My Favorite Movies
Note: This list is in addition to the list of greatest movies of all time.This is just a list of movies that I've personally enjoyed more than most but which won't be for everyone. There are some real gems here along with a few movies that I simply liked. If you are
really curious about my movie tastes, you can see my entire IMDB ratings list.
I am a huge fan of time-travel stories and am fairly forgiving, but here is a list of just the good time-travel movies.
As a small extra, I've added at the end, a short list of movie Palaces which still survive in the US. Certainly an
endangered species, be sure to visit them before they're gone!
2014
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) The strongest of all the Apes movies in my opinion of course.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014) Not the strongest story but a well-done time loop sci-fi.
Lucy (2014) Another use-100%-of-the-brain story like Limitless. More sci-fi, less thriller.
2013
Europa Report (2013) Excellent straight-up sci-fi.
Haunter (2013) A fresh take on the time-loop idea.
Her (2013) Don't expect action in this big budget movie. It's slow and magical and perfect.
Madentrip (2013) The inspiring true story of a 14 year old girl attempting to sail solo around the world.
Particle Fever (2013) Excitingt documentary on the hunt for the Higgs boson and other particle physics.
This Is the End (2013) This one barely made my cut but it's quite fun, so enjoy!
2012
The Cabin in the Woods (2012) Starts like a typical horror movie, then suddenly gets interesting!
Chasing Ice (2012) Beautiful and frightening timelapse video of vanashing glaciers. Ignore the photographer.
John Dies at the End (2012) Surreal movie that could have been Cronenberg. Great stoner flick.
Looper (2012) A sucker for time-travel movies, this big-budget one has huge plot holes but is still a lot of fun.
The Paperboy (2012) A thriller and a love story. Nicole Kidman stole this movie and a huge cast of A-list actors barely kept up.
Total Recall (2012) A very different sort of remake yet strangely pretty good!
Upside Down (2012) A fascenating concept on which to hang a love story.
2011
The Art of Flight (2011) I can't believe how far Snowboarding has come.
Limitless (2011) The effects of the ultimate "smart drug".
Margin Call (2011) A giant financial company is going down. Where will the blame land?
Oslo: Burning the Bridge to Nowhere (2011) Comedian Doug Stanhope speaks truth about real stuff. Nicely unpolished.
Paul (2011) Sci-fi buddy road trip. What's not to like?
Samsara (2011) Beautiful cultural documentary
The Skin I Live In (2011) Forced feminization and revenge themes. Powerful stuff.
Source Code (2011) An alternate-realities thriller love story but better than that sounds.
Surviving Progress (2011) Excellent documentary.
Tomboy (2011) A joung transgender tomboy has an opportunity to live as a boy.
Young Adult (2011) This is why Charlize Theron gets paid the big bucks.
2010
Chasing Madoff
(2010) The story of the Madoff story which may be more shocking that what he did.
Date Night (2010) Don't expect anything beyond a fun movie.
Despicable Me (2010) Good clean fun.
Even the Rain (2010) Water war in Bolivia.
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) If you get past the scatological jokes, this movie gets really
good in the second half!
Human Centipede (First Sequence), The (2009) Warning: Extremely disturbing. I sometimes like being disturbed.
Jackass 3D (2010) What's not to like? I'll watch anything they make and laugh like crazy though I cover my eyes a lot.
Kick-Ass (2010) Starts out like an action/comedy and then takes an unexpected dark turn.
Monsters (2010) Unexpectedly good movie. See what you think and read the IMDB message boards for more thoughts.
The Other Guys
(2010) Very clever and funny.
Obselidia
(2010) Touching love story about the real.
Road, The (2009) The first post-apocalyptic movie that felt real to me. That's quite an achievement.
Shrek Forever After
(2010) Surprisingly good for a third sequel. Up there with the first
two.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
2009
The Age of Stupid (2009) Excellent environmental documentary.
Br?no (2009) Very
funny. Sometimes painfully so but Sasha exposes the human psyche as
well as Allan Funt did.
Ch?ri (2009) Very touching.
District 9
(2009) Illegal space aliens.
Last Train Home (2009) An amazing view into a huge group that I didn't knew existed: Chineese migrant workers.
Mr. Nobody (2009) About the last mortal human. A real thinking-person's movie. Wonderfully slow.
Moon (2009) Wow. Simply an amazing little sleeper. A must-see.
Pandorum (2009) Another amazing gem and another must-see.
