Boogie Nights (1997, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)
- I remember thinking how every guy walking out of the theater must have felt incredibly inadequate. Mike Callahan
- Working in porn is never good for anyone's marriage. Robert Meyer Burnett
- This film romanticizes a period and genre of film that needs serious study, 1970's porn. A stunning series of career defining performances. Steve Ahlquist
- Hearing "You've Got The Touch" and seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman in that striped tank top and shorts is reason enough watch repeatedly... for comedy, that is. Kurt Jansson
- Making men insecure about their junk since 1997. Devon Moos
- So sad and good, but the payoff wasn't all that. DJ Crystal Clear
- I was never more disappointed in a movie than when I found out that Mark Wahlberg’s penis was fake. Elizabeth Young
- Funny, dark, sexy, Scorsese-esque brilliance. Mark Wensel
- Not a big fan. Felt like Anderson was apeing Goodfellas. Mike White
- Just like in real life, Night Ranger is a harbinger of doom. Molly B Denham
- Proof that P.T. Anderson is the Robert Altman of this generation? Sheridan Cleland
Citizen Kane (1941, dir. Orson Welles)
- I guess this proved our editor wrong, huh? Mark Wensel
- I'm sorry, I thought this was a list of watchable movies that you can turn on whenever. Who puts on Citizen Kane during dinner parties or while they're vacuuming? Bailee DesRocher
- The Citizen Kane of Citizen Kane movies! DJ Crystal Clear
- This movie is Film School 101. Someone please make McG or Michael Bay watch it. Chris Mancini
- You can watch it for the acting, for the cinematography, for the astounding details pointed out in Roger Ebert's commentary (from which I might be stealing this remark), or just to remind yourself of how much movie history is traceable to this film. Brian Saner Lamken
- The best movie that I consistently fall asleep to. Elizabeth Young
- What movies can be. Mark Drop
- Visually, this film is just astounding. A landmark. Sherdian Cleland
- I love it but I don’t think I could watch it every day. Mike White
- Put simply, cinema as we know it would not exist as it does without this film. Richmond Clements
- Overrated. Kas DeCarvalho
- Everyone should see this movie if for no other reason than to see the source material for so many homage scenes made in later movies. John Teehan
Clerks (1994, dir. Kevin Smith)
- Kevin Smith lays the groundwork for every single movie he's ever made in his entire career with Clerks. It's a simple formula: BOY + GIRL DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH + GAY JOKES + STAR WARS REFERENCES + MORE GAY JOKES = ANY OF KEVIN SMITH'S MOVIES. Lather, rinse, repeat. David Monsterburg
- The movie that signed a deal with Satan, and launched some a couple really lame careers. Evan Gore
- I still don't like it, mostly because I lived it. DJ Crystal Clear
- I don't care what the haters think of Kevin Smith--this movie, and the story behind it, is one of the great all-American inspirational tales ever. John Teehan
- Made me believe I could be a filmmaker, it didn’t work, but the dialogue still crackles...or snaps, or pops. I dunno whichever one pertains to dialogue. Kyle Smith
- I'm not the biggest Kevin Smith fan anymore, but this film still makes me laugh and shows me that anyone can make a film. And that's not a knock at him at all. It takes a true filmmaker to make a good film. James McCormick
- This is the movie that defines Independent Film in the nineties, say what you will, but it’s hard not to watch this movie and think, “I could be a filmmaker too”. Ross Dannenberg
- My favorite scene might be reading off the video titles before getting to Happy Scrappy Hero Pup, especially Men Alone 2: The KY Connection. Jay Williams
- When you really think about it, that third act is really fucked up. Frankie Thirteen
- Everyone identifies with Dante, but deep down we all wish we were Randall. Joseph Wade
- Kevin Smith may not be the most sophisticated storyteller or polished filmmaker, but his first time out made being a geek cool, made the fanboy mindset mainstream, and helped bring back the R-rated comedy. Matt Bergin
- Speaks to anyone who has ever worked retail. It caught me at the right time when I was miserable in a job. Alex Vaello
- An underrated classic. Bill Walker
