Top 100 Movies of All Time, 91-100

Jennie and I are releasing our Top 100 Movies of All Time. The best, our favorites, in all genres from every time period. Every Monday and Thursday we will release 10, so this will be a five week extravaganza! Here are 100 to 91:

100. Memento (2000)

Written & Directed by Christopher Nolan

Starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss & Joe Pantoliano

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award nominee for Best Original Screenplay

"Memento" is one of those films that is so original and intricate that for most it's hard to follow, but in the end is an incredible film. The style is brilliantly out-of-sync with its backwards storytelling and Christopher Nolan makes his name known as an up and coming director.

99. A Simple Plan (1998)

Directed by Sam Raimi; Written by Scott B. Smith

Starring Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda & Billy Bob Thorton

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor - Billy Bob Thorton

An intelligent thriller that sets four small-towners in a money-tight situation. When Bill Paxton's character comes across an airplane full of money, there's no turning back. It's gripping and leaves you on the edge of your seat, plus Billy Bob Thorton gives the performance of his life. There isn't any other movie that will make you sick to your stomach for every single decision greed brings to a human being.

98. The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Directed by Gore Verbinski; Written by Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio

Starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom & Geoffrey Rush

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award nominee for Best Actor - Johnny Depp

Pretending that they never made a trilogy out of "Pirates," the original is by far the most entertaining, adventerous, and funny. Depp is mesmerizing as Captain Jack Sparrow, and the effects are phenomenal. Who knew Disney could make a great PG-13 film?

97. An Affair to Remember (1957)

Directed by Leo McCarey; Written by Delmer Daves, Donald Ogden Steward & Leo McCarey

Starring Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award nominee for Best Cinematography

A terrific romance that pushes the envelope of cheaters and secret love affairs. Grant & Kerr are great on the screen together, and all seems well until Kerr's Terry has an accident that prevents her from meeting with Grant six months after their love boat affair. Filled with fun characters and plot twists, "An Affair to Remember" isn't one that most believe is a great film, but it's a classic to me.

96. Brick (2005)

Written & Directed by Rian Johnson

Starring Josephy Gordon-Levitt, Lucas Haas, Nora Zehetner & Emilie de Ravin

Greatest Award/Nomination: Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize Award for Dramatic Feature

This film is astonishing in its ability to captivate the film noir in such a way that brings the classic genre to life in the present day. Gordon-Levitt is phenomenal as Brendan Frye, the Bogartian teen "detective" who wants to discover the truth about his love's death. Full of fascinating performances by all of the supporting cast members, Rian Johnson's debut feature film ranks high in the books of new millenium movies.

95. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Directed by Wes Anderson; Written by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson

Starring Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwenyth Paltrow, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson & Bill Murray

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award nominee for Best Original Screenplay

Wes Anderson surely makes blasé situations and acquiescence hilarious. Under his script and direction, this tremendous cast unfolds a story of a genius family gone bad, and getting worse. Hackman stars as Royal, a father, a liar, and an unaffectionate husband who wants to make peace with the kids and his wife. Everything about this movie is unique and astonishing to watch.

94. Juno (2007)

Directed by Jason Reitman; Written by Diablo Cody

Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Gardner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons & Olivia Thirlby

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award winner for Best Original Screenplay

Although it just came out in December, this out-of-this-world comedy draws so much inspiration from almost every single coming-of -age tale. Cody's screenplay is by far one of the most eccentric ever made and Ellen Page will never find another role like Juno. With laugh-out-loud lines, an amazing supporting cast, and one of the coolest soundtracks for company, "Juno" is a hit that deserves this spot in my Top 100.

93. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Written & Directed by Robert Benton

Starring Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander & Justin Henry

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award winner for Best Picture

The late 70s & early 80s really focused on character, situations and dialogue rather than beautiful breath-taking cinematography and effects. "Kramer vs. Kramer" keeps the roots of the theatre alive in film, with powerhouse performances by Hoffman & Streep, and an amazing script. It's a small film that sends big messages and analyzes the American family, both men forced into stereotypical female roles and women becoming independent, despite the casualies.

