Category: Martin Scorsese

The 105 Best Feature Films of 2023

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By Andrew Buckner

*All of the feature films included herein are done so based on the criteria of an official theatrical or premiere streaming release date in the U.S.A. of 2023.*

105. Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls

Director: Andrew Bowser

104. The Boys in the Boat

Director: George Clooney

103. The Inventor

Director: Jim Capobianco

102. Milli Vanilli

Director: Luke Korem

101. American Symphony

Director: Matthew Heineman

100. May December

Director: Todd Haynes

99. Dream Scenario

Director: Kristoffer Borgli

98. Silent Night

Director: John Woo

97. Sly

Director: Thom Zimny

96. Shelter in Solitude

Director: Vibeke Musaya

95. Rub

Director: Christopher Fox

94. Candy Land

Director: John Swab

93. Bloodthirst

Director: Michael Su

92. Resurrected

Director: Egor Baranov

91. Brooklyn 45

Director: Ted Geoghegan

90. Good Boy

Director: Viljar Boe

89. The Devil on Trial 

Director: Chris Holt

88. Unwelcome

Director: Jon Wright

87. Ferrari

Director: Michael Mann

86. Thanksgiving

Director: Eli Roth

85. Unicorn Wars

Director: Alberto Vazquez

84. John Wick: Chapter 4

Director: Chad Stahelski

83. Sharksploitation

Director: Stephen Scarlata

82. Dicks: The Musical

Director: Larry Charles

81. Living

Director: Oliver Hermanus

80. Sakra

Directors: Kai-Wai Kam, Donnie Yen 

79. Slotherhouse

Director: Matthew Goodhue

78. Blackberry

Director: Matt Johnson

77. Godzilla Minus One

Director: Takashi Yamazaki

76. King on Screen

Director: Daphne Baiwir

75. Totally Killer

Director: Nahnatchka Khan

74. Suitable Flesh

Director: Joe Lynch

73. Shin Kamen Rider

Director: Hideaki Anno

72. Huesera: The Bone Woman

Director: Michelle Garza Cervera

71. The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster

Director: Bomani J. Story

70. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Director: Aitch Alberto

69. V/H/S/85

Directors: David Bruckner, Scott Derrickson, Natasha Kermani, Mike P. Nelson, Gigi Saul Guerrero

68. Air

Director: Ben Affleck

67. A Man Called Otto

Director: Marc Forster

66. Inside

Director: Vasilis Katsoupis

65. Bottoms

Director: Emma Seligman

64. A Haunting in Venice

Director: Kenneth Branagh

63. Beneath Us All

Director: Harley Wallen

62. One Bullet to Bedlam

Director: Eric Hand

61. Pinball: The Man Who Changed the Game

Directors: Austin Bragg, Meredith Bragg

60. Infinity Pool

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

59. The Last Voyage of the Demeter

Director: Andre Ovredal

58. Birth/ Rebirth

Director: Laura Moss

57. No One Will Save You

Director: Brian Duffield

56. When Evil Lurks

Director: Demian Rugna

55. Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part 1

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

54. Shin Ultraman 

Director: Shinji Higuchi

53. Hell House LLC. Origins: The Carmichael Manor

Director: Stephen Cognetti 

52. Horror in the High Desert 2: Minerva

Director: Dutch Marich

51. Saw X

Director: Kevin Greutert

50. Back to the Drive-in

Director: April Wright

49. Saltburn

Directors: Emerald Fennell

48. Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story

Directors: Christopher Griffiths, Gary Smart

47. Napoleon

Director: Ridley Scott 

46. Barbie

Director: Greta Gerwig

45. The Killer

Director: David Fincher

44. Priscilla

Director: Sofia Coppola

43. Chevalier

Director: Stephen Williams

42. Wham!

Director: Chris Smith

41. Past Lives

Director: Celine Song

40. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Director: Davis Guggenheim

39. Sam Now

Director: Reed Harkness

38. Sanctuary

Director: Zachary Wigon

37. Smoking Causes Coughing

Director: Quentin Dupieux

36. The Blackening 

Director: Tim Story

35. The Raker House

Director: John Covert

34. The Quiet Girl

Director: Colm Bairead

33. Suzume

Director: Makoto Shinkai

32. Evil Dead Rise

Director: Lee Cronin

31. EO

Director: Jerzy Skolimowski

30. Malum

Director: Anthony DiBlasi

29. Lola

Director: Andrew Legge

28. Polite Society

Director: Nida Manzoor

27. Asteroid City

Director: Wes Anderson

26. A Thousand and One

Director: A. V. Rockwell

25. El Conde

Director: Pablo Larrain

24. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Director: Kelly Fremon Craig

23. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

Director: William Friedkin 

22. The Outwaters

Director: Robbie Banfitch

21. Sisu

Director: Jalmari Helander

20. Enys Men

Director: Mark Jenkin

19. Skinamarink 

Director: Kyle Edward Ball

18. Living With Chucky

Director: Kyra Elise Gardner 

17. Toga

Director: Shaun Rose

16. The Color Purple

Director: Blitz Bazawule

15. Divinity

Director: Eddie Alcazar

14. The Boy and the Heron

Director: Hayao Mayazaki

13. The Wheel of Heaven

Director: Joe Badon

12. The Eternal Memory

Director: Maite Alberdi

11. Anatomy of a Fall

Director: Justine Triet

10. Filmmakers for the Prosecution

Director: Jean-Christophe Klotz

9. Gods of Mexico 

Director: Helmut Dosantos 

8. A House Made of Splinters

Director: Simon Lereng Wilmont 

7. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

Director: Laura Poitras

6. The Holdovers

Director: Alexander Payne

5. Beau is Afraid 

Director: Ari Aster

4. Killers of the Flower Moon

Director: Martin Scorsese

3. Holy Spider

Director: Ali Abbasi

2. Oppenheimer

Director: Christopher Nolan

1. Poor Things

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Runners-up:

Cocaine Bear

Director: Elizabeth Banks

The Conference

Director: Patrik Eklund

The Creator

Director: Gareth Edwards

A Good Person

Director: Zach Braff

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant

Director: Guy Ritchie

Influencer

Director: Kurtis David Harder

The Iron Claw

Director: Sean Durkin

Knock at the Cabin

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Leave the World Behind

Director: Sam Esmail

Maestro

Director: Bradley Cooper

M3GAN

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Missing 

Directors: Nicholas D. Johnson, Will Merrick

Of an Age

Director: Goran Stolevski

Paint

Director: Brit McAdams

R.L. Stine’s Zombie Town

Director: Peter Lepeniotis

Sister Death

Director: Paco Plaza

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Directors: Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears

They Cloned Tyrone

Director: Juel Taylor

Wonka

Director: Paul King

The 105 Best Feature Films of 2022

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By Andrew Buckner

*Please note: The inclusion of the films on this list is based on the criteria of an official 2022 release date in the U.S.

105. Is That Black Enough for You?!?

Director: Elvis Mitchell

104. Utama

Director: Alejandro Loayza Grisi

103. Women Talking

Director: Sarah Polley

102. Causeway

Director: Lila Neugebauer

101. Fire of Love

Director: Sara Dosa

100. Argentina, 1985

Director: Santiago Mitre

99. White Noise

Director: Noah Bambauch

98. The Fallout

Director: Megan Park

97. Empire of Light

Director: Sam Mendes

96. Jurassic Punk

Director: Scott Leberecht

95. The VHS Strangler – The Giallo Tapes

Directors: Rob Ceus, Jim Stramel, Inge Vanleene, David Strojan, Tony Newton, Joe Cash, Fabrizio Spurio, Gore Filth, Wilhelm Muller, Derek Braasch, Glen Cook, Bo Sels, Kaylan Jordan-Sen, John Migliori