- What happened to the child-like wonder of Spielberg's films? I want this Spielberg back. Sheridan Cleland
- If you start to hear the sun sing to you, apply sunblock. Robert Meyer Burnett
- I love this movie because it is important. It means something. Kurt Jansson
- Do the mash potato! Richmond Clements
- Five notes have never seemed so creepy, even if the aliens were friendly. Mark Wensel
- Was Richard on coke, or was it a great performance? DJ Crystal Clear
- Spielberg really had a unique way of shooting suburbia in the 70's/80's. I love this movie. Kyle Jackson
- To this day I can’t listen to John Williams’ iconic five notes without picturing Richard Dreyfuss building a mountain of mud in his living room. Elizabeth Young
- Five notes have never stayed in my head like the ones played by the mother ship. Tom Beland
- Great, know I have that damn song in my head, and I can't stop playing with my mashed potatoes. Christian Collins
- For those of us who grew up in the '70s, an iconic movie poster. Molly B Denham
- The most sincere love letter to movie making I’ve ever seen. Mike White
- Wouldn't it have been hilarious and amazing if Ed Wood and Orson Welles actually did meet? Frankie Thirteen
- Johnny Depp play blissfully ignorant so well he actually becomes Ed Wood. An absolutely fascinating character study of possibly the worst filmmaker of all-time. Sheridan Cleland
- Really list makers? Ed Wood?
Evan Gore Incredibly timeless in setting, style and topic, it was incredibly rewatchable upon it’s initial release. I must have seen it 4 times back then. Todd Sokolove Johnny Depp in a dress? How can you not laugh at this movie? Clara Mathews I've never looked at angora sweaters the same way. Devon Moos A love of film comes through this movie not only from its characters, but from its makers. One of Burton's best. Mark Wensel Johnny Depp’s best performance, hands down. Ross Dannenberg This is one of the most beautiful stories of friendship. The filmmakers could have easily taken pot shots at poor Eddie, but instead we’re served genuine characters with heart and humor, and beautiful black and white cinematography. “Where’s the octopus motor?” Don Roff Two words: Don Roff. Michelle Taylor
The fourth “Dollars” film. Mike White The antithesis of Russell's character in Little China, Snake is the greatest nihilistic anti-hero ever created... just don't mention the Twin Towers... Richmond Clements "They call me Ssssnake." Evan Gore Snake Plisken can save my butt anytime. Elizabeth Young Kurt Russell + Issac Hayes = cult classic. DJ Crystal Clear Made me into the man I am today. Me and Kurt Russell. John Teehan Pretty dark, but still fun. Kurt Russell has never lived it down...that's a good thing. Mark Wensel Dude, Kurt Russell in an eye patch. 'Nuff said. Christian Collins
To this day I have a crush on Phoebe Cates - as do many of my peers. Who knew boobs were so...cinematic? Bill Cunningham Made high school that much more scarier to me. Elizabeth Young Remember malls? A perfect depiction of a time when a teenager's social scene revolved around them. Molly B Denham Intoxicating to see a movie about my world while I still lived in it. Mark Drop Judge Reinhold knows why I rewatch this movie. Alone. In the bathroom. Kurt Jansson I think it's important to have snack on your person at all times, but a bagel down your pants is a little extreme. Kelly Whyte What? That's Sean Penn? DJ Crystal Clear Nothing captured 80's high-school better on film, with the exception of my High School Video Yearbook. Todd Sokolove I forget--was this supposed to be a funny movie or a sad movie. I keep thinking sad. John Teehan Something I used to watch in Junior High. Haven’t seen it since then. Mike White Dude! Gnarly movie! Another one that makes high school look like the hell that it can be. Mark Wensel The best stuff in this movie is the scenes between Penn and Walston. Genius. Ross Dannenberg
