Top 10 Favorite Films of JFrater
Published on August 29, 2008 - 152 Comments
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!
Related ListsTop 10 Reasons JFrater Doesn’t Want To Write Another film ListTop 10 Greatest Operas A Message From Jfrater Top 10 Booze Hound Gifts |
SubscriptionsLike this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed to keep 'em coming, or subscribe via email: |
If you find this site helpful, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.
Email This Post
1. Sky - August 30th, 2008 at 5:05 am
Nice, I love the Bonus, and I agree.
2. kiwiboi - August 30th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Happy birthday Jamie!!
3. Tempyra - August 30th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Happy Birthday JFrater!
4. jfrater - August 30th, 2008 at 5:14 am
kiwiboi - thanks:) extremely pissed at a 21st in cuba st.
5. ohrmets - August 30th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Happy bday, jfrater. You’re right, The Exorcist never gets not scary, no matter how many times you see it.
6. ciunas - August 30th, 2008 at 5:37 am
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.
7. Ray Bees - August 30th, 2008 at 5:39 am
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.
8. kiwiboi - August 30th, 2008 at 5:47 am
kiwiboi - thanks:) extremely pissed at a 21st in cuba st.
Haha. You’re there now? Enjoy!
9. kung-fudevil - August 30th, 2008 at 5:47 am
happy birthday!
10. MTiru - August 30th, 2008 at 5:49 am
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!!!
11. facekickin - August 30th, 2008 at 5:49 am
hewl yea @ #1! that movie will never cease to scare me away from drugs. and ass-to-ass
12. kiki - August 30th, 2008 at 5:55 am
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.
13. JT - August 30th, 2008 at 5:57 am
HAAAAAAAPY BIIIIIRTHDAY
I was scared when I scrolled down and saw the words ‘Titanic’ but you got me! Haha!
AAAAAND MAAAANY MORE
14. Ghidoran - August 30th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Happy Birthdy jfrater! This site is very good to me. Happy Birthday again. And may you have many more.
15. Metalwrath - August 30th, 2008 at 6:33 am
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.
16. thematic - August 30th, 2008 at 6:34 am
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.
17. Tom - August 30th, 2008 at 6:44 am
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!
18. rearden - August 30th, 2008 at 6:46 am
A list of your favorite films? That’s “much too vulgar display of power.”
Happy birthday man.
19. romerozombie - August 30th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Generic happy birthday comment!
I didn’t ‘get’ Requiem. AM I NOT INTELLECTUAL AND HIP NOW?
20. romerozombie - August 30th, 2008 at 6:53 am
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
21. Wally - August 30th, 2008 at 6:58 am
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 analysed.
22. Teapixie - August 30th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Happy Birthday Jamie,
I totally agree with Requiem. What an amazing movie.
23. BrotherMan - August 30th, 2008 at 7:19 am
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.
24. 禾草唐楷 - August 30th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Happy birthday jamie~~~
I often read your article，it is very exciting, thank you~~~
25. rshady - August 30th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Ridiculous list, I don’t think you like any of these films.:D
Hehe, Happy birthday! :p
26. akelly318 - August 30th, 2008 at 7:41 am
happy bday!!!!
27. Aaron - August 30th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Happy birthday
28. segue - August 30th, 2008 at 7:52 am
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*.
29. segue - August 30th, 2008 at 8:01 am
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!
30. Chris - August 30th, 2008 at 8:06 am
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.
31. The_PeteMaN - August 30th, 2008 at 8:15 am
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.
32. Anon - August 30th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Many happies!!
33. rushfan - August 30th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Happy Birthday! Interesting choice of movies. I also enjoyed Requiem for a Dream and Rules of Attraction.
34. stevenh - August 30th, 2008 at 8:31 am
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.
35. kowzilla - August 30th, 2008 at 8:42 am
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.)
36. CJ - August 30th, 2008 at 9:15 am
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!
37. Squall - August 30th, 2008 at 9:15 am
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!
38. aquadog - August 30th, 2008 at 9:17 am
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.
39. Deziner - August 30th, 2008 at 9:20 am
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.
40. Kreachure - August 30th, 2008 at 9:30 am
“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!
41. meanmofo - August 30th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I don’t really care for the movies, but hey we have the same B-Day!!
