Friday 26 November 2010

The 500 Greatest Films of All Time: 150 to 101

150. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Dir: Roman Polanski
Cast: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans, Ralph Bellamy.
Genre: Drama/Horror/Mystery
Disturbing portrait of the emergence of the Devil's spawn into the world of men.

149. Casino (1995)
Dir: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, Frank Vincent, Don Rickles, James Woods, Alan King.
Genre: Biography/Crime/Drama
Engaging crime drama about corruption, violence and gambling.

148. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Dir: George A. Romero
Cast: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, Tom Savini.
Genre: Action/Horror
The classic zombie film about a group of survivors trapped inside a shopping mall.

147. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore.
Genre: Action/Drama/History/War
Wonderful film about a group of World War 2 troops, desperately searching for a missing comrade.

146. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Dir: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Rhys Ifans, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, John Hurt, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Isaacs, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Warwick Davis, Toby Jones.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
The first part of the epic finale to the Harry Potter franchise; it's slow and methodical, but features some wonderful character acting, immensely good effects and outstanding action set pieces.

145. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Dir: Charles Laughton
Cast: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce.
Genre: Drama/Film-Noir/Thriller
Eerie examination of a religious fanatic, tormenting his adopted children, as he tries to uncover the location of stolen money.

144. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973)
Dir: Sam Peckinpah
Cast: James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Slim Pickens, Bob Dylan, Jason Robards.
Genre: Drama/History/Western
Fantastic portrait of two famous outlaws and their adventures together.

143. Downfall (2004)
Dir: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Cast: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Thomas Kretschmann, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Kohler.
Genre: Biography/Drama/History/War
Harrowing look at the final days of World War 2, from the point of view of those closest to Adolf Hitler.

142. City of God (2002)
Dir: Fernando Meirelles
Cast: Alexandre Rodrigues, Alice Braga, Leonardo Firmino, Douglas Silva, Seu Jorge.
Genre: Crime/Drama
Epic examination of crime and violence in Brazil.

141. Dogma (1999)
Dir: Kevin Smith
Cast: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Jason Lee, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, George Carlin, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith.
Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy
Religious comedy with some hilarious action scenes and wonderful comedic performances.

140. Harvey (1950)
Dir: Henry Koster
Cast: James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Peggy Dow, Charles Drake.
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Fantasy
Amusing, but equally unsettling look at a man and his friendship with a giant invisible rabbit.

139. American History X (1998)
Dir: Tony Kaye
Cast: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D’Angelo, Avery Brooks, Stacy Keach.
Genre: Crime/Drama
Disturbing, violent and bleak portrayal of Neo-Nazis within American culture.

138. True Romance (1993)
Dir: Tony Scott
Cast: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, James Gandolfini, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, Chris Penn, Brad Pitt.
Genre: Crime/Romance/Thriller
Romantic thriller about a couple who attempt to sell stolen drugs to the highest bidder, while pursued by the terrifying hordes of drug barons and the Mafia.

137. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Dir: John Ford
Cast: James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Andy Devine.
Genre: Drama/Romance/Western
Poetic and beautiful portrait of law and order in the Old West, with the contrast between the upstanding citizen and the gruff outlaw proving to be almost heartbreaking to witness.

136. Ghostbusters (1984)
Dir: Ivan Reitman
Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis.
Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy/Mystery
One of the funniest films ever made, and one that deals with the humorous topic of ghost hunters in a world where such things are frowned upon.

135. Blazing Saddles (1974)
Dir: Mel Brooks
Cast: Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Harvey Korman, Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks.
Genre: Comedy/Western
Hilariously perfect spoof Western with all the right elements to create a truly inspirational piece of cinema.

134. Donnie Darko (2001)
Dir: Richard Kelly
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Genre: Drama/Mystery/Science Fiction
Mind-boggling, overly complex examination of a teenager's mental health, and his ability to predict his own demise.

133. Inglorious Basterds (2009)
Dir: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Bruhl.
Genre: Drama/Thriller/War
Hilarious film taking the basis of World War 2, and adding an action-oriented spoof angle to the proceedings.

132. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Dir: John Hughes
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey.
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Arguably John Hughes' funniest film, and certainly one that deserves repeat viewings in order to savour the laughs.

131. Red Dragon (2002)
Dir: Brett Ratner
Cast: Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Watson, Harvey Keitel, Mary-Louise Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Intense adaptation of the gripping novel, featuring great performances by the entire cast, and some unsettling moments featuring both Fiennes and Hopkins.

130. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
Dir: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer, Kathleen Turner, Joanna Cassidy.
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Crime/Family
Hilarious combination of animation and live action, featuring some humorous performances and great scenes.

129. Scarface (1983)
Dir: Brian De Palma
Cast: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Loggia, Harris Yulin.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Awesome portrait of how an individual rises and falls within the ranks of a crime empire.

128. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
Dir: Barry Levinson
Cast: Robin Williams, Robert Wuhl, Forest Whitaker, Bruno Kirby, J. T. Walsh.
Genre: Comedy/Drama/War
Hilarious tale of a radio disc jockey in Vietnam, with an incredibly harrowing finale.

127. Wayne's World 2 (1993)
Dir: Stephen Surjik
Cast: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Christopher Walken, Tia Carrere, Ralph Brown.
Genre: Comedy/Music
Hilarious look at how two slackers can organize a music festival.

