2012, THANK YOU AND FUCK YOU: FAVORITE, HATED AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

I have lagged on this for entirely too long. Because of that, I can’t allow myself to spend much time writing about each individual film. I am giving myself a single hour to write everything (including this!). Judge accordingly. The list itself has been formulated over the course of 2 weeks. So, that is pretty solid. Just know that even up until this morning I was still moving films around on the list. This could change at any given moment. But, as of 12:30 pm PST on 2/1/12 this is how I felt.

Now, as I always feel the need to make this EXTREMELY CLEAR, this is a list of favorites. This is not what I think is the “best”, but strictly how I felt about these films. This list would change quite drastically if it was a “best” list. But, “best” lists are boring and not terribly revealing about the person that's writing the list. A judgement of this list is a judgement of me and my character. And, hey, I’m ok with that.

Now, for the usual Ruskin: “Art is not a matter of taste, but involves the whole man. Whether in making or perceiving a work of art, we bring to bear on it feeling, intellect, morals, knowledge, memory, and every other human capacity, all focused in a flash on a single point. Aesthetic man is a concept as false and dehumanizing as economic man.”  Also, “Taste is not only a part and index of morality, it is the only morality. The first, and last, and closest trial question to any living creature is "What do you like?" Tell me what you like, I'll tell you what you are.”

Please note: I have separated the fiction and non-fiction categories (except in the "Hated" section... there, I lumped all films together... so... everything in the actual non-fiction section is varying degrees of worthwhile). Non-fiction is at the end right before a list of films I saw in 2012 that have yet to be released.

Sorry again that nothing on here is proofed. This is what happens when you give yourself an hour to write about a lot of films. Sorry a lot of the insights won’t be all that insightful, but, just quick impressions and the first thing that came to mind. #onehour

Now that I'm done apologizing for myself... ENJOY!!!

FAVORITE 25 OF 2012!!!
 
1. OSLO, AUGUST 31 - No film has hit this close to home. Hyperbole? In a world with CERTIFIED COPY, maybe... Remember my belief that taste is one of the closest representations of self. Exhibit A.

2. MOONRISE KINGDOM - The film in which Wes Anderson finally resonates emotionally with me... This film reminded me what it’s like to feel... and there’s jokes. Good jokes. Lots of them. Very funny ones.

3. TABU - All that the medium can do and so much more. Absolute magic. A soaring highlight. If you don't respond to Part 2, we can't be friends. GTFO with this being nothing more than empty pastiche.

4. THE GREY - Hemingway 2012. Nuff said.

5. IT’S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY - The little stick figure film that could. TREE OF LIFE ain’t got shit on this little guy.

6. GIRL WALK // ALL DAY - The most joyous thing captured on camera all year... and I am a man that does not like Girl Talk.

7. THE DEEP BLUE SEA - I can’t even begin to talk about what this film means to me.

8. THE TURIN HORSE - Mmmmmmm potatoes. Only one director could have made this film. His name is Bela Tarr.

9. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER - In spite of a third act contrivance that is borderline unforgivable, this film charmed and warmed me so much it made my top 10.

10. HOLY MOTORS - I am really sad that this fell at #10. Had there only been a Lavant dance scene set to some Bowie... In a weird way, although I absolutely adore this film, it might be one of the biggest disappointments of the year. Hey, at least it’s like something you have never seen nor will ever probably see.

11. ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA - The most cynical film of the year? No, that would be...

12. KILLING THEM SOFTLY - The most cynical (and correct) film of the year. In spite of some of the worst music cues this side of Zemeckis, this film does genre filmmaking right. Heavy handed? Maybe a little, but this film has a lot going on beyond the surface obviousness. Welcome to Western Civilization.

13. AMOUR - Yup, love. This is pretty much it. And this is the second best case scenario for the ending of a relationship. If I ever end up with someone, please let us both die simultaneously in a car wreck.

14. RUST & BONE - Melodrama doesn’t have to be a bad word. And, how about that? A film that used a fucking Katy Perry song to bring the house to tears. NOW THAT IS IMPRESSIVE.

15. THE KID WITH THE BIKE - You wanna know what “minor” Dardennes is? LORNA’S SILENCE. This is many things, minor isn’t one of them.