94. Infinite Storm

Directors: Malgorzata Szumowska, Michael Englert

93. Men

Director: Alex Garland

92. See How They Run

Director: Tom George

91. Emily the Criminal

Director: John Patton Ford

90. Triangle of Sadness

Director: Ruben Ostlund

89. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Director: Rian Johnson

88. Operation Mincemeat

Director: John Madden

87. The Last Thing Mary Saw

Director: Edoardo Vitaletti

86. The Whale

Director: Darren Aronofsky

85. Deep Water

Director: Adrian Lyne

84. You Are Not My Mother

Director: Kate Dolan

83. The Sadness

Director: Rob Jabbaz

82. Straight to VHS

Director: Emilio Silva Torres

81. Studio 666

Director: BJ McDonnell

80. Scream

Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillet

79. Hellbender

Directors: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser

78. Flux Gourmet

Director: Peter Strickland

77. Nezura 1964

Director: Hiroto Yokokawa

76. Belle

Director: Mamoru Hosoda

75. RRR (Rise Roar Revolt)

Director: S.S. Rajamouli

74. We’re All Going to the World’s Fair

Director: Jane Shoenburn

73. You Won’t Be Alone

Director: Goran Stovelski

72.  VHS Love: Cult Cinema Obsession

Director: Tony Newton

71. The Found Footage Phenomenon

Directors: Sarah Appleton, Phillip Escott

70. Fall

Director: Scott Mann

69. Bones and All

Director: Luca Guadagnino

68. Armageddon Time

Director: James Gray

67. Pearl

Director: Ti West

66. Shakespeare’s Sh*tstorm

Director: Lloyd Kaufman

65. Clerks III

Director: Kevin Smith

64. Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe

Director: Mike Judge

63. Nope

Director: Jordan Peele

62. Speak No Evil

Director: Christian Tafdrup

61. The Black Phone

Director: Scott Derrickson 

60. Terrifier 2

Director: Damien Leone

59. Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood

Director: Richard Linklater

58. Elvis

Director: Baz Luhrman

57. Strawberry Mansion

Directors: Albery Birney, Kentucker Audley

56. X

Director: Ti West

55. Cow

Director: Andrea Arnold

54. All Quiet on the Western Front

Director: Edward Berger

53. Devotion

Director: J.D. Dillard

52. Vesper

Directors: Kristina Buozyte, Bruno Samper

51. The Menu

Director: Mark Mylod

50. A Wounded Fawn

Director: Travis Stevens

49. Barbarian

Director: Zach Cregger

48. Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen

Director: Daniel Raim 

47. Aftersun

Director: Charlotte Wells

46. Prey

Director: Dan Trachtenberg 

45. Piggy

Director: Carlotta Martinez-Pereda

44. Resurrection

Director: Andrew Semans

43. Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Director: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre

42. Pennywise: The Story of It

Director: Chris Griffiths 

41. Nocturna: Side A – The Great Old Man’s Night

Director: Gonzalo Calzada

40. Luci and Desi

Director: Amy Poehler

39. Downfall: The Case Against Boeing

Director: Rory Kennedy

38. A Hero

Director: Asghar Farhadi

37. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom 

Director: Pawo Choyning Dorji

36. Cyrano

Director: Joe Wright

35. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Director: Eric Appel

34. Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon

Director: Ana Lily Amirpour

33. Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

32. Something in the Dirt

Directors: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead 

31. Sr.

Director: Chris Smith

30. Decision to Leave

Director: Park Chan-wook

29. Crimes of the Future

Director: David Cronenberg

28. Petite Maman

Director: Celine Sciamma

27. The Woman King

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood

26. Uncle Sleazo’s Toxic & Terrifying T.V. Hour

Director: Lucky Cerruti

25. The Man in Room 6

Directors: Trevor Juenger, Carrie Juenger

24. The Northman

Director: Robert Eggers

23. The House

Directors: Paloma Baeza, Emma De Swaef, Niki Londroth von Bahr, Marc James Roels

22. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Director: Dean Fleischer-Camp

21. Disorienting Dick

Director: Richard Griffin

20. The Outfit

Director: Graham Moore

19. Soft & Quiet

Director: Beth de Araujo

18. Nitram

Director: Justin Kurzel

17. Nocturna: Side B – Where the Elephants Go to Die

Director: Gonzalo Calzada

16. The Worst Person in the World

Director: Erik Vogt

15. Higher Methods

Director: Nathan Suher

14. Jurassic World: Dominion

Director: Colin Trevorrow 

13. Babylon 

Director: Damien Chazelle

12. Tar

Director: Todd Field

11. The Banshees of Inisherin

Director: Martin McDonagh

10. Till

Director: Chinonye Chukwu

9. She Said

Director: Maria Schrader

8. The Innocents 

Director: Eskil Vogt

7. Happening

Director: Audrey Diwana

6. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Director: Guillermo del Toro

5. Mad God

Director: Phil Tippett

4. The Fablemans

Director: Steven Spielberg

3. Neptune Frost

Directors: Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman

2. Moonage Daydream

Director: Brett MOrgen

1. Vortex

Director: Gaspar Noe

Runners-Up:

