Cinema Top 100: A list of all time favorite films from the world of cinema

A Potpourri of Vestiges Feature

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Note: This post is a part of our Best of the Best Blogathon 

Cinema is a way of life: for some it is a mere means of indulgence, while for others it is a profound medium to satiate the intellect. Cinema’s omnipresence gives it the enormous potential to entertain and educate, simultaneously. In fact, cinema is the most effective means of communication ever devised as the message reaches everywhere and to everyone. Cinema that is primarily light-hearted and humorous can help punctuate the monotony associated with mundane lifestyles, while cinema that is thought-provoking and insightful can have cathartic effects on the viewers. Cinema can also become a medium to portray the deepest of the human emotions and thoughts that are otherwise inexpressible. 

The commercialization of cinema has taken it a long way in becoming a ubiquitous medium of entertainment.  While the technical advancements have transformed cinema into an exact science the attributes of art that make it insightful have inexplicably taken a back seat.  And cinema is increasingly becoming an instrument to generate revenue. This unfortunate transformation has made people forget the true purpose and meaning of cinema. 

A Potpourri of Vestiges was started with the aim of acquainting the masses with the realm of cinema,  especially as the ultimate medium of human expression. 2K12 has been a very special year for "A Potpourri of Vestiges". During the course of the year the blog accomplished several feats. It not only hit the 100K and 200K counters but also bagged the "Blogger of the Fortnight" award from Winchimes. Indian top blogs showcased it in its eclectically chosen list of Top 50 Indian blogs. As 2K12 draws to an end, I present to you my very last post of the year. The month of December has been a very busy one for me. I have not managed to contribute as much as I would have liked. Actually, I have been occupied with the task of exploring different films from the world of cinema. My main focus has been on covering the 2012 Sight & Sound list of all time best films. Alas, I have miserably fell short of the target! After all, there is only so much that one can imbibe (in any given limited period of time) when it comes to high quality cinema. However, the overall experience has been quite rewarding  Here, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Iain Stott of 100 Evenings Illuminated for giving me the opportunity to participate in his esteemed Film Poll. For the poll's result, click here

I would also like to thank Mr. Jugu Abraham of Movies that make you think for recommending me for the same. 

So, my last post of 2K12 is basically a compilation of my favorite films that I have chosen from the films watched over the past few years. And while I have watched hundreds of them I believe that I have just reached the tip of the iceberg, for I have been introduced to the real good ones only recently (not to mention the new ones that get added every year). And so, if you find one or more of your favorite films missing from the list then it's highly likely that I may not have watched them yet.  

