American Film Institute's Top Ten Movies of all Time

It seems appropriate that this entry is directly juxtoposed with the last entry. Recently the American Film Institute released its top 100 movies of all time. The list is good and full of movies that many of us, of a younger generation have not seen. So next time you go to the movie store and don't see anything worth renting go to the classic's section and watch some of them! The top ten list is great. I have seen most of the films on the list and agree that they are all brilliant. Citizen Kane was voted the top film of all time--and I couldn't agree more. It is really a fascinating story in light of the year it was made and the person who made it. The following is the Wikipedia write-up on Citizen Kane.

"Citizen Kane is a 1941 mystery/drama film released by RKO Pictures and directed by Orson Welles, his first feature film. The story traces the life and career of Charles Foster Kane, a man whose career in the publishing world was born of idealistic social service, but gradually evolved into a ruthless pursuit of power and ego at any cost. Narrated principally through flashbacks, the story is revealed through the research of a newspaper reporter seeking to solve the mystery of the newspaper magnate's dying word, "Rosebud."

Citizen Kane is often cited as being one of the most innovative works in the history of film. In 1998 and again in 2007 the American Film Institute placed it at number one in its list of the 100 greatest U.S. movies of all time. In a recent poll of film directors conducted by the British Film Institute, Citizen Kane was ranked number one best film of all time.[1]
The film's main character, Charles Foster Kane, was inspired by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.[2] Upon its release, mention of the film was conspicuously absent from Hearst's newspapers."

The Godfather is obviously great, Raging Bull is brilliant looking and Wizard of Oz is an amazing classic. I do feel that Schindler's List should have been number two instead of eight, and that Saving Private Ryan should have made the top ten instead of Raging Bull, but as I scan the top 100 it seems that what I have believed to be true for years is confirmed: Steven Spielberg is the best director in Cinema history. It looks like at least 8 movies of his made the top 100, maybe more. Here is to the making of good films!

1. Citizen Kane (1941)

2. The Godfather (1972)

3. Casablanca (1942)

4. Raging Bull (1980)

5. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

6 Gone With the Wind (1939)

7 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

8 Schindler's List (1993)

9 Vertigo (1958)

10 The Wizard of Oz (1939)