Recently, some film critics (846, including Roger Ebert) redid their 10 Best Films list. Not surprisingly, there was some outcry, which Ebert addressed in a blog in early August.
I’ve only seen three of the critics’ top 10 (Vertigo, Citizen Kane and 2001) and five of the directors’ top 10 (same three, plus Taxi Driver and The Godfather). I love Vertigo, Citizen Kane and The Godfather and really like 2001. I hate Taxi Driver, but will admit that it’s a very, VERY good movie.
Reading the comments, though, is a pretty disheartening experience (as it tends to be). People are apparently shocked—SHOCKED!—that some of their favorite movies aren’t considered the best.
I tend to dismiss those people with the fact that you liking something doesn’t give it artistic merit. I love the Harold and Kumar movies but would never nominate them for a list of the best movies (not even for the year they each came out, but especially not for all time). (That’s just an example; no one said that Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle should make any such list.)
But now I have an even better response, thanks to Mr. Ebert: “You’re insufficiently evolved as a moviegoer.”
I will admit that Vertigo isn’t my favorite Hitchcock (probably Psycho or Rear Window) but I will admit that Vertigo is definitely better than Psycho and probably better than Rear Window, although I need to rewatch both to say for certain.
I don’t get people who don’t like Citizen Kane. It’s enjoyable and very accessible. Maybe it’s that it’s in black and white, but I hope that’s not the case. I wouldn’t agree that it’s the BEST MOVIE EVER, as the AFI claimed in both of its 100 Years, 100 Movies lists, but I think it definitely deserves to be in the top 10. (I would probably say The Godfather, although I’m probably prejudiced—if it was good enough to be my dad’s favorite movie, it’s good enough to be mine and the AFI’s, too.)
So what would your 10 Best Movies Ever list look like?
My list is always evolving, but the three that haven’t left my Top Ten list in 20 years are “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane,” and “Fanny & Alexander.”
Roger Ebert has been my benchmark critic for years. I don’t always agree with him, but he’s consistent, so I can figure out whether I’ll like a film based on his reasoning. If I can find it, I’ll send you this one DVD copy I have of Casablanca. There’s a commentary track by Ebert, and it’s absolutely fascinating.
Oddly, though, Roger never mentions some characters I swear I remember hanging at Rick’s. ;-)
They have his commentary on my super-nice Blu-Ray box set. I’ll have to listen to it. (I haven’t gotten into listening to commentaries but I bet his could change that.)
I think Ebert’s done a great job for the movie-loving public for decades and I find that I find his reviews enlightening. I do think though, that telling someone they’re not “evolved” is probably a poor start to a discussion about films… ;) I don’t think the Mona Lisa is all-that, but I know art nonetheless.
But we’ve talked about the difference between “best” and “favorites” many times. Things that are faves aren’t necessarily the best films by a long shot.
It’s probably not a nice thing to say but that doesn’t make it inaccurate.
There were comments that Avatar should be one of the 10 best ever. AVATAR.
I judge anyone that puts Avatar on the Top10 of anything. Except maybe “Most expensive” or “prettiest to look at” or “for want of a scriptwriter” lists
Exactly. I don’t judge people for what they like. But if you try and argue that Easy A, for example, deserves a spot on the Top 10 movies of the year list, I will judge you. It’s a fun movie and I liked it a lot. But it’s not a Best movie.