Top 10 Favorite Movies

Okay...now I'm copying Nick copying Matt... A while back I did my top 10 Superhero Movies of all time. This is just my 10 favorite movies of all time, in general. My basic criteria is this: how many times have I seen? Do I still want to see it again? If it comes on TV, will I sit and watch, even though I might only get to see the last few minutes? Is there a particular character or scene that really impacted me? I thought this might be a good way to get back into writing...so here goes!

Some movies you won't find on my list: Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Indiana Jones. All great movies, but not in my top 10 for lots of different reasons.

10) Sneakers - check out this cast: Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Ackroyd, River Phoenix, David Straitharn, Mary McDonell, James Earl Jones, Ben Kingsley. Need I say more? I do? Okay. It's a very clever movie that I love watching even though I know all the twists already. Fast banter-y dialogue. It's a fun movie.

9) To Kill A Mockingbird - Gregory Peck plays a single father standing up for what's right when it's not popular at all. It has one of my all time favorite movie lines. "Miss Jean Louise. Miss Jean Louise. Stand up. Your father's passing." Oh yeah...it's also Robert Duvall first movie role I believe.

8) The Outsiders - another cast that makes you take a double take: Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane and Leif Garrett. This is a book about teenagers written by a teenager. It's taken almost verbatim from the book of the same name by S. E. Hinton. I recommend everyone read it. It's about family and belonging. And the theme song to the movie is written and sung by Stevie Wonder. Directed by some guy named Francis Ford Coppola or something like that.

7) Matrix - see Nick Waltz's list.

6) Rope - Alfred Hitchcock at his best. It's got Jimmy Stewart and a guy that reminds of the Brain from Pinky and the Brain. Really, he does. This movie is somewhat famous for not only being a Stewart/Hitchcock movie, but because the entire movie it shot with long takes. The Hitchcock tried to disguise the transitions so that it gives the feeling of one continuous shot. It's an interesting effect.

5) That Thing You Do - My favorite Tom Hanks movie. I love movies about bands, and I think this is one of the best. Watch it once, if you haven't already. Then watch it again and pay special attention to all of Lenny's lines. Every line but 1 or 2 in the entire movie is a joke. Great music, too.

4) Mystery Men - please see my aforementioned Top 10 Superhero Movies to see why this one is so great!

3) This Is Spinal Tap - The language is a little rough, but the humor is spot on. The original Mockumentary. The most quoted movie in my life behind #1 on this list.

2) Dead Poet's Society - This is one of the few movies that I've watched that has really made me think again and again.

1) Princess Bride - The. Best. Movie. Ever.