My Favorite Movies

There is something wrong with me.  My most recent realization of this came courtesy of the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once.  I sought it out after hearing all the buzz about how great it was.  It started OK but started to lose me about halfway through.  I gave up and turned it off before finishing, something I very, very rarely do.  It had lost my interest.  I don't get why everyone was raving about it.  This isn't the first time this has happened.  Other notable examples of movies that didn't live up to their hype for me are The Matrix, Pulp Fiction (and every other Tarantino movie) and even universally acclaimed classics like The Godfather.  Now I didn't turn any of those movies off in the middle, but I don't think they were as good as the consensus of the masses.  In some cases, I think the movies are watchable or maybe even good, just not deserving of the gushing praise being heaped on them.

I typically agree with about half of the selections that make various best movies list.  One of the problems is my taste leans towards comedies.  For some reason comedies don't get the love that I think they deserve from either the general populace or from the assorted awards bodies.  To make up for that, I'm creating my own list of favorite movies.  I'm not using the term "best" or "greatest" as those imply there is some objective measurement that can be used to evaluate them.  There isn't.  These are movies that I love, for one reason or another.  You may agree or disagree.  That's fine, this is a subjective topic and probably says more about me than the movies.  So, in release date order:

[Disclaimer: Links in here take you to the movie on Amazon Prime Video.  A purchase or rental using this link may earn me a commission.  Even buying something else when clicking through the link will send some money my way, so start all your Amazon shopping trips here so I can quit my day job and spend more time creating content for this blog!   I am NOT earning any commissions for links in this blog.  Amazon did not think I was bringing in enough traffic and threw me out of their program, so I don't care if you buy or rent these movies from them or another streaming service.]

My Favorites

Modern Times (1936)

Charlie Chaplin is an amazing entertainer.  He made a number of silent films that could find their way onto this list, but I picked Modern Times as a representative example.  The Tramp character is funny and lovable, and the movie sucks you into his world, all without much in the way of dialog.  An accompanying soundtrack and sound effects combined with his physical comedy is all he needs to deliver top notch entertainment.  Even more impressive is he did everything himself- wrote, acted, directed, scored.  Incredible!  The story and humor pass the test of time and the movie is still able to entertain audiences today.  Most of my list is composed of movies that have come out during my lifetime.  I've seen a fair number of the older classics and not all of them hold up as well as this one.

Pillow Talk (1959)

I really wanted to include a movie from the romantic comedy genre that was thriving in Hollywood in the post-war era.  A couple of the Rock Hudson / Doris Day pictures are very entertaining, and they have great chemistry together, but Pillow Talk is my favorite.   There are a number of honorable mentions here, such as The Seven Year Itch, or some Cary Grant films like Monkey Business.  Jack Lemmon has some very funny movies in this era as well.  I would love to have included an Audrey Hepburn movie because, like Doris Day, she is so great to watch, but I don't think any of her films are as great as her performance in them, so they didn't quite make the cut.

The premise of Pillow Talk is typical of the genre and the era and could be considered formulaic, but Hudson and Day take that formula and turn it into magic.  I don't care if it is absurd and implausible, it still puts a smile on my face.

Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg has more movies in consideration for my favorite's list than any other director.  He is, in my opinion, the greatest director ever.  John Williams' soundtracks likely play a big role in what makes many of Spielberg's films so memorable, and as you will see from this list, great soundtracks are a recurring theme in my favorite movies.  Jaws is no exception.  The score and sound are instrumental in building the suspense in the movie.  The story is multifaceted with all of the major story themes going on at the same time: man vs. nature; man vs. man and man vs. himself and the telling of those stories is what elevates this movie beyond a typical suspense film.  Spielberg's ability to recreate the bonding that can come from an intense environment was on display in the boat scenes with Quint, Hooper and Chief Brody.  The same effect would be recreated decades later in Saving Private Ryan. 

Airplane! (1980)

This Zucker Brothers and Jim Abrahams masterpiece is one of those rare comedies that does receive the plaudits it deserves.  Almost.  It still wasn't nominated for a single Oscar.  It does routinely sit at the top or close to the top of best comedy lists, however.   The deadpan absurdity of it is not only a brilliant send-up of the disaster movies of the 70's but stands alone as a comedy on its own.  A rarity among spoofs.  