92. The Departed (2006)

Directed by Martin Scorcese; Written by William Monahan

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen & Jack Nicholson

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award winner for Best Picture

Although Scorcese should have won an Oscar long before "The Departed," he won for the right reasons. It's one of those movies in which you're not sure who you want to win. Every man is a liar, a snake, a crook, a rat. So who will come out on top? The script is excellent, and Wahlberg was never better.

91. Anchors Aweigh (1945)

Directed by George Sidney; Written by Isobel Lennart & Natalie Marcin

Starring Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson, Frank Sinatra & Dean Stockwell

Greatest Award/Nomination: Academy Award nominee for Best Picture

If you think "Singin' In the Rain" is where it's all at, you're mistaken. I'll admit, the part with Tom & Jerry is a bit out of hand, but as a kid it was the best! Gene Kelly & Frank Sinatra are a duo for the ages and Grayson is gorgeous and sounds spectacular. The cameo with Jose Iturbi shows that the film is about having fun, letting loose, and finding love. Screw you if you think the Tom & Jerry scene is lame!

And Nominees Are...

Today the announcement for the 2008 Academy Awards delivered both expected nods and a few surprises - and snubs (**cough "Into the Wild" cough**).

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in “Michael Clayton”
Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”
Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Tommy Lee Jones in “In the Valley of Elah”
Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises”

Surprises: Tommy Lee Jones! Though I though he was great and should get nominated, I'm not sure how I feel about his taking Emile Hirsch out of the picture.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”
Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men”
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War”
Hal Holbrook in “Into the Wild”
Tom Wilkinson in “Michael Clayton”

Surprises: None! I predicted all five.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”
Julie Christie in “Away from Her”
Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose”
Laura Linney in “The Savages”
Ellen Page in “Juno”

Surprises: Laura Linney - holy crap! This is a great surprise because it took Angelina Jolie out of the running. Though I wish Amy Adams could've done the snubbing instead.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There”
Ruby Dee in “American Gangster”
Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”
Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone”
Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton”

Surprises: I guess you could say Ruby Dee, but it was between her, Ronan and Catherine Keener. Poor Keener got the snubber-rooskie.

Best animated feature film of the year
“Persepolis”
“Ratatouille”
“Surf's Up”

Surprises: What the hell? Surf's Up!? Oh well, Ratatouille will kick some rat ass.

Achievement in directing
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” for Julian Schnabel
“Juno” for Jason Reitman
“Michael Clayton” for Tony Gilroy
“No Country for Old Men” for Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
“There Will Be Blood” for Paul Thomas Anderson

Surprises: Reitman didn't see the nomination coming because it should be Sean Penn's!

Best motion picture of the year
“Atonement” (Focus Features)
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)

Surprises: There are no real surprises, but a big snub on "Into the Wild," of course. I would have rather "Michael Clayton" off the list.

Adapted screenplay
“Atonement” (Focus Features)Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
“Away from Her” (Lionsgate)Written by Sarah Polley
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (Miramax/Pathé Renn)Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Surprises: Repeat after me: No "Into the Wild"???

Original screenplay
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)Written by Diablo Cody
“Lars and the Real Girl” (MGM) Written by Nancy Oliver
“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)Written by Tony Gilroy
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney)Screenplay by Brad BirdStory by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
“The Savages” (Fox Searchlight) Written by Tamara Jenkins

Surprises: "Michael Clayton" seems to be a favorite to snub out other predictions.

Juno, Atonement, The Bucket List

Juno

Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Gardner & Jason Bateman

It's quirky, trendy, fun and easy to spend and hour and a half with it's title character, "Juno." In a world of cliques, rules and judgements, Juno (Ellen Page) finds herself thrown into a world where none that matters when she becomes pregnant with Bleeker's (Michael Cera) baby. She decides to have the kid and give it away to a family in need of child - that would be Jennifer Gardner in her best performance to date as Vanessa Loring and Jason Bateman as her reluctant husband, Mark.

