*SPOILER FREE* IMDb Top 150 Part 2: Batman Begins | To Kill A Mockingbird

The Full List: https://www.imdb.com/chart/top/

Movies I watched for the first time: All About Eve, Green Book, Yojimbo, For a Few Dollars More, To Kill a Mockingbird

135. Batman Begins (2005)

• IMDb plot summary: After training with his mentor, Batman begins his fight to free crime-ridden Gotham City from corruption.

• Some quick thoughts: Christopher Nolan ascended to his current level of blockbuster auteur with this film, and basically re-invented the superhero genre along the way. His vision for a Batman set firmly in the modern world eventually gave rise to the superhero industrial complex we’re still being beset with today – just look at 2008’s Iron Man and tell me that Jon Favreau wasn’t clearly studying this movie. With smart writing, good acting, and strong emotional beats, Nolan proved that superhero films could be serious business for serious talent, even if this one gets a little goofy towards the end.

• Does it belong? No, but it’s an interesting re-watch if you want to see where the superhero movies that dominate the following 15 years came from. It’s also a great blockbuster film.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 7.7/10

134. All About Eve (1950)

• IMDb plot summary: A seemingly timid but secretly ruthless ingénue insinuates herself into the lives of an aging Broadway star and her circle of theater friends.

• Some quick thoughts: I’m so glad this movie is on the list so that I was able to discover it. This film blends comedy, drama, and tragedy to portray the world of backstabbing Broadway beauties where the cycle of talented women being replaced by someone younger leads to manipulation and shattered relationships. There isn’t much cursing or mention of sex to think of, but innuendo and insinuation hangs heavy in the air throughout, helping this film age beautifully. Other things that help are a patiently-paced, sharp, and witty script, gorgeous costuming, and terrific performances – most notably Bette Davis’ meta-performances as an actress on top of the food chain, worried about what will happen now that she’s hit 40.

• Does it belong? Yeah, and even higher.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 9/10

133. Downfall (2004)

• IMDb plot summary: Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.

• Some quick thoughts: This German film detailing the fall of the Nazi regime with stunning bleakness and historical detail has emerged as the definitive film covering this angle of WWII, and for great reason. The cast and technical crew deliver a powerful and disturbing look at Hitler’s top command, and Alexandra Maria Lara gives an incredible performance as an average woman surrounded by fanatics facing their apocalypse. It’s a tough watch, but a very engaging, moving, powerful, and sadly still-relevant watch about what blind fanaticism in a society consumed by hatred will eventually lead to: that society’s crumbling after delusions meet reality.

• Does it belong? Absolutely.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 8.5/10

132. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

• IMDb plot summary: King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.

• Some quick thoughts: To say that this film changed comedy is not an overstatement. Shot on a tiny budget (you’ll see the same actors playing multiple roles), this film became a classic whose quotes were in my life well before I sat down to watch the movie in its entirety. As a movie, it makes no sense. As a comedic vision, it’s unmatched. I don’t think we would be so attuned to bite-sized, sketch comedy if it wasn’t for this film embracing the form while sending up the usually stuffy film genre of medieval eras.

• Does it belong? For sure.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 8.5/10

131. Green Book (2018)

• IMDb plot summary: A working-class Italian American bouncer becomes the driver of an African American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.

• Some quick thoughts: Hmmm. This is not a great movie, and it’s only kind of a good movie. That’s on a purely formal basis; how this film handles its themes is just outdated for a movie that came out in 2018 alongside BlacKkKlansman, Black Panther, and Roma. There are two good lead performances here, especially Mahershala Ali’s portrayal of Don Shirley, but the writing is so goddamn on the nose that writer-director Peter Farrelly – whose previous work includes There’s Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber – must be allergic to nuance. The most fascinating story here isn’t Tony Lip’s, it’s Don Shirley’s; however, Mahershala’s performance gets buried by the fact that this movie falls into the trap of films that “address race” with a black character who only exists to help a white character become less racist (see also Driving Miss Daisy and The Help). That’s not even to mention that it won Best Picture and Best Screenplay over much better films. They did you wrong yet again, Spike.

• Does it belong? Not even close – replace it with any of the three better movies from 2018, but not Bohemian Rhapsody, which was the other Best Picture favorite. Yikes.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 6.8/10

130. Die Hard (1988)

• IMDb plot summary: An NYPD officer tries to save his wife and others taken hostage by German terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.

