My Top Five Favorite Films (of All Time)

As a film reviewer I believe that it is only fair that I provide a concise list of my top five favorite movies, so that you might better understand what sort of standard I'm holding the movies I review to and so that you can also see how similar your tastes are to mine. That being said, in order from my fifth favorite to my first, here are my five favorite films of all time.

5. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Once upon a time, I was fascinated with forensic psychology and romanticized the notion of working in forensics for a living, until I discovered the amount of heartache and emotional toil which goes into working in such a dark field. It was performances such as Jodie Foster's in The Silence of the Lambs which inspired me in the first place, I idolized her heroism and complete unflinching demeanor in the face of evil, and her ability to work alongside a monster as horrific as Dr. Hannibal Lecter without fear. The Silence of the Lambs is a phenomenal film which illustrates the complexity of killers and simultaneously portrays them as horrifying monsters and complex individuals who are guided to do the dreadful things they do because of past trauma and pain which they are struggling to escape. Despite its length it feels like a rather short film due to how intense it is throughout.

4. Blade Runner (1982)

Science fiction films have almost always been action movies taking place in a futuristic universe, but Blade Runner dodges that trope and instead makes for a slow burn of a film with absolutely stunning aesthetics, the best soundtrack I've ever heard from a film (Vangelis is, admittedly, my favorite composer of all time), and a deep plot which has so many complexities and small details that it may take multiple viewings to have a full understanding of the nuances within the characters which make up its script. Blade Runner is a science fiction movie for people who are interested in something that will make them think and contemplate what it is that really defines a human, and it's also breathtakingly beautiful.

3. The Pianist (2002)

As a lover of music and a lover of film, The Pianist is a movie which will probably always make me weep like a baby. It depicts the struggle of a Jewish pianist who is attempting to dodge and hide from Nazis, and without words and with an absolutely heart-wrenching performance from Adrien Brody it communicates the love for music which stretches across boundaries made by language and politics.

2. The Shining (1980)

It's difficult to write something about The Shining which hasn't already been said. While the movie is slow and takes a while to ramp up toward its scares, it's impressive in how little it has aged over the years and in how fantastic Jack Nicholson's performance will forever be. The aesthetic of the film is perhaps the most striking visual style in any film, to the point that a mere carpet pattern in the movie is enough to bring forth memories of the first time you found yourself watching the Torrance family explore the Overlook hotel. Perhaps my favorite scene within the movie is the opening sequence, which may just be the most haunting and eerie introduction to any film I've watched.

1. There Will Be Blood (2007)

Without a doubt, There Will Be Blood is forever my favorite film, and the sole reason that I don't have to hesitate when asked what my favorite movie is. Despite the darkness in its title which makes it sound more like a campy slasher horror movie, There Will Be Blood is actually a deeply emotional drama set in the early 1900's which depicts the conflict between an oil man and the preacher of the church within the small town he is attempting to take over. The film unfolds with these two deeply disturbed and crooked individuals fighting for wealth and power over the small town, and is at its heart a slow-paced and magnificent character-driven drama which reveals more about its characters and their horrible personalities with each repeated viewing.