Film, TV & Radio

The Lure of Lists

December 22nd 2009, 11:12am

It’s inevitable that there are lists appearing everywhere given that the decade is ending (I almost missed that – probably because in ten years no one managed to decide on a name for it).  The Guardian has revealed 90 of its top 100 films of the decade, tantalising leaving out the top 10 (to be revealed gradually over Chrimbo-tide).

I’ve only seen 18 of the 90, but aside from the order of the films (Memento below House of the Flying Daggers?  Or indeed, below anything?) or the fact that they’ve tried to claim The Bourne Trilogy as just one film, there are films I have seen that are not on the list, so they’re either in the top 10 or not there at all.  Here are the ones I they ought not to miss out.

  • Birthday Girl
  • Charlie Wilson’s War
  • The Constant Gardner
  • The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
  • Donnie Darko
  • House of Sand and Fog
  • The Life Aquatic
  • Lost in La Mancha
  • Lost in Translation
  • Red Dust
  • State and Main
  • Time Crimes

And here’s my guess at what will actually be in the top 10:

  • Atonement
  • Batman Begins
  • Borat
  • The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
  • An Inconvenient Truth
  • Little Miss Sunshine
  • There Will Be Blood

The Guardian also have their 10 most underrated.

Update: Today’s is Fahrenheit 9/11.  The terrible thought has also dawned on me that they will include Borat in their top 10.

Update Again: Because I missed out Lost In Translation, Birthday Girl, House of Sand and Fog, The Constant Gardner, Red Dust, State and Main and Donnie Darko.  I realise this takes me to over 10, but there are plenty in the Guardian’s 11-90 that need jettisoning (eg. Far From Heaven or House of the Flying Daggers). Lists updated.

  • http://lonelocust.com Lone Locust

    I hope they have Star Trek on the list – otherwise, I won’t have seen any. It’s the only film I saw this year.

  • http://lonelocust.com Gridman

    I hope they have Star Trek on the list – otherwise, I won’t have seen any. It’s the only film I saw this year.

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon Wood

    It’s been raved about in the paper, but I don’t know what Xan Brooks thinks about it. It would be a surprise if it doesn’t make the top 100, so maybe that means it will be in the top 10.

    Numbers 9, 8, and (presumably by accident) 7 (now removed again) have been revealed. No. 8. Dogville is the only one I’ve heard of, it’s sitting on a shelf here so maybe now’s the time to watch it….

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk One-Ten

    It’s been raved about in the paper, but I don’t know what Xan Brooks thinks about it. It would be a surprise if it doesn’t make the top 100, so maybe that means it will be in the top 10.

    Numbers 9, 8, and (presumably by accident) 7 (now removed again) have been revealed. No. 8. Dogville is the only one I’ve heard of, it’s sitting on a shelf here so maybe now’s the time to watch it….

  • tarquin

    The only film I saw this year was Gran Torino. Can I go back to January and start again?

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon Wood

    I’ve not seen that. Is it worthy of the top 10? (Actually I’ve no idea why I asked you that – as far as you’re concerned, there can be no competition!)

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk One-Ten

    I’ve not seen that. Is it worthy of the top 10? (Actually I’ve no idea why I asked you that – as far as you’re concerned, there can be no competition!)

  • tarquin

    OK, I’ve had another look at the list and realise that I’ve seen 10:

    33 Eternal Sunshine…
    42 Vera Drake
    45 Crouching Tiger…
    64 Y Tu Mamá También
    70 Amores Perros
    80 Downfall
    85 WALL-E
    96 Juno
    97 Memento
    98 Pan’s Labyrinth

    The only one that makes me excited to think of it is Memento, and the one that makes me smile to think of it is Juno.

    I’m such a film ignoramus!

  • tarquin

    So, yes, Gran Torino would make MY top 10. But that’s a bit like saying that the bagel I had this morning was one of the top ten wheat-based foods of the day.

  • tarquin

    Oh, and I tried to see A Serious Man today, but the cinema was closed.

    (Simon, you’re under strict instructions from my mum to see this too.)

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon Wood

    I’ve seen approx 20%:

    10. Fahrenheit 9/11
    14. The Consequences of Love
    15. No Country for Old Men
    33. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    35. Far from Heaven
    36. Hidden
    41. Spirited Away
    45. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
    51. The Royal Tenenbaums
    61. Shaun of the Dead
    64. Y Tu Mamá También
    69. Chuck and Buck
    84. Sexy Beast
    85. WALL-E
    89. The Bourne trilogy
    93. The Departed
    95. House of Flying Daggers
    97. Memento
    98. Pan’s Labyrinth

    I agree Memento is easily the most exciting of these (how can it be below The Departed!?!) I love Eternal Sunshine, too. Several of the ones I haven’t seen are on my must see list, including Juno which I have right here (also Dogville).

    You mum has emailed me about A Serious Man already :)

    My top 10 wheat-based foods of the day include:

    1. The croissant I had for breakfast.
    2. The other croissant I had for breakfast.
    3. The baguette I had for lunch.

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon Wood

    I’ve seen approx 20%:

    10. Fahrenheit 9/11
    14. The Consequences of Love
    15. No Country for Old Men
    33. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    35. Far from Heaven
    36. Hidden
    41. Spirited Away
    45. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
    51. The Royal Tenenbaums
    61. Shaun of the Dead
    64. Y Tu Mamá También
    69. Chuck and Buck
    84. Sexy Beast
    85. WALL-E
    89. The Bourne trilogy
    93. The Departed
    95. House of Flying Daggers
    97. Memento
    98. Pan’s Labyrinth

    I agree Memento is easily the most exciting of these (how can it be below The Departed!?!) I love Eternal Sunshine, too. Several of the ones I haven’t seen are on my must see list, including Juno which I have right here (also Dogville).

    You mum has emailed me about A Serious Man already :)

    My top 10 wheat-based foods of the day include:

    1. The croissant I had for breakfast.
    2. The other croissant I had for breakfast.
    3. The baguette I had for lunch.

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk One-Ten

    I’ve seen approx 20%:

    10. Fahrenheit 9/11
    14. The Consequences of Love
    15. No Country for Old Men
    33. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    35. Far from Heaven
    36. Hidden
    41. Spirited Away
    45. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
    51. The Royal Tenenbaums
    61. Shaun of the Dead
    64. Y Tu Mamá También
    69. Chuck and Buck
    84. Sexy Beast
    85. WALL-E
    89. The Bourne trilogy
    93. The Departed
    95. House of Flying Daggers
    97. Memento
    98. Pan’s Labyrinth

    I agree Memento is easily the most exciting of these (how can it be below The Departed!?!) I love Eternal Sunshine, too. Several of the ones I haven’t seen are on my must see list, including Juno which I have right here (also Dogville).

    You mum has emailed me about A Serious Man already :)

    My top 10 wheat-based foods of the day include:

    1. The croissant I had for breakfast.
    2. The other croissant I had for breakfast.
    3. The baguette I had for lunch.

«
»