What better way to kick things off than with a High-Fidelity-style Top 5 list? Below are my all-time favourite films.

5. Duck Soup

This entry can be attributed more to emotional attachment than cinematic quality. Still, while not in the same league as Citizen Kane or Casablanca and obviously flawed, Duck Soup is a landmark of 1930s comedy, distinguishing itself from the Marx Brothers’ other films by its satiric tone. This is the vaudevillians’ shenanigans at their best.

4. Sunset Boulevard
Although it is certainly not the first film about films, Sunset Boulevard portrays the darker side of Hollywood with cynicism that contrasts with the glamour with which the entertainment industry presented itself in the 1950s (with such films as Singin’ in the Rain and White Christmas). Billy Wilder’s sinister noir captures the dwindling sanity of Norma Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson, in a role not unlike herself), whose despair is cruelly captivating.

3. Annie HallThe original po-mo rom-com*. Woody Allen avoids the usual Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope (that of underdeveloped female characters existing solely for the males’ benefit and character development) so present in male-perspective examination of relationships. He does so by giving both characters substance in the form of personality traits and issues independent of each other. Moreso than any of the director’s other films, Annie Hall makes full use of its format, experimenting with non-linearity, animation and even Verfremdungseffekt, or “breaking the fourth wall”, a post-modern device elaborated by playwright Bertolt Brecht but only popularized more recently.
*post-modern romantic comedy

2. Rear Window
Through an apartment window, Hitchcock creates an intricate microcosm in what was at the time Paramount’s largest indoor set. Perhaps not the scariest Hitchcock film, it is nevertheless suspenseful and spellbinding, from the first shots of the courtyard to the final showdown between voyeur and criminal. In addition to James Stewart’s cranky charm and Grace Kelly’s infinite elegance, Rear Window stands out thanks to its incredible set, gorgeous costumes and ubiquitous soundtrack of the city.

1. The Godfather
This film is as close to perfection as possible. Nino Rota’s iconic score, the dramatic cinematography of Gordon Willis, the amazing performances, and the oft-imitated but yet unrivalled baptism sequence all contribute to making Coppola’s film a masterpiece. Displaying unusual depth for the gangster genre, The Godfather never feels long despite its three-hour runtime, and never gets old despite numerous viewings.