Ellen Page is phenomenal, bringing her amiable, wisecracking cynicism to the role, and with the popularity "Juno" has received from the public, Page will be expected to become a favorite, and hopefully not a sell-out (I trust her though). The reality of pregnancy mixed with the hilarious, though over-the-top dialogue, by newcomer Diablo Cody creates a world we know and love to watch.

Grade: A-

Atonement

Starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai & Vanessa Redgrave

Joe Wright, director of "Pride & Prejudice," enables himself to bring a story of longing to life with some of the most beautiful shots I've seen in years. The story is Briony's (Saoirse Ronan, age 13; Romola Garai, age 18; and Vanessa Redgrave), a girl who tragically mistakes (or lies) about an occurrence she didn't fully understand. The occurrence involves a number of people, but most particularly Cecilia (Keira Knightley), her sister, and Robbie, Cecilia's love interest and Briony's childhood crush. Briony's the only witness, but an unreliable one. As time goes by, Robbie is forced into the military and Cecilia exiles herself from her family, while Briony seeks atonement.

Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey ("World Trade Center" & "The Hours") deserves Oscar for his captivating shots, rich with color, angles and symmetry. There is a point in the film, when Robbie and a few army friends walk along a beach of other soldiers waiting to deport. The shot lasts for about five minutes and doesn't stop to blink. There is so much beauty in the filming that it's difficult to take in everything, just as it's difficult for the characters for forgive and forget and reconcile.

Grade: A

The Bucket List

Starring Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman

You would think that Mr. Freeman, a one-time Oscar winner, and Mr. Nicholson, a three-time Oscar winner, would know not to do a movie that involves Rob Reiner and the Seven Wonders of the World. They are obviously losing their minds. "The Bucket List" is the slowest, crappiest, piece of junk I've seen in a while. The only thing that brings the film up a few notches is the duo of caliber. The film was so low budget that they couldn't even spend the money to go to the pyramids or the Himalayas or anywhere else the script takes them - oh, and what a horrible script! The two characters don't even get off their asses for an hour of the movie. Then they fly around together and die. I hate this movie.

Grade: D

Golden Globe Picks 2008

Here are my picks to win at the 2008 Golden Globes - even though the goddamned thing isn't on. Predicted winners are large and bold!

Best Motion Picture - Drama
American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promises

The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Cate Blanchett – Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie – Away From Her
Jodie Foster – The Brave One
Angelina Jolie – A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley – Atonement

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
George Clooney – Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis – There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy – Atonement
Viggo Mortensen – Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington – American Gangster

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Across The Universe
Charlie Wilson's War

Hairspray

Juno

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams – Enchanted
Nikki Blonsky – Hairspray
Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Marion Cotillard – La Vie En Rose
Ellen Page – Juno

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Ryan Gosling – Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Hanks – Charlie Wilson's War
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Savages
John C. Reilly – Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett – I'm Not There
Julia Roberts – Charlie Wilson's War
Saoirse Ronan – Atonement
Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Casey Affleck – The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem – No Country For Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson's War
John Travolta – Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson – Michael Clayton

Best Animated Feature Film
Bee Movie
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie

Best Foreign Language Film
4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days (Romania)
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (France, United States)
The Kite Runner (United States)
Lust, Caution (Taiwan)
Persepolis (France)

Best Director - Motion Picture
Tim Burton – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen – No Country For Old Men
Julian Schnabel – The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Ridley Scott – American Gangster
Joe Wright – Atonement

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Atonement Written by Christopher Hampton
Charlie Wilson's War Written by Aaron Sorkin
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly Written by Ronald Harwood
Juno Written by Diablo Cody
No Country For Old Men Written by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Grace Is Gone Composed by Clint Eastwood
The Kite Runner Composed by Alberto Iglesias
Atonement Composed by Dario Marianelli
Eastern Promises Composed by Howard Shore
Into The Wild

