11. Super 8
I saw Super 8 back when it came out in theaters. It was created by JJ Abrams as a homage to Stephen Spielberg's 80's work. If you have seen ET, you will probably recognize that it shares similarities with Super 8; in many ways I see the premise as "what if ET weighed four tons and was a lot more proactive about getting home."
10. The Assassination Bureau
It is a brutal and fitting irony that this movie's theme song is "Life is a Precious Thing." Starring Oliver Reed as the pragmatic leader of an organization of professional murderers and Diana Rigg as a reporter dead set on undermining said-organization, the plot revolves around a madcap dash across Europe after Rigg hires the Bureau to assassinate no one less than their own leader. It must be noted that Oliver Reed was this close to being James Bond, and The Assassination Bureau, a classic adventure film with dark humor, is a tantalizing glimpse at what could have been.
9. The Rutles
Before Spinal Tap there was The Rutles. A fictional band that is suspiciously and almost exactly alike the Fab Four, the history of The Rutles's rise to and fall from fame is cataloged in this mockumentary. The cast includes Monty Python mainstay Eric Idle, and the bizarre humor of the movie is Python-esque. Incidentally, the soundtrack was comprised by longtime Python collaborator Neil Innes (who also stars).
8. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Directed by Frank Oz (the voice of Yoda), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the tale of two conmen who cross wits and eventually meet their match. I don't know what else to say about the plot without giving away the best parts, but what I will say is that the movie is hilarious and well worth a watch.
7. The Haunting
This is an old-school horror movie from long ago and entirely devoid of the computer generated mayhem and jump scares that populate modern horror fare. This movie is fantastic and still holds up today, and is terrifying in a subtle way that leaves audiences wondering just what exactly is going on at the house in question. Also: do not watch the remake.
6. Stardust
I have read both the book and seen the movie, and I like both; notably, the movie has a happier ending. But both versions of Stardust stand on their own, and are great examples of the fantasy genre done right, without ponderous plots and CGI overloaded action scenes. The movie in particular has a great balance of adventure and romance, and uses its fantastic setting to its full extent while not becoming bogged down by it.
5. Quigley Down Under
Like The Man from Snowy River, this movie is a western set in Australia. Starring Tom Selleck as Quigley, it also features one of the earlier performances by Alan Rickman and features some of the best music and action scenes in a western to this day. The showdown at the end is particularly good, with a great twist (which can be seen above), and like much the rest of the movie, conveys tremendous emotional gravitas with excellent acting and smart dialogue.
4. The Informant
This movie is based on a true story, and is about a man so crazy you are never sure if he is even crazy. This is probably one of the more unique movies I have watched, and has some of the most quotable and hilarious dialogue I have heard. Scott Bakula plays an eternally suffering special agent who is driven ever closer to the edge by the increasingly indecipherable actions of Matt Damon's character, the titular informant.
3. Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom is not your typical 'boy meets girl, boy and girl run off into the woods' story. Directed by Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom features Anderson's characteristic idiosyncratic dialogue and humor, great music, and a happy ending. It also has a great soundtrack (par on course for an Anderson film), featuring the likes of Francoise Hardy. Taking place on the New Penzance, the movie features classic performances from Bill Murray and Edward Norton.
2. Any Which Way You Can
This is actually a sequel to Every Which Way But Loose, but I like this one more. Philo Beddoe, a mechanic and boxer with an orangutan sidekick, returns for hilarious shenanigans, including facing off against his self-proclaimed nemeses, the Black Widows biker gang.
1. Secondhand Lions
This is in my top five movies. It has strong messages about family, brotherhood, fatherhood, and personal honor. I have seen it several times, and there is always something new for me to appreciate about in it. I cannot really overstate how much I love this movie, all I can say is watch it and appreciate it.
