Via Matt and Annie comes a meme I can identify with. Except that each time someone asks me about this sort of thing, I can never provide a full list as I keep changing my mind and then later remember something that I really enjoyed but didn’t think of at the time.

Simply it’s list your top ten favourite films. This is meant to be distinct from your list of top ten best films. Cultural Snow’s Tim even goes so far as to say that the second list “MUST NOT INCLUDE ANY TITLE ON YOUR ‘10 BEST’ LIST”. This to me means that this can’t be my top ten because my top ten best films also has some films which are in my top ten favourite films. Regardless, here is a list of ten films I like a lot.

1. Blade Runner
Always number one but suprisingly, I don’t own it on DVD. This is because I don’t feel that there’s been a DVD that does the film justice (i.e. not enough extras, only one version of the film etc.) You don’t want to get me in a drunken discussion about which version is better because I like both versions and, in that eternal debate about whether Deckard is a replicant
or not, take bits from both films which I feel compliment each other. And despite Ridley’s Scott pronouncement that yes, he intended Deckard to be a replicant, I feel that’s far too simplistic a solution. And yes, I even like the voice over. Why? Because I grew up with it. I loved the film despite it and will not get into the whole elitist “oh but it’s so much better without the voiceover which was added as an afterthought anyway, donchaknow darlinks, wot wot wot!” The best thing the director’s cut did was get rid of the “happy” ending. I could (and probably should) write a whole post on Blade Runner alone and why I think it’s one of the best films ever made and certainly the film that I could accept being known as my all
time favourite.

2. Star Wars
Well it had to be really. I just about remember seeing this film first time around. Unlike Blade Runner, I have to stipulate that this is the original version and not the bastardized, Stalinist revision that is only available now. In my version, Han Solo shot first. I can’t say much more
than that. I’ve been a Star Wars fan since 1978 and will probably continue to be so despite Lucas’ best attempt at destroying the brand. (This might also have to cover my desire to add the rest of the late 70’s/early 80’s Lucas/Spielberg films because they alone could make up half this list. Perhaps an addendum is in order.)

3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Most people rate Life of Brian above Holy Grail but personally I think this is one of the funniest films of all time. It’s the film I know will cheer me up at any given moment in time. Need I say more? Yes? Tough!

4. The Big Lebowski
Up until 2001, The Coen Brothers could do no wrong. Since then, their output has been average by their standards. Their last few films have been better than most but don’t match the heyday of all their films up to and including “The Man Who Wasn’t There”. I find it quite difficult to choose between most of their works and choose the Big Lebowski because in I think it’s one of the more accessible of their films. And because it’s so damn funny. Still waiting for a decent DVD release though.

5. Seven
To my mind, this is almost a perfect film. It still continues to freak me out to a certain extent because it’s so well done. Scariest moment? When they interview the man about the “Lust” killing - you don’t see anything apart from his reaction and then you get a brief description of what happened. All the rest is left up to your imagination. And just understanding what went on makes John Doe one of the most vicious and evil men in cinematic history. It’s also a film that demands that kudos be given to Brad Pitt. Not only did he show he could act but he also said he would refuse to take part if the ending was changed by the studio as nearly happened. Let’s not forget that the ending was also very downbeat - a very rare thing for mainstream films. (Oh, and any film which opens with a Nine Inch Nails song can’t be all bad, can it?)

6. Fight Club
Appropriately I have to follow Seven with the other Fincher/Pitt collaboration, the marvellous adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s Generation X novel. I actually think that Fight Club is an unusual case of the film being better than the book. I originally saw this film with a friend who
hated it. The only reason I can figure this is because he was someone who did define themselves by the car that he drove, the clothes that he wore and the contents of his wallet. Me? I don’t. I think I’m typical Generation X (or, more to the point, Generation X-Wing), disenfranchised with modern living and victim to the IKEA nesting mentality. And for that reason alone, Fight Club touched a nerve in me. Anyway, it’s a film with great visuals, cracking soundtrack and immensably quotable dialogue. Plus it wins an award for Best Use Of A Pixies Song In A Film Ever.

7. American Beauty
I was totally in awe of this film when I first saw it. So much about it is good - the performances, the direction, the photography, the writing. This could be a contender for my Best Films Ever list too but for now it’s going into this list. In a way, it’s the same film thematically as Fight Club but totally different in all other respects. Won more Oscars too.

8. Jean de Florette/Manon des Sources
Strictly speaking, this is two films but I’m going to treat them as one because they follow each other so well that you could more or less splice both films together with a simple “10 years later…” subtitle. The films are beautifully shot and the story is moving, tragic and involving. And, of course, the inspiration behind all those Stella Artois adverts.

9. Oldboy
This Korean film is one I raved about last year. I can’t remember the last time a film had such an immediate impact on me. Surprisingly, even though I include it in this list, I haven’t watched it since. That might demean it’s inclusion but quite frankly, it’s my list and I don’t care. I keep recommending this to people because I was blown away. The corridor fight scene is still one of the most impressive single shot scenes I’ve seen in a film ever. You probably won’t like this if you don’t like action films but if you’re even the slightest bit willing to expand the range of movies you’ve seen then I urge you to see this film. If you’re a little squeamish, I also suggest
you have a cushion nearby. But stick with it because I think it’s worth the payoff.

10. Casablanca
Do I need to explain? It’s just bloody brilliant.

So an addendum: missing from this list are some absolute classics and films I can watch over and over again. Primarily these are the early Lucas/Spielberg films - namely THX 1138, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, Close Encounters and Empire Strikes Back. But I’m only limited to ten so you’ll have to accept the fact I’ve limited it to Star Wars only and take it as read that these are covered in that entry.

Now don’t make me tag people - go and do this yourself. And then, perhaps, we can have that Bloggers Film Festival that Annie suggested.