BEST FILMS OF 2015- BAYLEY

You know the drill. The Golden Globes are tonight and I get to sit at my desk, with a glass of fine ginger ale, deciding the movies I loved the most this year. It was an odd year because for a while, I felt it was a particularly weak year of movies that didn’t truly move me. That has since changed.

There were some shockers. A movie I never expected to be good, Goosebumps, ended up being one of my most enjoyable times at the movies this year (mainly because it hit upon my nostalgia for Jumanji and Halloween-esque adventure stories). And then there’s Paddington, but I’ll get to that.

There were some also some disappointment. My most anticipated movie of the year was none other than Alejandro Innaritu’s The Revenant. While the cinematography was GORGEOUS and Tom Hardy is always churning out interesting and tough performances, it didn’t surpass the excellence that the trailer gave to me.

But, despite all that, I give you my TOP 10 Best Films of 2015.

10. Steve Jobs    

This movie didn’t get the reception I hoped it would. Why is that? Bad marketing and release play is what you’ll be told. But now it’s been long enough that I hope you find it one day and get into it.

Lets go through all the highlights. 

Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet churn out award worthy performances. I went along with the little embellishments of Steve Jobs’ life AND the three-act structure this movie had. But the BIG thing for me is always Sorkin writing. I will listen to people act out his scripts any day. And Danny Boyle made sure they spoke those words as their characters and not Sorkin himself (although you can definitely hear all the Sorkin in it).

This is essentially a great play of Jobs’ life on film. This is worth your time if you’re a fan of The Social Network, Newsroom, or any of these fine actors.

Dir. Danny Boyle

9. Paddington   

I was looking at my list of favorite movies this year and noticed I have a lot of movies about screwballs and bad people (Steve Jobs, Mistress America, The Hateful Eight). Well…not Paddington fucking bear. WHAT…WHY…HOW…did they put so much talent and wonder into a Paddington movie!?!? I watched this from a recommendation (purely intending on skip it) and THIS is the biggest surprise of the year. If you’re a fan on Wes Anderson’s style of blocking, colors that pop, shots that wonder, a likable animated lead, and some whimsically hysterical jokes sprinkled throughout, this movie is for YOU. It’s the best family film of the year. It’s not just pure fun. There’s a REAL talent going into this one. Trust me.

Dir. Paul King

8. Straight Outta Compton   

Well. This isn’t Paddington. This is a hardcore EPIC that I truly loved. It sickens me that a movie about the late 80’s with a number of talented black youths getting harassed by the police for the first 45min of the movie can’t be seen as a period piece. It resonated so well with our country, it might as well have been about today. But I won’t get deep/political on you with this review (even though that’s what the film wants you to do). 

It does a juggling act of talking about the racism/power of the police force, the rise and fall of power in rap, AIDS, guns, handling money, etc ALL within one film. It works to it's advantage and disadvantage. All you have to know is that while the film is surely very LONG at an ambitious 2 hours and 30 minutes, it’s the best historical movie about music to have come out in a long time.

Also, I gotta call out O’Shea Jackson playing his father Ice Cube and Jason Mitchell playing Eazy-E. I hope they have big careers. They had me the whole movie. Hope you agree. 

Oh...and that great line...

Dir. F. Gary Gray

7. Spotlight   

This is what I’m going to consider the Argo of this year. Poised to win best picture, I appreciate this movie more than I love it, but boy do I appreciate it. It has an all-star cast and deals with a very dark and truthful subject matter. What I appreciate the most is how the entire movie is handled: letting the story come first and having no embellishments along the way. While there are no stand-out performances I could really call out (except maybe Live Schrieber’s understated and impressive role), everyone came to work on the same playing field and no one goes over the top. This movie will have you from start to finish and I have to recommend it as a no-holding-back and seriously adult kind of movie.

Dir. Tom McCarthy

6. Sicario    

Roger Deakins does it again. Most of this film, I couldn’t get over the shots they were getting. Example: Emily Blunt looks through binoculars on a rooftop and see's cops driving towards explosions and gun fire...how's they make that look so GOOD!?

Benicio Del Toro does it AGAIN. I’d never want to be stuck in a room with this character.

Emily Blunt does it AGAIN! Most of the film, I was reminded of how I called her out last year as the actress of the year that blew me away. She might be my favorite tough-chick actor of all time (tough exterior/tragic and fragile interior, this character is so amazing to follow).

