The Fivorite: Best Picture Winners
In honor of the 92nd Academy Awards, which were just held this week, I present to you my Fivorite* Best Picture winners.
*Please keep in mind that I’ve only seen about a third of the winners, so your personal favorite might not be on the list. If it isn’t, let me know you’re choice in the comment section below.
5. Schindler’s List
I’m a Spielberg fan and since Saving Private Ryan got robbed for the 1998 award, I’m including this one on here. I will admit that as I’ve gotten older (and thanks to constant prodding from my wife about the girl in the red coat) I’ve seen how heavy-handed the director was with his message. However, the performances were brilliant, the movie was fraught with tension, and Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) is one of the most despicable creatures ever captured on film.
4. Forrest Gump
Another one marked by my love of the director (Robert Zemeckis is my favorite), this story of a simpleton who finds himself in the middle of some of the most important moments of American history has left an indelible mark on popular culture. They literally created a chain of shrimp restaurants because of this flick. And if you don’t tear up when he meets his son…
3. The Silence of the Lambs
One of only three movies to win Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay alongside It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It’s also the only horror movie (yes, it’s considered a psychological thriller/horror movie) to ever bring home the crown. It’s also become its own franchise, spawning both good (Hannibal the TV series) and bad (Hannibal the movie) sequels and spin-offs.
2. The Godfather/The Godfather II
Yes, I know this is two movies, but if you’ve read my other Fivorite columns (and you really should), you’ll know that I don’t adhere to my own rules and try to recognize as many great things as I can. Plus, I didn’t want to waste two spots on the same story. Anyway, most people like Part II better, but I’m partial to the first one. I’m a sucker for an origin story and I think Michael’s is better than Vito’s. Plus, that baptism scene? *chef’s kiss*
1. Casablanca
One of my all-time favorite movies, regardless of awards. It’s one of the most quotable movies of all-time and the Epstein brothers’ script is perfect. David Mamet and Aaron Sorkin (both cribbing Aristotle’s Poetics) have said that the ending to a story should be surprising, but inevitable, and this is one of the earliest examples I can think of, at least in my personal movie-viewing experience.
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