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Casablanca (1942), The Battle of Algiers (1966), Pather Panchali (1955), and La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (1928) sit atop this year's list, holding the same positions they did last year This year's Top 100* is a tad less diverse than last year's. While there are still only 34 films from English language-speaking countries, we are down to 27 countries featured in the Top 100 (last year, there was a record high of 28). The most represented countries are, in order: USA (26 films),

This bulleted list of observations from watching Aguirre, the Wrath of God were written while and after watching the film during the summer between my junior and senior years of college. Following the bulleted list is a blurb-sized stream of consciousness review of further observations I made about the film upon rewatching it for a scholarly film discussion in 2020. My overall rating for the film was 4 stars out of a possible 4. It was the 240th feature-length film to receive

These are reviewettes: short writings that are not long enough to be official reviews, but are composed within a couple hours of completing a film, just like my standard reviews. These are presented in order from newest to oldest and grouped together by the year that the film was first watched. All films are rated on a scale from Worthless to 4 Stars. 2018- Greed (1924) 4 Stars -- Greed is fascinating, but watching it as it exists today only makes you wonder what it must hav

This review/personal analysis hybrid of Crash was the final extended writing I composed post-filmwatching during my junior year at college -- papers for my film classes not withstanding. My overall rating for the film was 3.5 stars out of a possible 4. On my scale, 3.5 stars qualifies as "very good". The music was off-putting, but it fit. The screenplay was off-putting, but it fit. Every performance was phenomenal, apart from Holly Hunter’s, which was more a distraction than

This review/recounting of a filmwatching experience hybrid was written about an hour after my friends and I got back from seeing Thor: Ragnarok in theatres right before the fall break of my junior year at college. My overall rating for the movie was 3 stars out of a possible 4. On my scale, 3 stars qualifies as "good." What can I say? All of the Thor-led movies are enjoyable and worth someone’s time. Sure, I might be a little biased since Thor is my favorite superhero, but I

This recounting of my filmwatching experience and imagined reverie about having a potential discussion on To Live with its director Zhang Yimou were jotted down shortly after completing the film during the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college. My overall rating for the film was 4 stars out of a possible 4. It was the 228th feature-length film to receive my highest rating distinction. This time, I promise I just have a couple quick notes. My youngest brother

This stream of consciousness review and personal appreciation (from the point of view of a then-aspiring filmmaker) was written after watching Cléo de 5 à 7 during the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college. My overall rating for the film was 3.5 stars out of 4. On my scale, 3.5 stars qualifies as "very good." This is one of the most fascinating character studies that I have ever seen. Countless times in the film, singer Cléo (played brilliantly by Corinne Ma

For each director's list, feature films, shorts, and TV movies will be included. To avoid excessively skewing any judgment of the cinematic works, the actual star ratings I've awarded each title will not be provided. However, there will be two asterisks included after the release year to signify that the work has received my highest star rating: 4 stars. As directors "graduate" to a higher tier increment, they will be moved to the corresponding director page and their ranking

This interpretation and dissection of The Exterminating Angel was written about an hour after completing the film and rewatching its final 20-ish minutes during the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college. My overall rating for the film was 4 stars out of a possible 4. It was the 225th feature-length film to receive my highest rating distinction. Here is how I see this film. I should probably clarify that I mean, “Here is my interpretation of this film.” I wan

This personal appreciation of L'Avventura was the final extended writing I composed post-filmwatching during my sophomore year at college -- film class papers notwithstanding. My overall rating was 4 stars out of a possible 4. It was the 223rd film to receive my highest rating distinction I absolutely loved this film. Though I must say: this was not what I expected. I knew the basic plot and read the reports of the film being booed after its premiere at Cannes for its slow pa

This review was written about an hour after finishing Carrie during the spring semester of my sophomore year at college. My overall rating was 2 stars out of a possible 4. On my scale, 2 stars qualifies as "okay/average." I did not like this movie. Now maybe that’s not a surprise to some, since I find horror to be one of the more immature narrative film genres, despite it being one of the oldest genres in cinema. I talked out what I liked and did not like with my roommate, so

This structured stream of consciousness reflection/review was written in the immediate aftermath of completing Arrival during the spring semester of my sophomore year at college. In preparation for that year's 89th Academy Awards, I saw all 9 Best Picture nominees: Arrival was the final nominee watched. My overall rating for the film is 4 stars out of a possible 4. It was the 220th film to receive my highest rating distinction. I just don’t know where to start. I have just fi

For each director's list, feature films and shorts will be included. To avoid excessively skewing any judgment of the cinematic works, the actual star ratings I've awarded each title will not be provided. However, there will be two asterisks included after the release year to signify that the work has received my highest star rating: 4 stars. As directors "graduate" to a higher tier increment, they will be moved to the corresponding director page and their rankings will be re

This review I wrote after watching La La Land during the spring semester of my sophomore year at college. In preparation for that year's 89th Academy Awards, I saw all 9 Best Picture nominees: La La Land was the seventh nominee watched. My overall rating for the film was 3.5 stars out of a possible 4. On my scale, 3.5 stars qualifies as "very good." 2016 has been a terrific year for Classic Hollywood. I realize that this must sound truly bizarre, seeing that Hollywood’s Golde

This is a running list of the cinematic works that I watched for the first time in 2026 that I feel deserve 4 Stars (my highest film-rating distinction). The titles below are listed in the order that I saw them and grouped together by the month in which they were watched. January: Land of Silence and Darkness (1971) March: Daughters of the Dust (1991) April: Chronicle of the Years of Fire (1975) The Substance (2024) Snow Bear (2025) (short)

This review was written shortly after completing Manchester by the Sea during the spring semester of my sophomore year at college. In preparation for that year's 89th Academy Awards, I saw all 9 Best Picture nominees: Manchester by the Sea was the sixth nominee watched. My overall rating for the film was 2 stars out of a possible 4. On my scale, 2 stars qualifies as "okay/average." Oh my God this dragged on! I truly suffered during this film. I went into this with stupid hope

This is a stream of consciousness review I wrote after watching Hell or High Water during the spring semester of my sophomore year at college. More specifically, it details the path I traveled when deciding upon this film's star rating. In preparation for that year's 89th Academy Awards, I saw all 9 Best Picture nominees: Hell or High Water was the fifth nominee watched. My overall rating for the film was 3.5 stars out of a possible 4. On my scale, 3.5 stars qualifies as "ver

This is a stream of consciousness-inspired short review I wrote after completing Hacksaw Ridge during the spring semester of my sophomore year at college. In preparation for that year's 89th Academy Awards, I saw all 9 Best Picture nominees: Hacksaw Ridge was the second nominee watched. My overall rating for the movie was 3 stars out of a possible 4. On my scale, 3 stars qualifies as "good." Hacksaw Ridge does a tremendous job of making it feel like you have been transport

Most recent addition: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) The films included here are the select few that I have given my highest distinction when it comes to love, romance, and the strength/execution of romantic plot elements in narrative feature films: 4 hearts out of 4. The films listed here will include their release/premiere year (in the primary producing nation's country), the primary producing nation(s), director, stars, and applicable genres (excluding Romance, for obviou

This review was composed a few hours after seeing Moonlight during the spring semester of my sophomore year at college. In preparation for that year's 89th Academy Awards, I saw all 9 Best Picture nominees, with Moonlight being the first film watched. My overall rating for the film was 4 stars out of a possible 4. It was the 219th film to receive my highest rating distinction. This film really made me think. To help put this statement into perspective, allow me to present to