We're going to need a bigger Netflix plan
December 29, 2008 10:31 AM   Subscribe

In a time of top 10 lists, there are those who aim higher: They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? maintains an annually updated list of the 1,000 greatest films ever made, as well as the 250 greatest of the 21st century. Kevin B. Lee wants to see them all. How many have you seen? (via)
posted by Horace Rumpole (55 comments total) 27 users marked this as a favorite
 
ENGAGE QUIBBLE OVERDRIVE!
posted by Artw at 10:42 AM on December 29, 2008


250 movies in the 21st century is about 30 movies per year that are "greatest". Maybe it would be simpler to just give the 2 or 3 they recommend I not see.
posted by DU at 10:46 AM on December 29, 2008


I disagree with some of their choices.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:52 AM on December 29, 2008 [3 favorites]


1,000 greatest films ever made

Bicycle Thieves is at 14, and yet Pee-Wee's Big Adventure didn't even make the top 1000? This list is deeply flawed.
posted by burnmp3s at 10:54 AM on December 29, 2008 [2 favorites]


I certainly hope there are no pleasant films on this list.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:54 AM on December 29, 2008 [5 favorites]


We should look up Armond White reviews for all of them. Man, I'm so glad mefi brought him to my attention, he's like my new hero. I'd bet money he hates at least 8 out of the 10 top ranked 21st century films.
posted by Artw at 11:01 AM on December 29, 2008 [2 favorites]


I would be interested in the list of the 1,000 worst films ever made. I suspect I might enjoy watching the films on that list more than on this one.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:02 AM on December 29, 2008 [1 favorite]


Their list of 250 films noir is fun to read.
posted by RussHy at 11:08 AM on December 29, 2008


The list generated by this AskMe seems to be about my speed.
posted by Artw at 11:08 AM on December 29, 2008


Actually Armond White suprises me by calling In The Mood for Love a masterpeice - I'd have expected him to slam it for being an Asian movie white people like too much.
posted by Artw at 11:10 AM on December 29, 2008


Il Conformista is at 65 and Alex Proyas is nowhere to be found.

::dances a jig::
posted by pxe2000 at 11:26 AM on December 29, 2008


"250 movies in the 21st century is about 30 movies per year that are "greatest". Maybe it would be simpler to just give the 2 or 3 they recommend I not see."
Quoted from DU

DU, a century is typically defined as 100 years. Given 250 movies in the 21st century, that comes in at 2.5 movies per year, not 30. However, if you figure that the number of good films prior to 1950 was quite small compared to the number of good films after 1950, then you could say it's closer to 5 good movies per year, which I agree is a bit high. Seems to me 100 movies in 100 years is about right. The best 1000 of all time is roughly 1 movie per month if you figure that modern film making began in 1925.
posted by LoopyG at 11:32 AM on December 29, 2008


LoopyG - what year is it currently?
posted by Artw at 11:33 AM on December 29, 2008 [4 favorites]


I don't get it, pxe2000.... is there usually an Alex Proyas lovefest that goes on in these lists?

And while I'm on the topic of lovefests - why does the Criterion Collection contain virtually every film made by Wes Anderson, yet none my Paul Thomas Anderson?

And what's up with mixed drinks on airline flights? You gave me a shot of whisky in a plastic thimble, where the fuck am I supposed to fit the mix?
posted by Tbola at 11:36 AM on December 29, 2008


Given 250 movies in the 21st century, that comes in at 2.5 movies per year...

