Jake’s Top 10 Movies
These lists are always very difficult for me to make. Even though I love the process of ranking a collection of things and deciding which of those things is the “best” and why, I almost never feel confident in my choices by the end. This is especially true for movies, as I love so many different movies for so many different reasons. I also find myself arguing over what makes a movie the “best” vs. what makes a movie my “favorite.” Are these ideas synonymous? In other words, if I were to really enjoy a movie and could watch it over and over without getting tired of it, does that mean I think it’s the “best”, or is it just my “favorite”? In saying a movie is the “best” should my personal enjoyment of said movie trump what most feel makes a film great? These are all questions that I still don’t know the answer to, but I tried to construct a list of the movies that I, in this present moment, simply enjoy the most. They may not be the most technically sound or anything like that, but they are movies that made me feel the most emotion while watching, which I feel most can agree is important for a movie to do. Hope you enjoy!
10. Before Sunrise
Probably the best romance movie I’ve ever seen, Before Sunrise perfectly captures all of the complex feelings that come with first love. The two characters essentially just talk for the entire runtime, but their chemistry and the perfectly-written dialogue never left me bored. In fact, I was completely glued to the screen the entire time. I love the authenticity of their relationship - none of it feels overdone or fake like most movies might depict a “love at first sight” story. Their conversations are so interesting and real and relatable that you can’t help but root for their love by the end.
9. The Shining
Before watching this movie in full for the first time, I was shown the shot of Danny riding around the Overlook Hotel on his Big Wheel (the one with the camera tracking him from behind), and I was completely blown away. I didn’t think that a fairly simple long-take shot with no dialogue would entrance me as much as this one did, but the combination of color and variation in camera distances perfectly captured the familiar eeriness of this movie as a whole. After having seen the full movie multiple times now, I’ve come to realize that this shot is one of many amazing moments in the film. It’s not a typical “horror movie” in its style, but it terrified me just as much. Jack’s descent into madness is so believable and heart-pounding, and the final shot that depicts the photo of him at the party is a haunting way to end off an incredible movie. I also love that there’s so many ways to think about the family and how their story actually played out. To conclude, I felt like I was gonna pass out after watching this.
8. Superbad
This is one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched it countless times, and in every instance I laugh just as hard. There are classic quotable moments and others that catch you off guard because you forget how good they are. Every actor nails their roles and the movie never seems dated in its jokes, style, or themes. I don’t exactly know what makes for a “good” comedy, but I do know that this is the best one I’ve seen.
7. La La Land
La La Land is the musical that made me really appreciate musicals. Of all the times I’ve seen this movie, I haven’t once watched it without experiencing almost every emotion that a person can feel. In one moment, I’m happy and humming along to one of the many catchy songs that are featured in the film, and in an instant I find myself angry at one of the leads and sad that their relationship is beginning to dwindle. It’s a fantastic and heartbreaking love story with some truly breathtaking cinematography and music strewn throughout. After seeing this movie for the first time, I was able to fully grasp the amount of talent it takes to act, sing, and dance at a high level all in one film, and I’ll always be appreciative of how this film made me realize that.
6. Toy Story
I’ve probably never seen a single movie more times in my life than Toy Story. This was my original favorite movie, dating all the way back to before I was in kindergarten. To this day, it still holds up. This is the all-time greatest Pixar film in my opinion, and it starts with the characters. There’s a reason that this movie sparked a four-film series; people adore the characters and the relationships that they have with one another. In this first movie, Woody and Buzz are the perfect foils for one another. Their adventures after leaving Andy’s room make you understand why each of them feel the way they do, and the final scenes where they make up and escape Syd’s room are so satisfying and fun to watch. Every side character is enjoyable as well, and somehow they even made you care about Andy even though he says like three words in this one. There are just so many classic moments in this movie, and I’ll never get tired of it. Not to mention, Randy Newman wrote some amazing songs for the film, too.
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel
I love Wes Anderson for a number of reasons. His filmmaking style is obviously so recognizable and fun, and the clarity with which he tells even the most convoluted of stories is something to be admired. This is most evident in what I believe to be his best movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel. I adore essentially everything about this film, from its score, to its characters, and especially its cinematography. The combination of Anderson’s aesthetically-pleasing shots with the bright pink color palette make this movie so much fun to look at. It’s actually easy to get distracted by how the film looks and miss a completely distinct and well-executed story about relationships and the passage of time. The movie is funny, full of personality, and has some of my favorite actors in it. What’s not to like???
4. Moonlight
Moonlight might be the most beautiful movie I’ve ever seen, from the way it’s shot to the emotional impact that it possesses on a thematic level. The story is so masterfully told that it only needs an hour and a half to recount the evolution of one man’s life and how he approaches a concept as complicated as love. Its story is simple, but still contains so much depth and personality. There are absolutely heartbreaking moments and moments that fill you with hope, and I cried equally as much at all of them. It's a movie that absolutely needed to be made and its message will forever remain important and impactful.
3. Swiss Army Man
Swiss Army Man is a movie that I didn’t expect to like as much as did when I first saw it. With the other films on this list, I was at least familiar with its reputation, or the director, or a few of the cast members. Perhaps this is why I love this movie so much; I didn’t expect much going in, and it completely blew me away. I personally love movies that touch on the human experience, and this one does that perfectly in my eyes. It summarizes what makes life so beautiful and fascinating and sometimes difficult in a way that is both funny and heartwarming. It talks about humans and what makes them so special, particularly when it comes to love and relationships. I just love the way the story is told and how it takes something as goofy as Daniel Radcliffe’s character and turns it into a beautiful celebration of life and love. In fact, the inclusion of Radcliffe’s comedic moments and Paul Dano’s reaction to them only emphasizes the simplicity and naivety of us all and how we all want the same thing in life. I also feel that the time in my life that I watched this movie made it resonate with me that much more, which obviously gives this movie a leg-up in my mind. I suppose I just needed to hear what this movie had to say at the time, and it did a great job of making me listen.
2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse might have given me the most enjoyable first viewing experience of any of these films, and I had just as much fun watching it for the tenth time. This movie is infinitely rewatchable for a number of reasons, like the plethora of easter eggs and references for fans to catch, as well as its inspiring themes that virtually everyone can relate to. Everything about this movie is as close to perfect as you can imagine - from the soundtrack, to the animation, to the ideal Spider-Man storyline. It simply does nothing wrong on a storytelling level and is one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had watching a movie.
1. Do the Right Thing
This was a pretty easy choice. Ever since I saw Do the Right Thing for the first time, it’s been my number one favorite movie. There’s something about it that resonated with me unlike any other movie I’ve seen, and not for the reasons that movies usually resonate with me. Instead of making me cry or laugh at every scene, this movie engrossed me in its world right from the beginning and took me along for a ride that was tense but amusing. The hot New York City streets that the story takes place in are uniquely Spike Lee - it’s his direction that makes this film so special. The movie’s ability to make you care about the characters is reflective of the amount of depth and personality that they all possess. While the movie starts off as a fairly tame “day-in-the-life” type story about Spike Lee’s character, Mookie, it builds to an ending that is unexpected, heart pounding, and impactful. It drives home it's ever-relevant themes in the best way possible, and by the end, I wanted to watch it all over again. In all, this movie has heart, comedy, tension, and an important message, all told in a unique style that glues you to the screen.