96. Dobermann
Year: 1997
IMDB rating: 6.5
Awards: –
The Story: A ruthless and charismatic criminal who goes by the name of Dobermann leads a crazy bunch of criminals in a life of robbery and violent attacks. They are hunted down by a similar sadistic cop who has only one goal: catch Dobermann with any cost, no matter what lives fall along the way.
Why is it on the list: Because this is one French movie which erases everything you know about French cinema. Because it is dark and disturbing, with both physical and psychological abuse and violence displayed with no shyness. Because Vincent Cassel makes an incredible powerful role, only matched by Tcheky Karyo, who plays the heartless cop. It is not recommended for the emotional audience and has at least two memorable scenes that can make even the cynical ones shiver. Not to mention you have a Prodigy soundtrack, the directing is brilliant and Monica Bellucci is more beautiful than ever.
Quintessential quote: “Welcome to reality baby.” (Inspecteur Cristini)
97. Memento
Year: 2000
IMDB rating: 8.6
Awards: 2 Oscar Nominations
The Story: We have a man who can’t build new memories, while trying to find out who murdered his wife, as she is the last thing he remembers. In order to gather clues, he writes everything he finds out on his own skin. But the story unfolds on two different planes, a present line and a back in time line, which intertwine in order to understand what really happened and where the truth will eventually lead.
Why is it on the list: This is a highly appreciated movie still, which played a very interesting concept, of an amnesia trying to be kept under control, while the main character struggles to find out a truth he only holds through bits and glimpses of reality. Because you can never know who’s friend and who’s foe and the story leads you into a world of deception, conning and lies. Because it is a reference movie in the mystery / thriller genre which was new and original back then and still is right now. Better, newer movies were made exploiting the idea, but nobody can state that this one wasn’t one of a kind in its times.
Quintessential quote: “She’s gone. And the present is trivia, which I scribble down as fucking notes.” (Leonard Shelby)
98. Avatar
Year: 2009
IMDB rating: 7.9
Awards: 3 Oscar Awards
The Story: Welcome to the future, when humanity exploits resources on other alien worlds. A dispatched Marine officer travels to the station on the moon Pandora to become part of a mission. However, what he finds there is more than an alien civilization.
Why is it on the list: It’s Cameron’s comeback, for once. It is been said to be a re-tale of the story of Pocahontas in a science-fiction world. It had a copyright issue and some controversy surrounding it. It is a love story which we all have seen before. But the reason this movie is on the list is because the special effects used and created, because of the scenery involved and because it had a major impact on the public. It also represents a step forward in cinematography and its development, as the technology used was at its peak at that time. Because it’s worth watching, even now, if you want to get blended in a surreal world where anything is possible.
Quintessential quote: “The Sky People have sent us a message… that they can take whatever they want. That no one can stop them. Well, we will send them a message. You ride out as fast as the wind can carry you. You tell the other clans to come. Tell them Toruk Macto calls to them! You fly now, with me! My brothers! Sisters! And we will show the Sky People… that they cannot take whatever they want! And that this… this is our land!” (Jake Sully)
99. The Butterfly Effect
Year: 2004
IMDB rating: 7.7
Awards: –
The Story: Evan Treborn was a child with a bad childhood history who suffers from blackouts, only to wake up confused and not knowing where he is. As time passes and he reaches adulthood, the blackouts seem to have stopped, until one day he finds his old black out journal and what memories finds there, they hit hi hard, as memories and present moments start to intertwine, as Evan tries to change some wrongs from the past.
Why is it on the list: Because you need to see it more than once to grasp the magnitude of its depths and messages. Because it is a thriller like few thrillers have been done before, exploiting the chaos theory and the causality of events and their impact on a child’s life. Because it makes you hope for the best and fear the worst, while the ending is puzzling and somewhat discomforting in its essence. Because it makes you wonder if you can decide between fate and free will and because it leaves you thinking days in a row.
Quintessential quote: “You can’t play God son” (Jason Treborn)
100. SAW
Year: 2004
IMDB rating: 7.6
Awards: –
The Story: Two men find themselves in a dirty, abandoned bathroom with a corpse lying between them, each chained by the ankle to a pipe. They have to play a death game, put in motion by the Jigsaw Killer and only one of them will survive the tasks.
Why is it on the list: Because it made a riot back in the day, throwing the viewer directly into the action, with no warning and no mercy. Because it was original as a concept and the acting and directing did a great job transmitting to the public the feeling of hopelessness, despair and terror. It is an intense movie, extremely complex, with deep meanings and messages and even if the subsequent franchise didn’t prove itself so brilliant, the first movie in the series did exactly what it was meant to do: keep you frightened, guessing and pondering on human nature. The ending shocks even now and releases a unique, visceral, deadly vision on human horror.
Quintessential quote: “Live or die, make your choice” (John)
Did we forget something? Are there any movies that deserved to be listed here and weren’t mentioned? Do you like to make your own list? Comment below and let everybody know what you think!