When the Lumiere brothers introduced moving pictures to a curious Parisian crowd in 1895, in all probability, they wouldn’t have had the means to gauge how their discovery would revolutionise the world of entertainment.
Today, motion pictures or more popularly cinema has become an inseparable part of human life. After all, who will let go of an opportunity to get lost on a dreamy, surreal journey? Cinema is the only space where your average Joe can afford an alter ego of a superhero.
Technical advancements enabled bewitching storylines. Characters who could speak and emote personalised the experience. The business end of the art has sparked unceasing debates over the best among the rest.
Opinions differ from person to person, but the view of a clear majority still has the last say. Based on a majoritarian and popular judgement,
The 6 best Hollywood movies of all time sans any ranking are:
The Godfather
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire
Based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling crime novel. Francis Ford Coppola and his team created a masterpiece yet to be surpassed. The trials and tribulations of a Mafia family, all the characters, and the legacy of the deeds came alive, and their story has enchanted viewers ever since.
Citizen Kane
Director: Orson Welles
Cast: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick
A frequent pick among the best cinema of all time. The film, produced, directed and starred by Orsen Welles, narrates the story of a media mogul’s life and ultimate fall.
Forrest Gump
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
The movie that fetched Hanks’ second Oscar in 1994 has become synonymous with the star. The movie traverses some of the most important events of modern American History told through the life of a simpleton.
Star Wars
Director: George Lucas
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
The movie changed the way we looked at the known universe. Lightsabres, Jabba the Hutt, Skywalker and Jedi have become the most recognized names. The multi-million-dollar franchise is still a name to reckon with. No wonder, we see a multitude of versions and adaptations every year.
Schindler’s List
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley
The black and white drama about the only Nazi Party member buried in Jerusalem and responsible for saving the lives of more than 1200 Jews at the height of the Second World War, won 7 Oscars in 1993, that includes the Best Picture and Best Director awards.
Casablanca
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
The romantic movie depicts a love triangle amidst the vagaries of the Second World War. The cinematography, shades, dialogues and the exceptional screen presence of lead actors, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman have made it a part of an unforgettable cinematic experience.