Caddyshack (1980)

Harold Ramis is another brilliant writer/director.  I was tempted to include several of his movies with Chevy Chase on this list.  National Lampoon's Vacation would've been my other choice.  Ultimately, I liked Christmas Vacation (not directed by Ramis) even better than the original Vacation movie, so Caddyshack gets the nod here and Christmas Vacation gets a place on the list.  It all comes together in this movie- comedy, soundtrack, cast, quotability.  I was going to say performances as well, but really all the big stars, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield were just doing what they always do.  

Spies Like Us (1985)

Dan Akroyd and Chevy Chase are hilarious together in this film.  That's enough for it to make my list.

Back To The Future (1985)

Awesome movie.  Fun, entertaining, engrossing.  I love it. What else needs to be said?

Top Gun (1986)

This is one of several movies to make this list despite my not necessarily rating it a 10 out of 10.  This movie was revolutionary when it came out.  The flying sequences were unlike anything seen before.  The Kenny Loggins music was perfect for the movie.  Tom Cruise cemented himself as a box-office star with his portrayal of Maverick, the cocky, rebellious fighter pilot.  Anthony Edwards as Goose was an odd casting choice.  He did great, but I can't see him as anything other than Gilbert from Revenge of the Nerds.  The sequel that came out recently, Top Gun Maverick, has also been getting rave reviews.  I think the sequel is probably the equal of this movie in terms of quality, but it is nowhere near as groundbreaking as the first one was and that, in my opinion, makes it kind of disappointing.  I don't know who these people are that are rating the sequel above the original.

Spaceballs (1987)

As much as I want to love Mel Brook's movies, this is the only one that makes my list.  Spaceballs seems a bit more polished than most of his other films and the humor seems on average to be of a higher grade.  Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet was great.  Bill Pullman was fantastic, too.  I can watch this movie over and over and it never gets old.

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)

Another entry from the Zucker Brothers and Jim Abrahams.  A lot of the jokes are from their earlier, short lived series "Police Squad", and Leslie Nielson adopts the same deadpan style pioneered in Airplane! that works so well.  Despite being built on foundations that had been laid before, it still seems fresh and funny.  Casting OJ Simpson as Nordberg was fantastic.  That choice, um, didn't really stand the test of time, however.  

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

I would never have guessed Steve Martin and Michael Caine would be a good on-screen combo, but it worked great.  Even knowing how all the twists and turns shake out in the end doesn't detract from the joy of watching this movie for the umpteenth time.  That's a testament to the production quality, the acting and the scenery.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

The entire Indiana Jones series is fantastic, but The Last Crusade stands out to me as the best.  The addition of Sean Connery to the cast as Indy's father puts it over the top of the others.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

This and the first Vacation movie are both worthy of being on this list.  Christmas Vacation just has that little extra something that make it more memorable and more quotable.  Cousin Eddie had a bigger role in this movie which is a plus as well.

The Hunt for Red October (1990)

This is one of those rare movies made from a book that actually does the book justice.  Alec Baldwin was the best Jack Ryan in all of the movies made from Clancy's books, though I do like John Krasinski's portrayal of him in the Jack Ryan series on Amazon as well.  Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan in the other movies didn't work for me.  I have a penchant for liking submarine movies for some reason. (Because depth charge explosions sound awesome in my home theater?) U-571, Down Periscope, Das Boot, Crimson Tide were all good, but the Hunt for Red October was a step above.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Unlike The Hunt for Red October, I don't think the movie Jurassic Park was as good as the book.  However, it still lands a spot on this list by being a good movie and, importantly, a groundbreaking movie.  The computer generated special effects that brought the dinosaurs to life were revolutionary at that time.  Today they are commonplace, but back then it was jaw-dropping.  It is another example of Spielberg being at the forefront of his profession.  Unfortunately, the film is marred by some questionable choices, like a kid doing some hacking on a computer system.  The dinosaurs were way more believable than that.  Dr. Malcom's preachiness seemed a bit over-the-top as well.

Forrest Gump (1994)

A very unique film.  Extremely memorable.  Unlike most of the films on this list, I don't have the urge to watch this one over and over again.  I revisit it about every 6 or 7 years or so.  That doesn't make it any less great.  For once, the Motion Picture Acadamy and I are in agreement on what is deserving of an Oscar.

Dumb and Dumber (1994)

With this movie, the Farrelly brothers start picking up where the Zucker brothers left off on making great comedies.   Apparently, it takes brothers to make great comedies.  Dumb and dumber is brilliantly funny.  Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels went all out with their Lloyd and Harry characters.  Memorable music choices help cement this as one of my favorite movies.

