Rank: 100
Release Year: 1998
Genre: Comedy
Plot
Summary: Max Fischer loves his school Rushmore. He is the president of
dozens of school clubs, but that does not leave much time for his schoolwork.
Additionally, he develops a crush on one of the school’s teachers Rosemary
Cross and a friendship with one of the school’s benefactors Herman Blume. Max’s
world starts to collapse around him, however, when he is expelled trying to
impress Mrs. Cross, and to make matters worse Blume also has a crush on her,
putting Max and Blume at odds.
What
Makes It Special: Wes Anderson introduced himself to the world with
Bottle
Rocket, but that film did not wholly exhibit his unique style and gift for
aesthetics. With Rushmore, Anderson changed American independent cinema,
influencing almost every indie dramedy made since by young filmmakers (Anderson
himself is heavily influenced by past filmmakers as well – most notably those
of the French New Wave). In addition to being a one of the most important films
in the rebirth of both American independent film in the 1990s and American
auteurism, Rushmore is simply a very funny movie featuring wonderful performances
from Schwartzman (launching his career) and especially Murray (serving as his
comeback performance in many regards).
Rank: 99
Release Year: 1984
Genre: Comedy/Supernatural
Adventure
Plot
Summary: After being kicked out of grad school for doing seemingly bogus
research, three unemployed parapsychology professors decide to go into business
for themselves setting up a ghost-removal service.
What
Makes It Special: While
George Lucas and
Steven Spielberg
invented the blockbuster (with films such as
Jaws – the first true
summer blockbuster –
Star Wars,
and
Raiders
of the Lost Ark), Ghostbusters infused the developing genre with comedy
(and great special effects) while still maintaining all the adventure and
fantasy aspects. Blockbusters have since strived to be big, fun, entertaining,
and family friendly with equal portions of laughs and action. Ghostbusters is an
essential piece of cinema in the study of how to make a brilliant summer movie
(and a big part of many childhoods – mine included), influencing every
filmmaker who approaches the genre today.
Rank: 98
Release Year: 1998
Genre: Comedy/Detective
Mystery
Plot
Summary: Deadbeat Jeffrey Lebowski,
who goes by The Dude, is pulled into a kidnapping mystery when he is mistaken
for a millionaire of the same name. Seeking restitution for a ruined rug, The
Dude tries his hand at being a private detective, hoping to get a new rug and
maybe some money out of it.
What
Makes It Special: When The Big Lebowski first came out, many did not
know what to make of it and it mostly went unnoticed. However, it has since
become a cult classic and a staple of modern pop-culture. Auteur writer-directors
The Coen Brothers have taken the hardboiled detective genre and molded it into
a farce of sorts on early 1990s Gulf War Era America, resulting in a hilarious and
endlessly quotable film (that seems to never deteriorate in quality with each
additional viewing).
Rank: 97
Release Year: 1953
Genre: Thriller
Plot
Summary: Hoping for a better life, many foreigners traveled to South
America, only to find nothing but famine and hopelessness. Now marooned in one
such decrepit village, some of these foreigners jump at the chance to escape –
the problem is that to earn the money to buy their freedom they must transport
an urgent shipment of nitroglycerine (which is highly unstable) many miles in
unsafe equipment. It is a suicide mission, but that is how desperate four men
are to get out.
What
Makes It Special: With The Wages of Fear, Henri-George Clouzot has made
one of the most psychologically engaging thrillers in cinema history. It is
unflinching in its ability to keep its viewers very nervous while watching it. However,
what makes it all the more interesting is Clouzot’s study of his characters.
The best and worst of humanity are beautifully explored in the film. It is also
interesting to see the other side of imperialism as many foreigners are reduced
to stranded beggars, unable to find work or afford transport home (something
also very present in
John
Huston’s
Treasure of the
Sierra Madre).
Rank: 96
Release Year: 1953
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Plot
Summary: Princess Ann is bored of being trapped in her very structured and
restrictive life. So, while on an official tour through Europe, she decides to
escape for a night to experience the world as a commoner. Newspaper man Joe
Bradley comes across her and at first sees it has his big break – an exclusive
story about the Princess in Rome – but as he spends time with her he begins to
fall in love.
What
Makes It Special: William Wyler is maybe Hollywood’s greatest filmmaker,
with the ability to make wonderful films in any genre and on any scale. Roman
Holiday is maybe the best romantic comedy ever made, building off the great
screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s but adding more emotional depth.
After all, this is not a romantic comedy that sees its leads end up together in
the end (as much as we want them to). The film also launched the career of one
of the great actresses: Audrey Hepburn.