42. JwJwBean - August 30th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Happy Birthday, Jamie! I hope it is a good one.
43. Kreachure - August 30th, 2008 at 9:42 am
BTW, here’s a simple equation for those who don’t understand the greatness of Lost in Translation:
Bill Murray humor + Sexy Scarlett Johansson + Unadulterated Japanese idiosyncrasy = AWESOME.
44. Victoria - August 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Happy Birthday Jamie!!!!
45. Kreachure - August 30th, 2008 at 10:06 am
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!
46. Jimmy K - August 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Happy Birthday to you, and Happy Birthday to me as well!
47. burningskittles - August 30th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Harry Birthday JFrater, as usual, love the list, haven’t even heard of most of these, but will definitely try them
48. Saint Splattergut - August 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am
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.
49. Mom424 - August 30th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Happy Birthday Jamie. Have a great week-end of drinking and debauchery. Just wishing I could join you.
50. goof_ball - August 30th, 2008 at 11:06 am
yay! happy birthday! go get drunk! haha
51. Cedestra - August 30th, 2008 at 11:06 am
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.
52. sleddogg - August 30th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Have a good one, Jamie!!
53. schiesl - August 30th, 2008 at 11:25 am
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
54. kittym - August 30th, 2008 at 11:46 am
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.
55. Phil - August 30th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Where is your source?
56. ManxMark - August 30th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
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
57. Jack Deth - August 30th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Chin Chin, birthday boy, many happy returns and plenty more to come!
58. TiffanyH - August 30th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
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!
59. YogiBarrister - August 30th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
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 Hitchcock 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.
60. Sarah - August 30th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
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!
http://i266.photobucket.com/al.....ners/j.gif
61. Diamond_Dragon - August 30th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Hahahahahahaha Titanic!! Lol nice one
Anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE!!!!!
(Pardon my way of showing my enthusiasm by writing in all capital letters, but I think you deserved it today!
62. kiwiboi - August 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
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.
Deziner - great anecdote. Good to see LV touching “real-life” in a positive way.
63. CK2005 - August 30th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
thank god you’re joking about Titanic hahaha. Requiem for a Dream is such a fantastic movie, glad to see it is number 1. I also love Lost in Translation. Great list as always
64. downhighway61 - August 30th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Happy birthday J!!!
Make it into an entire weekend and don’t stop having fun!
65. Diogenes - August 30th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
yeh, it’s too bad Ole Andy Wharhol weren’t still alive to be in Van Sant’s as Perkins/mom/Bates. That would be the cherry on the sunday.
a little late.
I too heard shot for shot, but i think the most notorious scene in the shower is not…well
it would have been more pop exquisite if it were “movement per movement” exactitude. i connect them in my mind. (as long as the camera is in the same place, then its shot for shot. maybe thats the idea. give the same words to say and the same story , along with the camera in the same spot and angles,ect..it WILL be different still.
i might see it again. it did nothing for me when i first saw it.
i worked in a wine story for a short time back when Magnolia came out. Moviestars would frequent the place and one evening i sold a bottle to Julianne Moore. I joked with her and she laughed, but as i swiped her card and was finishing up the sale, i couldnt help but have the scene where she freaks out at the drug store, flash through my mind…and her beautiful smile and casual presence took on a sinister quality. i was sorta scared and exhaled with relief when she left the store.
66. Riya B. - August 30th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Hey,happy birthday, man!!! I love this list, and hope your birthday is all good!
67. thepennymachine - August 30th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Happy birthday! Mulholland dr. and Magnolia are deep favorites of mine as well. some of mine are Eraserhead, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Down by Law, Rope, 8 1/2, the Shining, INLAND EMPIRE, and many more. There are also a lot of films that were introduced to me through this site like Satantango, and Man Bites Dog, and Death in Venice. Thank you Listverse!
68. Taranis - August 30th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
We read the book and watched the movie for The Great Gatsby. It was so good.
69. deepthinker - August 30th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Happy B-day, Jamie. I love “Lost in Translation”, and I thought I was one of the only people to appreciate it. I will have to sit down with a few of these- “Dancer in the Dark” sounds intriguing. Although, last year I took your advice on your book list. I ordered “Atlas Shrugged”, and I could not get into it. I mean, I am sure it gets better as the book goes along, but if I’m not happy with the first 100 pages, I lose interest. But, I’ll trust you with the films, many I have heard of, just not seen. Have a great day.
