Naming the 10 greatest films of all time is a tall order, even for a confirmed cinema junkie like me, because no matter what you say, everyone else has their own opinions.
Some people think Gone With the Wind is the greatest film of all time, many critics think it's Citizen Kane, so whatever I say, there's someone out there reading this who will think my choices are totally wrong. So be it. Because narrowing it down to the top ten films is such a tall order, I've decided to break my choices down according to genre, such as Film Noir, Western, Comedy, Drama, Science Fiction and so on, while also giving you my nine runners-up in each category to recognize superior films in each genre that just didn't make it into the top slot for one reason or another.
As you read this, remember, this is just one man's opinion, albeit the opinion of an erudite, very knowledge film fan who's been writing about movies and movie-related topics on and off for decades. If you don't like my choices, feel free to compile your own Top Ten List. Hell, I think every film fan should have one. With that thought in mind, here are my top 10 films of all time. (Cue the triumphal trumpets off screen).
Why? I've loved this film since childhood. I first saw it in 1968 and walked out the theater wondering what it all meant, yet I knew that I had seen greatness. Since it was first released, Stanley Kubrick's intellectual tour de force meditating on the nature of intelligence has had many competitors for the title of Best Science Fiction Film Ever, but no equals. The brilliance of the concept, which shows mankind evolving from apelike creatures to modern homo sapiens forced to do battle with an artificial intelligence of their own creation, coupled with the stunning visuals (courtesy of Douglass Trumbull, et al.), to say nothing to the trend-setting musical score and the technical advancements in film that it established, all make 2001 a recognized classic in the genre, and my pick as the Best Science Fiction Film of All Time.
Coming in at second place is Blade Runner, Ridley Scott's own rumination on the nature of what it means to be human is surrounded by what may be the best production design ever, amazing leaps in special effects techniques (courtesy of Douglas Trumbull, et al. yet again), and a superb score by Vangelis, make this my #2 Science Fiction Film. Coming in at #3 is Star Wars, George Lucas's bold reimagining of sci-fi swashbucklers like the Flash Gordon serials. This film broke new ground technically, was brilliantly directed, and gave new life to the space opera genre. Holding it back however, are cardboard characters, bad dialog, and several amateurish performances in lead roles. Still, this is a film that captivated millions and helped create a film empire for George Lucas.
My #4 pick is Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, possibly the best film about alien encounters ever made. It, too, broke new ground technically, thanks to Douglas Trumbull's magnificent special effects and some truly original model designs. Its story of an everyman (Richard Dreyfuss) who longs to journey to the stars is a story that almost anyone can relate to. John Williams' score is also one of his very best. Spielberg's script is definitely among his finest work, and this film is absolutely one of his best films ever, far better than the saccharine and obvious E.T. or the cold, and rather boring A.I. My #5 pick is another one by Ridley Scott, the boldly designed and terrifying Alien. Really more of a horror film than straight sci-fi, Scott's grisly masterpiece definitely made waves when it was released in 1978, and has been influencing production design in both horror and science fiction films ever since.
My numbers 6-10 include: The Empire Strikes Back (probably the best film in the series), Robert Wise's intelligent and thought-provoking The Day the Earth Stood Still, the visionary Things to Come, Luc Besson's The Fifth Element (One of those rare films that never run out of ideas. Even the costumes are funny!), and Clockwork Orange, another meditation by Stanley Kubrick on what it is that makes us human and moreover, what makes us choose good or evil.
Now when it comes to horror films, many people think The Exorcist is the greatest film of all time, and while I agree that it does offer some genuine shocks and is well-made and well-acted, I think it's rather overrated, based on the shock effects it had at the time. It's certainly in my top 10, but not in the top slot.
