Forecasting the Oscars ® since 2003

"It's not about who we want to win,

It's about who will"

THE TOP 10 OPINIONS: THE GREATEST FILMS EVER

A Writer's Point of View

Hattie and Vivien on a scene of almost everyone's favorite: "Gone With the Wind"

FEATURES

By Mark Johnson

About eight years ago, I decided to educate myself on the history of film. I have always been an enormous movie lover but until then I had mainly seen films from the 1970’s to present. In four years time, I watched over 1400 films and comprised a list of my top 100 greatest movies ever made. Aside sheer entertainment value, I considered cultural influence, awards received, critical acclaim and continued popularity throughout time as a means to establish order. The following films are what I consider to be the cream of the crop and make up my top 10:

10. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

In this telling of a World War II Japanese prison camp, British soldiers are ordered to build a bridge to connect a railway train from Burma to Siam for their enemy. Alec Guinness stars in an academy award winning performance as Colonel Nicholson, the British prisoner in charge of the construction. At first, the British soldiers want to build a bridge that will be destined to fail, yet under Nicholson’s command they are inspired to create a superior bridge that will be remembered after the war as one that British soldiers built with great pride. The bridge becomes an obsession to both Nicholson and the Japanese commander, Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa), as they rush against time to complete the bridge. However, the British army has planned their own secret operation, led by Major Warden (Jack Hawkins) and American ex-prisoner Commander Shears (William Holden), to go into the jungle, find the bridge, and destroy it before it can be used by Japanese forces. The mission of Nicholson to complete the bridge versus the mission of Warden and Shears to destroy it builds up steam as if they themselves are two trains heading straight for each other.

Directed by David Lean, the film went on to win 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Cinematography, Editing, Screenplay, and Score.

9. Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) (1977)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

The ultimate in science fiction space epics and the film that inspired many film makers to their calling, Star Wars was an out of this universe experience like no one had ever seen before. With characters that range from giant, hairy wookies to space ships that seem to stretch for miles on end, Star Wars redefined creative cinema.

The plot follows a young farm boy named Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) who discovers top secret information in one of his androids. Implanted by Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), it contains the plans of the Evil Empire’s new deadly weapon: The Death Star, a moon sized space station which has the capability to destroy an entire planet in a single shot. Luke follows the advice given by Leia and acquires the help of an old Jedi wizard, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), who as it turns out, once knew Luke’s father. Obi-Wan begins to teach Luke the ways of the Force, a mysterious “energy field created by all living things that binds us and penetrates us,” and which “binds the galaxy together.” Luke, his two androids, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), Obi-Wan, and newly acquired friends and rogue smugglers Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), all sneak aboard the Death Star, save Princess Leia, battle storm troopers, and confront the most evil villain, Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones), before making their attack on the Death Star in a triumphant climactic battle sequence.

Star Wars went on to win 6 Oscars, including Art Direction, Costume Design, Special Effects, Editing, Sound, and, of course, for that magnificent Score.

8. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

This film is an all singing, all dancing, romantic/comedy musical in which Gene Kelly gives the performance of his career as Don Lockwood, a stunt actor who becomes a silent film star and eventually finds himself (along with the rest of the late 20’s Hollywood) adjusting to the invention of sound in film. Along the way, Don also finds love in an aspiring actress, Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). Complicating things for Don, as always, is his silent film partner Lena Lamont’s (Jean Hagen) voice, which is just a step above nails on a chalkboard. This just doesn’t cut it as the famous duo tries to make the transition to “talkies.” The producers decide to use Kathy’s voice dubbed over Lena’s performance, which seems to be stalling Kathy’s career. But the truth unravels itself in the end in a very comical sequence and Kathy finally ends up with the credit she deserves.

Donald O’Connor steals the show as Cosmo Brown, Don’s hilarious best friend and piano accompanist, with the “Make ‘em Laugh” number. Other great songs include “Good Morning,” “Beautiful Girl,” “You Were Meant For Me,” “Moses,” and the title song, in which Gene Kelly splashes in the rain and swings around a lamp post, creating one of the most iconic images in film history.

