113. The Crying Game
Neil Jordan won an Oscar for his script, but only after every studio had turned him down saying his story was uncommercial, offensive and the characters unsympathetic.
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112. Dazed and Confused
Belonging to a tradition that dates back to Rebel Without a Cause, Richard Linklater’s early masterpiece also owes some debt of gratitude to Robert Altman.
111. Pulp Fiction
20 years after its release, it is startling to see how original Pulp Fiction still is. Ironic considering it was inspired by and borrowed from so many other films.
110. The Shawshank Redemption
A box-office flop in 1994, Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novella is proof that some films deserve a second chance.
109. Heaven’s Gate
Heaven’s Gate was such a flop, it sank a studio. But in the years since its release, its reputation has been growing. Is it the masterpiece some people claim?
108. The Usual Suspects
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn’t exist. Is this the greatest heist movie ever made?
107. The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson may share his surname with other directors, but there’s no mistaking his films for anybody elses.
106. Tootsie
Tootsie tackled 1980s’ chauvanism by disguising a man as a woman. Hilarious as it was, the tradition can be traced as far back as Homer’s Illiad.
105. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Is this film about amnesia or is it about déjà vu? Either way, Charlie Kaufman’s script which focuses on memory is a true original.
104. The Grifters
Based on Jim Thompson’s grimey story about smalltime criminals, Stephen Frears’ film was robbed when it didn’t win a single Oscar from its four nominations.
103. The Talented Mr. Ripley
The 1960 adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel was already so revered, was Anthony Minghella wise to try a new version?
102. Movies about Movies
Most movies about moviemaking are little more than trite tributes. Are there any that go beyond the surface of the silver screen?
101. 12 Years a Slave
He has made only 3 feature films, but with each of them being a masterpieces Steve McQueen is now one of the world’s leading filmmakers.
100. Critics or Crickets
Gravity was one of last year’s biggest hits ($650m). But how much of that is due to critics giving it 98% approval? Is word of mouth more valuable?
99. Christopher Nolan’s Mementos
He may make blockbusters, but Christopher Nolan’s tastes lean more to art house cinema. So what are his films really about?
98. Peter Weir – Master and Commander
Peter Weir: 6 Oscar nominations, no wins. No other living director has been so denied the statuette. Does it matter?
97. The English Patient
Lyrical language and elliptical plotting can work in a novel, but not necessarily in cinema. Does The English Patient succeed?
96. The Social Network
Aaron Sorkin’s script is lauded as dazzling. But a script is more than just dialogue, and that’s why Sorkin’s is so great.
95. Shakespeare in Love
A lot of people don’t like this because it beat Saving Private Ryan to the Best Picture Oscar. Is the prejudice justified?
94. JFK
Oliver Stone’s JFK was lambasted by both the political left and right for its factual inaccuracies. But since very few can agree on the facts, is it a good movie?
93. The Deer Hunter
If it was originally called The Man Who Came To Play and took place in a Las Vegas casino, how did the story end up taking place in Vietnam during the war?
92. Moonstruck
Originally called The Bride and The Wolf, Moonstruck is as much about irritability, irrationality and mortality as it is about romance. Is that what makes it so good?
91. The Piano
Writer-director, Jane Campion made history in 1993 when she became the first woman to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
90. Halloween
Producer Irwin Yablans originally called it The Baby-Sitter Murders, and put up $325,000. Under John Carpenter’s direction, Halloween made over $70m.
