I’m currently working on a book that’ll highlight 100 films I’ve seen that are worth watching, no matter your background or movie preference. I figured I’d share my progress on here deemed as previews (before editing and all that). Although some of these films may seem obvious, I hope this list is different than the usual list of this type (everyone knows you should watch Citizen Kane!).
It’s a compilation of great and important films, highlighting the genre, director, writer, stars, IMDB’s about section, and some words from yours truly discussing why you should watch the film. Keep in mind, I can’t view every film, so don’t get upset if your favorite film isn’t on this list.
Also, don’t get bitter about obvious choices like Vertigo or The Godfather being left off. Although those are great films, and this list certainly features some obvious choices, it’s more substantial and worthwhile going about it this way instead of discussing 100 films everyone has heard of. But then again, the more of a fanatic you are with cinema, you’d roast this list regardless (“Why don’t you have this obscure film from 1939 that no one but eight people have seen?”). I suppose it’s a lose-lose. Whatever, just have fun!
20th Century Women (2016)
Genre - Drama/Comedy
Director - Mike Mills
Writer - Mike Mills
Starring - Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig
About - The story of a teenage boy, his mother, and two other women who help raise him among the love and freedom of Southern California of 1979.
Why You Should Watch
Impulsivity is a shining beacon throughout 20th Century Women and is a reminder of how great of a working filmmaker Mike Mills is. Though it may seem surface-level on the outside, the film is riddled with plenty of profound moments, evoking the general notions of love, freedom, identity, and relationships. What does it mean to be a person? In this case, we have an aging mother, her son, a photographer, and a lost teenager dealing with the common question of what the point of this all is. Anyone can relate to the film in some way, and it’s a showcase of why it’s useful for characters to offer a sense of relatability to the audience. Overall, the performances are great, it’s shot well, and is a beautiful story. What more could you want?
A Page Of Madness (1926)
Genre - Horror/Drama
Director - Teinosuke Kinugasa
Writers - Yasunari Kawabata (Short Story), Teinosuke Kinugasa (Adaptation), Minoru Inuzuka (Adaptation)
Starring - Masuo Inoue, Ayako Iijima, Yoshie Nakagawa
About - A man takes a job at an asylum, hoping to free his imprisoned wife.
Why You Should Watch
There’s a general fear for most people to view anything deemed too old movie-wise for varying reasons. Whether it’s the worry of boredom or not knowing there were great films before the 21st century, not enough people go back to the early stages of cinema. In this example, we have A Page of Madness, a film against lifelike portrayals while being notable for how radical and challenging it is, especially for its time. The silent film utilizes extraordinary visuals that’ll haunt and linger in the mind long after it ends. It’s a foul fever dream but isn’t just about avant-garde storytelling and has excellent substance about a husband hoping to free his wife. More importantly, it’s remarkable how far the film went for its release. The story goes that it was lost for 45 years until it was rediscovered by Teinosuke Kinugasa (the director) in his storehouse in 1971.
A Serious Man (2009)
Genre - Drama/Comedy
Directors - Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writers - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Starring - Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Sari Lennick
About - Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern physics teacher, watches his life unravel over multiple sudden incidents. Though seeking meaning and answers amidst his turmoils, he seems to keep sinking.
Why You Should Watch
The Coen brothers have made countless iconic films over the years, with the duo being my favorite filmmakers from my early teenage years. A Serious Man is an interesting part of their filmography, having come right after the success of No Country For Old Men (2007) and Burn After Reading (2008) and before True Grit (2010). What a great four years for four really solid films. Of the four, A Serious Man had the smallest budget at $7 million (others were $25 million to $38 million) and the smallest box office at $31.4 million (others were $160 million to $250 million). It’s layered in the idea of existentialism and what it means to be uncertain. It’s darkly hilarious, as many Coen brothers' films are, but has a level of sympathy in its characters that’s a writing lesson for any aspiring writer or filmmaker.
Adaptation (2002)
Genre - Drama/Comedy
Director - Spike Jonze
Writers - Susan Orlean ("The Orchid Thief"), Charlie Kaufman (Screenplay)
Starring - Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper
About - A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean for the screen.
Why You Should Watch
What can I say about Adaptation that hasn’t already been said? Starring Nicolas Cage in what many consider to be his best role, Adaptation is meta on a level that few films have done (outside of maybe the scream franchise). Without spoiling, on a more profound tier, Adaptation is about anxiety and managing ecosystems. Though it may seem overdone nowadays, it focuses on a writer who struggles to create original work in a world ruled by corporate demands of success. How does an artist create if there’s pressure around them to meet the success level of previous efforts? Not to mention other varying factors, such as love, needs, desires, reputation, interaction, and emotion.
Alien (1979)
Genre - Sci-Fi/Horror
Director - Ridley Scott
Writers - Dan O'Bannon (Screenplay), Ronald Shusett (Story)
Starring - Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt
About - The crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating an unknown transmission.
Why You Should Watch
In my world, few movies have captivated me as much at a younger age as Alien. Early memories of me being utterly petrified of the Xenomorph (who could forget the chest burst scene?) propelled me to watch every film in the franchise throughout my junior high and high school years. As a film, Alien holds up very well and greatly influenced cinema for years to come. The idea of futuristic realism was mastered beautifully, giving audiences relatability in a world that seemed so distant and otherworldly. It’s a film that utilizes motherhood in Sci-Fi while simultaneously giving audiences a scare and shock value that wasn’t common at the time. It’s chillingly quiet with bursts of action and stupefaction, making it the best in the franchise (yes, its sequel Aliens is still great) and a masterful film.