For each movie in the top 100, I’ve written a question to answer. (It would get very, very boring for me to have to write some variation on “boy howdy, you’ll never believe how good this movie is” one hundred more times.) There’s no exact sentence or word count I’m holding myself to here, but… Read More Top 250 American Movies: 51-60
For each movie in the top 100, I’ve written a question to answer. (It would get very, very boring for me to have to write some variation on “boy howdy, you’ll never believe how good this movie is” one hundred more times.) There’s no exact sentence or word count I’m holding myself to here, but… Read More Top 250 American Movies: 61-70
For each movie in the top 100, I’ve written a question to answer. (It would get very, very boring for me to have to write some variation on “boy howdy, you’ll never believe how good this movie is” one hundred more times.) There’s no exact sentence or word count I’m holding myself to here, but… Read More Top 250 American Movies: 71-80
For each movie in the top 100, I’ve written a question to answer. (It would get very, very boring for me to have to write some variation on “boy howdy, you’ll never believe how good this movie is” one hundred more times.) There’s no exact sentence or word count I’m holding myself to here, but… Read More Top 250 American Movies: 81-90
For each movie in the top 100, I’ve written a question to answer. (It would get very, very boring for me to have to write some variation on “boy howdy, you’ll never believe how good this movie is” one hundred more times.) There’s no exact sentence or word count I’m holding myself to here, but… Read More Top 250 American Movies: 91-100
Things are changing! In honor of how far up the list we are (here’s the most recent entry), I’m giving myself a third sentence instead of just two to write about these movies, as a treat. 150) Tower (2016), directed by Keith Maitland In documentaries with unusual forms, it’s most common that the function is,… Read More Top 250 American Movies: 101-150
Same rules as before for this stretch of the list. We’re limiting comments on each movie to literally two sentences in order to keep this train on schedule. 200) Monterey Pop (1968), directed by D.A. Pennebaker There’s an invisible line around this point which separates great movies which achieve that greatness alongside (or even despite)… Read More Top 250 American Movies: 151-200
A little more than five years ago, I finished the only list project on this site which tried to speak for a consensus as well as myself. That was the Better than AFI’s Top 100, which is still my favorite project I’ve ever done, but which I’ve been distancing myself from for five years. You… Read More Top 250 American Movies: Intro and 201-250
To see the intro to this project, as well as links to other decades, click here. 68) “Cups,” from Pitch Perfect (2012) When this movie was released, we were still four years away from TikTok. It’s a rare case where the movies feel like they’re running ahead of the zeitgeist rather than trailing behind it… Read More Listen to America: The 2010s and 2020s
To see the intro to this project, as well as links to other decades, click here. 60) “Man of Constant Sorrow,” from O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) I don’t think any movie has ever used the word “damn” to humorous effect quite like O Brother. “Damn we’re in a tight spot!” is one of… Read More Listen to America: The 2000s
Seeing Things Secondhand 