Top Films Of Decade: 1970’s

THE BEST OF THE BEST OF DECADE: 1970-1979

(Last updated: December 5, 2014)

No. TITLE YEAR STARS Out/10 GRADE
1 The Godfather (TOP 100) 1972 **** A+ 10/10
2 Apocalypse Now (TOP 100) 1979 **** A+ 10/10
3 The Godfather Part 2 (TOP 100) 1974 **** A+ 10/10
4 Taxi Driver (TOP 100) 1976 **** A+ 10/10
5 Star Wars: A New Hope (TOP 100) 1977 **** A+ 10/10
6 Chinatown (TOP 100) 1974 **** A+ 10/10
7 Barry Lyndon (TOP 100) 1975 **** A+ 10/10
8 Aguirre: Wrath Of God (TOP 100) 1972 **** A+ 10/10
9 A Clockwork Orange (TOP 100) 1971 **** A+ 10/10
10 Annie Hall (TOP 100) 1977 **** A+ 10/10
11 Jaws (TOP 100) 1975 **** A+ 10/10
12 Grey Gardens (TOP 100) 1975 **** A+ 10/10
13 Death In Venice (TOP 100) 1971 **** A+ 10/10
14 One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (TOP 100) 1975 **** A+ 10/10
15 Alien (TOP 100) 1979 **** A+ 10/10
16 The Deer Hunter 1978 **** A+ 10/10
17 Network 1976 **** A+ 10/10
18 The Conversation 1974 **** A+ 10/10
19 Manhattan 1979 **** A+ 10/10
20 Sleuth 1972 **** A+ 10/10
21 Cabaret 1972 **** A+ 10/10
22 Picnic At Hanging Rock 1975 **** A+ 10/10
23 Amacord 1973 **** A+ 10/10
24 Five Easy Pieces 1970 **** A+ 10/10
25 Monty Python’s Life Of Brian 1979 **** A+ 10/10
26 Close Encounters Of The Third Kind 1977 **** A+ 10/10
27 Monty Python And The Holy Grail 1975 **** A+ 10/10
28 Eraserhead 1977 ***1/2 A 9/10
29 The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 ***1/2 A 9/10
30 Kramer Vs. Kramer 1979 ***1/2 A 9/10
31 Murder On The Orient Express 1974 ***1/2 A 9/10
32 The Exorcist 1973 ***1/2 A 9/10
33 F For Fake 1973 ***1/2 A 9/10
34 Seven Plus 7 1970 ***1/2 A 9/10
35 Carrie 1976 ***1/2 A 9/10
36 The French Connection 1971 ***1/2 A 9/10
37 Rocky 1976 ***1/2 A 9/10
38 National Lampoon’s Animal House 1978 ***1/2 A 9/10
39 Death On The Nile 1978 ***1/2 A 9/10
40 And Then There Were None 1974 ***1/2 A 9/10
41 The Man Who Would Be King 1975 ***1/2 A 9/10
42 The Private Live Of Sherlock Holmes 1970 ***1/2 A 9/10
43 Monty Python’s And Now For Something Completely Different 1972 ***1/2 A- 8/10
44 Love Story 1970 ***1/2 A- 8/10
45 Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory 1971 ***1/2 A- 8/10
46 Ryan’s Daughter 1970 ***1/2 A- 8/10
47 Bananas 1971 ***1/2 A- 8/10
48 Grease 1978 ***1/2 A- 8/10
49 The Muppet Movie 1979 ***1/2 A- 8/10
50 Superman 1978 ***1/2 A- 8/10
51 The Aristocats 1970 ***1/2 A- 8/10
52 The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 1977 ***1/2 A- 8/10
53 The Towering Inferno 1974 *** B+ 7/10
54 Murder By Death 1976 *** B+ 7/10
55 Force 10 From Navarone 1978 *** B+ 7/10
56 The French Connection 2 1975 *** B+ 7/10
57 10 Rillington Place 1971 *** B+ 7/10
58 The Prisoner Of Second Avenue 1975 *** B+ 7/10
59 Escape From Alcatraz 1979 *** B+ 7/10
60 Mutiny On The Western Front 1979 *** B+ 7/10
61 The Rescuers 1977 *** B 6/10
62 Robin Hood 1973 *** B 6/10
63 Charlotte’s Web 1973 *** B 6/10
64 Julius Caesar 1970 *** B 6/10
65 The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe 1979 **1/2 B- 5/10
66 The Omen 1976 **1/2 B- 5/10
67 The Great Gatsby 1974 **1/2 B- 5/10
68 Bedknobs And Broomsticks 1971 **1/2 B- 5/10
69 The Tragedy Of Macbeth 1971 ** C+ 4/10
70 The Boys From Brazil 1978 ** C+ 4/10
71 The Fury 1978 * F 0/10
  Jesus Christ Superstar 1973 * F 0/10
Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie **** A+ 10/10
Very Good ***1/2 A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended *** B+ 7/10
OK – Below Average B 6/10
Below Average **1/2 B- 5/10
Below Average – Bad C+ 4/10
Bad ** C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad *1/2 D 1/10
Appalling * F 0/10

 

Top Films Of Decade: 1960’s

THE BEST OF THE BEST OF DECADE: 1960-1969

(Last updated: October 15, 2013)

 

No.

