BBC ranks the Top 100 Greatest American Films of All Time (1 Viewer)

[RBM]

Not sure how Rocky doesn't make the list.

And Eyes Wide Shut kind of stands out as one that absolutely doesn't belong.

And it's ahead of Schindler's List. That was pretty glaring.

 

[RBM]

<------- How the #### was that left out??? This list officially blows.

 

[Mr. Cross]

I have seen all these movies that are not rated r or worst. This list looks right.

 

[chet]

Looks like some old school film snob was in charge of the top 20. Nothing from the 80s on except for #20 Goodfellas 1990.

 

[NCCommish]

Also if you are going to put a Ford film that high why wouldn't you go Grapes of Wrath. He won an Oscar for it. Vertigo as Hitchcocks best? I would put both Psycho and North by Northwest ahead of it. Singing in the Rain was a great musical but great movie? Not for my money. And someone must be related to Billy Wilder.

 

[netnalp]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

 

[squistion]

Also if you are going to put a Ford film that high why wouldn't you go Grapes of Wrath. He won an Oscar for it. Vertigo as Hitchcocks best? I would put both Psycho and North by Northwest ahead of it. Singing in the Rain was a great musical but great movie? Not for my money. And someone must be related to Billy Wilder.

Yes, in the sense that it is considered one of the best movies Hollywood ever made about Hollywood.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Woah, where the hell is Apocalypse Now?

 

[Thorn]

Woah, where the hell is Apocalypse Now?

#90Unless you meant Full Metal Jacket, which is curiously omitted.

 

[Vanilla Guerrilla]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

That is a great list of films left off of the list.

 

[NCCommish]

Also if you are going to put a Ford film that high why wouldn't you go Grapes of Wrath. He won an Oscar for it. Vertigo as Hitchcocks best? I would put both Psycho and North by Northwest ahead of it. Singing in the Rain was a great musical but great movie? Not for my money. And someone must be related to Billy Wilder.

Yes, in the sense that it is considered one of the best movies Hollywood ever made about Hollywood.

Meh. But that is probably my general dislike of musicals talking.

 

[squistion]

Also if you are going to put a Ford film that high why wouldn't you go Grapes of Wrath. He won an Oscar for it. Vertigo as Hitchcocks best? I would put both Psycho and North by Northwest ahead of it. Singing in the Rain was a great musical but great movie? Not for my money. And someone must be related to Billy Wilder.

Yes, in the sense that it is considered one of the best movies Hollywood ever made about Hollywood.

Meh. But that is probably my general dislike of musicals talking.

Could be. The story line of the transition difficulties of moving from silent films to talkies was spot on. And Jean Hagen (who does an hilarious star turn as the vain and talentless silent movie star Lina Lamont) was the glue that held the film together.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

I've recently watched all those Charlie Chaplin movies and they are all terrific, especially City Lights. Some ones I haven't seen on there, need to do some DVRing.

I saw The General (with Buster Keaton) recently and it was good.

 

[Cunk]

Somehow The Deer Hunter isn't on this list?

 

[Rohn Jambo]

FWIW

The American Film Institute (AFI) did a similar list in 2007 with a corresponding show on CBS: http://www.afi.com/100years/movies10.aspx

Say what you may about Shamalama Ding Dong but he has a movie on the AFI list.

 

[squistion]

I've recently watched all those Charlie Chaplin movies and they are all terrific, especially City Lights. Some ones I haven't seen on there, need to do some DVRing.

I saw The General (with Buster Keaton) recently and it was good.

Keaton's best IMO, a step above Sherlock Jr. which made the list at #44 while The General was inexplicably left off entirely.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Again? Another list with old ### movies?

In another thread, I posted a list from somewhere that ranked the best movies since 2000, and I am pretty sure more people had not heard of or seen those than a list like this.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

Couldn't disagree more. I think Eternal Sunshine and Tree of Life would be in my top 5 of movies made in the last 10 years or so. There would probably be room for There Will Be Blood and Her as well.

