Top 10 Favorite Films

Alice in Wonderland (1951)

I'm glad this entry is first alphabetically because I always jump to bringing it up when asked what my favorite film is. Of all the adaptations of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland novel, Disney's animated film is one of the most faithful. It's difficult to capture the literary nonsense of the source material, but their animation nails it. Not only that, but the voice actors portrayed their respective characters so incredibly well.

The visuals are absolutely stunning and just a joy to watch how they come together to create gorgeous scenery of the titular Wonderland. Each musical number also perfectly fits its respective scene and I never feel taken out of the experience. A common criticism I see is about the Walrus and Carpenter scene. Despite it being part of the source material, it does feel quite jarring to some people and that's understandable. Regardless, I highly recommend sticking through to the end because it's such a WONDERful experience!

A lot of care went into capturing the mannerisms of the voice actors acting out the scene in real life which makes the abysmal live-action adaptations later produced by Disney more frustrating. I want to shout out two other adaptations that capture source elements just as well. Alice in Wonderland (1985) is the most accurate to the plot of not just the original story, but its follow up as well. Likewise, Czech film Něco z Alenky (1988) utilizes stop motion and takes a darker approach to highlight the eeriness of such a story.

Chasing Amy (1997)

My love of this film is complicated due to how torn I am about it. On one hand, it was very formative in how I view certain aspects of life and engage with topics the film explores. On the other hand, it's quite flawed and some of the interactions have not aged well and are problematic. For all its flaws, though, it does some things very well and introduces some complex ideas about insecurity and baggage. It's more of a serious film than most assume given Kevin Smith's involvement. Upon a recent rewatch, I think it's time to bump it up in status despite controversial status.

The main draw is Alyssa played by Joey Lauren Adams. On the surface she's girl with a messy past that serves to teach the main protagonist a lesson. Under the surface, she is a more complex character that is being authentic to herself and living her life how she sees fit despite the difficulty it brings her in finding what she truly wants. Queerness isn't always cut and dry and sometimes knowing what you want requires experiencing what you don't want. There are some problematic moments and dialogue that don't hold up, but it's saved by Alyssa's steadfast authenticity.

Like most Kevin Smith films, the characters and dialogue really bring things to life and feel very authentic. While I think that Clerks (1994) is the superior Kevin Smith film in that regard, Chasing Amy is more special to me. It's a very unapologetic in its covering of 90s love story and cultural norms, and it shouldn't be left in the past due to falling victim to them. The deeper ideas hold up to modern scrutiny, in my opinion, despite their poorly-aged execution.

Coraline (2009)

I slept on this one longer than I should have. When it initially came out, I had no interest in watching it even when one of my best friends at the time was recommending it. I think having The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) overhyped to me leading to disappointed viewing played a massive role in that. Once I finally gave it a chance, I wanted to kick myself for waiting as long as I did. I even wrote a paper comparing its story to the story of Alice in Wonderland pointing out parallels in imagery and subject matter and how they relate to similar ideas in the end.

There's a handful of things I've been left speechless about and seeing the amount of work that went into the making of Coraline is one of those moments. I was blown away by the level of detail a stop-motion animation was capable of and how immersed I was in the universe presented in the film. The music is very appropriate and tends to fit the discordant atmosphere very well. The end result is a great coming of age dark fantasy film that feels oddly cozy and fits perfectly into any spooky viewing lists.

I'm often told that people find it too dark and/or disturbing to really enjoy and that's very valid. Some of the material is quite macabre and mixed with the more upbeat elements included by Laika, it creates some unique dissonance. It's recommend sticking it out to the end cause the payoffs are well worth it. It draws from the source material very well and is quite authentic. The film is more lighthearted than the book and quite a bit less dark, but they both have their merits.

Hackers (1995)

This is maybe the most controversial or confusing entry on this list. To understand why, you must know what this film is...or rather...what it is NOT. Is it a well-done film? Nah, not really. Do the actors do a great job? Ehhh... Is it a great story? Not particularly. But despite all that...it's a blast to watch; at least for me. Certainly the film I've seen the most amount of times as it's easy to just throw on and have in the background or sidebar. It's easy for me to turn my brain off and find comfort in the familiarity of it.

