Another ten films on the top 1000 films of all time too traumatic to watch again

 On the list of the top 1000 films of all time there are plenty of films too upsetting, heart-break or downright traumatic for a rewatch. I've already done one list on the subject. Here's the second. This list is in no order but chronology.

The Wicker Man (1973)

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the original film - not the Nicholas Cage remake.

Some have said that the Wicker Man is one of the scariest horror films ever made and for good reason. It follows a policeman investigating the disappearance of a little girl on a remote Scottish island, but here he finds the residents practise an obscure form of paganism.

The ending scene where the residents gaily sing while the Wicker man effigy burns is so chilling that it warrants a place on this list. Modern-day folk-horror films like the Witch and Midsommar owe a lot to the pioneering Wicker Man. It ranks 620th on the top 1000 film list.

Mississippi Burning (1988) 

Mississippi Burning is 470th on the top 1000 films list. It is simple to dismiss America's fascination with race relations, as a perverse obsession, but when you watch this film it's easy to see why it's such a big deal.

Two FBI agents, played Wilhelm Dafoe and Gene Hackman, are investigating  the disappearance of three Civil Rights activists in a small Mississippi town. But the town's residents are horrifically racist to the town's black population. This racial violence is what makes this film so disturbing to watch - all the more so, when you realise it is all based on a true story.

American History X (1998)

Ranking at 37th, American History X is the highest ranked film on this list. It also highlights America's modern-day struggle with race relations.

Edward Norton plays a reformed neo-Nazi who is trying to stop his little brother going down the same route. It is a brutally upsetting film with the infamous curb-stomp scene making it too traumatic for a rewatch.

The Pianist (2002)

At 48, the Pianist is the second-highest film on this list.

Holocaust films are always a difficult watch. The Pianist is no exception. It is an unflinching look at one of humanity's darkest moments.

But it also has an Oscar-winning performance from Adrian Brody. Yet its unrelenting look at the depravity of humanity makes it too upsetting to watch again. This is particularly relevant, as it is based on a true story.

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Hotel Rwanda ranks 169th on the top 1000 films of all time.

From genocide in Europe, we go to the Rwandan Genocide where the Tutsi were systematically executed by the Hutu. We are a violent, self-destructive species.

However, in all this darkness, we see some hope in the form of the real-life Paul Rusesabagina who sheltered one thousand refugees in his hotel. There are some who question the true nature of heroism, but that doesn't take anything away from this brilliant if tear-jerking film. With great performances from Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo and Joaquin Phoenix, it even made me cry.

United 93 (2006)

Paul Greengrass' docudrama ranks 632nd on the top 1000 films of all time.

From heroism to Africa, we go to heroism in the US. More specifically heroism on 9/11. Yes, that 9/11. If you know anything about 9/11, you already know what this film is about. That's what makes this film so tragic.

It is a true tale of courage and valour, which is told powerfully. It's the only film on this list I've been brave enough to watch twice, but I'm definitely not brave enough to watch it for a third time. Now, let's take a moment to remember all the heroes on the United 93 flight.

The Kite Runner (2007)

Number 655 on the top 1000 films of all time is the Kite Runner.

Although not as traumatic as is source material, the Kite Runner is still a rough watch. It details an adult man returning to his childhood home of Afghanistan, so that he can right the wrongs of the past. However, Afghanistan has since been taken over by the Taliban and the country he knew has long gone.

If you're wondering why this film is so upsetting, it wasn't just the horrific stoning scene, but the complete loss of childhood innocence.

Incendies (2010)

Denis Villeneuve's drama ranks as number 160 on the top 1000 films of all time.

This film sees two siblings on a discovery of self-identity which has horrifying consequences for all involved.

I once said that Old Boy has one of the most shocking plot-twists of all time, but Incendies is a close second.

Set against the backdrop of the Lebanese Civil War, it's guaranteed to give you PTSD.

The Flowers of War (2011)

Clocking in at 674th on the top 1000 list, we have the Flowers of War.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: more people need to know about the Rape of Nanking. The Japanese massacred a Chinese city, shooting the men and raping the women.

The Flowers of War captures this horror in stark detail. It also looks gorgeous on screen. And it's certainly not style over substance. Along with Hotel Rwanda, it's one of the few films that made me cry. There are some who argue that Christian Bale, as a white man, had no business being in a Chinese story, but that takes nothing away from the excellent child actors or the terrifying social context.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

12 Years a Slave is the third-highest ranked film on this list at number 72.

Is there any wonder why 12 Years a Slave won the Best film Oscar? It is a fantastic if harrowing depiction of one of America's darkest periods.