• ·Some quick thoughts: Hey Mom and Dad, I know this is rated R and violent and has some tough language, but why did I have to wait until I was a grownup to go find this movie to watch myself? This is a stone-cold classic that hasn’t faded from the popular consciousness for very good reason. It’s the best action movie of the 80’s for one simple reason: Bruce Willis’s John McClane feels like a real person, which ups the stakes and awe power of everything he’s forced to do. Had this role been played by Schwarzenegger, Van Damme, or Steven Seagal this movie would feel way less gripping in the small moments; with Willis, we are immediately locked in and stay that way until the credits roll. There’s some camp, but I wouldn’t trade any of it.

• Does it belong? Absolutely, but it doesn’t belong on the list of Christmas movies. I said it.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 8.6/10

129. Ran (1985)

• IMDb plot summary: In Medieval Japan, an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them and cause them to turn on each other...and him.

• Some quick thoughts: This is an amazing movie by a filmmaker who is as iconic as Scorsese: Akira Kurosawa. This is his final samurai epic that is an adaptation of King Lear, with all of the double-crossing, tragedy, complexity, and madness that entails; if that sounds even remotely interesting to you, let me tell you the end result is as impressive as you could hope for. If Kurosawa is to samurai films what Scorsese is to crime films (although Kurosawa came earlier), this is his Irishman: infinitely complex, built on what came before, and near impossible to top. His films do have a slower pace than modern audiences are used to, and Kurosawa had one of the most influential penchants for shot framing/visual storytelling combined with encouraged over-acting by his actors that adds up to a product that modern Western audiences aren’t quite used to, but that’s not a bad thing at all.

• Does it belong? Absolutely.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 9.2/10

128. Yojimbo (1961)

• IMDb plot summary: A crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town.

• Some quick thoughts: There’s a LOT of Kurosawa in these Top 150 films, and I’m really excited by that; he’s quite the grandmaster. His earlier films became super influential in the world, as some were completely ripped off by Westerns (Seven Samurai = Magnificent Seven, Yojimbo = A Fistful of Dollars), and thematically they’re even more influential. Visually, today’s filmmakers are still tipping their cap to Kurosawa, including some of the shots he conjures up here of Sanjuro in the town’s deserted streets, or of the rival gangs eying each other up from across the town. It’s a perfect example of his style but applied to more escapist entertainment than exploring the thematic depths of Rashomon, Seven Samurai, or Ran.

• Does it belong? No, but we shouldn’t put aside just how influential this movie is.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 7.5/10

127. Rashomon (1950)

• IMDb plot summary: The rape of a bride and the murder of her samurai husband are recalled from the perspectives of a bandit, the bride, the samurai's ghost, and a woodcutter.

• Some quick thoughts: While Yojimbo is certainly influential in its structure, shot composition, and style, Rashomon is probably one of the 20 most influential movies ever. Its conceit means that we see the same series of events that unfold quite differently according to each witness who twist the narrative depending on their shame, regret, or shock at what really happened between the bandit, the warrior, and his wife. The non-linear narrative is built on three men reflecting on the court case, who each have differing levels of faith in humanity that get tested as they process the events in court. This film catapulted Kurosawa into the international spotlight, which was significant for both him and the nation that he hailed from following WWII. This movie isn’t just “important”, it’s still a great watch for anyone who likes a murder mystery.

• Does it belong? This movie belongs in the top 20, but I’d settle for top 50 since I know Seven Samurai is still out there.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 9.7/10

126. Heat (1995)

• IMDb plot summary: A group of professional bank robbers start to feel the heat from police when they unknowingly leave a clue at their latest heist.

• Some quick thoughts: There’s a little, only a little, deeper meaning to this film (a study of the symbiotic relationship between predator and prey, between cop and criminal, and that men in this world only feel kinship with each other), but there’s an awful lot of style. It blends gritty realism and glamorized style to create the best bank heist movie that I’ve seen, and I’ve seen plenty. The writing is the stuff hard-boiled genre legend, and its ensemble cast support the two leads to terrific effect; some movies can just be cool, and this one is real cool. It's also a favorite of Christopher Nolan's, just saying.

