The AFI Strikes Back - The 100 Most Thrilling Films Of All Time
Jun 10 '01
The Bottom Line The 100 Most Thrilling films of all time.
In what’s turning out to be an annual event, the American Film Institute is about to offer up yet another of their anger-inducing, discussion-laden top 100 lists. In 1998 it was the 100 greatest films of all time. The year after they focused on the 50 Greatest Screen Legends, split evenly among actors and actresses (who were either dead or not working regularly.) Last year it was “100 Years…100 Laughs”. Do I even need to explain? Obviously the AFI now has to turn to running the gamut of every possible video store section to make a new list. (After all these specials always have an umbilical tied to a video promotion like a bush to an oil field.) But since your local video chain has enough problems categorizing comedy from drama, the AFI has come up with one of the vaguest classifications in history – America’s 100 Most Heart-Pounding Films of all time. Which leads one to ask – what makes a film thrilling?
The special entitled “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Thrills” is scheduled to air Tuesday, June 12, 2001 at 7:00 pm (on CBS). The three-hour tribute, appropriately hosted by Harrison Ford, will attempt to whittle down a list of 400 nominees, chosen by a star chamber of film “experts” including filmmakers, actors and historians. OK, so what makes one film more thrilling than another? In the year 2001, the word “thrilling” defines just about any movie we can recommend these days. But according to AFI’s website and press release, the AFI says:
“Movie thrills are meticulously orchestrated by hundreds of artists working together — a writer who invites us to believe; a composer who knows when to cue the strings and in what chord; an editor who knows when a cut-away from the action will make us squirm; a digital artist who expands the creative horizons of visual effects. The collaboration of these singular talents can prove miraculous, transporting us to new worlds through the sheer adventure of story and the kinetic exhilarations of cinematic movement.”
Nicely written, but we’re still no closer to the answer. How about breaking it down a little more for us, Mr. AFI? Their criteria reads the following:
“Recognizing the subjective and historical nature of "thrills" and the cinematic techniques used to create them, AFI has compiled this ballot with the goal of being as inclusive as possible. The following criteria should be considered in all selections, including write-in candidates (except in Florida):
(1) “A feature-length fiction film, narrative format, typically over 60 minutes in length.” Well, what about non-fiction films or films based on true events? I distinctly saw “Serpico” and various World War II movies scattered about your list of 400 “fictional” films.
(2) “An American film, English language, with significant creative and/or financial production elements from the United States.” This is the same crap that kept Monty Python out of the comedy list last year and will prevent the following titles from even getting a chance: (The Road Warrior, Nosferatu, Run Lola Run, Battleship Potemkin, Diabolique (1955), Das Boot, The Killer, and anything directed by Akira Kurosawa or Sergio Leone). If they want to keep those pesky subtitles off their list of “American” films, that’s one thing, but why sacrifice films with nothing but English dialogue, just because it was made outside the U.S.? By that logic, The Matrix should be excluded for being filmed primarily in Australia.
(3) “Regardless of genre, the total adrenaline-inducing impact of a film’s artistry and craft, creating an experience that engages our bodies as well as our minds.” So, should intelligent films like Wonder Boys, Election and Schindler’s List be considered because they employ our minds to think even if they don’t put us on the edge of our seat?
(4) “Films whose "thrills" stand the test of time — enlivening and enriching America’s film heritage, while inspiring contemporary artists and audiences.” So then do we punish great older classics if they inspire Michael Bay to make Pearl Harbor? Or do we just assume that he’s never seen a great older classic?
So, there you go, the thrills rulebook according to the American Film Institute as they play a little game of show and tell with us, “telling us nothing, but showing us everything.” Let’s get to the heart of this. When you look up the word “thrill” in the thesaurus, under all its incarnations you will find the following words: “excitement, breathtaking, shock, agitation, quiver, flutter, flurry, fluster, twitter, tremor, throb, throbbing, pulsation, palpitation, panting, blush, flush, delight, electrify, sensational, stimulating, rousing, magnificent, titillation, kick, bong, boot, wallop, tingle, vibrate, quiver, shiver, pant, and glow.” Yet not a single porn title is among the nominees.
All kidding aside, think of the ten most thrilling films you’ve ever seen. Now ask someone twenty years younger or older than you. With a knee-jerk response, you’re liable to hear the words Indiana Jones, Star Wars or James Bond among the titles. But if they think really hard, you’ll be lucky to get 1 or 2 matching ones between your lists. It’s easy to think of films with thrilling scenes in them. You’ve got car chases, set pieces, triumphant endings and horrific moments. But does a single car chase, as in Bullitt, make for an overall thrilling film? How do you rank the chariot race in Ben-Hur over the course of a nearly four-hour movie when you have non-stop action in Speed, which is half the length? Does the build-up to the ending of Rocky qualify it as more thrilling than the work of Alfred Hitchcock? ? I get chills every time the sound barrier gets broken in The Right Stuff, but that’s one moment. One scene.
