THE TOP 100! ...again...?

Ok, it's been almost five years - time for me to reassess every movie I've ever seen and decide which ones I like the most, and then bravely share it to The Internet. 

Back in the 90s, this list would only exist on a physical piece of paper, and I'd only every show it to anyone who'd ask to see it. People rarely did (mostly because I didn't really advertise it), but that just resulted in a wholly honest list; I wasn't trying to impress anyone with my choices, nor was I courting controversy with any supposed "provocative" titles. It was just the stuff I liked, and I think I can say with a confident pride that every iteration of this list has only ever been that - despite the sobering experiences of stuff like Film School and Social Media. But, as I point out whenever I make my opinions public, any "pushback" I've ever received regarding my taste has invariably forced me into thinking more critically about why I like the things I like -- thereby sharpening my defenses against potential haters, but also providing me the opportunity to only fall more deeply in love with some of these films. 

This current list is certainly no exception to any of these regulations or hesitations. Very little change has occurred since the last one, but there are definitely some inclusions that would appear "questionable" or even downright antagonistic to someone who doesn't know me or this site. To the rest of you beautiful and enlightened readers, this will be business as usual.

I'm not sure how much I learned from this revision, but it is becoming apparent that my Top 50 is becoming less malleable over the years. Sad that nothing new (from the present or the past) has swooped in and dramatically shuffled the deck, but also comforting to have a reliable lineup of movies that so specifically and accurately represent my individuality and belief in personal freedom. But beyond the dependable "comfort" of longtime favorites, there's always a handful of exciting obscurities that have a freshness that's more exciting than some stale dependables that I know well enough that I can just watch them in my head. One consistent criterion I keep for these lists is "What am I excited to watch right now?" Today, these check that box.

- Paul

Full list on Letterboxd