David O. Russell may not be the most prolific director of his generation, but he is one of the most prestigious. Over nearly 30 years in Hollywood, Russell has enjoyed considerable success…as well as some well-warranted criticism. His work has been celebrated by artists and critics, but his on-set and off-set behavior has been alleged as abusive, and well-documented in the media. We’re going to rank the best David O. Russell movies by way of three criteria: story, directing, and acting. By the end, you’ll know why he has been nominated for five Academy Awards as a writer and/or director…
At just 23 years old, Paul Thomas Anderson broke into the filmmaking scene with his short film “Cigarettes and Coffee.” Four years later, Anderson released his acclaimed sophomore feature, Boogie Nights, which nabbed him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. In the years since, Anderson has made widely revered films with some of the world's greatest actors, becoming a forerunner of American filmmaking. And now, the best Paul Thomas Anderson movies are ranked and debated incessantly. Each of the writer-director's works showcase at least one of the tools in his artistic arsenal, and some in fact showcase them…
Hayao Miyazaki is regarded as one of the greatest directors in the history of animation. Over 50+ years, Miyazaki made some of the most critically-lauded animated films; earning him numerous awards, including an honorary Oscar for “inspiring generations of artists to work in the medium and illuminate its limitless potential.” We’re going to rank the best Hayao Miyazaki movies by way of three criteria: story, animation, and direction. By the end, you’ll know the great films in an oeuvre of cinema classics.Continue reading Best Hayao Miyazaki Movies — Celebrating a Life in Animation
Satyajit Ray is regarded as not only one of the greatest filmmakers in Indian cinema, but as one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history. We’re going to break down the best Satyajit Ray films by way of three criteria: direction, story, and theme. By the end, you’ll know why Ray’s films are so well-regarded! Continue reading Best Satyajit Ray Films — Top 10 From a True Cinematic Icon
Mumblecore is one of those genres that’s difficult to put into words, but you know a mumblecore film when you see it. There generally isn’t a lot of action. The plot’s mainly driven by dialogue that has a naturalistic feeling. They are intimate stories focused on the small parts of existence most people wouldn’t pay a second thought to. While it may sound weird, the best mumblecore movies show you can do a lot with a little. On this list, we’re celebrating the films that show independent cinema is still alive and well. There’s a healthy mix of mumblecore and…
Andrei Tarkovksy was a director’s director. Ingmar Bergman called him “the greatest.” Lars von Trier dedicated a movie to his honor. Claire Denis said Stalker made her heart feel like it was going to stop. Suffice to say, Tarkovsky earned the respect of his colleagues. But despite his enormous impact, Tarkovsky only directed seven feature films. Today, we’re going to tackle the indomitable task of ranking Andrei Tarkovsky movies by way of three criteria: filmmaking, story, and theme. Why theme? Because theme – or the inferred stance taken on a subject of a story – plays an important role in…
Roger Deakins movies include Fargo, Skyfall, Sicario, No Country for Old Men, and recently he won the Academy Award in Cinematography for Blade Runner 2049 and 1917. But these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the best Roger Deakins movies. We watched every one of them to see which films we think qualify as the best of the best in cinematography. Continue reading Roger Deakins Movies — His 16 Best Ranked for Filmmakers
Horror heads often scoff at jump scares. The technique can feel too easy: slap a loud sound effect on an unexpected thing in the dark and anyone will gasp — it’s glorified peek-a-boo. But a great jump scare is undeniable. Done with taste, originality, and skill, the jump can deliver a scare that will linger with an audience for years. Almost every horror film has a jump scare; it’s in the Constitution. But which horror films use the tool most effectively? These are movies that lean on jump scares, but not as a crutch: they simply work every time. Here…
What is a Slasher film? The name of this popular horror sub-genre might evoke a strong mental image, but do you know the actual criteria for what constitutes a Slasher film? In this post, we’ll provide a Slasher movie definition, explore the complex history of Slasher films, and take a look at some of the most notable Slasher film examples the horror genre has to offer.Continue reading What is a Slasher Film — Definition, Characters, Villains & Tropes
Perhaps more than any other film genre, a great horror movie relies on a great soundtrack. An effective horror soundtrack heightens the terror in a scene exponentially, scaring an audience before there might be anything visually to be afraid of. The best horror soundtracks are memorable, but don’t overshadow the film. They become inseparable from our favorite horror scenes. Can you hear the Psycho jabs without seeing Norman’s knife? So, brace your ears: here are the top ten horror movie soundtracks of all time.Continue reading Best Horror Movie Soundtracks — Top 10 Scary Good Scores
