Best Best Picture Winners
Ranking of the films (that I've seen) that received the Academy Award for Best Picture (or rather 'Best Marketed Picture') from best to worst.
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- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsGene HackmanRoy ScheiderFernando ReyA pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal.William Friedkin's powerhouse crime thriller still holds up miraculously well in today's time, and Don Ellis' haunting score is hugely underrated. Few films are as tense and unsettling and ambiguous as this one, and Gene Hackman's bravura performance won him the Oscar.
100/100 - DirectorMilos FormanStarsF. Murray AbrahamTom HulceElizabeth BerridgeThe life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.All it takes to realize that 'Amadeus' is a visual masterpiece is for the end credits to start rolling. Few films are more extravagant and masterful, and Tom Hulce has an incredible performance as the tortured Mozart.
100/100 - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsTommy Lee JonesJavier BardemJosh BrolinViolence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and over two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.As good a riveting crime thriller as it is a nihilistic meditation on the nature of violence, the lack of morality in today's people and the overall degenerative state of the world. The best word I can think of to describe it is 'heavy.'
98/100 - DirectorWilliam WylerStarsMyrna LoyDana AndrewsFredric MarchThree World War II veterans, two of them traumatized or disabled, return home to the American midwest to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed.98/100
- DirectorRobert BentonStarsDustin HoffmanMeryl StreepJane AlexanderAfter his wife leaves him, a work-obsessed Manhattan advertising executive is forced to learn long-neglected parenting skills, but a heated custody battle over the couple's young son deepens the wounds left by the separation.Important and still relevant domestic drama centered around the topical issue of divorce. Some say that time has blunted the overall impact of 'Kramer vs. Kramer,' but it hasn't. This is a powerful, perfectly-acted, tear-inducing work of emotional brilliance.
98/100 - DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanThe aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.Moody, epic gangster drama that's one of the most influential films of all time. Some unforgettable scenes and performances.
95/100 - DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsGeorge C. ScottKarl MaldenStephen YoungThe World War II phase of the career of controversial American general George S. Patton.George C. Scott is one of the finest actors to ever have lived, and 'Patton' was the pinnacle of his illustrious career. It is an astounding war picture; a brilliantly-directed biopic elevated by Scott's masterful portrayal of the eccentric general, Jerry Goldsmith's triumphant score, Fred J. Koenekamp's sweeping cinematography and Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North's well-balanced, well-structured, and often very funny screenplay. All of these elements are combined to make arguably one of the greatest films of all time.
93/10 - DirectorWoody AllenStarsWoody AllenDiane KeatonTony RobertsAlvy Singer, a divorced Jewish comedian, reflects on his relationship with ex-lover Annie Hall, an aspiring nightclub singer, which ended abruptly just like his previous marriages.94/100
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsHilary SwankClint EastwoodMorgan FreemanFrankie, an ill-tempered old coach, reluctantly agrees to train aspiring boxer Maggie. Impressed with her determination and talent, he helps her become the best and the two soon form a close bond.94/10
- DirectorDavid LeanStarsWilliam HoldenAlec GuinnessJack HawkinsBritish POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.A film about confusion, moral dilemma and two sides working together, 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' boasts stellar performances from its leads, a memorable score and David Lean's typically sweeping direction. On top of being one of the best war films of all time, it also contains one of the best finales: a gripping, awe-inspiring combination of emotion and tension that slowly mounts towards an explosive climax and a fantastic closing line.
93/100 - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodGene HackmanMorgan FreemanRetired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner Ned Logan and a young man, The "Schofield Kid."Eastwood does an excellent job in front of and behind the camera, working with one of the best scripts of all time. A powerful, thought-provoking twist near the end.
90/100 - DirectorGeorge Roy HillStarsPaul NewmanRobert RedfordRobert ShawTwo grifters team up to pull off the ultimate con.The unabashed granddaddy of the heist film, 'The Sting' is clever and intricate, and it uses several twists and an unexpected ending to its advantage, making for a totally enjoyable, constantly surprising experience.
90/100 - DirectorBilly WilderStarsRay MillandJane WymanPhillip TerryThe desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four-day drinking bout.The most deserving film in the history of the Academy Awards. No other actor has had a better Oscar-winning performance than Ray Milland, and the fact that such dark subject matter is being examined at such an early time in cinematic history is a testament to its awesomeness.
