Happy birthday to me! Last year for my birthday I wrote a list of my favorite books. This year, in an equally selfish move, I am presenting my favorite movies – in no particular order. Finally, as so many people have asked, here is my Amazon wishlist 
The reason I love this film is the stunning cinematography. Also, it is filmed in Venice (obviously) – the site of one of the best holidays I have ever had! The director (Visconti) is one of my favorite directors – virtually everything he has produced is brilliant. The film tells the tale of a composer who retreats to Venice to recover from a breakdown. Unbeknownst to him, Venice is about to be hit by a deadly pestilence. The film is based on the book of the same name by Thomas Mann.
Before seeing this film I was already a great fan of Bjork’s music. As well as writing the original music for the movie, she also had the starring role as Selma, an immigrant to the US who is slowly going blind. The film is very moving (and anyone who has seen it will agree). It is a must-see movie – but be warned, it is very traumatizing.
I realize that a lot of people consider this film to be overrated, but I love it. It was the first film in which I really appreciated the talent of Bill Murray and his subtle humor. The film is slow paced – which I like, and has a brilliant track in it by Peaches – who I had not heard of until this film (you can watch it here on Youtube – be warned, it has x-rated lyrics).
There is something about the writing of Brett Easton Ellis that really appeals to me. This movie adaptation of his book of the same name is very well done and has some great acting. The film follows the lives of a group of students in their last year at College (one is the brother of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho – also by the same author). The film has some hilarious moments (see here) but also one of the most disturbing scenes in a movie (see here).
This is the remake – I know it may shock people, but I do prefer the new one to the old. Anne Heche is excellent in this film and Vince Vaughan manages to be more sinister (and revolting) than Perkins in the original. The whole feel of the film (music and color) is warm and vibrant which adds a surprising irony to it.
I love everything by David Lynch, but this film is definitely my favorite. It tells the story of a young aspiring actress who moves to Hollywood and gets involved in intrigue and mystery. You can see the trailer here. If you have not seen this film you absolutely have to. It is disturbing on so many levels.
This is a brilliant film which intertwines the lives of various people. It has excellent acting from Julianne Moore (who also starred in Safe which I consider to be one of the most boring movies of all time) and it has some surprisingly good acting from Tom “Xenu’s Bitch” Cruise (I can’t believe I am saying that!) The case just has “win” written all over it: John C. Reilly, Philip Symour Hoffman, Alfred Molina, william H. Macy. Need I say more?
I have always been interested in the 1920s and this film is about as good as it gets for a look at the lifestyle of rich Americans during that period. Added to the fact that it is based on one of the greatest books by Scott Fitzgerald and you can’t go wrong! The film is a good adaptation of the book and contains excellent acting (for the most part). The colors and filming style really heighten the sense that you are present and watching the scenes unfold.
I love the original version of this film. It seems to never date (despite the 70s sets) and the story is still as spooky on the 20th viewing as it is on the first. If you had to pick one horror movie to take to a desert island, this would be the one I would recommend. The acting is excellent – especially from Ellen Burstyn (oscar nominated and winning actress) who is one of my favorite actresses.
Anyone who has seen this film (particularly to its conclusion) will know that it is one of the most disturbing films out there. But for some reason, I just can’t help but be drawn to it. As above, the film stars Ellen Burstyn who is absolutely amazing. It follows the lives of ordinary people as they descend into the hell of drug abuse.
Hahaha – just kidding! Happy birthday me!
Nice, I love the Bonus, and I agree.
Happy birthday Jamie!!
Happy Birthday JFrater!
kiwiboi – thanks:) extremely *****ed at a 21st in cuba st.
Happy bday, jfrater. You’re right, The Exorcist never gets not scary, no matter how many times you see it.
It is such a shame and it *****es me off a little bit. I have grown up in this generation with video games and violent and "scary" movies and because of that I have become desensitized to most scary/violent films. I found The Exorcist quite funny and maybe a bit shocking but was not scared at all. I did appreciate the fact that it came out when it did, in which case it was pioneering and would have been extremely scary.
Have a good one, Jamie.
All good films, the 8 I’ve seen anyway. Haven’t seen the Bjork one or your #1. Better download them — I mean buy them on Amazon — hadn’t I?
Magnolia would make my top 10 too. Cruise’s best performance, I’d say.
Cheers.
Happy Birthday, Jamie!
Think you’re going to upset a lot of purists with the Psycho choice! I actually didn’t think it was that bad, especially as the brilliant Julianne Moore is in it, but still prefer Perkins.