16. THE LONELIEST PLANET - This used to be in my top 10... and then I watched it again...and, well, here it is.

17. 21 JUMP STREET - Shut up. This movie rules.

18. COSMOPOLIS - I need at least 3 more viewings to unpack this one. Could easily bust into the top 10 once I pick up the Blu-ray. A movie of the moment that I fear will remain relevant for years to come. That Pattinson kid sure can act.

19. GOODBYE FIRST LOVE - If you gave me this film 3 years ago, this would be top 10 material for me. Sadly, it came out this year... and early on. My memory on it is foggy. I have a feeling I will revisit this and it will mean so much more to me in the future (although, I really hope it won’t).

20. KILLER JOE - Not for the faint of heart...

21. TURN ME ON, DAMMIT! - The revolutionary cumming (SEE WHAT I DID THERE) of age film that has the nerve to outright state that girls get horny too. It saddens me greatly that in 2012 that was a downright paradigm smashing idea. Funny, sweet, thoughtful, and just all around lovely... with a dash of raunch. The kind of comedy I wish America knew how to make.

22. HAYWIRE - Some say this wasn’t about anything. It was. It was about money. Which, I guess, means that it wasn’t about anything. Clever. Some of the best filmed action scenes in years. How was this possible? By actually choreographing great action scenes and stepping back with the camera and letting the ballet of brutality play out.

23. MAGIC MIKE - A film that would be so much higher if I didn’t feel the ending was cheap bullshit.

24. ELENA - Perhaps one of the most complicated films I have seen all year. It kinda spits on everyone... as it damn well should.

25. NOT FADE AWAY - This film, you guys. This film. David Chase knows his way around an ending. Not sure who, but someone compared this film to a great pop song. I think there is no description more fitting. This film wasn’t a mess, it was designed to teleport emotionally.

FROM POSITIVE TO MIXED POSITIVE
 
Lincoln
Bernie
Seven Psychopaths
Miss Bala
Looper
Fat Kid Rules The World
Perfect Sense
Declaration of War
The Innkeepers
Goon
Cloud Atlas
Vamps
The Forgiveness Of Blood
Chronicle
Argo
The 5 Year Engagement
Skyfall
Premium Rush
A Burning Hot Summer
Here
This Must Be The Place
Dark Horse
Post Mortem
Safety Not Guaranteed
The Day He Arrives
In Another Country
This is 40
Silver Linings Playbook
Your Sister’s Sister
Compliance
I Wish
Attenberg
Wuthering Heights
Save The Date
Barbara
The Dictator
Take This Waltz
The Comedy
God Bless America

HAVEN'T SEEN (THAT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD HAVE MADE THE TOP 25)
 
Alps
Anna Karenina
Life of Pi
Middle Of Nowhere
Starlet
Almayar’s Folly
Neighboring Sounds
Sister
Keep The Lights On
Footnote
Where Do We Go Now?

FROM HATED TO MIXED NEGATIVE
 
1. The Color Wheel - I get why a certain type of person likes this film. If you know me, you should know exactly why I fucking loathe this film and these people and everything this film is. I can still taste the bullshit this film fed me several months ago. Ya, I’m not engaging with this film on an adult level because I don’t feel it deserves it (and I can be petty and childish).
 
2. The Sheik And I - I hate this man. I really do. Everything that is wrong with Americans and their relationship with the rest of the world resides in this film...
 
3. Beasts of the Southern Wild - From my FB, “Well, that was a big load of bullshit. In which a Northeast liberal travels to the South to make his "business card" by pointing his camera at them po' folk. Not real people mind you, but, hey, them sure are some feisty po' folk. Accidentally, Zeitlen crafts a (contradicting) libertarian fantasy. Not even gonna get into the gender politics. People that like this film need help.”
 
4. The Impossible - While it would be hard to look past the fact that it took a tragedy that befell Southeast Asia (Thailand specifically in this film) and made it about White people (Spanish in the true story; English in the film) that barely ever saw Thai people (except when they were a hindrance to the White people’s mission), this film is pretty fucking terrible as a straight narrative. Short of the dazzling tsunami sequence, this film is totally and utterly useless.
 
