Oh yes, it's a prestigous list. Film-makers would like to get Oscars and Golden Globes, but this is the award that's really playing in the back of their minds. It's taken my a lot of time and consideration to pick out just five of the hundreds of films that I've seen in my admittedly short life so far, but I am satisfied with the final list.
So here it is, from #5 to #1, and some comments on why.
Choice #5:
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993)
Directed by Tim Burton
Written by Tim Burton, Michael McDowell, Caroline Thompson
Starring Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara
I bet you didn't expect a christmas film to pop up on my top five, did you? Well as a rule I'm not the biggest fan of christmas films, and absolutely not outside of December. Nightmare, however, is the one exception to this rule. I could watch this film at any time of year and still love it to pieces. Tim Burton is one of my favourite directors; I've yet to see a film by him that I haven't adored, and so I knew I had to have one of them on the list. The trouble came in choosing which, and after much deliberation, I settled on the first Burton film I had seen, and the film which kindled my fandom for his auteur style and unmistakably unique flare. I can't say enough about Burton's films. Anyone who has seen one will instantly recognise another just because of how much of his artistic creativity goes into them. Whether he turns to live-action or stop-motion, the result is consistent. Nightmare, particularly, is extremely good fun. It's got that hallmark Burton darkness, but with a humour and a heart that makes it great for the whole family to watch, and that's something you don't often find. The songs are indefinitely catchy, the characters are whimsical and memorable, and the story is both genius and heartwarming, and that's all before we even get into the excellence of the stop-motion animation the film showcases. The movie took three years to complete, and is now as old as me, and I know for certain that this is a film that will continue to be cherished by Burton followers, film-fans alike and everyone else.
Choice #4:
'The Dark Knight' (2008)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Written by Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer, Bob Kane
Starring Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Heath Ledger
We all remember the huge fuss that was made of this particular number when it hit the big screens only three years ago, and in my final year of secondary school, 'The Dark Knight' brought my friends and I much joy in the form of endless parody and analysis. Rightly so, of course. This was the movie that brought depth to a comic book story that hadn't been seen before. Set in the dark and gritty Gotham that the Nolans had crafted in the first film, the sequel allowed them to focus more on the characters, the action and the thrills. The action sequences, both complex and massive, are brilliant. Who can forget the flipping of that gigantic truck right over onto its back in the high street? It's true that most of the publicity that swarmed over the film was due to Heath Ledger; both because of his gut-churning performance as Batman's greatest nemesis, and his untimely death. The question that was shortly being asked by many was if either the film or the character would have been nearly as successful if the actor hadn't died. Undeniably, it supplied a certain media buzz to the proceedings, but the movie-fans among us can see past this, and what we see is a movie that brought something new to the table when comic book movies were being turned out by the month. It was a dream Hollywood blockbuster, but it also raised some interesting points. It seems to me that so many people became intoxicated by the character that Ledger played because, through the Joker's actions and the unforgettable portrayal of them through him, we saw something that, deep down, every one of us has. That will, that drive toward chaos both terrifies us, apalls us and thrills us constantly. The Joker and his arch-enemy are two very distinct halves of human nature, and 'The Dark Knight' is so absorbing in its narrative and its atmosphere that we sit there as an audience and we have to wonder whose side we're really on.
Choice #3:
'Inception' (2010)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Written by Christopher Nolan
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
The most recently made movie on my list reveals itself, and it's another gem from Chistopher Nolan! He's managed to work his magic once again, and so soon after Knight was such a massive success. Even without one of the lead actors passing away, this film also generated a great hype among the cinema-going masses. Was it the high-budget special effects? They certainly played their part, I guarantee, but it's the story that makes it so that this film has to be seen to be believed. The concept behind 'Inception' is a stroke of brilliance. If you've seen it you'll know and, whether it confused you or not, you have to agree. It delved into a subject that affects everyone, every night of our lives, and yet it's a subject that we almost completely ignore. 'Inception' blew the possiblities wide open, and captured our imaginations in the way that, I suppose, the medium of film used to when they were first being made. I won't even try to explain the premise of the film here, as I could never do it justice, but, as with all of the films in this list, if you haven't seen it then I urge you to do so. You owe it to yourself. 'Inception's story is fantastic, but the acting that drives it is just as solid, and gives real emotional impact to something that could potentially have turned into a filmic science experiment. The action scenes are mind-blowing, the mise-en-scene is spot on. The direction from a micro perspective is sound, and the atmosphere created by the film is one of tense mystery, all while keeping adrenalin pumping throughout. 'Inception' definitely lived up to the hype, and while I regret not seeing it in the cinema while it was out, I know the DVD will see much use before I'm through with it.
