Re: The Best Films of ALL TIME Countdown thread - 2018

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 75
Akira (1998)

Rank last year - 105 (+30)
Score - 95
No. Of Lists - 3
Average Rank - 34
Rotten Tomatoes - 87%
Box Office - 49 M$

Synopsis and General Info

In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after the nuking of the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural powers suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.
Initial release: 16 July 1988 (Japan)
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Featured song: Kaneda
Budget: 110 crores JPY
Music director: Tsutomu Ōhashi

Personal Comments

Yes, it made it! Coming in at Rank 75 we have our first animated film of the top 100! And it's an anime no less. It increased massively from last year, no small feat with the increased competition, when it just missed the top 100. This is a film that completely revolutionized both the animation and sci-fi genre throughout the world. It is also the film that began the popularization of anime in the western world where it absolutely shocked the people who were used to seeing animation being nothing more than children's stories. And here they had a smart, gruesome, thoughtful and incredibly ambitious film that was unlike anything they had ever seen before.
And do not go by the year... the animation is so beautiful, so intricate, so detailed despite being all hand drawn you won't be seeing anything like it in any of the CGI stuff of today. The way they animated light in this film... just beautiful. And yet that's not the biggest selling point here. Oh that's the dystopian sci fi plot of the film. This is a film so outrageously ambitious in all that it wants to show and explore that it might very well explode your mind in its 2 hour runtime. I recommending reading the manga series after watching the film if you like it.
Coincidentally, this followed the blade runner sequel the original of which it was itself inspired by (only visually though). This is also the first film since Die Hard, also from 1988, to have been released pre-2000. One more film from 1988 is left to make an appearance.

[InfernusAdmin]

The next 4 are the last 4 films to have received only 1 vote, and they were all in the top 5 of their only list. So some of you guys are going to get very disappointed in the next few minutes

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 73 (tie)
Insomnia(2002)

 

 
Top 5 Placements - 1
Rank last year - DMI
Score - 95
No. Of Lists - 1
Average Rank - 5
Rotten Tomatoes - 92% 
Box Office - 113.7 M$
 

Synopsis and General Info

A police detective goes to an Alaskan town to investigate the killing of a teenaged girl. The main suspect plays a psychological game of cat and mouse with him, jeopardising his own mental stability.
Release date: 15 November 2002 (India)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Box office: 11.37 crores USD
Adapted from: Insomnia
Nominations: Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay, MORE
 

Personal Comments

And Nolan makes his debut on the list with one of his lesser known films (although that still means pretty well known in his case), Insomnia features a star studded cast that worked together very well. Each of the lead's acting was widely praised and that, along with a psychological thriller plot that makes you question the essence of morality, is what sets the the film apart. A similar film in these aspects is The Mystic River which was released the very next year to wide critical acclaim and won its cast both the Best actor and best supporting actor award (the first film to achieve this feat since Ben Hur in '59). So for fans of either of those films, I'll recommend the other one. Mystic River, sadly, didn't make it on the list at all
 
Another big thing, this is the first film on the list to have received a top 5 vote!! Only 3 more films are left that received only a single vote. Hope and Pray, y'all, that it be not yours.

[InfernusAdmin]

An iconic sports-genre classic coming up next

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 73 (tie)
Rocky (1976)

Top 5 Placements - 1
Rank last year - 30 (-43)
Score - 95
No. Of Lists - 1
Average Rank - 5
Rotten Tomatoes - 93%
Box Office - 225 M$

Synopsis and General Info

Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer, gets a chance to fight heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. In a bid to earn respect and glory, Rocky jumps into the ring, unaware of the tough task ahead of him.
Initial release: 21 November 1976 (USA)
Director: John G. Avildsen
Featured song: Gonna Fly Now
Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone
Awards: Academy Award for Best Picture, MORE

Personal Comments

And after some break we have with us another Best Picture Oscar Winner. That takes the total count to 7 out of the total 28 revealed. A Sports classic often considered one of the best sports films of all time (alongside the likes of Scorsese's Raging Bull). That scene in the poster above, on top of the 72 stone steps before the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art has become one of the most iconic scenes of cinema. Fun fact, every year that museum sees more people come up to the steps and not enter then those who do just because of the many many people looking to imitate that scene.
The film drops a lot from last year when it made it to rank 30 as last time round it received a 1st rank vote alongside a 5th rank vote. I wonder if this is it for sports films then

