A ranking by Brooks Rich
Here they are. The ten best films to ever win Best Pictures. These are not only the best to win the award but are also some of the greatest films ever made.
10. The Hurt Locker (2009)
The Hurt Locker works kind of the same way as The Deer Hunter. It is film about the effects of war on men and how it's hard to leave the war behind when you come home. Instead of the Vietnam War the war in question is the Iraq War. The film follows a platoon of men who dispose bombs on the streets of Baghdad. Not only is the film a painful look at the cost of war, but it's also an edge of your seat thriller. Director Kathryn Bigelow, who became the first woman to win Best Director for this film, brilliantly shoots the scenes of the bombs being defused with tension. There is no soundtrack. No overly composed Hollywood score. It's just the sounds of the men breathing and the quiet streets of Baghdad.
9. Schindler's List (1993)
This is the best movie ever made about the Holocaust. This was the movie that got Steven Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar. Schindler's List is tough for me because although I know it's a brilliant film, I can't bring myself to watch it anywhere. It's too effective. I have a problem with watching the Holocaust in film. I don't like seeing the worst chapter in human history played out. But I understand the power this film has. I understand it's about a man stepping up and doing the right thing. But it's still so brutal and bleak in some parts. Ralph Fiennes Amon Goeth is a despicable human being in every sense of the word. A true real world villain. I can't deny the power of this film however. It would be wrong of me to leave Schindler's List off this ranking. If for some reason you've never seen it, you have to fix that. Everyone should see this film at least once.
8. On the Waterfront (1954)
This film is a contender. That's an On the Waterfront joke for you. On the Waterfront is just one of those powerhouse films from the '50s. It hits you like a punch from a failed heavyweight who could have been a contender. Brando is magnetic as ex boxer Terry. There was a point in time where Brando was the best working actor. Sure he went a little crazy later on in life but watch films like this and The Godfather and tell me he isn't brilliant. If you've never seen this film, fix that immediately. It might not be the most cinematic film ever but it's a powerful character piece. It really is one of the best films ever made.
7. The Apartment (1960)
This film is a delight. In my opinion Billy Wilder is a director who doesn't get the credit he deserves. Yes Alfred Hitchcock is the greatest director of all time but Wilder should be in the running for second greatest. The Apartment might be his best film. It's a delightful and bittersweet look at a man who must choose between his own happiness and his career. The Apartment has the feel of old Hollywood romantic comedies but with a small hint of the sadness that would come with more modern films in the genre.
6. West Side Story (1961)
A breakdown by Azzam Abdur-Rahman
A gang violence fueled musical based on Romeo and Juilet shouldn’t have worked. A film with a sparse set design that leaves the streets of New York less mythical and more concrete. More filled with rage and confusion. West Side Story is a rare treat in the world of movie musicals. Its visuals still are rich and modern while remaining timeless. It’s opening credits remain one of the greatest of Saul Bass’s work and its cast, especially the always amazing Rita Moreno, operating within a film that joyfully plays with knowing its take on a story of old is best because it lets the music an actors shine in a place filled with dread and sadness.
5. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
The epic to end all epics. How does this film not make the list? Steven Spielberg says he watches this film without sound every time he makes a new movie. This is might be the most beautifully shot film of all time. This was made before the days of CGI. Cinematography doesn't get much better than this. David Lean is a legendary filmmaker for this film alone. I'm struggling to even find the words to describe how amazing this film is. You just need to watch it. It's another film that immediately should come to mind when thinking of a Best Picture winner.
4. An American in Paris (1951)
There are two films tied for being my favorite movie musicals of all time, this and Singing in the Rain. Singing in the Rain would edge out An American in Paris on this list if it had won but shock of shocks it wasn't even nominated. That's appalling but luckily this astonishing musical did win. An American in Paris is the last great old school Hollywood musical to win Best Picture. The old school Hollywood musicals take a final bow with this film. It earns it's Best Picture title by being timeless.. It's still as rich and entertaining as it was when it was released in 1951.
3. Unforgiven (1992)
Where An American in Paris brought an end to the classic Hollywood musical, Unforgiven is the western genre riding into the sunset. Clint Eastwood helms this mediative and dark western about a gunslinger returning to his old ways. But there is no glory in what he does. Unforgiven is more in the vein of the gritty westerns from the late '60s and '70s that Eastwood was known for. But it's still an end to the era of the classic westerns. The genre changed after this. In my opinion Unforgiven winning Best Picture was not an award given to one film. It was an award given to an entire genre.