/excitedly reloads page to get Oscar Award winners for the next 92 years and make a fortune in Vegas
posted by DU at 11:43 AM on December 29, 2008


The Crow should be on one of these lists.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:48 AM on December 29, 2008


I guess we all have our own favorite movie/director to check against such lists. If the list fails our test, we move on. For me the absence of any films by the great Hungarian director Béla Tarr meant an automatic fail. So I chant to myself, 'Must be opened-minded, must be open-minded' and promise myself I will look more closely at this list hoping to find some gems. Still, no Béla Tarr......
posted by vac2003 at 11:50 AM on December 29, 2008


Yeah, unless The Room is at number one, this list is BAD/WRONG.
posted by Bageena at 11:55 AM on December 29, 2008


Too much Billy Wilder in the top 100.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 11:59 AM on December 29, 2008


strangelefty: There is NO SUCH THING.
posted by pxe2000 at 12:05 PM on December 29, 2008 [2 favorites]


VOICEOVER: There I was, engaging in a thread about film when some bozo comes along. I downed the last of my drink and started typing. I wasn't sure what would come out but I knew it wouldn't be pretty.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 12:14 PM on December 29, 2008


for reference (though it is only '97-'06)

thus spake Armond. Praise Armond! *gnashes hair, tears teeth and vice versa*
posted by From Bklyn at 12:17 PM on December 29, 2008


Because Wes Anderson is brilliant, and Paul Thomas Anderson is a hack! Zing!

*asbestos mode ON!*
posted by cavalier at 12:28 PM on December 29, 2008


Cavalier: I thought it had to do with licensing issues? (Wes works with distributors who play ball with Criterion and PT does not, or somesuch...?)
posted by pxe2000 at 12:32 PM on December 29, 2008


Aliens Vs Predator was a triumph!
posted by Artw at 12:35 PM on December 29, 2008


#386. Groundhog Day

Not sure I want to go past that.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 12:36 PM on December 29, 2008


Aww.. I wasn't aware of any contractural issues, I was just throwing a lit match in the room. You could counter with - Wes Anderson has made the same disfunctional family movie four times.
posted by cavalier at 12:40 PM on December 29, 2008


I suppose you could say that the Resident Evil movies are about a disfunctional family, but I have to correct one thing, cavalier -- Wes Anderson has, to date, only made three of them. The fourth is still filming.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:45 PM on December 29, 2008


Will it have on screen computer maps? Because I can't get enough of those. Really there should be a top 100 movies with on screen maps.
posted by Artw at 12:47 PM on December 29, 2008


(The blueprints in Aliens DO NOT COUNT as you can't see them properly and I think they are just random schematics)
posted by Artw at 12:48 PM on December 29, 2008


I suppose you could say that the Resident Evil movies are about a disfunctional family

AZ, I'm going to be very sad if you don't know the difference between Paul W.S. Anderson and Paul Thomas Anderson, so I'm going to assume that's actually a subtle joke.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 1:00 PM on December 29, 2008


Invasion of the Body Snatchers at #408?!?!

Pfft, clearly it's #337. What a crap list.

Also, I've tried....truly I have....and I've never been able to really enjoy a Billy Wilder movie.
posted by the bricabrac man at 1:02 PM on December 29, 2008 [1 favorite]


and I think they are just random schematics

Tsk, next you'll be saying that the aliens on the motions trackers are just random blobs and bare no relation to the actual locations/numbers of actual beasties in the film...
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:10 PM on December 29, 2008


I'm so glad he was able to get over the faliure, both in terms of high-action thrills and box office returns, of Punch Drunk Love.
posted by Artw at 1:10 PM on December 29, 2008


The motion trackers are real!
posted by Artw at 1:11 PM on December 29, 2008


Or at least can be interpreted dramatically in terms of imminance and intensity of anticipated alien attack. The schematics are just some shit they wave at.
posted by Artw at 1:12 PM on December 29, 2008


In the last few years I've used similar lists to check out a few stone cold classics I've managed to miss watching (or forgotten about)... but every time I think about going for completeness I realize there's usually far too much overrated silents or depresso-fests (I'm pretty certain I can happily go to my grave not watching another Lars von Trier film) and I'll shove some classic Who or something up to the top of my rental list
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:36 PM on December 29, 2008


Well New Line Cinema had better get their act together, I'd love to see a Paul Thomas Anderson film in the Criterion Collection - ESPECIALLY if that means a commentary track.

