Written by: Jill Deuter
1. Pan's Labyrinth- This is a Spanish fantasy film that takes place in fascist Spain shortly after the civil war. Not only is the storyline very original, but the fairytale-inspired art direction is incredible. This film was nominated for six Academy Awards, and won three including Best Cinematography, Art Direction, and Makeup.
2. A Beautiful Mind- This movie is both inspirational and entertaining. When I first watched this film, I was fortunate enough not to know anything about John Nash or the storyline, so I was surprised by a lot of things in the film. I recommend watching it with as little background information as possible to keep it interesting! This film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
3. Some Like it Hot- This is a classic that was first introduced to me by my dad. Despite this movie being over 50 years old, the sense of humor hasn’t aged. This film has earned a spot on Roger Ebert’s “Great Movie” list, and was also named as the greatest American comedy of all time by the American Film Institute.
4. Titanic- I know this movie has a cliché reputation, but I can’t help loving it! This film has so many great elements, as shown by its eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Titanic is one of the highest grossing films and is tied with Ben Hur and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King for the most Academy Awards won by a single film.
5. The English Patient- Another romantic drama! My mom recommended this film to me when I was in high school, and I’ve loved it ever since. The cast, which includes Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche, and Willem Dafoe, is excellent. This film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
6. The Lion King- I had to include one of the Disney classics on my list! This movie has aged well, maintaining its status as a pop culture icon. The Lion King won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Song.
7. The Deer Hunter- I was a bit hesitant to first watch this film because of the violence. Although there were a few scenes that caused some cringing, I really liked it overall. The all-star cast was amazing, and it was fun to see young Meryl Streep, Robert DeNiro, and Christopher Walken. This film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978 and it is also ranked as the 53rd Greatest Film of All Time by the American Film Institute.
8. Midnight in Paris- I must admit that I am not a Woody Allen fan. However, I loved this movie! I thought it was smart, clever, and entertaining. It was fun seeing the cast portray historic literary icons and artists. This film won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
9. Paris, Je t'aime- This film depicts 18 separate stories directed by 22 different international filmmakers, each chronicling a love story in a unique Parisian neighborhood. The stories range from a humorous take on foreign romance by the Coen brothers to the love between a mother and her lost son. It even has Elijah Wood falling in love with a vampire.
10. Bridget Jones's Diary- You probably won’t see this one on most top ten lists, but it’s one of my favorites. Bridget Jones’s Diary is funny, heartfelt, and cleverly written. In addition, Renee Zellweger earned an Academy Award nomination for her endearing portrayal of clumsy Bridget Jones. I actually put off reading the book for years because I was afraid of ruining the movie!
1. Pan's Labyrinth- This is a Spanish fantasy film that takes place in fascist Spain shortly after the civil war. Not only is the storyline very original, but the fairytale-inspired art direction is incredible. This film was nominated for six Academy Awards, and won three including Best Cinematography, Art Direction, and Makeup.
2. A Beautiful Mind- This movie is both inspirational and entertaining. When I first watched this film, I was fortunate enough not to know anything about John Nash or the storyline, so I was surprised by a lot of things in the film. I recommend watching it with as little background information as possible to keep it interesting! This film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
3. Some Like it Hot- This is a classic that was first introduced to me by my dad. Despite this movie being over 50 years old, the sense of humor hasn’t aged. This film has earned a spot on Roger Ebert’s “Great Movie” list, and was also named as the greatest American comedy of all time by the American Film Institute.
4. Titanic- I know this movie has a cliché reputation, but I can’t help loving it! This film has so many great elements, as shown by its eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Titanic is one of the highest grossing films and is tied with Ben Hur and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King for the most Academy Awards won by a single film.
5. The English Patient- Another romantic drama! My mom recommended this film to me when I was in high school, and I’ve loved it ever since. The cast, which includes Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche, and Willem Dafoe, is excellent. This film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
6. The Lion King- I had to include one of the Disney classics on my list! This movie has aged well, maintaining its status as a pop culture icon. The Lion King won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Song.
7. The Deer Hunter- I was a bit hesitant to first watch this film because of the violence. Although there were a few scenes that caused some cringing, I really liked it overall. The all-star cast was amazing, and it was fun to see young Meryl Streep, Robert DeNiro, and Christopher Walken. This film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978 and it is also ranked as the 53rd Greatest Film of All Time by the American Film Institute.
8. Midnight in Paris- I must admit that I am not a Woody Allen fan. However, I loved this movie! I thought it was smart, clever, and entertaining. It was fun seeing the cast portray historic literary icons and artists. This film won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
9. Paris, Je t'aime- This film depicts 18 separate stories directed by 22 different international filmmakers, each chronicling a love story in a unique Parisian neighborhood. The stories range from a humorous take on foreign romance by the Coen brothers to the love between a mother and her lost son. It even has Elijah Wood falling in love with a vampire.
10. Bridget Jones's Diary- You probably won’t see this one on most top ten lists, but it’s one of my favorites. Bridget Jones’s Diary is funny, heartfelt, and cleverly written. In addition, Renee Zellweger earned an Academy Award nomination for her endearing portrayal of clumsy Bridget Jones. I actually put off reading the book for years because I was afraid of ruining the movie!