90/100 - DirectorDavid LeanStarsPeter O'TooleAlec GuinnessAnthony QuinnThe story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.David Lean's focused direction is perhaps the biggest reason why it succeeds, but Peter O'Toole's eccentric lead performance is also credible to the film's greatness. As well, 'Lawrence of Arabia' is visually gorgeous and beautifully designed, which makes a strong contender for the best produced film of all time.
87/100 - DirectorVictor FlemingGeorge CukorSam WoodStarsClark GableVivien LeighThomas MitchellA sheltered and manipulative Southern belle and a roguish profiteer face off in a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.87/100
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioMatt DamonJack NicholsonAn undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.A great cast and a great director makes 'The Departed' the brutal, epic crime drama that it is.
85/100 - DirectorMichel HazanaviciusStarsJean DujardinBérénice BejoJohn GoodmanWhen George, a silent movie superstar, meets Peppy Miller, a dancer, sparks fly between the two. However, after the introduction of talking pictures, their fortunes change, affecting their dynamic.Funny, touching, whimsical, well-directed, well-acted and an overall delight.
85/100 - DirectorVincente MinnelliStarsGene KellyLeslie CaronOscar LevantThree friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become more complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman.Enjoyable songs, spectacularly-choreographed dance numbers, wonderful costume design and a lively performance from Gene Kelly. The best romantic comedy blockbuster there is.
85/100 - DirectorBernardo BertolucciStarsJohn LoneJoan ChenPeter O'TooleBernardo Bertolucci's Oscar-winning dramatisation of the life story of China's last emperor, Pu Yi.Not boring in the last bit, 'The Last Emperor' is a splendid account of Japan's final and most passive emperor. Bernardo Bertolucci's elegant, sophisticated direction compliments a focused, if imperfect, screenplay. On top of that, the lavish production design fills the screen with beautiful colors and textures, and both the cinematography and lighting are marvelously used. Interesting score, too.
81/100 - DirectorLewis MilestoneStarsLew AyresLouis WolheimJohn WrayA German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the horror.79/100
- DirectorWilliam WylerStarsCharlton HestonJack HawkinsStephen BoydAfter a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.The chariot race sequence is still just as heart-pounding and incredible in today's age as it was back at the time of its release. William Wyler's biblical epic is an astounding achievement; the kind of film that will never be made in Hollywood again. Technically, it's so intimidating and groundbreaking on every level that it's almost scary, and to think that all of its action sequences were pulled off without the aid of CGI is unbelievable. (Not that unbelievable, given that it was 1959 and CGI wasn't available yet, but you get my point.)
80/100 - DirectorRobert RedfordStarsDonald SutherlandMary Tyler MooreJudd HirschThe accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father and the guilt-ridden younger son.A somber, solemn, poignant drama that almost takes the form of a stage play at times, but it never feels like any less of a film because of this.
82/100 - DirectorFrank CapraStarsClark GableClaudette ColbertWalter ConnollyA rogue reporter trailing a runaway heiress for a big story joins her on a bus heading from Florida to New York and they end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind at one of the stops along the way.81/100
- DirectorElia KazanStarsMarlon BrandoKarl MaldenLee J. CobbAn ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate's victims.80/100
- DirectorKevin CostnerStarsKevin CostnerMary McDonnellGraham GreeneLieutenant John Dunbar, assigned to a remote western Civil War outpost, finds himself engaging with a neighbouring Sioux settlement, causing him to question his own purpose.Beautiful shots of the old western frontier, impeccable costume design, a wonderful narrative centered on a Civil War Lieutenant falling in love with a Sioux woman and epic, brilliantly-directed battle scenes.
80/100 - DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsMichael KeatonZach GalifianakisEdward NortonA washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.
- DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczStarsBette DavisAnne BaxterGeorge SandersA seemingly timid but secretly ruthless ingénue insinuates herself into the lives of an aging Broadway star and her circle of theater friends.A sharp critique of America's undying obsession with celebrities, 'All About Eve' is a strong, extremely relevant drama with incredible performances - perhaps the best work from each cast member - and a script that's influenced more than half of the films of its kind.
