Top 100 of all time - # 96-100

This is the first film by film analysis that I'll post accompanying my top 100 list of all time. I've devoted quite a bit of time and thought to this project, and after posting an alphabetical list over the past few years, I've decided a ranking is much more appropriate. These films are on the list for a number of criteria: standing the test of time, defining the genre, breaking new ground, and the lasting impact upon first viewing (my favorite).

Over a decade ago, I tackled the project of viewing every film on the AFI top 100 of all time. Being a cinephile, I've been watching films since before I can remember. This list is a tribute to the hours of enjoyment. The diamonds in the rough.

We all have movies that we walked away from just bursting with excitement, eager to talk to friends about. Minds blown by twist endings, or moved by stirring acting performances. Some have been so poignant to that point in time in our lives that it stayed with us long after the viewing. Some are ones that warrant watching again and again, committing to memory line after line.

It is nearly impossible to compare a drama to a musical to a comedy to a thriller, so some of these rankings need to be taken with some degree of flexibility. What isn't so ambiguous is the true value and innovation of each of the films making the list. You may agree or disagree, and I'd love to hear your comments, but these are my top 100 films of all time.

#100 - Stepbrothers, 2008.

This comedy will stand the test of time as a true cult classic. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are forty year olds living with their single parents, who marry and form a dysfunctional family. What makes this film so enjoyable is the sheer immersion into the roles by Ferrell and Reilly. they act like children, with filthy vocabulary, and the writing is stellar. Great supporting cast as well with Adam Scott, Katherine Hahn, Richard Jenkins, and others. Adam McKay's best work. This is one of me and my wife's favorites.

#99 - Caddyshack, 1980.

The quintessential golfing comedy from the mind of Harold Ramis, showcasing what is arguably Bill Murray and Chevy Chase's best work. Lighthearted and raunchy at times, it was ahead of the curve in the genre and is still a favorite today. Ty Webb is one of the cockiest comic characters who delivers snappy lines that are so well-timed, it would be hard to replicate.

#98 - True Grit, 2010.

One of a handful of recent films to make the list, True Grit is an extremely well-done remake; better than the original. The characters of Rooster Cogburn and LaBoeuf are played spot-on by Bridges and Damon, and the scenery is beautiful and the dialogue sharp. The Coen brothers are two of the best filmmakers in the business, bar none.

#97 - Tombstone,1993.

This was Val Kilmer's tour de force. A journeyman actor who never quite made the A list, but delivered an underrated portrayal of Doc Holliday. The film itself wasn't especially successful, but it is one of the better Westerns made. The genre is seeing a bit of a resurgence, so this film will inevitably fall of of my list, but the rivalry between Kilmer's Holliday, and Michael Biehn's Johnny Ringo is the stuff that movie legend is made of.

#96 - A History of Violence, 2005.

David Cronenberg's low budget and not-very-exposed film is a simple, yet riveting account that doesn't offer a full explanation until the very end. The story unfolds slowly and with graphic, visceral tension. Viggo Mortensen and William Hurt are compelling, and the climax is exciting and satisfying.

# 91 - 95 coming soon...