All Jacked Up and Full of Worms

Director: Alex Phillips

Ash and Bone

Director: Harley Wallen

Blonde

Director: Andrew Dominik

Bodies Bodies Bodies

Director: Halinah Reijn

Brian and Charles

Director: Jim Archer

Emancipation

Director: Antoine Fuqua

The Eternal Daughter

Director: Joanna Hogg

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Hatching

Director: Hanna Bergholm

Jackass Forever

Director: Jeff Tremaine

The Leech

Director: Eric Pennycoff

Scare Package 2: Rad Chad’s Revenge

Directors: Aaron B. Koontz, Anthony Cousins, Rachele Wiggins, Alexandra Barreto, Jed Shepherd

To Leslie

Director: Michael Morris

Troll

Director: Roar Uthaug

The Wonder

Director: Sebastian Lelio

“King Cohen” – (Movie Review)

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By Andrew Buckner

Rating: ***** out of *****.

King Cohen (2017), from writer-director Steve Mitchell, is a lively, charming and effortlessly entertaining tribute to the life and work of cinematic giant Larry Cohen. Yet, one of the most successful attributes of the 107-minute feature is that is filled with the ambition, charm and optimistic spirit of its focal point. This characteristic is made evermore intimate and invigorating by Cohen’s own nostalgic recollections. Early in the production they arrive as Cohen recalls his being a young cinephile and literary prodigy. More specifically, one who sold his first story to the dramatic anthology series Kraft Television Theater (1947-1958) in 1958. This was at the age of 17. As the endeavor goes on, these vividly narrated memories extend to the behind-the-scenes events and the often-impromptu creative sparks which helped fashion his early television and later movie work.

Cohen’s various relationships with his cast and crew members further flesh out the project. The sequences where Cohen and actor Fred Williamson, who appeared in a variety of Cohen’s efforts, disagree on the details of certain related situations they were both involved in are when the jovial charm of the documentary is most evident. But there is another layer of appeal to the arrangement. It is just as infectious. This is when modern moving picture masterminds such as J.J. Abrams, Joe Dante, John Landis and Martin Scorsese discuss their thoughts and personal connections to Cohen’s material. Such a sensation of motivation is further expounded upon in arrangements such as a delightful one found in the second half of the exercise. This is where fans of Cohen’s brilliant dark comedy, The Stuff (1985), speak of why the science-fiction/horror tour de force remains memorable and relevant to the culture of today. These bits add to the underlying perspective of awe, inspiration, love and endearing respect for Cohen and his contributions to the photographic art form which help make King Cohen such a resonant and deeply personal masterpiece. This is true from the engrossing commencement to its uniquely uplifting conclusion.

The segments which discuss the making of and audience reaction to the action film Black Caeser (1973) are also particularly intriguing. This interest continued during the discussion of how Cohen’s approach to the medium changed during the fabrication of Hell Up in Harlem (1973). When the eventual, though slow-going, success of Cohen’s classic monstrous baby on the loose opus, It’s Alive (1974), and terrifying tackle of theological issues, God Told Me To (1976), filled the screen I was equally riveted. The musings on the invention of Cohen’s timeless take on the Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) and involvement with Bette Davis during the recording of Wicked Stepmother (1989) were equally captivating.

Mitchell’s composition earns even more acclaim for meticulously covering nearly every one of his ventures. Moreover, the affair contains terrific music from composer Joe Kraemer. It also conveys same said cinematography by David C.P. Chan. Such elements heighten the striking quality of the piece. Correspondingly, Mitchell’s pacing and style is perfectly fitting for the tone and theme of the undertaking. The sound and editing are sharp. Also, the incorporation of stills and clips from Cohen’s constructions make Mitchell’s latest more well-rounded and complete.

In turn, Mitchell offers audiences one of the best big screen entries of its type you will see all year. King Cohen is pure celluloid joy. Those of us who grew up both admiring and obsessed with Cohen’s tales owe it to themselves to see this as soon as possible. You can do so when Mitchell’s marvelous labor is released in select theaters on July 27th, 2018 through Dark Star Pictures.

(Unrated).

A Word of Dreams Presents: The 101 Greatest Films of the 21st Century (So Far)

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By Andrew Buckner

101. Persepolis (2007)
Directors: Vincent Paronnoud, Marjane Satrapi.
Genre: Animation, Biography, Drama.

100. The Hurt Locker (2008)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow.
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller.