This isn’t the 100 most thrilling “scenes” of all time, yet I’m sure that’s how the AFI will measure many of the titles. Chariot races and shower killings will probably pull rank on films that deserve a higher position, yet have the unfortunate distinction of familiarity. Does the first film to come up with a concept deserve a slot in the top ten just because it came first, even if a later film expanded upon that concept and took it to new levels? If, in your timeline of movie viewing, you happened to catch Deathtrap before either Sleuth or Diabolique, how can you put yourself into the mindset to erase that original experience when you identify its inspiration from 10-30 years ago (many years later). One generation’s Dracula is another’s Near Dark.
The best thrills are timeless. Twenty years has not aged a second to Raiders of the Lost Ark, but the wrinkles are evident with some of Universal’s monster classics. Filmmaking and styles have continued to progress throughout the years that we would be arrogant not to recognize the influence but even more arrogant to cling to those influences and fail to give the newer breeds their credit where it is clearly due. From Tod Browning and James Whale to Alfred Hitchcock and David Lean to Sam Peckinpah and John Frankenheimer to Brian DePalma and John Carpenter to Steven Spielberg and James Cameron. Every one of these filmmakers have paved the way for yet another and films have continued to get more and more “thrilling” over the years whether it be through new and more innovative special effects, improved editing techniques or an old-fashioned storytelling approach influenced by the great masters of yore.
However, you can be certain that CBS’ ads for the special, reflecting nothing but clips of more modern thrill rides, are nothing more than a smokescreen to assure the average naysayer that this list promises to mirror more of their own tastes. Thrilling scenes will dominate more than two-hour non-stop rides. Plenty of old classics (deserving and not) will mix along with the modern ones. Also remember - the list is not representative of the BEST films – just the most thrilling. Hopefully the voters will keep that in mind as well.
Therefore, as AFI continues its tradition, I must countersuit with my own annual list. Is it perfect? You be the judge. You’ll likely smack your head with it just as much as you will on June 12. Surely titles should be ranked lower, higher or not at all. Where’s that title? How could you even consider that title? So before you begin to judge, first put the following things in order: Action, Excitement, Fistfights, Gunfights, Shock, Suspense, Swordfights, Terror and War. When you figure that out, you’ll still have a hard time working out such a vague list. So here’s my list, counting down from 100 to 1 just like on the special. Titles in CAPS represent films which also made AFI’s nominee cut list. Titles in non-caps with “x-“ means a title that I actually had to add.
100. THE KARATE KID (1984)
99. DIRTY HARRY (1971)
98. MISERY (1990)
97. BODY HEAT (1981)
96. x-A Simple Plan (1998)
95. HEAT (1995)
94. x-Bound (1996)
93. x-Deathtrap (1982)
92. x-Tron (1982)
91. CHARADE (1963)
90. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
89. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960)
88. GOLDFINGER (1964)
87. THE BIG SLEEP (1946)
86. THE BIRDS (1963)
85. HIGH NOON (1952)
84. BEN-HUR (1959)
83. x-Octopussy (1983)
82. GLORY (1989)
81. THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953)
80. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
79. x-Angel Heart (1987)
78. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
77. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
76. x-Ronin (1998)
75. SCREAM (1996)
74. x-Nosferatu (1922)
73. THE SHINING (1980)
72. ROBOCOP (1987)
71. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
70. x-Breakdown (1997)
69. BLOOD SIMPLE (1984)
68. INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989)
67. THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995)
66. x-Scream 2 (1997)
65. JFK (1991)
64. x-Sneakers (1992)
63. x-The Perfect Storm (2000)
62. STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982)
61. x-Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
60. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
59. x-The Haunting (1963)
58. x-The Goonies (1985)
57. x-Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
56. x-The Killer (1989)
55. THE TERMINATOR (1984)
54. x-Dragonslayer (1981)
53. KING KONG (1933)
52. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
51. x-Dawn of the Dead (1978)
50. POLTERGEIST (1982)
49. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
48. x-The Road Warrior (1981)
47. x-Cloak and Dagger (1984)
46. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
45. WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967)
44. x-Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
43. BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)
42. ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968)
41. x-No Way Out (1987)
40. x-Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
39. x-Duel (1971)
38. FAIL-SAFE (1964)
37. x-The Abyss (1989)
36. TOUCH OF EVIL (1958)
35. L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997)
34. THE FUGITIVE (1993)
33. THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987)
32. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
31. x-Die Hard 2 (1990)
30. PSYCHO (1960)
29. THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990)
28. TITANIC (1997)
27. x-Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
26. BRAVEHEART (1995)
25. APOLLO 13 (1995)
24. RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)
23. WARGAMES (1983)
22. HALLOWEEN (1978)
21. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
20. ALIEN (1979)
19. BLADE RUNNER (1982)
18. SUPERMAN II (1980)
17. x-Seven (1995)
16. JURASSIC PARK (1993)
15. REAR WINDOW (1954)
14. STAR WARS (1977)
13. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
12. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
