_The 100 Best Films of All Time (69-65) (extended and updated)

69. Il Buono, il Brutto, il Cattivo

Director: Sergio Leone
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef
Genre: Western
Academy Awards: 0
Year: 1966
Imdb-Rating: 8.7
Critic's opinion (Dragan Antulov):
Apart from the actors (including the supporting cast), THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, excels in flawless direction. With this film Sergio Leone finally matured as serious movie artist and developed his own style which many critics called "baroque". The film lasts more than two and a half hours (even longer in Italian version), but not a single scene looks unnecessary or overlong. Leone's directorial skills are at his finest, and he is equally effective in long panoramic shots (which lose much of its impact on TV, being subjected to pan&scan butchery) and his trademark short extreme close-up. Superb editing mixes those elements in perfect combination. But the most memorable element is, of course, the music. Ennio Morricone, in his long and hyperproductive career worked with many directors, but none of them used his talents as much as Leone. Entire scenes in the film are staged around Morricone's music, and not the other way around. Those themes are not self- serving - they provide the atmosphere of the film and, according to each scene, this atmosphere might be sentimental, melodramatic and sometimes even ironic (including the title theme, most recognisable, which gives humorous angle to certain events on the screen). Morricone's soundtrack is one the most powerful in the history cinema and it alone is the reason why this film should be so highly appreciated.

68. To Kill a Mockingbird

Director: Robert Mulligan
Cast: Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, Mary Badham, John Megna
Genre: Drama
Academy Awards: 3
Year: 1962
Imdb-Rating: 8.5
Critic's opinion (Steve Rhodes): TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of the best movies made in the 1960s. Until we rented it over the holidays, I had not seen it in its entirety in a couple of decades. Made in black and white in 1962 at a time when other movies had switched to color, it shattered many notions of what was right.

67. Se7en

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey
Genre: Thriller
Academy Awards: 0
Year: 1995
Imdb-Rating: 8.4
Critic's opinion (Steve Rhodes): SEVEN is film that pushes the edge of the movie envelope. Its artistic ancestors are probably SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and PULP FICTION, and yet SEVEN stands alone as a totally unique cinematic experience. Although a lot of the critics love it, there are many frightening and gross images that may have the squeamish heading for the exits before even the first scene is over. On the other hand, if you have a strong stomach and you liked either of SEVEN's above putative relatives, there is a good chance you may love this show as much as I did.

66. Forrest Gump

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright Penn, Gary Sinise
Genre: Comedy
Academy Awards: 6
Year: 1994
Imdb-Rating: 8.2
Critic's opinion (Dragan Antulov): At its time, just as now, FORREST GUMP was often criticised for its revisionist version of modern American history and less than flattering portrayal of individuals and movements that tried to change status quo of American society. Protagonist, instead of trying to change the world, simply follows the rules, obeys his parents and authorities and gets his reward in the form of business success and family happiness. On the other hand, those who try to rebel and be smarter than the average masses are those who are going to be punished with violence, drugs, AIDS and disillusionment. Some might find traces of Taoism in philosophy of FORREST GUMP, but in the end Groom, Roth and Zemeckis provide ending closer to Hegelian dialectics - Gump, as embodiment of "proper" America, and Jenny, as embodiment of counter-culture - reconcile their differences in bittersweet ending that gives hope for future generations. However, many viewers would care little about philosophy or political views displayed in this film; what they would really appreciate is the quality of filmmaking and the way it was used for the purposes of good, human, uplifting story - something we rarely see in Hollywood these days.

65. The Matrix

Director: Andy & Larry Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne
Genre: Sci-Fi
Academy Awards: 4
Year: 1999
Imdb-Rating: 8.5
Critic's opinion (Homer Yen): Nonetheless, it's evident that a lot of thought went into the progression of the movie and it's various sequences. I really liked the look and feel of this film. It's atmosphere and enigmatic characters (such as the Oracle and the chief Agent) suggested a world with dark secrets. The film is a dazzling feast of visuals and the action sequences are terrific, especially one featuring a helicopter rescue. Even at 135 minutes in length, the energy of the film never diminishes. `The Matrix' doesn't give you all the answers, but it's a pure adrenaline rush learning what you can.