The Sixth Sense

1999

★★★★★ Liked Rewatched

While there is no doubt that The Sixth Sense will forever be ed for its impactful final twist (that still manages to pack an emotional wallop even with prior knowledge), it should be duly noted that the film features an equally affecting screenplay, that delivers a resonant family drama through the guise of a horror thriller, and three powerhouse performances from Willis, Osment, and Collette. This remains Shyamalan’s smartest and most successful work to date, and it’s a must see for any fan of thrillers or cinema in general.

M. Night Shyamalan Ranked

The General

1926

★★★★ Liked Watched

Intro to Film History - Film #1

The General effectively captures the scale of the Civil War with fast-paced, thrilling stunts and chase sequences without losing sight of its witty core thanks to the ever-reliable charm and appeal of Buster Keaton and his signature understated reactions and impeccable physical comedy. For a film made over 90 years ago, this one still holds up incredibly well, and it was a great first flick to kick off my Intro to Film History course this semester!

Citizen Kane

1941

★★★★½ Liked Rewatched

Intro to Film History - Film #6

I’d seen Citizen Kane before, but watching it in a classroom setting is an entirely different experience. To put it simply, yeah, this film totally earns its distinction as “the greatest film ever made.” It may not be a personal top favorite of mine, but it’s a damn near flawless film and an absolute landmark for the world of cinema. From a technical standpoint, the cinematography, lighting, camerawork, and editing (my god, those…

Singin' in the Rain

1952

★★★★★ Liked 2

Intro to Film History - Film #9

I don’t know how you can watch this without a giant smile on your face. The performances are simply incredible. Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds have undeniably rich, authentic chemistry - which is even more impressive when considering their alleged offscreen tension - and Donald O’Connor is an audacious ball of infectious energy as Cosmo. The dialogue is consistently witty, clever engaging. And my god, THOSE MUSICAL NUMBERS! Each and every performance is…

Psycho

1960

★★★★★ Liked Rewatched

Intro to Film History - Film #10

Yeah, this still rules. I’m always at a loss for words when it comes to describing Psycho. What can you say that hasn’t been said? Hitchcock was at the top of his game here. Hermann’s score is legendary, Russell’s classic black and white cinematography is awe-inspiring, and Tomasini’s editing is so striking from a narrative perspective and purely in a  aesthetic sense. A true masterpiece, through and through. 

And seeing this on the big screen for the first time was something else.

Favorites
1960s: Favorites From Every Year
Alfred Hitchcock Ranked

Bonnie and Clyde

1967

★★★★½ Liked Watched

Intro to Film History - Film #13

Wooow, I had a total blast with this one. The film does ittedly jump into Bonnie and Clyde’s relationship rather quickly, but Beatty and Dunaway have enough dynamite chemistry to sell it and keep you engaged regardless. It dips its toes into so many genres (thriller, comedy, romance) and pulls off this tonal balance spectacularly in my opinion. The plot does meander a bit, but this feels true to the spontaneity of the…

Blade Runner

1982

★★★★½ Liked 1

Intro to Film History - Film #15

Blade Runner is an odd duck. I’ve had a different experience with this film every single time I’ve watched it (and I find that to be a common consensus too). My dad first showed it to me when I was 12, and I found it to be excruciatingly slow. I watched it again when I was 16 and came around to it a bit more, but it wasn’t until my rewatch prior to…

Casablanca

1942

★★★★½ Liked Watched

I am no longer hot trash as I have FINALLY fixed this glaring, cinematic blindspot!

Beautiful, immaculate filmmaking underscored by a poignantly melancholic romance for the ages. It took a bit for me to fully become invested in the story and the central relationship, but once we started delving deeper into Rick and Ilsa’s history, I was entirely sold on the emotions onscreen (particularly thanks to Bogart’s and Bergman’s outstanding chemistry).

Not a new favorite persay, but certainly deserving of the endless acclaim it’s received over the years.

Best Picture Winners Ranked
Best Director Winners Ranked

Toy Story

1995

★★★★★ Liked Rewatched

“To infinity and beyond.”

Pixar may have drastically improved their animation in the past 24 years, but the level of innovative craft on display here still remains impressive over two decades later. I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like sitting in the theater and watching this for the first time.

Luckily, as always with this studio, their storytelling prowess matches their technical exceptionalism, and Toy Story manages to elevate a simple story with universal themes about friendship and adapting…

All About Eve

1950

★★★★★ Liked Rewatched

“Nice speech, Eve. But I wouldn’t worry too much about your heart. You can always put that award where your heart ought to be.”

Decided to rewatch this after its recent Criterion announcement. To no surprise, it remains the definitive cinematic portrait of social climbers in the intoxicating world of stardom. Masterclass in acting, directing, and most of all, that writing.

And as for the final shot? POETIC! CINEMA!

Favorites
Best Picture Winners Ranked
Best Director Winners Ranked
Best ing Actor Winners Ranked

1950s: Favorites From Every Year

Taxi Driver

1976

★★★★★ Liked 4

(Just gonna leave this here before I go see Joker so I don’t have to deal with the fallout oops)

Martin Scorsese Ranked