Precious
Gabourey Sidibe delivered her breakout performance in this Oscar-winning drama. The film follows a teenaged girl in Harlem facing abuse and poverty at home whose life takes a major shift after she enrolls in an alternative school.
2Brokeback Mountain
Sure, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal starring as two cowboys in love might not have been the exact “representation” audiences felt was missing from mainstream cinema when this film came out. But, Brokeback Mountain proved to be a major turning point in queer Hollywood love stories. Beyond that, it’s just a really great film–with heart-wrenching performances from Ledger and Gyllenhaal, and a fantastic slow-burn plot captured by director Ang Lee.
3Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
With a quintessential Charlie Kaufman screenplay, and arguably the epitome of the manic pixie dream girl trope, this 2004 indie favorite feels like a relic in its own right. Katie Winslet and Jim Carrey star as two lovers who recruit the help of a mysterious service to aid in their forgetting of one another. And, underneath its meta plotline are some touching performances from the leading duo.
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4Dazed and Confused
A classic high school coming-of-age and a lasting cult classic, Dazed and Confused packs plenty of humor, heart, and tunes into this last-day-of-school saga. With an ensemble including such notables as Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Matthew McConaughey, and Renee Zellweger, Dazed and Confused is a must-watch as a celebrity time capsule in itself.
5Rear Window
No, not The Woman in the Window–or The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window. This Alfred Hitchcock psychological thriller starring James Stewart may just be as classic Hollywood as it gets. Stewart stars as a photographer who, while mending from an injury in his apartment, incidentally witnesses a murder while watching his neighbors through the window.
6Vertigo
Another Hitchcockian physcological thriller starring James Stewart, Vertigo follows an ex-detective who, after retiring due to an onset of vertigo, is hired as a private investigator. Known especially for its innovative cinematography techniques, Vertigo is now lauded as one of Hitchcock’s best works. Which … is a pretty stellar review.
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7The Hurt Locker
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and based on screenwriter Mark Boal’s experiences in embedded journalism, The Hurt Locker offers a unique take on the war film. Following an Iraq War Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team, shifts the focus from external combat to the internal effects of war on one’s psyche.
8Harriet
Directed by Kasi Lemmons, Harriet sees Cynthia Erivo take on the role of revolutionary abolitionist Harriet Tubman in this powerful biopic. Portraying Tubman’s life and work, especially as a conductor of the underground railroad, Erivo’s performance is especially poignant.
9Bridesmaids
You saw it. You loved it. You waited long enough to repress that dressing room scene, then watched it again. While Bridesmaids might now seem like the unofficial favorite of Saturday morning reruns on E!, there’s something undeniably golden about this ensemble comedy. With SNL heavyweights Kristin Wiig and Maya Rudolph leading a crew of comedy favorites like Melissa McCarthy, this tale of a down-and-out maid of honor is sure to offer a healthy dose of laughter and heartwarming friendship–no matter how many rewatches.
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10Scarface
No one does the gangster film genre quite like Al Pacino. And this iconic 1983 drama might just be one of Pacino’s best. This story of a rags to riches Miami druglord might be a bit intense for most audiences, but if you’re able to handle explicit scenes as rapid-fire as Tony Montana’s M16, then say hello to your next movie night’s little friend.
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