126. Hot Fuzz (2007)
Dir: Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Paddy Considine, Edward Woodward.
Genre: Action/Comedy/Mystery
Unbelievably funny spoof of famous action films, with numerous references and some incredible homages.

125. Some Like It Hot (1959)
Dir: Billy Wilder
Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Joe E. Brown, Pat O’Brien.
Genre: Comedy
Great fun romp featuring two crossdressers and Marilyn Monroe.

124. Amadeus (1984)
Dir: Milos Forman
Cast: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice, Jeffrey Jones.
Genre: Biography/Drama/Music
Bleak analysis of the life and times of Mozart.

123. V for Vendetta (2006)
Dir: James McTeigue
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt, Stephen Fry.
Genre: Action/Science Fiction/Thriller
Gripping science fiction thriller set in a dark future where a vigilante takes on the entire government for sins committed against him.

122. Licence to Kill (1989)
Dir: John Glen
Cast: Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell, Rober Davi, Talisa Soto, Robert Brown, Benicio del Toro, Desmond Llewelyn, David Hedison.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Thriller
The most violent Bond film ever made; a look at just how dangerous the spy would become if he went rogue and broke all the rules.

121. Superman: The Movie (1978)
Dir: Richard Donner
Cast: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Science Fiction/Thriller
Brilliant adaptation of the classic comic book, with great performances from Gene Hackman as an evil genius, Marlon Brando as an aged scientist, and Christopher Reeve as the hero of the piece.

120. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Dir: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Doug Jones, Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Ariadna Gil.
Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Mystery/War
Absolutely fascinating look at how to escape the terror of reality into the world of fantasy.

119. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Dir: Billy Wilder
Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark.
Genre: Drama/Film-Noir
Intense look at the world of screenwriting and the bleakness of Hollywood stardom.

118. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Dir: John Landis
Cast: David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, Jenny Agutter, John Woodvine, Frank Oz.
Genre: Horror/Romance
Great look at survival horror, blending a youthful cast with classic werewolf horror.

117. Being John Malkovich (1999)
Dir: Spike Jonze
Cast: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, Orson Bean, Mary Kay Place, John Malkovich.
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Fantasy/Romance
Confusing, but wonderful look at how to literally climb inside the head of a Hollywood star.

116. Miller's Crossing (1990)
Dir: Joel Coen
Cast: Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, Jon Polito.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Wonderful crime drama about loyalty, violence and revenge.

115. On the Waterfront (1954)
Dir: Elia Kazan
Cast: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Steiger.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Romance
Dramatic look at the life of a prizefighter and his struggle to stand up against oppression.

114. The Evil Dead (1981)
Dir: Sam Raimi
Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Hal Delrich, Theresa Tilly.
Genre: Horror
Cheap but gory horror film about the nature of evil.

113. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Dir: Sergio Leone
Cast: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, William Forsythe.
Genre: Crime/Drama
Wonderful gangster film by the master of Spaghetti Westerns.

112. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Dir: Wes Craven
Cast: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, John Saxon, Johnny Depp, Ronee Blakley.
Genre: Horror
One of the most perfect horror films ever made; frightening, violent and intense.

111. Gone with the Wind (1939)
Dir: Victor Fleming
Cast: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Hattie McDaniel.
Genre: Drama/Romance/War
Powerful and intense romantic epic that helped define cinema.

110. Good Will Hunting (1997)
Dir: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgard.
Genre: Drama
Powerful drama about the genius behind a delinquent and the repercussions of him receiving a psychological evaluation.

109. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Dir: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen
Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Rita Moreno.
Genre: Comedy/Musical/Romance
Romantic and humorous musical that features some wonderful music numbers.

108. True Grit (1969)
Dir: Henry Hathaway
Cast: John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Jeremy Slate, Robert Duvall.
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Western
Intense Western featuring an aged lawman aiding a young girl in her hunt for her father's killer.

107. Gladiator (2000)
Dir: Ridley Scott
Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama
Action epic set within the world of the Roman Empire.

106. North by Northwest (1959)
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Martin Landau, Philip Ober.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama/Mystery
One of the greatest suspense films ever filmed; action-packed, intense and thrilling.

105. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Dir: George Roy Hill
Cast: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Henry Jones, Jeff Corey.
Genre: Adventure/Crime/Drama/Western
Fantastic Western looking at the relationship between two cowboys.

104. Sin City (2005)
Dir: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Jessica Alba, Benicio del Toro, Brittany Murphy, Elijah Wood, Rosario Dawson, Jaime King, Nick Stahl.
Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
Gritty, violent and stylised crime film split into three stories; one about a bruiser looking for revenge, one about a pretty boy on a rescue mission, and one about an imprisoned cop determined to protect the victim of the crime he was imprisoned for, from the real criminal.

103. X2 (2003)
Dir: Bryan Singer
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Shawn Ashmore, James Marsden.
Genre: Action/Science Fiction/Thriller
Intense, action-packed science fiction sequel that takes a step further into the awesome mythology of the X-Men, giving us new characters, new storylines and some incredible special effects.

102. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody, Denholm Elliott, Julian Glover, River Phoenix, John Rhys-Davies.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Wonderful finale to the original trilogy; featuring Sean Connery on wonderful form as the hero's father, and some amazing action scenes that make this pure entertainment.

101. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Dir: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Mystery/Romance
The film adaptation which deviates most from the source material of the original novel, this instalment in the franchise focuses more on the relationships within Hogwarts, and the character development, than on the big special effects and action scenes.

Next Time: 100 to 51

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