Here's my new, expanded list of GREAT FILMS YOU SHOULD SEE!

Plenty of films have been made that are good ONE-TIME views, but THIS list contains only films I'M driven to see REPEATEDLY, for one or more reasons...

I love The Movies...
...and Life is short.

The films are in alphabetical order ONLY - NOT by preference, theme, mood, date, location, stars, graphic levels of violence, sex, etc. However: most are NOT for children! (I placed an "ok" at the end of any listing that I feel are fine for kids, but I may be more liberal about this issue than yourself.) Films are dated because sometimes there exists more than one version. Some of these films will require that you find a quality video/dvd rental store covering more than your typical mainstream offering. In my opinion, you have an obligation to find & support those places in your area anyhow! THEY are the people TRYING to get some Art to you, and in turn, need your support!

NOW THE DISCLAIMER: I have preferences.

- First and foremost: I prefer drama;
- I DON'T avoid films due to graphic violence, sex, or language;
- Black & white is as BEAUTIFUL - at times more beautiful than color (can you imagine "Eraserhead" or "Manhattan" in color??);
- I prefer "METHOD" acting (Marlon Brando) over "classic" theatrical style acting (Sir Lawrence Olivier);
- I EXPECT superb acting, intelligent scripts, sound & music tracks that support the film, smart lighting, story continuity
& accuracy, etc., and,
- Whenever possible, I want some actual INNOVATION in the subject, and the way in which the subject is depicted! I want to be shown something new & of value that I can somehow "USE" - in my head, and/or heart.
- If it's a COMEDY, I lean towards the darker, more sarcastic, intellectual type (as opposed to slapstick or "farttittygiggle" flicks).
- I prefer fiction, or historically accurate films - whereas, I HATE "serious" films that play fast and loose with history (such as the sort Oliver Stone is willing to make).
- I DON'T mind subtitles - I prefer them over that goddawful dubbing.

(I love kitschy-cheezie bad films. Yes, "Plan Nine from Outer Space" IS one of the two worst films of all time...the other being "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls"), but that type is not for THIS list. They are NOT great films.)

- Oh, also: I DETEST musicals, and with so few exceptions, I'll just say: I DETEST MUSICALS!

If you've found yourself generally agreeing with me, this list might be of use. Let me know. I'm curious.

I realize many films on the list will suffer from not being seen on the "big screen", but anymore it's a compromise I'M willing to accept. The average movie audience has become a room full of pigs, who ruin your chance for a quality movie-going experience.

=====================================================================
(Last update 9-24-06)

A

The Accidental Tourist, 1988
The Accused, 1988
Affliction, 1998
The African Queen, 1951, ok
Aguirre: The Wrath of God, 1972, German
Alien, 1979
Alfie, 1966, English
All or Nothing, 2002
All Quiet on the Western Front, 1930
All the Real Girls, 2003
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, 199X
Amadeus, 1984
Amelie, 2001
American Grafitti, 1973, ok
American Heart, 1992
American Psycho, 2000
An American Rhapsody, 2001
Amy's O, 2002
Anchoress, 1993
Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgandy, 2004
Andersonville, 1996
Angela, 2002
An Angel at my Table, 1990, New Zealand
Angels and Insects, 1995
Anne Frank Remembered, 1995
Annie Hall, 1977
Apocalypse Now, 1979
Apollo 13, 1995, ok
The Apostle, 1997
Artemesia, 1997, French
The Atomic Cafe, 1982
Au Revoir Les Enfants, 1987, French
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, 1974, ok
Avalon, 1990, ok
Awakenings, 1990, ok
The Awful Truth, 1937

