For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 7) Odd Man Out (1947), directed by Carol Reed 6) Hunger (2008), directed by Steve McQueen In the course of the past couple years, I have watched a number of movies from and about Ireland. I’ve seen Ken Loach’s takes, and John Ford’s… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 7-5
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 10) Don’t Look Now (1973), directed by Nicolas Roeg As a mystery in English, I’m not sure there’s another picture that compares to Don’t Look Now until Mulholland Drive, and even then those two movies take such different approaches to solving mysteries that… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 10-8
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 15) Mr. Turner (2014), directed by Mike Leigh J.M.W. Turner was famous for his seascapes. There’s nary a person to be found there; there are the clouds, the sun, the ships, of course the water. But people are of less interest,… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 15-11
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 20) Sapphire (1959), directed by Basil Dearden Murder will out, but what’s most interesting to me about the outing in this movie is the reaction. The primary suspect all along was David. His pregnant black girlfriend was found murdered in… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 20-16
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 25) Black Narcissus (1947), directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger Leonardo DiCaprio (Howard), Cate Blanchett (Kate), Jude Law (Errol), and Adam Scott (Johnny) are all sitting at a table together. Two of them are a little teed off about… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 25-21
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 30) This Sporting Life (1963), directed by Lindsay Anderson The British New Wave, for all of its depictions of angry young men, was not always good at finding actors to credibly play them. It is a line that Laurence Harvey… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 30-26
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 35) The Man in the White Suit (1951), directed by Alexander Mackendrick The most successful of the British labor comedies, The Man in the White Suit does a good job of making the comedy work. This is a fairly zany movie largely… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 35-31
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 40) Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), directed by Nagisa Oshima A pair of character foils anchor this movie, which lacks the household recognition of Bridge on the River Kwai but which is superior in most aspects. (The music is no exception. Give me… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 40-36
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 45) Hamlet (1996), directed by Kenneth Branagh The only Shakespeare adaptation I’ve put on this list is almost certainly the longest. I’ve expressed my admiration for Olivier’s Hamlet before, which is exciting and well acted on top of having really fascinating production design… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 45-41
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here And we’re back! Halfway through, let’s keep rolling. 50) Howards End (1992), directed by James Ivory As sumptuous as the sets of Howards End are, and as lovely the costumes, all of it enhanced by some seriously underrated photography by Tony Pierce-Roberts, this… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 50-46
Seeing Things Secondhand 