I know Back to the Future gets written off, but I think that is one of the better scripts in the way everything ties together and the little details they included. My favorite movie of all time, and have 0 problems including it on a list like this.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Sorry but a bunch of those films, while good, should not be on this list or at least not in their current position. Citizen Kane at number one is a travesty. While it was a technical marvel the movie itself was a rather boring 2 hour attack on Hurst. I have trouble staying awake through it. I simply can not see it at the best American movie of all time. Can't.

It's been deemed the best movie of all time for so long it's almost an automatic selection. Our film appreciation professor talked incessantly about it back in 98.that said, I agree that it shouldn't be there. Probably godfather imo.

Yeah it's a very cliched choice. As I said it was pioneering in the shots and angles. The cinematography was leading edge. But the story hasn't aged well at all as it is so period specific. Godfather would definitely sit with me better.

I saw Kane for the first time a few months ago, and thought it was fantastic. I was not bored at all, and was surprised that it lived up to the hype. I have seen it a few times since.

 

[Shrugs]

Yeah, the list certainly has its faults but nothing compared to some of the comments here. I disagree with everything with which netnalp disagrees. Citizen Kane holds up, and is a great movie based solely on the story even if all the cinematography breakthroughs are ignored. Singing in the Rain also is a great movie, from someone who doesn't generally appreciate musicals.

 

[Apple Jack]

FWIW

The American Film Institute (AFI) did a similar list in 2007 with a corresponding show on CBS: http://www.afi.com/100years/movies10.aspx

Say what you may about Shamalama Ding Dong but he has a movie on the AFI list. at least it's an ethos.

 

[Fariq]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

Yes, The Tree of Life and Raging Bull are two of the biggest artsy fartsy overrated piles of dog turd films ever made.

 

[Fennis]

If the BBC list had balls, The Tree of Life would be sucking them.

 

[jon_mx]

I forgot how annoying Woody Allen was until I tried to watch Annie Hall. I just could not get past it and could not watch.

 

[Godsbrother]

Good Burger not on the list?

 

[RBM]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

Yes, The Tree of Life and Raging Bull are two of the biggest artsy fartsy overrated piles of dog turd films ever made.

Raging Bull is artsy fartsy? WTF?? Because of the b&w?

I've never heard anyone call that movie overrated.

 

[Brony]

Santa with Muscles snubbed yet again.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Caine Mutiny

On the Waterfront

12 Angry Men

The Hustler

The Gambler

Outlaw Josie Wales

Unforgiven

On Golden Pond

Cape Fear

Atlantic City

To Kill a Mockingbird

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I have seen all these movies that are not rated r or worst. This list looks right.

 

[kentric]

Always thought To Kill a Mockingbird was an excellent movie. Surprised to see its omission.

 

[kentric]

Looks like some old school film snob was in charge of the top 20. Nothing from the 80s on except for #20 Goodfellas 1990.

Nothing from the 90s either except for: 91. ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982).

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Thought about adding Tender Mercies and Falling Down to my list. I love me some Robert Duvall.

Sling Blade, Casino, and Training Day also seem notable omissions.

 

[Christo]

Not sure how Rocky doesn't make the list.

 

[Christo]

Somebody is trying to tell me that Cool Hand Luke isn't among the top 100 American movies?

That somebody needs to get punched in the face.

 

[Fariq]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

Yes, The Tree of Life and Raging Bull are two of the biggest artsy fartsy overrated piles of dog turd films ever made.

Raging Bull is artsy fartsy? WTF?? Because of the b&w?I've never heard anyone call that movie overrated.

Naval Academy grad I watched it with also found it to be overrated crap.

 

[Fariq]

I'm supposed to care about some assh ole cursing at his wife left and right? He was among the least compelling figures I ever watched.