Plenty of twists, turns, and on-the-edge-of-your-seat sequences, this is True Detective Season 1 meets Zero Dark Thiry meets (insert epic crime drama) but in an extremely original and fresh way. Loved this movie.

Dir. Denis Villeneueve

5. Inside Out  

Oh Sadness. This might be my favorite Pixar character ever. Coming from the guy that thinks Up is the best Pixar movie, I hoped for Pete Doctor to deliver again with this one. He understands storytelling and bringing the feels. I’ll watch anything he does from here on out. 

I particularly loved the message for kids. FINALLY we have a film that understands that kids aren't just into farts and jokes all the time. Kids are just like adults...they go through sadness and disgust and anger all the damn time. And while, yes, we all know that, this film's message is that it's OKAY to feel all those things. Boy am I happy this was executed correctly. 

This isn’t just one of the best family films of the year, it’s just one of the best films.

Dir. Pete Doctor

4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

You’ve waited 2 years (maybe your whole life), you’ve seen it 5 times in the theater, you have Rey plastered on your wall, you have ngihtmares about a Kylo Ren temper tantrum, you got the feels for every Han Solo moment, you want your very own BB-8, you want to buy JJ Abrams drinks for making you so happy this holiday season…did I get all of it? 

Bottom line: This movie succeeds in the hardest part a soft reboot of Star Wars could- It has you care about all of its new characters deeply. I think Rey might be my favorite Star Wars character of all time (yes..Darth Maul is taking a backseat). While she's not flawed really in any way (yet), she is infinitely more interesting to watch (curious, brave, adventurous,  independent and energetic). 

 Dir. JJ Abrams

3. The Hateful Eight  

This might have been my most enjoyable time in the theater this year. I think Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Basterds are some of my favorite movies of all time so I expected goodness out of this. But what I got was an EPIC 3 hour event in 70mm with an overture and intermission. The music was sensational. I was laughing throughout. I got sucked into the mystery. Tim Roth’s character was out of this world enjoyable.

So why do people not LOVE this movie? Maybe it’s because of the run time. Maybe it’s because it’s so unbelievably Tarantino to the point where he’s narrating his own movie. But I’ve found it divided by people who loved the first half before the intermission and hated the structure of the second, or vice versa. Maybe that structure is what’s getting everyone. For me…it’s all I needed for a good time this winter. 

It's Quentin Tarantino's Clue Western! I had to love it. 

Dir. Quentin Tarantino

2. Room  

I can’t stop thinking about this movie. It’s hard and painful to watch but it could have been my favorite movie of the year. I hope this gives Brie Larson license to do any role she ever wants because BOY does she bring it here. And Jacob Temblay is the best actor of the year in my opinion…at 9 years old he should be beating Dicaprio for the top prizes this year…I said it.

In a movie like Room where a good portion of it is shot within very small quarters, it manages to make you feel claustrophic yet invited. You know their world, see all it’s angles and dimensions and it gives you something about what the characters inner thoughts are based off their environment. It’s masterful cinematography how this was all handled. 

It's no spoiler that they do escape the Room at some point, and that whole buildup and aftermath had me GASPING. Lenny Abrahamson NEEDS a Best Director nom. 

I will have this on my Top 10 list of the decade for sure, along with…

Dir. Lenny Abrahamson

1. Mad Max: Fury Road 

HOLY SHIT MAD MAX: FURY ROAD IS THE BEST MOVIE OF 2015. It is the most energetic, eye popping, balls to the wall action/chase movie of the decade. It manages to be completely original, never dip in pacing or excitement, and not have any subplots…just one story of epic survival in a wasteland.

If aliens fell from the sky and asked me what movies are and why do humans enjoy them, I would show them the first 5 minutes of Mad Max: Fury Road.

WITNESS THIS!!!!

Dir. George Miller

HONORABLE MENTIONS (In Alphabetical Order)

1.     Brooklyn

2.     Carol

3.     Creed

4.     Ex Machina

5.     Goosebumps

6.     Me, Earl and the Dying Girl

7.     Mistress America

8.     The Peanuts Movie

9.     The Revenant

10. Trainwreck

Films I Still Need to See:

Anamolisa

Beast of No Nation

Crimson Peak

The Danish Girl

The Good Dinosaur

Krampus

The Night Before

Trumbo

The Visit

My Year End Awards:

Best Actor: Jacob Temblay, Room

Bect Actress: Brie Larson, Room

Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina

Best Director: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

Worst Movie: Tomorrowland

Thanks for reading! I will see you again with my Oscar Predictions come February. Have a wonderful day, movie-lovers!