99. Spotlight (2015)
Director: Tom McCarthy.
Genre: Crime, Drama, History.

98. Babel (2006)
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.
Genre: Drama.

97. Cameraperson (2016)
Director: Kirsten Johnson.
Genre: Documentary.

96. The Counterfeiters (2007)
Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky.
Genre: Crime, Drama, War.

95. Gasland (2010)
Director: Josh Fox.
Genre: Documentary.

94. The Lives of Others (2006)
Directors: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.
Genre: Drama, Thriller.

93. The Best of Youth (2003)
Director: Marco Tullio Giordana.
Genre: Drama.

92. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
Director: Andrew Jarecki.
Genre: Documentary.

91. Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Director: Kenneth Lonergan.
Genre: Drama.

90. The Master (2012)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson.
Genre: Drama.

89. A Prophet (2009)
Director: Jacques Audiard.
Genre: Crime, Drama.

88. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Director: Wes Anderson.
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama.

87. The Secret in their Eyes (2009)
Director: Juan Jose Campenella.
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance.

86. Film Socialisme (2010)
Director: Jean-Luc Godard.
Genre: Drama.

85. Flags of our Fathers (2006)
Director: Clint Eastwood.
Genre: Drama, History, War.

84. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Director: Clint Eastwood.
Genre: Drama, History, War.

83. The Dreamers (2003)
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

82. I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
Director: Raoul Peck.
Genre: Documentary.

81. Stories We Tell (2013)
Director: Sarah Polley.
Genre: Documentary.

80. Love (2015)
Director: Gaspar Noe.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

79. Apocalypto (2006)
Director: Mel Gibson.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama.

78. Irreversible (2002)
Director: Gaspar Noe.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery.

77. Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Director: Richard Eyre.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance.

76. Mystic River (2003)
Director: Clint Eastwood.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery.

75. La Vie en Rose (2007)
Director: Olivier Dahan.
Genre: Biography, Drama, Musical.

74. Milk (2008)
Director: Gus Van Sant.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History.

73. The Departed (2006)
Director: Martin Scorsese.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller.

72. Lion (2016)
Director: Garth Davis.
Genre: Biography, Drama.

71. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Director: Ang Lee.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

70. Zodiac (2007)
Director: David Fincher.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller.

69. Inland Empire (2006)
Director: David Lynch
Genre: Mystery, Thriller.

68. Django Unchained (2012)
Director: Quentin Tarantino.
Genre: Drama, Western.

67. Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Directors: Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz.
Genre: Horror, Thriller.

66. Amores Perros (2001)
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.
Genre: Drama, Thriller.

65. The Piano Teacher (2001)
Director: Michael Haneke.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

64. Room (2015)
Director: Lenny Abrahamson.
Genre: Drama.

63. Tanna (2015)
Directors: Martin Butler, Bentley Dean.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

62. Bad Education (2004)
Director: Pedro Almodovar.
Genre: Crime, Drama.

61. Elle (2016)
Director: Paul Verhoeven.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller.

60. Monster (2003)
Director: Patty Jenkins.
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama.

59. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Director: Clint Eastwood.
Genre: Drama, Sports.

58. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Director: Guillermo del Torro.
Genre: Fantasy, War.

57. The Black Swan (2010)
Director: Darren Aronofsky.
Genre: Drama, Thriller.

56. Anomalisa (2015)
Directors: Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman.
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama.

55. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Director: Mark Herman.
Genre: Drama, War.

54. Doubt (2008)
Director: John Patrick Shanley.
Genre: Mystery.

53. Lilith’s Awakening (2016)
Director: Monica Demes.
Genre: Horror, Thriller.

52. Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Director: Tom Ford.
Genre: Drama, Thriller.

51. Amelie (2001)
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
Genre: Comedy, Romance.

50. Enter the Void (2009)
Director: Gaspar Noe.
Genre: Drama, Fantasy.

49. A Separation (2011)
Director: Asghar Farhadi.
Genre: Drama, Mystery.

48. Kinsey (2004)
Director: Bill Condon.
Genre: Biography, Drama.

47. North Country (2005)
Director: Niki Caro.
Genre: Drama.

46. Revolutionary Road (2008)
Director: Sam Mendes.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

45. A Man Called Ove (2015)
Director: Hannes Holm.
Genre: Comedy, Drama.

43. The Salesman (2016)
Director: Asghar Farhadi.
Genre: Drama, Thriller.

42. Lincoln (2012)
Director: Steven Spielberg.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History.

41. Shame (2011)
Director: Steve McQueen.
Genre: Drama.

40. Her (2013)
Director: Spike Jonze.
Genre: Drama, Romance, Science-Fiction.

39. Capote (2005)
Director: Bennett Miller.
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama.

38. Prisoners (2013)
Director: Dennis Villeneuve.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller.

37. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
Director: Julian Schnabel.
Genre: Biography, Drama.

36. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Director: Terry George.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History.

35. Munich (2005)
Director: Steven Spielberg.
Genre: Crime, Drama, History.

34. Fruitvale Station (2013)
Director: Ryan Coogler.
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance.

33. Ex Machina (2014)
Director: Alex Garland.
Genre: Science-Fiction.

32. Ida (2013)
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski.
Genre: Drama.

31. Under the Skin (2013)
Director: Jonathan Glazer.
Genre: Science-Fiction.

30. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Director: George Miller.
Genre: Action, Science-Fiction.

29. The Revenant (2015)
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.
Genre: Adventure, Thriller.

28. Gangs of New York (2002)
Director: Martin Scorsese.
Genre: Crime, Drama.

27. Boyhood (2014)
Director: Richard Linklater.
Genre: Drama.

26. Fences (2016)
Director: Denzel Washington.
Genre: Drama.

25. A Serious Man (2009)
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen.
Genre: Comedy, Drama.

24. Antichrist (2009)
Director: Lars von Trier.
Genre: Horror.

23. Nymphomaniac Vol. 1-2 (2013)
Director: Lars von Trier.
Genre: Drama.

22. Away from Her (2006)
Director: Sarah Polley.
Genre: Drama.

21. The King’s Speech (2010)
Director: Tom Hooper.
Genre: Biography, Drama.

20. The Aviator (2004)
Director: Martin Scorsese.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History.

19. The Pianist (2002)
Director: Roman Polanski.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History.

18. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Director: Martin Scorsese.
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama.

17. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Director: Mel Gibson.
Genre: Action, Drama, War.

16. Amour (2012)
Director: Michael Haneke.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

15. The White Ribbon (2009)
Director: Michael Haneke.
Genre: Drama, Mystery.

14. The Great Beauty (2013)
Director: Paolo Sorrentino.
Genre: Drama.

13. The Artist (2011)
Director: Michel Hazanavicius.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance.

12. Moonlight (2016)
Director: Barry Jenkins.
Genre: Drama.

11. Silence (2016)
Director: Martin Scorsese.
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History.

10. Life Itself (2014)
Director: Steve James.
Genre: Biography, Documentary.

9. Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

8. Selma (2014)
Director: Ava DuVernay.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History.

7. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen.
Genre: Drama, Musical.

6. Downfall (2004)
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History.

5. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Director: Steve McQueen.
Genre: Biography, Drama, History.

4. There Will Be Blood (2007)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson.
Genre: Drama, History.

3. Nightcrawler (2014)
Director: Dan Gilroy.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller.

2. No Country for Old Men (2007)
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen.
Genre: Action, Thriller.

1.The Tree of life (2011)
Director: Terrence Malick.
Genre: Drama.

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):

A Life Not to Follow (2015)
Director: Christopher Di Nunzio.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller.

Atonement (2007)
Director: Joe Wright.
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance.

The Babadook (2014)
Director: Jennifer Kent.
Genre: Horror.

Blood! Sugar! Sid! Ace! (2012)
Director: Mike Messier.
Genre: Comedy, Drama.

Casino Royale (2006)
Director: Sam Mendes.
Genre: Action, Adventure.

Chi-Raq (2015)
Director: Spike Lee.
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama.

The Cove (2009)
Director: Louie Psihoyos.
Genre: Documentary.

David Lynch: The Art Life (2016)
Directors: Jon Nguyen, Rick Barnes, Olivia Neergaard-Holm.
Genre: Drama, Documentary.

Elephant (2003)
Director: Gus Van Sant.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller.

The Handmaiden (2016)
Director: Park Chan-wook.
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance.

House of Pleasures (2011)
Director: Bertrand Bonello.
Genre: Drama.

