Lists are great. They inspire discussion, create arguments, and tend to spiral off into fun new lists. When you do a list about the “BEST” of anything it goes from being fun to becoming a hotbed for arguments. There’s no such thing as a definitive list but I’ve decided to pull from my rather extensive life of film watching and put it to good use.
This is not the “film critic’s top 100” list. There’s no guarantee Citizen Kane or The Bicycle Thief will be in the top echelon or even on the list. This is the 100 movies I would put my name on as my top 100. If I died tomorrow this would represent the 100 films I find most vital, special, or ones that bonded to whatever it is that makes me me. I’m not including documentaries, though that might make for a nice supplemental list.
The first 80 will be in no particular order. The last 20 will be in very particular order. One a day, you have my word.
#44 – Fight Club
Message Board Thread Discussion.
Master Index of the 100 Best Movies Ever.
Why is it here:
This almost didn’t made the cut because it came on so strong that Fight Club overload reached critical mass. It’s almost quaint now in some respects but this movie is a game changer and proof positive that the world of film was injected with fury and manic brilliance when David Fincher was left to his own devices. It’s a stunning movie, aggressive in how it tells a story and filled with unforgettable moments and performances.
It’s an indictment on America’s selling out, human nature, and the sheep mentality loaded with aggressive techniques and flourish. It takes a very brilliant and electric book and takes it beyond. It’s a gateway film in many ways but even now after it’s had a chance to fail and then succeed and then become a classic, there’s something about the film that makes it very very singular. A nearly impossible feat in today’s world.
Moments to savor:
Finding the penises. The plane crash. Watching a filmmaker go wild. Brad Pitt, oozing sex. Penguin! Ikea deconstructed. Marriage of FX with scenes not normally known for FX. The Dust Brothers cranking the drama to 11.
Rewatchability:
High.
Miscellany:
Many of the people that allowed for this movie to be made lost their jobs. They should be given medals.