In My Stupid Opinion
What is the greatest movie ever? This is a question that hits near and dear to my heart because I love movies. I have seen many of them, made obscure references about them, quoted them at perfect moments, and quoted them at stupid moments. I have heard old and young get into many a quandary when asked this question. If you can’t answer this question, you aren’t being stupid or indecisive. The problem isn’t in you, the problem is in the question. You can have a favorite movie, but it may not be the greatest. To answer this question you have to throw away all bias, all opinion, all judgment, and just start from scratch. I’m actually not going to answer this question in this article, because honestly, I don’t know. But what I can do is tell you some of the opinions that other people have about what is the greatest movie ever. Who knows? You might even learn something.
James Schaser
Nomination: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
If you have ever heard me rant about movies (and I am deeply sorry to you if you have, I realize you probably don’t care and next time it happens you could just walk away and I probably would never notice) you have most likely never heard me talk about this movie. I have seen it many times, the first when I was around 10 with my father. I love this movie, and I think anyone who watches it would love this movie. I realize that I have had a different answer to this question in the past years (Shawshank Redemption), but there is just something so pure about Butch Cassidy. It was made in 1969 (same year as the moon landing, this movie is arguably more important), is about two hours long, and has all the makings of a great movie - great action, not too overdone romance, a very well done team up of two great actors (Robert Redford and Paul Newman), just the right amount of comedy, and easily quotable (Etta Place: Do you know what you're doing? Butch Cassidy: Theoretically.) Also, it is a Western, and you can’t go wrong with a Western. I’m not going to bore you with how good its cinematography was, but it is very good. All in all, maybe I forgot to throw away my opinions and bias, but even if you watch it and disagree that this is the greatest movie ever, I can almost guarantee it will become one of your favorites.
Jon Gamble
Nomination: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is my nomination for the best movie because it is one of the most watchable, enjoyable, and quotable movies of all time. This movie features a charismatic and fun high school senior of a main character, an entertaining curmudgeon of a best friend, and humorous villains in the sister and principal. It completely avoids being boring or hard to follow without being overly action-packed. With brains and a little luck, Ferris has the best day off in history as he avoids getting caught time and time again. It’s a movie that is so very pure and simple, and it’s just plain fun.
Ben Naumann
Nomination: Cinderella Man
There are many great movies out there, and many great boxing movies like Rocky I-IV (V and VI were garbage, but you still have to watch them), Creed, Southpaw, the list goes on. Now, Cinderella Man might not be the greatest movie of all time, but it definitely deserves your attention. The plot follows the true story of man named James J. Braddock (played by Russell Crowe), a heavyweight boxer who is part of the lower class, during the Great Depression. He fights mostly at bars to support his family, and because it’s what he loves to do. He seems like such a stand up guy and a man’s man, that you can’t help but root for him in the ring and grieve for him in his hard times. After a few fights, he starts to go big time and what does he do with the money? He pays it forward, back to the people who need it most. A man brought up from nothing and tossing mitts with the big boys, he truly was a Cinderella Man.
Prof Schierenbeck
Nomination: I would say Life of Pi, but then I found out it was about a tiger. (Yes, that is a math joke)
Prof Rodebaugh
Nomination: After having a 15 minute discussion on at least 30 movies, he came up with the conclusion that this question can’t be answered, but Jeremiah Johnson is a great movie.
Zach Thurow
Nomination: The Princess Bride
This movie is fantastic. Anyone who knows me knows that I love this movie with all my being. It’s full of action, romance, humor, subterfuge, danger, swordfights, poison, royalty, chases, torture… you name it, it’s in there. Besides the genius of the plot and the star-studded cast, it is, in my opinion, the most quotable movie of all time. My opinion is biased, of course, so go online and look up “most quotable movies of all time” and I guarantee you that this movie will be very high on the list. It’s a fantastic movie to watch with just about anyone and you can watch it over and over and over again and annoy your friends by saying every single line in the movie (which I have done). Besides, who doesn’t love a movie about a daring hero rescuing his “twoo wuv” from the clutches of an evil mastermind?
Faith Lillo
Nomination: Hacksaw Ridge
I’m putting this title on the table because I think it offers everything that’s great about movies: funny, action-packed, just a smidge of romance, and inspiring. It follows the true story of Desmond Doss, a World War II hero who refuses to shoot a gun yet saves 75 soldiers on Hacksaw Ridge as a combat medic. Desmond is impossible to hate; he’s just good to the core. Example: he falls for a nurse, then gets his blood drawn several times just to stumble through a conversation with her (and if that’s not true love I don’t know what is). The movie contrasts the good in Doss with the ugliness of war—real, honest, hard-to-watch ugliness. The credit for that realness is not entirely due to fake blood and cinematography. The actors (Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Teresa Palmer) truly bring the story to life. Before watching Hacksaw Ridge I steered away from war movies, thinking they weren’t my cup of tea, but this movie turned me completely around. You have to see it. Non-negotiable.
Prof. Lau
Nominations: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles; Slumdog Millionaire
Unfortunately, both of these, I believe, have an R rating. I have seen the cleaned up TV versions. Trains, Planes, and Automobiles is primarily a comedy, starring Steve Martin and John Candy, two people from different worlds trying to get home for the Thanksgiving holidays. It has a sentimental side too, as they go from enemies to close friends during their incredible journey together. Slumdog Millionaire traces the lives of three destitute kids from India and how their life experiences help one of them compete in the India version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” It has a little of everything, including great cinematography and music. It makes you want to cheer for the underdog and a happy ending.