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 72
Home Alone (1992)

Top 5 Placements - 1
Rank last year - DMI
Score - 97
No. Of Lists - 1
Average Rank - 3
Rotten Tomatoes - 62%
Box Office - 477 M$

Synopsis and General Info

Eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally left behind when his family leaves for France. At first, he's happy to be in charge; but when thieves try to break into his home, he puts up a fight like no other.
Release date: 18 October 1991 (India)
Director: Chris Columbus
Featured song: Somewhere in My Memory
Box office: 47.67 crores USD
Screenplay: John Hughes

Personal Comments

And here we have it, the first of the two films that were ranked top 3 in one list but didn't make it to any list leading to them still ending up only making it this far. Another Christmas Classic, and coming from the same person's list (Andrew) who had the previous one - Die Hard. Probably the ultimate Christmas classic film in fact. I have little doubt in claiming that all of you must have seen this at some point in your life and and guffawed over the tactics of 8 year old kevin as he manages to outsmart grown up thieves again and again. The film was also a massive box office hit back in its day becoming the third highest grossing film ever in US at the time of its release (something even infinity war hasn't been able to achieve)

[InfernusAdmin]

And the highest ranking film to have only made it to a single list is next!

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 71
The Pianist (2002)

Top 5 Placements - 1
Rank last year - DMI
Score - 97
No. Of Lists - 1
Average Rank - 2
Rotten Tomatoes - 95%
Box Office - 120.1 M$

Synopsis and General Info

During the WWII, acclaimed Polish musician Wladyslaw faces various struggles as he loses contact with his family. As the situation worsens, he hides in the ruins of Warsaw in order to survive.
Initial release: 6 September 2002 (Poland)
Director: Roman Polanski
Featured song: Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. posth.
Box office: 12.01 crores USD
Awards: Academy Award for Best Actor, MORE

Personal Comments

And thus we get to it, the highest ranking film to be on only a single list. The Pianist which was at the second position on Murtaza's list makes it to number 71 on our list. Every film from now on was on at least 2 lists.
This is another holocaust related film, a moving film about a Jewish musician. A role played brilliantly by Adrien Brody. His amazing performance made him the youngest actor ever to win the best actor oscar.
I wonder if there's any other holocaust-related film left.  

[InfernusAdmin]

The next one's a sci fi epic that I weep could only make it this far

[Ashra]

Interstellar or space Odyssey . Though I doubt it's the former

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 70
2001: A Space Odyssey(1968)

Rank last year - DMI
Score - 100
No. Of Lists - 2
Average Rank - 23
Rotten Tomatoes - 92% 
Box Office - 138-190 M$

Synopsis and General Info

The Discovery One and its revolutionary super computer seek a mysterious monolith that first appeared at the dawn of man.
Initial release: 2 April 1968 (DC)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Film series: 2001: A Space Odyssey film series
Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke
Awards: Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, MORE

Personal Comments

2001: a Space Odyssey, oh what a film this is. An unparalleled classic of Cinema. Stanley Kubrick's magnum opus, and that's a big big thing to say considering just what a genius that guy was. This film is nearly unanimously considered the greatest sci fi film ever. Look up greatest sci fi films of all time online and you're bound to find this topping the list every single time. The concept, the cinematography, those visual effects.... this film was far far ahead of its time. In fact it's probably still ahead of the time.
This film deserves top 20 on any such list. It couldn't even make the list last time round though so this is still a lot of improvement. I'm hoping it'll get higher the next time we do this thing. 

Did any other Kubrick beat this one and make it higher into the list? I sure hope so. And what about the Sci-fi genre? Surely this isn't the end of the path for such a magnificent genre? I can tell you right now that there are two more films from the 60s left in the top 100. Guess away which ones those two are.

[InfernusAdmin]

And just after we ended with the constant scare of a loved film ending up down so low due to no one else showing any love for it we have coming up the first film on the list to have been ranked number 1 by someone!! Yes indeed, number 1 and yet so low. That's cause while it recieved two votes the second one was only a 47th rank one providing it with a measly 5 more points....
Let's see whose favourite film of all time's getting out right now!