BEST FILMS OF 2014 BAYLEY

TOP 10 of 2014- BAYLEY

How in the world is it that time of year again? The Golden Globes are tonight and I’m looking over my list of films I’ve seen this year, making that special list I love…The TOP 10 Best Films of 2014.

This year, I figured I would also give away my personal favorite awards for the best performances I’ve seen this year, as well as conclude my list with the five films that almost made it but you should still give a shot anyway.

So, without further ado, lets take a look back, shall we? Below is the spoiler-free, fancy-free, freakin-freebird-free Top 10 list…

10. Edge of Tomorrow: When I heard about this movie, I thought, “Oh great..A Tom Cruise action movie. I guess I’ll find my way to the theater if I lift my legs up really hard”. Somehow, I got my pessimistic ass to the theater and OH MY GOD IT’S A SCI-FI GROUNDHOG DAY WHAT IS THIS!!?!? 

Emily Blunt is badass force as the “Full Metal Bitch” and Tom Cruise reminds us why he’s a movie star. In the theater, I actually noticed what Cruise’s signature trait to acting is…he’s always frustrated. Literally, every performance you watch of Cruise in an action movie, he’s the good looking guy who is frustrated with the impossible situation around him (heh..impossible). And why wouldn’t he be frustrated in this film when he’s forced to live a day of war over and over again?

Take my word for it- THIS is the action film you skipped that you need to run and see. My only concern is the third act kinda falls into a Matrix Revolutions situation with just a bunch of man vs. robot action sequences that alienate all the comedy the first two acts gave us with the fun repetition (yes…this movie is surprisingly very funny). If this movie had a stronger ending, it’d be higher on my list. But for now, go rent Edge of Tomorrow!...or Live. Die. Repeat. Whatever they want to call it.

Dir. Doug Liman

9. What If- So it’s the summer of 2014 and I watch this trailer for a new Daniel Radcliffe movie, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A86JGbBEaBk

Adam Driver’s opening line was funny enough for me to be hooked. Hell, that might be my favorite line of the year. 

Yes, you’re not going to see this movie on any other Top 10 Film lists and I can see why because there are so many films trying to be groundbreaking or hit you with a heavy message. But looking back on the Top 10 Films that meant something to me this year, I walked out with this really putting a smile on my face. This is a romantic comedy done fresh and right. Romantic comedies can be such a throwaway in the stereotypical Katherine Heigl/Cameron Diaz sense of it all. But when put in the hands of some unlikely chemistry in Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan, and some pretty punchy writing, it’s impossible to not feel the infectious love of it all.

My problems with the movie are only these two points: The writer seems to make EVERY character unbelievably quirky instead of it being just its leads, which makes it a bit unrealistic. It also has the worst title of a good movie in 2014 but I digress. Get yourself to a Redbox and enjoy a good time because you may think the trailer gave it all away, but I’m here to tell you it didn’t.

Dir. Michael Dowse

8. Nightcrawler- This movie was completely undersold to me. Everyone I knew who saw it all said Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance was award worthy but the ending was just “okay” or the film on the whole was lesser than the performance in it. I now disagree. I mean, this IS the Jake Gyllenhaal show but it’s exactly why this movie works so well. 

Within the first 5 minutes, we see his character, Lou, lie to a police officer and kill him and it’s never brought up again. We see here everything you need to know about his capabilities but we watch because we want to see how far he’ll go. The cinematography, the writing, the acting, it’s all note worthy. I want to refrain from spoilers but I’ll just say the car moment in the climax of the film can be said to be one of the most exhilarating moments from a movie this year.  If you need to be sold more, check out the trailer with the repetition of the signature line, “If you want to win the lottery, you have to make the money to buy a ticket”. So good.

Dir. Dan Gilroy

7. X-men: Days of Future Past- Am I fan of superhero films? Yes. Do I believe this genre has become the equivalent of an 8 pound cashgrab in a 1 pound bag? Sure. Do I like asking myself questions until I stare into the void of my computer screen and question the meaning of life? We can discuss that in private. Basically, there are so many superhero movies..how can the SEVENTH X-Men movie be ANY good? Well, it is. And not only that, this is the best X-men movie BY FAR.