78/100 - DirectorF.W. MurnauStarsGeorge O'BrienJanet GaynorMargaret LivingstonA sophisticated city woman seduces a farmer and convinces him to murder his wife and join her in the city, but he ends up rekindling his romance with his wife when he changes his mind at the last moment.77/100
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartIngrid BergmanPaul HenreidA cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.Often considered the greatest on-screen romance of all time, 'Casablanca' is the quintessential American cinema classic. From Humphrey Bogart's iconic performance as Rick Blaine to Michael Curtiz's adept direction to even Arthur Edeson's elegant cinematography and expert use of lighting, it is a film that has stood the test of time so well that it still feels genuine today.
78/100 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsLiam NeesonRalph FiennesBen KingsleyIn German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.Equally as distressing as it is inspirational, 'Schindler's List' resonates with us more than other fictional dramas because of how factual it is. The only words I can think of to describe it are: touching, humble, personal and beautiful.
78/100 - DirectorMilos FormanStarsJack NicholsonLouise FletcherMichael BerrymanIn the Fall of 1963, a Korean War veteran and criminal pleads insanity and is admitted to a mental institution, where he rallies up the scared patients against the tyrannical nurse.Milos Forman shows great strength as a director as well, staying true to many of the film's central themes, and the whole cast is exuberant. Overall, I don't think that it's quite powerful as people say it is, but there's no doubting its place in film history.
79/100 - DirectorNorman JewisonStarsSidney PoitierRod SteigerWarren OatesA black Philadelphia police detective is mistakenly suspected of a local murder while passing through a racially hostile Mississippi town, and after being cleared is reluctantly asked by the police chief to investigate the case.Less concerned with solving its central investigation than it is with showing the blatant bigotry that corrupted the South, 'In the Heat of the Night' has Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier both doing a great job in their roles, even though Steiger's aggressive performance threatens to upstage his calm and cool co-star in several scenes.
78/100 - DirectorKathryn BigelowStarsJeremy RennerAnthony MackieBrian GeraghtyDuring the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.Ably directed by Kathryn Bigelow and scripted with remarkable insight by Mark Boal, 'The Hurt Locker' effectively captures the harsh lifestyle that American soldiers endured during their rotations in Iraq as well the constant fear that death was waiting right around the corner for them.
77/100 - DirectorAnthony MinghellaStarsRalph FiennesJuliette BinocheWillem DafoeAt the close of World War II, a young nurse tends to a badly burned plane crash victim. His past is shown in flashbacks, revealing an involvement in a fateful love affair.Though its script isn't perfect, and the romance between supporting characters Hanna and Kip feels slightly extraneous, 'The English Patient' is a well-acted, beautifully lensed romance story that evokes memories of other cinematic classics with its epic storytelling and lavish production design, impressing on both a technical and emotional level.
77/100 - DirectorSteve McQueenStarsChiwetel EjioforMichael Kenneth WilliamsMichael FassbenderIn the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.77/100
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.75/100
- DirectorMel GibsonStarsMel GibsonSophie MarceauPatrick McGoohanScottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.Here is a film that is not only technically stunning and breathtakingly filmed, but emotionally resonant and powerful. Mel Gibson's epic, committed direction accompanied by John Toll's gorgeous, sweeping cinematography make 'Braveheart' one of the finest war films out there, and even if there are a few silly romantic subplots that have gotten cheesier with age, they don't make 'Braveheart' any less of a spectacle. Battle scenes as well done as these are hard to come by.
76/100 - DirectorJames CameronStarsLeonardo DiCaprioKate WinsletBilly ZaneA seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.77/100
- DirectorTom HooperStarsColin FirthGeoffrey RushHelena Bonham CarterThe story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.76/100
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsDustin HoffmanTom CruiseValeria GolinoAfter a selfish L.A. yuppie learns his estranged father left a fortune to an autistic-savant brother in Ohio that he didn't know existed, he absconds with his brother and sets out across the country, hoping to gain a larger inheritance.Works well mainly because of the chemistry between Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.
76/100 - DirectorOliver StoneStarsCharlie SheenTom BerengerWillem DafoeChris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.Not quite as important as it wants to be nor does it accomplish any of its themes effectively, but 'Platoon' still offers an involving two hours of solid entertainment. Oliver Stone's direction is effective in presenting the horrors of combat in Vietnam, even if his execution is slightly dated, and the battle scenes are impressively choreographed. As well, there are some noteworthy performances from Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Willem Dafoe.