TITLE YEAR STARS Out/10 GRADE
2001: A Space Odyssey (TOP 100) 1968 **** A+ 10/10
8 ½ (TOP 100) 1963 **** A+ 10/10
Psycho (TOP 100) 1960 **** A+ 10/10
The Up Series (TOP 100) 1964- **** A+ 10/10
Dr. Strangelove (TOP 100) 1964 **** A+ 10/10
Lawrence Of Arabia (TOP 100) 1962 **** A+ 10/10
The Battle Of Algiers (TOP 100) 1965 **** A+ 10/10
La Dolce Vita (TOP 100) 1960 **** A+ 10/10
The Leopard (TOP 100) 1963 **** A+ 10/10
The Sound Of Music (TOP 100) 1965 **** A+ 10/10
Jules Et Jim (TOP 100) 1962 **** A+ 10/10
La Jetee (TOP 100) 1962 **** A+ 10/10
The Apartment (TOP 100) 1960 **** A+ 10/10
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (TOP 100) 1962 **** A+ 10/10
To Kill A Mockingbird (TOP 100) 1962 **** A+ 10/10
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (TOP 100) 1966 **** A+ 10/10
The Graduate 1967      
The Producers 1968 **** A+ 10/10
West Side Story 1961 **** A+ 10/10
Bonnie And Clyde 1967 **** A+ 10/10
Midnight Cowboy 1969 **** A+ 10/10
Seven Up 1964 **** A+ 10/10
My Fair Lady 1964 **** A+ 10/10
Blow Up 1966 **** A+ 10/10
The Birds 1963 **** A+ 10/10
The Manchurian Candidate 1962 **** A+ 10/10
Spartacus 1960 **** A+ 10/10
Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? 1966 **** A+ 10/10
Lolita 1962 **** A+ 10/10
Easy Rider 1969 **** A+ 10/10
Doctor Zhivago 1965 **** A+ 10/10
A Man For All Seasons 1966 **** A+ 10/10
Romeo And Juliet 1968 **** A+ 10/10
The Great Escape 1963 **** A+ 10/10
Breakfast At Tiffany’s 1961 ***1/2 A 9/10
Mary Poppins 1964 ***1/2 A 9/10
Marine 1964 ***1/2 A 9/10
Charade 1963 ***1/2 A 9/10
Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? 1960 ***1/2 A 9/10
In The Heat Of The Night 1967 ***1/2 A 9/10
Cape Fear 1962 ***1/2 A 9/10
Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner? 1967 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Jungle Book 1967 ***1/2 A 9/10
Oliver! 1968 ***1/2 A 9/10
Judgement At Nuremberg 1961 ***1/2 A 9/10
Inherit The Wind 1960 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie 1969 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Purple Noon 1960 ***1/2 A- 8/10
101 Dalmatians 1961 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Magnificent Seven 1960 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Guns of Navarone 1961 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Odd Couple 1968 *** B+ 7/10
Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte 1964 *** B+ 7/10
Wait Until Dark 1967 *** B+ 7/10
Taming Of The Shrew 1967 *** B+ 7/10
Miracle Worker 1962 *** B+ 7/10
The Dirty Dozen 1967 *** B+ 7/10
Italian Job 1969 *** B+ 7/10
Hello, Dolly! 1969 *** B+ 7/10
Train 1964 *** B+ 7/10
Zulu 1964 *** B+ 7/10
Pollyanna 1960 *** B+ 7/10
Sword In The Stone 1963 *** B+ 7/10
Time Machine 1960 *** B+ 7/10
El Cid 1961 *** B+ 7/10
To Sir, With Love 1967 *** B 6/10
Swiss Family Robinson 1960 *** B 6/10
How To Murder Your Wife 1965 *** B 6/10
Bedazzled 1967 *** B 6/10
The Fall Of The Roman Empire 1964 *** B 6/10
From Russia With Love 1963 *** B 6/10
Dr. Dolittle 1967 *** B 6/10
Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines 1965 *** B 6/10
Pocketful Of Miracles 1961 *** B 6/10
Trouble With Angles 1966 *** B 6/10
Parent Trap 1961 *** B 6/10
Yours, Mine And Ours 1968 *** B 6/10
55 Days At Peking 1963 *** B 6/10
The 300 Spartans 1962 *** B 6/10
King Of Kings 1961 **1/2 B- 5/10

 

 

 

Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie

****

A+ 10/10
Very Good

***1/2

A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended

***

B+ 7/10
OK –  Below Average B 6/10
Below Average

**1/2

B- 5/10
Below Average –  Bad C+ 4/10
Bad

**

C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad

*1/2

D 1/10
Appalling

*

F 0/10

 

Top Films Of Decade: 1950’s

THE BEST OF THE BEST OF DECADE: 1950-1959

(Last updated: October 15, 2013)

No.