70. deliciousdanger - August 30th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Happy Birthday!
I just added whatever movies I hadn’t seen from this list onto my ‘movies I want to see’ list, as I tend to trust your judgement. ^^
71. chershey - August 30th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I love Magnolia to tears. I love how each storyline is slowly revealed to be related to all the others. And yes, I *cough* will admit it that Tom Cruise did indeed act in it. He did an excellent job of faking being a good actor.
72. jackit - August 30th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Happy Birthday! It’s your listverse, we just live in it
I will see some of the older movies on this list, you make everything sound so interesting!
73. Cedestra - August 30th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Well, I’m silly- I meant movies. Anywho, I still don’t “get” Mulholland Dr. There’s some secret to that movie that everyone keeps saying, “Well, I can’t tell you, you just have to know.” It really pisses me off. I was irritated by the portrayal of Tokyo life in Lost in Translation- it made it seem very bizarre, empty, and sterile. Rule of Attraction and Requiem were great movies. I enjoyed the original Psycho, but I think I see where you’re going. Older films portray what was older culture. Jimmy Stewart’s characters would never fly in a movie today (although that would be incredibly interesting).
74. glittershrooms - August 30th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Happy B-day Jay-Fray !!! Have fun at your party, even though you did not invite me
:D 
Well, your loss Jamie, I was gonna bring a Tom Cruise pinata!
#67 “Man bites Dog” is my favorite movie of all time, it’s the most quoted movie amongst college students in my country. Sadly, a LOT of the content has been edited out for the american audiences. Needless to say all the best parts are missing.
75. astraya - August 30th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
HB, JF. (The perks of being site admin!)
Right now, this list has clocked up 74 comments, and “Ancient Egypt” has attracted 31. Jamie is clearly more than twice as popular as Ancient Egypt. (238% to be exact)
I will comment on the films when I’ve had time to read the list, but I will say that I remember that you’d vowed never to make another movie list!
76. BrotherMan - August 30th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
jfrater: I do not see any responses or rebuttals from you thus far. What gives!?
Are you having that much of a good time on your birthday
77. erin - August 30th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Requiem for a Dream is one of my top tens
Happy Birthday!
78. stormy617 - August 30th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Hope your birthday was a great one and as lots of others have said, just make it a great weekend!!! LOL
Happy Birthday and many more Jamie!!!
79. Karly - August 30th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I love Requiem for a Dream! It’s one of my favorite movies, but I can’t figure out why. It’s disturbing on so many levels, yet I keep watching it again and again. Great list! And happy birthday
80. gouldgirl - August 30th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I’ve only seen three of these: Dancer In The Dark, Lost In Translation, and The Great Gatsby.
I loved all three movies. I watched Dancer In The Dark by myself and ended up crying throughout the whole thing.
In Lost In Traslation I found the main character’s agoraphobic attitude towards Japan a bit child-like, but it was still a very charming movie.
81. apeacefulscorpioswickedheart - August 30th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I absolutely LOVED Requiem for a dream…I regret not seeing it more than once before my boyfriend’s hard drive crashed….and all music, pictures, and movies were deleted….oh the tragedy…oooh and Happy Birthday too!
82. jfrater - August 30th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Hey all! Thanks for the nice comments - they have certainly helped brighten up my day
My absence from the comment box has been because of parties. I am now at a family afternoon tea so I won’t be saying much until later. So, thanks again everyone - I really appreciate the kind words and the fact that the majority of you also love the movies I love!
83. Kathryn - August 30th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Requiem for a Dream is pretty much insane. I saw it in …8th? grade… yeah my friend wasn’t aware of the rating or how weird it actually was. Awkward…..
Oh and Happy Birthday!
84. Lori - August 30th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Ah yes. Requiem for a Dream was awesome. It was so very hard to watch, so depressing, yet so beautiful. I felt melancholy for a whole week after that.
85. TheDEFENESTRATOR - August 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
the only ones on this list that i’ve seen are the exorcist and requiem for a dream. i’ve seen the original psycho, but not the remake. i lol’d at your “bonus” pick.
now i kinda wanna see requiem for a dream again… but i kinda don’t… it’s the single most depressing movie i’ve ever seen, but i still thought it was a great movie.
anyway,
happy birthday!!!
