Coraline was my favorite book when I was a kid, so naturally, it was also my favorite movie for a short amount of time. Now, let me just say that they could have made a really scary film with this premise. In fact, they chose to leave out a lot of the really creepy things that made the book so marvelously chilling. But that said, this movie is unsettling enough on its own. I think it is due in part to the stop-motion, or the way the perspective is somewhat distorted to give a sense of uneasiness. I loved how everything in this film was crafted by hand, from the puppets to the sets to the tiny labels on the food. A brilliant piece of cinema, and a beautiful work of art that still holds up today.
19. Winter's Bone
I remember seeing this pop up in the Best Picture category during the Oscars the year after this movie came out, and everybody went, "Wait, what?" Hopefully, all of those people went to check out exactly what they had missed. And to be fair, those who haven't seen this movie have missed out quite a bit. Forget The Hunger Games; this is the film where Jennifer Lawrence truly establishes herself as an expert actress. Her performance is flawless in pretty much every scene, and she is a really strong force to drive the story along. But other than that, I thought the cinematography was excellent, and enjoyed how they incorporated the setting of the Ozarks into the various shots. Raw and bittersweet, this film is not one to miss.
18. My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding
I would have to put this at the top of the list of my favorite romantic comedies. It has everything that a good romantic comedy should have: the story is relatable, the pacing is on point, the characters are developed well, but most of all, they are absolutely hysterical. Every time I watch this movie, it only gets funnier. Maybe it's because I can relate to the concept of having a big family, which also happens to be the movie's strongpoint; the message. It is rare to see this type of "imperfect family" film work so well. Be sure to watch it, as the comedy and heart work together to knock it out of the park.
17. Jurassic Park
Ah, Jurassic Park, the one movie that everybody just seems to love. I actually think people obsess over this movie a lot more now, either because of nostalgia or because it was (needlessly) re-released in 3D. This movie is just a big ball of action-packed fun from start to finish. It is well-paced, and the effects are outstanding. I mean, the CGI really set the bar for other films to come, which makes it so unforgettable. I would tell you to go out and see it, but if you're smart, then you already have.
16. The Secret Of Kells
Another wonderful film that barely anyone saw. There is one big thing that sets this film apart from other animated films: the animation itself. Not only is it hand-drawn, but good God is it breathtaking. It is just absolutely, flawlessly beautiful, from the movement to the coloration and everything in between. I feel like I am watching a moving painting by Gustav Klimt; the entire film is breathtaking. Underrated and underappreciated, this movie a brilliant and masterful work of artistic expression that will leave you wanting more.
15. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
When I watched this film, it had been a while since I had experienced a film that was so raw and unforgiving. This movie is darkly sophisticated and dead serious. It knows who it is and isn't afraid in any way to show that. But that is what makes this movie so great. Intimidating as it may seem, it is also enticing through its attitude, cinematography, and characters. I actually believe that the tone isn't just a reflection of the overall story, but of Salander herself. Certainly not for the faint of heart, this film is one that will be hard for anyone to forget.
14. The Harry Potter Films
The reason I lumped all of these films together instead of reviewing each one seperately is because it would kill me to try and put them in order from best to worst. There really isn't a film in this series that is considered bad, or even just "okay": all of them are great. The cinematography, the effects, the acting, all of it is just wonderfully executed. And yes, while the quality of all these things went up as the series progressed, the earlier films still have enough charm and wit to make for a good film. The memorable characters have stayed with us forever, and arguably influenced an entire generation. Overall a fantastic saga and one of the best series I have ever had the pleasure of watching.
13. Forrest Gump
Charming and full of heart, it is no wonder that this is the film no one can stop talking about, even over ten years later. The protagonist is probably one of the most memorable, if not the most memorable character of all time. Also, the storytelling is rich and compelling. It has a lot going on, but the progression feels natural and keeps us interested. The cultural references are entertaining, and the characters are unforgettable. To say this film will steal your heart is probably an understatement.
12. Black Swan
Chills, chills, chills! This film is a magnificiently disturbing piece of art. It's dark, it's terrifying, and disturbingly enticing and seductive. The cinematography alone earns this film a top grade, by the way it combines camera angles, movement, visuals, color, and lighting to bring us into Nina's head and make us feel uneasy. We are brought into her tortured mind with such brutality that it makes the film truly scary. Natalie Portman is excellent in this role, and I hope to see her do more films like this in the future.
11. It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
This film is gigantic. It is just massive on every level, from the cast to the story to the locations. Even though it is almost three hours long, believe me, all of that time is necessary to include all of the elements that make this movie great. This movie succeeds with such a large and talented cast because it came out during a time where the big comedians could actually work together well, due to how they didn't have such massive egos like many comedy actors today. It helps us to look forward to seeing them play off of one another and showcase their individual personalities, rather than trying to one-up each other in terms of talent. And the story is just so rich and engaging in terms of humor and wit. Literally, everything in this movie showcases what Hollywood films are the best at. Hold on to your seatbelts, guys: you are in for one very entertaining ride.
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