Swingers (1996)

Wow, what a movie.  If I recall, it didn't get a great reception when it was released but it has become a cult classic.  Many more people are probably going back to revisit it thanks to the career success that much of the cast would later go on to.  It is a semi-autobiographic tale of Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn and Ron Livingston and their struggles trying to break into acting.  There's a loose plot centered on Mike (Favreau) trying to get over a tough breakup.  It is plain to see why virtually everyone associated with this movie has gone on to great success in Hollywood.

Director Doug Liman did an incredible job making this movie on a shoestring budget (only $200,000 !!!) and much of the charm and realism in the movie comes from them having to shoot on location at real parties and clubs without paid extras and all the crew usually associated with movie production.  I'm not sure how much of that budget went to music royalties, but whatever they spent it was worth it.  The soundtrack is full of memorable tunes and the song choices complement the scenes in the movie perfectly.  Heart.  Dean Martin.  Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  It's quite a mix.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

1997 sticks out to me.  I recall it being the most fun overall year in my lifetime.  Austin Powers was a part of that, and I think helped cement the vibe for the year.  The Spice Girls.  Aqua. The Macarena.  Austin Powers.  This movie was so unique, fresh and funny that I think I saw it at least 3 times in the theater.  At least 3 times.  The idea for the movie was outrageous and Mike Myers fully played up to it and it.  The supporting cast was all fantastic as well.  It is part spoof but is well-done and stands on its own even if you haven't seen what it was spoofing.  Admittedly, I hadn't seen a lot of influences Myers used to create his characters outside of the obvious ones from the James Bond movies.  If I had, I would probably have loved it even more.

The Fifth Element (1997)

A visual and auditory feast.  This isn't normally the kind of movie that I would anticipate would be among my favorites, but this one was so well done that it really stands out.  So many memorable performances.  Bruce Willis was pretty much his usual self, but Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman and Chris Tucker all hit one out of the park.  This was a masterpiec by Luc Besson.

There's Something About Mary (1998)

The Farrelly brothers did it again with this movie.  This time, Cameron Diaz steals the show as the title character Mary.  Matt Dillon and Ben Stiller provide the comic relief making themselves the butt of the jokes much as Carrey and Daniels did in Dumb and Dumber.  It is totally believable that everyone falls for Mary and that is probably why I have no problem re-watching this movie. 

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

More Spielberg.  Not much comedy in this one, but it is a visceral war tale, brilliantly shot that captures, what I imagine WWII felt like.  It's intense.  As with Jaws, Spielberg creates a great portrayal of the comradery of people facing a life and death crisis.  Like Forrest Gump, I can't watch this one too often.  When I do, it has to be on a large screen with the volume up.

Office Space (1999)

Mike Judge created a hilarious send up of cubicle culture in this movie that is now considered a cult classic.  Ron Livingston (see Swingers above) is in the title role and Jennifer Aniston has a supporting role.  I'm not sure why it didn't do well in the theaters.  I love the premise of the movie and it was well executed.  Judge scored the movie with lots of gangsta rap, which I can't say I usually listen to, but really enjoy in this movie.  There is something appealing about the way Judge approaches satire.

Charlie's Angels (2000)

This is a guilty pleasure inclusion.  Director McG made a really fun movie.  Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore, Bill Murray, Sam Rockwell, Crispin Glover, Luke Wilson all nailed their roles.  Many of the stunts are totally unrealistic (wire fighting?) but I don't care, I still love it.

Idiocracy (2006)

This is yet another box office bust from Mike Judge that ended up with a large cult following and has wormed its way into the zeitgeist.  I can see how this wasn't well received initially.  I didn't think it was that great the first time I saw it either.  (What's with all the time devoted to pimps and pimping Mike???)  But the premise stuck with me.  As I observed the stupidity in the world around me, I kept thinking back to this movie.  The satire in it runs deep and rings true.  Maybe too true as it can sometimes seem like Judge had a window to the future and predicted a lot of the idiocy that has transpired between 2006 and now.  Genius.

There are layers to this movie.  Every time I watch it, I notice some new little detail of stupidity that I missed before.  The actors do a fine job of portraying idiots.  While I didn't appreciate it on my first viewing, time and rewatching have allowed me to get past some of the oddities of it and appreciate the pearls within.

Honorable Mentions

These are movies that I still think are great but don't quite deserve top billing with the movies above.

Casablanca (1942)

A popular classic that I also like.

The Sting (1974)

Another best picture winner that I'm on board with.

Star Wars Franchise (various)

I love these movies though can't come up with concrete reasons why, which is why they aren't on the favorites list above.  Maybe it is because I grew up with them.

Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

Low-brow hilarity that has you rooting for the nerds.

Fletch (1985)

Another great comedic performance from Chevy Chase.  I'm afraid to see the new one, Confess, Fletch staring Jon Hamm as I fear it won't live up to the greatness of the original.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Great movie, though the special effects have not really stood the test of time.

True Lies (1994)

Action and comedy- a great combo.  Tom Arnold, Jamie Lee Curtis and Bill Paxton help keep this from being a more run-of-the-mill Schwarzenegger action flick.

Gattaca (1997)

Dystopian.  Highly stylized.  Thought provoking.  I like it.

School of Rock (2003)

I had to show some love for Jack Black.

National Treasure (2004)

Another guilty pleasure that probably doesn't deserve to be here, but I love it anyway.  Historical mystery and scavenger hunt?  Yes please!

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

A fine example of the Apatow comedy and some nice work from Steve Carrell.  Elizabeth Banks steals every scene she is in.

I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry (2007)

I wanted to include an Adam Sandler comedy here.  This one wins because it includes Kevin James and a smoking hot Jessica Biel

The Hunger Games (2012)

Jennifer Lawrence is captivating.  No surprise she went on to super-stardom.  Elizabeth Banks once again steals every scene she's in.

The Heat (2013)

This is another of those actor pairings I never would've thought of.  Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in a buddy cop movie?  But it works, so, so well.  Their chemistry is amazing and their comedic timing is spot on.  There is supposedly a sequel in development.  I can't wait!

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

A different sort of action film.  I like the way it was done.  Taron Egerton and Colin Firth did a great job in this.

Closing Credits

A few things stand out for me from this list after creating it.  The first is the most recent film from the favorites list was released in 2006 and even the honorable mentions only go to 2014.  Have there been no worthy films made in the past 10 years?  Is comedy dying?  I hope not.  Maybe it is just a lull and the world will regain its sense of humor here shortly.  Or maybe it takes time for a movie to cement itself into my brain as particularly great.

Second, a number of my favorite actors and comedians do not have a film that made this list or get a mention above, despite my love for their body of work.  Examples: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Jessica Chastain, Morgan Freeman (while I liked The Shawshank Redemption, I don't think it was one of the greatest movies ever as many do), Andy Samberg etc.

Third, holy crap, after writing this I realized my list is almost as white as the list of Golden Globe winners.  A quick scan shows I only mention three non-white actors in my explanations of why I picked these films: Chris Tucker, Lucy Liu and, um, OJ Simpson. I can't offer any concrete reasons why there aren't more movies anchored by non-white actors on my list.  I don't think it is any personal bias I have or at least am aware of.  Perhaps it is systemic bias in Hollywood?

There are a number of movies with more diverse casting that I rank 8 or 9 out of 10 that didn't quite make this list.  Will Smith has some great movies: Men In Black, Independence Day, Enemy of the State.  Samuel L. Jackson has been in tons of great movies, even some on my list above, just not in the lead role.  He always turns in a memorable performance and gives a boost to anything he is in.  On the comedy side, Eddie Murphy has some strong contenders with Beverly Hills Cop and Coming To America.  Even his role as Donkey in Shrek stands out as great.  Queen Latifah makes anything she is in better.  Same with Octavia Spencer.  The Wayans brothers (brothers again!) make some funny stuff- the first Scary Movie was a worthy spoof.  Then there is Damon Wayans Jr.  I've mostly seen him on sitcoms, but he is super-funny and charismatic.  Get him the lead in some quality movies ASAP!  

As for Latin-x actors, Eva Mendes, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz have all wowed me and contributed to some excellent movies.  I'm struggling a bit to come up with some male Latino leads in any of my favorite movies.  John Leguizamo was just guest-hosting The Daily Show last week and pointed out this problem as well complaining he can't get cast.  The opportunities for Asians to headline great movies seem to be somewhat limited as well.  I loved Jackie Chan making American comedies.  He is always fun to watch, though the movies he was in don't make it onto my favorites list.  Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle deserves mention here for having two actors of Asian descent in lead roles.  John Cho and Kal Penn were great in it, but the movie, as a whole, didn't impress me enough to make my list.

Bringing things back full circle, I can appreciate that Everything Everywhere All at Once was ground-breaking for the Oscars it won for Michelle Yeoh and Writer/Director  Daniel Kwan.  I hope they can use the acclaim and their talents to go on to make movies that I can add to this list in the future.