86. MPW - August 30th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Happy Birthday Jamie! Lots of good choices too. How old are you now?
87. Sandra - August 30th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
You know what’s sad? The only movies I’ve seen on this list are Exorcist and Ttanic.
88. Jennifer - August 30th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Dancer in the Dark is AMAZING!!!
89. Denzell - August 30th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Happy birthday (belated)!
Yeah, how old are you now?
Unfortunately for me, I haven’t heard of any of these except for The Exorcist and Titanic.
90. apeacefulscorpioswickedheart - August 30th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Sandra- Don’t worry I’ve only seen Requiem for a Dream, I do want to see Dancer in the Dark as I love Bjork, but believe it or not I’ve never seen Titanic or the Exorcist…I need to watch more movies -_-
91. Mortivore - August 30th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
I’m not gonna lie. Requiem for a Dream bored me. T.T Ended up watching The Great Gatsby in school, and while it had a few good parts, it wasn’t really worth it to me. I feel so left out. T.T Just kidding. XDXDXD
92. babygirl2882 - August 30th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Happy Birthday!! Hope your having a blast!!
93. DoppHopper - August 31st, 2008 at 1:07 am
I’ve seen Death in Venice, tragic. And I’v seen the end of Dancer in the Dark and man, it’s a movie I will never recommend. It’s so upsetting.
94. Joanie Girl - August 31st, 2008 at 1:17 am
6 and 2 are 2 of my fav movies
Id been wanting to see Requiem for a Dream for sometime now.
Cool!
95. Tomo - August 31st, 2008 at 1:24 am
Go Jamie, it’s your birthday…
Happy Birthday Jamie. I think it’s great that you made a list for yoruself, you deserve it. As my birthday gift to you, I think I’m going to buy some listverse merchandise.
96. cubicdome - August 31st, 2008 at 2:18 am
Happy birthday JFrater!
Requiem for a dream is tops as being a very disturbing movie!!!
97. ZedroZ - August 31st, 2008 at 2:37 am
Happy birthday JFrater!
98. knight_forked - August 31st, 2008 at 3:32 am
Happy Birthday Jamie!
I have not seen #10, #7 and #3 but rest are all very good movies. David Lynch and Aronofsky are among my favorite directors as well, for the surrealist movies they make…life is nothing but a very long dream, the moment you wake up you find yourself waiting at the doors of hell.
99. beyondinvisible - August 31st, 2008 at 3:46 am
Looks like we share a birthday. Hope you had a good one.
100. Drogo - August 31st, 2008 at 5:30 am
Happy Birthday JFrater (aka Jamie,JayFray,JF)!!!
I’m curious about “Dancer In The Dark” I woldd like to see Bjork acting.
I went to “Psycho” with a teenage buddy. I informed him ahead of time that it wasn’t going to have alot of blood splurting around like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies, so he might find it boring. (haha).
101. NestorV - August 31st, 2008 at 7:53 am
Happy belated birthday, Jfrater.
I liked Requiem too, awesome movie.
The last 20 minutes was one of the more disturbing and depressing scene I ever seen in a movie.
The soundtrack was good too.
102. Lsg - August 31st, 2008 at 9:25 am
My #1 favorite movie of all the time is also Requiem for a dream, great movie.
And also Dancer in the Dark is on my top, is really sad but i love all the music scenes
103. Lsg - August 31st, 2008 at 9:25 am
Oh!! and happy birthday!:D
104. Brithombar - August 31st, 2008 at 10:12 am
Happy Birthday man. I like what you do here.
105. warningdontreadthis - August 31st, 2008 at 11:15 am
Oh dear I didnt know it was your birthday!
D :
happy birthday jfray
106. warningdontreadthis - August 31st, 2008 at 11:19 am
Why is everybody so mean to titanic D’:?
107. carpe_noctem - August 31st, 2008 at 11:54 am
Happy birthday mate, and I can’t thank you enough for being the first person besides me so far to put Requiem For A Dream at the very top of their list!
108. Cheryl - August 31st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Happy Belated Birthday JFrater! I hope it was grand! Loved the list. You’ve got the best site here, can’t wait to see what’s new every day!
109. Ray Bees - August 31st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
warningdontreadthis - watch it and you’ll find out.
