Over this summer, I embarked upon a journey to grow my pop culture literacy and increase my movie watchlist. I created a list of over 100 movies spanning all genres, from spaghetti westerns to romantic comedies. This list was filled to the brim with all-time classic films that I have never seen before. I took the entire filmography of legendary directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and Steven Speilburg. After I had compiled my list of must watch films I was ready to start dwindling it down.
After two months of watching movies, I had completed a little more than thirty films. Some of these films I found did not live
up to their hype in the slightest, but others now hold a permanent spot within my favorite movies of all time.
A few of the selections on my list are films that I believe everyone, everywhere must experience at some point in their lives. No matter who you are or what genre you are interested in, these are movies that you will enjoy. Here are a few:
- The Hateful 8
Director: Quentin Tarantino
The 8th entry in Taratino’s celebrated catalog, this film follows the events that unfold when a bounty hunter, ex-Union general, a wanted criminal, a retired Confederate, a hangman, cowpuncher, a Mexican, and a soon-to-be sheriff get locked up in a haberdashery during a blizzard in the mountains of Wyoming. As I imagine anyone can predict, things do not go well and it soon becomes a murder mystery.
Like all other Taratino films, The Hateful 8 is filled with blood, violence, and utterly despicable characters. There is no one to truly root for in the movie since the entire cast is just terrible people who have done, and do, awful things.
Despite all the characters being deplorable people, you still find yourself deeply engrossed in their stories. During the entire film I was so interested in what the characters had to say and their views on the world.
A particular highlight of the film is the ending. Like all good endings, The Hateful 8 ends leaving the audience with questions. Who was telling the truth? What happened to the town of Red Rock? Is it possible that some characters survived?
I love when movies make you question what occurred after the end credits rolled, and this film does that perfectly.
Often when you hear people talk about Tarantino’s films, this movie tends to fly under the radar. However, I think this is arguably Tarantino’s best film and deserves more attention than it gets.
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
Director: Wes Anderson
The movie with most Anderson style, The Grand Budapest Hotel follows lobby boy Zero as he recounts the tale of how he came into possession of the esteemed hotel from Monsieur Gustave H. From prison breaks, to evil nepotism babies, to young love, this movie is a wild and fun journey. I promise that this movie will have you both crying from laughter and just straight crying.
The cast is definitely this film’s greatest factor and elevates the story tenfold. Willem Dafoe is extremely funny as the hitman, Jopling. Tony Revolori, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Jeff Goldblum, and all the other actors give outstanding performances. The best performance is, far and away, Ralph Fiennes’, who portrays Monsieur Gustave H, the concierge of the hotel.
Fiennes gives a perfect performance as M. Gustave. His line delivery is spectacular and he lands every single joke. Fiennes is able to make M.Gustave feel like a highly sophisticated and eloquent person, and at the same time he can make M.Gustave feel like a silly, slightly-foolish character. This clash of eloquence and stupidity is what makes M. Gustave such an amazing character to follow.
The second greatest attribute of this movie is the relationship between Zero and M.Gustave. Throughout the film you get to see the two’s friendship blossom into a brotherly relationship. Watching Zero and M. Gustave grow closer as companions is what makes the bittersweet ending hit you so hard. It always amazes me how such a lighthearted and funny movie can end with such a punch in the gut.
- Tombstone
Directors: George P. Cosmatos and Kevin Jarre
One of the best westerns ever made, Tombstone follows the story of Wyatt Earp, portrayed by Kurt Russel, and his two brothers as they bring law and order to the town of Tombstone, Arizona. Wyatt Earp and his brother moved out to Tombstone in the hope of retiring from serving the law and starting up their own business. Nevertheless, trouble arises when The Cowboys, a gang of outlaws, begin loitering around the town and Wyatt is forced to put an end to them.
The Earps are not alone in their fight against The Cowboys. They are joined by degenerate gambler and gunslinger Doc Holiday, portrayed by Val Kilmer. Throughout the film Holiday is slowly dying of tuberculosis, which somehow just makes seem infinitely more cool. Everytime he is on screen, you know you are in for a treat. Kilmer killed this role and made quite a memorable cowboy.
Compared to the other entries on this list, this movie is not the best written. Nonetheless, this movie is just so much fun to watch. The gunfight at the O.K. Corral, the montage of hunting down The Cowboys, and Holiday’s duel are all incredible moments.
If you want a movie that you can just shut your brain off and watch some dumb action, then this is your movie.
- The Silence of the Lambs
Director: Johnathan Demme
While watching this movie, it comes clear why this film swept the Oscars back in 1991. Clarice Starling’s (Jodie Foster) chase to catch Buffalo Bill before he kills again will get anyone onto the edge of their seat. This movie is one of the most thrilling and horrifying pieces of filmography that I have ever witnessed.
Anthony Hopkins as serial cannibal Hannibal Lector is without a doubt one of the all time greatest performances in cinema. Everytime Hopkins is on screen he delivers lines that send a chill up your spine. Hopkins has very little screen time in the movie, yet despite that, every scene he appears in is the most memorable of the movie.
The most terrifying scene out of any movie I have ever seen is when you see Buffalo Bill speaking to his victim, who is trapped in a well in his basement. “It puts the lotion on its skin” Bill repeats in his monotone voice as the girl screams and pleads with him to let her out. That scene still haunts me to this day. The scene is made even more terrifying when you look at the walls of the well and see the fingernail marks that line it, indicating that this is not Bill’s first time with this practice.
Like other entries on this list, this movie also has a great ending. It’s an incredibly suspenseful ending and the whole time you are sitting in anticipation of who will die.
