The Five - College Movies

Written by Okechukwu Apakama

Compiled by Okechukwu Apakama, Kyley Warren, and Jose Castaneda

Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Phoenix Film Festival’s daily “The Five”. Today’s list takes us straight to campus with the top five college movies. For this list we focused on college oriented movies that took place mostly on a college campus. There were many movies up for consideration but only five can make our list so here are a few honorable mentions: Drumline (2002), The House Bunny (2008), Pitch Perfect (2012), Neighbors (2014).

5. 22 Jump Street (2014)

Starting of the list is the fan favorite, 22 Jump Street. This movie is the only sequel on the list but it’s spot is justified. This movie is just loads of fun with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill killing it once aging in roles as undercover cops. They did a great job of creating fresh original comedy, and Ice Cube helped take this movie to the next level. The movie had one of the funniest laugh out loud moments that I can remember in a long time, when Tatum’s character finally figured out that Schmidt (Hill’s Character) had slept with the Captain’s (Ice Cube) daughter. This movie is a rocking good time, and it’s one of the best sequels to a comedy ever.

4. Legally Blonde (2001)

Legally Blonde was an immediate cultural phenomenon after it’s debut on the big screen in the early 2000s. It was a movie that doesn’t look good at first, but Resse Witherspoon’s performance as Elle Woods is exceptional. She has a eloquent and endearing charm to her character. The movie has a good message in terms of being confident in the fact that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. There are some questionable goals for Elle in the movie, but overall it’s a fun film and well deserving in making our list.

3. Whiplash (2014)

This movie might be one of the lesser known films on the list, but it’s definitely a must see on our list. The acting in this movie is spectacular from J.K Simmons Oscar winning performance as Terence Fletcher, and Myles Teller as Andrew Neiman. It’s a very intense movie with electrifying scenes and moments that take your breath away!

2. The Social Network (2010)

This movie is an exaggerated retelling of the creation of the most dominate social media outlet. In this movie there is much to admire from the dialogue, acting, and the cinematography. Jesse Eisenberg does a fabulous job portraying the computer genius Mark Zuckerberg. The Social Network is a very captivating tale of Zuckerberg’s college life and his founding of Facebook. The fact that it’s not a true story does not take away from the greatness of this movie, which is why it’s #2 on our Top Five.

1. Good Will Hunting  (1997)

There was really no debate when it came to our #1 spot on the list as we top list with this heartwarming movie. Good Will Hunting is one of those once in a generation features that moves anyone who watches it. Robin Willams and Matt Damon shine as the leading characters and there really is no question as to why it came away with nine Oscar nominations and two winners. I would advise anyone who hasn’t seen this movie to check it out.

The Five - Non-Disney Animated Movies

Written by Amy Cable

When deciding on the movies for this list we decided to research animated movies from many companies, such as Universal and Dreamworks, we decided that Disney and Pixar deserved their own lists. When choosing the films we looked into how popular the films are, whether they received follow up movies and their overall composition. We grouped movie franchises of the same title and storyline together. However, we agreed that not all of the movies within a movie series was as good as the other ones, but we rated them alongside the rest of the franchise. The honorable mentions for this list are Ice Age (2002-2016), Shark Tale (2004), Happy Feet (2006) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009-2013.

5. Robots (2005)

Robots follows inspirational Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) as he fights for cheaper body parts for robots. We believe that Robots deserved a place on this list because it can often be forgotten due to how long ago it premiered. Despite this, it is a fantastic film that makes the audience fall in love with scrap metal robots and root for their cause. Ewan McGregor features along an all star cast, such as the legendary Robin Williams, Halle Berry and Mel Brooks. We would be thrilled to see this movie come out with a sequel some time in the future.

4. Kung Fu Panda (2008-2016)

The Kung Fu Panda franchise has inspired so many young audiences to pursue their dreams, even when other people push you down. The narrative follows Po (Jack Black) as a Panda who longs to perform Kung Fu to save China, alongside Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman. These films taught younger generations world wide about a culture and an art form that they may have not been as exposed to prior to the release of the original film.

