Top Films

I would consider myself a bit of a cinephile. This is despite the fact that I have seen neither of The Godfather films, nor Forrest Gump. When I think about it, there are a very large number of must see films that I have never seen. I think it may be because I never like a movie that people tell me I have to watch, or that I am going to love.

Nevertheless I do watch a lot of films. More than is probably good for me. And because I'm not overly fussed by the big Hollywood blockbusters my favourite movies tend to be more obscure than the people around me find acceptable. Having previously discussed with friends my favourite films, with the inevitable explanation required that can never do the masterpiece justice, I have learnt that some things you have to keep to yourself.

So here is my list of favourite films:

5 that I have found don't cause looks of either confusion or disgust and are generally accepted

and

5 that I truly love but have caused looks of confusion and disgust so I keep quiet about...especially when deciding what to watch whilst on a date.

PUBLIC FAVOURITES

• Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet.

Fantastic soundtrack, costumes and of course over the top acting that can only be perfect for such a fantasticly camp adaptation of Shakespeare. Of course being female also makes me swoon for Leo DiCaprio.

• 28 Days Later.

This is actually in my complete top 5 films, however despite the vision of Cillian Murphy as nature intended as well as serious moral insights I have found this film to be generally acceptable.

• L'Auberge Espagnole

Romain Duris is too cute. This film makes you desperate to immerse yourself in a culture unlike your own with people you don't know. And despite being a romantic comedy, it is full of truths.

"For some idiotic reason, your most horrific experiences are the stories you most
love to tell."

• Full Metal Jacket

Two films in one, both of them excellent. Almost indescribably good. The irony of the Vietnam War that Matthew Modine portrays so effectively and of course that final scene just cement Kubrick as one of the greatest directors ever.

• The Black Dahlia

This film is a bit of a struggle for me as only half the main characters can really act. Eckhart is incredible as 'that type of cop' and Swank is so seductive as the femme fatale that it was acceptable to re - enact a sex scene from the film in a school presentation. I ultimately have this film as a favourite because even though Hartnett and Johansson are incredibly wooden, Mia Kirshener is both outstanding and delicious.

FAVOURITES I NOW KEEP TO MYSELF

• The Dreamers

If you have ever seen anything by Bertolucci you will understand.

• Bad Education/la mala educacion

Almodovar is an unbelievable talent, and Fele Martinez plays his character so believably that even as a hetero female I can empathize with him. Can't have this out there though because the backlash from my friends after my brother explained some of the more memorable moments is not worth going through again.

• The Edukators/Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei

Great movie, great premise. Overuse of Hallelujah but still. I don't tell people about this film because the less people that watch it, the less likely it is to become the hipster bible.

• Time To Leave/le temps qui reste

We saw with Philadelphia that people will embrace a sad story about a dying homosexual. But Philadelphia didn't include some things that Francois Ozon is unafraid to film. This film is beautiful, but you have to have an open mind.

• Breakfast on Pluto

I clearly like films that blur the boundaries of gender. Acting too good, story too bittersweet. Makes me cry.