 

[Freelove]

I forgot how annoying Woody Allen was until I tried to watch Annie Hall. I just could not get past it and could not watch.

Not a fan of Jewish, liberal, intellectual comedy? The hell you say!

 

[Freelove]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

Yes, The Tree of Life and Raging Bull are two of the biggest artsy fartsy overrated piles of dog turd films ever made.

Raging Bull is artsy fartsy? WTF?? Because of the b&w?I've never heard anyone call that movie overrated.

Naval Academy grad I watched it with also found it to be overrated crap.

Oh, well if it was a Naval Academy grad...

 

[Fariq]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

Yes, The Tree of Life and Raging Bull are two of the biggest artsy fartsy overrated piles of dog turd films ever made.

Raging Bull is artsy fartsy? WTF?? Because of the b&w?I've never heard anyone call that movie overrated.

Naval Academy grad I watched it with also found it to be overrated crap.

Oh, well if it was a Naval Academy grad...

Was trying to indicate the guy is not a slob who wears wifebeaters on a nightly basis and lives in a trailer. You know, the type of guy who would instantly get turned off the second he saw the movie was black and white.

 

[Fariq]

Nobody ever picks up anything. Everything has to be explained on the internet. This is why I cut down the number of forums I frequent and why I mostly just make silly posts here and on Twitter

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Where the heck is the Big Lebowski?

 

[Foosball God]

Field of Dreams?

 

[Gr00vus]

Fargo? The Usual Suspects? Breaking Away? Die Hard?

I could go on. This list is garbage.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

They should have made room for at least one porn.

 

[HellToupee]

Fargo? The Usual Suspects? Breaking Away? Die Hard?

I could go on. This list is garbage.

LA Confidential

 

[netnalp]

I don't agree with

Tree of Life, that movie was boring as hell. So was 2001.

Back to the future, good movie but not worthy of the list.

Do the Right Thing wasn't very good. It was mostly goofy rather than saying anything.

The Apartment gets all kinds of accolades, but I didn't find it that special.

Raging Bull is overrated, didn't live up to the reverence it is given.

Eternal Sunshine sucked.

Along with some that others have mentioned, I'm surprised there isn't any of these:

The Hustler

On the Waterfront

Young Frankenstein

The Jerk

Platoon

Yes, The Tree of Life and Raging Bull are two of the biggest artsy fartsy overrated piles of dog turd films ever made.

Raging Bull is artsy fartsy? WTF?? Because of the b&w?I've never heard anyone call that movie overrated.

Naval Academy grad I watched it with also found it to be overrated crap.

Oh, well if it was a Naval Academy grad...

Was trying to indicate the guy is not a slob who wears wifebeaters on a nightly basis and lives in a trailer. You know, the type of guy who would instantly get turned off the second he saw the movie was black and white.

I like black and white movies. Maybe i was expecting more action like, Rocky, Cinderella Man or something. I'm not sure. I just didn't find the Jake LaMotta character interesting. It's not that I don't like De Niro. Looking at his list of films, I like most of them. Seems like of his films the ones I don't like or care to watch have been since 2000 till now. A few good ones in there but my nothing great.

On the Waterfront was great and it wasn't an action movie. Street Car Named Desire I really liked it and it had the abusive wife beater type. I'll re-watch Raging Bull again and see if I change my mind.

But i have to admit that there are some movies that people consider great that I'm just like "why?" Other than the ones I mentioned above, Big Lebowski, Gone With the Wind, Sound of Music, The English Patient, Avatar, Harold and Maude, Easy Rider come to mind. Good movies, sure, but I don't get the strong following they have.

And on the list they also left out The Gangs of New York.

 

[RBM]

Where the hell is Braveheart?

 

[timschochet]

Annie Hall is awesome. Anyone who doesn't like it is an anti-Semite.

Did you like Annie Hall?

No. Jew?

 

[RBM]

Unforgiven???

 

[AAABatteries]

71. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993) annoying

WTMF