3. Madagascar (2005-2012)

The three incredible films in this franchise taught us to look on the positive side of any situation that life throws at you. The Madagascar films follow four zoo animals, who have been in captivity all their lives, in their adventures exploring new environments. This trilogy is another example of how movies can show audience another environment or culture that typically lacks media exposure. The storyline creates tension and challenges, as well as excitement and amusement.

2. Despicable Me (2010-2018)

Within this franchise we are including the minions movie as they have brought joy to all ages and we hope to see more of them. The main narrative follows Gru (Steve Carell) on his evil deeds whilst having his heart melted by three sweet orphan girls. These movies have excellent sound tracks and heartfelt stories, as well as hilarious minion side plots.

1. Shrek (2001-2010)

The Shrek franchise follows Shrek (Mike Myers) in his quest for a peaceful life at his swamp which brings him on many treacherous adventures of love and friendship that he unwillingly is dragged on. We believe that this franchise deserves the top spot on this list for its amazing efforts in attracting a wide audience of all ages. These films continuously fill the dialogue with conspicuous jokes for younger ages, alongside witty puns hidden within the script that only older audience members will understand.

The Five - Movies of the 2000s

Written by Emma Mayeux

Compiled by Emma Mayeux and Cameron Galvin

Top Five Movies of the 2000s

This decade was met with groundbreaking films that defined 2000-2009. Directors broke through the mainstream with innovative films that experimented with structure, genre, and found new ways to tell a story. Honorable mentions go to Almost Famous (2000), Children of Men (2006), Inglorious Basterds (2009), The Dark Knight (2008), and the Royal Tenenbaums (2001).

5. Memento (2001)

Christopher Nolan gained notoriety with his captivating film with a concept that had never been given light before. Memento follows a man named Leonard who has amnesia from an accident that left his wife raped and murdered. This film is unconventional because it is told entirely in reverse, leaving the audience to decipher who killed Leonard’s wife and why, along with him. The structure of memento imitates Leonard’s state of mind and his inability to remember crucial details from his past. Nolan presents the film in two storylines, one in black and white and one in color, having them meet at the end to form one cohesive story. Nolan provides the audience with clues, allowing them to discover the mystery on their own. This film is not just a story, but a presentation of what amnesia feels like, giving the audience the ability to relate to Leonard. Physicians even praised the film for its realistic depiction of retrograde amnesia. Nolan started the decade with one of the most innovative films ever made, making it a lifelong classic.

4. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Darren Aronofsky also had his big start in the early 2000s with his drug filled epic. Requiem for a Dream chronicles the tales of four people, all suffering from some sort of addiction. The characters let their addictions control them as they resort to inhumane acts to keep their addictions alive. Aronofsky does not just explore drug addiction, however, but weight loss addiction. The most disturbing character to watch is Sara Goldfarb, an elderly woman whose dream is to be on television while wearing her favorite dress from her youth. Her appearance and her beauty are all that matter to her and she is will to starve herself to regain her image. This film is not about drug addiction, but the consequences of addiction, and giving into hedonistic desires. The ending is designed to shock and scare the audience, in order to show the horrors addiction leads to, making it a more effective anti-drug PSA than an egg and a frying pan.

3. There Will Be Blood (2007)

Paul Thomas Anderson is incapable of making a bad film. There Will Be Blood is his masterpiece. Anderson’s historical drama is about an oil tycoon named Daniel Plainview who intends to profit off of the California oil boom in the early 20th century. Anderson took inspiration from Upton Sinclair’s novel, Oil!. This film is dedicated to showing Plainview’s degradation from a humble, working man to a greedy, capitalistic businessman. Anderson  really looks at how competition and money can drive a man to create an empire from nothing, but also drive away the people who love him. Plainview is determined to eliminate everyone who stands in the way of his fortune, resorting to vile acts. There Will Be Blood is a grand tale with a powerful score, epic sets, and thrilling action sequences, as the audience watches a man’s downfall.