If you have a taste for psychological thrillers, you will deeply love and appreciate this film.
- Inglourious Basterds
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Another Taratino movie on this list, this film is a fictional World War II movie following a group of all Jewish-American soldiers led by First Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt). Raine and his Jewish-American strike force are tasked with the assassination of the Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler, while he is watching the release of a Nazi propaganda film in France.
Simultaneously, Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent), a young French-Jewish cinema owner is also planning an assassination attempt on Hitler. Dreyfus’ theater is the one in which Hitler will be in to watch the new film. Her plan is to burn the theater down with Hitler and the rest of his officials locked inside.
Despite the film’s bloody and tragic nature, the movie still has various humorous moments. These moments give huge contrasts to the rest of the film’s dramatic tone.
The best character in the film is Cristoph Waltz who plays Nazi SS Officer Hans Landa, nicknamed the “Jew Hunter” for his impressive ability to track down hidden Jewish people. Waltz perfectly encapsulates the psychotic, yet somehow charismatic, SS Officer. Waltz stole the spotlight in this movie and the Oscar he won for this role is completely deserved.
This movie is an absolute must watch for anyone who enjoys a good comedy and also those who enjoy a fantastic drama.
- Pulp Fiction
Director: Quentin Tarantino
I swear this is the final Tarantino entry on the list! This was Taratino’s breakout film that casted him into stardom. And rightfully so.
In Pulp Fiction, we get the perspective of various characters over the course of a few days. These characters include the two hitmen Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta), the boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), and the petty criminals Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Hunny Bunny (Amanda Plummer).
The format of this movie is extremely innovative and unique, and honestly it’s worth a watch for that alone. I think this film is the perfect example of the kind of dialogue Tarantino writes, which is poetic dialogue. Taratino manages to make every conversation, despite how irrelevant it could be, seem important and interesting.
The best character is easily Jules. Jules reciting the Bible verse before killing is one of the coldest and most memorable scenes in the entire movie. Jules also has the most interesting plot line in the movie and it’s upsetting to know that Jackson did not win the Oscar for this performance.
There are so many scenes in this movie that are engraved into pop culture. If you don’t watch this movie you will be missing out on so much.
- The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Director: Wes Anderson
The second movie of Anderson’s on the list is his first attempt at animation, which he knocked out of the park. This film is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s acclaimed novel of the same name.
Mr. Fox is voiced by George Clooney who gives a monotone, yet expressive performance. Mr. Fox longs to be back in the days where he could live freely and steal from the humans as he pleased. But now that he has a child and wife to take care of he is forced to live hidden away in a hole.
Mr. Fox eventually acts on his desire to be young again and robs chickens from the humans nearby. This causes a conflict between the humans and the critters living out in the forest. Mr. Fox and the rest of his family have to overcome their own inner turmoil in order to defeat the humans and win their forest back.
This movie is just a sweet and wholesome time and I’m positive you will find enjoyment from this film.
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson
The most recent release on this list, Across the Spider-Verse is the best animated film ever. Period. The animation in this movie is next level. There are so many different styles used in this film, it’s absolutely insane. Each dimension and character has a unique and interesting animation style that matches each character’s personality.
The plot follows Miles Morales of Earth-1610 and Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 as they chase down The Spot, a man who has the capability to destroy the fabric of the multiverse. Eventually, Miles is taken to the universe that houses the Spider-Society, an elite task force of Spider-People whose aim is to keep the multiverse intact. While there, Miles learns that The Spot plans to kill his father. Miles is then forced to choose between saving his father or saving the multiverse.
The voice acting in this movie is also incredible and is some of the best in any animated movie I’ve seen. Along with the voice acting, the plot is masterfully written and when Miles says goodbye to Gwen it was unbelievably impactful.
This film may have only come out a few months ago, but I am certain that this will go down in cinema history. This is definitely going to be a movie that we will all be showing our children and grandchildren.
- Coraline
Diretor: Henry Selick
A rather scary film for its intended audience, Coraline follows the young girl Coraline Jones who just moved to an old, creepy, apartment. Jones is neglected by both her parents who are constantly at work. Due to her desire for attention, Jones stumbles upon a world in which she has a perfect mother and father. However, Jones cannot stay in the world forever. Once she goes to bed she wakes back up in her regular world.
Jones continuously goes to this world and is constantly amazed by the events the “Other Mother” sets up for her. One day, the “Other Mother ” offers Jones the ability to stay in her world, but she must give up her eyes, which is a petrifying thing to hear in a movie intended for children. The film then unravels into Jones having to battle against the other mother in order to free her parents and put an end to the other mother.
The film isn’t exactly a scary movie, but it’s surprisingly eerie for an animated children’s movie. This is one of the best stop-motion films ever and if you’re a fan of animation you need to check this one out.
- Kill Bill
Director: Quentin Tarantino
I LIED! There’s another Tarantino on this list and that’s right it’s none other than the queen of all action movies KILL BILL. This movie is pure, unsaturated action in its peak form. Every second of this film is adrenaline rushing martial arts and sword fighting.
There is so much blood in this movie, like so much freaking blood. The whole fight in the Japanese hotel is the most gruesome and wacky thing I have seen in cinema. And it goes on for so long. Just Uma Thurman slicing up screaming Japanese men for like twenty minutes straight.
Also, Taratinos cinematography is at an all time high in this movie. The action scenes in this movie are shot extremely well and also with a very unique look.
Definitely check this one out, but do not, and I mean do not, watch the sequel. Volume II is just so absurdly stupid that it actually takes you out of it. Not to mention the sequel is agonizingly boring to sit through.