B

Bambi, 1942, ok
Barfly, 1987
The Basketball Diaries, 1995
Basquiat, 1996
Bastard out of Carolina, 1996
A Beautiful Mind, 2001
Beetle Juice, 1988, ok
Being John Malkovich, 1999
The Believer, 2003
The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946
Beyond Rangoon, 1995
Big Fish, 2003
The Birdman of Alcatraz, 1962, ok
Black Rain, 1990
Black Robe, 1991, Canadian
Black Hawk Down, 2002
Blade Runner, 1982
The Blair Witch Project, 1998
Blood Simple, 1984
Blowup, 1966, British
Bob Roberts, 1992
The Boondock Saints, 1999
Born on the Fourth of July, 1989
Bottle Rocket, 1996
The Boys, 2000, Australian
Boys Don't Cry, 1999
Braveheart, 1995
Brazil, 1985
Breaking the Waves, 1996, Danish
The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957
Bringing Out the Dead, 1999
Brokedown Palace, 1999, ok
A Bronx Tale, 1993
A Bug's Life, 1998, ok
Bully, 2001
The Burmese Harp (“Biruma No Tategoto”), 1956, Japanese

C

Camille Claudel, 1988, French
Capote, 2005
Capturing the Friedmans, 2003
Career Girls, 1997
Carrington, 1995, British
Casablanca, 1942, ok
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1958
The Cell, 2000
Central Station, 1998, Brazilian, ok
Changing Lanes, 2002
Charlotte Gray, 2001
Charly, 1968, ok
Chattahoochee, 1990
Chikamatsu Monogatari (Crucified Lovers), 1954, Japanese
Children of Heaven, 1997, Iranian, ok
Chinatown, 1974
A Christmas Story, 1983, ok
Cinderella Man, 2005
The Cider House Rules, 1999
Cinema Paradiso, 1988, Italian, ok
Citizen Kane, 1941
Citizen Ruth,
City Slickers, 1991, ok
The Claim, 2000
Clean, Shaven, 1993
A Clockwork Orange, 1971
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 1977, ok
Closer, 2005
Closet Land, 1991
The Color Purple, 1985
Come Back Little Sheba, 1952
Coming Home, 1978
The Contender, 2000
The Conversation, 1974
Cool Hand Luke, 1967
Crash, 2005
Crimes and Misdemeanors, 1989
Cross of Iron, 1977
The Crucible, 1996

D

Damage, 1992
Dancer in the Dark, 2000
Dangerous Liaisons, 1988
Das Boot, 1981, German
Days of Wine and Roses, 1962
Deconstructing Harry, 1997
The Deer Hunter, 1978
Devi, 1960, Hindi
Diary of a Country Priest, 1950, French
Dogfight, 1991
Do the Right Thing,
Dominick and Eugene, 1988
Donnie Darko, 2002
Door to Door, 2002
The Double Life of Veronique, 1991, Polish/French
The Dreamlife of Angels, 1998, French
Driving Miss Daisy, 1989, ok
Drop Dead Gorgeous, XXXX
Dr. Strangelove..., 1964, British
Drugstore Cowboy, 1989

E

East of Eden, 1955
8mm, 1999
Edward Scissorhands, 1990, ok
Ed TV, 1999
The Elephant Man, 1980
Elizabeth, 1998, British
Empire of the Sun, 1987
Enemy at the Gates, 2001
Enigma, 2002
Equinox, 1993
Equinox Flower, 1958, Japanese
Eraserhead, 1978
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004
Europa Europa, 1991, French/German
Even Dwarfs Start Small, 1968, German
Every Man For Himself and God Against All (or also titled
The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser), 1975, German
Exotica, 1994, Canadian
Eye for an Eye, 1996
Eyes Wide Shut, 1999

F

Failsafe, 1964
The Falcon and the Snowman, 1984
Far From Heaven, 2002
Fargo, 1996
Fearless, 1993
The Fight Club, 2000
The Fisher King, 1991
Fitzcarraldo, 1982, ok
Flirting with Disaster, 1996
Focus, 2002
Following, 1999
Forbidden Games, 1952, French
Four Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle, 1986, French
Frances, 1982
Frankie Starlight, 1995
Freaks, 1932
Freedom Song, 2000
The French Connection, 1971
Fresh, 1994
Fried Green Tomatoes, 1991
Full Metal Jacket, 1987

G

Gaby: A True Story, 1987
Gandhi, 1982
The General, 1998, Irish
Georgia, 1995
Germinal, 1993, French
Ghost World, 2001
The Gingerbread Man, 1998
Girl, Interrupted, 1999
Girls Town, 1996
Glengarry Glen Ross, 1992
Glory, 1989
The Godfather, all 3 parts, 1972-90
Goodfellas, 1990
Good Night, and Good Luck, 2005
The Graduate, 1967
Grand Canyon, 1991
The Grapes of Wrath, 1940, ok
The Grass Harp, 1996, ok
Grey Zone, 2001
Grizzly Man, 2005
Groundhog Day, 1993, ok
Gummo, 1997

