1. Leon: The Professional
If you’re looking for a movie with action, comedy, and emotions, look no further,: this is the perfect film. Directed by Luc Besson in 1994, this heart-warming story of a young Natalie Portman and a semi-young Gary Oldman and Jean Reno is a work of cinematic art. Natalie Portman confides in her estranged, dangerous neighbor (Reno) after a drug deal gone wrong explodes at her family’s nearby apartment. Even better: it takes place in New Jersey!
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2. Goodfellas
For those who feel ‘The Godfather,’ is the greatest mob movie they clearly haven’t seen Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese’s 1990 treasure. The murderous, scheming undertones of this movie pale in comparison to its lessons on family and loyalty. It’s half the cast of The Sopranos and all the talent of Samuel L. Jackson and Robert De Niro. Watch this movie as soon as you can.
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3. Cinema Paradiso
I’ve seen a handful of foriegn films in my life, but this one is the most important for many reasons. It’s in Italian, so be prepared to read subtitles for two hours straight, but in my opinion, it’s worth it. It tells the story of a young boy from Sicily who is encouraged to live the ‘American dream’ without actually living in America. It will make you feel nostalgic and hopeful for the future at the same time, yet it also will make your heart yearn for a life full of meaning and adventure.
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4. Brokeback Mountain
Award-winning director Ang Lee and Heath Ledger unite in this heart-warming historical masterpiece. This film has strong themes of sexuality and loss. Even for 2005, its story of a love affair between two closeted gay cowboys, who broke barriers and upturned noses from critics everywhere. This weighs in at the top five of the list because of its sensitivity to humanity and identity, which are ideally, two of the most relevant themes in modern pop culture and in human life in general.
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5. Big Fish
Big Fish is like the uplifting, Tim Burton version of Cinema Paradiso. It tells the fantastical story of Ewan Mcgregor’s character. Undoubtedly recognizable as a Tim Burton flick, Big Fish balances vibrant color and costuming to enter the audience into a world of old-timey glitz and circus-level wonder. You will enjoy this movie, no matter how old you are.
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6. The Fifth Element
If you’ve seen Bruce Willis in Die Hard or Pulp Fiction, please do not expect the same type of performance from him in this film. This one is set in the 23rd century, with actual flying cars. Bruce Willis has to save the day, yet again, when a strange woman literally falls into his lap one night. The special effects in this movie complement the over-the-top performances by Gary Oldman and Chris Tucker, and the plot is your typical sci-fi space story, but more articulate and glamorous.
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7. The Goonies
Adventure awaits for people of all ages in this classic Columbus 80’s movie. It displays the importance of friendship and how a rough moment in someone’s life can be turned into a journey to find a lost pirate and hidden treasure. If you’ve had a bad day, this movie will cheer you up instantly and possibly evoke a need to search your parents’ attic for an antique treasure map that actually works.
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8. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
If you haven’t seen Dodgeball yet, you’ve been missing out on some comedic gold. The hilarious script gives every audience member hope for the Average Joes. It’s one of those movies you can start watching from any point and still completely understand everything that is going on. By the 300th view, it will still be hilarious, I guarantee it.
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9. Inglourious Basterds
It’s Tarantino at his best, in my own humble opinion. What’s better than a period piece revenge story that is historically accurate, yet fictional at the same time? Set in Nazi occupied Germany, a small cinema theatre owned by a (secret) Jewish woman has the ability to rectify one of history’s most renowned public deaths. Tarantino’s notorious all-star cast including Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, and Diane Kruger drive home the importance of supporting those in need of assistance.
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10. The Stanford Prison Experiment
This movie deserves to be on the list just as much as the first one, though made in 2010. It’s a phenomenal depiction of a real-life psychological experiment by Dr. Philip Zimbardo, who desperately wanted to know how prisons operate and what the roles of the prisoners and guards entailed.
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