documentary ... well, he got lucky. Kurosawa was totally on my 140 list. I specifically avoided Bergman for the same reason I avoided the american Welles... I'm not that much of a sadist. But otherwise, I really could do a whole other list of just foreign films. When I was cutting down from my original list of 140 or so, a number of non US films went.

Still, there are seven or more non-US films on the list. That's not too bad.

Stephanie speaks in writer. Du Maurier is The Birds. I don't know who the other one is exaclty. Jodi?

Forster is A Passage to India I believe.

E. M. Forster: A Passage to India, Howards End, Maurice, Where Angels Fear to Tread. I quite like the movie version of A Room With a View, though, in no small part because they kept two of the chapter titles as scene titles in the movie for no good reason. "Lying to George" and "Lying to Cecil."

the same reason I avoided the american Welles... I'm not that much of a sadist.

Can you explain how you view watching Citizen Kane, Magnificent Ambersons, and Touch of Evil to be forms of sadism?

Ed Wood with Johnny Depp. Easily his best movie.

I've never seen Magnificant Ammbersons. Citizen Kane is a perfectly good movie, I even like it. It is not, however, the best movie ever made and I dare to say so unlike many others.

The sadism part comes from Welles Worship in which it is assumed everything he ever touched was brilliant.

Room with a view was on my long-list.

I'm starting to regret not making this a list of 200 films. Perhaps I should ....

You LIE!!!!

Fast, Cheap and Out of Control is a documentary!!!!

It would be interesting to see the list sorted by year.

Great List because with the exception of "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" I've seen every one in full and I saw part of that one on IFC one time. So here's my suggestion - If you like Peter O'Toole try The Ruling Class from 1972 it's a very funny and disturbing movie.

Well, yes, I do have to remove Fast, Cheap as it is in fact a documentary. But what do I put in its place????

I confess to exaggeration. I haven't seen all the movies on Greg's List, but I have seen about 90 of them. Sorry. Anyway, one more, if you can find it (not sure if it has been released on DVD):

"In the Bleak Midwinter" (AKA "A Midwinter's Tale") (1995) - an off-beat comedy about a production of "Hamlet" in a village church at Christmas. Written & directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Black Widow, of course, Greg. That means I've seen one more.

I can't believe I've seen all but 3 or 4 of them. And anybody who put Brazil, Breaker Morant, and Repo Man on their list must be all right.

I would suggest Eating Raoul and The Loved One (1965, with Bobby Morse, Anjanette Comer, John Gielgud, Jonathan Winters in a double role, and oh...everybody and his dog. The Liberace and Paul Williams bits are classic.) The latter can be hard to find, but it's in my all time top 5.

Then there's Strange Brew, but I'm an idiot!

I have seen 9 of these movies.

You have to watch American History X. I'm surprised nobody recommended it yet. Anyone who has seen it will remember it for a good long time. I've seen a lot of those movies, and you have some good taste.

I also have seen about 3/4 of them. Here are some I'll trade you for:

The Man Who Would Be King (1975 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073341/ ) Showtime insists on starting this 3 1/2 hr movie at 2 am, when I am doing my final surf.

The late 60's, ear;y 70's, saw a sl;ew of funnies:

I Love You Alice B. Toklas (1968 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063115/ )

For Peter being funny, there's always What's New, Pussycat (1965)

of course there are all the Pinewood Studios comedies, all the Peter Sellers and Alec Guinness movies, and the cream of Brit slapstick and innuendo in the St Trinians movies.

And of course Peter's masterpieces, one well known

Being There (1979, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078841/ ),

with one of the most memorable final scenes, and one almost unknown yet of almost equal brilliance:

The Optimist (1975, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070488/ )

For something filmed in unobtanium, a challenge, is "The Bed Sitting Room" (1969, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064074/ ).

Stranger than 'A Boy and his Dog (1975, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072730/ )

Rita Tushingham was also in some critically acclaimed movies, in particular

The Knack (1965, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059362/ )

and of course Dr. Zhivago (1965, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059113/, better known for Julie Christie than Rita).

No Blade Runner? No Rings? No Matrix?

And for a truly Lovecraftian experience, see if you can find a copy of The Stone Tape (1972, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069316/usercomments )

So now I have to add 10 to my list. I think I'll try these:

A Passage to India
Barton Fink
Bringing Up Baby
Dead Man Walking
Driving Miss Daisy
Fast, Cheap & Out of Control
Like Water for Chocolate
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

Hmmm. Seen more than I estimated.

No American History X on that list????

Nice list. Happy to see "Repo Man" and "A Clockwork Orange," my droogie. From other comments, I strongly second "Wild Bunch," "The Lion in Winter," "Rashomon."

Speaking of Kurasowa, see any and all, but see especially "Seven Samurai," "Throne of Blood," "Ran," "Sanjuro," and "Yojimbo," which see immediately followed by "A Fistful of Dollars."

My additions: "Once Upon a Time in America," "Diva," "Sword of Doom" and "Blade Runner," definitely "Blade Runner," which has several of the best death scenes ever filmed. No, wait, it has all of them.

Here's to your precious bodily fluids.

I just realized you didn't have the Incredible Shrinking Man or Jason and the Argonauts on the list.