H

The Hairdresser's Husband, 1992, French
Hairspray, 1988
Hannah and Her Sisters, 1986
Happiness, 1998
Harakiri, 1962
Harry and Tonto, 1974, ok
Hart's War, 2002
Heart of Glass, 1976, German
Heaven, 1987
Heaven and Earth, 1993
Heavenly Creatures, 1994
Heavy, 1996, ok
Helter Skelter, 1976
Henry and June, 1990
Henry V, 1989, British
Herdsmen of the Sun, 1988
High Art, 1998, Canada
Hilary & Jackie, 1998, British
Himalaya, 1999, Tibetan
Hoffa, 1992
Homeward Bound, 1993, ok
Homicide, 1991
Hoop Dreams, 1994, ok
Hope and Glory, 1987
House of Sand and Fog, 2003
Hud, 1963
The Hudsucker Proxy, 1994
Hurly Burly, 1998
Hurricane Streets, 1998
Husbands and Wives, 1992
The Hustler, 1961
Hysterical Blindness, 2003

I

The Ice Storm, 1997
Imaginary Crimes, 1994
The Importance of Being Earnest, 2001
In Cold Blood, 1967
The Incredibles, 2004
The Indian Runner, 1991
Inherit the Wind, 1960
Interiors, 1978
Intermezzo, 1939
Interview with a Vampire, 1994
In the Bedroom, 2002
In the Company of Men, 1997
In the Heat of the Night, 1967
In the Name of the Father, 1993
Into the Arms of Strangers, 2000
The Invisible Circus, 2001
Iris, 2001
Ironweed, 1987
I Shot Andy Warhol, 1996
It Happened One Night, 1934, ok
It's a Wonderful Life, 1946, ok

J

JAZZ, 2001
Jerusalem, 1996, Swedish
The Jimmy Show, 2003
Johns, 1996
Journey of Hope, 1990, Swiss
The Joy Luck Club, 1993
Judgment at Nuremberg, 1961

K

Kalifornia, 1993
Kids, 1995
The Killing Fields, 1984
The King is Alive, 2002
King of the Hill, 1993, ok
Kiss of the Spider Woman, 1985

L

Lancelot du Lac, 1974, French
Lantana, 2002, Australian
L’Argent, 1983, French
The Last Days, 1998
The Last Emperor, 1987, Italian
L.A. Story, 1991
The Last Picture Show, 1971
Last Tango in Paris, 1973, French
The Last Temptation of Christ, 1988
Late Spring, 1949, Japanese
Lawrence of Arabia, 1962
Leaving Las Vegas, 1995
Lessons of Darkness, 1992, German
Life is Beautiful, 1998, Italian
The Life of Brian, 1979, British
The Lion King, 1994, ok
Little Boy Blue
Little Dieter Needs to Fly, 1998, German
Little Fugitive, 1953, ok
Little Shop of Horrors, 1986, ok
Little Women, 1995
Lolita, 1997, British
Lonesome Dove, 1991
The Long Way Home, 1997
Lord of the Flies, 1963
Lord of the Rings, 2001, 2002, 2003
Lost Horizon, 1937
Lost in America, 1985
Lost in Translation, 2003
The Lost Weekend, 1945
Love Liza, 2003
Lovely & Amazing, 2002
Lust for Life, 1956