TITLE YEAR STARS Out/10 GRADE
Vertigo (TOP 100) 1958 **** A+ 10/10
Tokyo Story (TOP 100) 1953 **** A+ 10/10
Singin’ In The Rain (TOP 100) 1952 **** A+ 10/10
Rear Window (TOP 100) 1954 **** A+ 10/10
The Searchers (TOP 100) 1956 **** A+ 10/10
Sunset Boulevard (TOP 100) 1950 **** A+ 10/10
Some Like It Hot (TOP 100) 1959 **** A+ 10/10
All About Eve (TOP 100) 1950 **** A+ 10/10
North By Northwest (TOP 100) 1959 **** A+ 10/10
Night Of The Hunter (TOP 100) 1955 **** A+ 10/10
Seven Samurai (TOP 100) 1954 **** A+ 10/10
The 400 Blows (TOP 100) 1959 **** A+ 10/10
Rashomon (TOP 100) 1951 **** A+ 10/10
Touch Of Evil (TOP 100) 1958 **** A+ 10/10
Seventh Seal (TOP 100) 1957 **** A+ 10/10
La Strada (TOP 100) 1954 **** A+ 10/10
Imitation Of Life (TOP 100) 1958 **** A+ 10/10
Iriku (TOP 100) 1952 **** A+ 10/10
Rio Bravo (TOP 100) 1959 **** A+ 10/10
12 Angry Men (TOP 100) 1957 **** A+ 10/10
Rebel Without A Cause (TOP 100) 1955 **** A+ 10/10
On The Waterfront (TOP 100) 1954 **** A+ 10/10
The Bridge On The River Kwai 1957 **** A+ 10/10
High Noon 1952 **** A+ 10/10
Paths Of Glory 1957 **** A+ 10/10
East Of Eden 1955 **** A+ 10/10
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof 1958 **** A+ 10/10
Auntie Mame 1958 **** A+ 10/10
The Quiet Man 1952 **** A+ 10/10
A Star Is Born 1954 **** A+ 10/10
Starngers On A Train 1951 **** A+ 10/10
The African Queen 1951 **** A+ 10/10
The Band Wagon 1953 **** A+ 10/10
Umberto D. 1952 **** A+ 10/10
Ben-Hur 1959 **** A+ 10/10
Giant 1956 **** A+ 10/10
A Street Car Named Desire 1951 **** A+ 10/10
The Lavender Hill Mob 1951 **** A+ 10/10
An Affair To Remember 1957 **** A+ 10/10
Roman Holiday 1953 **** A+ 10/10
An American In Paris 1951 **** A+ 10/10
A Place In The Sun 1951 **** A+ 10/10
To Catch A Thief 1955 **** A+ 10/10
The Big Heat 1953 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Cranes Are Flying 1957 ***1/2 A 9/10
Dial M For Murder 1954 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Bad And The Beautiful 1952 ***1/2 A 9/10
Anatomy Of A Murder 1959 ***1/2 A 9/10
All That Heaven Allows 1955 ***1/2 A 9/10
Witness For The Prosecution 1957 ***1/2 A 9/10
From Here To Eternity 1953 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much 1956 ***1/2 A 9/10
Suddenly Last Summer 1959 ***1/2 A 9/10
Sabrina 1954 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Ladykillers 1955 ***1/2 A 9/10
Harvey 1950 ***1/2 A 9/10
Cinderella 1950 ***1/2 A 9/10
A Night To Remember 1958 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Wrong Man 1956 ***1/2 A 9/10
High Society 1956 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Man In The White Suit 1951 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Country Girl 1954 ***1/2 A 9/10
White Christmas 1954 ***1/2 A 9/10
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 1953 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Big Country 1958 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Peter Pan 1953 ***1/2 A- 8/10
King And I 1956 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Sleeping Beauty 1959 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers 1954 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Alice In Wonderland 1951 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Court Jester 1956 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Titanic 1953 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Lady And The Tramp 1955 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Stage Fright 1950 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Indiscreet 1958 ***1/2 A- 8/10
On The Beach 1959 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Ten Commandments 1956 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Around The World In 80 Days 1956 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Three Faces Of Eve 1957 *** B+ 7/10
How To Marry A Millionarie 1953 *** B+ 7/10
Julius Caesar 1953 *** B+ 7/10
Gigi 1958 *** B+ 7/10
The Importance Of Being Earnest 1952 *** B+ 7/10
Inn Of The Sixth Happiness 1958 *** B+ 7/10
Journey To The Centre Of The Earth 1959 *** B+ 7/10
Les Girls 1957 *** B+ 7/10
I Confess 1952 *** B+ 7/10
Hound Of The Baskervilles 1959 *** B+ 7/10
Heaven Knows Mr. Allison 1957 *** B+ 7/10
The Robe 1953 *** B 6/10
Vikings 1958 *** B 6/10
Treasure Island 1950 *** B 6/10
Cheaper By The Dozen 1950 **1/2 B- 5/10
Shaggy Dog 1959 **1/2 B- 5/10
Don Camillo 1952 **1/2 B- 5/10
The Trouble With Harry 1955 **1/2 C+ 4/10
Plan 9 From Outer Space 1959 * F 0/10

 

 

Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie

****

A+ 10/10
Very Good

***1/2

A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended

***

B+ 7/10
OK –  Below Average B 6/10
Below Average

**1/2

B- 5/10
Below Average –  Bad C+ 4/10
Bad

**

C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad

*1/2

D 1/10
Appalling

*

F 0/10


Top Films Of Decade: 1940’s

THE BEST OF THE BEST OF DECADE: 1940-1949

(Last updated: June 9, 2013)

No.