110. Marcello - August 31st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Say what you will about Titanic, but the last hour or so contains the most wonderfully crafted disaster sequences ever committed to celluloid. Nice choice with the Visconti film, to say the least.
111. Tyree - August 31st, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Requiem for a Dream and The Great Gatsby are both amazing books AND movies. Seriously, if anyone on here hasn’t read both, but liked the movies, uh…you should. >_>
Unfortunately I haven’t seen any of the others, but many of them are on my “to-see” list.
112. melloyello16 - August 31st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Happy belated! I love Requiem and Rules of Attraction. The song “Without You” is still unbelievably sad and depressing to me (more so than normal) due to that scene.
Psycho has ruined my showering experiences. I saw the remake before the original and don’t have a preference either way. But Vince Vaughn was amazing.
I’m glad you put Magnolia up there. It doesn’t seem to be as well known as it should be.
113. astraya - August 31st, 2008 at 7:14 pm
To those who have been asking how old Jamie is, the answer is available somewhere on the internet - I won’t tell you where.
Are you deliberately not answering, Jamie?
114. Vera Lynn - August 31st, 2008 at 9:16 pm
JFrater I’m coming at you late here, but Happy Birthday my friend. I wish for you only what you and yours wish. May you always have good health and happiness.
Your Universe here has changed my life. I do not want to detail why publicly, but I want you to know that your influence has been profound. I can never thank you for your dedication to this site. If you ever need anything (and, I don’t mean some silly reference to sex or whatever) please do not hesitate to ask. I am forever in your debt.
Vera Lynn
115. Clouds - September 1st, 2008 at 12:14 am
Happy Birthday J. Thanks again for the great website.
116. miki - September 1st, 2008 at 2:14 am
happy birthday. requirem for a dream is also my favourite movie. Altought, i’m surprised that you slightly mentioned about it on the lists..
117. appie - September 1st, 2008 at 3:43 am
I know it’s late but….
better late than never…
Happy bday to the smartest guy in the world…
hehehehe….
118. abhilash warrier - September 1st, 2008 at 6:01 am
Happy b’day, Jamie! Belated wishes… You always make me come back to this site… I just love this site.
119. PirateXxEsque - September 1st, 2008 at 7:15 am
Happy Birthday kiddo!
120. kris - September 1st, 2008 at 8:17 am
Belated Happy B’day Mr.Frater… n thanq for the e-mail you sent…I am glad finally I am home…will have to see the doctor for a review on 11th again…
121. EJF - September 1st, 2008 at 1:27 pm
The Great Gatsby? Yeah, if you need sleep.
122. Vera Lynn - September 1st, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Thank you for MPW. I love him. So much.
Segue, Anon, Tempyra, Astraya, ringtailroxy, Randall, rushfan, bucslim, goof_ball, slickwilly, etc. Even S_R. I love you all. I need you all. You have changed my life forever.
123. astraya - September 1st, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Thanks for the thanks, Vera Lynn. It’s the first time in my life that I’ve been on an “A list”.
124. CRSN - September 1st, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Happy Birthday J / a belated one at that
Vera - I’ll be sitting in the corner with the dunce’s hat on
125. cparker - September 2nd, 2008 at 6:39 am
That’s wild, Requiem is also number two on my list only behind Snatch
126. Callie - September 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
Jamie we have the same birthday!! I haven’t been able to read the site all weekend because I was at the beach, but happy birthday to us!!!
127. Sgt. Batguano - September 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
Happy Birthday.
BTW. We just did an overrated films list.
128. inanytime - September 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
happy birthday!
129. greg - September 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Requiem for a Dream…my favorite movie ever. It grabs you…you cant look away. Smoke a fatty and watch that…It’ll blow your socks off
130. Brandy - September 2nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
For those of you that have seen Requiem for a Dream if you have not yet seen “Pi” you should also check that one out as well. It is another great Darren Aronofsky film. I orginally saw it for the first time as an extra credit project for my psychology class (easiest extra credit assignment ever) there are some graphic seens so be warned but worth the watch.
131. Blogball - September 2nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Happy belated Birthday !
I thought the remake of Psycho was interesting because in many of the scenes they used the exact same script & camera angles etc. as the original. I never saw a remake try to do that before. No chocolate syrup going down the drain though.
