Recommended Movies

Posted by Elliot

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Sure, there are lots of movie review sites. And if you’re looking up something particular, they’re a great help. But if you don’t know what to watch, you need trustworthy advice to heighten the signal/noise ratio. Welcome to etg Design’s database of worthwhile movies.

The few hundred films included focus mostly on classic movies, which today probably need a little extra help getting the attention of younger viewers. These recommendations are brought to you by Elliot and Steve Grant, longtime movie buffs who are relatively open-minded about what constitutes a good movie.

To get second opinions, you can choose to display only movies that made the AFI’s 400 nominations for Top 100 movies (62K PDF) or FilmSite.org’s 200 Greatest Films. NB: Both these lists exclude foreign films; the AFI 400 was finalized in 1996.

Steve’s list includes roughly 100 movies and also excludes foreign films. To continue the pattern of 50% greater exclusivity, Elliot’s list attempts to capture the approximately 50 most important films. Within those 50, I’ve tried to cover as many genres, cultures, eras, and themes as possible. Don’t write to me complaining about the choices—it’s subjective, it’s an impossible task, and it’ll probably change over time. Finally, the intersection of all four lists is approximately 30 movies.

(If you want a larger list, take a look at the New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made.)

To display films, simply select the appropriate search criteria below. You can filter the search by genre, rating, or inclusion on the various lists mentioned above.

Movie Ratings

Movies are rated on a system devised by my movie-watching cabal based on the simple question: How much worth your time and/or money is seeing this film?

There are six levels of ratings. They’re easy to remember, and they even proceed in alphabetical order:

  1. A (Advance Showing): Some films are such must-sees that they’re worth paying extra and going out of your way to catch—as you might do for an advance (a.k.a. special sneak preview) showing.
  2. F (Full Price): A film rated Full is worth seeing on its intital run in the theaters, even though you’ll have to pay the full ticket price. It’ll be worth it.
  3. M (Matinee): Matinee movies are worth seeing in the theaters, but only if you can get a discount on the ticket price. They’re good—usually a lot of fun—but probably not worth seeing more than once.
  4. R (Rental): Rental flicks have redeeming qualities, but they’re ones you definitely won’t mind catching on video. The screen may be small, but you don’t want to pay even a matinee ticket price for this kind of film.
  5. TV: A movie that gets a TV rating isn’t worth spending any money on. If it comes on TV, you probably wouldn’t mind spending a few hours to catch it, but otherwise you can avoid it with a clear conscience.
  6. W (Worthless): This bottom category is exactly what it says. A Worthless film is one that you should skip even if it comes on TV and you have nothing better to do.

Recommended Movies

Movie Genre Rating Lists
All of Me

Dying millionairess Lily Tomlin tries to transfer her soul into her young secretary’s body, but ends up coinhabiting her lawyer (Steve Martin). Silly but fun.
Comedy
M
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
All the King’s Men

Wonderfully realized political drama, with Broderick Crawford at the top of his game. Based on poet Robert Penn Warren’s novel, itself a barely disguised portrait of Louisiana senator Huey Kingfish Long.
Drama
M
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Amadeus

Fascinating study of talent coming to grips with the immensity of genius. Feeling betrayed by his god, Court Composer Salieri vows to destroy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Drama
F
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
American Graffiti

George Lucas captures the summer of 1962 in California with this tale of graduating high schoolers.
Drama
A
ETG50
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Angel Heart

Spooky (if somewhat over-the-top) account of PI Mickey Rourke’s attempt to locate a missing singer.
Mystery
M
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Apartment, The

Another one where comedy, drama, and romance interact with wit and heart. Jack Lemmon is the schmoe trying to be a mensch and win Shirley Maclaine.
Drama
A
ETG50
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Arsenic and Old Lace

Cary Grant’s two sweet aunts relieve old and sad gentlemen by adding arsenic to their elderberry wine; one brother thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, the other is an internationally wanted murderer. Just the place to bring the new wife.
Comedy
A
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Auntie Mame

Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death. Mame may be a kook, but she’s an inspiring, lovable kook who opens doors for everyone around her. Don’t miss out.
Comedy
F
AFI400
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Awful Truth, The

Wonderful Leo McCary comedy about a couple who discover after splitting up that they still love each other. Sophisticated humor and slapstick meld nicely in this romp. Ralph Bellamy plays the role he owned in the 1940s—the sincere rube and nominal romantic rival who is way, way over his head.
Comedy
F
SAG100
Movie Genre Rating Lists
Back to the Future Trilogy

The first installment may even deserve an A for its inventiveness and humor. As usual, additional installments were progressively less appealing.
Comedy
F
AFI400