Farran Smith Nehme

Comments

This is an aesthetic and personal list, and not intended as a forensic analysis of film history. I’ve included films that possess beauty, wit and emotional and thematic depth. They all give me pleasure in some form, which I believe is essential to watching movies. That's one way I comfort myself when I contemplate the fact that Sweet Smell of Success, The Shop on the High Street, The Shop Around the Corner, Journey to Italy, Les Enfants du paradis, La Règle du Jeu, M, Mahanagar, His Girl Friday, The Band Wagon, The Red Shoes and Letter from an Unknown Woman were cut from earlier drafts. Not to mention the absence of Italy, Sweden, India, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Egypt, Iran, Poland – I’ll stop there before I get depressed. Deep down, I believe (as do most critics, whether or not they admit it) that if I passionately love a film, it’s great by definition. I regret many of my omissions. I regret nothing on this list.