• Does it belong? We shouldn’t let ourselves get attached to anything we can’t walk out on in 30 seconds flat but keep this movie on this list. Maybe lower though.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 8.7/10

125. L.A. Confidential (1997)

• IMDb plot summary: As corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.

• Some quick thoughts: In contrast to Heat, this movie is both slick entertainment with an awful lot to say about the world. I expounded on my thoughts about this movie here, but this movie’s look at the world of policing only feels sharper as the years go on; in the aftermath of Rodney King and the LA Race Riots, its meaning wasn’t lost in the moment of its release, but it doesn’t seem to have retained the same level of pop culture awareness as a few other movies from its year. However, I think that this movie is the best of 1997 (even though I love Good Will Hunting and Boogie Nights, and was impressed by Titanic), and one of the very best in that whole decade; give it a watch if it’s been a year or two.

• Does it belong? Yes, and higher

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 9.5/10

124. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

• IMDb plot summary: In 1938, after his father Professor Henry Jones, Sr. goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Professor Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jr. finds himself up against Adolf Hitler's Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers.

• Some quick thoughts: This movie is so fun, and Spielberg learned his lesson after the reception to Temple of Doom – although taking a darker approach was fascinating – by having Indiana face off against the Nazis once again, this time over possession of the Holy Grail. Sean Connery steals the show as Indiana’s father, and the tone is appropriately lighthearted in comparison to Doom, but Spielberg is still able to mount the death-defying practically filmed action scenes that this trilogy (yes, trilogy) does so well. Although this is mainstream entertainment, it’s done so well, and the period setting gives the film an immediately timeless quality. Make sure your kids are raised on these movies!

• Does it belong? No. Raiders is still superior, and I’ve gotta make tough cuts, but this film won’t and shouldn’t fade from the popular consciousness.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 8/10 – and a damn fine one at that.

123. Up (2009)

• IMDb plot summary: 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.

• Some quick thoughts: This obviously isn’t the first Pixar movie ever, and I don’t think it’s the best, but it signaled something different; tackling real and adult themes in life through animation and in a way that’s digestible for kids. Toy Story and The Incredibles had jokes for adults, and some real thoughts to them, and Wall-E is a very powerful ecological and anti-consumerism statement, but Up is set in our world and really feels like it could be about us. I thought differently about the older folks who lived in my neighborhood after this movie. It’s famous for its extended opening montage covering a childhood romance through marriage and struggle into death and loneliness; it has yet to be topped. While most of the rest of the movie embraces an inherently silly and child-friendly plot, the narrative and emotional threads that the opening introduces are carried through to moving effect.

• Does it belong? Absolutely. There will be a few Pixar films that I push to include, but this is one of them.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 8.6/10

122. For a Few Dollars More (1965)

• IMDb plot summary: Two bounty hunters with the same intentions team up to track down a Western outlaw.

• Some quick thoughts: I’d been a fan of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly for a few years now, and always knew that it was the best of the “Dollars” Trilogy (aka “The Man with No Name” Trilogy), but I had underestimated just how masterful and blazingly original Leone’s direction was when it came to this stuff; this movie rocks. It’s an upgrade from A Fistful of Dollars in its scope and storytelling, and being second-best to Good, Bad, Ugly isn’t the only way we should think of this movie; it’s a perfect encapsulation of the grimier Westerns that Leone gained international acclaim for, where bleak and open landscapes give way to sudden and shocking bursts of violence. It’s a walk on the dark side, even darker than its successor, but ultimately ends in righteous vengeance and still holds up.

• Does it belong? Yes, but a little lower, I think.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 8.1/10

121. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

• IMDb plot summary: Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his children against prejudice.

• Some quick thoughts: Gregory Peck gives a career-defining performance for the ages in this film, which is one of the best book-to-screen adaptations you’ll ever see. The film deftly embraces Scout’s point-of-view of the events that play out in Harper Lee’s novel while still being subtle and nuanced enough for its intended, mature, audience. The courtroom scenes at the center of the film have lost none of their power, but neither has the film’s ability to embrace the simplicity and bittersweetness of its setting. This is my third favorite film of its year (behind Lawrence of Arabia and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance), but that’s quite impressive company to be in; turn this movie on if you want to experience something that will never age.

• Does it belong? Unequivocally.

• IMDb User Rating: 8.2/10

• Rymer’s Rating: 8.7/10