11. x-The Thing (1982)
10. THE EXORCIST
9. INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984)
8. THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963)
7. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
6. SPEED (1994)
5. JAWS (1975)
4. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)
3. DIE HARD (1988)
2. ALIENS (1986)
1. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
And here are 25 runner-ups (in alphabetical order):
ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, Apocalypse Now, Arachnophobia, BACKDRAFT, The Battleship Potemkin, Blow Out, Dead Again, The Devil's Advocate, Drunken Master 2, Executive Decision, FATAL ATTRACTION, Forbidden Planet, THE FRENCH CONNECTION, The Hidden, The Hitcher, IN THE LINE OF FIRE, Innerspace, The Manhattan Project, NEAR DARK, PLANET OF THE APES, SLEUTH, THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR, THE TOWERING INFERNO, True Lies
So that’s my list – take it or leave it. Sure there are films there from my youth – but whose list would be indifferent to films that thrilled as a youth? It would be utterly impossible to predict what the AFI has in store for us, but that never stops me from offering up my predictions. It will be impossible to predict an exact rank, therefore I’ll offer my thoughts on the 100 films you can most likely expect to see somewhere on AFI’s “official” list. These (1st) 55 films are assuredly your best bets to make the list – I’ll even go as far to predict which ones will make it into the Top Ten:
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD 1938
ALIEN 1979
APOLLO 13 1995
BEN-HUR 1959
THE BIG SLEEP 1946
THE BIRDS 1963
BLOOD SIMPLE 1984
THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI 1957
BULLITT 1968
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL 1951
DELIVERANCE 1972
DIE HARD 1988 (TOP TEN)
THE DIRTY DOZEN 1967
DIRTY HARRY 1971
DOUBLE INDEMNITY 1944
DRACULA 1931
THE EXORCIST 1973 (TOP TEN)
FATAL ATTRACTION 1987
FRANKENSTEIN 1931
THE FRENCH CONNECTION 1971
THE FUGITIVE 1993
GOLDFINGER 1964
THE GREAT ESCAPE 1963
THE GUNS OF NAVARONE 1961
HALLOWEEN 1978
HIGH NOON 1952
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS 1956
JAWS 1975 (TOP TEN)
KING KONG 1933 (TOP TEN)
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 1962 (TOP TEN)
THE MALTESE FALCON 1941
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE 1962
THE MATRIX 1999
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 1968
NORTH BY NORTHWEST 1959
PSYCHO 1960 (TOP TEN)
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 1981 (TOP TEN)
REAR WINDOW 1954
ROCKY 1976
ROSEMARY'S BABY 1968
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1998
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 1991 (TOP TEN)
THE SIXTH SENSE 1999
SPARTACUS 1960
SPEED 1994
STAR WARS 1977 (TOP TEN)
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY 1991
THE THIRD MAN
TITANIC 1997 (TOP TEN)
TOUCH OF EVIL 1958
THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE 1948
THE USUAL SUSPECTS 1995
THE WILD BUNCH 1969
These next 28 titles are pretty good bets:
ALIENS 1986
BLADE RUNNER 1982
BRAVEHEART 1995
CHINATOWN 1974
THE DEER HUNTER 1978
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK 1980
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 1982
FAIL-SAFE 1964
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE 1963
THE GODFATHER 1972
JURASSIC PARK 1993
THE KARATE KID 1984
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL 1997
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 1960
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1925
PLANET OF THE APES 1968
POLTERGEIST 1982
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE 1972
SCREAM 1996
THE SHINING 1980
SLEUTH 1972
SUPERMAN II 1980
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 1974
THE THING (FROM ANOTHER WORLD) 1951
THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR 1975
THE TOWERING INFERNO 1974
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? 1962
WHITE HEAT 1949
These final 17 films could round out the list (or they could just be good longshots)
BACK TO THE FUTURE 1985
THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT 1999
BODY HEAT 1981
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND 1977
ENTER THE DRAGON 1973
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER 1990
IN THE LINE OF FIRE 1993
INDEPENDENCE DAY 1996
LETHAL WEAPON 1987
MARATHON MAN 1976
MISERY 1990
RESERVOIR DOGS 1992
THE THIEF OF BAGDAD 1924
THE UNTOUCHABLES 1987
WAIT UNTIL DARK 1967
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS 1953
WARGAMES 1983
Thus will end another chapter in the AFI-created debate among film lovers. Now that they have tackled the greatest movies, the greatest stars, the greatest comedies and the greatest “heart pounders”, where do go next year? My guess would be the 100 Greatest Fantasy Films of all time. It would include science fiction, horror and children’s films alike. It would be a little less vague than the “thrills” of this year – but have enough variety to give other films a chance to make the Top Ten. How nice. After that, who knows? The 100 greatest films whose six degrees can’t be traced back to Freddie Prinze Jr.? How about the 100 greatest films that Blockbuster doesn’t (or refuses) to carry. (You know how hard it was to trace down some of the films on the nominee list at the local Blockbuster?) And will the AFI start excluding years in order to keep it a “100 Years” list. (e.g. 1901-2001, 1902-2002)? Film lovers won’t care, because no matter where the lists go in the future, it will always give us a reason to talk about movies. And we love that.
- Erik Childress
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
ErikMovieman
|
|
Member: Erik Childress
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Reviews written: 202
Trusted by: 69 members
About Me:
Film Critic/Screenwriter. Member of the Chicago Film Critics Association & the Online Film Critics Society.
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.