I turned 63 recently Which, I am sure, gets all of us thinking, what are HairyLimes favorite 63 movies released in his lifetime? For 1960 movies, they must be released in the US after to my birthdate, which excludes both The Apartment (June 15) and Psycho (June 16), but includes Shoot the Piano Player (October 21 in the UK, 1962 in the US). Movies released internationally prior to 1960 are not considered even if they had no US release until after 1960.
I am aware that I have, potentially, either 62 or 74 movies on this list depending on how one counts Dekalog and The Lord of the Rings, both of which I treat as one movie.
And note, these are my FAVORITE movies, which may or may not line up with best. I am aware of the argument that, say, objectively Pulp Fiction is better than, oh, Local Hero. And some haters would want to debate the inclusion of Shakespeare in Love and exclusion of Saving Private Ryan. Suck on it, haters. I know which one I want to rewatch. I should also note that the further down the list you get, the rankings are less certain. I am more interested in identifying the 63 movies than worrying about whether This Is Spinal Tap is better than Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
For those for whom the personal history of directors make a difference, I have multiple moves by convicted or alleged sexual predators on my list. I long ago determined that I did not want to live in a world without Chinatown or Annie Hall. If you feel otherwise, I have no issues with you. I am not going to berate you about the need to separate the art from the artist and humiliate you until your leg starts twitching uncontrollably (on the list, by the way. My fave scene from last year not involving sentient rocks. Also on the list). On the other hand, earlier iterations of this list would have included Manhattan, a movie I just cannot watch now without thinking about the allegations against Allen. I am aware of the inconsistency.
The list also contains something my lists rarely contain, reasonably recent movies, including three from last year. I usually let things percolate before ranking them, but I have become convinced in multiple viewings of each, that there were three fantastic movies released last year. Their respective rankings may alter, but they deserve a spot on the list.
1. Nashville
2. The Godfather
3. Au hasard Balthazar
4. Annie Hall
5. Chinatown
6. Dekalog
7. Fargo
9. A Separation
9. Raging Bull
10. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
11. Taxi Driver
Q2. Dr. Strangelove
13. No Country for Old Men
14. Hannah and Her Sisters
15. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
16. Lawrence of Arabia
17. Chimes at Midnight
18. Goodfellas
Q9. Labyrinth of the Faun
20. The Double Life of Veronique
21. Get Out
22. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
23. Andrei Rublev
24. Paris, Texas
25. All That Jazz
26. Jaws
27. Everything Everywhere All At Once
28. The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
29. Yojimbo
30. Knives Out
31. Das Boot
32. Knife in the Water
E3. Crimes and Misdemeanors
34. A Serious Man
35. Grand Budapest Hotel
36. Adaptation
E7. Tar
38. The Lion in Winter
39. Sideways
40. In Bruges
41. Shoot the Piano Player
42. Sita Sings the Blues
43. American Splendor
44. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
45. Witness
46. Apocalypse Now
47. The Producers
48. Banshees of Inisherin
49. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
50. Shakespeare in Love
51. Inside Llewyn Davis
52. Groundhog Day
53. LA Confidential
T4. Local Hero
55. Blood Simple
56. About Elly
57. Roger & Me
58. This is Spinal Tap
59. Stalker
60. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
61. The Great Escape
62. 2001 A Space Odyssey
63. 1917
I should also note that immedialy upon posting this list, I was struck with doubts, primarily movies.i inexplicably omitted, like Thelma and Louise, In the Loop and Gosford Park.