I have seen the similar post at the [f.g.i.] site, as the initiator of this blogathon was Fandango Groovers Movie Blog, and I love the idea. The gist is the next: you name your favorite film of each year, beginning with the year of your birth. And it order to see the main article with the links to the posts of other partcipiants, click here.
I thought that I could come up with two movies, like the most favorite one and the runner-up. However, there were some years when I hardly could choose one film that I, at least, like. But it can be explained easily: I haven't seen enough movies, especially ones made in the beginning of 1990's.
Here we go.
1990 – Winner: Pretty Woman. This movie is just a good example of quality romantic comedy. It doesn't live up to the status of the classic ones, but it is a great watch, if to compare it with the pictures of this genre made nowadays. Runner-up: Edward Scissorhands. Touching and quirky, and Johnny Depp starring — isn't it a great choice?
1991 – Winner: The Silence of the Lambs. I love mystery films and this film is one of the finest examples of such. Runner-up: Beauty and the Beast. Yeah, Walt Disney pictures manage to sneak into any list possible, and mine is not an exception.
1992 – It was tough. I have seen only few movies of this year and it happened so that there is no movie that I love a lot among those I watched. Nonetheless, I don't want to leave gaps in this post. Winner: Far and Away.
1993 – Winner: Schindler's List. Another tough year, no runner-up again.
1994 – Winner: The Shawshank Redemption. Oh, I love this movie; it is simply great. I think it is one of those films everyone should see. Runner-up: Forrest Gump. As I'm writing this post, I start thinking whether I should provide you with explanation why I chose this or that movie. So, if at the end of the post, you'll see only titles, don't be surprised.
1995 – Winner: Se7en. Well, it's the best Fincher picture, not the one released last year. Runner-up: Sense and Sensibility.
1996 – Winner: Marvin's Room. Once again a difficult for me year, and this film is not among my all-time favorites, but there are Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio in it! Overall, this film is good but way too sad (not the kind of sadness I like in movies). No runner-up.
1997 – Winner: Titanic. Yes, yes, yes, I like it. Runner-up: The Fifth Element.
1998 – Winner: Following. Explanation: Christopher Nolan's brilliance. Runner-up: Elizabeth. Explanation: Cate Blanchett's Brilliance.
1999 – Winner: American Beauty. I wasn't the fan when I saw it for the first time, probably, because it was on TV and was interrupted by many commercials. But then I revisited it and I LOVED it! Besides, in my heart, there is a place for movies about boring life in the suburbs. I don't even know why, I live in the capital. Runner-up: Fight Club. Another best of Fincher.
2000 – Winner: Memento. Runner-up: Gladiator.
2001 – Winner: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Runner-up: it was the battle between Donnie Darko and A Beautiful Mind, but I decided in favor of the latter one. I know that many consider it overrated but I like it a lot. But I think these two movies are almost equal for me.
2002 – Winner: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. You know, normal people would confine themselves with just one movie of a trilogy, but not me. These series are in my top 3 list of all-time favorites, so I can't name just one. Runner-up: Chicago. Again, there was a struggle between this one and Gangs of New York.
2003 – Winner: you guessed it, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Epic. Runner-up: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Hell yes. I've wanted to write a short post about my love to this movie. Maybe, I'll do it soon.
2004 – Winner: Million Dollar Baby. Runner-up: Kill Bill: Vol. 2.
2005 – Winner: Brokeback Mountain. Runner-up: Batman Begins.
2006 – Winner: Little Miss Sunshine. I find it very uplifting, and I'm mad about good movies that expand on the relationships within a family. Runner-up: The Devil Wears Prada.
2007 – Even though I love both No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood, they don't get into the list. Winner: Atonement. Runner-up: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
2008 – Winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It makes me cry every bloody time I watch it. Runner-up: Milk. EDIT (May 9, 2011): How could I forget about The Dark Knight??? It's beyond me. It is the winner, i.e. Benjamin Button is the runner-up.
2009 – Winner: Avatar. Runner-up: Inglourious Basterds.
2010 – Runner-up: Black Swan. Winner: INCEPTION!
2011 – No. Be kind, I've seen only two movies of this year, but shh, don't tell anyone…
I feel that this post is an absolute mess and slapdash work in the terms of its writing… But it was fun! What would your choices be?
Yeay!! I love that you gave a runner up too, I should have done that as I found it very hard to pin down to a single film from some years.
ReplyDeleteLittle Miss Sunshine is on my list too...great job!
Great list, lots of Christopher Nolan, that has to be a good thing! Thanks for joining in.
ReplyDeleteCool! I'm gonna do this! I actually liked the unorganized "mess" of this post. Much more fun to read ^^
ReplyDeletea big applause for putting ELIZABETH in the list, sister :)
ReplyDeleteI love that you did runners up. That's a great idea. The more I think about it, I should've chosen Atonement as my favorite 2007 movie too. I loved it, and cried like a baby at the end.
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about American Beauty too.
@Custard, I just couldn't do it without runners-up, I love too many movies. Little Miss Sunshine is great!
ReplyDelete@Andy, I've just noticed that I missed The Dark Knight. I must be insted of Benjamin Button. How could I miss the film... Thanks for the great blogathon idea.
@Chelsea, haha, thanks. I'll be attentive not to miss your post.
@Dezmond, yay, glad you appreciate.
@Brittani, 2007 was such a sad year: a bunch of great movies but so heartbreaking ones.
Four Nolan films! I can't argue with that since I had the same number. I think it's all but assured that he would get five if this blogathon were done after 2012.
ReplyDeletewww.pseudo6man.blogspot.com
Love that you used Titanic and Beauty and the Beast!
ReplyDeleteYeah, you need to get in touch with Stevee of Cinematic Paradox - you both have an insane love of Nolan that dare not speak its name. To pick Following even - wow! What, no Insomnia? ;)
ReplyDeleteKidding aside, I quite love many of your choices (and runner-ups), though you're the second entry I've read in a row just now to select all three LOTR flicks. Too much!
@Dan, I hope The Dark Knight Rises will live up to the expectations! However, I wouldn't really care if it doesn't. Nolan is great anyway.
ReplyDelete@Bluej, a little bit of romanticism.
@Fletch, I regularly read Stevee's blog, how could I miss it? :) To be honest, I wasn't the fan of Insomnia. In comparison with it, Following is hundredfold better! I also read a post from Anomalous Material, in which they used all three LOTR movies. Even though it may be too much, I couldn't set aside any of the films. Thanks for the comment!
I haven't even posted anything yet on my own blog relating to what I am gonna write about but I wanna do this so bad, man!
ReplyDeleteThough I wouldn't have picked a couple over some (Pretty Women over Edward Scissorhands), it's a really good list, and I LOVE the love for LOTR.
Thank you for the follow btw!
Following back! (I love your blog name, too)
Cherokee, I'm pretty sure that you saw the similar post at Cinematic Paradox. Even though the blogathon is oficially over, it'll be interesting to see your version. Thanks for kind words.
ReplyDeleteWow you truly are a Nolan fan. I fancy Memento best by his films and thought Inception could have been a modern masterpiece with some tweaks.
ReplyDelete@Joel, yes, I am. Nolan is probably the only one director whom I can call my favorite. While I love many works by Scorsese and Hitchcock etc., I can't say the same about them.
ReplyDelete