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a perfect marriage between scifi and romance. It’s about Joel and Clementine who fall in love with each other, but when they break up, Clementine is so distraught that she decides to participate in an experimental study to erase all memories of Joel. Like Memento, this film explores the memories of the main characters by telling its story in a nonlinear fashion. This film pushes the boundaries of the romantic comedy genre, creating realistic characters and a smart story, while retaining humor and the turmoil of romance. The two leads struggle with heartbreak and regret, as they have to decide if sorrow is worth repressing.

1. No Country for Old Men (2007)

The Coen Brothers demonstrated exception filmmaker with their adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s modern western, No Country for Old Men. This film follows an epic chase between a rancher named Llewelyn Moss and a hitman named Anton Chigurh, as the local sheriff tracks the pair. The story is very simple, Llewelyn finds a suitcase full of drug money and Chigurh must hunt him down and retrieve the money. Immediately upon watch, you notice something off about this film; there is no score. Tense scenes are played out in complete silence, putting the audience on edge. This film presents two characters driven solely by greed and themselves. Llewelyn wants the money, and Chigurh wants the thrill of catching him. The Coens faithfully adapt McCarthy’s work, making this film feel like a novel unfolding on screen.

The Five - Sports Movies

Written by: Kyley Warren

Compiled by: Kyley Warren, Jose Castaneda and Okechi Apakama

Welcome to the Phoenix Film Festival’s daily, “Top 5.’ This week, we decided to tackle the topic of sports films, and of what we believe are the five greatest sports movies of all time. Sports flicks are often tales of harrowing bravery, with plots of teammates finding comradery despite complicated circumstances or labeled underdogs overcoming adversity and daunting challenges simply to be regarded as champions. These movies can be heartbreaking and heartwarming – sometimes all at the same time. One common theme among all of them though, is that they are unforgettable for audiences and their authentic plots are able to transcend generations.

While there are dozens of unforgettable sports films that did not make our list, there are a handful that we believe still deserve honorable mentions. These films were: “Karate Kid,” “He Got Game,” “The Fighter,” and “Cool Runnings.” Now, onto the good stuff. Here are our picks for the top five, greatest sports films of all time.

5. White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) is a hustler who has found his niche playing on pickup teams throughout various basketball courts in Los Angeles, scamming presumptuous streetballers who are doubtful of Billy’s athletic capabilities because he is white. Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes) wants a better life for himself and his family, and he dreams of buying a home for his family outside the Baldwin Village, which is known for being one of the rougher neighborhoods in town. Frustrated by Billy’s basketball abilities after being beaten by him twice, Sidney proposes a business partnership where the two trick local players into deliberating pairing the two of them together. Their competitors assume they are handicapping Sidney by teaming him up with Billy, but they soon discover that his capabilities are unmatched. The film follows the two as they hustle their way through the courts of Los Angeles and navigate the triumphs and pitfalls of their developing relationship. At the conclusion of the film, the two reunite on the basketball court they first met at and are enthralled into yet another argument about basketball. Billy and Sidney begin playing each one-on-one – this time though, as friends.

4. Field of Dreams (1989)

“Field of Dreams” emphasizes the idea that oftentimes, our lifelong purpose is rarely what we anticipate it will be. This is true of the main protagonist within the film, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), an Iowa farmer, who has quite literally spent his life in an endless pursuit of his dreams – despite not always knowing fully what they were. One day, Ray unexpectedly hears a voice in his corn field that faintly informs him, “If you build it, he will come.” Through his interpretation of the message, Ray begins building a baseball field on his farm. Suddenly, he begins seeing the ghosts of eight ex-Chicago White Sox players who were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati in exchange for money. Throughout the rest of the picture, Ray finds himself on a spiritual journey of self-discovery and understanding as he attempts to cope with the other-worldly encounters that are taking place at his farm. Though Ray debates selling the farm, an unexpected encounter with someone from his past, assures his gut-instinct to keep the lot. As his daughter Karin had promised, “people will come” to simply watch baseball. This film is unique, daring and yet somehow, still manages to capture the authentically heartfelt essence of every great sports film.