75/100 - DirectorDelbert MannStarsErnest BorgnineBetsy BlairEsther MinciottiA middle-aged butcher and a school teacher who have given up on the idea of love meet at a dance and fall for each other.Short, simple and instantly lovable. Ernest Borgnine has an honest, charming performance.
75/100 - DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroRobert DuvallThe early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.Slightly messier than its predecessor and less of a spectacle but still a master class in direction and acting, 'The Godfather: Part II' should be noted specifically for its final half hour, which is incredibly memorable due to Al Pacino's monstrous performance.
73/100 - DirectorRichard AttenboroughStarsBen KingsleyJohn GielgudRohini HattangadiThe life of the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent protest.This is an accomplished, well-intentioned motion picture that goes by remarkably fast. Ben Kingsley brings warmth and kindness to his character and Richard Attenborough's direction is sufficient, if simplistic. The whole production feels a little too straightforward and neglects taking time to give depth to Gandhi, which is somewhat disappointing, but what we're left with in the end is a history lesson that Attenborough has somehow made very enjoyable.
74/100 - DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckBryan CranstonJohn GoodmanActing under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.While not the best film that Ben Affleck has churned out during his time as a director, it may be his best work as one. A film of stunningly cohesive vision, 'Argo' is well-made, visually superb and marvelously cast, and the ending contains just about as much nail-biting tension as one can possibly imagine.
73/100 - DirectorSam MendesStarsKevin SpaceyAnnette BeningThora BirchA sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.A sad, twisted and blackly comic satirize of American life in the suburbs.
70/100 - DirectorBilly WilderStarsJack LemmonShirley MacLaineFred MacMurrayA Manhattan insurance clerk tries to rise in his company by letting its executives use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue.Here is an ingenious concept that (despite being promising) doesn't feel as utilized as it should have been. Jack Lemmon is as terrific as ever, giving perhaps his best performance, and Shirley MacLaine is solid as his sordid love interest, and there's the distinct feeling that the film is way ahead of its time, but it's tonally uneven, a little overlong and not very engaging. Nonetheless, I found it incredibly amusing.
70/100 - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsLaurence OlivierJoan FontaineGeorge SandersA self-conscious woman juggles adjusting to her new role as an aristocrat's wife and avoiding being intimidated by his first wife's spectral presence.Could have used a good twenty minutes trimmed from its running time, which stems from needlessly overlong exposition, but 'Rebecca' does have an intriguing central mystery that succeeds in maintaining viewer interest.
69/100 - DirectorWilliam WylerStarsGreer GarsonWalter PidgeonTeresa WrightA British family struggles to survive the first months of World War II.69/100
- DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsSylvester StalloneTalia ShireBurt YoungA small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.It is what it is and you've got to learn to either love it or hate it.
65/100 - DirectorRob MarshallStarsRenée ZellwegerCatherine Zeta-JonesRichard GereTwo death-row murderesses develop a fierce rivalry while competing for publicity, celebrity, and a sleazy lawyer's attention.Colorful song-and-dance numbers and great, funny performances from musically-inclined actors/actresses like Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta Jones, John C. Reilly and Renee Zellweger.
69/100 - DirectorRidley ScottStarsRussell CroweJoaquin PhoenixConnie NielsenA former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.69/100
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodViggo MortensenIan McKellenGandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.The least impressive installment in the trilogy, but nevertheless a masterclass in direction, cinematography and visual effects.
69/100 - DirectorEdmund GouldingStarsGreta GarboJohn BarrymoreJoan CrawfordA group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas.66/100
- DirectorRon HowardStarsRussell CroweEd HarrisJennifer ConnellyA mathematical genius, John Nash made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a harrowing journey of self-discovery.The flaws in 'A Beautiful Mind' don't detract from the film's power in any way. Yes, there are problems with the script. Yes, there are some cheap editing tricks here and there. But where the film succeeds is in the magnetic performances that its cast delivers, the subtle direction of Ron Howard and the beautiful cinematography from always trusty cameraman Roger Deakins.
65/100 - DirectorRobert Z. LeonardStarsWilliam PowellMyrna LoyLuise RainerThe ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., famed producer of extravagant stage revues, are portrayed.64/100
- DirectorFrank LloydStarsCharles LaughtonClark GableFranchot ToneFirst mate Fletcher Christian leads a revolt against his sadistic commander, Captain Bligh, in this classic seafaring adventure, based on the real-life 1789 mutiny.