M

The Machinist, 2005
Made for Each Other, 1939
The Magdalene Sisters, 2003
Man Bites Dog, 1992, Belgian
Manhattan, 1979
The Man in the Moon, 1991
Man in the Wilderness, 1971
The Manchurian Candidate, 1962
Manny & Lo, 1996
The Man Who Wasn’t There, 2001
Martha + Ethel, 1994, ok
Marty, 1955, ok
Mean Streets, 1973
Menace II Society, 1993
Memento, 2001
Metropolis, 1926, German
(restored version by Giorgio Moroder, 1984), ok
A Midnight Clear, 1992
Midnight Cowboy, 1969
A Mighty Wind, 2003
Minority Report, 2002
The Miracle Worker, 1962, ok
Les Miserables, 1998
The Mission, 1986
Moll Flanders, 1995
Monster, 2004
Monsters Inc., 2002, ok
The Mosquito Coast, 1986, ok
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, 1936, ok
Mr. Saturday Night, 1992
Mrs. Dalloway, 1998, British/Dutch
Munich, 2005
Muriel's Wedding, 1994, Australian
Music Box, 1990
My Dinner with Andre, 1981
My Left Foot, 1989, Irish
Mystery Men, 1999
The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser, or,
Every Man for Himself & God Against All, 1975, German
Mystic River, 2003
The Myth of Fingerprints, 1997

N

Naked, 1993, British
Naked Lunch, 1991, Canadian
National Lampoon's Animal House, 1978
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, 1989, ok
National Velvet, 1944, ok
Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud, 1995, French
Network, 1976
Niagara Niagara, 1998
Night Falls on Manhattan, 1996
Nineteen Eighty Four, 1984, British
Normal Life, 1997
Nosferatu the Vampyre, 1979, German, ok

O

Odd Man Out, 1947
Of Mice and Men, 1981, ok
Of Mice and Men, 1992, ok
The Old Man and the Sea, 1958, ok
Once Upon a Time in America, 1984
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975
Onegin, 2000
One Hour Photo, 2002
One True Thing, 1998, ok
Onibaba, 1964, Japanese
The Onion Field, 1979
On the Beach, 1959
On the Waterfront, 1954
Open Range, 2003
Orlando, 1993, British
Orpheus, 1950, French
Out of Africa, 1985
The Out of Towners, 1970, ok

P

Padre Padrone, 1977, Italian
Panic, 2000
The Paper Chase, 1973
Paper Moon, 1973, ok
Papillon, 1973
Paradise Road, 1997
The Passion of Joan of Arc, 1928
Paths of Glory, 1957
The Pawnbroker, 1965
Pelle the Conqueror, 1988, Swedish
A Perfect Murder, 1998
A Perfect World, 1993
Performance, 1970
Perfume, 2001
Permanent Midnight, 1999
Personal Velocity, 2003
Persuasion, 1995
The Piano, 1993, New Zealand
Places in the Heart, 1984, ok
Platoon, 1986
The Playboys, 1992, Irish
The Player, 1992
Poltergeist, 1982
Ponette, 1996, French
Il Postino, 1994, Italian/French
Presumed Innocent, 1990
Priest, 1994, British
The Princess Bride, 1987, ok
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, 2005
Pulp Fiction, 1994
The Purple Rose of Cairo, 1985

Q

Queen Margot, 1994, French

R

Rabbit Proof Fence, 2002
Raging Bull, 1980
Rain Man, 1988
Raising Arizona, 1987
Rambling Rose, 1991
Ransom, 1996
The Rapture, 1991
Ratas, Ratones, Rateros, 1999
Rebel Without a Cause, 1955, ok
Record of a Tenement Gentleman, 1947, Japanese
Red Sky at Morning, 1970
The Red Violin, 1998, Canadian
Reservoir Dogs, 1992
Ridicule, 1996, French
The Right Stuff, 1983, ok
The Rise & Fall of the Third Reich, X year.
Road to Perdition, 2002
Robots, 2005
Rob Roy, 1995
Roger Dodger, 2003
Romeo & Juliet, 1968, British, ok
Romeo & Juliet, 1996
Romero, 1989
Rosemary's Baby, 1968
The Rose Tattoo, 1955
Rules of Attraction, 2003
Runaway Jury, 2003

