Top 10 Films Of All Time

This week's top 10 is the greatest films of all time. Films are ultimately my passion in life. I am writing a screenplay now and I hope to have it finished by the summer. I absolutely love film and their is no kind of film I will not watch. Just to let you know, I feel a distinct difference between films and movies. Films are original and profound, and they make viewers think. Movies are made for entertainment and may not really have any substance. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of good, even great, movies. However, these are the top 10 films of all time.

Honorable Mention:
Memento (2000)
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb (1964)
Psycho (1960)
Seven (1995)
Forrest Gump (1994)

#10 - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is one of the greatest American films of all time and is brilliantly directed by Czech Milos Forman. Its allegorical theme is set in the world of an authentic mental hospital, a place of rebellion exhibited by a energetic, flamboyant, wise-guy anti-hero against the establishment, institutional authority and status-quo attitudes. Forman himself noted that the asylum was a metaphor for the Soviet Union (embodied as Nurse Ratched) and the desire to escape. Expressing his basic human rights and impulses, the protagonist protests against heavy-handed rules about watching the World Series, and illegally stages both a fishing trip and a drinking party in the ward - leading to his own paralyzing lobotomy. Jack Nicholson's acting persona is the heroic rebel McMurphy, who lives free or dies. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is a film dramatizing rebellion and insubordination against oppressive bureaucracy and an insistence upon rights, self-expression, and freedom. This film is both thoughtful and amazing, and personally it amazes me.


#9 - Shinchi-nin no Samurai (The Seven Samurai) (1954)
Akira Kurosawa’s martial-art epic Seven Samurai remains one of the great action films of all time. With its massive emotional range, dazzling technical virtuosity, and sensitivity to the natural universe, it remains after nearly fifty years a supreme example of cinema’s power to arouse and astound us. Seven Samurai contains some of the most dazzling battles ever put on film. The movie’s action scenes cover the spectrum of moral and physical complexity, from the waste of life that occurs when Samurai’s pride goads him into fighting a suicidal duel, to the climactic battle staged in a freezing rainstorm as the combatants flounder at each other amidst buckets of mud. The movie breathes with alternating energies, from explosive outbursts to supple silences, from scenes of intense grief (some of the deaths in Seven Samurai don’t bear thinking about) to the vision of a higher community that appears when the samurai share their rice with village’s children. Kurosawa is one of the most under-rated directors of all time and Seven Samurai is brilliant and masterful.

#8 - The Godfather: Part II (1974)
In Part II of the Godfather trilogy the saga of the Corleone Family continues, serving as both a prologue and a sequel, extending over a period of 60 years and three generations. The script was again co-authored by director Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, the author of the popular novel about American organized crime. Many critics believe this film sequel, at a lengthy three hours and twenty minutes, is a superior improvement over the original film, although some of it is confusing and leaves questions unanswered. However, The film has one of the most effective final images ever produced. The flashback ends and the image returns to Michael's face. Middle-aged, prematurely old Michael, now a ruthless, soul-less, power-mad and paranoid gangster, he sits quietly and introspectively on a Tahoe estate lawn chair as the cold winter approaches. He is once again alone, with all family loyalties dissolved. He is wearing his wedding ring, although he has separated himself for his estranged wife Kay. In the disintegrated aftermath, Michael is isolated from everyone and emptied, with dark, brooding, hollow eyes. The camera slowly zooms in for a closeup before fading to black and the film's credits. This is my favorite final scene to a film and it left me with that haunting image.

#7 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
This may be a questionable call for some people out there and I know that some people may consider this a movie rather then a film. However, this fantasy epic is artistic is many ways. The Return of he King is by far the greatest film in arguably the greatest trilogy. This three hour plus film shows life in the world of Middle Earth where elves, dwarfs, orcs and hobbits reign. The direction and story-telling is phenomenally done by Peter Jackson who put about years of his life into making this trilogy and it paid off. The Return of the King won 11 out of the 11 Oscars it was nominated for (which is unheard of) and also grossed over 1 billion dollars world-wide. Even with those honors the detailed world in which Jackson replicates from J.R.R. Tolkien's books is the most amazing thing to me. With beautiful landscapes and precise cinematography a world of wonder, despair and hope is captured and put on screen for our enjoyment. The Return of the King could very well be the greatest achievement in film history and at least the most important since Citizen Kane.