5. Norwegian Wood - I hate this not only because it is a totally botched adaptation of one of my favorite contemporary novels, but because it is a limp noodle of a film that seems to think it can coast on some lovely cinematography and a solid Jonny Greenwood score (nope, it couldn’t).
 
6. Smashed - Like a fucking advert for AA. Takes what could be a solid premise (what happens to the marriage of two partiers when one gets sober and the other doesn’t want to) and just skips over the important details. From one plot point to the other.
 
7. AI Weiwei: Never Sorry - Lionizing a hack artist. Snore. Not interesting on any level. A dead fish.
 
8. Zero Dark Thirty - This is a tough one. While I feel it is one of the best directed films of the year, I take issue with how torture was handled (contrary to reality)... as well as the fact that even though the raid was not shot in a GO AMERICA manner, it still is the release of the film. This film didn’t have the courage to step away from conventional narrative and truly be something more. Also, Chastain is a blank... which makes the ending a blank. No, the ending isn’t ambiguous, it is quite fucking literal. She doesn’t know what’s next and after 10 years of an obsessive pursuit, that's kinda hard to handle. PS - if you wanna link that to America as a nation... it doesn’t gel with the nation at that point in our history.
 
9. The Dark Knight Rises - I’ve written about this film extensively on FB. I’m not going to write about it anymore. Let’s just say that it’s the politics that made this film land in the hated pile... not the sheer ineptitude of everything beyond Tom Hardy’s gait and Hathaway in a Catwoman costume.
 
10. Pitch Perfect - Shockingly this wasn’t the most obnoxious film I saw all year... It was close tho.
 
11. Hitchcock - This shit was downright inexcusable.
 
12. The Master - Some masterful stuff in the first half of this picture, but even the strong performances can’t make up for all that was squandered in the borderline inept second half.
 
13. Django Unchained - Grow the fuck up, QT. There is some fun stuff in the film, but beyond its mostly incompetent script it refuses to even attempt to treat one of America’s greatest stains in an intellectually challenging and psychologically stimulating way. By ignoring psychology and trying to “right” history with a silly revenge film you aren’t adding to the discussion, you’re reducing us and the issue as a whole.
 
14. 28 Hotel Rooms - Should have been 12 Hotel Rooms. Even at less than 85 minutes this film felt like it lasted for days and days. It doesn’t help when you have only 2 characters and they are both insufferable.
 
15. Damsels in Distress - Sorry. I know a lot of you liked this film. However, I was really, really annoyed by it. I never felt like it had any other layers beyond the surface one. Also, Gerwig seemed to be choking on Stillman’s usually free-flowing, masterful dialogue. His dialogue has always been like a lovely song to me... in this... more like a less Locust track.
 
16. The Avengers - Some incompetent filmmaking this is. Another film I have written about at length so I’m kinda over it. This is the Marvel production line at work. Sorry. I don’t like films with an assembly line feel that climax in enemies that were basically like a foreman looks at assembly line workers. Whedon doesn’t know his way around a camera. Other than his dialogue (that made everyone sound like a child), I don’t get what he brought to the table.




17. Green
18. Prometheus
19. V/H/S 
20. Ted
21. Flight
22. Lockout
23. Ruby Sparks
24. Dredd
25. Cabin in the Woods

NON FICTION!!!
 
1. 5 Broken Cameras
2. This Is Not a Film
3. Only The Young
4. Crazy Horse
5. The Imposter
6. Whore’s Glory
7. The Ambassador
8. The Queen of Versailles
9. Girl Model
10. Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
The Pruitt-Igoe Myth
Detropia
How To Survive A Plague
The Invisible War
Central Park 5
First Position
Searching For Sugar Man
Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story

HAVEN’T SEEN
 
Undefeated
The House I Live In
Step Up To The Plate
Photographic Memory
Two Years At Sea
Detropia
The Waiting Room
The Gatekeeper
Tchoupitoulas
Burn

SAW IN 2012 THAT HAS YET TO BE RELEASED!!!

Some of these words are lifted from hasty tweets during AFI Fest.

AMITY - I have only seen the rough cut of this (ahem), but that rough cut was one of my favorite films of 2012. Can’t wait to see the full thing. Won’t write more till I have seen the full film, cuz that would be just wrong... and I’m almost out of time.