S

Safe, 1995
Sansho the Bailiff, 1954, Japanese
Save the Tiger, 1973
Schindler's List, 1993
The Secret Garden, 1993, ok
The Secret of Roan Inish, 1994, ok
The Secret of Santa Vittoria, 1969
Secretary, 2002
Secrets & Lies, 1996, British
Serpico, 1973
Seven Days in May, 1964
Seven Years in Tibet, 1997
sex, lies, & videotape, 1989
Shadowlands, 1993, British
Shakespeare in Love, 1998
Shame, 1968, Swedish
Shane, 1953, ok
The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
She's So Lovely, 1997, French/U.S.
Shine, 1996
Shooting War, 2000
The Shop on Main Street, 1965, Czech
Short Cuts, 1993
Shrek, 2001, ok
Sid & Nancy, 1986
Sidewalks of New York, 2002
The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
The Sixth Sense, 1999
Slacker, 1991
Sleuth, 1972
Sliding Doors, 1998
Sling Blade, 1996
Small Faces, 1995
Something Wild, 1986
Some Mother's Son, 1997
Sometimes a Great Notion, 1971
Sophie's Choice, 1982
The Spanish Prisoner, 1998
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, 1965
Stand by Me, 1986, ok
Stardust Memories, 1980
Stealing Beauty, 1996, French
The Sterile Cuckoo, 1969
The Story of Adele H., 1975, French
Storytelling, 2002
The Stranger, 1967
Stranger than Paradise, 1984
Straw Dogs, 1971
A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
Stroszek, 1977, German
The Substance of Fire, 1996
subUrbia, 1996
Sullivan's Travels, 1941, ok
Summer of '42, 1971
Sunset Blvd., 1950
The Sweet Hereafter, 1997
Sweetie, 1989, Australian
Swept Away, 1975, Italian
Sybil, 1976

T

Tae Guk Gi, 2005, Korean
Talk Radio, 1988
Tape, 2002
Taxi Driver, 1976
Telling Lies in America, 1997
Tender Mercies, 1983, ok
Terms of Endearment, 1983
Tess, 1979, French
They Might be Giants, 1971, ok
The Thief, 1997, Russian
The Thin Red Line, 1999
Thirteen, 2003
13 Conversations about One Thing, 2001
Thirteen Days, 2000
This Boy's Life, 1993
This is Spinal Tap, 1984
Thousand Pieces of Gold, 1992
The Three Faces of Eve, 1957
Three Seasons, 1999, Viet Namese
Time Out, 2003, French
To Die For, 1995
To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962, ok
Tokyo Story, 1953
Tom & Viv, 1994, British
Tora Tora Tora, 1970
Toy Story I, 1995, ok
Toy Story II, 1999, ok
Training Day, 2002
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1945
Trees Lounge, 1996
The Triplets of Bellville, 2004
The Trip to Bountiful, 1985, ok
Truce, .
The Truce, 1997, Italian, etc.
True Romance, 1993
Tully, 2003
Twelve O'Clock High, 1949
25th Hour, 2003
Twentyfourseven, 1997, British
Twice in a Lifetime, 1985
2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968, British
Two Women, 1960, Italian

U

Ugetsu, 1953, Japanese
Umberto D., 1952, Italian
Under Suspicion, XXXX
Unforgiven, 1992
United 93, 2006
Unstrung Heroes, 1995, ok
The Untouchables, 1987

V

The Vanishing, 1988, Dutch/French
Village of the Damned, 1960, English
Vincent, 1987, Australian

W

Wag the Dog, 1997
Waiting for Guffman, 1997
Wall Street, 1987
Washington Square, 1997
The Waterdance, 1992
Waterland, 1992
Welcome to the Dollhouse, 1996
We All Loved Each Other So Much, 1974, Italian
We Were Soldiers, 2002
Whale Rider, 2003
The Whales of August, 1987, ok
What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, 1993
When Harry Met Sally, 1989
When Trumpets Fade, 1998
Where the Green Ants Dream, 1985, Australian/German
Where the Heart Is, 2000
White, and, Red, and, Blue (3 films), 1993, French
White Badge, 1997, Korean
White Oleander, 2003
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966
Wigstock the Movie, 1995
Wild at Heart, 1990
The Wild Bunch, 1969
The Wild One, 1954
Wings of Desire, 1988, German
Winter Light, 1962, Swedish
Wit, 2001
Woman in the Dunes, 1964, Japanese
Woodstock, 1970
Working Girl, 1988
The World According to Garp, 1982
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, 1993

Y

The Year of Living Dangerously, 1983, Australian
Your Friends and Neighbors, 1998

Z

Zelig, 1983
Zorba the Greek, 1964