#6 - Taxi Driver (1976)

It may have taken Martin Scorsese forever to get his Oscar that he deserved, but he should have won in 1976 for this great film. Taxi Driver is the most thought-provoking film I have ever seen. Every time I see this film it stirs up many ideas and interests that this film covers. For example, the scene in which Robert De Niro is in the grocery store when it is being robbed and he shoots and kills the robber, I wonder what would I do in this situation (not kill the guy would be my answer by the way). But still Taxi Driver makes us wonder about our actions and how other people portray those actions as heroic or questionable or downright insane. This film is incredibly original and amazingly well done. The Departed may have won Scorsese the Oscar and De Niro may have gotten his for Raging Bull, but this is both of their masterpieces. They both show their gifts on and off the screen which makes Taxi Driver one of the greatest films ever made.

#5 - Citizen Kane (1941)
The fresh, sophisticated, and classic masterpiece, Citizen Kane, is probably the world's most famous and highly-rated film, with its many remarkable scenes and performances, cinematic and narrative techniques and experimental innovations. Its director, star, and producer were all the same genius individual - Orson Welles (in his film debut at age 25!), who collaborated with Herman J. Mankiewicz on the script. The thrills of Welles' breathtakingly exciting debut picture are multifarious. For one thing, there's the exhilaration of watching a cocky 25-year-old genius explore the possibilities of the medium for the first time, playing provocatively with the properties of film as if he'd been doing it all his life. Visually and aurally -- from Gregg Toland's celebrated deep-focus cinematography to Robert Wise's crisp, complex editing to the multi-layered impressionistic/expressionistic soundtrack -- Kane is as stunning and sophisticated as any movie ever made, and it crackles and whizzes along at a pace that can even keep the MTV generation riveted to the screen. Citizen Kane is the American Film Institutes #1 and probably a lot of other people's #1 as well.


#4 - Cidade de Deus (City of God) (2002)
This high-paced, thrilling tale of the deadly ghetto in Rio de Janeiro known as "City of God" is on this list for a million reasons. First of all, this ground-breaking film changed the way I look at films forever and made me branch out and look at foreign films. Second of all, City of God is remarkable in its unique technique of telling the story of Rocket, a boy growing up among the gangs in the ghetto but trying to force himself out of the dangerous neighborhood in which even cops dare not venture.City of God is based on a true story that I could not imagine surviving. This film explores a world in which people rarely live past twenty years-old, murder is a coming occurrence, and drug dealers reign as kings. I love this film with a sincere passion and if you have not seen it do not let the subtitles scare you, its simply amazing.

#3 - The Godfather (1971)
Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece contains some of the most memorable moments in film history. The horse head in the bed scene, Sonny at the tollbooth, and of course Marlon Brando saying, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." This memorable achievement is considered by many critics as the greatest film of all time and I can certainly see why. The Godfather has everything: directing, writing, cinematography, music, and of course acting with legends like Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Al Pacino and the master, Marlon Brando. If I could choose one film that everybody has to see it would be The Godfather because everyone can enjoy some aspect of this incredible film about family, friends, and the mafia.

#2 - Schindler's List (1993)
There have been many films that have been made about the horrors of this world, however one stands above them all: Schindler's List. This disturbing, yet moving film is about Oskar Schindler's heroic attempt to save Jews from going to concentration camps during World War II. Steven Spielberg's direction is absolutely flawless and he undeniably deserved the Academy Award for Best Director in 1993, which he won. Spielberg's most ingenious idea for the film is that he filmed it in black and white while only letting one thing show color, that being the red coat of the little girl throughout the scene in which the Nazis forced Jews from their homes. In some mysterious way the black and white film brings the haunting terrors of the holocaust to life in this emotional masterpiece. With the sensational acting of Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley this brilliant tale is full of unyielding sadness yet it has hope at the end of the long journey.