- DirectorMichael CiminoStarsRobert De NiroChristopher WalkenJohn CazaleAn in-depth examination of the ways in which the Vietnam War impacts and disrupts the lives of several friends in a small steel mill town in Pennsylvania.'The Deer Hunter' could have used some work in the editing room. Its length is intimidating. It doesn't take three hours for a story this simple to be told. Michael Cimino's unwillingness to trim down unnecessarily long shots is a little aggravating at times. That being said, "The Deer Hunter" is well-made and there are good scenes and performances in it. It's not as powerful today as it was back when it was released and that lessens its overall impact, but it's an interesting watch.
59/100 - DirectorFred ZinnemannStarsBurt LancasterMontgomery CliftDeborah KerrAt a U.S. Army base in 1941 Hawaii, a private is cruelly punished for not boxing on his unit's team, while his commanding officer's wife and top aide begin a tentative affair.64/100
- DirectorGeorge CukorStarsAudrey HepburnRex HarrisonStanley HollowayIn 1910s London, snobbish phonetics professor Henry Higgins agrees to a wager that he can make crude flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, presentable in high society.63/100
- DirectorBruce BeresfordStarsMorgan FreemanJessica TandyDan AykroydAn old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South have a relationship that grows and improves over the years.'Driving Miss Daisy' isn't as powerful as many have been led to believe, but Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy and Dan Aykroyd each are so wonderful in their roles that it's hard not to find enjoyment in the film. Granted, it can be hokey at times, but more than often, it's just really sweet.
63/100 - DirectorSydney PollackStarsMeryl StreepRobert RedfordKlaus Maria BrandauerIn 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.63/100
- DirectorJohn MaddenStarsGwyneth PaltrowJoseph FiennesGeoffrey RushThe world's greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.An affable, predictable, lighthearted yarn that isn't meant to be taken seriously. While formulaic and often implausible, it doesn't get tiresome to watch and each member of the cast seems to be having a good time with their material. Granted, finer films have been made, but "Shakespeare in Love" is harmless, easygoing entertainment.
62/100 - DirectorCarol ReedStarsMark LesterRon MoodyShani WallisAfter being sold to a mortician, young orphan Oliver Twist runs away and meets a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor in 1830s London.Good for what it is, but Carol Reed has made much, much better films.
62/100 - DirectorRobert RossenStarsBroderick CrawfordJohn IrelandJoanne DruThe rise and fall of a corrupt politician, who makes his friends richer and retains power by dint of a populist appeal.Age has dulled some of its power, but 'All the King's Men' still stands as an insightful look into the roots of political corruption. As Willie Stark, Broderick Crawford has the voice and the stature to the fit the role, and he delivers each line with as much gusto as one can hope for, but he never seems quite as evil as he should. This can lessen the film's strength during some of its darker moments, but not so much that we don't get the point. What helps the film overcome some of its pratfalls are its supporting performances and an entirely relevant message.
61/100 - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsTom HanksRobin WrightGary SiniseThe history of the United States from the 1950s to the '70s unfolds from the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, who yearns to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart.'Forrest Gump' has a lot of problems, but I'm willing to overlook most of them because of how downright charming it can be at times. Tom Hanks is inspiring and honest as the titular character, and though I hate to sound cliche, he can make you laugh and cry. There are parts about the film that I don't like, including the transitional soundtrack and the surplus of sentimentality that Robert Zemeckis pours on, but the result is a film that stands as one of the most-loved of all time and it's a cornerstone of American culture.
61/100 - DirectorFred ZinnemannStarsPaul ScofieldWendy HillerRobert ShawThe story of Sir Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry.Paul Scofield acts to minimalist perfection with his portrayal of Thomas More, but the real scene-stealer is Robert Shaw, who shows up for literally a single scene and milks every second of it. The film itself is a challenging watch because of its detached nature and laggard pacing, but if you manage to stick it out, you'll find yourself unquestionably satisfied, even if not overly amazed.
59/100 - DirectorWilliam A. WellmanHarry d'Abbadie d'ArrastStarsClara BowCharles 'Buddy' RogersRichard ArlenTwo young men, one rich, one middle class, who are in love with the same woman, become fighter pilots in World War I.59/100
- DirectorJohn SchlesingerStarsDustin HoffmanJon VoightSylvia MilesA naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.The first and second halves of this film are polar opposites; the first having a campy and adventurous mood, the latter being solemn and unflinching in its look at prostitution and drug use. It's not a great film and suffers from dated experimental editing and camera tricks, but Dustin Hoffman delivers a fantastic performance.
