Domino Renee Perez

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Blade Runner

The aesthetic impact this sci-fi noir has had on cinematic imaginings of urban futures cannot be overstated. If that were not enough, the film asks audiences to question what it means to be human, only to have the replicant Roy Batty provide the answer resoundingly in his final moments.

Singin' in the Rain

Simply the best musical of all time, Singing in the Rain, with its commentary on the film industry, remains relevant today, particularly its message about appearances versus reality. The musical numbers are smoothly integrated into the narrative reality of the film so that when characters break into song, their expressions become an extension of their emotions that audiences can see and feel. Donald O'Connor demonstrates an impressive range of abilities, from physical comedy to singing and dance, but nothing can surpass Kelly's performance in the titular number. Sheer joy.

The Godfather

A brilliant meditation on ethnicity and class, the film’s focus on a multigenerational Italian family disrupts the privileging of and narrative emphasis on the American cinematic status quo. The Godfather writes the Corleones into US nationalist ideas about family while also highlighting how they resort to extra-legal means to achieve the American Dream.

Star Wars

One of the most influential films of all time, this western space opera has woven itself into the fabric of popular culture worldwide.

Lone Star

From one of the most under-appreciated directors and storytellers in the industry, John Sayles's Lone Star conveys the complexity and diversity of life along the border between the US and Mexico. Rendered beautifully, the seamless transitions between past and present show how one continues to influence the other, directly impacting the lives of those who reside in the borderlands.

Seven Samurai

The acting, directing, cinematography, choreography, editing and storytelling are incomparable. This film is simply one of the best of all time.

The Searchers

The iconic image of Ethan Edwards framed in the doorway, the expanse of the West stretching behind him, is as lyrical as it is telling. A relic of the past, he cannot cross over the threshold into the civilised world, and he is not welcomed there. He has helped to preserve a world he cannot be a part of any longer. Racist and unyielding, Ethan is not likeable and his redemption seems impossible. But Ford holds audiences in his visual and narrative thrall to the very end, so that when the door shuts on Ethan it's hard not to think about those who necessarily get left behind when the world moves on.

Modern Times

One of the best films about the state of the worker, delivered through humour and a poignant critique of capitalism.

La Jetée

A sci-fi masterpiece about a dystopian future told through static images – with one notable exception – is a remarkable example of storytelling and film artistry. This film delivers, in less than 30 minutes, a tight narrative arc without sacrificing any visual or technical elements.

Ugetsu Monogatari

Through the weaving of fantasy and realism, the film delivers a haunting meditation on the tension between the spirit world and reality to comment on such issues as duty, family, greed and the roles of women in 16th-century Japan.