Dan Belen’s Top 100 Favorite Films (plus five that just barely missed the cut)
explanations for the top five included as requested by steve

1. The Matrix
This is still my favorite film to watch, even after seeing it this many times. The Wachowski Brothers’ genius is their beautiful, revolutionary and awe-inspiring fusion of religion, philosophy, psychology, action, fantasy and special effects. Don Davis’ score is one of the best ever created. This is the role Keanu Reeves was born for and it should be the last role he ever plays. In makes you think, but in a way that makes you say, “wow, brilliant!” and dig deeper and deeper into the subconscious levels of this world.
2. Fight Club
This is a mind-twisting joyride into the world of abnormal psychology as socially influenced by our society’s construct of masculinity and power. Some of my favorite quotes come from this movie. This is one of the few roles Brad Pitt plays that I actually like. Most others just piss me off. Yet again, this film is genius. Look at it from the perspective of men in America or from the perspective of a man suffering from DID, schizophrenia and psychogenic fugue states. Either way, it is hardcore, fun and powerful.
3. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
To say this film is an epic or is climactic or is powerful or emotional are all understatements. It is all of these things and more. The beauty and power and complete world of the greatest literary trilogy ever written has been captured by Peter Jackson in these three films, but this one in particular. This is the closest anyone can ever get to depicting J.R.R Tolkien’s world and work in a film. This is not a substitute for the books, but it is the best application of a literary masterpiece that has ever been made.
4. Good Will Hunting
Another one of my favorite psychological movies. I know it may be kinda mushy, but it is a great film. It hits you hard. Both Matt and Ben do a great job in this film, even if I cant stand much they have done since. The pain and suffering, the genius waiting to get out, the friendship and brotherly love. What it means to be a man and what it takes for so many guys to face the pain of their past which they have kept hidden for so long.
5. Boondock Saints
These guys rock. Totally hardcore. They don’t back down. They do what they want and they follow their convictions. No comment on if this is really what God meant in His commandments or if we are still under the oppression of the Law. Everything about this movie is rockin’ and makes me smile. So many great scenes, both funny and action-packed. Great soundtrack too. You know you want one of their coats. Oh, and Veritas/Aequitas tattoos anyone? Yeah, this guy.
6. Pulp Fiction
7. Seven
8. Last of the Mohicans
9. Braveheart
10. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
11. Memento
12. Snatch
13. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
14. Usual Suspects
15. Finding Forrester
16. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
17. Trainspotting
18. Blue (Kieslowski)
19. Dead Poets Society
20. Being John Malkovich
21. American History X
22. X-Men 2
23. The Matrix Revolutions
24. Sphere
25. Cry Freedom
26. Godfather
27. Seven Samurai (Kurasawa)
28. Citizen Kane
29. Red (Kieslowski)
30. The Power of One
31. Billy Elliot
32. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
33. Amadeus
34. Forrest Gump
35. Fallen
36. White (Kieslowski)
37. Romeo and Juliet
38. The Patriot
39. We Were Soldiers
40. Remember the Titans
41. The Matrix Reloaded
42. High Fidelity
43. The Saint
44. Die Hard
45. Monty Python and the Life of Brian
46. Tommy Boy
47. Empire Records
48. Sweet Sixteen
49. Enemy at the Gates
50. Zoolander
51. Die Hard with a Vengeance
52. The Jackal
53. Identity
54. Scarface
55. The Big Lebowski
56. Kiss of the Dragon
57. The Hurricane
58. I Am Sam
59. Sneakers
60. Philadelphia
61. Monsters Inc.
62. Rushmore
63. Titus
64. Sleepers
65. The Mothman Prophecies
66. Saving Private Ryan
67. The Hunt for the Red October
68. The Rookie
69. Tears of the Sun
70. The Game
71. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
72. O’ Brother Where Art Thou?
73. Thirteen Days
74. Go
75. Armageddon
76. Dumb and Dumber
77. X-Men
78. Super Troopers
79. Minority Report
80. Amelie
81. Girl, Interrupted
82. Black Hawk Down
83. Blade
84. 8 Mile
85. Saving Silverman
86. Adaptation
87. The Bone Collector
88. Gettysburg
89. Spider-man
90. Rainmaker
91. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
92. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
93. Top Gun
94. Silence of the Lambs
95. Office Space
96. Ran
97. Ghost World
98. The Red Violin
99. My Big, Fat Greek Wedding
100. Reservoir Dogs

Honorable Mention (you didnt quite make it):

The Negotiator
Liar Liar
The Rainman
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Goldfinger

it's been very hard to make this list and the more i look at it the more i think i should change things. and i know that my opinions will change. but im going to stick with this list for now because it seems to cover a lot of my favourite movies and in a pretty good sequential order. also note that this is my favorite films, not the films that i consider to be the best films of all time. granted there is some overlap there, but there are definitely movies on this list that i like to watch, but i wouldnt call them great films. i feel like there are enough lists of greatest films, so this is better. comment if you wish, but this is my opinion, so i dont know how you can contest anything written here.


any and all comments or responses are welcome at dabele@wm.edu