Not only do you have actual life or death stakes in this Terminator 2 storyline, not only do you have the top actors of today in a well balanced ensemble piece, not ONLY are you melding two different X-men film franchises together, you’re FINALLY eliminating all the elements fans hated about your franchise and giving them a new path to follow you on.

Every review you read will be about how awesome the Quicksilver scene was. Yes, this scene was really cool. But I’ll note my favorite scene being James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier going through the mind of time-traveling Wolverine to speak to his older self, played of course by Patrick Stewart. This scene brings the gravitas the film is going for and I won’t soon forget it.

Dir. Bryan Singer

6. Guardians of the Galaxy- “Another superhero film on the list? Dan, you jest. I thought you had taste!”. Well, remember back in 2012-2013 when you heard about this movie and laughed about how bad it was going to be? And how you thought a character that was a talking tree named Groot would only be silly? Man, weren’t we morons?

I’m sure you’ve seen this and loved it’s fresh take on an action space film and enjoy the soundtrack currently turning old songs back into #1 hits. But what I can point out that I loved so much about it was it’s direct act to make you constantly feeling light. Marvel and James Gunn noticed the overload of the “dark Nolan-y” hero films taking over and decided to go against it in a risky move that could’ve led them into Batman and Robin territory. But it was done confidently and correctly…I mean you have a talking raccoon crying about how he was taken apart and put back together and it’s moving! You have your lead talking about the tales of “the hero Kevin Bacon” from his home planet. You have Groot, a CGI talking tree voiced by Vin Diesel, making people cry in the theater. You know what? This movie will be remembered and I’m happy.

My personal favorite scene is of Chris Pratt’s “Star Lord” showing music to Zoe Saldana’s “Gamora”. I think in some way, this connects to the “iTunes generation” of people who share music on the daily or even just any music lover in us all. Music is a huge driving force in this movie…maybe it’s why I love it so much.

Dir. James Gunn

5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier- ANOTHER SUPERHERO MO- okay okay I’ve never had so many superhero movies on my Top 10 list before but this was an exceptional year for it. And this is not only the best superhero movie of the year, it’s possibly the best film from Marvel Studios to date. I’m serious. This is an exceptional spy thriller that takes its patriotic hero and forces him to make tough modern day decisions of war and terror. I love any movie that will take these kinds of chances. That scene in the streets when he’s fighting the Winter Soldier and the screeching Soldier score is blaring…oh man. That was the moment in the theater where my expectations were blown away. They took my least favorite Avenger, and gave him the best movie to work with. Perfect. Now go do that with Thor.

I have ONE problem with this movie. All the action is pretty much…PRETTY much…grounded in reality. But you have one scene where Anthony Mackie’s “Falcon” is getting perfect cellphone service as he’s talking to Black Widow in a helicopter as he’s jumping out of a skyscraper and lands perfectly in the plane. That’s just impossible for me to even write in a sentence. Otherwise, I buy everything.

This is a well directed, well written, fun action movie that’s just as smart as any other film that’ll be nominated for Best Picture this year. Screw it. I’ll stand by it. This film is in my Top 5.

Dir Anthony and Joe Russo

4. The Imitation Game- This film is getting compared very closely to another British Awards Season favorite, The Theory of Everything. But if you had to pick one film to see, I’d say see this. This is one of my favorite actors, Benedict Cumberbatch, in full form. Now, granted, I think he is really excelling in roles where he’s alienated and confused by society but massively intelligent (cough Sherlock cough), but here he’s wonderfully engaging. Look at the scene when Charles Dance (cough Tywin Lannister cough) wants to shut off his machine. He’s so broken up because he’s in love with his work…among many other deeper levels. It’s wonderfully moving.

There are so many moments to call out but one in particular is a story I’ll share. Of course, towards two thirds of the movie, there is a climax. But at this moment, every character is so electric in their excitement to what is happening, I found myself in the theater thinking, “Wow…I could pee right now I’m so happy”. That’s weird. That’s never happened to me before. But the film made me so happy I could pee. So I guess go see it so you can pee too? I need to get away from this point.

Bottom line: This is a very visually-ordinary telling of a very exceptional story. That sums up my feelings. Everything about this movie is Top 5 worthy except for maybe the unremarkable or non-memorbale filming. When you look back at films such as Atonement (also starring Keira Knightley) or maybe The Kings Speech, those have shots that will stick out. Atonement has the long tracking shot or Keira Knightley in the water at the end. The Kings Speech is shot in extreme close-up with a damn fish-eye lens that works so well at making you feel as off as it’s lead. This is just…basic. But it doesn’t detract in any way from the film. Most people complain elements of the story are too glossed over. That might be right, but I give this a #4 spot because I believe all the good in the movie greatly exceeded anything I would change about it. You should just go see it. We’ll talk later.

