#40 - Goodfellas (1990)
Scorsese directs a perfect cast of Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in this excellent adaptation of Nicholas Pileggi's novel. Based of the true story of mob snitch Henry Hill, it follows him as he grows up and becomes a goodfella. It is violent, stylish, profane and a movie of many memorable scenes that become so much more when put together.
#39 - Das Boot: The Director's Cut (1985)Before he came to America Wolfgang Petersen made this epic German submarine movie, the director's cut runs almost 4 hours and there is never a second where it loses tension. You are with the German crew every second of the way, you can feel every depth-charge, every drip of leaking water. For once in your life you will actually root for the Germans.
#38 - Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)Based on true events concerning a school trip to Hanging Rock at which several students and a teacher disappeared. Peter Weir has created a chilling and sparse atmosphere, adding a almost mystic side to the story. The fact that it all could have happened make it all the more haunting.
#37 - Raising Arizona (1987)
"Son, you got a panty on your head."
A screwball comedy drama about parents who can't have children that deceide to kidnap one of a set of quints based on the fact that they don't need that many kids. Everything about this movie is excellent. Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman and William Forsythe are standouts whilst the script from the Coen Brothers keeps on ticking.
#36 - American Beauty (1999)
A winner of 5 oscars this slice of surburban life, the white picket fence, the perfect roses but if only life could be as perfect as those flowers. What lies behind the doors in the life of Lester Burham is a man in a mid-life crisis so severe it may destory his marriage or even his life. The deservedly won the best picture oscar.
#35 - Amelie (2001)
As always Jean-Pierre Jeunet turns out a visually stunning and a love story of pure beauty that you can't fail to fall for it's charms. Only the French can make anything that plays at the heart strings like this one.
#34 - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The second part of the trilogy is the weak link, but only just as it chronicles Frodo and Sam's journey toward Mordor and the introduction of Gollum as he helps guide them. Whilst everyone else are maing new allies for the march on Isengard. Fantasy story telling the way should always be, epic and thrilling.
#33 - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)The movie that started it all. This one begins with the Hobbits being sent by Gandalf on a mission to destory the One Ring. Jackson showed the world how a novel of this epic magnitude should be handled, with care and an effort desevering of it's size.
#32 - True Romance (1993)
The original script by Quentin Tarantino had the story being told in pieces as flashbacks but when it reached the screen at the hands of Tony Scott it had been made sequencially, and the narative makes it work better. A love-story ganster thriller. True Excellence. It also has the best ensemble cast other than Pulp Fiction.
#31 - Fight Club (1999)Following tightly to the original novel bu Chuck Palahniuk this is Fincher's vision through and through. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton both put in powerhouse performances in this dark comedy with it's scathing social commentary from the hero/villian Tyler Durden.