40. The Truman Show (1998)
Wow. The Truman Show is one of the few movies I could probably watch virtually every day and not get tired of. The story itself about a man who is living a tv show but does not realize it is both brilliant and quite funny. Adding Jim Carrey’s brilliant performance to the mix and intelligent and original screenwriting and directing, this is one of the best movies of the ‘90s.
Carrey is a show-stealer. He plays the type of role that Jimmy Stewart or Henry Fonda would have played over a half-century ago. He’s just a likeable, everyday guy. He proves here (and with Eternal Sunshine) that with a good script, he can be an outstanding dramatic actor and I still find it hard to believe that he wasn’t up for an Oscar.
This is a really short film, only about an hour and a half, which perhaps adds to its charm actually. It’s the perfect length for this film to leave its thematic impact and serve as a satire on reality television and power of corporations.
It’s revealed early in the film that Truman Burbank is living a fake life, but the entire film he experiences revelation. He becomes a very interesting character as the film goes along because he becomes more and more suspicious and unpredictable, unsure of who he can trust. At the end, he even risks his own life to complete his mission of self-discovery.
I mentioned Carrey’s performance but Ed Harris is also outstanding as the mysterious creator of the television show. He’s such an excellent actor, particularly in supporting roles, and he will appear in a film later on in this list. Outstanding actor Paul Giamatti also appears in a fairly minor role.
I also mentioned the creativity and intelligence of the script and directing. The script tells a very unique, almost Twilight Zone-like story in a way that adds a great deal of humor without taking away its thematic weight of self-discovery. And Peter Weir’s direction is certainly interesting, often times showing Truman from the angles that the viewers would see on television, such as his mirror cam, button cams, and the speedometer cam.
39. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The highest rated film on IMDB is considered great for a reason. It’s a powerful film about a man wrongfully imprisoned for someone murdering his wife, his experiences in prison, his friendship with a fellow inmate, and his eventual escape.
Along with Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction and The Lion King, this is one of the classic films from 1994, though it somehow won no Academy Awards. It’s an adaptation of a Stephen King short story, proving that the Master of Modern Horror is capable of more than writing terrifying novels, and directed by Frank Darabont, who is utterly worthless when not adapting King’s work (he also did The Green Mile and The Mist).
It’s a film about adaptation. Andy Dufresne must adapt to his life in prison and the horrors and violence that that entails. In my favorite scene, a man who has been in prison for decades is finally released and is unable to adapt to the new world he finds himself in.
This is a powerful movie and very inspirational.
38. Platoon (1986)
“The first tragedy of war is innocence” is this film’s tagline and this is Oliver Stone’s film about the horrors of war in Vietnam. Stone served in Vietnam and this film is said to be quite autobiographical. It stars Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Willem Dafoe.
Charlie Sheen plays a soldier completely torn between two worlds. Sgt. Barnes, played by Berenger, makes a habit of abusing Vietnamese villagers. Sgt. Elias, played by Dafoe, does not stand for that kind of thing, and of course he and Barnes do not get along. Sheen is unsure on which to follow.
It’s a compelling human drama and an excellent good versus evil tale.
37. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
James Stewart and Doris Day star in this Hitchcock thriller which features their kid being kidnapped and them being in a desperate and frantic international search. It has the paranoia and suspense that you’d certainly hope for from Hitchcock. It’s got international intrigue and an exciting assassination plot.
This is also notable for its hit song, “Que Sera Sera” sung by Doris Day a few too many times throughout the film. It’s a good song but it gets a little old.
The assassination scene is great and so is the scene at the chapel. Overall it’s just a very effective thriller, one of Hitchcock’s more underrated films.
36. West Side Story (1961)
One of the great musicals in film history, West Side Story is a modern-day retelling of Romeo & Juliet, with New York gangs the Jets and the Sharks taking the places of the Montagues and the Capulets. It’s of course a wonderful love story but what makes the film so great is the music and the dancing.
When I first saw this, I couldn’t take it seriously. There are these gangs and they’re going around on the streets doing ballet and stuff; it’s pretty ridiculous. But now that I’m older and more mature and actually enjoy musicals, I love the dancing. The choreography is truly astounding and it accompanies the music wonderfully.
There are so many wonderful songs in the film but what elevates it past just a good musical and into the realm of a brilliant film is the direction. None of it is flat. It’s very much like a Broadway musical come to life, with more than just a stage to work with. The visuals are wonderful.
This beautiful film, of course, has insightful statements about love, coming of age, delinquency, and racism that make it both powerful and entertaining.
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