The crew in the film all have really fun chemistry and it very much feels like a real group of friends. The antagonists are also quite bombastic and you'll love them as much as you hate them. It's worth a watch especially if you have a thing for technology and/or cyberpunk. For me personally, it made me even more interested in computers and technology. Despite the CGI cities depicted in the hacking scenes, the actual caffeine-fueled allnighters are VERY accurate to what things are like in the real world.

It oozes late 80s and early 90s vibes; lotta fun and a lot of cheesiness. The outfits are crazy and even of the time in NYC I can't see them not standing out but I think that's kinda the point. The soundtrack is absolute fire and is worth listening to on its own merit but the way it's incorporated shows an attention to detail a lot of films lack when using licensed songs. It's very electronic heavy so be aware if that's not your cup of tea. Give it a watch and HACK THE PLANET!

House (1977)

I have no idea how best to describe or discuss this one because of how absolutely bonkers it is. Oftentimes I have to specify what film I'm talking about given the generic name; I often refer to it as "House Nineteen-Seventy-Seven" or "Hausu" for clarity. It's a Japanese haunted house film with cast of mostly literal stereotypes: Prof the smart one, Melody the music lover, Kung Fu the martial artist, Fantasy the dreamer, etc.

While the plot is fairly simple starting off, it becomes very chaotic very quickly and it can be overwhelming trying to keep up with especially with such a large group of characters. It's also Japanese so it may be tough to keep up with the subtitles but I manage fairly well so others should be fine. The effects are incredible and are very much "of the time" and feel very retro now. Those effects in addition to portraits comprising the backgrounds, it has a very surreal feeling which adds to the eerie atmosphere. The music as well perfectly fits the cheesy and weirdness of the overall experience.

One of my favorite pieces of trivia is that the director asked his young daughter things that would be scary and then put those ideas to the film. This mirrors how Lewis Carroll wrote down the stories of Alice Liddel which became Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; very big imaginations tapped for each piece of media. I watch it at least once a year and find something new each time. I feel like everyone who enjoys the spooky genres should seek this one out.

Mulholland Dr. (2001)

I had no idea what to expect from this film going in and was taken for one of the best rides of my life. Having only seen one David Lynch film before this one, I was expecting weird and unsettling things, and...I kinda got that, but it's a wholly different kind of weird and unsettling to Eraserhead. It's one of those that having only seen it once you might not pick up what's going on right away; it took me a couple of watches to start putting the puzzle together. Through the first watch, everything might seem disconnected and random, but once you get to the end and sit with it, you'll realize everything connects in some way. Lynch is at his best here, in my opinion.

Certain aspects of films as a whole are deconstructed and focused on in more abstract or different ways. A very powerful moment occurs when a certain cowboy asks a character to repeat what was just said and I know I was guilty of just nodding along and had completely missed what was being said; being attentive is important. Some scenes feel very alien and you have this feeling of discomfort that Lynch loves to put people in. The acting is amazing, the story is rich and complex, and the score accents each scene perfectly even when there is no score...especially in that case. Not knowing much going in is the best way to watch this one.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

An interesting entry even for this list and maybe the most difficult one to recommend. Not that the film is bad, on the contrary it's one of the most well-done films I've ever seen. However, it ticks a lot of boxes that might turn people off: it's a French film, a period piece, revolves around same-sex romance, and includes abortion. It's a very sapphic film oriented around the female gaze which isn't very common even in modern day. The first time I watched it I was amazed at how much of an emotional impact it had on me.

Taking place on a remote island in Brittany, the cast is incredibly small comprising of just three people. There's are a few more, but the main trio are truly the only ones we really dive into, especially the main couple. Adèle Haenel as Héloïse oftentimes steals the show but Noémie Merlant's portrayal of Marianne goes just as hard in her own way. The chemistry between these two is absolutely palpable and should set the standard in these types of stories! Luàna Bajrami as Sophie ties in well as a welcome third wheel with her own personal journey.