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 69
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

No. 1 Placements - 1
Top 5 Placements - 1
Top 10 Placements - 1
Rank last year - 36 (-33)
Score - 105
No. Of Lists - 2
Average Rank - 24
Rotten Tomatoes - 86% 
Box Office - 175.3 M$

Synopsis and General Info

The true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after he risked his life -- without firing a shot -- to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa.
Initial release: 16 October 2016 (Australia)
Director: Mel Gibson
Box office: 17.53 crores USD
Awards: Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, MORE
Producers: Terry Benedict, Bill Mechanic, David Permut, MORE

Personal Comments

And thus we have it, the first film on the list to be on the very top of any list. This film topped Ayush's list but was only ranked 47th on Andrew's. 105 points sadly only take a film this far in our list. 
I love this film personally. Thought it was one of the best of its year. Did make my top 100 but only near the bottom though. Being an absolute pacifist myself, i connected to the protagonist on a personal level. Even otherwise, the film was pretty well made. The script was somewhat lacking but the direction more than made up for it. This film also dropped a lot from last year, another case of recency bias getting lifted. Let's see how far it gets to the next year.

[InfernusAdmin]

The next one is a critically acclaimed classic sometimes considered the best ever. That puts up a few names in one's mind, I think. Can you figure out the right one?

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 68
Vertigo (1958)

Top 5 Placements - 1
Top 10 Placements - 1
Rank last year - DMI
Score - 105
No. Of Lists - 2
Average Rank - 23
Rotten Tomatoes - 96% 
Box Office - 7.3 M$

Synopsis and General Info

Detective Scottie who suffers from acrophobia is hired to investigate the strange activities of an old friend's wife. She commits suicide while Scottie becomes dangerously obsessed with her.
Initial release: 9 May 1958 (San Francisco)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cinematography: Robert Burks
Screenplay: Alec Coppel, Samuel A. Taylor, Maxwell Anderson
Awards: Silver Shell for Best Director, National Society of Film Critics Special Citation

Personal Comments

Vertigo is often considered one of the best films of Hitchcock, himself often considered the greatest director ever. In fact it was voted the greatest film of all time in the latest sight and sound poll, displacing Citizen Kane for the first time in decades. This is a film that clearly needs more love from you guys. Another film that was far ahead of its time, this put a surreal angle to a mystery romance, itself quite a weird combination.

This didn't even make it onto the list last year though so that's still quite a victory. This is Hitchcock's second film on the list after rear window. Will any other make it, edging out both of these?

[InfernusAdmin]

The next two upcoming films were also both in somebody's top 5.

The very next film btw is one of the two masterpieces it's director churned out in the same year.

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 67
Jurassic Park (1993)

Top 5 Placements - 1
Top 10 Placements - 1
Rank last year - 133 (+66)
Score - 107
No. Of Lists - 2
Average Rank - 23
Rotten Tomatoes - 92% 
Box Office - 1029 M$

Synopsis and General Info

A joyride at a wildlife amusement park, which contains cloned dinosaurs, soon becomes a horrifying experience when a power breakdown afflicts the park and the dinosaurs begin to react violently.
Release date: 15 April 1994 (India) Trending
Director: Steven Spielberg
Featured song: Theme From Jurassic Park
Story by: Michael Crichton
Screenplay: Michael Crichton, David Koepp

Personal Comments

And Spielberg debuts in the list with a film that was revolutionary in its time. The visual effects in Jurassic Park were completely next level for its time. The wonder of that film, people who saw it for the first time still remember that experience. And it was all complemented so so well by that amazing John Williams score. Ah, a great film indeed. This is the second film on the list that grossed in excess of 1 B dollars WW. This film broke the box office world record when it was released. The record was only then broken by titanic which made double what this made. 
Will any more spielberg films make it onto the list? I'd expect it but who knows.

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 66
Inglorious Basterds (2009)

Top 5 Placements - 1
Top 10 Placements - 1
Rank last year - DMI
Score - 107
No. Of Lists - 2
Average Rank - 22
Rotten Tomatoes - 88% 
Box Office - 321.5 M$

Synopsis and General Info

A few Jewish soldiers are on an undercover mission to bring down the Nazi government and put an end to the war. Meanwhile, a woman wants to avenge the death of her family from a German officer.
Release date: 2 October 2009 (India)
Directors: Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth
Box office: 32.15 crores USD
Featured song: Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
Awards: Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, MORE

Personal Comments

And following Spielberg's is the debut, on our list, of another cinematic maestro Tarantino. I watched the first hour of this film 2 years ago, really liked it but have yet to complete it  .... Still, I have yet to meet a person who saw this film and didn't like it. Tarantino is a master. More of his is yet to come on the list, obviously. But how high will the guy go?
Also,we aren't going to get a film on anybody's top 5 for a some time now so you guys can take a sigh of relief finally.