House of Sand and Fog (2003)
Director: Vadim Perelman.
Genre: Drama.

Little Children (2006)
Director: Todd Field.
Genre: Drama, Romance.

Long Night in a Dead City (2017)
Director: Richard Griffin.
Genre: Mystery.

Match Point (2005)
Director: Woody Allen.
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sports.

Mulholland Drive (2001)
Director: David Lynch.
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller.

Nightmare Code (2014)
Director: Mark Netter.
Genre: Horror, Science-Fiction, Thriller.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Director: Mel Gibson.
Genre: Drama.

Tangerine (2015)
Director: Sean Baker.
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama.

Trespassing Bergman (2013)
Directors: Jane Magnusson, Hynek Pallas.
Genre: Documentary.

Trinity (2016)
Director: Skip Shea.
Genre: Drama, Horror.

20th Century Women (2016)
Director: Mike Mills.
Genre: Comedy, Drama.

A Word of Dreams Recommends: “The Lost City of the Monkey God”, “Silence” and “Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary”

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By Andrew Buckner

The following is a new feature on my site. It is called “A Word of Dreams Recommends”. The function of this section is to shed light on high-quality, recently released works that I believe audiences will enjoy as much as I do. Unlike the full-length reviews which are otherwise found here, this column will issue my thoughts on the books, films or musical releases I am endorsing in just a few brief sentences. My initial entry in this arena covers Douglas Preston’s latest book, The Lost City of the Monkey God, director Martin Scorsese’s Silence and the documentary Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary.

THE LOST CITY OF THE MONKEY GOD

****1/2 out of *****.

So vividly written that you can simultaneously hear and feel the jungles of Mosquita coming to life around you, The Lost City of the Monkey God (2017) by Douglas Preston fascinates as both a non-fiction adventure and as a historical mystery. The 328 page volume, distributed through Grand Central Publishing and unveiled on January 3rd, chronicles Preston joining a team of explorers in Honduras. This is in hopes of unveiling the remains of Ciudad Blanca (“The White City”): a place often believed to be a myth. As he did with The Monster of Florence (2014), Preston entertainingly delivers a meticulously researched tome. It is one that is in-depth and thoughtful as it is intent on providing a three-dimensional portrait of the past, present and future. This is in respect to both his subject and those directly linked to such a theme.

SILENCE

***** out of *****.

Martin Scorsese’s Silence (2016) is exactly what a great film should be: a beautiful, challenging and emotive journey; an unforgettable and unflinching experience on celluloid. Scorsese stays true to the envy-inducing traits that has made him such a cinematic force over the past 50 plus years. In turn, he has given us an equal balance of visceral art, distinct vision, character insight and understanding. In adapting Shusaku Endo’s 1966 novel of the same name, which chronicles two Christian missionaries who go to Japan in the 17th century to find their long missing advisor and encounter a country which outlaws their belief system, Scorsese’s stylish and wholly cinematic guidance of the project often draws a remarkable and unmistakable alignment to the timeless films of Akira Kurosawa. Rodrigo Prieto’s Oscar-nominated cinematography as well as Andrew Garfield’s performance as our central figure, Rodrigues, are both sweeping and impassioned. Liam Neeson, as Ferreira, and Adam Driver, as Garupe, are also superb. Additionally, the screenplay from Jay Cocks is assuredly cerebral. To grand effect, it never loses focus of the plight of its leads. It is, just as you’d expect from Scorsese, an absolute masterpiece. Never once in its one-hundred and sixty-one-minute runtime does it falter. True cinephiles owe it to themselves to see this immediately on the biggest screen imaginable. This is, by all means, a real movie for real movie lovers.

UNEARTHED & UNTOLD: THE PATH TO PET SEMATARY

****1/2 out of *****.

Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary (2016) is an endlessly absorbing, brilliantly made and comprehensive documentary. It concerns the crafting of Mary Lambert’s film version of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary (1989) as well as the early inspiration for the novel of the same name (1983). The interviews with cast and crew in this ninety-seven-minute production are riveting. So are the various behind the scenes photographs and related materials John Campopiano and Justin White, whose direction is skillful and deft, issue throughout. The result is an ingenious, confidently paced and easy to enjoy slice of non-fiction. It is one which appealed immensely to both the cinephile as well as the King fanatic in me. If either, or both, of these terms describe you, I highly recommend giving this Terror Films distribution release a look.