"Being a critic is easy. But if the critic tries to run the operation, he soon understands that nothing is as easy as his criticisms."
The easiest thing to be in this world is to be a critic. A life in the arts is one of the hardest professions to 'make it' in, and filmmaking is certainly no exception. I've probably got a better chance of winning the lottery than I do winning an Oscar. But that's ok - I was never too concerned with popularity contests. However, I do feel compelled to stroke my ego in such a way that will showcase my impeccable taste in cinema. And thus, here we are.
In the spirit of modern Hollywood, my next project will entail ripping off the great ideas of others before me. Instead of making my own film or writing my own script, I'm just waxing poetic about the films that affected me deeply, and in many cases, shaped my worldview. It isn't so much a list of what I think are the best films of all time, but rather, the films which delivered life lessons, that sort of thing.
It may be cliché, but I am grateful that many of the characters in these films helped shape my moral compass. For example, thanks to watching Indiana Jones at work, I learned at a very young age that if you see a Nazi, you punch a Nazi. (It is my hope that we start punching more of them and electing less of them. But you know what, that is a story for another day. In the meantime: tolerate my fists)
One more thought: I love my Scorseses, Kubricks and Nolans as much as the next guy, but I am always looking to further expand my taste in cinema - so if you're reading this, please send a recommendation my way. I will promptly add it to the bottom of my watchlist, where it shall remain in purgatory for the next several weeks/months/years as I finish watching Shawshank/Godfather/Goodfellas on TV for the eight millionth time. Alas - we are creatures of comfort, are we not?
From Godfathers To GoodFellas, Or: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Moral Compass
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1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
2. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
3. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
4. The Godfather (1972)
5. Jaws (1975)
6. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
7. Network (1976)
8. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
9. Blade Runner (1982)
10. Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
11. Field of Dreams (1989)
12. Dead Poets Society (1989)
13. Do The Right Thing (1989)
14. GoodFellas (1990)
15. A Bronx Tale (1993)
16. Forrest Gump (1994)
17. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
18. Good Will Hunting (1997)
19. The Truman Show (1998)
20. Office Space (1999)
21. The Matrix (1999)
22. Fight Club (1999)
23. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
HM: Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (2004)
24. Click (2006)
25. Casino Royale (2006)
26. Children of Men (2006)
27. The Dark Knight (2008)
28. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
29. Inception (2010)
30. Cloud Atlas (2012)
31. Interstellar (2014)
32. Parasite (2019)
This is the end for you, my friend.