TIGER TAIL IN BLUE - Frank V. Ross was one of my favorite discoveries of 2012. He does that “word I will not mention” right. One of the only that does it right.

COME OUT AND PLAY: Had a blast in the second half, but, now listen closely filmmakers, PUT YOUR GODDAMN CAMERA ON A GODDAMN TRIPOD.

LEVIATHAN: I don't have the words; luckily, Phil Coldiron has many very good ones that you should read all of. http://tinyurl.com/bev5gwx It may be too soon to say, but I don't anticipate seeing another film at AFI Fest that tops LEVIATHAN. Best of the fest (most likely). Probably will be top 5 pf 2013.

SOMETHING IN THE AIR: Paris '71. Anarchists. Artists. A messy coming of age story. French tits. There was no way I wasn't gonna like this film. But, don't trust me. Like I said, this shit is my comfort zone. Many disliked it... and I really can't blame them. It's aggressively middlebrow... but a good kinda middlebrow. A French middlebrow. Having discussed the politics with my buddy, Dave, I feel like I may need to revisit this one. The politics could ruin things for me.

HERE COMES THE DEVIL: Goes from the awesome vigorous scissoring opening to horror by way of LOUD NOISES(!!!). Tiresome, tedious, and dumb.

SUN DON'T SHINE: These are the people that decide elections. After 5 mins I was rooting for the character's demise. After 90 mins, the filmmaker's demise.

POST TENEBRAS LUX: Extraordinary parts (opening sequence=best in show); unsure if they amount to much of a whole. Will decide when I revisit. Sadly, I was quite high on the film when I immediately exited, but after seeing TABU and then paying PTL more thought... it started to shrink. #showernotagrower(?)

SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME: See peeps, it's allz abt the luck. Even total shits can float thru life charmed. Also, funny as fuck. #offerman

LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE: Kiarostami does it again. I’m baffled that people didn’t “get” this film when they saw it at Cannes. Not totally straightforward, but not terribly elusive either.

ROOM 237: "Continuity error? I don't think so." Actually, it probably is. Listening to nutty goofs for 100 mins is as amusing as expected.

BARBARA: I guess there's nothing really wrong with it. After the 2 horror films, lame duck of my fest. Entirely inessential.

ABCS OF DEATH: Ti West, bro, stop doing anthology films. Other than maybe 10 minutes, a total waste of time. Slept thru V-Z.

SIMON KILLER: Utterly pointless. At least AFTERSCHOOL was kinda formally interesting. Campos trades in his Haneke DVDs for some Dardennes.

The final round of cuts. Finally you shall see my top 10 films of all time. Exciting, isn't it? I said, EXCITING, ISN'T IT?!?!!?!? (It isn't.)

This is the link for the initial post where I talk at length about this project. http://atleastyouregettingsome.blogspot.com/2012/08/working-towards-top-10-part-1.html

 Beneath the Top 10 of all time, you will find the list of cuts from all the previous rounds.

I didn't write anything after these cuts. Why? I was lazy. I will say this, I added a film, ANGUS, to the list and decided on a criteria. These are ten films that saved my life at one point or another. Ultimately, I guess my criteria for what makes a work of art great is if it has the ability to save a life. I am deeply grateful that all these films exist. For those out there making films, I hope that in some way those are your aspirations... if not, what's the point?

All that said, I could do this exercise next month and find myself making many changes. I guarantee it. I'm starting to learn that I hate picking favorites.

Feel free to tell me what you would have added to this list and / or why I'm nuts for cutting something. I find that shit fascinating.


My top 10:

CASABLANCA
BREATHLESS
IN A LONELY PLACE
CERTIFIED COPY
THE LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE
CITY LIGHTS
LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD
HUSBANDS
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
ANGUS


The cuts taking it from a top 25 to a top 10:
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (the last one to be dropped from the top 10. ANGUS apologizes.)
THE MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
SABRINA
IRMA VEP
DOGVILLE
MANHATTAN
WERCKMEISTER HARMONIES
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
WHAT TIME IS IT THERE?
APOCALYPSE NOW
UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG
F FOR FAKE
VERTIGO
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
STALKER