3. Moneyball (2011)

This feature film offers audiences a closer look at the sports world and of how one man used statistical data to change the dynamics of baseball forever. Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is struggling to find his footing in sports as he’s at a disadvantage with the lowest salary constraint in baseball and a team that’s less than ready to compete against some of the league’s most gnarly competitors. Motivated by the dream of winning a world series, Billy begins introducing statistical data and computer-generated information to analyze the value on players – many who wouldn’t typically be regarded as top draft picks – to acquire new players and develop a remarkable team. With the help of Ivy League graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), Billy develops a team built on true, game-winning potential.

2. Remember the Titans (2000)

“Remember the Titans” is arguably one of the greatest sports movies of all time – hence, why it scored the number two spot on our list. The stage for this film is set in a suburban town in Virginia, where an unparalleled love for the game of football among the towns’ residents makes the return of high school football season seem like a national holiday each year. Though the sport carries great weight within this quaint suburbia, the town is tested when two formerly segregated schools (one black and one white) are forced to integrate under federal mandate. The picture is depicted through the high school football team – a shining emblem of the town that now finds itself forced to reckon with the backlash of hiring the coach of the black school above that of the white coach. While the team and its players shared a fair number of tense scenarios and heated exchanges with one another, the film exhibits the power of comradery – particularly in the realm of sports – and how foundations and barriers built on outdated societal standards are meant to be broken and challenged.

1. Rocky (Series)

The “Rocky” series felt like something of a no-brainer for the number one choice on our list. This sports drama depicts the heartwarming and triumphant tale of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), an uneducated working-class Italian-American boxer. When Rocky is chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) he is suddenly jolted into a rags-to-riches story that tests Rocky’s humanity and measures the true content of his character. While the first “Rocky” film is by far the best, we believe that it’s also fair to argue that the other films within the “Rocky” series are worth mentioning, as well. Each film analyzes different stages of Rocky’s development as a man. The “Creed” series – which is a more modern follow-up to the Rocky series – with Apollo Creed’s son, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) returning to Rocky Balboa’s side as he seeks his guidance as his trainer, is also a phenomenal film series that continues to prove that the “Rocky” film series is truly a classic.

The Five - Workplace Comedies

Written by Brionna Raum

Compiled by Cameron Galvin and Brionna Raum

For most of us out here, there’s something hilariously relatable about a good workplace comedy.

The films we have compiled today excel in taking the often mundane rhythm of the average workplace and giving it a comedic twist. There are so many different types of work environments, but these films capture some of the more classic American workspaces as a canvas for various shenanigans (except when Shenaniganz is the canvas itself @ Waiting). Here are some honorable mentions that still deserve recognition even though they didn’t make it this time: 9 to 5 (1980), Gung Ho (1986), and Horrible Bosses (2011).

5. High Fidelity (2000)

First on our list we have a great film whose characters work in a used vinyl record store. John Cusack stars as Rob Gordon, the owner of the not-so-successful Chicago record store and our recently dumped protagonist. Throughout the film within the backdrop of his record store, Rob seeks to understand what went wrong in each of his relationships, while pining after his ex-girlfriend Laura. Rob also has a penchant for creating top five lists, which we very much appreciate here, and makes one for his top five breakups as part of his attempts to determine where he’s going wrong. High Fidelity is centered on music, love, and workplace antics.

4. Waiting (2005)

Next up we’ve got Rob McKittrick’s film Waiting, starring Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, and John Francis Daley as employees in the restaurant called “Shenaniganz”. This film will absolutely resonate with anyone who has ever worked in the restaurant business, and hopefully teach a lesson or two to those customers who make an already difficult 8 hour shift even more unbearable. This workplace comedy earned a place on our list because of its ability to hilariously portray the restaurant business and the interpersonal dramas in between. Fun fact: director McKittrick thanks Kevin Smith for making Clerks (next up in out list!), as it helped him believe that his film would become a reality.