TITLE YEAR STARS Out/10 GRADE
Casablanca (TOP 100) 1942 **** A+ 10/10
Citizen Kane (TOP 100) 1941 **** A+ 10/10
Fantasia (TOP 100) 1940 **** A+ 10/10
It’s A Wonderful Life (TOP 100) 1946 **** A+ 10/10
The Bicycle Thieves (TOP 100) 1948 **** A+ 10/10
The Third Man (TOP 100) 1949 **** A+ 10/10
The Red Shoes (TOP 100) 1948 **** A+ 10/10
Notorious (TOP 100) 1946 **** A+ 10/10
Brief Encounter (TOP 100) 1945 **** A+ 10/10
The Great Dictator (TOP 100) 1940 **** A+ 10/10
His Girl Friday (TOP 100) 1940 **** A+ 10/10
Rebecca (TOP 100) 1940 **** A+ 10/10
Kind Hearts And Coronets (TOP 100) 1949 **** A+ 10/10
The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp 1943 **** A+ 10/10
Double Indemnity (TOP 100) 1944 **** A+ 10/10
The Philadelphia Story (TOP 100) 1940 **** A+ 10/10
Out Of The Past (TOP 100) 1947 **** A+ 10/10
The Treasure Of Sierra Madre 1948 **** A+ 10/10
The Maltese Falcon 1941 **** A+ 10/10
Sullivan’s Travels 1942 **** A+ 10/10
My Darling Clementine 1946 **** A+ 10/10
The Lady Eve 1941 **** A+ 10/10
The Grapes Of Wrath 1940 **** A+ 10/10
Shadow Of A Doubt 1943 **** A+ 10/10
Now Voyager 1942 **** A+ 10/10
Pinocchio 1940 **** A+ 10/10
Meet Me In St. Louis 1944 **** A+ 10/10
Arsenic And Old Lace 1944 **** A+ 10/10
Red River 1948 **** A+ 10/10
The Big Sleep 1946 ***1/2 A 9/10
Mrs Miniver 1942 ***1/2 A 9/10
Laura 1944 ***1/2 A 9/10
Rope 1948 ***1/2 A 9/10
To Have, To Have Not 1944 ***1/2 A 9/10
Gun Crazy 1949 ***1/2 A 9/10
Gaslight 1944 ***1/2 A 9/10
Mildred Pierce 1945 ***1/2 A 9/10
Great Expectations 1947 ***1/2 A 9/10
Henry V 1944 ***1/2 A 9/10
How Green Was My Valley 1941 ***1/2 A 9/10
Bambi 1942 ***1/2 A 9/10
Hamlet 1948 ***1/2 A 9/10
Scarlet Street 1945 ***1/2 A 9/10
Dumbo 1941 ***1/2 A 9/10
On The Town 1949 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Ghost And Mrs. Muir 1947 ***1/2 A 9/10
Key Largo 1948 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Lost Weekend 1945 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Song Of Bernadette 1943 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Spellbound 1945 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Adam’s Rib 1949 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Jane Eyre 1944 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Sergeant York 1941 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Razor’s Edge 1946 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Penny Serenade 1941 ***1/2 A- 8/10
National Velvet 1944 ***1/2 A- 8/10
A Night In Casablanca 1946 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Bell’s Of Saint Mary’s 1945 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Murderers Among Us 1946 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Gentleman’s Agreement 1947 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Picture Of Dorian Gray 1945 ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Bishop’s Wife 1947 *** B+ 7/10
Going My Way 1944 *** B+ 7/10
Lifeboat 1944 *** B+ 7/10
Saboteur 1942 *** B+ 7/10
The Big Clock 1948 *** B+ 7/10
Joan Of Arc 1948 *** B+ 7/10
Suspicion 1941 *** B+ 7/10
Blossoms In The Dust 1941 *** B+ 7/10
Anna Karenina 1948 *** B+ 7/10
Phantom Of The Opera 1943 *** B+ 7/10
Fun And Fancy Free 1947 *** B 6/10
The Keys Of The Kingdom 1945 *** B 6/10
Dragonwyck 1946 *** B 6/10
Men Of Boys Town 1941 **1/2 B- 5/10
Three Caballeros 1945 **1/2 B- 5/10
State Fair 1945 **1/2 B- 5/10
Sauldos Amigos 1942 **1/2 B- 5/10

 

 

 

 

Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie

****

A+ 10/10
Very Good

***1/2

A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended

***

B+ 7/10
OK –  Below Average B 6/10
Below Average

**1/2

B- 5/10
Below Average –  Bad C+ 4/10
Bad

**

C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad

*1/2

D 1/10
Appalling

*

F 0/10

2011 Movie Reviews

 

2011 MOVIE REVIEWS BY JEREMY

(Last Updated: December 5, 2014)

 

No. TITLE STARS Out/10 GRADE
The Tree Of Life (TOP 100) **** A+ 10/10
Melancholia **** A+ 10/10
The Artist **** A+ 10/10
A Separation **** A+ 10/10
Drive **** A+ 10/10
The Descendants **** A+ 10/10
Shame ***1/2 A 9/10
Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy ***1/2 A 9/10
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo ***1/2 A 9/10
Hugo ***1/2 A 9/10
We Need To Talk About Kevin ***1/2 A 9/10
Bridesmaids ***1/2 A- 8/10
Life In A Day ***1/2 A- 8/10
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Young Adult ***1/2 A- 8/10
Moneyball ***1/2 A- 8/10
Midnight In Paris ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Help ***1/2 A- 8/10
Rango ***1/2 A- 8/10
War Horse ***1/2 A- 8/10
The Adventures Of Tintin ***1/2 A- 8/10
Super 8 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes *** B+ 7/10
Carnage *** B+ 7/10
The Muppets *** B+ 7/10
My Week With Marilyn *** B+ 7/10
J. Edgar *** B+ 7/10
The Iron Lady *** B+ 7/10
The Ides Of March *** B+ 7/10
Restless *** B+ 7/10
Weekend *** B+ 7/10
The Eye Of The Storm *** B+ 7/10
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows *** B 6/10
X-Men: First Class *** B 6/10
Kung Fu Panda 2 *** B 6/10
In Time **1/2 B- 5/10
Bad Teacher **1/2 B- 5/10
Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie **** A+ 10/10
Very Good ***1/2 A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended *** B+ 7/10
OK – Below Average B 6/10
Below Average **1/2 B- 5/10
Below Average –   Bad C+ 4/10
Bad ** C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad *1/2 D 1/10
Appalling * F 0/10