Choice #2:
'Pulp Fiction' (1994)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Written by Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avery
Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis
I was only introduced to the pleasures of the Tarantino style of film last year. I have my film class to thank for that. Upon seeing the first few scenes of 'Pulp Fiction', I was instantly captivated, and devoured every detail of the film as it rolled after that. Even after it ended, I could have watched hours more of the same. I think what made it so special for me wasn't the groundbreaking narrative structure, though this added to the finished film in a great way, but just the way the scenes played out. Was it something in the dialogue? The way what the characters were saying seemed totally spontaneous? Even with such familiar faces as Travolta, Jackson and Willis, it was all too easy to forget I was watching a film with actors as opposed to a telling of true events with real people. Considering the ammount of violence and blood that Tarantino is always being hounded about, this could be seen as something dangerous, but I respectfully disagree. I found myself personally completely absorbed by the story of the film, and the entire thing was pulled off in such a stylish, sleek way that I couldn't take my eyes of the screen. Everything from the infamous dance sequence, to the close calls that Jules and Vicent face, and even 'that scene' (which, upon my mentioning, everyone still seems repulsed by), I loved every second. Each of the many characters is so well developed and superbly portrayed that, yes, I'd say they could each have a movie in which they were the main character. So what happens when you put all of these great personalities together? You get one kick-ass movie. Something else that I love about it is the way every one of the stories works out just how I'd like them to. Certainly not just because they have a 'happy ending' - far from it, and whether or not it's just a coincidence, but the way each of the segments ended left me contented and ready to move on to the next one. Finally, to make a note on the 'Tarantino humour' that has come to be known in the film business as cinematic marmite, I absolutely loved it. I was in fits of giggles at the dark, edgy dialogue all the way through, and that part where Travolta's gun fires on its own and blows the guy's head all over the inside of the car just sealed my eternal love and appreciation for the film.
Choice #1:
'Phone Booth' (2002)
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Written by Larry Cohen
Starring Colin Farrell, Keifer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker
'Never heard of it'. I get that a lot, and it's true that 2002's 'Phone Booth' isn't one of the most well-known or critically aclaimed films out there. And for the life of me I have no idea why. In case you haven't heard of it, 'Phone Booth' sees a sleezy publicist by the name of Stu Sheppard (Farrell) held at gunpoint in a phone booth for the entire length of the film until he admits to the morally criminal way in which he admits his life. Does it sound dull? It's not. With countless thrills, twists and turns and heart-stopping performances as the drama escalates, this is one movie that I think everyone should see. With the exception of the opening scene, the entire film plays out within a single location, and I believe this is a concept that paved the way for films that are only now sprouting up that play on the same 'claustrophobic horror' theme. 'Devil', for one, and Danny Boyle's new picture '127 Hours'. Films like these owe a lot to 'Phone Booth'. The direction in this film is just brilliant, even going to far as to make up for the crap-in-a-DVD-case they called Batman Forever. And trust me, making up for that film was no easy task. Performance-wise, the film pivots on the dialogue between Farrell and Sutherland's characters, being the victim and the caller, respectively, and although much of the film is literally the two of them exchanging words on a phone, the absolute integrity of their portrayals is enough to keep your attention firmly glued to the story. You really care for Stu, and as a result you feel more and more trapped as his emotions of panic and anger slowly rise throughout the film. At the same time, behind the sadistic snickering of the caller is a man that we love to hate. He is so perfectly written and so brilliantly executed that you'll be hearing that voice long after the credits have rolled. And far from being your average thriller-flick, 'Phone Booth' has real levels to it. After all, it isn't a stranger behind that sniper rifle, it's you and me. How many times have you watched a news report about a corrupt politician or petty criminal and wanted to make them see the errors of their ways? The caller is a personification of the public opinion against wrong-doers, and that's one of the reasons the film is so compelling to watch. At the same time, even as Stu's sins are revelaed, we feel more and more attuned to him and his struggle, and in that climactic scene of combined repentence and confession, Farrell really manages to pull at our hearts even as we judge him with our heads. Far from getting more bored with the premise every time I see this film, I seem to love it more and more each time, and I must have seen it at least ten times now (I'm at dialogue-reciting level). 'Phone Booth', while criminally unknown, has it all. Concept, direction, atmosphere, story, performance and more. If you only see one movie on this top-five list, let it be this one.
And there you have it. You may not agree. You may believe that my choices are wildly outrageous and, yes, you may send hate mail. But they are MY choices, and MY honest opinion. I look forward to my list changing in the future, and when it happens, I'll be sure to let you know.
- J. Boulton
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