2. The Godfather (1972)
What can I say? Seriously what can I say about this film? There are two films I consider to be acceptable for calling the greatest film of all time. This film and the film at number one. The Godfather is a perfect movie. There is not a single frame wrong with this film. I'd go on and on about this film but I'll save it for an official post on this film. The Godfather is the greatest film about the mafia. Nothing comes close. The story of Michael Corleone's ascent to the top of his family's criminal empire is tragic and fascinating.
Honorable mentions:
The Shape of Water- I love this film. I don't care what people think. A modern masterpiece but kept off the list because I didn't want a film on that was solely there for my personal preference.
12 Years a Slave- the best film about slavery perhaps ever. In ten years it probably makes the list but it was beaten out by some old school classics. Still a great film.
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King- should have won for Fellowship of the Ring but I can't deny the epic scale of Jackson's most famous trilogy. No one should ever try to adapt these to film every again.
Forrest Gump- a tooth and nail fight whether it makes the list. Kept off in the end because in hindsight Pulp Fiction absolutely should have won.
Annie Hall- barely missed the list. Woody Allen's best film and perhaps the best film about a failed relationship ever. Allen is a problematic figure now, to say the least, but this film is fantastic.
Rocky- a sports underdog film that was an underdog at the Oscars. Kept off the list because All the President's Men probably should have won but Rocky is still an amazing film.
Midnight Cowboy- the only X rated film to win Best Picture. Funny enough the year before Oliver!, which was Rated G, won Best Picture. Midnight Cowboy is better.
Ben-Hur- another big sweeping Hollywood epic. Kept off the list because there's better ones than Ben-Hur.
The Bridge on the River Kwai- a fantastic war film. A painful cut from the list.
All About Eve- a great Hollywood classic. There's just more classics deserving to be on the list.
The Lost Weekend- a fantastic film from Billy Wilder. Probably underrated and forgotten these days.
Wings- the first winner of Best Picture. It's a good watch if you have a taste for silent films.
1. Casablanca (1942)
Honestly who didn't see this coming? Casablanca is absolutely the best film to win Best Picture of all time. There is no room for debate. I adore this film. This is one of my favorite films of all time. It doesn't matter if my personal taste comes into play for this one. There's no denying that Casablanca is a perfect movie. There's not a wasted second in this film. This is the greatest movie romance of all time. When this film was being made, they didn't know how the war was going to turn out.
Here they are. The ten best films to ever win Best Pictures. These are not only the best to win the award but are also some of the greatest films ever made.
10. The Hurt Locker (2009)
The Hurt Locker works kind of the same way as The Deer Hunter. It is film about the effects of war on men and how it's hard to leave the war behind when you come home. Instead of the Vietnam War the war in question is the Iraq War. The film follows a platoon of men who dispose bombs on the streets of Baghdad. Not only is the film a painful look at the cost of war, but it's also an edge of your seat thriller. Director Kathryn Bigelow, who became the first woman to win Best Director for this film, brilliantly shoots the scenes of the bombs being defused with tension. There is no soundtrack. No overly composed Hollywood score. It's just the sounds of the men breathing and the quiet streets of Baghdad.
9. Schindler's List (1993)
This is the best movie ever made about the Holocaust. This was the movie that got Steven Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar. Schindler's List is tough for me because although I know it's a brilliant film, I can't bring myself to watch it anywhere. It's too effective. I have a problem with watching the Holocaust in film. I don't like seeing the worst chapter in human history played out. But I understand the power this film has. I understand it's about a man stepping up and doing the right thing. But it's still so brutal and bleak in some parts. Ralph Fiennes Amon Goeth is a despicable human being in every sense of the word. A true real world villain. I can't deny the power of this film however. It would be wrong of me to leave Schindler's List off this ranking. If for some reason you've never seen it, you have to fix that. Everyone should see this film at least once.
8. On the Waterfront (1954)
This film is a contender. That's an On the Waterfront joke for you. On the Waterfront is just one of those powerhouse films from the '50s. It hits you like a punch from a failed heavyweight who could have been a contender. Brando is magnetic as ex boxer Terry. There was a point in time where Brando was the best working actor. Sure he went a little crazy later on in life but watch films like this and The Godfather and tell me he isn't brilliant. If you've never seen this film, fix that immediately. It might not be the most cinematic film ever but it's a powerful character piece. It really is one of the best films ever made.
7. The Apartment (1960)
This film is a delight. In my opinion Billy Wilder is a director who doesn't get the credit he deserves. Yes Alfred Hitchcock is the greatest director of all time but Wilder should be in the running for second greatest. The Apartment might be his best film. It's a delightful and bittersweet look at a man who must choose between his own happiness and his career. The Apartment has the feel of old Hollywood romantic comedies but with a small hint of the sadness that would come with more modern films in the genre.
