Some friends and I were talking about favorite movies and Citizen Kane came up as someone’s favorite. And although I can certainly appreciate what the film did for its time I had to admit that I found it unwatchable (insert gasp here) and would never put it in my favorite pile.
Turns out although some folks consider favorite movies to be great films, most put their favorites as movies they just would watch again and again. Maybe because they’re great for what they are, maybe because of where you were at when you watched them first, and honestly often because they’re light enough to pop in on any occasion. This brought about the arduous plan of coming up with a top 5.
So here goes (as always I should caveat that this list could vary any time I made it):
- Gidget – I am often without the ability to name a favorite anything, it’s just too great a commitment to one thing and I feel like I am far to complex to have anything sum up my tastes, but… for movies I can honestly say that this is the one, it’s got whimsy, nostalgia, surfing, female empowerment, cute outfits and good old fashioned romance.
- Buckaroo Banzai – I’m a fan of the sort of comic book film and this one, bringing a bit of sci fi and camp, was a delight and I am sad there was just the one, but I’ll always be a Blue Blaze Irregular at heart. Other comic flicks I enjoy include Batman Begins, Blade and Josie and the Pussycats.
- Breakfast Club – Ah the 80’s and the brat pack and all that crap, I have to say of the teen flicks this one still holds water, though I have to admit that my Nicholas Cage crush began with Valley Girl, and of course who could resist Heathers.
- Clueless – This is sort of what I consider the post-80’s 80’s movie, and there’s obviously something about the youngsters that can pull off the drama with a bit of timeliness and fun. Also in the fun category Cruel Intentions and Bring it On.
- 13 Going on 30 – Who can resist a romantic comedy done right? It’s a pity they so rarely are but this film is delightful and brings it all together from start to finish.
And yes they’re all a bit fluffy, so with a quick stab at some of the movies that I recall enjoying immensely but wouldn’t necessarily make my top five (not comprehensive by any means and in alphabetical order):
American History X, Amores Perros, Being John Malkovich, City of God, Election, Freeway, Memento, Pan’s Labyrinth, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Riding Giants, The Wizard of Oz, Young Frankenstein
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Ground Hog Day
The Searchers
The Wild Bunch
Pulp Fiction
Young Frankenstein
And a tie:
Godfather
Casablanca
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Magnificent Seven
Reservoir Dogs
Singing In the Rain
Blade Runner
Psycho
Die Hard
A Boy and his Dog
The French Connection
Braveheart
On the Waterfront
Alien
Back to the Future
The Wizard of Oz
On the Waterfront
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
East of Eden
The Quiet Man
Shane
My favorites include movies that really stayed with me after I saw them, although they aren’t necessarily the kind of movies I want to watch over and over again. Top 5 (in no particular order):
1. Ordinary People
2. Brokeback Mountain
3. Young Frankenstein
4. Memento
5. State and Main (or maybe Spanish Prisoner, another David Mamet film)
I forgot to give a shout out to Being John Malkovich, which is on your list of alternates. This movie was wonderfully quirky and I love any movie that features puppeteering!
In no particular order.
1. Shawshank Redemption
2. Emma (Gwyneth Paltrow)
3. Sense & Sensibility
4. Little Women (Elizabeth Taylor version)
5. Tammy & the Bachelor
Other movies that I just love and watch over and over: all the John Hughes ’80s movies, Sound of Music, Music & Lyrics, Notting Hill, Penny Serenade, You’ve Got Mail
Adding to all my bookmarks. TY