Note: For the latest list by the author, click here


Lo and Behold!
  1. Ran (1985), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
  2. Stalker (1979), Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
  3. Citizen Kane (1941), Directed by Orson Welles         
  4. Solyaris (1972), Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
  5. Dersu Uzala (1975), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
  6. 8½ (1963), Directed by Federico Fellini
  7. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
  8. Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
  9. Rashomon (1950), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
  10. Belle de Jour (1967), Directed by Luis Buñuel
  11. Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Directed by David Lean
  12. The Three Colors Trilogy (1993, 1994, 1994), Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski
  13. Dekalog (Ten-Episode TV Series, 1988), Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski
  14. Andrei Rublev (1966), Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
  15. The Seventh Seal (1957), Ingmar Bergman
  16. Aguirre, Wrath of God (1972), Werner Herzog
  17. Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Directed by Sergio Leone
  18. Fellini’s Satyricon (1969), Directed by Federico Fellini
  19. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), Directed by John Huston
  20. The Conversation (1974), Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
  21. Le Samouraï (1967), Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
  22. Once upon a Time in the West (1968), Directed by Sergio Leone
  23. Bicycle Thieves (1948), Directed by Vittorio De Sica
  24. The Apu Trilogy (1955, 1956 and 1959), Directed by Satyajit Ray
  25. Touch of Evil (1958), Directed by Orson Welles
  26. Apocalypse Now (1979), Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
  27. The Godfather Trilogy (1972, 1974 and 1990), Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
  28. Metropolis (1927), Directed by Fritz Lang
  29. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011), Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
  30. The Return (2003), Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
  31. El Aura (2005), Directed by Fabián Bielinsky
  32. The Maltese Falcon (1941), Directed by John Huston
  33. Night Moves (1975), Directed by Arthur Penn
  34. Last Tango in Paris (1972), Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
  35. Le cercle rouge (1970), Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
  36. Heat (1995), Directed by Michael Mann
  37. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), Directed by Sergio Leone
  38. Harakiri (1962), Directed by Masaki Kobayashi
  39. A Clockwork Orange (1971), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
  40. Gone With the Wind (1939), Directed by Victor Fleming
  41. Yojimbo (1961), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
  42. North By Northwest (1959), Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
  43. The Kid (1921), Directed by Charles Chaplin
  44. Pyaasa (1957), Directed by Guru Dutt
  45. The Europe Trilogy (1984, 1987 and 1991), Directed by Lars von Trier
  46. The Turin Horse (2011), Directed by Béla Tarr
  47. The Tree of Life (2011), Directed by Terrence Malick
  48. Paths of Glory (1957), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
  49. Full Metal Jacket (1987), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
  50. Dr. Strangelove (1964), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
  51. Queimada (1969), Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo
  52. Viridiana (1961), Directed by Luis Buñuel
  53. La Strada (1954), Directed by Federico Fellini.
  54. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Directed by Ang Lee
  55. Scarface (1983), Directed by Brian De Palma
  56. Hannibal (2001), Directed by Ridley Scott
  57. Star Wars Hexalogy (1977, 1980, 1983, 1999, 2002, 2005), Directed by George Lucas
  58. Amadeus (1984), Directed by Milos Forman
  59. Crash (1996), Directed by David Cronenberg
  60. Mr. Klein (1976), Directed by Joseph Losey
  61. Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Directed by Guru Dutt
  62. Jewel Thief (1967), Directed by Vijay Anand
  63. Guide (1965), Directed by Vijay Anand
  64. F for Fake (1973), Directed by Orson Welles
  65. Korol Lir (1971), Directed by Grigori Kozintsev,
  66. Vertigo (1958), Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
  67. Barry Lyndon (1975), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
  68. City Lights (1931), Directed by Charles Chaplin
  69. La Jetée (1962), Directed by Chris Marker
  70. Chinatown (1974), Directed by Roman Polanski
  71. Sunset Blvd. (1950), Directed by Billy Wilder
  72. Persona (1966), Directed by Ingmar Bergman
  73. Mulholland Dr. (2001), Directed by David Lynch
  74. Partie de Campagne (1936), Directed by Jean Renoir
  75. L'Eclisse (1962), Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
  76. Blade Runner (1982), Directed by Ridley Scott
  77. Blue Velvet (1986), Directed by David Lynch
  78. Close-Up (1990), Directed by Abbas Kiarostami
  79. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Directed by Steven Spielberg
  80. The Prestige (2006), Directed by Christopher Nolan
  81. 12 Angry Man (1957), Directed by Sidney Lumet
  82. There Will Be Blood (2007), Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
  83. Th Silence of the Lambs (1991), Directed by Jonathan Demme
  84. Casino (1995), Directed by Martin Scorsese
  85. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009), Directed by Juan José Campanella
  86. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Directed by Andrew Dominik
  87. Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Directed by Mike Figgis
  88. High and Low (1963), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
  89. The Legend of 1900 (1998), Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
  90. Midnight in Paris (2011), Directed by Woody Allen
  91. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Directed by Martin Scorsese
  92. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), Directed by Tommy Lee Jones
  93. Eastern Promises (2007), Directed by David Cronenberg
  94. Minority Report (2002), Directed by Steven Spielberg
  95. Purple Noon (1960), Directed by René Clément
  96. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Directed by Kundan Shah
  97. In the Heat of the Night (1967), Norman Jewison
  98. Duck, You Sucker! (1971), Directed by Sergio Leone
  99. Gulaal (2009), Directed by Anurag Kashyap
  100. Mithya (2008), Directed by Rajat Kapoor

Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your feedback is highly appreciated!  

— Murtaza Ali



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5 comments:

  1. Interesting, you've got quite a bit of French film here. I've been looking to get into French film but don't really know where to start. I'm a fan of suspense and noir.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Andrew... it was only a year back that I chose to make a foray into French Cinema. And, I wasn't disappointed. Some of the French New Wave filmmakers have been quite prolific but never at the expense of quality. For example, take the case of TRUFFAUT, GODARD, RESNAIS, & RIVETTE. I thing among themselves they have made enough good films to keep anyone occupied for the rest of his/her lives. If you are really keen on exploring French cinema, I reckon you start with Melville (try checking out Le Samourai, le cercle rouge, etc.). After that, you must check out Godard, Truffaut.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting movies to watch. Thank you for sharing this one.

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    ReplyDelete
  4. Omg! Finally someone who appreciates Kieslowski and his outstanding Dekalog! Between that and Once Upon a Time in the West for best film of all time! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks Callum! I am great admirer of Kieslowski. His "Dekalog" and "Three Colors" have a special place in my heart. The same goes to Leone. IMO, every film that he made is a masterpiece. Once Upon a Time in the West is indeed special, but so are his other works.

    ReplyDelete

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