I was hesitant to make such a list. First of all, my knowledge of movies is limited. I don't have access to a lot of films like some others might have. And to be honest, there have been some years when my movie watching output was extremely weak. So, any such list is always going to be very limited in its scope. It'll be a work in progress. Furthermore, some years you really don't have a problem in picking a few who stood out in your eyes, but sometimes this is much more problematic. You end up with some very good films left behind. It's unfair, and limiting the list to a set number, doesn't help promoting those less familiar films people might be unaware of. Therefore, I've decided to do the top 10, but I might add some extra category lists. Basically, I'll make stuff up as I go along.
As always, these are just my very personal choices. They'll possibly mirror my bad taste and lunacy. If you're a regular reader of the blog, these facts are nothing new to you.
Left out of these lists are animation works outside of US productions.
The way I find the top 10 is simple. I run through a list of films I have and pick the ones I liked the best. Usually this number is always bigger than 10, so I just pit one against the other until have only 10 standing. Then I post them to be ridiculed.
1973
- American Graffiti
- Badlands
- Mean Streets
- Papillon
- Serpico
- Sleeper
- Soylent Green
- The Exorcist
- The Last Detail
- The Three Musketeers
Guilty Pleasure - Enter the Dragon
1974
- Chinatown
- Il Portiere di Notte
- The Conversation
- The Four Musketeers
- The Godfather II
- Young Frankenstein
- Zardoz
- ?????????
- ?????????
- ?????????
1975
- Dog Day Afternoon
- Hard Times
- Inserts
- Jaws
- Love and Death
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Three Days of the Condor
- ????????
- ????????
1976
- Ai no Korīda
- All the President's Men
- Carrie
- Le Locataire
- Logan's Run
- Marathon Man
- Rocky
- Taxi Driver
- The Eagle Has Landed
- The Pink Panther Strikes Again
1977
- Annie Hall
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- Eraserhead
- Slap Shot
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
- Suspiria
- The Goodbye Girl
- The Spy Who Loved Me
- ????????
- ????????
1978
- Big Wednesday
- Coma
- Halloween
- Heaven Can Wait
- Ice Castles
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers
- Midnight Express
- Superman
- The Deer Hunter
- ????????
1979
- 10
- Alien
- All That Jazz
- All Quiet on the Western Front
- Apocalypse Now
- Hardcore
- Kramer vs. Kramer
- Life of Brian
- Rocky II
- The Jericho Mile
Guilty Pleasure - Escape from Alcatraz, Moonraker
Crush of the Year - Helen Mirren in Caligula
1980
- Airplane
- Altered States
- Dressed to Kill
- Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
- The Big Red One
- The Blues Brothers
- The Competition
- The Gods Must Be Crazy
- The Shining
1981
- An American Werewolf in London
- Blow out
- Das Boot
- Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo
- Escape from New York
- Evil Dead
- Excalibur
- La Guerre du Feu
- Mad Max II
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
Crush of the Year - Kathleen Turner in Body Heat
1982
- 48 Hrs.
- Blade Runner
- Conan the Barbarian
- First Blood
- Poltergeist
- Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
- The Thing
- The Verdict
- The World According to Garp
- Tootsie
Crush of the Year - Kim Cattrall in Porky's
1983
- Christine
- Scarface
- Silkwood
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
- The Big Chill
- The Dead Zone
- The Right Stuff
- Trading Places
- Videodrome
- WarGames
Crush of the Year - Jennifer Beals in Flashdance
1984
- A Nightmare on Elm Street
- Amadeus
- Blood Simple
- Ghostbusters
- Once Upon a Time in America
- Paris, Texas
- Romancing the Stone
- The Killing Fields
- The Natural
- The Terminator
Crush of the Year - Jennifer Connelly in Once Upon a Time in America
1985
- After Hours
- Back to the Future
- Brazil
- Into the Night
- Lady Hawk
- Out of Africa
- Runaway Train
- Silverado
- The Breakfast Club
- Witness
Guilty Pleasure - Flesh+Blood; Lifeforce; Gotcha!
Crush of the Year - Linda Fiorentino in Gotcha! and After Hours; Mathilda May in Lifeforce
1986
- Aliens
- Children of a Lesser God
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off
- Hoosiers
- Platoon
- Something Wild
- Stand by me
- The Color of Money
- The Fly
- The Name of the Rose
Guilty Pleasure - Crossroads; Jumping Jack Flash; Labyrinth
Crush of the Year - Jami Gertz in Crossroads
1987
- Angel Heart
- Der Himmel über Berlin
- Empire of the Sun
- Fatal Attraction
- Good Morning, Vietnam
- House of Games
- Lethal Weapon
- Predator
- The Princess Bride
- The Witches of Eastwick
Nuggets in the Gravel - Black Widow; The Fourth Protocol; Broadcast News
Guilty Pleasure - Can't Buy Me Love
Crush of the Year - Jami Gertz in The Lost Boys and Less Than Zero
1988
- A Fish Called Wanda
- Bull Durham
- Dead Ringers
- Die Hard
- Miracle Mile
- Nuovo Cinema Paradiso
- Rain Man
- Running on Empty
- Stand and Deliver
- Talk Radio
Nuggets in the Gravel - Cohen and Tate; Madame Sousatzka; Midnight Run; The Prince of Pennsylvania
Guilty Pleasure - Hellbound: Hellraiser II; Bloodsport
Crush of the Year - Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice and Heathers
1989
- Born on the Fourth of July
- Dead Poets Society
- Do the Right Thing
- Drugstore cowboy
- Field of Dreams
- Sex, Lies, and Videotape
- The Abyss
- The Fabulous Baker Boys
- Turner & Hooch
- When Harry Met Sally...
