Brando, De Niro, Tarantino, Gable, and Garland-all part of the cinema’s greatest masterpieces

I’ve been often asked what are my favorite movies of all time, and I never really had an answer. But at some point, I’ve come to the brink of my career. And in honor of the recent Academy Awards presentation, I must reveal my 10 favorites of all time so far. I still have a lot more to see and wonder.

10.) “Gone With the Wind”

“As God as my witness, I’ll never be hungry again,” one of the lines from this 1939 love epic. Clark Gable may of had rancid breath due to his teeth, but he still had such extraordinary chemistry with Vivian Leigh. It’s a war movie, a love story, and a family drama, all rolled in one.

9.) “The Wizard of Oz”

This changed the face of cinema. Technicolor changed the way we viewed movies. Nobody could replace Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. Nobody. And you have to be a complete scarecrow to assume any other Oz feature is better than this.

8.) “The Godfather”

Marlon Brando is beyond the greatest Godfather to have ever been portrayed on screen. And how about Al Pacino? He’s utterly amazing. And my all time favorite scene from the movie is when a horse’s head is found in a producer’s bed, and he’s screaming. Never mess with the Corleone family. And never mess with Francis Ford Coppola.

7.) “Goodfellas”

Martin Scorsese shows us a gangster movie like no other. The kind that results in violence, dialogue, and drugs. Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci-wow-are they great? And I love how Derek & the Dominos’ “Layla” closes the end credits. If you loved “The Godfather,” then you’ll admire “Goodfellas.”

6.) “The Shawshank Redemption”

This is one of the best Stephen King adaptations ever crafted on film. I loved Bob Gunton’s words (“I want him found. Not tomorrow, not after breakfast, now!”), I loved the chemistry between Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, and I loved the inspiration and heart that made this a miracle. Even if it bombed in 1994, it will still prevail as a classic.

5.) “Titanic”

I’ve watched James Cameron’s masterpiece ever since I was a little kid. It told a breathtaking story about the sinking of the Titanic ship, while giving us a romantic love story between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. And the movie’s presentation of the sinking of the ship is a marvel to behold.

4.) “Singing’ in the Rain”

Now here is a dancing musical with some of the moves and songs from the late great Gene Kelly. “Singing’ in the Rain” is a classic that reminds us of why musicals and movies were meant to be spliced together. You want old fashioned musicals? Well, you’ve got one!

R.I.P Stanley Donen

3.) “Forrest Gump”

This is Robert Zemeckis’ best movie, because of how lovable and wonderful Tom Hanks is as the title character, because of the heart and humor hidden inside, and because of how much my family loved. Hell, I loved this movie.

2.) “Little Miss Sunshine”

I respectively told Steve Carrel and Paul Dano that this movie changed my life. Both of them thanked me, but never asked how. My reason is because it made me want to become a film critic, who loves both blockbusters and Indies. It introduced me to a family with problems of their own (money, suicide, and drugs), while driving their little girl (Abigail Breslin) to compete in a beauty pageant. This is a magical experience.

1.) “Pulp Fiction”

I’ll never forget the dialogue, characters, situations, editing, cinematography, and music-all brought to life by Quentin Tarantino. The cast includes John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, and Bruce Willis. I always find myself quoting lines from the movie, and the style of it just makes me feel good. This is my favorite movie of all time.

But worry, I didn’t forget such classics as “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane,” “E.T.,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Mary Poppins,” “Raging Bull,” or “Jaws.” There have been many masterpieces throughout the course of 100 years, and I still have a lot more to see. Maybe in the future, the list will change. For now, this is what I have to offer.

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