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 65
Nightcrawler (2014)

Rank last year - 28 (-37)
Score - 109
No. Of Lists - 5
Average Rank - 41.4
Rotten Tomatoes - 95% 
Box Office - 38.7 M$

Synopsis and General Info

Lou Bloom wants to set a score with his rival Joe Loder even as he tries to shoot sensational stories of the rich neighbourhood of the city. His quest gets a new direction after he meets Nina Romina.
Release date: 31 October 2014 (India)
Director: Dan Gilroy
Box office: 5.03 crores USD
Cinematography: Robert Elswit
Awards: Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature, MORE

Personal Comments

Nightcrawler repeats its feat from last year of being the lowest ranking film with 5 votes. Fell down 37 places more this time though. Blame it on the abysmal average ranking of 41.4 The worst of any film in the top 100. There are still a few films with only 2 votes left that managed to rank higher than this.
This should not take away from the weight of the achievement that making it onto 5 lists is, though. Thousands of films out there and this one manages to make it onto the top 60 of 5 of the 12 people who gave theirs. That's quite a big thing, probability wise. And if you give this film a watch you'll see how it achieved that. Jake Gyllenhall is brilliant in this film. The entire atmosphere is awesome as fuck and I absolutely loved the cinematography. The plot is weirdly cool and dark. It's a character study and the character that it studies is a very interestingly developed one. Hence the films works.

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 64
Theory of Everything (2014)

Rank last year - 20 (-44)
Score - 110
No. Of Lists - 4
Average Rank - 33.25
Rotten Tomatoes - 78% 
Box Office - 123.7 M$

Synopsis and General Info

Stephen Hawking, an excellent astrophysics student working on his research, learns that he suffers from motor neurone disease and has around two years to live.
Initial release: 7 November 2014 (USA)
Director: James Marsh
Screenplay: Anthony McCarten
Story by: Jane Hawking
Awards: Academy Award for Best Actor, MORE

Personal Comments

Yes, indeed! The lowest ranked 4 vote film ranks higher than the lowest ranked 5 vote film. Goes on to show just how important both quantity and quality of votes was. Theory of everything is a flawed film. Yes, it is. And yet, it's a beautiful film. It shies away from dealing with the topic of Hawking's actual work and rather focuses on the love story between him and his first wife. It's understandable though as the film is based on the wife's book about her life with stephen and not on some work by hawking. And all in all it does what it plans to do very well. It's a moving film and a very very well acted film. Redymane definitely deserved his oscar. The score by johannson (who sadly died in february this year) is brilliant as is the cinematography by Delhomme (also behind the boy in the striped pajamas). 

[InfernusAdmin]

The next film is another Superhero film, the beginning of a much loved series.

[F-8]

Ab toh pakka iron man hogi

[InfernusAdmin]

Rank 63
Batman Begins (2005)

Rank last year - 50 (-13)
Score - 110
No. Of Lists - 2
Average Rank - 21
Rotten Tomatoes - 84% 
Box Office - 374 M$

Synopsis and General Info

After witnessing his parents' death, Bruce learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. When he returns to Gotham as Batman, he must stop a secret society that intends to destroy the city.
Release date: 17 June 2005 (India)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Box office: 37.42 crores USD
Budget: 15 crores USD
Film series: The Dark Knight Trilogy

Personal Comments

And the next superhero and Nolan film to garner our list is Batman Begins, the film that reinvigorated the fallen Batman franchise and laid way for one of the best trilogies ever. This film also drops from last year but not as much as some other films. At least one other from the trilogy's definitely making it. Will the entire trilogy be able to make it though? We'll see

[InfernusAdmin]

Ab toh pakka iron man hogi

 Sorry bhai I lured you right into my trap 

[InfernusAdmin]

The next film is also the beginning of a much loved trilogy. Can anyone guess this one?

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