6. West Side Story (1961)
A breakdown by Azzam Abdur-Rahman
A gang violence fueled musical based on Romeo and Juilet shouldn’t have worked. A film with a sparse set design that leaves the streets of New York less mythical and more concrete. More filled with rage and confusion. West Side Story is a rare treat in the world of movie musicals. Its visuals still are rich and modern while remaining timeless. It’s opening credits remain one of the greatest of Saul Bass’s work and its cast, especially the always amazing Rita Moreno, operating within a film that joyfully plays with knowing its take on a story of old is best because it lets the music an actors shine in a place filled with dread and sadness.
5. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
The epic to end all epics. How does this film not make the list? Steven Spielberg says he watches this film without sound every time he makes a new movie. This is might be the most beautifully shot film of all time. This was made before the days of CGI. Cinematography doesn't get much better than this. David Lean is a legendary filmmaker for this film alone. I'm struggling to even find the words to describe how amazing this film is. You just need to watch it. It's another film that immediately should come to mind when thinking of a Best Picture winner.
4. An American in Paris (1951)
There are two films tied for being my favorite movie musicals of all time, this and Singing in the Rain. Singing in the Rain would edge out An American in Paris on this list if it had won but shock of shocks it wasn't even nominated. That's appalling but luckily this astonishing musical did win. An American in Paris is the last great old school Hollywood musical to win Best Picture. The old school Hollywood musicals take a final bow with this film. It earns it's Best Picture title by being timeless.. It's still as rich and entertaining as it was when it was released in 1951.
3. Unforgiven (1992)
Where An American in Paris brought an end to the classic Hollywood musical, Unforgiven is the western genre riding into the sunset. Clint Eastwood helms this mediative and dark western about a gunslinger returning to his old ways. But there is no glory in what he does. Unforgiven is more in the vein of the gritty westerns from the late '60s and '70s that Eastwood was known for. But it's still an end to the era of the classic westerns. The genre changed after this. In my opinion Unforgiven winning Best Picture was not an award given to one film. It was an award given to an entire genre.
2. The Godfather (1972)
What can I say? Seriously what can I say about this film? There are two films I consider to be acceptable for calling the greatest film of all time. This film and the film at number one. The Godfather is a perfect movie. There is not a single frame wrong with this film. I'd go on and on about this film but I'll save it for an official post on this film. The Godfather is the greatest film about the mafia. Nothing comes close. The story of Michael Corleone's ascent to the top of his family's criminal empire is tragic and fascinating.
Honorable mentions:
The Shape of Water- I love this film. I don't care what people think. A modern masterpiece but kept off the list because I didn't want a film on that was solely there for my personal preference.
12 Years a Slave- the best film about slavery perhaps ever. In ten years it probably makes the list but it was beaten out by some old school classics. Still a great film.
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King- should have won for Fellowship of the Ring but I can't deny the epic scale of Jackson's most famous trilogy. No one should ever try to adapt these to film every again.
Forrest Gump- a tooth and nail fight whether it makes the list. Kept off in the end because in hindsight Pulp Fiction absolutely should have won.
Annie Hall- barely missed the list. Woody Allen's best film and perhaps the best film about a failed relationship ever. Allen is a problematic figure now, to say the least, but this film is fantastic.
Rocky- a sports underdog film that was an underdog at the Oscars. Kept off the list because All the President's Men probably should have won but Rocky is still an amazing film.
Midnight Cowboy- the only X rated film to win Best Picture. Funny enough the year before Oliver!, which was Rated G, won Best Picture. Midnight Cowboy is better.
Ben-Hur- another big sweeping Hollywood epic. Kept off the list because there's better ones than Ben-Hur.
The Bridge on the River Kwai- a fantastic war film. A painful cut from the list.
All About Eve- a great Hollywood classic. There's just more classics deserving to be on the list.
The Lost Weekend- a fantastic film from Billy Wilder. Probably underrated and forgotten these days.
Wings- the first winner of Best Picture. It's a good watch if you have a taste for silent films.
1. Casablanca (1942)
Honestly who didn't see this coming? Casablanca is absolutely the best film to win Best Picture of all time. There is no room for debate. I adore this film. This is one of my favorite films of all time. It doesn't matter if my personal taste comes into play for this one. There's no denying that Casablanca is a perfect movie. There's not a wasted second in this film. This is the greatest movie romance of all time. When this film was being made, they didn't know how the war was going to turn out.
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