Dir. Morten Tyldum

NOTE: Now I MUST say that, while I love all the movies on my list, the Top 3 this year are the ones I believe you MUST go see. Any one of these could have been my Number 1. But this is the ranking I will go with.

3. Whiplash- 

Well this movie gave me damn anxiety. Let it be known, JK Simmons in this movie is the best movie villain since Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds and should (and hopefully will) win Best Supporting Actor come Oscar night. What a scary role. Hell, I’d call this movie a horror movie. This is a main character being pushed by a teacher so far to the edge that he’s willing to destroy every relationship he has for his passion.

When this film took over Sundance, I knew I had to find a way to see it, and I’m so happy it’s finding an audience through this awards circuit. Who knew jazz music could be the basis for such heavy hitting drama!? Fletcher’s signature line is, of course, “There are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘Good Job’”. That’s his character in a line. I like any movie that can do that.

The ending is one of the best you’ll ever see this year. The way the camera pans from left to right is signature of the battle of Andrew and Fletcher as the music builds and builds. They are facing each other to see who can grasp the glory of what they love so deeply. This power struggle is absolutely outstanding.

Dir. Damien Chazelle

2. Birdman or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance- Man, do I love Michael Keaton. Ever since the “Descent Into Mystery” scene from Batman, or his other films I grew up with (Beetlejuice, White Noise, Jack Frost, Multiplicity, Much Ado About Nothing, Night Shift), I always chased his work. Well, director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu really slays this film with Keaton as his lead, giving him the best performance of his career. GIVE KEATON THE OSCAR.

I can’t imagine how much prep this film must have taken. This is shot like a play with no cutting back and forth but instead using all single takes throughout to make it almost feel completely flowing. There is no way you can do a bathroom break in this film. Birdman stops for no one!

The things I really want to point out are Edward Norton and Emma Stones performances because Keaton, of course as he should, will get most of the praise. Check out the “Truth or Dare” scene between the two. They are stand outs going back and forth together and I feel that scene encompasses their relationship perfectly. I only wish they didn’t drop off Edward Norton so quickly at the end but they had to go back to the films lead and give him the attention he deserved, so I’ll accept it.

The films ending has this kinda existential aura around it where you walk out and anyone could take anything from it. I walked with my friends to a pizza place right after and questioned them on the ending with this point….SPOILERS: Does the Keaton character A) Fly at the end B) Kill himself and it’s all a dream C) Who gives a shit? And I would go with choice “C” because really the ending isn’t the point of what we watched. The journey is where this film lies. It’s one of the best journeys at the movies you’ll take.

Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

1. Gone Girl – Yes. Gone Girl. This is certainly not at the top of anyone’s list this year. But I ask why? This was a high grossing film in October that many people connected to, especially those having read the book. Maybe it’s because I didn’t read the book and didn’t know where it was going. But this has so many turns and SO much drama told so well by the great David Fincher, how could you not want to live in this world for 2 hours? The first half is a straight up mystery that follows the title, “Where has this girl gone!?”. The second half will have you questioning all the motivations of the characters and where the moving is going, instead.

I can say, I never took my gaze away from the screen and never daydreamed throughout. I was hooked. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike are stellar. The cinematography is stellar. Everything about this gives me chills. And thank god we get another fantastic Trent Reznor score. I’ll see any film that’ll remind me of his Social Network music.

My favorite scene of the year is the big build up to the reveal towards the middle. The music rises as Ben Affleck walks over to his sister’s shed to reveal all the secrets we need to know. It hits and hits hard. Go see this movie. It’s in my Top 3 Best from Fincher and it’s my #1 of 2014.

