Top 100 movies of all time: 57 - 54

NR. 57:

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)

Directed by: Milos Forman
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher and Danny DeVito



Upon arrival at a mental institution, a brash rebel rallies the patients together to take on the oppressive Nurse Ratched, a woman more a dictator than a nurse

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

A timeless classic in one of Jack Nicholson prestige performances. It is a movie about freedom and rebelling against the oppressing system the patients find themselves in. A movie that resonates as well today as it did 30 years ago.



NR. 56:

DARK CITY (1998)

Directed by: Alex Proyas
Starring: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland and Jennifer Connelly



A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

You don't get many science fiction noir films, but when you do find them it is usually a treat. Dark City is one of my favorite science fiction movies of all time (at least in the top 3 bracket overall) and is only this far down on the list because I've seen it so many times now that I can let it lie for a while. It is a movie filled with a dark, dystopian atmosphere mixed with a sense of mystery and wonder. A detective story set in the realm of the supernatural and fantastic. One of the more influential movies in my personal writing.

Oh, and if you do seek it out make sure you get the directors cut and NOT the theatrical one.



NR. 55:

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)

Directed by: Joel Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Julianne Moore



"Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

Did you read the synopsis? It pretty much says it all. The Dude wants restitution for his rung, which gets peed on. Along the way he meets a barrage of fun, cookie and down right nutty characters (none more so then John Goodman's stellar performance) and the film takes a very relaxed and almost zen approach to it all. It might hold more F-bombs then a drunken sailor but that's because it's a fucking great movie.



NR. 54:

DEAD MAN (1995)

Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer and Crispin Glover



On the run after murdering a man, accountant William Blake encounters a strange Indian named "Nobody" who prepares him for his journey into the spiritual world.

WHY IT MADE MY TOP 100

For me, this movie is all about the characters. Yes, the story is a very symbolic tale of spiritualism and self discovery. However, the most interesting aspect for me is the numerous fantastical characters you find throughout it. Every character you meet, even if they only have once scene lasting a few seconds, are fleshed out and truly believable and interesting to watch. You want to follow them beyond the movie just to see what they do and say, which is more then you can say about so many other movies out there. The movie is not for everyone as it is in black and white and is a very artistic movie in many ways, but if you like good cinema then check this one out.