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

Working Towards a Top 10: Part 1

This right here is, as always, simply a list of my FAVORITE films of all time. Trying to list the best films is such a boring and pointless task that says very little about the author. Besides, who can argue with what I say is my favorite? You could, I guess, but you'd just be an asshole. As I briefly mentioned, what someone deems their favorite says a little something about the person doing that there deeming. If one wants to have a conversation about that, I'm more than happy to have that conversation. The other reason I don't bother with "bests" is basically for two reasons... 1) who the fuck am I (and in many cases, you)? 2) there are plenty of things I haven't seen for no reason other than time and access. As one should probably know, a list of favorites is a living document.

Life changes us over time. It beats us down and makes us cynical. Later we find hope and happiness. Then turns us into a quivering ninny over a girl that we loved. And so on. We all (or at least I) have experienced this world through many phases, like the moon, but without the cyclical repetition. There may be certain phases that are similar, but as I age, the previous experiences have altered the phases in subtle, yet noticeable ways. As a result, my taste changes at a rapid pace. So of course (prepare yourself for one of my many "no shit" statements), through time I have found that my appreciation of art changes as I change. My aesthetic preferences change. My sense of humor evolves. What I find meaningful changes. What makes my heart go all pitter patter changes. My values change. What I find comforting changes. What I find thrilling changes. What offends me changes. What annoys me changes. And on and on and on. We grow older; we grow wiser. And blah blah blah.

I gave myself a few rules when I made this list. First, I could use no references (not even glancing at my DVD shelves), it had to strictly be from my head. This is of course slightly problematic as I do not have the memory of an elephant; I more so have the memory of a peanut... consumed by an elephant and shat out... baking in the hot LA Zoo sun. Second, once I hit 70 films, I had to stop. I wanted to keep going and there are some great films that I adore that I just couldn't put down, because rules are rules (I made this rule while making the list because, frankly, there had to be an endpoint). Third, I only had 3 days to think about this and there could never be a brainstorming session. This had to be stuff I thought about at random moments and jotted down in my little Evernote ap. Fourth, Oh, fuck it. No more rules to be mentioned.

This list is 70 films long. I am going to force myself to cut 10 films every few days until I get down to 10. I will post the new list each time I chop 10. Below is the raw 70. They are in no particular order. In fact, if you think they are in an order of how I thought of them, you'd be wrong. Although, the top few will probably hang around for quite a while.

Shit. Three final notes: 1) I was generally mindful of filmmakers when I made my selections. What I mean is that although some filmmakers have more than one film, I stopped myself with others when there was one (semi-)clear standout in my mind. I am going to try to end the top 20-30 by making sure only one film by a filmmaker is represented. 2) As I didn't use any references when writing these down, there may be some errors in the spelling or titles. I'm sure you can figure out what films I mean. 3) I DID NOT PROOFREAD ANY OF THE TEXT ABOVE. WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT CAME OUT AND MAY BE NONSENSICAL OR REPETITIVE. OH WELL. I AIN'T GETTING PAID FOR THIS SHIT.

Feel free to tell me what you would have added that I left off. 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
THE PIANO TEACHER
SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE
IKIRU
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
RED DESERT
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
LE SAMOURAI
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 SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
THE NAKED KISS
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
WERCKMEISTER HARMONIES
F FOR FAKE
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
HE WHO GETS SLAPPED
PANDORA'S BOX
TAXI DRIVER
MORVERN CALLAR
SABRINA
VERTIGO
CHINATOWN
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
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE...
WINGS OF DESIRE
KINGS OF THE ROAD
BADLANDS
THE THIN RED LINE