Nuggets in the Gravel - Cousins; Vampire's Kiss
Guilty Pleasure - Gross Anatomy; Leviathan; Weekend at Bernie's
Crush of the Year - Patsy Kensit in Lethal Weapon 2; Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally
1990
- Awakenings
- Dances with Wolves
- Edward Scissorhands
- Goodfellas
- Jacob's Ladder
- Memphis Belle
- Misery
- Nikita
- The Grifters
- The Hunt for Red October
Nuggets in the Gravel - By Dawn's Early Light; Revenge; Tune in Tomorrow...
Guilty Pleasure - The Hot Spot; Joe Versus the Volcano; Navy Seals
Crush of the Year - Winona Ryder in Edward Scissorhands, Mermaids and Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
1991
- Barton Fink
- Boyz n the Hood
- Cape Fear
- City Slickers
- Dead Again
- Little Man Tate
- Point Break
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day
- The Prince of Tides
- The Silence of the Lambs
Honorable Mention - My Own Private Idaho; Defending Your Life
Nuggets in the Gravel - Dogfight; By the Sword
Guilty Pleasure - Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead; Timebomb
Crush of the Year - Sharon Stone in Year of the Gun
1992
- A Few Good Men
- A League of Their Own
- Basic Instinct
- Bitter Moon
- My Cousin Vinny
- Reservoir Dogs
- Scent of a Woman
- Sneakers
- The Last of the Mohicans
- Unforgiven
Guilty Pleasure - The Bodyguard; The Cutting Edge; Under Siege
Crush of the Year - Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct
1993
- Carlito's Way
- Fearless
- In the Line of Fire
- In the Name of the Father
- Jurassic Park
- Philadelphia
- Sleepless in Seattle
- The Fugitive
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- The Piano
Nuggets in the Gravel - The Night We Never Met; 12:01
Guilty Pleasure - Sniper
Crush of the Year - Janine Turner in Cliffhanger and Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle
1994
- Exotica
- Forrest Gump
- Four Weddings and a Funeral
- Il Postino
- Once Were Warriors
- Pulp Fiction
- Speed
- The Crow
- The Hudsucker Proxy
- The Shawshank Redemption
Nuggets in the Gravel - Rapa Nui
Guilty Pleasure - Terminal Velocity; The Mask
Crush of the Year - Natalie Portman in Léon and Winona Ryder in Reality Bites and Little Women
1995
- Before Sunrise
- Braveheart
- Die Hard: With a Vengeance
- Heat
- Kids
- Outbreak
- Se7en
- The Usual Suspects
- Toy Story
- Twelve Monkeys
Nuggets in the Gravel - Living in Oblivion; Denise Calls Up; Nick of Time
Guilty Pleasure - Hackers; The Quick and the Dead
Crush of the Year - Angelina Jolie in Hackers
1996
- Fargo
- Michael Collins
- Mission: Impossible
- Primal Fear
- Romeo + Juliet
- Scream
- The People vs. Larry Flynt
- The English Patient
- The Spitfire Grill
- Trainspotting
Nuggets in the Gravel - To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Guilty Pleasure - Michael; The Arrival; The Craft
Crush of the Year - Emmanuelle Béart in Mission: Impossible
1997
- Air Force One
- Boogie Nights
- Gattaca
- Good Will Hunting
- Grosse Point Blank
- Inventing the Abbotts
- The Devil's Advocate
- The Game
- The Ice Storm
- Titanic
Nuggets in the Gravel - Roseanna's Grave; Breakdown; Nothing to Lose
Guilty Pleasure - Excess Baggage; G.I. Jane; Starship Troopers
Crush of the Year - Connie Nielsen in The Devil's Advocate; Heather Graham in Boogie Nights
Fucked-Up Movie Adaptation - The Relic
1998
- A Simple Plan
- American History X
- Elizabeth
- Pleasantville
- Ronin
- Saving Private Ryan
- Shakespeare in Love
- The Big Lebowski
- The Horse Whisperer
- The Thin Red Line
Guilty Pleasure - Blade
Crush of the Year - Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love, Great Expectations, A Perfect Murder and Sliding Doors
1999
- American Beauty
- Being John Malkovich
- Dogma
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Fight Club
- For Love of the Game
- The Matrix
- The Mummy
- The Sixth Sense
- The Thomas Crown Affair
Nuggets in the Gravel - A Map of the World; The Thirteenth Floor
Guilty Pleasure - Deep Blue Sea
Crush of the Year - Rene Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair; Sophie Marceau in The World Is Not Enough
2000
- Almost Famous
- Cast Away
- Dancing at the Blue Iguana