Final Golden Globes Predictions 2011

Best Motion Picture – Drama:

My Pick: THE DESCENDANTS

Winner: THE DESCENDANTS

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy:

My Pick: THE ARTIST

Winner: THE ARTIST

Best Director:

My Pick: MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS, THE ARTIST

Winner: MARTIN SCORSESE, HUGO

Best Actor Drama:

My Pick: GEORGE CLOONEY, THE DESCENDANTS

Winner: GEORGE CLOONEY, THE DESCENDANTS

Best Actress Drama:

My Pick: MERYL STREEP, THE IRON LADY

Winner: MERYL STREEP, THE IRON LADY

Best Actor Musical or Comedy:

My Pick: JEAN DUJARDIN, THE ARTIST

Winner: JEAN DUJARDIN, THE ARTIST

Best Actress Musical or Comedy:

My Pick: KIRSTEN WIIG, BRIDESMAIDS

Winner: MICHELLE WILLIAMS, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

Best Supporting Actor (ALREADY ANNOUNCED):

Winner: CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER, BEGINERS

Best Supporting Actress:

My Pick: OCTAVIA SPENCER, THE HELP

Winner: OCTAVIA SPENCER, THE HELP

Best Score:

My Pick: HOWARD SHORE, HUGO

Winner: LUDOVIC BOURCE, THE ARTIST

Best Original Song:

My Pick: “THE LIVING PROOF”, THE HELP

Winner: “MASTERPEICE”, W.E.

Best Animated Film:

My Pick: RANGO

Winner: THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN

Best Foreign Language Film:

My Pick: A SEPARATION

Winner: A SEPARATION

Top Films Of The Decade: 1930’s

THE BEST OF THE BEST DECADE: 1930-1939

(Last updated: June 9, 2013)

No.

TITLE YEAR STARS Out/10 GRADE
The Rules Of The Game (TOP 100) 1939 **** A+ 10/10
Gone With The Wind (TOP 100) 1939 **** A+ 10/10
City Lights (TOP 100) 1931 **** A+ 10/10
The Wizard Of Oz (TOP 100) 1939 **** A+ 10/10
Modern Times (TOP 100) 1936 **** A+ 10/10
La Grande Illusion (TOP 100) 1937 **** A+ 10/10
Bringing Up Baby (TOP 100) 1938 **** A+ 10/10
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (TOP 100) 1937 **** A+ 10/10
Duck Soup 1933 **** A+ 10/10
King Kong 1933 **** A+ 10/10
It Happened One Night 1934 **** A+ 10/10
Top Hat 1935 **** A+ 10/10
The Awful Truth 1937 **** A+ 10/10
39 Steps 1935 **** A+ 10/10
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington 1939 **** A+ 10/10
The Triumph Of The Will 1934 **** A+ 10/10
The Lady Vanishes 1938 **** A+ 10/10
42nd Street 1933 **** A+ 10/10
Holiday 1938 ***1/2 A 9/10
Dark Victory 1939 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Adventures Of Robin Hood 1938 ***1/2 A 9/10
Gold Diggers 1933 1933 ***1/2 A 9/10
Good Bye Mr. Chips 1939 ***1/2 A 9/10
Captains Courageous 1937 ***1/2 A 9/10
Mutiny On The Bounty 1935 ***1/2 A 9/10
Grand Hotel 1932 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much 1934 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Sabotage 1936 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Mr. Deeds Goes To Town 1936 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Young And Innocent 1937 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Hound Of The Baskervilles 1939 *** B+ 7/10
Anna Karenina 1935 *** B+ 7/10
Boys Town 1938 *** B+ 7/10
Jezebel 1938 *** B+ 7/10
Chapaev 1934 *** B+ 7/10
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes 1939 *** B+ 7/10
Jamaica Inn 1939 **1/2 B- 5/10

 

 

 

 

Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie

****

A+ 10/10
Very Good

***1/2

A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended

***

B+ 7/10
OK –  Below Average B 6/10
Below Average

**1/2

B- 5/10
Below Average –  Bad C+ 4/10
Bad

**

C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad

*1/2

D 1/10
Appalling

*

F 0/10

 

Top Films of the Decades: 1910’s and 1920’s

THE BEST OF THE BEST OF DECADES, 1910-1929

(Last updated: October 15, 2013)

 

 

No.