132. Vera Lynn - September 2nd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
CRSN(124) I left off a lot of people. My computer is always failing me. I didn’t say half of what I wanted. Like S_R. I was gonna say, “He is a legend in his own mind.”
I personally will never forget the joke I shared with you. I think you and MPW were the only 2 to see it. It was pulled fast!
Special thanks to Christopherbourne who did the Pink Floyd list. I believe that was the first list I posted on.
133. Domingo - September 2nd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Requiem sucked, if you really want to see drug addiction live in the inner city for a year.
134. Ray Bees - September 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Sgt.Batguano…V Funny!
135. astraya - September 3rd, 2008 at 4:10 am
It’s my birthday tomorrow.
136. new - September 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 am
The Shawshank Redemption!!!
137. F. McClure - September 4th, 2008 at 6:33 am
The Great Gatsby? Really?
And no Boogie Nights or Pulp Fiction?
What about a Clockwork Orange?
Ever heard of American Beauty?
Ah, well. At least Requiem is here.
138. Nicosia - September 4th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Happy belated b-day, JF… But Requiem? #1? Really? I can not put into words how much I hated it…
139. Egg - September 8th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Happy belated!
Gatsby: hated the book, loved the movie. I wish I were in the twenties.
140. Nicosia - September 8th, 2008 at 11:11 am
You gotta love those finger-waves!
141. MovieMaven - September 25th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I wonder if he’d think so highly of the 1970’s “The Great Gatsby” if he could have seen the 1949 version. IMHO it’s those glamorous costumes that make the 1970’s version memorable - but they also sabotage one of the classic moments from the book, because no one dared turn the waterworks on those exquisite confections. (The moment is IN the 1949 version, with its more pedestrian costumes.)
Redford was okay, but he made heavy going of showing more than one level of Gatsby’s character. Alan Ladd *nailed* him on at least four levels (talk about severely underrated actors). The supporting cast was quite strong also - Barry Sullivan, Macdonald Carey, Howard DaSilva, a young Shelley Winters (who bodily stole every frame she was in), and even a quirky Elisha Cook Jr providing incidental music and commentary. It could have been the definitive version, but was undercut by a severely meddled-with screenplay (to placate the censors) and a director who wasn’t “into” the project. And no one seems to want it to see the light of day ever again - for reasons that MUST be financial, as no others make any sense.
142. marko x - September 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
well i haven’t seen all of those movies but requiem for a dream is also my favorite movie along with mullholand drive, i can’t believe you didn’t include stanley kubrick or tarantino but still a good list though
143. Betsyville - October 31st, 2008 at 6:43 pm
The Great Gatsby is written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, not Scott Fitzgerald.
Just pointing out an error.
144. AniH - November 4th, 2008 at 3:24 am
BTW how old r u jfrater??
145. segue - November 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Only really young teenagers would be inappropriate enough to ask someone’s age.
Adults don’t ask each other how old they are. They don’t ask how much money the other makes. They don’t ask inappropriate personal questions. These are things you will learn as you mature. Get ahead of the curve. Learn now.
146. AniH - November 5th, 2008 at 12:52 am
segue - im actually in my mid 20s… and wasnt expecting an answer…
147. astraya - November 5th, 2008 at 1:45 am
segue: They do in Korea. All the time! Age, marital status, weight, income. I’ve learned to shake my head politely.
148. segue - November 5th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
147. astraya: Just remember Douglas Adams! The answer is always 42!
149. CRSN - November 5th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
seague - is it me or do we reference the meaning of life all the time. We should have some kinda honorary link to Douglas Adams site because bugger all people have actually READ the books, they may have seen the movie (shudder) but that has nothing on the book series.
150. segue - November 5th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
149. CRSN: It’s not just you.
I, thankfully, have read the books and have *NOT* seen the movie. Further, I happen to know the actual Physics behind the number 42 being the answer, as I’m betting you do.
I agree with you on the honorary link. It’s the fair and gracious thing to do.
151. i love corn - November 12th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
It seems impossible to count the number of times you used the word disturbing or creepy or eerie or the likes.
Are you trying to tell us something?
152. david a redding - December 27th, 2008 at 2:18 am
This is a crap list, im glad i dont know you, seriously?! anything with a bjork listing has to mean that you only love crap music to.