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.
#29 – The Man Who Would Be King
Message Board Thread Discussion.
Master Index of the 100 Best Movies Ever.
Why is it here:
Note: Remember that the first 80 are in no particular order.
One of the greatest, most fun, and most appealing old school epics ever also happens to feature Sean Connery and Michael Caine at the peak of their powers. And Christopher Plummer too. And Alexander the Great! A crazy and alternately funny and adventurous Rudyard Kipling adaptation, this movie is everything a film needs to be. It’s so clever and fun and sad and thrilling that it really seems to be a touchstone for a lot of the modern all-star entertaining epic movies. John Huston directs the hell out of it but seeing Michael Caine (as Peachy Carnahan, one of the best names ever) and Connery doing their thing makes it sing. The best movie to ever feature Kafiristan and one of the best movies to feature Earth.
Moments to savor:
Laughing their way into an avalanche. Fooling primitive folk. Moments with Plummer on the train. Combat! Head loss! Headsport! Two actors and best friends having an amazing time and it translating to winning onscreen chemistry.
Rewatchability:
It had been a while but the movie is just so fun that it’s an easy watch. Anytime.
Miscellany:
This film beat Highlander to the punch by decades, in regards to Connery.