TITLE YEAR STARS Out/10 GRADE
Sunrise: A Song Of Two Humans (TOP 100) 1927 **** A+ 10/10
The General (TOP 100) 1926 **** A+ 10/10
Metropolis (TOP 100) 1927 **** A+ 10/10
Battleship Potemkin (TOP 100) 1925 **** A+ 10/10
The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (TOP 100) 1928 **** A+ 10/10
Nosferatu (TOP 100) 1922 **** A+ 10/10
The Birth Of A Nation (TOP 100) 1915 **** A+ 10/10
An Andalusian Dog 1929 ***1/2 A 9/10
The Lodger 1927 ***1/2 A 9/10
Blackmail 1929 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde 1920 ***1/2 A- 8/10
Aelita: Queen Of Mars 1924 *** B 6/10

 

 

Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie

****

A+ 10/10
Great Movie – Very Good
Very Good

***1/2

A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended

***

B+ 7/10
OK –  Below Average B 6/10
Below Average

**1/2

B- 5/10
Below Average –  Bad C+ 4/10
Bad

**

C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad

*1/2

D 1/10
Appalling

*

F 0/10

 

Top 10 Films of 2011:

From the deep stupor of the long summer days between Christmas and New Years, critics are pulled out of their lethargy and delirium to write-up their top 10 films of the year that was. So am I now, pulled back from my summer stupor, eyes bleary from sunshine, to write my list, before 2011 is no more. So without further delay here is my list of the best films of 2011:

(it is worth noting that this list is subject to change based on the release of further films in 2012)

1. ‘The Tree Of Life’ (Terrence Malick)

It is, in fact, unprecedented in my movie watching life that my most anticipated film coming into a year remains the best film coming out. Then again ‘Tree of Life’ is unlike almost any other film I have ever seen, the only other film that comparatively shares its sheer ambitious vision, could be my 5th favourite film of all-time, Kubrick’s masterpiece ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. Terrence Malick’s seemingly vast and complex vision actually comes down to one simple, defining principle, namely: the belief that cinema can represent anything. For those who wish to confine and limit their experience of cinema to identifiable and familiar: subject matter, plot, character development and narrative structure, you will invariably be disappointed, confused and even angry while watching this movie. For this film is unquestionably polarizing, and controversial. If however you share the belief that cinema should have no boundaries and can aspire to art, then I invite you to be adventurous allow yourself to let go of cinematic restrictions and immerse yourself in its abstract beauty. If anything ‘Tree of life’ is an immersive experience, from its profound psychological insights, to its sweeping life-death, macro-micro scale, to its sheer ferocious truth, there is simply nothing like it. 10/10, A+, ****

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW4cMNue4m8&feature=fvst

2. ‘Drive’ (Nicholas Winding Refn)

With ‘Drive’ and ‘The Ides Of March’ Ryan Gosling confirms his position as the ‘so-hot-right-now’, ‘it’ actor of 2011, giving one of most subtlety powerful performances of his career and of the year. Filling most of the screen-time and almost all of the action scenes, ‘Drive’ is nearly a flawlessly slick character study of Gosling’s neo-noir, nameless, pastless and seemingly emotionless getaway and stunt-car driver, however the film ultimately triumphs in being a savage rebuttal to the thriller and suspense genre. This classic genre could be loosely described as films which promote intense excitement, suspense, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty and anxiety. ‘Drive’ embodies the most classic elements of this genre by focusing on: crime, high speed car-chases, hyper-violence and plot-twists. Yet unlike other famous suspense thriller movies such as ‘Speed’, ‘True Lies’ or the ‘Die Hard’ movies, which leave the audience with a sense of excitement, heroism and triumphant good, ‘Drive’ stands as a damning indictment of such films by exposing their vapid nature through quiet, unsentimental truth. And the cinematic truth in ‘Drive’ is utterly stunning. The hero is criminal and emotionally damaged, people die gruesome deaths, criminals evade justice, the world of the thriller is seedy, nihilistic and deadening. A ‘high-speed, action, thriller’ like you’ve seen many times, Drive is not. A visceral, stylish, and calculated masterpiece is what ‘Drive’ is. 10/10, A+, ****

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWX34ShfcsE

3. ‘Melancholia’ (Lars Von Trier)

If it can be said that the philosophic tone of ‘The Tree of Life’ is distinctly spiritual, supernatural and ethereal then ‘Melancholia’ by contrast is decidedly atheistic, naturalistic and grounded. This could be because, unlike ‘The Tree of Life’ which seeks to capture life in its sweeping entirety, Trier’s ‘Melancholia’ is focused on decline, depression and finally the death of the world. This isn’t to say that ‘Melancholia’ is any less beautiful or true by comparison, it has a terrible beauty which may very well be more truthful than Malick’s spirituality, only its scope is narrower. The film runs like the last act of Hamlet, not only in its Danish location, disturbing melancholic mood, but also in its creeping finality and immense sense of impending end. Though the first half of the film begins in relative calm with the ill-fated wedding of Justine, played by Kirsten Dunst in her best ever performance, the seeds of creeping unease are sown early on by the poisonous personal interactions of the characters, like an ‘unweeded garden that grows to seed.’ The film builds with a kind of increasing volcanic intensity in the second half aided by the actual growing rumbling sounds of the on-coming planet ‘Melancholia’. The final 20mins of the film is one of the most intense and overwhelming finales I have ever seen, I literally couldn’t stop gripping my seat. ‘Melancholia’ will leave you speechless as you sit in the black silence, and its disturbing beauty will haunt you, as its message plays on your mind. 10/10, A+, ****

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzD0U841LRM&feature=related

4. ‘We Need To Talk About Kevin’ (Lynne Ramsay)

