The movie list.

1 The Godfather (1972) – I saw this because I thought I should.
2 The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – The payoff only just makes up for the numb-bum caused by sitting still for so long.
3 The Godfather: Part II (1974)
4 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – I didn’t watch this film, I endured it.
5 Schindler’s List (1993) – So compelling that it seems much shorter than it is.
6 Citizen Kane (1941) – This is only a great film if you know what makes it a great film.
7 Casablanca (1942) – Love.
8 Seven Samurai (1954)
9 Star Wars (1977) – Star Wars is gay.
10 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
11 Memento (2000) – The first and second viewings were great.
12 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
13 Rear Window (1954) – A really tightly paced, scary thriller. The cigarette glow is evil.
14 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
15 Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – The only Star Wars film I really like.
16 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17 The Usual Suspects (1995) – Yeah, but after you know who Kayser Soze is, it’s not much fun any more.
18 Amelie (2001) – I heart Mathieu Kassovitz.
19 Pulp Fiction (1994) – Stop copying this movie.
20 North by Northwest (1959) – I love this so, so much. It’s a perfect adventure and romance, with a brilliant score.
21 Psycho (1960) – The bit at the end with “Mother” scared me.
22 The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – It took me years to work up the guts to see this.
23 12 Angry Men (1957)
24 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
25 It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
26 The Good Bad and the Ugly (1966)
27 Goodfellas (1990)
28 American Beauty (1999) – That bit where it accidentally looks like he’s gay – that’s pretty cheesy.
29 Vertigo (1958) – Obsession, love, and sweeping panoramas of San Francisco. Much love.
30 The Pianist (2002)
31 Sunset Blvd. (1950) – The moral: Beware of crazy old ladies.
32 Apocalypse Now (1979) – Wank wank wank. The horror.
33 Some Like It Hot (1959) – Really lovely and funny. I always enjoy this film.
34 The Matrix (1999) – A cheesy love story cleverly disguised by mind-blowing, ground-breaking special effects.
35 To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
36 Taxi Driver (1976) – I saw this on TV when I was 10 because Jodie Foster was in it. It changed my life.
37 The Third Man (1949)
38 Paths of Glory (1957)
39 Fight Club (1999) – Not quite as manly and masculine as one would think.
40 Das Boot (1981)
41 L.A. Confidential (1997) – All I remember is Kim Basinger’s hair started breaking off because of the dye they used.
42 Double Indemnity (1944) – Something about classic film noir, in the days before femme fatales were allowed to get away with it.
43 Chinatown (1974) – I never understood what was going on with the water and the oranges.
44 Requiem for a Dream (2000) – Another one of my favourites. Harrowing, but not without hope.
45 The Maltese Falcon (1941)
46 Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
47 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
48 Spirited Away (2001)
49 Saving Private Ryan (1998) – No, thank you.
50 All About Eve (1950)
51 M (1931)
52 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) – Ruined for me by all the bad Python impersonations from geeky fan boys.
53 Raging Bull (1980) – Yeah, it was ok.
54 Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
55 Se7en (1995) – The opening titles are great, and the rest of the film’s pretty good, too.
56 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) – Hey, since when were martial arts films really beautiful?
57 The Wizard of Oz (1939) – And I’ve even seen it with the Pink Floyd soundtrack.
58 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – No lasers in space, just depth and beauty.
59 Life is Beautiful (1997)
60 American History X (1998) – Blah blah blah being a neo-Nazi is bad, blah blah blah.
61 The Sting (1973)
62 Touch of Evil (1958)
63 The Manchurian Candidate (1962) – The brainwashing scene is masterfully filmed.
64 Alien (1979)
65 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
66 Rashemon (1950)
67 Leon (1994) – What? A tale of a tortured hitman? No.
68 Annie Hall (1977) – An intelligent romantic comedy that I will never stop enjoying.
69 The Great Escape (1963)
70 A Clockwork Orange (1971) – Attention crappy bands: Stop ripping off this film in music videos.
71 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
72 Reservoir Dogs (1992) – Is it the violence or the quirky soundtrack that’s so exhilarating?
73 The Sixth Sense (1999) – I loved the twist at the end.
74 Jaws (1975) – An artefact of simpler times. Eek, a shark, etc.
75 Amadeus (1984)
76 On the Waterfront (1954)
77 Ran (1985)
78 Braveheart (1995)
79 High Noon (1952) – The centrepiece of this film, where the train rolls into the station is one of my favourite pieces of film editing. It’s exciting.
80 Fargo (1996) – I like films where horrible things happen to ordinary people.
81 Blade Runner (1982)x – I’ve only seen the director’s cut and found it confusing. Bring back the voice over!
82 The Apartment (1960)
83 Aliens (1986)
84 Toy Story 2 (1999)
85 Strangers on a Train (1951) – A creepy thriller ending in the excellent final confrontation on the carousel.
86 Modern Times (1936)
87 The Shining (1980) – I prefer white rum.
88 Donnie Darko (2001) – Excellent use of “Tears for Fears” songs in the soundtrack.
89 Duck Soup (1933)
90 The Princess Bride (1987) – I saw this when it first came out. I liked Andre The Giant.
91 Run Lola Run (1998) – The quick flashes forward, the three paths and how screaming makes things go your way.
92 City Lights (1931)
93 The General (1927)
94 Metropolis (1927)
95 The Searchers (1956)
96 Full Metal Jacket – I like the first third best. Happy birthday dear Jesus.
97 Notorious (1946)
98 Manhattan (1979)
99 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
100 The Graduate (1967) – You know Ben and Elaine would end up miserable together.