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Who needs professionals when you’ve got amateurs making these lists?

Now, in the last few weeks, Entertainment Weekly and the AFI have taken it upon themselves to give us Best Films lists. AFI did the Ten Best Films in different genres (Westerns, Gangsters, Drama, etc.) and EW did the 100 Best Films of the last 25 years. I was so inspired/incensed by these lists and their omissions/inclusions that I HAD to take it upon myself to put up my own list. I had 125 at the beginning, but then I whittled it down to The Top 100 Films of the last 25 years… plus some runners up.

Bear in mind, they are in no particular order in this installment. Once we get to the Top 25, those will be still be arbitrarily numbered, but those will be closer to the top of my list.

First, the Runners-Up:

-SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER, AND UNCUT
Probably the best animated movie musical of all time.

-MANHUNTER
Brian Cox is still the best on-screen Hannibal Lecter.

-CLOSER
Everyone gives a pitch-perfect performance, even Julia Roberts.

-THE 40-YEAR OLD VIRGIN
Judd Apatow’s one and only truly excellent film. Paul Rudd is probably one of the best supporting comedic actors ever.

-EMPIRE OF THE SUN
Proving again that Spielberg can spot incredible talent, even in a 12-year old Christian Bale.

-BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA
Big gonzo action fun. It doesn’t age very well, but you still have to love it.

-METROPOLITAN
Whit Stillman’s brilliantly funny expose’ of the teen bourgeois in Manhattan. I love Chris Eigeman.

-KICKING AND SCREAMING
Not the Will Farrell lame-o, but Noah Baumbach’s hilarious and heartfelt tribute to the post-college crises felt by many of us.

-SERENITY
God, this film just kicks an inordinate amount of ass. Just like the show, but even better.

-SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW
This film gets better with each viewing. Inventive, wonderfully nostalgic, and the visuals just pop.

And now, the Top 100, which, to reiterate, is in no particular order, because that’s just too difficult for one man, but they will be numbered only so that I can keep track of them. Tonight’s list will include 95 - 51. What happened to the other five, you may ask? They will be saved for last.

95. FIELD OF DREAMS
The Ultimate Father-Son film, and James Earl Jones just rocks.

94. MISSISSIPPI BURNING
“What has four I’s and can’t see?” This film REALLY answers that question with a rock-solid cast and Alan Parker’s raw filmmaking power and the one of three films he’s got here.

93. LA FEMME NIKITA
Luc Besson’s introduction to the world of the ‘cleaner’. Parrilaud, Anglade, Karyo and best of all… Reno.

92. THE ENGLISH PATIENT
A romantic mystery disguised as an epic. I’ll miss Anthony Minghella a lot.

91. PLATOON
Still the best Stone film and the best of the Vietnam films. The second half of FULL METAL JACKET can kiss my ass.

90. SIN CITY
The best comic-to-film ever made, with one of the greatest ensemble casts ever assembled.

89. AMERICAN BEAUTY
Wes, we barely knew ye.

88. TRUE ROMANCE
Another great ensemble, with one of the greatest dialogue scenes in cinematic history. You know the one. Who knew Tony Scott had it in him?

87. RADIO DAYS
As much as I love BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and HANNAH AND HER SISTERS, this is the Woody Allen film that goes on this list.

86. TRADING PLACES
The best example of what a great comedic actor Eddie Murphy WAS, and the last GREAT film by John Landis, whose career died along with Vic Morrow.

85. HOUSE OF GAMES
This was a tough choice between this and SPARTAN, but this film wasn’t only David Mamet’s debut as a filmmaker, but it’s also his best.

84. THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
Still the most thrilling film ever made about seamen. John McTiernan really had a great run for a few years and this is the first of three of his films on this list.

83. OLDBOY
This film is essentially a frickin’ Louisville Slugger right in your face and it shatters every bone in it. Absolutely remarkable.

82. A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
Cronenberg continues to prove he’s the best Canadian filmmaker of all time, and a great example of how a film can be better than a book… even a comic book.

81. X2: X-MEN UNITED
A comic book film where the story within plays better than it did in the actual comic.

80. SIXTEEN CANDLES
Proof that you can make a smart and successful teen comedy without every other word being in the Apatow vein of extreme vulgarity. The Geek Abides.

79. SCREAM
The revitalization and regeneration of a nearly-doomed genre: The Teen Horror. But which came first, The Williamson or The Whedon?

78. GOOD WILL HUNTING
Proof that Ben Affleck will always be better behind the camera than in front of it. And his little brother has about fifty times his charisma without looking half as handsome.

77. THE EXORCIST III
The exception that proves the rule that horror sequels have to suck. The hallway scene still gives me the heebie-jeebies.