Though “Melancholia’ is disturbing in true Von Trier fashion, our resistance is somewhat pacified by the scenes of eye-watering beauty. We Need To Talk About Kevin is also deeply disturbing, verging on horrifying, but unlike Von Trier, Ramsay offers no beautiful refuge for the audience, leaving us to confront full-on the ugly nature of guilt, trauma and psychosis in dark silence. It is in the film’s silence that its true cinematic power resides: in the silent and subtle performance of suffering by the incomparable and fierce Tilda Swinton; in the silence left when you remove sentimentality and sensationalism from scenes of horror; the emotional silence created when you play inappropriately happy music jingles over unsettling images of violence and the grotesque; and ultimately the final silence in the empty meaningless left the face of the horrific crime committed. Perhaps what is most disturbing is the mother/son relationship brilliantly articulated by Lynne Ramsay, which not only poses the obvious question of what is a mother to do when she does not love her son, but rather questions around the nature/nurture debate: is it a lack of motherly love that creates a psychopathic killer or is it the fact that the boy is a psychopathic killer that makes motherly love impossible. Although the film is occasionally unbelievable and flat in tone, the film leaves one with a powerful sense of the senselessness and inexplicable nature of murder by withholding beauty, sensation and answers to our questions leaving us in silence, a very powerful cinematic tool. 9/10, A, ***1/2

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLRgAe2jLaw

5. Life In A Day (Kevin MacDonald and the worldwide public)

The best documentary I have ever seen is the ‘Up Series’ which has followed the lives of 14 British children since 1964 when they were 7 years old, filming them at seven-year intervals throughout their entire lives, seeking to capture the central mysteries of human existence. (56 Up is expected to have its broadcast premiere in May 2012) Roger Ebert called this film series ‘an inspired even noble, use of the film medium’. The same could be said for the intention of ‘Life In A Day’ a crowdsourced documentary film consisting of an arranged series of video clips selected from 80,000 clips, seeking to represent a true story of a single day, July 24 2010, from around the world. The film opens like the dawning of a regular day, people wake up, go to the bathroom, brush their teeth, make breakfast. The simplicity and universality of the tasks of getting up, having lunch, going to bed really bring home the fundamental nature of life as a series of small, simple, tasks and events. The film is framed around three questions: ‘What do you love?’ ‘What is in your pocket?’ and ‘What do you Fear?’ Though the film is peppered with extraordinary scenes of violence, adventure, love, death, sadness, the vast bulk of the film is made up of the simple moments of life. In the final scene, which on first viewing seems a bit of a let down, actually on further contemplation ties the whole film together, it depicts a girl talking to the camera about how she had waited all day for something exciting to happen to film for her contribution and concluded that for her although ‘nothing really happened’ ‘tonight something really great happened’. Ah ha life is in the living, not in the grand moments but in the everyday ordinary ones!!  9/10, A, ***1/2

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT_UmBHMYzg

(This film is free to watch on Youtube, in full)

6. Midnight In Paris (Woody Allen)

8/10, A-, ***1/2

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atLg2wQQxvU

7. The Help (Tate Taylor)

8/10, A-, ***1/2

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVTMkINRChk

8. Moneyball (Bennett Miller)

8/10, A-, ***1/2

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4QPVo0UIzc

9. Bridesmaids (Paul Feig)

8/10, A-, ***1/2

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UW9Zks5L2A

10. The Iron Lady (Phyllida Lloyd)

8/10, A-, ***1/2

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDiCFY2zsfc

Honourable Mentions:

11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,

12. Rango

13. Super 8

14. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

15. The Ides of March

‘Restless’ 2011

Review:

‘Restless’ 2011,

Director: Gus Van Sant, Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper and Ryo Kase

The Ultimate Hipster Romance:

More aesthetic than believable, more sweet than beautiful, more heart-warming than profound, Restless is a simple and matter-of fact romance dealing with subject matter that is anything but. Mia Wasikowska is fast on her way to becoming an acting A-lister and Henry Hopper is devastatingly gorgeous as the melancholic Enoch. Both share brooding chemistry. Despite some glaringly self conscious and contrived moments in the first half, the overwhelming sincerity of the last act succeeds in making Restless a moving ode to young love and death. The most poignant quote comes from the imaginary Japanese Kamikaze pilot Hiroshi, in his suicide letter, ‘dying is easy, love is hard’. 7/10, B, ***

2009 Movie Reviews

2009 MOVIE REVIEWS BY JEREMY

(Last updated: June 11, 2014)

 

