My friend recently asked me a question. He was watching his favorite movie, and wanted to know if I thought it was the “greatest movie of all time.” Now, that of course is a difficult case to make for any movie. But he and I thrive on the dialogue that develops around GOATs, Mt. Rushmores and other superlatives of a similar nature. What that movie was however, and how I answered, are not the subject of this post. Rather, I want to talk about the question that came to my mind because of our conversation: what are the top five movies of all time? Or, barring that, what are the top five movies that I would recommend? I tend to be rather picky with regards to the cinematic productions I consume. The fact is, movies are long! And spending 100-180 minutes on a film is a serious commitment. I seldom watch a movie unless I, a- have a relative certainty that I will enjoy it, or b- deem it a culturally important film (i.e. having ingrained itself in the collective societal memory). Avengers: Endgame qualifies as an example of the former, while Star Wars: A New Hope is the gold standard for the latter. The resulting catalog of films I’ve seen looks something like the Big Screen equivalent of a “Great Books” series. From Citizen Kane and Casablanca, to The Dark Knight and LaLa Land, I enjoy films that have a reputation for excellence, and try to avoid the rest. So among these films, here are five the you should see, and why you should see them. 5. Stalag 17 (1953) It’s not likely many people have seen this film. It was relatively successful in its time, but hasn’t had the same longevity as its contemporaries, like The Great Escape (1963) or The Longest Day (1962). What makes this film unique though, are all the different elements director Billy Wilder managed fit together harmoniously. Stalag 17 is a movie about prisoners of war in Germany during WWII. It’s production is simple, yet elegant, allowing the actors and the story to provide the entertainment. A dramatic whodunnit film with just the right amount of humor mixed in, this silver screen William Holden flick holds the audience’s attention for all two hours of run time. You'll like this if you like: The Great Escape (1963); 12 Angry Men (1957); Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971). 4. Interstellar (2014) The only entry on this list I had the luxury to see in theaters, this was a film I never wanted to end. Though special effects tend generally to function as a crutch, compensating for a film’s weaker elements, this is not the case with Interstellar. Christopher Nolan brings the developmental complexity we’ve come to expect from his plots, and puts it in a setting that’s impossible to look away from. I'm a sucker for a good space film. But precious few come close to meeting the standard which Interstellar sets. Think of if as the 21st Century sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey, but with more dialog and a richer plot. I treat myself to a viewing of Interstellar precisely once a year, every year around Thanksgiving. Watch it on a big screen, in a dark room with surround sound for the full effect. You'll like this if you like: The Revenant (2015). 3. Memento (2000) The second Christopher Nolan entry on this list, and surprisingly one of his less well-known films. Memento asks hard questions about right and wrong without answering them. Most stories run beginning to end. Memento gives you one piece of his upside down murder mystery at a time, from the beginning and from the end, until they meet in the middle at the conclusion of the film. This masterful storytelling approach by Nolan that helps get the audience into the head of the protagonist. This one might take back-to-back viewings to understand. You'll like this if you like: Inception (2010); Se7en (1995). 2. The Legend Of 1900 (1998) The most obscure entry on this list. The Legend Of 1900 is an Italian Film, conveniently written in English. Though the story of a boy who is born and raised on a ship without ever leaving it doesn’t seem intriguing at first glance, the minimalist setting only shines a spotlight on a story more compelling than many of the greatest epics. Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso) isn’t afraid to combine nihilism with hope in a seemingly impossible union. There is adventure in simplicity, creativity in austerity, and joy in sadness. This film deserves undivided attention. You'll like this if you like: Forest Gump (1994); The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008). 1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) The top three films on this list came out within seven years of each other. And that’s not an accident. The 1990s into the early 2000s were a golden age for cinema, and The Shawshank Redemption is perhaps the best example.
Not too fast, not too slow; not star-studded, not riddled with amateurs, not too depressing, not unrealistically hopeful; not burdened by the necessity of believability, not undermined by implausible optimism. This is a story about people. The audience gets a sense of real, tangible, authentic humanity while watching The Shawshank Redemption, and without the usual heart-warming cliches or gut-wrenching tropes. This film isn’t out to make a quick buck, it’s not out to wow with special effects, it’s not going to babysit, distract, or help burn up a couple hours of the day. The Shawshank Redemption has everything a film needs and gives an audience everything it deserves. You'll like this if you like: The Green Mile (1999); It's A Wonderful Life (1946); The Patriot (2000); Good Will Hunting (1997). Hope you liked my list! What are your recommendations? Leave a comment below and maybe I'll mention them next time!
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It’s May, and things are starting to change. Months of dreary, gloomy, icy-cold weather are behind us. People are beginning to put away their galoshes and taking out their sandals. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire are giving way to marshmallows toasting on a campfire. Skating on ice rinks has finally ended, tanning on beaches is soon to begin. The long-awaited warm weather months are soon to return.
Perhaps the biggest sign of the coming summer though doesn’t have to do with the weather. In colleges throughout the country, students are looking ahead with anxious anticipation to what some of them might call their impending doom: graduation. Sure, graduation is exciting. The cap and gown, parties, beginning a new stage of life… all of this is well and good. But it can’t completely overshadow the challenges that await. College is something we look forward to for years. Living on your own for the first time and making all your own decisions. When you’re just beginning college, four years seems like infinity. Everything is new and exciting. Your biggest problems are the things that qualify as food in the caf, and the fact that you’re 10 page term paper is due tomorrow and you haven’t started it yet. There’s no need to worry about the future. That’s years away. And suddenly, it’s not. Graduation is weeks - nay, days! - away. You didn’t think there was enough coffee, Red Bull and Ramen in the world to get you through all your classes but here you are. Finals come and go. Senior week comes and goes. You’re walking across the stage… and just like that, it’s over. Now what? For most of us, when people ask what we’re going to do after college, we mentally refer back to our majors and talk about how we’ll get a job in a related field. So we’ve got a career in mind, sure. But what, really, are we going to do? College ends so abruptly that it leaves no time change from the confident college senior one moment, to the post-grad trying to scratch out a living the next. It took me a long time to make the transition. But I did it. And here are a few lessons that I wish I would have known when I graduated.
Life after college is daunting. Away from everything you’ve known for the last four years of your life, now people expect you to apply what you’ve learned and make something of yourself. Don’t worry about other people’s expectations, and don’t worry if you don’t become Bill Gates overnight. Know that you have people who want to help. Set ambitious, but attainable goals. Stay the course and make progress, little by little. This isn’t the end of college, it’s the beginning of life. If you don’t figure it out instantly, don’t worry. I didn’t either. |
Nick MartinMy name is Nick Martin. I write sometimes. These are my thoughts. Archives
July 2021
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