The 10 movies in this list are the type of movies you have to watch before you die (as clichéd as that sounds). These movies have to be watched several times to be appreciated in a way it deserves to be. This list is a compilation of movies I myself found riveting, as well as movies that other people on campus think are worth watching. Here it goes:
1. The Truman Show (1998)
Truman Burbanks’ (Jim Carrey) life is a television show and everyone knows it, except Truman. This is the type of movie that will make you question your existence, which is one of the reasons it’s an absolute must watch.
2. Psycho (1960)
This movie is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s gems. Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is on the run after stealing $40 000. She checks into an isolated motel and that’s when sh*t starts to happen. After Marion’s disappearance, the private investigator hired to look into her disappearance, also disappears. The combination of excellent camera work, suspenseful music and an unpredictable ending work together to make Psycho one of the best movies I’ve ever watched.
3. The Green Mile (1999)
Tom Hanks stars in this movie as Paul Edgecombe, a death-row prison guard who meets John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a man convicted of murder. Coffey does not come across as a vindictive killer, and Edgecombe becomes convinced of his innocence. The movie blurs the lines between reality and fantasy as Coffey holds a supernatural power. The Green Mile is an uplifting and touching tale; an absolutely recommended movie.
4. Forrest Gump (1994)
I’ve watched Forrest Gump several times and it never fails to make me laugh and cry. The movie spans over a timeline of several decades and is about the life of an intellectually disabled man, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) and his life as a college student, a soldier in the Vietnam war, and life as a successful entrepreneur after the war. Across decades, Forrest remains in love with his childhood friend, Jenny (Robin Wright). This movie is long, but you won’t regret investing your time watching it. I’d recommend you get a blanket and some snacks, and prepare yourself for a heartwarming movie.
5. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Clarice Starling (Jody Foster) is a student FBI agent who is put on the case to solve the murders of several women. She tries to solve the murders with the help of Dr. Hannibal Lecter – a psychiatrist, psychopath and cannibal – who might help gain an understanding of the case from a killer’s perspective. This movie made me clench my teeth with suspension, I loved it!
6. Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club stars hunky Brad Pitt, so of course it is a must watch. When the narrator meets a soap salesman named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), the monotony of life drives them to start an underground fight club where other men who are bored with life fight with each other. Contrary to what one might assume, Fight Club is not just a bunch of fighting scenes. Fight Club also satirically delivers commentary on issues like consumerism, which is one of the reasons I added it to this list.
7. The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix is a science fiction movie about a man called Neo (Keanu Reeves) who is a computer programmer by day and a hacker by night. When Neo meets a man named Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), they are targeted by intelligent secret agents. The Matrix is another movie that will disrupt your idea of reality.
8. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of murder and is sentenced to life in Shawshank prison. The movie documents Andy’s life and experiences in prison and his friendship with Red (Morgan Freeman). Witty and profound, this is a movie I guarantee you’ll love. The reviewer Ian Nathan aptly noted that, “If you don’t love Shawshank, chances are you’re beyond redemption”.
9. Citizen Kane (1941)
A reporter tries to decode the last words of Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), a wealthy newspaper publisher. The quest to decipher the meaning of Kane’s final words, namely, “rosebud”, is told through a series of flashbacks. Citizen Kane is known for its film techniques and has even been called “revolutionary.”
10. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
What is a must watch classic movie compilation without a romantic movie? No, not Titanic. Beauty and the Beast is the tale of an arrogant prince who is cursed by an enchantress and turned into a beast, while his servants are turned into household objects. The beast is given a rose and is told that he will only regain his humanity if he learns how to love and if he is loved in return before the last petal falls. Beauty and the Beast beautifully depicts a love against all odds. There is also something satisfying about watching a happily-ever-after story.