Although it was nominated for two awards, Singin’ in the Rain did not win a single Oscar, largely due to the fact that Kelly’s An American in Paris had taken home the big award the previous year. But hey, Oscar doesn’t get it right every time…

7. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

I know he is a fictional character, but George Bailey (James Stewart) may be the greatest man of all time. He has given up all his hopes and dreams to send his brother off to college, save the family business, and fight off the greed stricken Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) to prevent him from turning the family friendly town of Bedford Falls into the sleazy Potterville. On Christmas Eve, however, the malicious Potter finds the money that George’s Uncle was intending to deposit at the bank for the Bailey Savings and Loan. Potter says nothing, and soon the Bank examiner discovers the shortage. George understands that he will be the one that is sent to jail, which will inevitably cause his business to collapse. George gets it in his mind that his wife, children, and town will be better off with him dead so they can collect the life insurance policy on him to save the town. Clarence (Henry Travers), an angel in pursuit of earning his wings, is sent to persuade George how much better the world has been with him in it, and what the world would be like if he had never been born. George sees how many lives he has touched and what a difference he has made in the world, and that it truly has been a wonderful life.

The film was nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, but won none. In it’s time of release it was a near box office flop and was deemed too sentimental by the critics. Now it is a family classic and is aired on TV every Christmas. It goes to show you what time can do for a film.

6. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) is swept away from her Kansas home by a tornado that transports her to the magical land of Oz. She soon finds that her house has landed on the Wicked Witch of the East, much to the delight of the people of Munchkinland. However, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) has come to collect her deceased sisters’ magical Ruby Slippers and quickly discovers that they have found their way onto Dorothy’s feet. Dorothy only wants to get home to her beloved Auntie Em (Clara Blandick), and is instructed to follow the yellow brick road to the emerald city, where only the great and powerful Oz (Frank Morgan) can assist her. Along the way she meets a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) in need of a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) in need of a heart, and a cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) in need of some courage, and the quartet set off to see the Wizard of Oz while trying to survive the attacks of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The amazing soundtrack includes “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” “Off to See the Wizard,” “If I Only Had a Brain,” and possibly the greatest film song of all time, “Over the Rainbow.”

The Wizard of Oz won two Oscars for Original Song and Original Score, and Judy Garland won an honorary Oscar for best juvenile actress.

5. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Director David Lean’s epic masterpiece based on the life of T.E. Lawrence, the British soldier sent to the Arabian desert to gather intelligence on the Arab revolt against the Turks. Peter O’Toole gives one of the greatest performances in film history as Major Lawrence, a complex man who can be described as anything from heroic to merciless as he leads the Arabs in countless attacks against the Turkish army.

Lean’s direction is among the finest, with such legendary scenes as when O’Toole blows out a match and we cut to the rising sun over the desert, or Ali’s (Omar Sharif) entrance as he miraculously appears out of a desert mirage.

The film has an all-star cast that also includes Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Claude Rains, and Jose Ferrer, and went on to win 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, Art Direction, Cinematography, Director, Editing, Sound, and one for the great Maurice Jarre’s majestic score.

4. Citizen Kane (1941)

“Rosebud.” A mysterious single word uttered by multi-millionaire newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) in his dying breath. What does it mean? Who or what was on Kane’s mind as he died? If only this could be discovered, then maybe there would be some explanation as to who this man really was. A small army of newspapermen track down all of his old friends, ex-wives and business partners in an attempt to understand the riddle of Rosebud and Charles Foster Kane.

Based loosely on the life of William Randolph Hearst (though Welles never admitted this), Orson Welles wrote, directed, produced and starred in the film that many consider to be the greatest ever. Citizen Kane was nominated for 9 Oscars, winning only for screenplay, which many believed was due of an angry Hearst paying off the Academy to not let it win.

3. The Godfather (1972)

Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is the head of one of the most powerful mafia families in New York, and when he makes you an offer, believe me, you cannot refuse.