Maybe it was because I was 8 years old, but this film made musicals seem less Grandmom to me. And Olivia Newton-John made my penis move when she put on those black hot pants in the finale. Scott Richard I could sing the soundtrack in my sleep and wake up dancing. Brian Saner Lamken If this film won't make you sing nothing will. Eugene Johnson This is a movie I really never could get behind, all of these so-called high schoolers looked like they were collecting social security, and I half expected them to offer me some striped ribbon candy. Kyle Smith Anytime I can see Olivia Newton John in black spandex count me in. Kurt Jansson So, let me get this straight? The girl turns into a slut to win her man, but he gets to stay a greaser? Great message, Olivia Newton John. Heather Kenealy I always felt cheated--no one ever spontaneously broke into song and dance at my high school. Molly B Denham It's the word, have you heard? Of course, for my money, I'd rather watch Michelle Pfeifer and the C-O-O-L R-I-D-E-R Rex Manning in the extra cheesy sequel Grease. Matt Bergin If someone doesn't like you, completely change yourself to fit their lifestyle. It worked for Sandy. Kelly Whyte A big part of the soundtrack of my youth. DJ Crystal Clear
I have perhaps seen this film more than any other film on this list, and it's either first or second on my own personal all-time list. Natalie Portman was robbed of an Oscar Nomination that year, and Gary Oldman's near over-acting did nothing to deflate the stirring, marvelously endearing performance of Jean Reno, who should've become a household name after this. Matt Kennedy Siskel and Ebert called it kiddie porn. Sometimes they just didn't get it. Steve Ahlquist Gary Oldman’s role as the corrupt cop enters my personal pantheon of villains…the headphones, the pills, the classical music. Jay Williams I love Gary Oldman in just about anything — he is highly underrated and often overlooked — but his finest performance is in "Leon: The Professional". The scene where he interrogates Michael Badalucco is awesome. Badalucco said later that the fear on his face was real because he didn't know what Oldman was going to do to him. Deane Ogden - Every time I watch it, it gives me goosebumps. To the loving relationship between Reno and Portman, to the chilling psychopath played by Gary Oldman, I can only say one thing: Evvvvverrrrrrryyyyyyonnnnnne! James McCormick
I still wish Leon would take me under his wing and teach me to kill people. Christian Collins I wish Besson would return to this level of film making. Kyle Jackson Great from beginning to end. DJ Crystal Clear So many grown men had a strange and illegal attraction to this movie. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It was made when Luc Besson was still a viable option for true entertainment. Mark Wensel How could you not love a near incestual relationship between a sexually abused pre-teen and a professional killer? Ross Dannenberg You felt dirty because Natalie Portman was hot. Admit it. Scott Richard Made me into the man I am today. Me 'n Matilda. John Teehan Fucking creeped me out. I hated the love story between the old man and the girl. Hello pedophilia! Mike White
Oh, the childhood fantasies I wove around driving a car painted with tie-dye colors and bubbles and stars…that paint job would look kick-ass on my Toyota Corolla, right? Nicolette Baffoni Is it really for kids? I don't believe that for a second. Mark Wensel This movie has so much heart that it is almost unbearable. But the jokes are solid and adult, the music is witty and catchy, and the guest stars, who are plentiful, provide a truly supportive atmosphere for Kermit and the gang of weirdos. Joshua Selle The lovers, the dreamers, and me! DJ Crystal Clear Henson at his best. David Postma Plinky-plinky-plinky-plinky-plink. Brian Saner Lamken When the tv show just isn't long enough you have, THE MOVIE! Kurt Jansson If any movie could be called “Pure Joy,” it is this one; even in its most obviously sappy moments it makes you smile and realize that life is to be challenged and savored in all of its ups and downs. John Ginberg-Stevens Never before or since has green felt and halved ping pong balls evoked such an emotional response in me. Heather Kenealy Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do an awesome cover of "The Rainbow Connection." Molly B Denham Some great bits in this one. Mike White I prefer the sequel, The Great Muppet Caper, which is infinitely funnier and more creative. But I'm just happy ANYthing Muppets made this list, because they are hysterical and timeless (just ask my Muppet-obsessed two-year-old daughter). Matt Bergin Made me into the man I am today. Animal, don't eat the drums! Silly Muppet. John Teehan
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