#1 - Lawrence of Arabia (1964)
Throughout my film watching days I have struggled to determine which film I think is the greatest and it has been between these top two for about the last 10 years or so. However, after watching both again on the same day last year I had to say it was Lawrence of Arabia. This amazing World War I epic of Thomas Edward Lawrence and how he tackled the Arabian Desert is beautiful and profound. Peter O'Toole gives a powerful preformance that brings the audience into the world in which he is trying to conquer. David Lean's direction is only paralled by the extreme beauty of the landscape in which the film is shot. The desert is the perfect backdrop for this compelling story of one man's struggle to find his place in the world. With the outstanding supporting role of Prince Feisal played brilliantly by Alec Guiness and the greatest cinematography ever captured on film it is a remarkable achievement. Lawrence of Arabia is a breath-taking story that is visually incredible and emotionally stirring. This film is without a doubt perfect, which is hard to say of any other film.

Top 10 Albums Of All Time

Music has always been an incredibly important part of my development as a person. There has been music that has taught me things about life that no one person ever told me to my face. Music is my release from the stronghold of reality, and I might be lost without it. With all that said here is my top 10 albums of all time starting with #10.

Actually a few Honorable Mentions first:
The Bends by Radiohead (1995)
Doolittle by The Pixies (1989)
Nevermind by Nirvana (1991)

#10- The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips (1999)
What do you get when you mix a bunch of 40 year-old musical geniuses and heroin together? The answer to that question is The Soft Bulletin. This album is a mixture of beautiful chaos and eloquently situated words jumbled into an end-of-the-millennium masterpiece. Right from the start with Race For The Prize, The Flaming Lips signal their ingenious intent to create an album the way they thought music should be with soft vocals and heartbreaking melodies. The best song to me on this album is the second one on the album called A Spoonful Weighs A Ton which is a heroin hallucination turned into a unique song that captures the pleasures of life. The Soft Bulletin is more then music, its almost a moving epic of emotion. This is an album that anyone can enjoy and everyone should appreciate.

#9- Blonde On Blonde by Bob Dylan (1966)
How could you have an all time greatest album list without the greatest songwriter of all time? Dylan's way with words is second to none and in Blonde On Blonde he shows why he changed the way music is made forever. The way Dylan changes moods and styles throughout the album is simply amazing. He is a master craftsman and this is his masterpiece. This is a 14-track album that was recorded in only a few days but 40 years later it still remains as one of the most astonishing musical achievements of all time and that is why it is #9 on my list.

#8- Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth (1988)
You would be hard pressed to find anybody who knows anything about music and has heard Daydream Nation that would argue with this pick. That's partly because this album is great - which is the boring reason - but it's also because this album is one of a handful that shaped what indie rock is. PitchforkMedia.com rates it as the #1 album of the 1980s and I almost agree with the exception of The Pixies' Surfer Rosa. Daydream Nation is a record that promotes intellectual thought and makes listeners ponder issues of life. This is what makes an album great. A great album has never been made where no thinking is required. Daydream Nation is almost as if it was architecturally designed by God to make people discover what is real in life and what isn't. This album is one of my favorites and definitely has the greatest name for an album ever.

#7- Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin (1971)
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones got together to form this little band called Led Zeppelin back in the 60s. Little did we know that they would become arguably the greatest band of all time, but I am sure they knew that it would happen. Never ones to understate themselves, Led Zeppelin have created the greatest musical empire ever, (next to The Beatles of course) and just about all of their albums could have been on this list. IV begins with the energetic rock songs Black Dog and Rock & Roll, both of which are undeniably awesome. Then in the middle lies arguably the greatest rock ballad ever written in Stairway To Heaven. This song could have put the album on the list by itself. The long, drawn out sophistication of this epic is simply phenomenal and will never again be matched. This album is one for the ages and continues to amaze me every time I listen to it.

#6- Surfer Rosa by The Pixies (1988)
If I had to describe this album in one word it would be BADASS! From the second you press play on the stereo this album blazes to life with thunderous drums, disgusting guitar riffs and a tidal wave of bass that carries the listener through the scorching momentum that is The Pixies. The songs are unrelenting, Frank Black tries to scream lines like "I got no arms, I got no legs, " above the blaring music. Joey Santiago's guitar's are masterful but turn aggressive and delicate. Kim Deal, bass and back vocals, brings a perfect touch of femininity. Under the fiery guitars of Bone Machine and Something Against You lays a tuneful Gigantic and the song that made them legends of underground rock, Where Is My Mind?. Surfer Rosa is an amazing and original album that is captivating beyond belief.