3. Clerks (1994)

As promised, next up we have director Kevin Smith’s cult classic film Clerks. Contrary to popular belief, this film was not shot in black and white for artistic purposes, but because of the extremely low budget ($27,575) that Smith was working with. Kevin Smith had personal experience working in a convenience store, and actually shot this film at the convenience store that he worked at for a while. Clerks is a lighthearted, candid picture of the comically un-glamorous life of convenience store workers, and the way that they make life interesting for themselves.

2. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

It’s pretty hard to imagine that anyone would make it through a list of workplace comedies without thinking of Will Ferrell’s iconic performance as anchorman Ron Burgundy. Director Adam McKay brings us into the wild world of a San Diego news station, and into the lives of the characters working there. This workplace is probably less familiar to most viewers from behind-the-scenes of the news station, but in a sense, we are all a part of the news as viewers, and this film is great for its ability to imagine the backstage happenings of a news station, and what it might be like to be San Diego’s most beloved anchorman. As we move on to our number one workplace comedy, we remind you, stay classy Arizona.

1. Office Space (1999)

Our crowning victor today, we’ve got the one and only Office Space from director Mike Judge. Starring Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston, Office Space will make you laugh so hard you might smash a printer (get it? ha). Perhaps the most classic workplace environment of all the films on this list, this film has become a standard for great workplace comedy, and has stood the test of time in terms of comedic longevity. Office Space is full to the brim with unique characters each with their own funny quirks, and will quickly become one of your favorite workplace comedies if you don’t already love it.

The Five - Female Leads

The Five – Female Leads

By: Cameron Galvin

Compiled by: Cameron Galvin, Emma Mayeux

The lead actor/actress is often overlooked in a powerful film and we believe those performances deserve some recognition. In this edition of the “Daily Top Five” we will examine some of the best female leads throughout cinema. We wanted to leave the criteria super open and anything was on the table, it just had to have a strong female performance. As always, only five can make the list and with that some will be left out. Those honorable mentions are: The Hunger Games, Wonder Women, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

5. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

This in-depth film follows the incredible 10 year story of hunting down Al Qaeda’s leader, Osama Bin Laden. Maya (Jessica Chastain) is a CIA operative who is first designated with the task of interrogating terrorists following the attacks on Sept. 11th. Throughout the years she quickly works her way up, following different leads in the pursuit of finding Bin Laden. After many struggles an wrong turns she finally finds him in 2011 and is confident she is the only one who knows. The ending we all know is coming, the takedown of Bin Laden by Navy Seals all thanks to Maya’s intel. A strong performance from Chastain left you with the emotion of actually being a part of the process. A film definitely worth watching and a performance that cannot be overlooked, Chastain hit this one out of the park.

4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Everyone knows the amazing end of the first ever Star Wars Film A New Hope, and if you don’t I feel sorry for you. The cool story all of us nerds were hoping for, just how did they get the plans to blow up the death star? Rogue One shows us the brave mission the Rebellion goes on to steal the plans of the Empire’s super weapon so they can destroy it. The team, led by Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is the daughter of the scientist who designed the weapon. She and a few other rebels stop at nothing with a culminating high intensity battle scene at the Empire base to ultimately destroy the weapon. The performance of Jones is outstanding and watching her beat up and shoot the bad guys, has you the edge of your seat. All you want to do is to see her succeed and the ending sure gets sad when she gives her life to save the entire galaxy. Jones no doubt is added to the list of awesome Star Wars characters and she gives you the deep feeling of hope.

3. Alien (1979)

In the distant future the crew of a space vessel must travel to an unknown planet in response to a distress call. One crew member is attacked by an unknown lifeform and the crew realizes the life cycle has just begun. The crew is now fighting something they are clearly overmatched for and it all falls in the hands of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). Her absolute will power has anyone cheering her on as the evolution of this Alien lifeform is tearing the crew and ship to shreds. An emotional rollercoaster, Weaver goes through moments of toughness to breaking down and almost giving up. After hunting the alien down weaver finally prevails blowing the alien into space. A cheerful ending, until you realize she is still stuck in space. Never the less a great performance and one of the first in a long list of strong female leads kicking butt.

2. Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 (2003, 2004)

These are obviously a package deal, in the saga of one of the toughest women characters’ journey of revenge. After awakening from a four-year coma, a deadly assassin (Uma Thurman) seeks revenge on the team that betrayed her, including the man she loved Bill. A classic Tarantino saga, these films follow one another until the ultimate and satisfying ending of her finally killing Bill. Thurman is the ultimate badass, killing hundreds of inferior assassin’s along the way, all with her samurai sword. This film is not for the faint of heart, the gruesome deaths by Thurman are just awesome. A hidden truth behind all the violence, that there is nothing sweeter than revenge. Thurman was definitely one of the scariest female leads I’ve ever seen and will forever think of her as the badass assassin.

1. Silence of the Lambs (1991)

I think most people would agree with this as the number one! This dark film hits you on another level, with an ending that has some relief to a tough story. Clarice Sterling (Jodie Foster) is an FBI trainee that wants to move up the ranks quickly and she finally gets the case of hunting down a sadistic serial killer. In order to do this she must seek help from incarcerated cannibal killer (Anthony Hopkins). The performance from Foster is astounding; she gives you such a real feeling. The deep emotions of the crime victims she sees are unlike any other. She truly digs deep into the crazy mind of a serial killer and flirts with the idea, to catch one you must think like one. The dramatic and relieving ending of Foster finally catching and killing the serial killer is a masterpiece. Foster delivered an Oscar winning performance in a film that no one will ever forget.   

The Five - LGBTQ Films

Written by Hannah Ehrlich

Compiled by Hannah Ehrlich, Okechi Apakama and Kyley Warren 

With the rise of LGBTQ movies in recent years, we made a list of our top 5 favorite ones, number one being the favorite. Though there are a lot of good options to choose from, we decided to focus on the most diverse ones, providing you with different genres throughout the LGBTQ community. Some honorable mentions that didn’t make the list include, Boys Don’t Cry, Carol, Dallas Buyers Club, The Birdcage, and Brokeback Mountain.

5. Love, Simon

The high school love story we had no idea we needed, is how this movie would best be described. Simon Spier is hiding his true identity from everyone in his life, except an anonymous student at his school who also happens to have the same secret. We watch as Simon searches to find out who he is emailing that shares his secret. In the process of all this, Simon must also decide how to reveal his secret to those in his life, that he’s gay.

4. Blue Is The Warmest Color

Sacrificing three hours of your life to read closed captions on this groundbreaking French film will be one of the best decisions you make. Adèle, who is played by actress Adèle Exarchopoulos, goes through a rough few years of self-discovery when she meets Emma, who is played by Léa Seydoux. Adèle is young and naïve, so when she meets Emma she falls madly in love. The two show us what it means to fall in love and fall out of love. The raw depiction of a relationship will have you rooting for both of them to find love in one another.

3. Moonlight

The life of a young man named Chiron will show you the realistic viewpoint of what it means to be a minority within a minority. The coming of age story takes place in a broken down neighborhood in Miami where Chiron lives with his drug-addict mother. Relying on the support of others in the community, Chiron isn’t shown how to explore his sexuality or even given the opportunity to do so. The connection he makes with a few members in his community will touch your heart as you root for his success during each downfall.

2. The Miseducation of Cameron Post

The coming of age movie where no changing is necessary is this movie. Chloe Grace Moretz plays Cameron Post, a high schooler who is caught in a relationship with a friend. Cameron gets sent to a Christian conversion camp where she meets others who are in her same shoes. The way that Cameron normalizes her sexuality on screen, helps normalize sexuality off screen.  She doesn’t have to give herself a label or have a coming out to be who she is. The way that each character is who they are naturally and effortlessly makes the movie beautiful.

