I know this has little to do with my work as an author, but I decided to put this page in anyway. I think that my taste in movies has informed my writing style, and so, it is at least sort of related. I worked at Blockbuster all through college, so I might have some favorites a lot of people haven't seen. That said, here is the list!
1. Igby Goes Down -- Yes, this is my favorite movie of all time. No, you probably haven't heard of it. It won a couple of Golden Globes, but beyond that, it's not a well-known movie. And that makes me sad. It's a sort of Catcher in the Rye for the early 2000s, and is funny, poignant, and sad all at once. However, it's definitely one of those movies that you either love or hate -- there's no in-between.
2. Pulp Fiction -- I know it's a bit of an uninspired choice. Lots of people consider it their favorite movie. But there's a reason for that. It is a fantastic flick. Well-written, well-acted, and insanely quotable, it has rightfully cemented itself as a part of the conversation in any "Best Movies" list.
3. Fight Club -- The nuances of this movie make it so rewatchable that it is almost criminal. It's one of the few movies where I forget that it's Brad Pitt on screen, and I actually accept him as the character. Ed Norton and Helena Bonham Carter are both awesome as well.
4. Iron Man -- For me, this is the best superhero movie made to date. Robert Downey Jr. is perfect, as is the tone of the movie.
5. Wonder Boys -- I have a soft spot for movies about writers, and this is the best writer-centric movie I've ever seen. It's a shame Michael Douglas didn't get more recognition for the job he did.
6. Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back -- What list is complete without at least one Star Wars movie? Empire is easily the best of the six movies.
7. Love Song for Bobby Long -- This is another litte-seen movie about writers. This one, though, is set in New Orleans, and being from the south myself, I appreciate the atmosphere the movie creates. I'm not a John Travolta fan, but he did a fantastic job in this one as an alcoholic former professor/mentor.
8. Spider-Man 2 -- Spider-Man 2 taps into something few superhero movies can. I'm not saying it's Oscar worthy or anything, but it's a fun movie that elicits real emotion.
9. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (pt. 1 and 2) -- The epic end to an epic story. I knew what was going to happen, but I couldn't look away.
10. Cool Hand Luke -- Ah, a classic. From the opening scene to the end of the movie, every part of Cool Hand Luke is nearly perfect.
11. Knocked Up -- I don't usually see a lot of comedies in "Best Movies" lists, and I think that's a big problem critics have. A good comedy is just as difficult to get right as a good drama, but they don't seem to get the same level of respect. Knocked up is one of those rare comedies that are genuinely, laugh-out-loud funny and dramatically significant at the same time. And I think Leslie Mann should have been at least nominated for an Oscar for her role.