The 15 cut to bring us to a final 25:
WINGS OF DESIRE
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
ZERO DE CONDUITE
POETRY
SANS SOLEIL
THIS IS ENGLAND
FITZCARALDO
NIGHT MOVES
ALL THE REAL GIRLS
FOUR NIGHTS OF A DREAMER
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S
RED DESERT
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER

The third 10 that had to go:
THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE...
THE NAKED KISS
MORVERN CALLAR
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE DEVIL, PROBABLY
ANTICHRIST
SUNRISE
GILDA
FAT CITY
BADLANDS

The second 10 that had to go:
THE CONVERSATION (Impossible choice. Well, I guess not that impossible)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (FAT CITY just sits deep in my bones, this one I just dig the fuck out of)
ANNIE HALL (This was a mood based pull... tomorrow I may regret not putting MANHATTAN in this spot)
SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (I had to pull this as the cut that makes this list is the TV cut)
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
CLAIRE'S KNEES (Same deal as ANNIE HALL)
SANSHO THE BAILIFF
NINOTCHKA (This was a painful pull... Basically, it just left because it isn't fresh in my mind)
THE THIN RED LINE (This left only because BADLANDS resonates with me emotionally on a much deeper level... I would not argue with you if you said TTRL is the better film)

The first 10 that had to go (Remember, these are all amazing films and it hurt me just a little bit to cut each one that I did. Especially you, Ms. Brooks.):
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
LE SAMOURAI
KINGS OF THE ROAD
HE WHO GETS SLAPPED
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
CHINATOWN
PANDORA'S BOX
TAXI DRIVER
THE PIANO TEACHER
IKIRU

Working Towards a Top 10: Part 5: 40 - 25

Round 4 of cuts. If you want an entire write-up of what I am doing... here is the first post where I "go long" on it. http://atleastyouregettingsome.blogspot.com/2012/08/working-towards-top-10-part-1.html

Under you'll find my TOP 25 FILMS OF ALL TIME. Beneath that, the list of cuts from the previous rounds.

I didn't write anything after these cuts. Why? A couple reasons. First, I was lazy. Second, I just pulled from the gut. If I tried to think about the cuts, I would never decide. As it is, I stared at this list for 3 days trying to chop out 15 films. I also have started making a list of films I forgot to add to the initial 70. Some of which may have made it into this top 25.

If you go back to the other posts in this series, there may be a little added insight as to why I ended up cutting certain films on certain days. It's been a rough few weeks. I am finally back to my normal state of peace and balance. Perhaps that is why certain films didn't make the cut this time around.

All that said, I could do this exercise next month and find myself making many changes. I guarantee it. I'm starting to learn that I hate picking favorites.

Feel free to tell me what you would have added to this list and / or why I'm nuts for cutting something. I find that shit fascinating.


My top 25:

CASABLANCA
BREATHLESS
IN A LONELY PLACE
CERTIFIED COPY
THE LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE
DOGVILLE
CITY LIGHTS
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD
HUSBANDS
PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
MANHATTAN
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG
WERCKMEISTER HARMONIES
F FOR FAKE
SABRINA
VERTIGO
APOCALYPSE NOW
THE MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA
STALKER
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
WHAT TIME IS IT THERE?
IRMA VEP

The 15 cut to bring us to a final 25:
WINGS OF DESIRE
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
ZERO DE CONDUITE
POETRY
SANS SOLEIL
THIS IS ENGLAND
FITZCARALDO
NIGHT MOVES
ALL THE REAL GIRLS
FOUR NIGHTS OF A DREAMER
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S
RED DESERT
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER

The third 10 that had to go:
THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE...
THE NAKED KISS
MORVERN CALLAR
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE DEVIL, PROBABLY
ANTICHRIST
SUNRISE
GILDA
FAT CITY
BADLANDS

The second 10 that had to go:
THE CONVERSATION (Impossible choice. Well, I guess not that impossible)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (FAT CITY just sits deep in my bones, this one I just dig the fuck out of)
ANNIE HALL (This was a mood based pull... tomorrow I may regret not putting MANHATTAN in this spot)
SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (I had to pull this as the cut that makes this list is the TV cut)
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
CLAIRE'S KNEES (Same deal as ANNIE HALL)
SANSHO THE BAILIFF
NINOTCHKA (This was a painful pull... Basically, it just left because it isn't fresh in my mind)
THE THIN RED LINE (This left only because BADLANDS resonates with me emotionally on a much deeper level... I would not argue with you if you said TTRL is the better film)