Sherlock Holmes (2009) Not Basil Rathbone, a ripped Robert Downey Jr. plays a kick-ass Holmes. Sequels, please!
Star Trek (2009) Most of the Star Trek movies have been terrible. This is the best one and a great requel.
Surrogates (2009) I think it's entirely possible that the future could look very much like this, minus the silly death ray.
Triangle (2009) It begins like any other horror movie but then the plot weaves back onto itself like a sewing machine! Watch carefully.
Up (2009) Completely charming.
Up in the Air (2009/I) Great interplay between the three principals. Never liked Clooney very much but he's getting good!
2008
The Bank Job (2008)
Burn After Reading
(2008) Funny, tightly twisted plot with some great acting.
Choke
(2008) I forgot why I liked it this much.
In Bruges (2008) A
perfect movie. A must-see.
Max Manus: Man of War
(2008)
Quid Pro Quo (2008)
RocknRolla (2008)
S?raphine
(2008)
Transsiberian (2008)
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Troubled Water (2008) One story from several perspectives at the same time. A very powerful movie.
Zack and Miri Make a
Porno
(2008) Cute, funny, and family-friendly. Trust me.
2007
American
Gangster (2007)
Beowulf (2007)
Demetri Martin. Person.
(2007) A smart, tallented, young commic.
Hot Fuzz (2007)
The Golden Compass
(2007)
The Lookout (2007)
The Man from Earth
(2007)
Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Next (2007)
Nobel Son (2007)
The Simpsons Movie
(2007)
Ratatouille (2007)
Reno 911!: Miami (2007)
Stardust (2007)
Surf's Up (2007)
Terra (2007)
2006
Borat:
Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of
Kazakhstan (2006) Best movie of the year.
Cars (2006) Second
best movie of the year, and the best computer animated movie ever.
Deja Vu (2006)
Flyboys (2006)
A Guide to Recognizing
Your Saints (2006)
Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
Jackass Number Two (2006)
I don't know why but I can never get enough of these guys. I can't
watch all of it though.
The Lake House (2006)
Romantic time-travel of sorts. Two timelines two years apart move in
perfect fugue-like synchrony.
Love and Honor (2006) Love and revenge. Another wonderful samuri movie.
Manufactured Landscapes
(2006) Human activities on grand scales speak for themselves. A must-see.
Night at the Museum
(2006) Very funny. Never liked Ben Stiller very much but he's
growing on me.
Over the Hedge (2006)
The Prestige (2006)
Sumptuous period piece with a great twist.
Talladega Nights: The
Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) OMG, so funny!
The Tiger's Tail (2006) If you liked In Bruges, see this movie and without reading about it.
2005
Angel-A (2005)
?on Flux
(2005)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Epic
Hard Candy (2005)
Gripping revenge movie.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
(2005)
MirrorMask (2005)
Languid
plot, visual poetry
Our Daily Bread (2005) Wordless documentary shows where your food comes from. Should be required viewing for all humans.
Robots (2005)
Sin City (2005)
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Stay (2005)
The Jacket (2005)
I'm a huge sucker for time-travel stories but this one is really good. A must-see.
The World's Fastest
Indian
(2005)
2004
Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
I, Robot (2004)
NASCAR 3D: The IMAX
Experience (2004)
Sea Inside, The (4004)
Sky Captain and the
World of
Tomorrow (2004)
Spider-Man 2
(2004)
A State of Mind
(2004) A really informative look into North Korean life though you must read between the lines. A must-see.
Super Size Me
(2004)
2003
Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality
(2003)
Last
Samurai, The (2003)
School of Rock, The
(2003)
Shape of Things, The
(2003)
Station Agent, The (2003)
The Wild Parrots of
Telegraph
Hill (2003)
2002
Bend
It Like Beckham (2002)
Changing Lanes (2002)
Dummy (2002)
Ice Age (2002)
Secretary (2002)
Time Machine, The (2002)
Treasure Planet
(2002)
2001
A.I. Artificial
Intelligence (2001)
Beautiful Mind, A (2001)
Fabuleux destin
d'Am?lie Poulain, Le
(2001)
Final Fantasy: The Spirits
Within
(2001)
Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's
Stone (2001)
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
(2001)
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
One Night at
McCool's (2001)
Others, The (2001)
Shackleton's Antarctic
Adventure
(2001)
Tailor of Panama, The (2001)
2000
Bedazzled (2000)
Billy Elliot (2000)
Chasing Sleep (2000)
Chocolat (2000)
Dinosaur (2000)
Dish, The (2000)
Frequency (2000)
Hollow Man (2000)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Legend of Bagger Vance, The
(2000)
Me, Myself & Irene (2000)
Nurse Betty (2000)
Red Planet (2000)
Quills (2000)
Red Planet (2000)
Saving Grace (2000)
Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
Space Cowboys (2000)
Tao of Steve, The (2000)
Timecode (2000)
Unbreakable (2000)
What Planet Are You From?