Yet as the Don gets on in age he looks to hand down the family “business” to one of his sons. Michael (Al Pacino) is the youngest son, a war hero who wants nothing to do with the business until there is an attempt on his father’s life. Once involved, Michael finds himself in a web that will forever entangle him, which leads to his eventually taking control of the family.

The Godfather was nominated for 11 Oscars and won three, including Best Picture,

Screenplay, and Actor for Brando, who refused the award because he felt that America (especially Hollywood) discriminated against Native Americans.

2. Gone With the Wind (1939)

Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh, in a role for which over 1,400 people interviewed) is a woman who can have almost any man she wants, and therefore loves the only man she cannot have, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). Amidst the backdrop of the Civil War we witness Scarlett growing from a fiddle-dee-dee southern spoiled brat into a strong, proud independent woman. Admiring her all along is the stranger from Charleston, Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), who’s roguish charms slowly take to Scarlett’s heart. She finally realizes in the end that it is Rhett she loves, but has she hurt him too many times to win him back?

If you adjust the films sales to include inflation, Gone With the Wind would be the top box office grossing film ever. The Film was nominated for 13 Oscars and won 8, including Best Picture (the first color film to win this honor), Actress (Leigh), Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel), Director (Victor Fleming), Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, and Screenplay.

1. Casablanca (1942)

In the midst of World War II, Europeans fleeing from the Nazi army seeking refuge in America had to go through Casablanca first in order to get to their final destination. On top of all this, extremely hard to acquire visas or letters of transit were required in order to leave for America.

Rick’s Café Americain is the hottest nightclub in Casablanca. Whether it is to see the satirical, mysterious owner, Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), or his faithful, jovial, piano playing Sam (Dooley Wilson), everybody comes to Rick’s (and if you don’t take my word for it, that was the original title of the film!).

One night, a frantic thief named Ugarte (the incomparable Peter Lorre) begs Rick to hide two letters of transit that he has “come across.” Rick unwillingly takes them, and moments later Ugarte is arrested in a raid by a German unit led by Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt).

Casablanca is still French occupied, and the Captain of police, Louie Renault (Claude Rains) is doing everything he can to keep the Germans happy while they are “visiting.”

Louie and Rick are old friends, which is to say that Louie allows gambling at the Café, and in return Rick let’s Louie win at roulette. Louie warns Rick that the reason the Germans are here is to make sure that the newly arrived leader of the European resistance, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), does not leave Casablanca.

Now for the plot twist. Victor has arrived with a beautiful woman named Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) who just happens to be the woman Rick loved in pre-war Paris. Instead of joining him and Sam on their journey out of Paris, Ilsa had left Rick standing in the rain at the train station. All of Rick’s old wounds are reopened at their reunion. To make matters even more complicated, Rick learns that the letters of transit Ugarte has given him are intended for Victor and Ilsa. Now comes the choice… does Rick take Ilsa and fly out of Casablanca for good? Or does Rick give the letters to Victor and Ilsa for the greater cause against the Nazi regime?

The characters, performances, cast, music, and ending are at an all time cinematic high in this film, yet what separates Casablanca from the rest even more for me is the screenplay. Written primarily by two brothers, Julius and Phillip Epstein, Casablanca is considered by many to be the greatest screenplay ever written. The numerous classic lines include: “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By,’ ” “The Germans wore gray, you wore blue,” “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine,” “Round up the usual suspects,” “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” “We'll always have Paris,” and of course “Here's looking at you kid.”

Casablanca was nominated for 8 Oscars and won three, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay & Best Director (Michael Curtiz). As time goes by, Casablanca remains a cinematic masterpiece and the crown jewel of my movie going experience.

I revisit my list every five years to include films recently produced as well as films which climb and descend the list based on my criteria. The joy of movie watching is that every film touches us differently and to this, there is no perfect list. But I hope you have enjoyed my top 10. If you have not seen any of the movies on my list, I strongly urge you to rush out as quickly as you can to your local video store and experience some of the greatest film that cinema has to offer.

Comments?
 

COMMUNITY

REVIEWS