The first 10 that had to go (Remember, these are all amazing films and it hurt me just a little bit to cut each one that I did. Especially you, Ms. Brooks.):
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
LE SAMOURAI
KINGS OF THE ROAD
HE WHO GETS SLAPPED
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
CHINATOWN
PANDORA'S BOX
TAXI DRIVER
THE PIANO TEACHER
IKIRU

Working Towards a Top 10: Part 4: 50 - 40

Round 3 of cuts. If you want an entire write-up of what I am doing... here is the first post where I "go long" on it. http://atleastyouregettingsome.blogspot.com/2012/08/working-towards-top-10-part-1.html

Under you'll find the remaining 40 and beneath that the list of cuts from the three rounds

I didn't write anything after these cuts. This has me being extremely honest about what is a favorite. Notice the amount of challenging films that got cut because on any given day, frankly, I prefer some of the more charming films that remain on the list. Also, as my mood dictates what gets cut from day to day... the amount of anxiety that has been making me a bit of a wreck and kinda "off" this whole week (trying to hide anxiety is always a mistake; I can't even begin to imagine what my over-compensated masking is making me seem like) has me looking at the cultural and personal importance of the lighter, more comedic films (comedy is important, but that doesn't excuse them from being dumb... none of these comedies are dumb, dummy). I'm also noticing how much I value romance, love and how much the loss of it resonates with me.

Feel free to tell me what you would have added to this list and / or why I'm nuts for cutting something. I find that shit fascinating.

CASABLANCA
BREATHLESS
IN A LONELY PLACE
CERTIFIED COPY
FOUR NIGHTS OF A DREAMER
ZERO DE CONDUITE
WHAT TIME IS IT THERE?
IRMA VEP
THE LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE
MY NIGHT AT MAUDE'S
DOGVILLE
CITY LIGHTS
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
THIS IS ENGLAND
RED DESERT
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD
HUSBANDS
FITZCARALDO
PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
MANHATTAN
NIGHT MOVES
ALL THE REAL GIRLS
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
WERCKMEISTER HARMONIES
F FOR FAKE
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
SABRINA
VERTIGO
APOCALYPSE NOW
THE MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA
POETRY
STALKER
SANS SOLEIL
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
WINGS OF DESIRE

The third 10 that had to go:
THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE...
THE NAKED KISS
MORVERN CALLAR
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE DEVIL, PROBABLY
ANTICHRIST
SUNRISE
GILDA
FAT CITY
BADLANDS

The second 10 that had to go:
THE CONVERSATION (Impossible choice. Well, I guess not that impossible)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (FAT CITY just sits deep in my bones, this one I just dig the fuck out of)
ANNIE HALL (This was a mood based pull... tomorrow I may regret not putting MANHATTAN in this spot)
SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (I had to pull this as the cut that makes this list is the TV cut)
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
CLAIRE'S KNEES (Same deal as ANNIE HALL)
SANSHO THE BAILIFF
NINOTCHKA (This was a painful pull... Basically, it just left because it isn't fresh in my mind)
THE THIN RED LINE (This left only because BADLANDS resonates with me emotionally on a much deeper level... I would not argue with you if you said TTRL is the better film)

The first 10 that had to go (Remember, these are all amazing films and it hurt me just a little bit to cut each one that I did. Especially you, Ms. Brooks.):
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
LE SAMOURAI
KINGS OF THE ROAD
HE WHO GETS SLAPPED
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
CHINATOWN
PANDORA'S BOX
TAXI DRIVER
THE PIANO TEACHER
IKIRU

Working Towards a Top 10: Part 3: 60 - 50

Round 2 of cuts. If you want an entire write-up of what I am doing... here is the first post where I "go long" on it. http://atleastyouregettingsome.blogspot.com/2012/08/working-towards-top-10-part-1.html

Under you'll find the remaining 50 and beneath that the list of cuts from both rounds. This round featured the most brutal cutting based on the "only one film per director in the top 25 criteria."

I wrote a brief sentence or two after most of the cut films explaining why they had to go.