I second Bubba Ho-Tep and Blade Runner and would like to add The Castle to the list. Finest comedy to come out of Australia or pretty much any country.

The Player, The Black Wido, Blade Runner, Incredible Shrinking, Argonatus, Kurasowa (two-three by), Ronin, many/ most on Gray's list, are all movies that I have seen, and either were or should have been on my original long list (culled down). Then there are a lot of excellent suggestions. Clearly, this list is a first draft.

I think I'll put documentaries back in (that could get controversial) and lengthen the list.

No, wait. I'm going to make a separate documentary list. AND expand the original list.

OK, enough thinking out loud here.

@Lurkbot
I had forgotten about "The Loved One." What a film! Robert Morse's eulogy is but one of many great scenes and Rod Steiger as Mr. Joyboy has to be seen to be believed. 'Resurrection now!'

"Strange Brew"? Give me more Bob & Doug! 'Give in to the Darkside, you knob.'

Soilent Green.Great film.Though I admit I'm not much of a film buff...I've seen a total of two films on the list,and only one was a real choice I made(E.T. was on at Christmas when I was little).

"Local Hero," "The Go Between," "The Dresser," "8 1/2," "The Bicycle Thief," "Roma, citta aperta (Open City)," "Cul-de-sac" (1966), "Claire's Knee," "Atlantic City," "The Big Sleep" (1946), "Swept Away" (1974), "Seven Beauties," "Teorema," "Hawks and Sparrows (Uccellacci e Uccellini)." I could go on.

Se7en, Better off Dead and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (Pitt, Cusack and the Wayans Bros, you can't go wrong)

Thanks for this list! Also, thanks to all who added more, I am updating my Netflix que right now! I have never seen/heard of Breaker Morant-- will watch over the holiday break.

I would recommend watching, if you haven't already, in no particular order:

Best in Show
Rushmore
Cinema Paradiso
African Queen
The Big Sleep
Casablanca
The House of Yes
Party Girl
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Fanny & Alexander (even though I think you said you rejected Bergman)
After the Wedding
Il Postino
M
The Bicycle Thief
Harold and Maude
My Night at Maud's
The Two of Us
My Dinner with Andre
Au Revoir Les Enfants
Blade Runner
Metropolis
Sophie's Choice
Sophie Scholl
The Black Book
Milla's Sense of Snow
Mon Oncle
Talk to Her
Indochine
Farewell My Concubine

and so many, many more. Happy viewing!

All-time great eye candy: Kubrick's 2001
No matter how often you've seen it already, it keeps growing on you: Babette's Feast (Bonus for anthropologists and cooks)
One of the most hilarious and packed 1/2 hours: The Wrong Trousers (I know, you're not including animations, but this one transcends...)

dubiquiabs: how could I have forgotten to include 2001? Also one of the early Cinerama productions, and I got to see it's first release in London on that huge screen. And The Wrong Trousers: that train chase is one of the very few - if only - movie sequences that had me actually fall off my chair laughing. And I would include it for Science Bloggers for the cosmic implications of that scene alone.

I noted I referenced "Peter" twice above - the first was O'Toole of course, the second was Sellers, sorry for not clarifying but you probably guessed.

Greg, you have seen The Bed Sitting Room? And The Stone Tape?

Here's my list.

Two that weren't among your 100 (methinks):

The Great Dictator (Chaplin, 1942?)
Once upon a Time in the West (Leone, 1968?)

Two for me to watch:
Night of the Living Dead (been in Pittsburgh for seven years, haven't seen it, now in my house)
Taxi Driver

Invasion of the body snatchers

I'm not a big movie fan so I feel rather surprised that with the exception of ET I believe I have seen all of the movies on this list. Some of them (Repo Man, Casablanca, A Clockwork Orange, Duck Soup) are among my absolute favorites. A few favorites that are not on the list:

Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
Laura (1944)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
The President's Analyst (1967)
Americathon (1979)
Better Off Dead (1985)
The Revenger's Tragedy (2002)

Great list, by the way. Some of these I will definitely watch again. Maybe I'll even get around to E.T.

Okay, I've seen every movie on your list. Meh. Not everybody can agree, and a lot of these I wouldn't put on my list. Then again, I'm one of those people who does like Citizen Kane, although The Third Man is my favorite Welles film.

Now for the ones I don't see recommended already, and I'll try to stay away from foreign films:

No Blazing Saddles??? Monty Python's Holy Grail? Meaning of Life? Come on!

Here are some of the movies I'd have instead:

Age of Innocence (1993)
The Best Years of Our Lives
Blue Velvet
The Commitments
Cool Hand Luke
Double Indemnity
East of Eden
From Russia with Love
Gaslight
The Grifters
High Noon
His Girl Friday
Hud
The Hustler
In the Name of the Father
It Happened One Night
L.A. Confidential
The Long Goodbye
The Maltese Falcon
North by Northwest
Notorious
Now, Voyager
Philadelphia Story
The Princess Bride
Raging Bull
Streetcar Named Desire
Some Like It Hot
Suddenly Last Summer
The Women

Yeah, it's a weird collection, and a lot of noir. So sue me. I'm a noir fan.

It just occurred to me that it is rather odd that an anthropologist wouldn't have Quest for Fire on a list like this.