With Chiwetel Eijofar giving the performance of his career, this film pulls absolutely no punches. Every time it raises your soul up, it then punches it back down.

Have I missed any films? Let me know in the comments below.

The Bucket List review

 Number 869 on the top 1000 films of all time is Rob Reiner's comedy-drama 'The Bucket List.'

The blue-collar mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) and the grumpy old billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) meet in hospital after both are diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. With only months left to live, the two embark on a trip to complete their own respective bucket lists.

This film had lots of potential. It had two great actors in the form of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Between them, they share four Oscars. It's a fun plot-line with plenty of opportunity for laughs and tears. And it was very funny. Jack Nicholson was very good as the grumpy, old, misanthropic billionaire. It might be a overly-familiar role for him, but he does it very well. Much of this humour comes from his constant abuse of his poor valet Thomas (Sean Hayes.) But Nicholson and Freeman had very good chemistry with the characters being polar opposites of each other. I may also argue Freeman is now type-cast as the wise, old mentor, but again he is always great.

Yet despite all this potential, the film felt very lacking. I feel like they could have done a lot more. Its runtime is just under one hundred minutes and it spends most of that on the beginning and the ending meaning that the middle is rushed. Considering the middle is the characters fulfilling their titular bucket lists, I was expecting much more. Some key character beats were reduced to a simple montage. There were lots of funny moments like Chambers and Cole sky-diving, but it felt like a very small, unimportant footnote. An extra half hour or even twenty minutes might have helped to bring things together more. 

Also what was with the awful CGI? Obviously I wouldn't expect Nicholson and Freeman to really be on top of the great pyramids of Giza, but I also wouldn't expect it to look so fake either. Maybe Reiner spent the film's budget on Nicholson and Freeman's salaries?

The Bucket List isn't a bad film per se. There are good performances and plenty of hilarious and heart-breaking moments. But they could have done a lot more than they did.

My top ten films of all time

 In 2015, I embarked on the challenge of watching the top 1000 films of all time. Six years later, I am sadly only 307 films into my quest, but I've watched enough to films to form my top ten list.

Most of these films I've only watched because of this list, but one or two of my all-time favourites have also slipped in. Apart from my number one film, which I'll save until last, this list is in no particular order.

The top ten list

City of God (2002)

One thing that I've loved about this challenge is that I've been able to witness the best that World Cinema has to offer. And City of God is undoubtedly the best. It tells the unflinching story of two boys growing up in the drug-fuelled favelas of Rio De Janerio. It is a brutal and painfully realistic look of how drugs can destroy somebody's life. Expect a roller-coaster that doesn't slow up for a minute.

Old Boy (2003)

Another classic of World Cinema. This Korean film is a revenge thriller focussing on Dae-su Oh who seeks vengeance on the man who locked him up for fifteen years. Brimming with gorgeous Korean proverbs, this film will keep you guessing all the way to the shock ending which is one of the biggest twists in movie history.

Rang De Basanti (2006)

We've come to the realm of Indian cinema. 3 Idiots was a close second but Rang De Basanti edges it for the sheer power of its narrative. Following the story of a British film maker who is producing a documentary about early leaders of Indian independence, this film will have you laughing, crying and everything in between. Sure there are a lot of musical numbers, but what else can you expect from Indian cinema?

The Hunt (2002)

Onto an absolutely fantastic Danish film. Lukas (Mads Mikkleson) is a school teacher falsely accused of sexually abusing one of his students. A witch-hunt ensues and the whole town turns against him. In a film where truth and lies merge into one, you'll be on the edge of your seat. This outstanding film blew me away.

Full Metal Jacket (1987) 

Forget The Deer Hunter or Apocalypse Now, Stanley Kubrick blew every other war film out the water with his brutal portrayal of the Vietnam War. Full Metal Jacket left me in absolute awe. From Vincent D'Onofrio to Lee R Ermey to Adam Baldwin, this film is littered with acting talent. Some might say that the film is unbalanced and mismatched, but I think the two halves compliment each other beautifully. A must-see.

Her (2013)

Finally we're onto a film with slightly more happy subject matter. I say slightly as Her will still be tugging at your heart strings. Rom-coms aren't my thing which is why Her surprised me so much. Subverting the genre with a science-fiction twist, Her tells the story of lonely divorcee Theodore Thwombly (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with an operating system voiced by Scarlett Johanson. With much to say about the importance of human connection, Her  is a very underrated film.