76. MOONSTRUCK
Yes, Cher stole the Oscar from Holly Hunter that year only so that Holly could win one a few years later for a far inferior film, but that’s besides the point. It’s still the greatest film about an Italian family’s dynamics that doesn’t have gunplay in it.

75. WITNESS
“4:30. Time for milking.” Why Harrison didn’t win the Oscar for this amazing film is beyond me. Oh, yeah… William Hurt in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. You shoulda played John Book gay, Harry.

74. ROBOCOP
One of the greatest Sci-Fi actioners ever, and one of the most horrific bad guys in cinema history: Clarence Boddicker. “Bitches: leave.”

73. THE IRON GIANT
If the climax doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, you have a dead, dead heart. Probably the last great hand-drawn animated film ever.

72. ROMANCING THE STONE
Remember when Kathleen Turner was still sexy, Michael Douglas still had charisma, and Danny DeVito was still hilariously funny? The best Adventure-Comedy of all time and the first of three Zemeckis films on the list.

71. THREE KINGS
Spike Jonze is a better actor than he is a director. Slam-bang satire/commentary/action.

70. THE BIG CHILL
Tom Berenger as a mediocre actor is truly inspired casting. This film may be dated, but it still works to this day.

69. THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT
I would have NEVER thought that someone like Courtney Love could have given such a great performance. Thanks to Milos Forman for finally bringing out what Woody Harrelson always had in him.

68. STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT
Well, WRATH OF KHAN was made over 25 years ago. But this film is absolutely the second-best of the TREK films. Patrick Stewart is just awesome in this film. It’s an actual performance instead of another sci-fi performance.

67. THE BOONDOCK SAINTS
It came totally under the radar and bombed the living crap out of us. Who could EVER forget the visual of Willem Dafoe in drag frenching that fat dude?

66. REAL GENIUS
Easily one of the most quotable films ever. “Because if I wear it anywhere else, it chafes.” A smart comedy about smart people.

65. MILLER’S CROSSING
A 30’s Gangster Noir come to vibrant, colorful life. The best the Coen Brothers will ever have to offer.

64. JEEPERS CREEPERS
If Clive Barker ever made a great horror film, this would be it. A real heart-stopper of a monster movie. Who’d a thunk?

63. THE SURE THING
The first of three Rob Reiner films on this list. He really had something going for a while. Another amazingly quotable film. “I went to Paris once with my wife. Boy, am I glad she’s dead.”

62. THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
It’s an amazing thing when a film that is supposedly blasphemous actually assists your belief in God. And you got to love Harvey as Judas.

61. TOY STORY
I don’t want to get all critic-y here, but this is one of the most imaginitive films ever made. It transcends its genre. For around 90 minutes, this film makes you a kid again.

60. RAINMAN
It’s rare that an obvious Oscar-bait studio film actually works on this level of greatness.

59. OUT OF SIGHT
The first of (count ‘em) five Soderbergh films on this list. Clooney and Cheadle rock this film so hard. It’s also the only really great and sexy performance by J.Lo. “32? Out of what, 20?”

58. DARK CITY
Super-imaginative. Super-exciting. Super-innovative. The only real heir-apparent to BLADE RUNNER in the category of Sci-Fi Noir. Maybe if Alex Proyas had the same budget for THE CROW, Brandon might still be alive.

57. PREDATOR
If you watch this film closely, you will see a very existential moment. Seriously.

56. THE COMMITMENTS
You never saw any of these people before and with the exception of Colm Meaney, you never saw them again. But with the aid of Alan Parker, you sure as hell never forget them.

55. RONIN
I still think they should have brought Sean Bean back at the end as part of the ploy, but this movie is basically what a spy/techno-thriller film should feel like. Despite the awfulness of REINDEER GAMES, I’m really missing John Frankenheimer.

54. FORREST GUMP
It’s popular to hate this film because it’s so uncool in comparison to its 1994 Oscar opposition, but this is really a great film.

53. HAMLET (1990)
Mel Gibson gives the Melancholy Dane fury, passion, intensity and… well, melancholy. Franco Zefferelli’s finest work.

52. LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
A great start to a good trilogy. Why is it that the third film almost always falls short? Why?

51. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY
I actually agree with everything that EW said about this film, and how it extended the mythology of the story, and gave us cutting-edge tech that still works today. “Say… that’s a nice bike.”

COMMENT AWAY on this list! Invite your friends! Seriously! This requires healthy and unhealthy debate alike!

I will be back tomorrow with 50-26. Until then, as a few hints, we’ve got films from Friedkin, Mann, Fincher, and… Joanou? Yes. And more!