Must-See Movies

Must-See Movies

So, a few months ago, I watched one of the scariest movies of my whole life, I kid you not. For those of you who have viewed the film The Silence of the Lambs, you understand what I'm talking about. I couldn't sleep that whole night; my roommate had to stay up with me and watch Happy Feet (I guess if you don't have young kids this might be a movie you missed, but it involves joyous, dancing penguins) so that I could at least drop off for a couple hours before I flew home. After such a harrowing experience, there is only one question to be asked: Was it worth it?

And it was.

This slightly hysterical sleepless experience caused me to decide to compile a top ten list of movies that must be watched, despite all potential consequences.

1. The Silence of the Lambs: Oh... my…head. Anthony Hopkins is easily the scariest man alive, no joke. So many references to this movie that I never understood before, besides the psychological implications ("it puts the lotion on its skin... it does what it's told or it gets the hose again") that are just, well terrifying. But so unbelievably awesome.

2. Casablanca (here's lookin' at you, Dad): So, my father is into the old-timey movies (by which I mean black and white), as one might imagine, and he brought home Casablanca for me to watch. It really is an amazing film; something you have to see to understand the myriad of pop culture references that come from it ("play it again, Sam")

3. Pulp Fiction: Um, okay. This is just an amazing film. Anybody who has seen it knows it to be true. The quintessential Quentin Tarantino dialogue is prevalent throughout (which is my favorite part of all of his movies); plus, Samuel L. Jackson plays his character, Jules, absolutely perfectly, not to mention Tarantino's masterful manipulation of the time dynamic. Pretty much it's super cool.

4. I Am Sam: This is a movie that is unbelievably sad, but also incredibly touching. It's impossible not to identify with Sam and his daughter, who have an astounding relationship. All in all, it's a great film, and the fact that the soundtrack consists entirely of Beatles' songs is a big asset.

Pan's Labyrinth: Yet another tear-jerker, this one also contains social commentary that is really compelling. Seeing the film is an experience solely because by the end, you're not even entirely sure what just happened to you. This is why I like it so much: because something definitely changes in you.

5. Se7en: I cannot believe I'm putting this on here, because watching it made me so angry. Actually, in retrospect, that is probably the reason I am adding it to the list. This movie is extremely powerful because of its ability to elicit strong emotions extraordinarily effectively. You will definitely be affected as the credits roll; as to just how, it's really impossible to say.

6. American Beauty: After coming to absolutely despise Kevin Spacey and everything connected with him due to watching Se7en, you can come to identify with him again in this fantastic film. The color symbolism—sorry, can't help it, it's all this college education—is intense; be sure to note when the color red is present, especially if it's a rose. The exploration of relationships, both between people and their existence, is done in such a way as to render both beautiful.

7. Fight Club: No, it's not just because Brad Pitt is very good-looking. This movie adapted from a Chuck Palahniuk novel, and if you've ever read those, you have some idea of what you might be getting into. The twists and turns that crop up throughout this film seem tame once the final scene plays out.

8. Requiem for a Dream: This one is on here in large part because of its cinematography. The shots in this movie are truly art, so watching it is really amazing. The catch is that it's also exceptionally depressing, particularly the ending, so don't watch it if you're looking for a pick-me-up.

9. House of Sand and Fog: Ben Kingsley is such a talented actor, especially in this film. Another sad one (I have a lot of these on here, and I honestly couldn't tell you why...), the investigation of what truly matters in life is pretty evident, and all the cast members fill their roles so well that it's impossible not to get totally entranced by the plot. I added this largely because it's fascinating how engaged you become with the lives of these imaginary characters.

And, after being totally wacked out emotionally, watch this for a bit of lighthearted, albeit risqué, fun:

10 1/2. Snakes on a Plane: Samuel L. Jackson returns in full force in this film, which is definitely not for younger viewers or those with weak stomachs, but an entertaining parody of all the ridiculous action films ever made.