What the hell was Mulholland Drive about anyway?
Does David Lynch even know??
Ellen Burstyn: Totally agree.
kiwiboi – thanks:) extremely *****ed at a 21st in cuba st.
Haha. You’re there now? Enjoy!
happy birthday!
Oooh…I got so excited when I saw #1 was Requiem for a Dream. That has been my fav for almost 5 years now.
Happy birthday!!!
hewl yea @ #1! that movie will never cease to scare me away from drugs. and ass-to-ass
I find drugs to be beneficial in my life. Everything in moderation. One size does not fit all.
happy birthday jFrater!
i enjoyed the vince vaughn version of psycho too. =)
personal faves: lost in translation, the exorcist, requiem for a dream
i haven’t watched Dancer in the dark yet. and i must say, i am interested. i have a friend who absolutely loves it. i’ gonna watch it.
HAAAAAAAPY BIIIIIRTHDAY
I was scared when I scrolled down and saw the words ‘Titanic’ but you got me! Haha!
AAAAAND MAAAANY MORE
Happy Birthdy jfrater! This site is very good to me. Happy Birthday again. And may you have many more.
None of these movies would be anywhere close to my top 10 but i do recognise that you have taste and thats a good thing
happy birthday.
Happy birthday JF, There is a couple there I have not seen and I am not sure I will seeing as you rate Lost in Translation, definetly something lost on me in that movie, each to their own I suppose, all the best.
Requiem For A Dream is probably one of the most uncomfortable films I’ve ever watched but it was brilliant . . . and Lost in Translation seems like one of those movies that people either love or hate (I love it myself!). Anyways, happy birthday JF!
A list of your favorite films? That’s “much too vulgar display of power.”
Happy birthday man.
Generic happy birthday comment!
I didn’t ‘get’ Requiem. AM I NOT INTELLECTUAL AND HIP NOW?
I love the melancholy of LIT. It goes so well with the soundtrack, which is the kind of music I was really into at the time – MBV, Kevin Shields. And Scarlett’s hot. LOLOL
Whats not to get? People think drugs are the answer, they get strung out and desperate and eventually become caricatures of themselves. Pretty simple message.
Maybe you are looking too deep. Forget that with anything Leto is involved in. He is a good actor, but he doesnt need to be *****ysed.
Happy Birthday Jamie,
I totally agree with Requiem. What an amazing movie.
Happy B-day, man! I like a lot of the movies on this list. Some I have not seen though. The Bjork one seems like a good movie. I was suprised at the diversity on this list.
And I also agree with Requiem for a Dream. The book is excellent too if you can get past the odd style of grammar and punctuation and lack of paragraphs.
Happy birthday jamie~~~
I often read your article，it is very exciting, thank you~~~
Ridiculous list, I don’t think you like any of these films.:D
Hehe, Happy birthday! :p
happy bday!!!!
Happy birthday
First of all, happy birthday, Jamie!
Secondly, I haven’t seen the movies in the lower part, that is 10 – 7, of your list, so can offer no opinion there.
The new Psycho is a good movie on its own, but if I look at it as a remake of Hitchcock’s movie, then it loses badly. I guess it’s one of those movies you see as itself, or not at all. I chose to see it as itself, and was glad I did.
Mulholland Drive has to be one of the best movies of the last 20 years.
Yes, it’s deeply disturbing, and the intrigue and mystery hit you at every turn, without let-up, but it is so incredibly beautiful at the same time that you forgive it. But then, I, too, am a David Lynch fan, so I will see anything anything he does with rose-colored glasses firmly in place.
Magnolia I considered just okay. It had some brilliant moments, but not enough to keep me entertained throughout.
The Great Gatsby. Cinematic perfection. Need I say more?
The Exorcist. While this movie had so much going for it, some beautiful moments of cinematic perfection, characters who, in the beginning, did some serious soul searching, I felt it quickly became a dark circus. The acrobatics with the girls head, for example, were laughable, though other scenes scared me half to death. So I give this movie 60/40.
Requiem for a Dream. You said it first and you said it best. A darkly disturbing *must see*.
Morte a Venezia. How on earth could I have forgotten to add this one?
I had read the Thomas Mann book in Uni, and so *had* to see the film. It was not a disappointment.
Both the book and the film are filled with subtle, and not so subtle, chance happenings which draw the protagonists deeper and deeper into the story.
Absolutely brilliant!
I had to turn Lost in Translation off because it was so boring, and I definitely think that the original Psycho is way better than the new one.
sad
Whenever I think up one of these lists I always put Requiem for a Dream in there and always push the movie on other people, but out of every movie I love that is the one movie I will never watch again. At least not for 10 years anyway. Talk about depressing.
