Top 100 Films: 80-71

First of all... I'm sorry it's taken me so long to continue this list. The truth is, school has been occupying some of my time.

80. Traffic (2000, dir. Steven Soderbergh)
I find this to be a much more interesting and challenging film than Gladiator, which beat Traffic for best picture in 2000. What is fascinating about this film is how it provides an overarching perspective on the personal and moral toll of the drug trade in the United States, but it does this without become a polemic. Rather, it is all the more provactive and real for it.

79. 12 Angry Men (1957, dir. Sidney Lumet)
At times, I find that I connect with Sidney's Lumet's work more than nearly any other director, particularly his films that I think are his most personal statements: Night Falls on Manhattan (1996), Q&A (1990), Daniel (1984), The Verdict (1982), Serpico (1973). No other director is able to dramatize the personal and ethical struggle of his characters more than Sidney Lumet, who seems to be first and foremest concerned with flawed individuals struggling to do the right thing.

78. Malcolm X (1992, dir. Spike Lee)
Conventional wisdom seems to indicate that Do the Right Thing (1989) is Spike Lee's undisputed masterpiece, but I put forth this stunningly involving biopic. The force of Denzel Washington's towering performance and the weight of Spike Lee's masterful handling of the subject matter hit the viewer like a ton of bricks.

77. Kinsey (2004, dir. Bill Condon)
My vote for most underrated film of 2004 would go to Bill Condon's wonderfully absorbing biopic of Alfred Kinsey. In fact, I happen to think it's the best film of 2004. Although Laura Linney and Liam Neeson's sensitive portrayals carry the film in many ways, this is the film in which Bill Condon reveals himself to be a director of deep artistic vision.

76. The Apartment (1960, dir. Billy Wilder )
With wonderful performances by Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine, Wilder's film is simply one of the most wildly entertaining love stories of all time.

75. Jurassic Park (1993, dir. Steven Spielberg)
A brilliantly entertaining film. Truly, a pitch-perfect blockbuster.

74. Erin Brockovich (2000, dir. Steven Soderbergh)
First, let me say this: I truly believe that Ellen Burstyn should have won the Academy Award for Best Actress over Julia Roberts; however, I do happen to think that Erin Brockovich is an exceptional film and that Julia Roberts gives clearly the best performance of her career.

73. The People Under the Stairs (1991, dir. Wes Craven)
This may seem like a bizarre entry, but I really that is film is an incredibly unique

and thrilling achievement.

72. When Harry Met Sally (1989, dir. Rob Reiner)
Punctuated by the great chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, this is Rob Reiner's best film. Truly hilarious.

71. Halloween (1978, dir. John Carpenter)
John Carpenter is perhaps the modern horror genre's main auteur. Halloween is not necessarily his best film (you'll more on the list), but it's a great film and it's influence can't be understated.