#5- Piano Man by Billy Joel (1973)
Of all the albums on this list, this is the one I wouldn't expect to see on anybody else's list. However, I think it is completely underestimated in musical appreciation. I must first admit I grew up on this album and could sing any song completely perfect. However, it is not until a year or two ago I discovered how musical enticing it really is. Joel's incredible sense of piano rhythms and harmonies and hard to dislike. He matches it only with his rough and tumble lyrics that range from songs about the Wild West to songs about getting high on cocaine. Not to mention he has Piano Man in the second slot on the album. One of the great anthems of struggle, it detaches itself from happiness and clings to desperation. However, he involves multiple instruments throughout the album that start the feet a tapping and the mouth a singing. This on the other hand does not mean the album is just catchy, when in fact he is lyrically skilled and shows his talents in every track. Billy Joel is the type of rockstar I would want to be (and I don't mean a drunk that can't drive).

#4- Revolver by The Beatles (1966)
What can I say about The Beatles that hasn't been said already. Well the truth is I am personally not a Beatlemaniac and never will be, but I appreciate great music when I hear it. VH1 wrote a book of the hundred greatest albums a few years ago and this was the top dog. I certainly agree that this is the best of all The Beatles incredible albums. With songs that range from joyous, like Good Day Sunshine, to decimating songs of loneliness, like Eleanor Rigby, this record shows off the amazing talents of the four guys from Liverpool named Paul, John, George and Ringo. Revolver is a harmonious yet sophisticated album that may very well be a perfect album, and can definitely be called a masterpiece.

#3- The Moon & Antarctica by Modest Mouse (2000)
Every so often does an album come along that palpitates our hearts, ignites our passions, and justifies our existence. all in one attempt. The acrimonious Isaac Brock sings, "Everyone's afraid of their own lives, If you could be anything you want, I bet you'd be disappointed, am I right?" in one of the closing songs, Lives. Brock's take on life is like that of no other. He may be the only person that I know that will mutilate his body during a song on stage and be able to rock unreal melodies and sing meaningful lyrics while doing it. In The Moon & Antarctica Modest Mouse creates layers and layers of treated and raw sounds that blend into a thick headtrip. Piano, chimes, sleigh bells, keyboards and cellos can be excavated from the mix. Brock constantly obsesses about the afterlife, and with help he finds it far out in space and inside his clouded, scatterbrained head. This album resembles some Pixie-like influence yet creates unique tracks that make this album my #3.

#2- OK Computer by Radiohead (1997)
If there was ever a band completely about the music its Radiohead. Album after album they create music that influences the masses of musical fanatics throughout the world. They may be the most influential band that I have ever listened to and maybe the greatest band ever. Every artist that is considered great has a masterpiece, De Vinci's Mona Lisa, Beethoven's 9th Symphony, and Radiohead's OK Computer. The album is steaming with genuine emotion, beautiful imagery and complex music. Thom Yorke's fragile vocals fill the air while being backed by brilliant guitar duels. OK Computer's claim of humans slowly becoming robotic in nature is true and resounding throughout the record. Radiohead have created an album that is both thoughtful and pensive while maintaining their intent of music first. With songs like Paranoid Android, Karma Police, Electioneering, and Climbing Up The Walls, OK Computer is forever a classic and a masterpiece.

#1- Funeral by Arcade Fire (2004)
To me this is a no-brainer. Arcade Fire have done something no other band could probably do, and that is to take all of their musical influences and create something that is unique and unheard of. Funeral is perfection from start to finish and there is no way any person could convince me otherwise. This album's focus is on the inner struggles that humans face throughout life: death of a loved one, search for a purpose, and salvation from mistakes made. Arcade Fire do so with tangible melodies and harmonious guitar play with rough yet sweet vocals from Win Butler. This Canadian band's purposeful album opens with the theatrical Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) and closes with the glowing optimism of In The Backseat. In between lies the glorious Rebellion (Lies) and the shimmering anthem Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) that is constructed with musical fluidity. Not to mention this is Arcade Fire's debut album. Funeral is to me the greatest album of all time and I look forward to see what Arcade Fire has in store for us in the future.