Feel free to tell me what you would have added to this list and / or why I'm nuts for cutting something. I find that shit fascinating.

CASABLANCA
BREATHLESS
IN A LONELY PLACE
CERTIFIED COPY
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE DEVIL, PROBABLY
FOUR NIGHTS OF A DREAMER
ZERO DE CONDUITE
WHAT TIME IS IT THERE?
IRMA VEP
THE LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE
MY NIGHT AT MAUDE'S
DOGVILLE
ANTICHRIST
CITY LIGHTS
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
THIS IS ENGLAND
RED DESERT
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD
HUSBANDS
FITZCARALDO
PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
SUNRISE
GILDA
FAT CITY
MANHATTAN
NIGHT MOVES
ALL THE REAL GIRLS
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG
THE NAKED KISS
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
WERCKMEISTER HARMONIES
F FOR FAKE
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
MORVERN CALLAR
SABRINA
VERTIGO
APOCALYPSE NOW
THE MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA
POETRY
STALKER
SANS SOLEIL
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE...
WINGS OF DESIRE
BADLANDS

The second 10 that had to go:
THE CONVERSATION (Impossible choice. Well, I guess not that impossible)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (FAT CITY just sits deep in my bones, this one I just dig the fuck out of)
ANNIE HALL (This was a mood based pull... tomorrow I may regret not putting MANHATTAN in this spot)
SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (I had to pull this as the cut that makes this list is the TV cut)
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
CLAIRE'S KNEES (Same deal as ANNIE HALL)
SANSHO THE BAILIFF
NINOTCHKA (This was a painful pull... Basically, it just left because it isn't fresh in my mind)
THE THIN RED LINE (This left only because BADLANDS resonates with me emotionally on a much deeper level... I would not argue with you if you said TTRL is the better film)

The first 10 that had to go (Remember, these are all amazing films and it hurt me just a little bit to cut each one that I did. Especially you, Ms. Brooks.):
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
LE SAMOURAI
KINGS OF THE ROAD
HE WHO GETS SLAPPED
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
CHINATOWN
PANDORA'S BOX
TAXI DRIVER
THE PIANO TEACHER
IKIRU

Working Towards a Top 10: Part 2: 70 - 60

Here is the first 10 cuts of my "Top 70." Not gonna type much this time out... if you want an entire write-up of what I am doing... here is the first post where I "go long" on it. http://atleastyouregettingsome.blogspot.com/2012/08/working-towards-top-10-part-1.html

Under the remaining 60, I shall list the first 10 to go. As I really want the top 25 or so to only feature one film per director, some great films from directors already represented may start making the cut first.

Feel free to tell me what you would have added to this list and / or why I'm nuts for cutting something. I find that shit fascinating.

CASABLANCA
BREATHLESS
IN A LONELY PLACE
CERTIFIED COPY
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE DEVIL, PROBABLY
FOUR NIGHTS OF A DREAMER
ZERO DE CONDUITE
WHAT TIME IS IT THERE?
IRMA VEP
THE LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE
MY NIGHT AT MAUDE'S
CLAIRE'S KNEES
DOGVILLE
ANTICHRIST
CITY LIGHTS
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
THIS IS ENGLAND
SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
RED DESERT
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD
HUSBANDS
FITZCARALDO
PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
SUNRISE
GILDA
FAT CITY
ANNIE HALL
MANHATTAN
NIGHT MOVES
ALL THE REAL GIRLS
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG
NINOTCHKA
THE NAKED KISS
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
WERCKMEISTER HARMONIES
F FOR FAKE
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
MORVERN CALLAR
SABRINA
VERTIGO
THE CONVERSATION
APOCALYPSE NOW
THE MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE
POETRY
SANSHO THE BAILIFF
STALKER
SANS SOLEIL
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE...
WINGS OF DESIRE
BADLANDS
THE THIN RED LINE

The first 10 that had to go (Remember, these are all amazing films and it hurt me just a little bit to cut each one that I did. Especially you, Ms. Brooks.):
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
LE SAMOURAI
KINGS OF THE ROAD
HE WHO GETS SLAPPED
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
CHINATOWN
PANDORA'S BOX
TAXI DRIVER
THE PIANO TEACHER
IKIRU