It's strange that we have managed to get this far without making a list of our favourite films. There's a reason for that. We have so many movies that would deserve to be on this list, so in order to cut it down to a reasonable amount for a blog, we have picked our favourites according to genre. Some of the films' genres overlap, because obviously they do. We had to pick genres, otherwise this list would be over a 100 titles.
A few genres are missing, like western. Because they aren't our thing. If we had to pick, we'd take a western in a modern setting (The Way of the Gun). We actually have one western that we absolutely love, but it's a TV series. Film noirs are also something we're not drawn to. Again, if we had to pick a film noir, it would be a modern one (L.A. Confidential). We've dropped the genre 'thriller' as we don't think it's a separate genre because it's always paired with something else, eg. mystery, horror or action. In addition, it's nearly indistinguishable from horror or mystery. Animated movies are just movies, you can have an animated anything. As you'll be able to see by the end of this list, we're ridiculously mainstream.
1. The Deer Hunter (war)
Anyone who knows us or has followed our blog, probably already knew that this is our other favourite film of all time. We assigned the war genre (it could have been drama as well) to this because we don't generally like war films. War films seem to take place only during the war and focus more on the military and army perspective. And a war is so much more than that. The Deer Hunter is not about the action or heroism in war but about war as a construct and its effect on one's psyche. Since it is Hollywood there's a serious problem with racism when depicting the Vietnamese. Everything else about this movie is on a different plane entirely. It has some of the best acting in film history. What we especially love about this movie is that you have to pay attention during the whole film. Everything is meaningful, no matter how insignificant it seems. This is what we compare other films to. This is the golden standard of film making for us.
1. It's a Wonderful Life (family)
Also, might not be a big surprise this shares the top place. This film is just so life-affirming. If you ever feel like you need to restore your faith in humanity, this is the one to watch. We're pretty sure that we're preaching to the choir here. Who hasn't seen this movie?
3. The original Star Wars trilogy (adventure)
This might be cheating for some, but c'mon! The one does not exist without the other two. If we were held at gunpoint and forced to choose, it would be The Empire Strikes Back. But we're not. We love all three equally. These have stayed with us since we can't even remember. We love everything about these, even the silly, stupid and dated aspects. They are the perfect adventure films. Unlike most other adventure films these have more than one level. Plus Princess Leia is our first feminist icon.
4. The Apartment (romance)
Oh, the time when romance offered as deep and intricate insights into society, relationships and the human condition as the best of dramas did. When romance hadn't been degraded into something purely frivolous and superficial. We love good romance and we hate it when it's shoved into this narrow box that film executives have created. This is what great romance movies can be. It's so funny but so sad at the same time. The main characters are simply lovable. It's Billy Wilder at his absolute best. Though we like Psycho it does not compare, this definitely deserved the Oscar. We particularly appreciate the subtle anti-corporate message.
5. Princess Mononoke (fantasy)
Another case of sharing because we can't make a decision. We love all of Miyazaki's works but this is hands down our favourite. We love his humanist ideals that are reflected in his films. And Mononoke is no exception. Fantasy has probably always been our most favourite genre, so when you combine Miyazaki's humanism with fantasy, it's inevitable that film should end up on this list. This was something that transferred us to a completely different world. We don't like anime, but this is what it could be at its best.
5. Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Obviously the animation. The best that Disney has ever produced. Indisputably. Menken's best music, best animation, best story and best characters. The visuals are far and above any other Disney film. This is not a Disney movie, this is A Movie. This is the only one, THE ONLY ONE, that rivals Miyazaki. Is there anything more to say about it?
7. Eastern Promises (crime)
We felt guilty about liking this film for the longest time (chalk it up to trying to be good Mormons). But goddamn if this movie isn't impressive. This is one of those that we return to time and time again and we like it more each time we watch it. It's dark and twisty, just as we like 'em. This film is brutal and unforgettable. The Russian melancholy really gets us every time.
8. Arrival (science fiction)
We never thought we would have a favourite sci-fi movie until we saw this. It's definitely the best film we have seen in the cinema. The science aspect in it is linguistics, a humanist science. Of course we loved it. It's incredibly well-constructed. This is the only movie where we love the plot twist, we normally either dislike them or are indifferent to them. The twist makes the film bittersweet and we love it.
9. The Lady Vanishes (mystery)
Obviously we had to have a Hitchcock on this list. It would've been invalid otherwise. We loved it immediately after seeing it. We really like Agatha Christie's mystery novels and she might as well have written this movie.
10. On the Waterfront (drama)
It was a tough choice between this and East of Eden. This took the edge by the difference of a hair. This is a classic so it's no surprise that this is on the list. The reason this film touched us is because it's a story of redemption. We love that it's a working-class story from a working-class perspective.
11. Bringing Up Baby (comedy)
This on the other hand was such an easy choice. The minute we saw it we knew it would remain as our favourite comedy. The slapstick, the verbal quips and the wacky characters! It's a never-ending gagfest where all the gags work. We quote this movie a lot.
12. 28 Days Later (horror)
For quite a while this was the only horror film we did like (we have since discovered a few more). This was the first and it hit the hardest. This isn't about how frightening the monsters are but about how scary we as humans could be in this situation.
13. Aliens (action)
Yes, we think that The Terminator is the best action film, but this is our favourite. Another film that we can't remember not having seen. Awesome and kick-ass female character, terrific action and surprisingly genuine human interaction. What's not to like?