(2000)
What Women Want (2000)
Whole Nine Yards, The (2000)
You Can Count on Me (2000)
1999
Austin Powers:
The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
Boys Don't Cry (1999)
Dogma (1999)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Flawless (1999)
Galaxy Quest (1999)
Girl on the Bridge (1999)
Go (1999)
Hurricane, The (1999)
Insider, The (1999)
Magnolia (1999)
Office Space (1999)
Pushing Tin (1999)
Romance (1999)
Sixth Sense, The (1999)
Thirteenth Floor, The (1999)
Wild Wild West (1999)
1998
Big Lebowski,
The (1998)
Buffalo '66 (1998)
Bug's Life, A (1998)
Bulworth (1998)
Clay Pigeons (1998)
Elizabeth (1998)
Living Out Loud (1998)
Run Lola Run (1998)
Palmetto (1998)
Pecker (1998)
Rushmore (1998)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Truman Show, The (1998)
Zero Effect (1998)
1997
Abre los ojos
(1997)
Chasing Amy (1997)
Fierce Creatures
(1997) - Charming
Full Monty, The (1997)
G.I. Jane (1997)
Gattaca (1997)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Ice Storm, The (1997)
Karakter (1997)
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Lolita (1997)
Lost Highway
(1997) One of David Lynch's best. Deliciously sureal.
Ma vie en rose (1997)
Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
U Turn (1997)
Ulee's Gold (1997)
1996
Before and After
(1996)
Birdcage, The (1996)
Crash (1996)
Diabolique (1996)
Different for Girls (1996)
Dragonheart (1996)
Emma (1996)
Flirting with Disaster (1996)
Fly Away Home (1996)
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Mother Night (1996)
Multiplicity (1996)
People vs. Larry Flynt, The
(1996)
Secrets & Lies (1996)
Shine (1996)
Sling Blade (1996)
Thinner (1996)
Trainspotting (1996)
Truth About Cats & Dogs,
The
(1996)
Van, The (1996)
1995
Ace Ventura:
When Nature Calls (1995)
American President, The
(1995)
Angels and Insects (1995)
Apollo 13 (1995) As a statistitian, my father actually contributed to saving the astronauts as much as anyone.
Bang (1995)
Casino (1995)
Casper (1995)
Clueless (1995)
Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Englishman Who Went Up a
Hill But
Came Down a Mountain, The (1995)
Gumby: The Movie (1995)
In the Mouth of Madness
(1995)
Jumanji (1995)
Last of the Dogmen (1995)
Month by the Lake, A (1995)
Sabrina (1995)
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Something to Talk About
(1995)
To Die for (1995)
To Wong Foo, Thanks for
Everything,
Julie Newmar (1995)
Virtuosity (1995)
Wallace & Gromit: A
Close Shave
(1995)
Welcome to the Dollhouse
(1995)
1994
Adventures of
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The (1994)
City Slickers II: The Legend
of
Curly's Gold (1994)
Clerks (1994)
Client, The (1994)
Color of Night (1994)
Crumb (1994)
Disclosure (1994)
Dumb & Dumber (1994)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Junior (1994)
Lion King, The (1994)
L?on (1994)
Milk Money (1994)
Muriel's Wedding (1994)
Shallow Grave (1994)
War of the Buttons (1994)
1993
Addams Family
Values (1993)
Alive (1993)
Fatal Instinct (1993)
Last Action Hero (1993)
Philadelphia (1993)
Piano, The (1993)
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
(1993)
1992
Baraka (1992)
Chaplin (1992)
Distinguished Gentleman, The
(1992)
FernGully: The Last
Rainforest
(1992)
Final Analysis (1992)
Forever Young (1992)
Howards End (1992)
Prelude to a Kiss (1992)
Raising Cain (1992)
Sister Act (1992)
Toys (1992)
Wayne's World (1992)
1991
Addams Family,
The (1991)
City Slickers (1991)
Delicatessen (1991)
Fisher King, The (1991)
Flirting (1991)
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Hudson Hawk (1991)
Last Boy Scout, The (1991)
Man in the Moon, The (1991)
Point Break (1991)
Rocketeer, The (1991)
Switch (1991)
1990
Bonfire of the
Vanities, The (1990)
Creature Comforts (1990)
Dances with Wolves (1990)
Mermaids (1990)
Pretty Woman (1990)
White Palace (1990)
Wild at Heart (1990)
Die Hard 2 (1990)
1989
'burbs, The
(1989)
Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover, The (1989)
Earth Girls Are Easy (1989)
Fletch Lives (1989)
Fly II, The (1989)
Indiana Jones and the Last
Crusade (1989)
Little Mermaid, The (1989)
1988
Big (1988)
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Bull Durham (1988)
Child's Play (1988)
Coming to America (1988)
Die Hard (1988)
Killer Klowns from Outer
Space
(1988)
Milagro Beanfield War, The
(1988)
Mujeres al borde de un
ataque de
nervios (1988)
Willow (1988)
Working Girl (1988)
Pre 1988
Broadcast News
(1987) A cult classic. Still pertinent.
