Rear Window
Alfred Hitchcock
This 1954 film is considered to be one of Alfred Hitchcock's best films. James Stewart, plays a photographer in this movie who breaks his leg and is wheelchair-bound. He spends his time looking out of his rear window, watching the happenings in neighbouring apartments. As time goes by he becomes suspicious of a neighbour's activities. With the help of his nurse, Thelma Ritter and girlfriend Grace Kelly, he tries to solve the mystery. The whole film is shot from Stewart's house. A gripping, masterful suspense, Stewart's role which sees less action but plenty of emotion is worth watching.
E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial
Steven Spielberg
A science fiction film released in 1982 it portrays the relationship between a human boy and an alien named ET. Henry Thomas who plays as Elliot befriends an alien, left behind on Earth by his parents. Elliot along with his siblings tries to send ET back home. This movie was acclaimed as a timeless story on friendship and is a reminder that only children are capable of loving without reservation. Made at a time when film technology was still nascent, the film was nominated for nine Academy awards and won four of them.
Memento
Christopher Nolan
Memento, which was released in 2000 is a psychological thriller based on a short story Memento Mori written by Christopher's younger brother Jonathan. Guy Pearce suffers from short term memory loss but is determined to find his wife's murderer. The film begins with the end of the story. The story is in two sequences, one black and white, the other colour. The colour sequences in reverse chronological order, meet the black and white sequences in chronological order at the end of the film. The movie was acclaimed for its screenplay.
12 Angry Men
Sidney Lumet
Released in 1957, this film was adapted from a teleplay named the same. The entire film takes place in the jury room where 12 jurors debate on the guilt or innocence of a 18 year boy on the basis of reasonable doubt. At the beginning 11 jurors agree that the boy is guilty and Henry Fonda says that he has got doubt. So, they begin to debate and as time goes on the ratio begins to change. This film deals with the emotions of 12 different type of people, as they get frustrated due to the repeating arguments and the heat of the summer. Viewers can't stop admiring the presence of mind that Henry Fonda is shown to have in the film.
Fight Club
David Fincher
Starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, this 1999 film is based on the psychological problems faced by Edward Norton, an insomniac. After losing his house to an accident, he moves into Tyler Durden's (Brad Pitt). Together they start a global organisation, the Fight Club. The film portrays the relationship between Pitt and Norton beautifully and its stunning climax deserves mention. A truly revolutionary film.
Those that almost made it
A Beautiful Mind: Ron Harvard
Inception: Christopher Nolan
One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest: Milos Forman
Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock
The Hurt Locker: Kathryn Bigelow
The Terminator: James Cameron
(Karthick is a student of Mechanical Engineering based in Madurai. He is a cinema buff who enjoys watching English films in particular.)