The thread connecting most of these films is a character-driven story, often with a humanist undertone. Music is pretty damn important to us as well. Film language and visual storytelling are also things we pay a lot of attention to.
A few genres are missing, like western. Because they aren't our thing. If we had to pick, we'd take a western in a modern setting (The Way of the Gun). We actually have one western that we absolutely love, but it's a TV series. Film noirs are also something we're not drawn to. Again, if we had to pick a film noir, it would be a modern one (L.A. Confidential). We've dropped the genre 'thriller' as we don't think it's a separate genre because it's always paired with something else, eg. mystery, horror or action. In addition, it's nearly indistinguishable from horror or mystery. Animated movies are just movies, you can have an animated anything. As you'll be able to see by the end of this list, we're ridiculously mainstream.
1. The Deer Hunter (war)
Anyone who knows us or has followed our blog, probably already knew that this is our other favourite film of all time. We assigned the war genre (it could have been drama as well) to this because we don't generally like war films. War films seem to take place only during the war and focus more on the military and army perspective. And a war is so much more than that. The Deer Hunter is not about the action or heroism in war but about war as a construct and its effect on one's psyche. Since it is Hollywood there's a serious problem with racism when depicting the Vietnamese. Everything else about this movie is on a different plane entirely. It has some of the best acting in film history. What we especially love about this movie is that you have to pay attention during the whole film. Everything is meaningful, no matter how insignificant it seems. This is what we compare other films to. This is the golden standard of film making for us.
1. It's a Wonderful Life (family)
Also, might not be a big surprise this shares the top place. This film is just so life-affirming. If you ever feel like you need to restore your faith in humanity, this is the one to watch. We're pretty sure that we're preaching to the choir here. Who hasn't seen this movie?
3. The original Star Wars trilogy (adventure)
This might be cheating for some, but c'mon! The one does not exist without the other two. If we were held at gunpoint and forced to choose, it would be The Empire Strikes Back. But we're not. We love all three equally. These have stayed with us since we can't even remember. We love everything about these, even the silly, stupid and dated aspects. They are the perfect adventure films. Unlike most other adventure films these have more than one level. Plus Princess Leia is our first feminist icon.
4. The Apartment (romance)
Oh, the time when romance offered as deep and intricate insights into society, relationships and the human condition as the best of dramas did. When romance hadn't been degraded into something purely frivolous and superficial. We love good romance and we hate it when it's shoved into this narrow box that film executives have created. This is what great romance movies can be. It's so funny but so sad at the same time. The main characters are simply lovable. It's Billy Wilder at his absolute best. Though we like Psycho it does not compare, this definitely deserved the Oscar. We particularly appreciate the subtle anti-corporate message.
5. Princess Mononoke (fantasy)
Another case of sharing because we can't make a decision. We love all of Miyazaki's works but this is hands down our favourite. We love his humanist ideals that are reflected in his films. And Mononoke is no exception. Fantasy has probably always been our most favourite genre, so when you combine Miyazaki's humanism with fantasy, it's inevitable that film should end up on this list. This was something that transferred us to a completely different world. We don't like anime, but this is what it could be at its best.
5. Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Obviously the animation. The best that Disney has ever produced. Indisputably. Menken's best music, best animation, best story and best characters. The visuals are far and above any other Disney film. This is not a Disney movie, this is A Movie. This is the only one, THE ONLY ONE, that rivals Miyazaki. Is there anything more to say about it?
7. Eastern Promises (crime)
We felt guilty about liking this film for the longest time (chalk it up to trying to be good Mormons). But goddamn if this movie isn't impressive. This is one of those that we return to time and time again and we like it more each time we watch it. It's dark and twisty, just as we like 'em. This film is brutal and unforgettable. The Russian melancholy really gets us every time.
8. Arrival (science fiction)
We never thought we would have a favourite sci-fi movie until we saw this. It's definitely the best film we have seen in the cinema. The science aspect in it is linguistics, a humanist science. Of course we loved it. It's incredibly well-constructed. This is the only movie where we love the plot twist, we normally either dislike them or are indifferent to them. The twist makes the film bittersweet and we love it.
9. The Lady Vanishes (mystery)
Obviously we had to have a Hitchcock on this list. It would've been invalid otherwise. We loved it immediately after seeing it. We really like Agatha Christie's mystery novels and she might as well have written this movie.
10. On the Waterfront (drama)
It was a tough choice between this and East of Eden. This took the edge by the difference of a hair. This is a classic so it's no surprise that this is on the list. The reason this film touched us is because it's a story of redemption. We love that it's a working-class story from a working-class perspective.
11. Bringing Up Baby (comedy)
This on the other hand was such an easy choice. The minute we saw it we knew it would remain as our favourite comedy. The slapstick, the verbal quips and the wacky characters! It's a never-ending gagfest where all the gags work. We quote this movie a lot.
12. 28 Days Later (horror)
For quite a while this was the only horror film we did like (we have since discovered a few more). This was the first and it hit the hardest. This isn't about how frightening the monsters are but about how scary we as humans could be in this situation.
13. Aliens (action)
Yes, we think that The Terminator is the best action film, but this is our favourite. Another film that we can't remember not having seen. Awesome and kick-ass female character, terrific action and surprisingly genuine human interaction. What's not to like?
The thread connecting most of these films is a character-driven story, often with a humanist undertone. Music is pretty damn important to us as well. Film language and visual storytelling are also things we pay a lot of attention to.
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