The Magnificent Ambersons
Orson Welles took what should be a depressing, bleak look at the outlook of America in a post-industrial world and made it into a gripping film that looks wonderful even as it beats you over the head with the inevitability of its conclusion, earning The Magnificent Ambersons a place among the greats.
The Age of Innocence
A trio of performances with immense depth and a director dedicated to crafting a gorgeously compelling picture of 19th-century high society in New York make The Age of Innocence work wonderfully as a film and earn it a spot among the greats.
The Handmaiden
Park Chan-wook’s masterpiece of a film in The Handmaiden is elevated to that status by its brilliantly engaging story, beautifully crafted production, and compellingly portrayed leading trio of characters, 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.
Mr. Turner
Cinematographic excellence and a noteworthy lead performance from Timothy Spall have made Mr. Turner into a classic period biopic, worthy of note among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Far from Heaven
A beautifully shot film, full of color and imagery brought to life in Julianne Moore’s leading performance, Far from Heaven leaves little doubt as to how it made its way onto a list of the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Master
The Master’s visuals, acting, and the symbiosis of its leading performances make it worth watching.
Road to Perdition
Suspending disbelief about Tom Hanks’s ability to be a violent killer is necessary to fully enjoy Road to Perdition, but the film’s strong relational commentaries and juxtapositions and its well-crafted conflict reward viewers.
Topsy-Turvy
Topsy-Turvy is a lengthy, partially overstuffed historical dramedy that fits well in the pantheon of Greatest Films of All Time.