TITLE STARS Out/10 GRADE
1 The Hurt Locker **** A+ 10/10
2 The White Ribbon **** A+ 10/10
3 Avatar **** A+ 10/10
4 I Am Love **** A+ 10/10
5 Inglorious Basterds **** A+ 10/10
6 Up **** A+ 10/10
7 A Serious Man ***1/2 A 9/10
8 I Killed My Mother ***1/2 A 9/10
9 A Single Man ***1/2 A 9/10
10 Ponyo ***1/2 A 9/10
11 Bright Star ***1/2 A 9/10
12 Up In The Air ***1/2 A 9/10
13 The Cove ***1/2 A 9/10
14 Fantastic Mr. Fox ***1/2 A 9/10
15 District 9 ***1/2 A 9/10
16 The Secret In Their Eyes ***1/2 A 9/10
17 Precious ***1/2 A 9/10
18 Prayers For Bobby ***1/2 A 9/10
19 Samson And Delilah ***1/2 A 9/10
20 The Road ***1/2 A- 8/10
21 In The Loop ***1/2 A- 8/10
22 Home ***1/2 A- 8/10
23 An Education ***1/2 A- 8/10
24 500 Days Of Summer ***1/2 A- 8/10
25 Grey Gardens ***1/2 A- 8/10
26 I Love You Phillip Morris ***1/2 A- 8/10
27 Coraline ***1/2 A- 8/10
28 Mary And Max ***1/2 A- 8/10
29 Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince ***1/2 A- 8/10
30 Valentino: The Last Emperor ***1/2 A- 8/10
31 This Is It *** B+ 7/10
32 Chloe *** B+ 7/10
33 Cheri *** B+ 7/10
34 Princess And The Frog *** B+ 7/10
35 Watchmen *** B+ 7/10
36 Where The Wild Things Are *** B+ 7/10
37 Star Trek *** B+ 7/10
38 Julie And Julia *** B+ 7/10
39 Public Enemies *** B+ 7/10
40 Invictus *** B+ 7/10
41 Channel Coco & Igor Stravinsky *** B+ 7/10
42 State Of Play *** B+ 7/10
43 Young Victoria *** B+ 7/10
44 The Blind Side *** B+ 7/10
45 Coco Avant Channel *** B+ 7/10
46 September Issue *** B+ 7/10
47 2012 *** B+ 7/10
48 Taking Woodstock *** B 6/10
49 Easy Virtue *** B 6/10
50 Five Minutes Of Heaven *** B 6/10
51 The Father Of My Children *** B 6/10
52 He’s Just Not That Into You *** B 6/10
53 Sherlock Holmes *** B 6/10
54 Pirate Radio *** B 6/10
55 Taken *** B 6/10
56 Angles And Demons *** B 6/10
57 Antichrist **1/2 B- 5/10
58 New York, I Love You **1/2 B- 5/10
59 It’s Complicated **1/2 B- 5/10
60 Bride Wars **1/2 B- 5/10
61 Underworld 3: Rise Of The Lycans **1/2 B- 5/10
62 Knowing **1/2 B- 5/10
63 Day Breakers ** C+ 4/10
64 The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus ** C+ 4/10
65 The Lovely Bones ** C+ 4/10
66 Bruno ** C 3/10
67 Ugly Truth ** C 3/10
68 Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen *1/2 D 1/10
69 Land Of The Lost *1/2 D 1/10
70 The Fourth Kind * F 0/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie **** A+ 10/10
Great Movie – Very Good
Very Good ***1/2 A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended *** B+ 7/10
OK –   Below Average B 6/10
Below Average **1/2 B- 5/10
Below Average – Bad C+ 4/10
Bad ** C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad *1/2 D 1/10
Appalling * F 0/10

2010 Movie Reviews

2010 MOVIE REVIEWS BY JEREMY

(Last updated: December 4, 2013)

 

No. TITLE STARS Out/10 GRADE
1 The Social Network **** A+ 10/10
2 The King’s Speech **** A+ 10/10
3 Inception **** A+ 10/10
4 I Am Love **** A+ 10/10
5 Toy Story 3 **** A+ 10/10
6 Another Year **** A+ 10/10
7 Black Swan **** A+ 10/10
8 Winter’s Bone ***1/2 A 9/10
9 The Kids Are All Right ***1/2 A 9/10
10 In A Better World ***1/2 A 9/10
11 Animal Kingdom ***1/2 A 9/10
12 Blue Valentine ***1/2 A 9/10
13 True Grit ***1/2 A 9/10
14 Of Gods And Men ***1/2 A 9/10
15 Inside Job ***1/2 A- 8/10
16 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World ***1/2 A- 8/10
17 127 Hours ***1/2 A- 8/10
18 The Fighter ***1/2 A- 8/10
19 Heartbeats ***1/2 A- 8/10
20 The Ghost Writer ***1/2 A- 8/10
21 Arrietty ***1/2 A- 8/10
22 Beginners ***1/2 A- 8/10
23 Rabbit Hole ***1/2 A- 8/10
24 Shutter Island ***1/2 A- 8/10
25 Somewhere *** B+ 7/10
26 All Good Things *** B+ 7/10
27 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 *** B+ 7/10
28 Never Let Me Go *** B+ 7/10
29 Howl *** B+ 7/10
30 Tron: Legacy *** B+ 7/10
31 Four Lions *** B+ 7/10
32 Agora *** B+ 7/10
33 Tomorrow When The War Began *** B+ 7/10
34 The Town *** B+ 7/10
35 Wild Target *** B+ 7/10
36 Barney’s Version *** B+ 7/10
37 Potiche *** B 6/10
38 Green Zone *** B 6/10
39 Morning Glory *** B 6/10
40 Creation *** B 6/10
41 Robin Hood *** B 6/10
42 Brighton Rock *** B 6/10
43 The Killer Inside Me **1/2 B- 5/10
44 Hereafter **1/2 B- 5/10
45 Love And Other Drugs **1/2 B- 5/10
46 Red Hill **1/2 B- 5/10
47 Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps **1/2 C+ 4/10
48 Alice In Wonderland **1/2 C+ 4/10
49 Iron Man 2 **1/2 C+ 4/10
50 Eat Pray Love ** C 3/10
51 Skyline * F 0/10
Class Stars Grade Out/10
Great Movie **** A+ 10/10
Very Good ***1/2 A 9/10
Very Good – Recommended A- 8/10
Recommended *** B+ 7/10
OK – Below Average B 6/10
Below Average **1/2 B- 5/10
Below Average –   Bad C+ 4/10
Bad ** C 3/10
Bad – Very Bad C- 2/10
Very Bad *1/2 D 1/10
Appalling * F 0/10