The American Film Institute's 100 Best Films Of The Past 100 Years
This month, I'd like to take a break from our usual examination
of what most consider to be the "worst" movies of all time, and glance
over at what some people think are the "best". This June, a CBS Television
special celbrated AFI's survey which determined the 100 greatest films
of the past 100 years. For the most part,
I agreed with the list - according to my memory, I had seen 94
of them, which I think qualifies me to judge.
And suprisingly enough, a good number of Den-izen Friendly releases
were included in the mix.
Of course, no survey like this is without its flaws: the
Top 100 were voted on by 1,500 movie industry professionals from a pool
of 400 selected by AFI. I think that severely limits the voting possibilities,
which would explain why classic directors like Buzby Berklee and Buster
Keaton were excluded. However -- it means some of our favorites made
it to the list. Lets take a look at some statistics, compiled
by yours truly:
1. HORROR MOVIES
This means anything intending to be scary that requires a significant
suspension of disbelief. I'm talking about monsters, ghosts, supernatural
stuff and whatnot. Of the 100, there were three. Yep -- three.
The highest ranked one, King Kong, came in at number 33. It was followed
by Jaws at 48 and Frankenstein at a paltry 87th.
2. THIS GUY'S NUTS!!
Any movie where the crux of the plot focuses on the main character
being violently insane. This time, there were 5. Highest shower
was, conveniently, Psycho, coming it at number 18. One Flew
Over The Cuckoo's Nest landed at 20. A Clockwork Orange (my first
"suprise entry" of the list) came in at an impressive 46. Taxi
Driver followed at 47, and Silence Of The Lambs made it to number 65.
What's Missing:
-- Boxing Helena --
Post-1996 Candidate:
-- Sling Blade --
3. WAR IS HELL
War epics. The film has to INVOLVE the war directly, not
just have it as a backdrop (so don't complain about Casablanca and Gone
With The Wind not being listed here). Total: Six.
The big winner was Bridge On The River Kwai at 13. Next was Apocalypse
Now at 28, All Quiet On The Western Front was next at 54, M*A*S*H showed
at 56, The Deer Hunter was snubbed with an unfair 79, and Platoon made
it as high as 83 before the voting committee forgot that 10 years ago Hollywood
wanted to make love to this movie.
4. LASERS, ALIENS, AND SPACESHIPS
Sci-Fi. There were exactly four. Star Wars reigns as
champ at number 15. Next came 2001: A Space Odyssey at 22 and
E.T. at 25. The fact that E.T. was one of the top quarter and Close
Encounters Of The Third Kind came in at 65 was quite disappointing.
But, like I said before, critics are a forgetful lot
5. WHA?
These are the 6 I'd never seen: High Noon, at 33; The Third
Man, 57; An American In Paris (I know, I know. . .save your emails), 51;
Stagecoach, 63; Fargo, 84 (I'm sorry, but the movie made me nuts in the
first 15 minutes and I had to leave. I hardly count that as seeing
it.) A Place In The Sun, 92.
I think it was a pretty fair spread as far as titles and history
goes, but like I said before -- alot of seemingly classic movies were sadly
left out. Where are all the musical extravaganzas from the 40s?
Some of the other great silent features -- you know, the ones Charlie
Chaplin wasn't in? And, recalling last month's feature --