Three and Out (2008)

Speaking of underrated, we come to the Indie British black comedy Three and Out. Panned by audiences and critics alike, I must be the only person in the world who would put Three and Out, on a top ten list, but I am. Paul Callow is a train driver/writer who wants nothing more than to leave the hustle-bustle of London and write on an island. When he runs two people over with his train, his colleagues tell him that if he runs over a third person, TFL will pay him off with ten years wages. Ensue hilarity and heartbreak as Paul tries to find his third victim. Mackenzie Crook, Colm Meaney, Imelda Staunton and Gemma Arteton all turn in winning performances. But perhaps this film is an acquired taste.

The Full Monty (1997)

I have never officially reviewed this film as I watched it long before I started this challenge. However, it remains one of my favourite films ever. Having won the Bafta for the best film in 1997, this movie was adored by many. We follow a bunch of former steel workers and layabouts becoming strippers in the hopes of improving their lives. While the premise might sound spurious, the execution is anything but. The Full Monty tackles themes like masculinity, father-son relationships and suicide in powerful ways. Tom Wilkinson and Mark Addy are great in supporting roles, but can we all agree that Robert Carlyle is one of the best actors that Scotland has ever produced?

Snatch (2000)

Out of all these films, Snatch is the one film I could watch over and over again. A fantastic crime-caper, Snatch will have you laughing in the aisles. We see two interlinking narratives: one follows boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham) as he navigates the criminal underworld, but we also see every gangster in London trying to get their hands on a rare diamond. Snatch is one of the most quotable films ever with brad Pitt offering his most unlike-Brad Pitt performance ever, as the Gypsy bareknuckle boxer Mickey O'Neil. Bloody hell, does he do that Irish accent well?

The Godfather (1970)

Finally, we have reached my number one film of all time. What can I say about this film which hasn't been said already? Everybody knows Nino Rota's magnificent score, they know Marlon Brando as mafia don Vito Corleone, his son Michael as his reluctant protege, played by Al Pacino. This film reignited Hollywood's fascination with the mafia. At three hours long it is paced brilliantly with every shot pushing forward the narrative. It is not just the best gangster movie of all time, but the best film of all time. After all, it was the subject of my ten-thousand word dissertation. Let's just not talk about the Godfather part three.

Honourable Mentions

I've watched too many great films to not include at least a few honourable mentions. These are all great films in their own right, but not quite good enough to scratch the top ten.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Originally RFAD was in my top ten but I demoted it because it's too upsetting to watch again. Amazing for sure, but too heartbreaking for repeat viewings. Charting the self-destruction of four drug addicts in New York, RFAD is the best anti-drug PSA you'll ever see with a killer theme tune and fast-paced editing. Watching this film gave me the best high but with an absolutely awful come down.

The Princess Bride (1987)

This subversion of the traditional fairy-tale still stands up even after thirty years. with so many quotable scenes and iconic characters, the Princess Bride will have you rolling in the aisles and reaching for the tissues. Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Andre the Giant...the amazing cast goes on and on. And who can forget one of the most quoted film lines ever: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

Mary and Max (2009) 

This Australian stop-motion, claymation dramatic comedy absolutely blew me away. I've never heard of it before, but it was simply fantastic. I've never seen anything like it before or since. Following the unlikely relationship of the two titular characters, this film is pure arthouse. If you're looking for something completely different, a movie with offbeat humour, a unique visual style and the most haunting rendition of Que Sera Sera, Mary and Max is the film for you.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

I watched this film once many years ago and it was too upsetting to watch again, hence why there is no review. I've grown up on Studio Ghibli, so one of their films had to make an appearance on this list.  Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro were also in the mix, but Grave of the Fireflies is undoubtedly the best. Set in the twilight days of WW2 Japan, we watch a teenage boy and his little sister desperately try to survive the war. When you watch this, make sure you have the tissue box handy.

Untouchable (2011)

This French feel-good comedy drama rounds off my list nicely. I rewatched it the other day and it was still as magical as ever. Following the story of quadraplegic billionare Philippe and his unconventional carer Driss, this film holds a special place in my heart because of my own work as a carer. The anti-climactic ending is the only thing that stops it from going on my top ten.

So there we have it. My top ten films with a few HMs. But with 693 films left to watch, this list is far from being set in stone. Watch this space.