52/100 - DirectorElia KazanStarsGregory PeckDorothy McGuireJohn GarfieldA reporter pretends to be Jewish in order to cover a story on anti-Semitism, and personally discovers the true depths of bigotry and hatred.52/100
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsJean ArthurJames StewartLionel BarrymoreThe son of a snobbish Wall Street banker becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family not realizing that his father is trying to force her family from their home for a real estate development.54/100
- DirectorJames L. BrooksStarsShirley MacLaineDebra WingerJack NicholsonFollows hard-to-please Aurora looking for love and her daughter's family problems.52/100
- DirectorLeo McCareyStarsBing CrosbyBarry FitzgeraldFrank McHughWhen young Father O'Malley arrives at St. Dominic's, old Father Fitzgibbon doesn't think much of the church's newest member.Made with good intentions and honest performances, but overlong and much too maudlin.
50/100 - DirectorJohn FordStarsWalter PidgeonMaureen O'HaraAnna LeeAt the turn of the century in a Welsh mining village, the Morgans, he stern, she gentle, raise coal-mining sons and hope their youngest will find a better life.Overly sentimental, sappy, uneven and a real bore. I'd like to say the film's poor reputation for winning over 'Citizen Kane' is undeserved, but I'd be lying.
50/100 - DirectorDanny BoyleLoveleen TandanStarsDev PatelFreida PintoSaurabh ShuklaA teenager from the slums of Mumbai becomes a contestant on the show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati?' When interrogated under suspicion of cheating, he revisits his past, revealing how he had all the answers.Technically accomplished and well-directed from beginning to end, 'Slumdog Millionaire' is just as predictable and contrived as the most basic of love stories, only it's missing many of the necessary elements needed to make us really care about any of the characters or the situations they're involved in. Plus, the film's overall 'inspirational' message is blunted by exploitative and manipulative elements, and in the end, it's a lot less powerful than it could have and should have been.
49/100 - DirectorTony RichardsonStarsAlbert FinneySusannah YorkGeorge DevineThe romantic and chivalrous adventures of adopted bastard Tom Jones in 18th-century England.47/100
- DirectorVincente MinnelliCharles WaltersStarsLeslie CaronMaurice ChevalierLouis JourdanWeary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship which may not stay platonic for long.47/100
- DirectorWilliam DieterleStarsPaul MuniGale SondergaardJoseph SchildkrautThe biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair.46/100
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsJulie AndrewsChristopher PlummerEleanor ParkerA young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.45/100
- DirectorMichael AndersonJohn FarrowStarsDavid NivenCantinflasFinlay CurrieA Victorian Englishman bets that with the new steamships and railways he can circumnavigate the globe in eighty days.44/100
- DirectorCecil B. DeMilleStarsJames StewartCharlton HestonBetty HuttonThe dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.Notable for its incredible train derailment and subsequent crash sequence, and Charlton Heston and Jimmy Stewart are good in their roles, but it falls apart near the end and suffers from a bloated running time.
40/100 - DirectorHugh HudsonStarsBen CrossIan CharlesonNicholas FarrellTwo British track athletes, one a determined Jew and the other a devout Christian, are driven to win in the 1924 Olympics as they wrestle with issues of pride and conscience.I'd forgive the dullness of 'Chariots of Fire' if it had been an emotionally moving film, but it's not. It's melodramatic and dilatory with characters that have little to no depth. The moments of triumph are far and few between and they aren't ever thoroughly satisfying. Points go to the cinematography, score, and extended cameo from Ian Holm, but other than that, 'Chariots of Fire' is forgettable schmaltz. It nearly put me to sleep.
40/100 - DirectorPaul HaggisStarsDon CheadleSandra BullockThandiwe NewtonLos Angeles citizens with vastly separate lives collide in interweaving stories of race, loss and redemption.Pretentious, contrived, two-dimensional, annoying. The worst Best Picture winner of all time.
25/100 - DirectorHarry BeaumontStarsBessie LoveAnita PageCharles KingA pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.
- DirectorWesley RugglesStarsRichard DixIrene DunneEstelle TaylorA newspaper editor settles in an Oklahoma boom town with his reluctant wife at the end of the nineteenth century.29/100