Composed by Michael Brook, Kaki King and Eddie Vedder

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
"Despedida" – Love In The Time Of Cholera
"Grace Is Gone" – Grace Is Gone
"Guaranteed" – Into The Wild
"That's How You Know" – Enchanted
"Walk Hard" – Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Best Television Series - Drama
Big Love (HBO)
Damages (FX NETWORK)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
House (FOX)
Mad Men (AMC)
The Tudors (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Patricia Arquette – Medium (NBC)
Glenn Close – Damages (FX NETWORK)
Minnie Driver – The Riches (FX NETWORK)
Edie Falco – The Sopranos (HBO)
Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Holly Hunter – Saving Grace (TNT)
Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama
Michael C. Hall – Dexter (SHOWTIME)
Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)
Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)
Bill Paxton – Big Love (HBO)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors (SHOWTIME)

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
30 Rock (NBC)
Californication (SHOWTIME)

Entourage (HBO)

Extras (HBO)
Pushing Daisies (ABC)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? (ABC)
America Ferrera – Ugly Betty (ABC)
Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)
Anna Friel – Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)
Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)
David Duchovny – Californication (SHOWTIME)
Ricky Gervais – Extras (HBO)
Lee Pace – Pushing Daisies (ABC)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee (HBO)
The Company (TNT)

Five Days (HBO)
Longford (HBO)

The State Within (BBC)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Bryce Dallas Howard – As You Like It (HBO)
Queen Latifah – Life Support (HBO)
Debra Messing – The Starter Wife (USA)
Sissy Spacek – Pictures Of Hollis Woods (CBS)
Ruth Wilson – Jane Eyre (PBS)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Adam Beach – Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee (HBO)
Ernest Borgnine – A Grandpa For Christmas
Jim Broadbent – Longford (HBO)
Jason Isaacs – The State Within (BBC)
James Nesbitt – Jekyll (BBC)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Rose Byrne – Damages (FX NETWORK)
Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Katherine Heigl – Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Samantha Morton – Longford (HBO)
Anna Paquin – Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee (HBO)
Jaime Pressly – My Name Is Earl (NBC)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Ted Danson – Damages (FX NETWORK)
Kevin Dillon – Entourage (HBO)
Jeremy Piven – Entourage (HBO)
Andy Serkis – Longford (HBO)
William Shatner – Boston Legal (ABC)
Donald Sutherland – Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)

2008 Golden Globe Nominee Predictions (The Movies)

Here are my predictions for the 2008 Golden Globe Nominations announced this Thursday, December 13th (probable front-runners are in bold and italics):

Best Motion Picture - Drama

• Atonement
• No Country for Old Men
• There Will Be Blood
• American Gangster
• Michael Clayton

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

• Juno
• Sweeney Todd
• Charlie Wilson's War (if it's considered a comedy???)
• The Savages
• Waitress

Best Actor - Drama

• Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
• Tommy Lee Jones - In the Valley of Elah
• James MacAvoy - Atonement
• George Clooney - Michael Clayton
• Denzel Washington - American Gangster

Best Actor - Musical or Comedy

• Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd
• Tom Hanks - Charlie Wilson's War (where does this belong???)
• Philip Seymour Hoffan - The Savages
• Ryan Gosling - Lars and the Real Girl
• Jack Nicholson - The Bucket List

Best Actress - Drama

• Julie Christie - Away from Her
• Keira Knightley - Atonement
• Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
• Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
• Jodie Foster - The Brave One

Best Actress - Musical or Comedy

• Ellen Page - Juno
• Amy Adams - Enchanted
• Marion Colltilard - La Vie en Rose
• Laura Linney - The Savages
• Keri Russell - Waitress

Best Supporting Actor - Drama, Musical or Comedy

• Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
• Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild
• Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton
• Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War
• Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James

Best Supporting Actress - Drama, Musical or Comedy

• Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There
• Saoirse Ronan - Atonement
• Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
• Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
• Jennifer Jason Leigh - Margot at the Wedding