This list contains men and women who never received Oscars in their respective fields but definitely at some point deserved one. This list does not include Honorary Oscars or Lifetime Achievement Award Oscars.

Albert Finney has been nominated for 5 Oscars in his lifetime. His most notable performance came in one of his first, Tom Jones. He was also nominated for Erin Brokovich, The Dresser, and Volcano. If you have never seen Finney in a film, I strongly recommend you watch him in The Browning Version - a lesser known but fantastic film about a teacher of classics.

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So many genres of film making have been covered on the site, but one certainly sticks out for its lack of representation - and this, finally, is it. These are films that are not designed to promote or condemn homosexuality, but films which mirror the “coming of age” films, the “romance” films, and just general life-stories that we see so often in mainstream cinema. The difference is that these films are based on same-sex situations. I have tried very hard to select films that I think appeal to ALL people - not just a homosexual audience. I have seen all of these films and I would easily recommend them as masterpieces of cinema or story telling. For those with biases, put them aside and check these films out - I am certain you won’t regret it.

I feel a bit guilty for adding this film - it is here for its art value only. The film itself is a little hard to watch unless you are particularly fond of avant garde French movies - it is not just a gay story, it is an art form - from the art of the author (Jean Genet) to the art of the director (Fassbinder). For many this might appear a B-grade film, but I assure you, it is not; it is true to the story, it is true to the life of the author, and it is a moving film. Perhaps even more moving is the fact that the main actor, Brad Davis, ultimately died of AIDS through drug use. This same actor was the brilliant star of Midnight Express.

Synopsis: French sailor Querelle arrives in Brest and starts frequenting a strange whorehouse. He discovers that his brother Robert is the lover of the lady owner, Lysiane. Here, you can play dice with Nono, Lysiane’s husband : if you win, you are allowed to make love with Lysiane, if you lose, you have to make love with Nono… Querelle loses on purpose…

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These are films that I consider were made for specifically for kids or families to enjoy. Many kids films are so juvenile or poorly executed that it’s a real joy to find some that can be on an adults list of must-sees. I’ve left off some real obvious ones, like Wizard of Oz, because it’s so well-regarded already. Also, films like “Spirited Away,” while a great film, and many may argue that it is for kids, is a little inaccessible for the smaller ones. As usual, tell us your favorites in the comments.

The first of several Pixar films on this list. This is an amazing film with themes that soar over the heads of little ones. It’s almost Chaplinesque in style, and has already been compared to Chaplin’s classic “Modern Times.” Extremely intelligent, funny, touching and with a message that is worth heeding. Great music too. What other kid’s movie would feature Louis Armstrong’s version of Le Vie En Rose?

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During the forming of this list I was blown away by the sheer number of patriotic films that have been made in the US. In going through the pile of possibilities, I have intentionally chosen not to just represent saccharine movies which show only the good side of life - the films I have picked include war films, films about corruption, and films involving racism. There is, however, one underlying current in all of them - they all involve the triumph of freedom - the very heart of American patriotism. I have excluded films that would not be considered to be the best of the best - for that reason don’t expect to see Independence Day or The Patriot here. Please feel free to mention your own favorites in the comments. This list also contains a competition. Happy 4th of July!

The Sullivans (also known as the Fighting Sullivans) is a true story of five brothers who died when their ship was destroyed during a naval battle in the Pacific during World War II. Their deaths changed U.S. military policy about family enlistments (limiting siblings serving together), and later acted as a partial story catalyst for “Saving Private Ryan,” which was about the rescue of one family’s last surviving military son. Despite the battle deaths of the Sullivans, the film spends little time with them in uniform. Instead, it is a movie about growing up in heartland USA–Waterloo, Iowa. The constantly scrapping brothers (thus the title, “The Fighting Sullivans”) are likable, funny, and loyal to their siblings.

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The art of Rome contributed immensely (probably more than any other nation) to Western culture. This continued through the middle ages with Church art and music, and now in modern times the Italians continue to be leaders in the art of film. These directors are ten of the greatest Italian contributors to modern movies.

Best Film To Watch: Life is Beautiful

Benigni is the youngest member of this list and he is also probably the most well known to modern audiences. Benigni starred in and directed the tragi-comedy Life is Beautiful, about a Jewish man and his son who end up in a concentration camp. The film was nominated for seven academy awards and Benigni won the best actor and best foreign film award. Benigni has since directed two other films, one being Pinocchio. Benigni is a young director with a great future ahead of him.

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