My criterion for calling a film as great is its impact on the viewer or society. If a film does not have any impact, then it may be good business but it’s not a good film. When the viewer walks out of the cinema, the film must not stay behind. It must not be linear. It must communicate with the viewer on multiple levels. The straight-line story at the surface must have deeper layers and subliminal messages. A film must have a quote; something that becomes its identity and makes it eternal.
The following films are not listed in any order. These are generally the 10 films that I enjoyed the most.
1. Instinct (1999)
Director: Jon Turteltaub
It’s the story of an American anthropologist, Ethan Powell (Anthony Hopkins), who chooses to leave society and live among animals. He is arrested for murder and since he has chosen not to speak, he is assigned a psychiatrist, Theo Calder (Cuba Gooding Jr.). The film rocks and if you have a quiet evening, grab a bag of popcorn and watch it. It can change your life.
Quote:
Theo Calder: Ok Ethan. You asked me a question once, "What has you all tied up in knots when you wake up sweating in the middle of the night?" You still wanna know? I've been thinking about it, been thinking about it a lot. It's not the work, I love the work. I've always loved the work. It's the game. The game, Ethan. And I was so good at it. I made sure all the right people liked me. At night, I'd go through the checklist in my mind: Am I cool with Ben Hillard? Am I cool with Dr. Josephson? Am I cool with all the people who can help me? Am I cool with all the people who can hurt me? Nobody thought I was weak or a loser. There was nobody I was offending, nobody I loved. *That* game, Ethan. But guess what? You taught me how to live outside of the game. You taught me how to *live*. And you know what scares me even more? That I'm going back in. "Forgive me, Ben. Put me back in the game. I'll make you like me again. I'll do the work, I'll do *all* the work, just put me back in the game." And you wanna know, you wanna know the psychology behind this? Now, pay attention, cause I'm good at this. I'm trying not to say goodbye to you. I'm trying not to say I'll miss you. I'm trying to forget you. Ethan Powell, case closed. *Case closed*. Look at me. .
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 Steven Spielberg movie starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore and what a movie it is! I doubt there is anyone who has not seen this movie but if you were on Mars for the last 25 years, do watch this film. The graphics, the message ... experience it! My favourite exchange from the film:
Captain Miller: This Ryan better be worth it. He'd better go home and cure some disease or invent a longer-lasting lightbulb or something. 'Cause the truth is, I wouldn't trade 10 Ryans for one Vecchio or one Caparzo.
Sergeant Horvath: Amen.
3. Vertical Limit (2000)
Director: Martin Campbell
It’s a film about family, about how we choose to stand with each other despite all the odds. The film has no negativity for anyone and portrays Pakistan and Islam in a positive light. My favourite line from the film:
Cyril Bench: One hundred thousand sperm and you were the fastest?
4. The Patriot (2000)
Director: Roland Emmerich
The film is about family and values. It is a film of courage and grandeur and for standing up for your beliefs. My favourite line from the film:
Anne Howard: Half the men in this church, including you, father... and you reverend, are as ardent patriots as I. Will you now, when you are needed most, stop at only words? Is that the sort of men you are?
5. 3 Idiots (2009)
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
This film has so many layers and communicates with the viewer on so many levels. It fundamentally challenges our beliefs and forces us to alter them. My favourite line from the film:
Raju Rastogi: Sir, I have learnt to stand up on my feet after having broken both my legs. This attitude has come with great difficulty. No sir, I can’t. You may keep your job, and let me keep my attitude.
6. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Director: Michael Mann
This is an absolutely fantastic film with a haunting soundtrack and a story of love, action, freedom, respect and courage. My favourite exchanges from the film:
British Officer: You call yourself a patriot, and loyal subject to the Crown?
Hawkeye: I do not call myself subject to much at all.
Duncan: And who empowered these colonials to pass judgement on England’s policies, and to come and go without so much as a “by your leave”?
Cora Munro: They do not live their lives “by your leave”! They hack it out of the wilderness with their own two hands, bearing their children along the way!
Duncan: You are defending him because you've become infatuated with him!
Cora Munro: Duncan, you are a man with a few admirable qualities, but taken as a whole, I was wrong to have thought so highly of you.
7. Star Wars series
Creator: George Lucas
Star Wars is a trendsetter, a cult series with millions of followers even today. It is a film that fascinated the society. It is basically about freedom where a small group has the courage to stand up to The Empire. Who is not aware of the iconic line: “May the force be with you.”
8. Waar (2013)
Director: Bilal Lashari
I recommend Waar because it started Pakistan’s commercial cinema. There are so many places where one may differ with the film but there is no denying the fact that when the history of Pakistani film industry will be written, Waar will be declared a new chapter in it.
9. Actor in Law (2016)
Director: Nabeel Qureshi
Actor in Law is a fun film that is very well done. Although the film is linear and does not communicate at multiple levels, it is a major milestone in the history of Pakistan’s new-age film. Actor in Law reflects the coming-of-age of our cinema and the maturity in film-making. With this film we can say that Pakistani commercial cinema has finally arrived.
10. Maalik (2016)
Director: Ashir Azeem
I have deliberately kept Maalik at the end and would also say the least about it. I’d just say that when the history of Pakistani cinema will be written, it will state that Maalik was the only film banned after being in cinemas for 19 days. It was not anti-state, obscene or against Islam … the film shook many in the corridors of power.
My favourite exchange from the film:
Schoolmaster Mohsin: I, the citizen of Pakistan, am the Maalik (owner) of the country.
Official: So you are threatening me?
Schoolmaster Mohsin: Maalik doesn’t threaten the employee. He serves a notice.
The writer is an actor-director. He tweets @ashirazeemgill
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2016.
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