36. Fargo (1996)
Logline: Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) hires a duo of henchmen (one, the genius Steve Buscemi) to murder his wife. The job is severely bungled, though, and a pregnant police cop–Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand)–is determined to solve the crime.
Memorable Moments: The final scene when Marge is transporting the surviving kidnapper, Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare)—and proceeding her line as noted below—emotionally states <Cue poignant instrumentals> “I just don’t understand it.”
Why People Love It: Many (like us) get a kick outta Fargo for the characters’ funny ‘Northern Interior’ accents; others love it because the cast (chiefly McDormand, Macy, and Buscemi) lends performances that set the benchmark for the genre.
Best Quote: Marge (Frances McDormand): “So that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper……And those three people in Brainerd. And for what? For a little bit of money. There’s more to life than a little money, you know. Don’tcha know that? And here ya are, and it’s a beautiful day. Well. I just don’t understand it.”
35. The King’s Speech (2010)
Logline: The story tells how the father to Queen Elizabeth II, King ‘Bertie’ George VI (Colin Firth), became King after the rightful heir to the throne relinquishes power; thus, the next-in-line George VI (however disinclined) takes throne. But hampered by a speech impediment, he seeks council in speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).
Memorable Moments: One of the great (wacky, even comical) scenes—and bits of it are in the official trailer—comes when Lionel is teaching ‘speech mechanics King “Bertie” George.
Why People Love It: The King’s Speech is a film in which the audience can actually share rapport with its lead character, instead of only sympathy.
Best Quote: Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) & King George VI (Colin Firth): LL: “How do you feel?” G VI: “Full of hot air” LL: “Isn’t that what public speaking is all about?”
34. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Logline: Fearing that Colonel Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando) and his unit have gone rogue and are killing random NVA and Viet Cong members in neighboring Cambodia, Captain Willard and team are secretly commissioned to find and execute the renegade Colonel.
Memorable Moments: In somewhat of a turning point, Captain Willard witnesses stake-mounted human heads near Colonel Kurtz’s camp, basically removing all doubt of his insanity.
Why People Love It: Similar to the seedy and no-holds-barred Full Metal Jacket flick, Apocalypse Now is one haunting, visceral film about one of the most controversial wars ever, The Vietnam War.
Best Quote: Capt. Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheen): “Someday this war’s gonna end”. That’d be just fine with the boys on the boat. They weren’t looking for anything more than a way home. Trouble is, I’d been back there, and I knew that it just didn’t exist anymore.”
33. Vertigo (1958)
Logline: San Franciscan Detective Scottie (James Stewart) is hired to spy on an old friend’s estranged wife, Madeleine. However, much to the detriment of his sanity, she lives in a high-rise building and he’s…well, acrophobic. What’s worse, she appears a bit loony.
Memorable Moments: Ultimately, the bizarre, entire second-half of the movie that unfolds after Scottie saves Madeleine from suicide.
Why People Love It: Very few dispute Hitchcock’s firm grip on the thriller/suspense genre of decades-past. Vertigo is a highly-stylized thriller and is oft considered one of Hitchcock’s best, most shocking flicks.
Best Quote: Tom Helmore (Gavin Elster): “Scottie, do you believe that someone out of the past–someone dead–can enter and take possession of a living being?”