Many happies!!
Happy Birthday! Interesting choice of movies. I also enjoyed Requiem for a Dream and Rules of Attraction.
To Jamie:
a very happy birthday to you.
thank you for the hard work and long hours that you devote to this list.
may you always have wonder, joy and peace.
Happy Birthday Jamie!
(I love Requiem, but I am terrified of how much it emotionally devastates me. Its in the “worrisome” section of my DVDs with Funny Games.)
(Also you nearly gave me a heart attack with the Titanic thing. It was mortifying.)
(Why the parenthesis? I do not know.)
Happy Birthday!
I love Dancer in the Dark as well, but I don’t think I can ever watch the entire thing again. It’s way too depressing. But Bjork is an amazing actress!
Don’t comment often, but your number one is one of my absolute favorite movie. The story and the driving, simple, and poignant music makes this my favorite movie. Well done list!
I really love Mulholland Drive, Magnolia and the Exorcist, but I really really hate Dancer in the Dark, Lost in Translation and Rules of Attraction.
Happy Birthday Jamie!!
I rented Requiem at your suggestion in a previous list, and found it very watchable. After an “adults only” viewing, and discussion with my husband, we had our 2 teenage children watch it. We felt the movie’s realism could warn our kids away from the “life”, more so than substance abuse programs supplied at school.
So I guess Thank you Jamie is also in order.
“Happy birthday, Jamie!”
That’s something I would say to you, except that you said it to yourself twice already here.
PS. You have clearly committed cinema sacrilege with #6. Heathen, I say!
I don’t really care for the movies, but hey we have the same B-Day!!
Happy Birthday, Jamie! I hope it is a good one.
BTW, here’s a simple equation for those who don’t understand the greatness of Lost in Translation:
Bill Murray humor + *****y Scarlett Johansson + Unadulterated Japanese idiosyncrasy = AWESOME.
Happy Birthday Jamie!!!!
Erm, you know I’m just kidding with my #40 comment about your birthday, of course.
I sincerely wish you have a good b-day, jfray!
Happy Birthday to you, and Happy Birthday to me as well!
Harry Birthday JFrater, as usual, love the list, haven’t even heard of most of these, but will definitely try them
Happy Birthday dude. Thanks for listverse, thanks for the nuggets of trivia that I so adore. May happy times and more trippy knowledge come your way.
Happy Birthday Jamie. Have a great week-end of drinking and debauchery. Just wishing I could join you.
yay! happy birthday! go get drunk! haha
What about “Lawrence of Arabia” or “Singing in the Rain”? Waaaahhhhh. Ha, just kidding. You and I, sir, have very different tastes in music. But I respect your tastes.
Happy Birthday, Jamie, and many more.
Have a good one, Jamie!!
Happy Birthday Jamie! We are celebrating my sisters birthday today as well! I love your taste in movies, i have seen all of these except Dancer in the Dark, and really like all of them. I am a huge David Lynch fan as well and am glad to see Mulholland Drive on here, great movie. Great Choices
Happy Birthday!
Exellent movie list. I’ve seen all of them and enjoyed most, and may I just say that Requiem For a Dream is both disturbing and incredible … I bought it and Pi on a whim a few months ago and was blown away by both films. Darren Aronofsky is amazing.
Where is your source?
I dont know who you are but if your choice of movies are anything to go by I wouldnt invite you to any of my parties
Chin Chin, birthday boy, many happy returns and plenty more to come!
Tanjobi omedeto gozaimasu!
BTW, have you ever seen “The Snake Pit”? it stars Olivia de Havilland and was made in 1948. it was ahead of it’s time being a movie about a mentally unstable woman in an asylum with no recollection of how she got there and the doctors and treatments that helped her come round to unlocking her illness. the subject of mental illness and asylums were taboo in the 40′s , especially when the sufferer was a woman!! i highly recommend it!
That tears it, Jamie has eccentric taste. Gus Van Sant’s frame by frame remake of PSYCHO is better than Hitchcock’s version? I don’t think so, although Hitch*****probably would have shot it in color, if he had the money. I also concede that GVS’s experiment was intriguing and more successful artistically, than most people realize.
To each his own, MULHOLLAND DRIVE is the only one that would be in the running, though I’ll be sure to check out the two I haven’t seen.
Ahhh! Rules of Attraction! I freaking love that movie. I’m reading the book right now. It’s also amazing. Good taste in movies and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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