Top 100 Films: 30-21

30. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
The only Academy Award Stanley Kubrick ever won was for special achievement in visual effects, which he received for this film. Not only was the award completely deserved (as were many others as far as Kubrick is concerned), but 2001 is perhaps the most awe-inspiring visual achievement in cinema, period.

29. Nixon (1995, dir. Oliver Stone)
From 1986 to 1995, Oliver Stone was responsible for some of the most provocative and indelible films of the 20th century. In 1986 he released a personal, terrifying, and utterly unique statement on the war in Vietnam with Platoon; that same year he directed the fiery and brilliant political thriller Salvador. In 87, he presented the world with Wall Street, an eerily salient reflection of the role of economic greed in the American experience. In 89, Stone returned to the Vietnam War with Born on the Fourth of July, and in doing so produced perhaps the last great film on the subject. In 1990, Stone directed the flawed but inimitable Jim Morrison biopic The Doors. In 1991, JFK made Stone the "most dangerous man in America" and the release of Natural Born Killers in 1994 was arguably more controversial. But in 1995, Stone gave audiences one of the best films of his career with Nixon. Stone's dark, layered film achieves an almost operatic power in it's piercing study of America's most self-destructively human president.

28. Mississippi Burning (1988, dir. Alan Parker)
American has a complicated past when it comes to race relations and no matter how many African-American presidents we elect, that past will not go away. Mississippi Burning literally unearths the dead remains of that past with it's absorbing account of the investigation into the deaths of four civil rights workers in 1964. Amazingly directed by Englishman Alan Parker, this film comes closer than nearly any other in confronting the darkness of American history.

27. Annie Hall (1977, dir. Woody Allen)
Woody Allen may not believe he's made a masterpiece, but why would we take his word for it? Watch his movies and see for yourself. I've seen most of Woody Allen's work and one of my absolute favorites is Annie Hall. I'm obviously not alone in my love for this film. It did win Best Picture, and rightfully so. It's one of the most unique, funny, and emotionally true films ever made.

26. Sunset Boulevard (1950, dir. BillyWilder)
For me, this is the definitive film of Billy Wilder's diverse, wildly successful career. It is as finely executed and boldly overstated as anything ever done, right down to the film's expert structure and the go-for-broke brilliance of Gloria Swanson's performance.

25. The Shawshank Redemption (1994, dir. Frank Darabont)
In my opinion, Frank Darabont has a had a spotty career. I was one of those that thought The Mist was an inconsistent, though occasionally gripping, film that at times was damaged by contrived and simplistic characterizations (Thomas Jane's performance didn't help either). In the larger scheme of things, Darabont's sweet-natured but clumsy The Majestic was far too harshly criticized, but it was by no means a great film. And although The Green Mile was highly acclaimed and received a best picture nomination, in hindsight the film is not as striking as it seemed in 1999. However, I have nothing negative to say about Darabont's stunning 1994 feature The Shawshank Redemption. This film is a remarkably powerful emotional journey crafted with exquisite richness and simply great performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freemen.

24. The Departed (2006, dir. Martin Scorcese)
When The Departed was first released, many critics said it was Scorcese's best film since Goodfellas. I'll do them one better. I think it's a better film than Goodfellas. How can the Departed, a remake of the popular Japanese thriller Infernal Affairs, be better than something as imperceptibly perfect as Goodfellas? Well, firstly I don't think Goodfellas is perfect, but secondly I thought the themes of class, loyalty, and personal identity were more clearly and in some ways more relevantly expressed in The Departed. The performances are just as rich in my opinions with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon (in the best performance to date), and Jack Nicholson making wonderful turns in the film. Also, I think The Departed is as stylistically muscular as anything Scorcese has ever done. Overall, this a preciously rare example of a thriller being a truly great film.

23. Ghostbusters (1984, dir. Ivan Reitman)
As one of the most imaginative and breathtakingly hilarious comedies ever, it is entirely appropriate that Ghostbusters be considered simply one of the best films ever.

22. L.A. Confidential (1997, dir. Curtis Hanson)
I know what you're thinking... if he thought the career of Academy Award nominated filmmaker Frank Darabont was spotty, what will he think about Curtis Hanson? The truth is, I generally don't think about Curtis Hanson, especially since Lucky You left such a terrible taste in my mouth (that film was AWFUL). But I can't deny the extraordinary skill Hanson showed with L.A. Confidential. This utterly absorbing crime epic examines the complex nature of justice in a morally corrupt and exploitative world.

21. Rushmore (1998, dir. Wes Anderson)
Wes Anderson is one of the most innovative American filmmakers of the last twenty years. Over the course of his career making films like Bottle Rocket, the incomparable Royal Tenenbaums, Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and The Darjeeling Limited, Anderson has crystallized a wholly individualistic style that has proven to be broadly influential. Of all of his films, Rushmore is my favorite. In my opinion it is not only his most finely honed work emotionally, but it is as creatively well-wrought as anything he's done.