- Erin Brockovich
- Gladiator
- High Fidelity
- Requiem for a Dream
- Unbreakable
- Wo hu cang long
- Wonder Boys
Nuggets in the Gravel - Bichunmoo; Cheaters
Guilty Pleasure - Mission: Impossible II
Crush of the Year - Charlize Theron in Reindeer Games; Jennifer Connelly in Requiem for a Dream
2001
- Artificial Intelligence: AI
- Black Hawk Down
- Bully
- Donnie Darko
- K-Pax
- Life as a House
- Moulin Rouge
- The Shipping News
- Training Day
- Vanilla Sky
Nuggets in the Gravel - Little Secrets; My First Mister; Das Experiment; Lantana
Crush of the Year - Jena Malone in Life as a House and Donnie Darko; Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge and The Others
2002
- Catch Me If You Can
- Cidade de Deus
- In America
- Minority Report
- Road to Perdition
- Tasogare Seibei
- The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
- The Pianist
- The Ring
- Whale Rider
Nuggets in the Gravel - Equilibrium; Possession; Secretary
Guilty Pleasure - Eight Legged Freaks; Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones; xXx
Crush of the Year - Rosario Dawson in 25th Hour; Shannyn Sossamon in 40 Days and 40 Nights
2003
- 21 Grams
- Finding Nemo
- Identity
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1
- Matchstick Men
- My Life Without Me
- Mystic River
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- The Last Samurai
- Thirteen
Nuggets in the Gravel - 11:14; Azumi; Pieces of April; Ricordati di me; The United States of Leland
Guilty Pleasure - The Core; The School of Rock
Crush of the Year - Maria Bello in The Cooler
2004
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Hotel Rwanda
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2
- Mean Creek
- Million Dollar Baby
- Saw
- Sideways
- The Day After Tomorrow
- The Woodsman
- Un long dimanche de fiançailles
Nuggets in the Gravel - A Love Song for Bobby Long; Employee of the Month; Inside I'm Dancing; The Final Cut
Guilty Pleasure - Along Came Polly; Nochnoy Dozor; Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Crush of the Year - Natalie Portman in Closer and Garden State; Keira Knightley in King Arthur
2005
- A History of Violence
- Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story
- La Vida Secreta de las Palabras
- Memoirs of a Geisha
- Munich
- Pride & Prejudice
- Syriana
- Thank You for Smoking
- The Constant Gardener
- Wedding Crashers
Nuggets in the Gravel - Brick; Conversations with Other Women; Everything Is Illuminated
Guilty Pleasure - Æon Flux; Creep
Crush of the Year - Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice, Domino, The Jacket
2006
- Blood Diamond
- El Laberinto del Fauno
- Little Children
- Running Scared
- The Departed
- The Fountain
- The Lake House
- The Prestige
- V for Vendetta
- Zwartboek
Nuggets in the Gravel - 10 Items or Less; Cashback; Outsourced
Guilty Pleasure - Lady in the Water; Stick It; Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny
Crush of the Year - Kate Winslet in Little Children and The Holiday; Vera Farmiga in Running Scared and The Departed
2007
- American Gangster
- Eastern Promises
- Freedom Writers
- Into the Wild
- Juno
- Mr. Brooks
- No Country for Old Men
- Persepolis
- The Kite Runner
- Tropa de Elite
Nuggets in the Gravel - Ten Inch Hero; The Lookout
Guilty Pleasure - Camille; Hitman; Shoot 'Em Up
Crush of the Year - Olga Kurylenko in Hitman
2008
- Frozen River
- Låt den rätte komma in
- Seven Pounds
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Taken
- The Bank Job
- The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
- The Hurt Locker
- The Wrestler
- Vantage Point
Nuggets in the Gravel - Downloading Nancy; Franklyn; Genova; Tres días; Trucker
Guilty Pleasure - The X Files: I Want to Believe
Crush of the Year - Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler and War, Inc.
2009
- (500) Days of Summer
- Avatar
- Cold Souls
- El Secreto de sus Ojos
- Inglourious Basterds
- Knowing
- The Messenger
- The Road
- Un prophète
- Up in the Air
Nuggets in the Gravel - Beautiful Kate; Ink; Joueuse
Guilty Pleasure - Bitch Slap
Crush of the Year - Julia Voth in Bitch Slap; Jena Malone in The Messenger