If you want more meaningful romance and lust with woman-love-woman, this is the film for you. There are a lot of pro-feminist elements present throughout, which is always a welcome addition. The dialogue is fast and subtitles come quite quickly but if I can manage, most should be fine. Be prepared for some sad moments, especially near the end of the film. Also... Héloïse's gaze toward Marianne during a harpsichord performance...AMAZING. Kudos, Céline Sciamma!

Primer (2004)

Potentially the most obscure film on the list, and definitely the one with the smallest budget. Luckily, it's quite a bit easier to watch in modern day than throughout the years. I'm not even sure how I heard about it initially all those years ago when I first watched it in high school. I've seen it so many times since that first viewing and it always feels like a fresh viewing due to how intricately put together the narratives are. There are countless theories and whiteboard analyses out there but I don't think anybody truly knows the whole story except for maybe Shane Carruth.

This is not a film where you can turn your brain off and enjoy; it's notoriously hard to follow as things become so muddled when time travel antics start. But it may be the most accurate and/or scientifically sound depiction of time travel and how messy things can get with the subject matter. Multiple viewings are a must and every additional viewing I feel like I notice something new that changes how I view another piece. It's like a constantly evolving piece of media that gets more and more crazy when factoring in elements from repeat viewings.

With and absolutely minuscule budget of $7,000, the scenes feel very real because they drew on what they could and used existing public locations and cast friends and family. Carruth's passion shows in how much effort was put in to get the most out of such a small budget. There are definitely some issues here and there, but that's to be expected with this kind of film, they don't ruin the film in the slightest. This is a must-see film for sci-fi and time travel lovers.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

This may be one of the more faithful adaptations I've ever seen. I have the graphic novel series and have read through them a few times and had so before watching the film so I remember being pretty hesitantly optimistic going into the theater. When I left it was like I had relived those feelings all over again through a different medium and at a quicker pace (in more ways than one). The parts that are different are done in a way that makes it easier to explain and consume and they don't make that big a difference in the grand scheme of things. So have no fear of it being unfaithful, Edgar Wright absolutely nailed it!

The cast is perfect for their respective roles and they all do such a great job and portray their characters amazingly well. The scenery and atmosphere are spot on and the music is just so perfect. I still quote the film (and graphic novels by extension) to this day and friends cite Brie Larson's performance as Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep" as a standout moment ingrained in their mind. The film is much more than just references to the source which is a common issue with modern films, and it handles the pop culture references (present in the source) very well. It's fun, it's a good time, go check it out.

SLC Punk! (1998)

Not many people in my life seem to know this one, but those who do are always excited to talk about it. I am no exception to that statement. I still identify heavily with this film even though I'm well-on in my life in terms of age and experience. On the surface, it seems like just a run-of-the-mill coming-of-age film with a punk flavoring to it. However, it's quite thought-provoking and nuanced in regard to fitting in and finding one's place in life through contradicting events. I would be lying if I said that I don't think about this film every so often in my daily life.

The film is a sort of mockumentary with Lilliard playing the narrator and our protagonist "Stevo" describing being a punk in Salt Lake City, Utah. The scenes feel somewhat surreal at times which plays really well into the whole "not fitting in" aspect of the story. Characters feel very real even if a bit played up. If someone feels a bit stereotypical, that's the point: everyone is part of a group, clique, or tribe as it's described in universe.

I feel like a lot of people can appreciate what the film does and the subjects it touches upon as we were all trying to find our identities at some point. Fitting in and being welcomed are things that never really go away and even adults struggle with it sometimes and may leave you with some emotional scars or dig up some long-forgotten insecurities. There's love, loss, angst, and all sorts of generational tension throughout the film that tie everything together. Also featured is a killer soundtrack of mostly punk and some really fun cinematography. A real gem of a film.