The Best Picture of All-time
Filed under: mercebank.com
  • What film would you give the Oscar to for best picture of all-time?
    You only have one statue to award.

    My pick would be To Kill a Mockingbird.
    I recently watched this film and was totally blown away.


  • Dirty Dancing! No... Pretty Woman! Oh I cant decide!

    For real I dont think its possible to declare a "Best Movie Ever". For one thing, what was considered groundbreaking in its day often loses its "awsomeness" as soon as its been outdone by some other movie down the road. Unless you study history AND films, its not really possible to view old movies "in context" with the times they were made in order to appreciate them for what they really were at the time rather than what they appear to be now. In other words I think film has evolved way too much to be able to compare old movies with new ones enough to pick a "best of all time" movie.

    Then again I'm one of those people who doesnt like when someone asks me what my favorite movie is. Like I could choose just ONE movie.


  • You have to narrow down the options a bit because some things are equally brilliant but in no other way comparable other than being the same artform.


    The way i look at the question is that if you had to shoot one film into space to be seen by aliens who have no idea of our society/culture/existence, what would be the best representation us and film. i chose 8 1/2, but it was a toss up between that and The 'Burbs. So, i know how it is.


  • Wings of Honneamise and Seven Samurai top my list. After that, probably comes the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

    Fafhrd


  • It is hard not to be cliche... But The Godfather.. hands down... thumbs up.

    I'm right there with you on this one. But I also agree that it's an impossible question. And I couldn't agree more about the context of a film playing so much into its "awesomeness" (dare I mention "Citizen Kane"?). But "The Godfather" I could pretty much watch any day of the week. In fact, I just had a screening last Thursday. No, really.


  • The Shawshank Redemption


  • Surely you can point to one movie and say, this is as close to cinema as we can get. There is no single movie that can be called the best film of all time, but with that kind of question, what you are aiming for is a film that has the qualities other, lesser films should strive for, on some level.

    i understand the rebuttle of "there are lots of great movies," but i think that is a bit of a cop out. (i don't mean to come off sounding like an ass if i do. it's just that the point of the thread is to challenge a film person to say, "ok, for me this is as close as it's going to get.")

    (further side note, good thing i'm already making posts like this at number 8. but i would like to know what you narrow your selection down to moviegirl.)

    I could narrow it down to a list but never to just one movie.

    The second I picked a movie, I'd argue with myself that there were 50 other movies just as good as the one I picked but for different reasons... know what I'm saying? Its like asking someone what the best song ever written is and expecting people to argue between beethoven and Led Zepplin. You have to narrow down the options a bit because some things are equally brilliant but in no other way comparable other than being the same artform.

    If thats a cop-out then so be it. If by chance, a movie comes to mind that I'm able to declare the best movie of all time, I'll come back and post it.

    In the mean time I'll say ConAir. Its got everything.


  • Dirty Dancing! No... Pretty Woman! Oh I cant decide!

    For real I dont think its possible to declare a "Best Movie Ever". For one thing, what was considered groundbreaking in its day often loses its "awsomeness" as soon as its been outdone by some other movie down the road. Unless you study history AND films, its not really possible to view old movies "in context" with the times they were made in order to appreciate them for what they really were at the time rather than what they appear to be now. In other words I think film has evolved way too much to be able to compare old movies with new ones enough to pick a "best of all time" movie.

    Then again I'm one of those people who doesnt like when someone asks me what my favorite movie is. Like I could choose just ONE movie.
    Good points. I guess it's kind of like asking what is the best painting or what is the best song. I thought it would be fun to try to pin people down to just one movie without getting a bunch of lists.


  • Jacob's Ladder.. Let the flaming begin.


  • I hate to even mention this as it sounds like such a film school-ready answer, but definately 8 1/2.

    Being a film about filmmaking (amongst other, more important things such as the inner struggle of an artist), it perfectly portrays everything that is wrong with the filmmaking process with the plot, but everything that is right about it in its aesthetics.

    While knowing a bit about fellini helps to flesh out the idea behind the film, that info is not necessary to understand the film. in fact, it's not even necessary to understand the filmmaking process in general. but, it is important to understand the hopes and desires of a creative mind.

    8 1/2 is film. it is filmmaking. and it is life; at least, part of fellini's.


  • It is hard not to be cliche... But The Godfather.. hands down... thumbs up.


  • ___FIELD OF DREAMS___

    My favorite movie is a tie between 90% of the 300 DVDs I own. LOL
    Sounds like you haven't seen Field of Dreams.

    Its like asking someone what the best song ever written is and expecting people to argue between beethoven and Led Zepplin.

    It would be between "Rush" and "Rush". "Red barchetta" or "Superconductor".
    I think by best, we should think: What gives you the greatest sense of
    intertainment
    inspiration
    enhancing your life
    enjoyment
    lasting effects
    wanting to see it many more times

    if you had to shoot one film into space to be seen by aliens

    Field of Dreams.


  • The way i look at the question is that if you had to shoot one film into space to be seen by aliens who have no idea of our society/culture/existence, what would be the best representation us and film. i chose 8 1/2

    Solar system destroying WMD's are on the way.

    If 99.99999% of the people here on Earth don't get it, how can aliens from another galaxy (unless the purpose is to put them off guard)? Oh wait, I do get it, it's a joke, how else could The Burbs be a toss up.


  • Apocalypse Now gives me the warm fuzzies.

    How can you beat heart attacks, cajun sauceies, cow slaughter and Dennis Hopper in one movie?


  • Surely you can point to one movie and say, this is as close to cinema as we can get. There is no single movie that can be called the best film of all time, but with that kind of question, what you are aiming for is a film that has the qualities other, lesser films should strive for, on some level.

    i understand the rebuttle of "there are lots of great movies," but i think that is a bit of a cop out. (i don't mean to come off sounding like an ass if i do. it's just that the point of the thread is to challenge a film person to say, "ok, for me this is as close as it's going to get.")

    (further side note, good thing i'm already making posts like this at number 8. but i would like to know what you narrow your selection down to moviegirl.)


  • probably Amelie or Pulp Fiction are my favorites I don't know about best but whatever.


  • people love lists here!

    My favorite movie is a tie between 90% of the 300 DVDs I own. LOL







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    jack @ March 20, 2010 edit