The Descendants
Thanks to the standout cast, led by George Clooney, and a rich script full of character, theme, and story, The Descendants manages to take its premise of a film about grief in paradise and turn it into a film worthy of a place among the greats.
This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap is the perfect mockumentary – self-aware, intelligent, hilarious, and authentic in its message – and it stands the test of time in both its portrayal of the music industry and in its many bits of humor, earning it an irrefutable place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Swing Time
Swing Time is really a fun, if a bit simple, musical romantic comedy that hits all the right notes along with a few of the wrong ones on the path to cinematic greatness, bolstered by its two charismatic and compatible leads.
I, Tonya
Bolstered by a message that goes beyond the negative effects of sex, drugs, and rock and roll and by a leading cast that collectively give some of the best performances of their careers, I, Tonya is elevated above the typical biopic fare to be a film that fully deserves a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
A Raisin in the Sun
With brilliant central performances that expand upon the themes of the film itself, A Raisin in the Sun elevates the content of the play upon which it’s based to earn a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
The combination of Blume’s universal story and strong acting from Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, and Kathy Bates makes Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. an instant success and a film worthy of a place among the greats.
Rye Lane
Raine Allen-Miller has crafted Rye Lane as one of the most original and endearing romantic comedies of all time, bolstered by a solid leading man in David Jonsson and an unforgettable leading lady in Vivian Oparah, all of which culminate in a film fully worthy of its place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
BlackBerry
Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton shine as the leads in BlackBerry, giving contrasting performances that elevate its historic tale to levels of dramedy excellence, earning the film a place among the greats.
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Compelling performances from an ensemble cast help turn what could be a disjointed story of two different tones into a cohesive and engaging piece of film in Crimes and Misdemeanors, earning it a spot among the greats.
Love and Death
The way that Woody Allen interposes his own style within the world and expectations of Russian period dramas and the other influences of Eastern Europe feels so seamless and hilarious that the placement of Love and Death among the Greatest Films of All Time feels more fitting than just about any other film from the writer/director.
The Kids Are All Right
Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right hits the right notes in its examination of the complex nature of family thanks to the combination of her writing and the perfect trio of leading performers to make it sing, earning it a place among the greats.
Midnight in Paris
Midnight in Paris utilizes its nostalgia to remind its audience that the present has just as much to offer as the past if only we choose to pursue it, a worthy entry into the annals of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Licorice Pizza
The leading performances of Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman help anchor Paul Thomas Anderson’s combination love letter to the 1970s and coming-of-age tale to a place that is worthy of mention alongside the greats of cinema.
M*A*S*H
The true success of M*A*S*H lies not so much in its humor or characters but in the authentic sense of disconnectedness that permeates the film, leaving the audience with the sense that these soldiers, joking though they may be, deserve our sympathy, marking the film as one worth remembering in cinematic history.
Local Hero
The blend of comedy, message, and optimism contained in Local Hero make it an easy and memorable film that deserves its place in the spotlight.
Ernest & Celestine
While its animation and style would make for a great film on their own, Ernest & Celestine’s message of overcoming prejudices in order to forge bonds of friendship that lead to the cultivation of one another’s strengths makes it a film worthy of all-time great status.
Ball of Fire
Stanwyck’s leading performance works perfectly in the story and script from Billy Wilder to turn Howard Hawks’s film from just any other screwball comedy into one that stands the test of time to earn a spot among the greats.
You Can Count on Me
In a film driven by its characters, You Can Count on Me is overflowing with human performances that lend themselves to a feeling of realness rarely seen in dramedies like this one, something that Lonergan excels at, and which makes this one of the Greatest Films of All Time.