1. Call Me By Your Name

May be the most romantic movie of the decade. The connection between 17-year-old Elio Perlman and his professor father’s grad-student assistant 24-year-old Oliver is electric. Taking place in Northern, Italy the two do things like biking through the city to swimming in the backyard, developing a lustful relationship over the course of one Summer. Their connection and hidden relationship leave us guessing what will happen next as the two fall madly in love.

The Five - Best Picture Oscar Snubs

The Top Five Best Picture Oscar Snubs

Written by Cameron Galvin

Complied By Cameron Galvin and Brionna Raum

The Oscars are right around the corner and we are getting excited for the drama. In this edition of the Phoenix Film Festivals ‘Top Five,’ a look at some of the best films to not get nominated for best picture. These films were deserving of a nod because of how iconic or different they were. During our decision making process we set the rule that this would be a list of the pictures not nominated for best picture, but may have been nominated for other categories. Films that didn’t receive any nominations were a whole other list entirely. As always there are some that don’t crack the top five; The Town, The big Lebowski, Scarface, and Interstellar.

5. Memento (2000)

One of the more unique film ever made, follows a man with short-term memory loss attempting to track down his wife’s murderer. This film has two story lines, one moving forward in time, while the other tells the story backwards revealing more each time. Just Nolan’s second movie ever directed, it was one that many people might have not understood for the time it came out. Aside from the different story technique, this movie features great performances, great cinematography, and good music throughout. A movie, which should have gotten a nomination for how influential it was.

4. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

The same year as Memento, we believed this was another film that deserved the nod. Probably one of the toughest films ever made, follows four individuals living in Coney Island with big aspirations. The problem is drug addictions holding them back. Features graphic drug use and sexuality, along with language make this a hard film to watch. However, it has a lot of truths to it, which makes it so iconic and a must see. The ending will leave you speechless and will never forget. The drug-induced utopia of these four that is shattered because the addiction runs two deep is a scary life lesson this film tackles.

3. The Dark Knight (2008)

Nominated for 8 and won 2, this film still did not get the best picture nomination. Christopher Nolan’s second Batman movie definitely lived up to the hype around it. Set within a year of Batman begins; they set out to clean the streets of Gotham until the sadistic criminal mastermind known as the Joker shows up. This film really has it all, the amazing performances of Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, who did win the Oscar for best supporting actor. The score brings it all together and the cinematography, a nice mix of special effects and real shots. This is much more than a superhero movie. A piece that looks at the basic concept of good vs. evil, but also digs into the psychological issues of the characters.

2. American Gangster (2007)

A biographical feature that examines the stories of two very different people. The rise of Frank Lucas, an African American that establishes himself as one of the biggest heroin dealers in New York City. Because of his unique style it allows him to beat out the competition and anger them. The other storyline follows dedicated and honest policeman Richie Roberts. In a time with dirty cops all around Richie is devoted to bringing the cops and drug dealers down, including Frank Lucas. The performances of the two were worthy of Oscar nominations as well. The film has great music and the production value makes it feel like you aren’t even watching a movie. What makes this feature so iconic is the story of an iconic African American rising up to power in a world not used to it. A must see gangster film that should have gotten the nomination.

1. Se7en (1995)

A film that should be at the top of most lists follows two crime detectives’ desperate hunt for a serial killer who justifies his crimes for the world’s ignorance of the Seven Deadly Sins. A film that was probably ahead of its time, is now considered a classic and favorite to most. The emotion of the two cops is real as the younger cop (Brad Pitt) focuses on trying to get in the mind of a serial killer in order to catch their own. While the older wiser cop (Morgan Freeman) researches the Seven Deadly Sins to understand the killer’s motives. Finally the killer reveals himself (Kevin Spacey) to show off his final victim, which happens to be Pitt’s wife. An ending that throws everyone for a loop and an iconic line that is quoted in movies or shows all the time “What’s in the box?”  Helped pave the way for the style David Fincher uses in all of his films.