Spaceballs (1987)
Hilarious Star Wars spoof by Mel Brooks.
Sherman's
March
(1986) Impossible to describe. An intimate view into the
lives of
some wacky but real people.
Mosquito Coast, The (1986)
An
underrated Harrison Ford gem.
Emerald
Forest,
The
(1985) Beautiful and haunting.
Witness (1985) A tense
thriller
with Harrison Ford.
Against All Odds
(1984) A wonderful action love story.
Android (1982) Just a wonderful little movie.
Cutter's
Way
(1981) Very similar to The
Big Lebowski.
Koyaanisqatsi
(1982) Hauntingly powerful but difficult to describe.
Lathe
of
Heaven,
The
(1980) The story of an unusual man who's dreams
affect
reality. The history of this movie is almost as interesting as the
subject
itself. Shown briefly on public television, I was one of the lucky
people to
catch it before it fell into legal limbo for decades. A rare bit of
hard
science fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin and my favorite work of hers.
Somewhere in Time (1980) Very touching. A great date movie.
Richard Pryor:
Live in
Concert (1979) I laughed so hard it hurt.
Stalker (1979)
Nothing seems to happen but it's riveting nonetheless and leaves you
changed somehow. A cinematic tone poem.
Boy and His Dog, A (1975) Post-apocalyptic cult classic from a story by Harlan Ellison.
Inserts
(1974) Probably from a one-act play, this little film stuck in the
back of
my mind for decades, lost until I recently rediscovered it again. It
sports a
very young Richard Dreyfuss and Bob Hoskins with hair! A real gem.
Dark
Star
(1973)
A cult
classic. Campy yet effective effects on a shoestring.
The Long Goodbye
(1973) Philip Marlow.
Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) Vonnegot's best work. If you like the movie you will love the book.
Vanishing Point (1971) Now dated and a bit campy but the the allegory about freedom is still clear.
Colossus: The Forbin
Project
(1970) One of the first movies about a sentient supercomputer with
control
of the US nuclear arsenal. Impressively deep and thoughtful in a time
before
most people even knew what a computer was.
Myra Breckinridge (1970)
With
movie techniques far ahead of
its time, this daring movie stars Raquel Welsh as a woman who's had a
sex
change and returned to take revenge.
Women
In Love (1969) A Truly wonderful movie. Should really be called Men
In Love
though.
The Time Machine (1060) A classic.
5,000 Fingers of Dr. T., The (1953) Wow, is this ever a surreal movie! Disney gone gay in a Dr. Seuss world. Your jaw will drop and you won't believe what you are watching. Drugs recommended.
In a Lonely Place (1950) An excellent but lesser-known Bogart flick.
Dark Victory (1939) Life is short. Live it well.
Special Feature:
Picture Palaces
From a Via magazine article by Bruce
Newman
Paramount
Theater - Oakland CA
Castro Theater - San
Francisco
CA
Crest Theater - Sacramento CA
Baghdad
Theater -
Portland OR
The Egyptians - Boise ID, Coos Bay OR, Hollywood
CA,
Ogden UT
(Perry's Egyptian)
Grauman's
Chinese
Theater - Hollywood CA
Seattle Cinerama - Seattle WA
Follow the following link for photos of classic cinema houses.