Oh, and I would like to clarify that I do not dislike Wes Anderson. (not that he was any too concerned about my critical opinion of him was, at any rate)
But it is curious the clustering of film making talent amongst the Anderson name.

...Well, not Paul W.S. Anderson. He makes my teeth hurt.
posted by Tbola at 1:37 PM on December 29, 2008


Am I the only one who kinds Armond White completely incoherent on a good day?
posted by The Whelk at 1:43 PM on December 29, 2008


Pink Flamingos is on this list. I can't really trust a "1000 greatest films" list that has Pink Flamingos on it.
posted by Auguris at 1:43 PM on December 29, 2008


You’re right, that’s for the 1000 greaterest films list (for the true connoisseur).
posted by Artw at 1:44 PM on December 29, 2008


But it is curious the clustering of film making talent amongst the Anderson name.

You're referring to the late great Lindsay Anderson I take it. The rest are crap.
posted by cazoo at 2:52 PM on December 29, 2008


Gerry and Sylvia Anderson FTW.
posted by Artw at 2:58 PM on December 29, 2008


#386. Groundhog Day

Not sure I want to go past that.


Oh, you'd better not be talking shit about Groundhog Day—one of the funniest, most exquisitely structured screen comedies to come along since... since... hell, since screens!
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:18 PM on December 29, 2008 [5 favorites]


I've seen 91 of the first 100. But the list just keeps going. Gets to feeling arbitrary after a while.
posted by Rashomon at 3:52 PM on December 29, 2008


I disagree with some minor trivialities of this list, like Huston's oeuvre not entirely occupying the top 20 places, and therefore declare it irrelevant. Should I now berate the member who made the FPP?
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:57 PM on December 29, 2008


Pink Flamingos is on this list. I can't really trust a "1000 greatest films" list that has Pink Flamingos on it.

I can't trust one that doesn't.

mmmmmmaumaumauummaumaupapaumaumau.
posted by Mcable at 4:12 PM on December 29, 2008


Yeesh. Surely the list isn't prizing sheer enjoyability, since both Eisenstein and Griffith made their creaky way to the stage.

I don't think I've yet met anyone who enjoyed Raging Bull, though I've met plenty of people who respect it. Same for Birth of a Nation and Battleship Potemkin. Yes yes, Eisenstein, editing, Odessa Steps blah-di-blah, but enjoy the film? Really? As in "sit down and choose to watch it for entertainment rather than study"? I'm deeply skeptical.
posted by johnofjack at 5:54 PM on December 29, 2008


Ah, they have Vampyr on here ... what a wonderful creepy mindfuck of a movie. Meshes of the Afternoon too.
posted by johnofjack at 6:00 PM on December 29, 2008


vac2003, there's Satantango @ 343.
posted by johnofjack at 6:05 PM on December 29, 2008


johnofjack - Thanks for pointing that out. Clearly my searching-foo leaves much to be desired. Glad to see a Tarr film made it. Happy now and think the list is excellent!
posted by vac2003 at 7:14 PM on December 29, 2008


Lists are fun, but I encourage everybody with even a passing interest to dig into Kevin's excellent video essays.
posted by muckster at 7:38 PM on December 29, 2008


So it takes until 99 to find a film made in the last 25 years (Goodfellas, 1990). Whatever.
posted by markr at 2:12 AM on December 30, 2008


The 21st C list is for "Most Acclaimed," not "Best" or "Greatest." It would be interesting to see how critically acclaimed and popular films hold up over time, especially compared to books, where extremely popular titles tend to not stand the test of time all that well.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:12 AM on December 30, 2008


A sad and frustrating followup: Despite the fact that they are as textbook a case of fair use as can be imagined, YouTube has taken down Kevin B. Lee's video essays (as mentioned by muckster) on grounds of copyright infringement.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:18 PM on January 13, 2009


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