Dir. David Fincher

Other Great Films to Watch from 2014 (in alphabetical order)

Frank

Into the Woods

Locke

Snowpiercer

Theory of Everything

Films I Still Need to See:

A Most Violent Year

American Sniper

Big Eyes

Selma

Unbroken

My Year End Awards:

Best Actor: Michael Keaton, Birdman

Bect Actress: Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl or Emily Blunt, Edge of Tomorrow/Into the Woods (to me, Pike gives the best performance but Blunt just had an amazing year)

Best Supporting Actor: JK Simmons, Whiplash

Best Supporting Actress: Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Worst Movie: Godzilla

Most Overrated Movie: Boyhood

Best Newcomer: Jenny Slate, Obvious Child

FINAL NOTE: I’m sure everyone is questioning why I put three superhero movies over the soon to be Best Picture Boyhood. And to that I say…

In the meantime, thank you so much for reading and I will see you again for my Oscar Predictions come February. Have a wonderful day, movie-lovers!

-Daniel

Napoli Predicts the Oscar Nominations

by Michael Napoli

It's almost here. Yes, the nominations for the 86th Academy Awards will be announced tomorrow morning (8:30 am ET/ 5:30 am PT). Some of the big questions of the award seasons will be answered? Which film will receive the most nominations? Will it be 12 Years a Slave or Gravity? Is American Hustle the one to watch? What will be surprising inclusions? What will be snubbed?

Many pundits, experts, and critics will all have their prediction ready on nomination morning. I will also be watching as well and I attempted to predict the nominations in all 24 categories. Let's hope I'm right.

The Best Films of 2013

by Michael Napoli

Let's take a moment and look back to the very beginning of the year. After creating my "best of 2012 list , I started probing the internet to see what 2013 will have in store. After a year like 2012, I thought that the year couldn't hold up. From face value, it seem that way with sequels, reboots, and remakes crowding the calendar. And of course, there were a few films that I heard about that looked promising, but nothing jumped out. I was preparing for a bland year. But oh, I love being wrong.  

What looked like being a very forgettable year, became one the strongest years of film that I've experienced as a movie goer. Heck, it surpasses 2012 in my book. When last year succeeded in  creating great Hollywood film, 2013 added onto that by giving some of the best culturally diverse films both independent and mainstream. American masters like Scorsese, Allen and the Coens are continuing to cement their mark on cinema. But most importantly, a new wave of filmmakers, (Chandor, Coogler, Nichols) are brushing new strokes in the art of filmmaking.

As we close the door on 2013, here are my picks for the very best films of 2013.*

Best Films of 2013 BAYLEY

TOP 10 of 2013 –BAYLEY

In 2013, many critics have come out and said this was one of the strongest years in recent memory for film for a number of reasons. It was not only one of the most lucrative years at the box office, but also one of the toughest years to decipher your favorites from this crop of strong performances and bold/original filmmaking. When a Best Actor race is being decided by strong performances from Ejiofor, Dern, McConaughey, Hanks, Dicaprio, Redford, Whitaker, Phoenix, Isaac, and Bale, while your lead actress contenders consist of great work from Blanchett, Bullock, Thompson, Streep, Dench, Exarchopoulos and Adams, you know it’s a special year.  So without further ado…

Below is the list of my TOP 10 Favorites of 2013.

Napoli's 2013 National Film Registry Submissions Part II

Written by Michael Napoli

Earlier this week, I posted my the first half of 50 films that I sent to the library of Congress that I would like to see preserved. Now, may I present the other 25 that I asked for recognition.

Napoli's 2013 National Film Registry Submissions

Written by Michael Napoli

Can you believe it? 2013 is coming to a close. After a long year, it's that time where we see countless “top ten” lists of the very best films. Critics and guilds will bestow their honors among the very best performances and technical triumphs. As much we like to root for our favorites to receive such honors, many a times there is always a chance of being snubbed, a term that the marketing department at any studio dreads to hear.

Now I will reveal my top ten list soon, but I want to focus my attention on another “top list” that I personally look forward to. It's a list that most film lovers tend to neglect. In fact, this is a list that has begun since 1989 and has continued to grow. I might even go as far to say it has become a library. I am talking about the National Film Registry.

Every year the United States National Film Preservation Board, established in 1988, names up to 25 “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films” for preservation. The films range in a wide variety of categories such as narrative feature, animated (short/narrative), experimental, documentary, etc. As of 2012, the registry holds 600 titles including greats like Citizen Kane, Star Wars, Toy Story, and 2001: A Space Odyssey along with unknown titles that worth checking out.

Unlike many of the critic's groups and guild awards, the Registry enforces the public to nominate 50 titles for consideration. The only eligibility is that the film be ten years old. I submitted my ballot back in March and with the 2013 entries to be announced within the next few weeks, I decided to share the 50 films I put on my ballot.