– Spencer Shortt
10. Chef
Iron-Man director Jon Favreau’s first outing as an indie filmmaker is one for foodies and movie lovers alike. Favreau stars as the lead Chef Carl Casper in this heartfelt story of family, perseverance and the dangers of impulsive tweets. Carl has his life swept out from under him when he mistakenly slanderously tweets about a local food critic, which leads him to leave his life as a traditional chef to run a food truck. Sophia Vergara and Dustin Hoffman provide solid secondary roles in this imaginative romp across America in Carl’s food truck: El Jefe.
9. The LEGO Movie
Who didn’t play with LEGO as a kid? With a sequel due out next year, The LEGO Movie is definitely worth a revisit. Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Parks and Recreation) voices the extremely lovable Emmett, a rule-following, no nonsense LEGO mini-figure in this comedic gambol though every eightyear-old’s LEGO shelf. Joining Emmett on his adventures are Batman (Will Arnett), Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) along with other memorable figures.
8. The Room
With a so-bad-it’s-good type of feel to it, Tommy Wiseau’s The Room is considered by many to be a masterpiece. With laughably horrendous acting, tortuous pacing and convoluted storylines that go absolutely nowhere (“I got the news. I definitely have breast cancer.”), The Room is impossible to watch without bursting out laughing. Definitely worth a look.
7. Rocky
The classic underdog tale. Easily Sylvester Stallone’s most memorable role, Rocky is one of those movies that you can’t help but love. Whether it be for the adorable titular Rocky sprinting his way through the streets of Detroit, the beautifully choreographed fight scenes, or the message of perseverance and independence, Rocky earns a position on this list.
6. Wonder Woman
In the last decade there have been nearly 50 superhero movies released to the big screen. The first wildly successful film in this genre featuring a female lead was Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman, with Gal Gadot (Fast 6) as the Princess of DC’s comic lineup. Hopeful undertones and triumphant action sequences will have you as excited as the entire r/DC subreddit is for the sequel, due out in 2019. The theme song will also forever be stuck in your head (seriously, the electric cello is badass).
5. Singin’ in the Rain
Would this list really be complete without a musical? Seriously? Gene Kelly’s definitive picture perfectly encapsulates the nostalgia of old-timey cinema. The song and dance numbers will forever be ingrained into your brain; I can guarantee you’ll be Singin’ in the Rain for weeks after your viewing.
4. Good Will Hunting
A movie about a janitor doing secret math. That’s about it. Robin Williams is pretty cool, too.
3. Aladdin
Speaking of the late Robin Williams, one could never feel better than after watching his definitive role as the Genie in the Lamp from Disney’s Aladdin. With a live-action reboot due out next year, definitely a classic worth revisiting.
2. Forrest Gump
Life is like a box of chocolates and so is this movie; sweet, beautifully packaged, not overly filling and brings grown men to tears after consumption (wait, you’re saying you don’t cry after eating chocolate?) Tom Hanks plays the oh-so-lovable Forrest Gump in this unforgettable story of love, persistence and Bubba’s famous shrimp recipes.
1. The Shawshank Redemption
Shawshank is one of those movies that’s impossible to not watch when it airs on TV. This film isn’t exactly what everyone would consider to be heart-warming, but it finds its way on the top of the list simply for Stephen King’s incredibly imaginative storytelling and because of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman’s unforgettable performances. The chemistry between the two actors as best friends should serve as an example to all of us – happiness and lifelong companionship is just a conversation away, even in the darkest of times.
Image courtesy of Medium
