"Justly-rated films"
Recently, I've felt that people complain too much about how their favorite or least favorite movies are perceived. Everything is either overrated or underrated by the general public or film critics. The cult films that are loved by a select group, like 2001: A Space Odyssey, are called overrated and boring by others (namely, me). At the same time, less well-known films like Blue Velvet are called underrated by many of their fans (yes, I'm in that group too).
The point is, there can be a lot of dissent and not much agreement on film criticism. So that's where I come in with my top five "justly-rated" films, films that everyone seems to agree on, and that received their deserved place in film history. Yes, I made up the term "justly-rated" - it will be on Wikipedia soon; just remember that I coined it.
5. The Silence of the Lambs - This is a film that won Best Picture and received critical praise for its story, acting, and thrilling experience, and deservedly so. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster both delivered incredible performances, and while the film is rightfully not considered to be the very best of its genre, it is certainly among the most respected.
4. It's a Wonderful Life - Everyone loves this film. We see it every Christmas. We're inspired because it reminds us that our lives have meaning, and is thus one of the best feel-good movies ever made. That's how it's viewed, and that's what it is. Capra's masterpiece certainly isn't one of the top 10 films of all time, but it's considered among the greats because of its emotional power.
3. Raiders of the Lost Ark - People consider this film to be nearly mindless entertainment. Despite what it lacks in depth, it succeeds so well at entertaining us that we all love it. The AFI features it on its coveted list of the 100 best American films and everyone does enjoy it, but in its capacity as popular mass entertainment, few would consider it a thought-provoking masterpiece. It's very justly-rated, for what it is and what it was meant to do.
2. From Justin to Kelly - I had to put a bad film on here, and though I had many to choose from, this one was particularly abysmal. It was a bad movie, everyone knows it was bad, and no one tries to argue for its redeeming qualities. It is very justly-rated.
1. Casablanca - One of the best films of all time. It is widely considered the best romance and to have the best storyline, and for decades it has appealed to popular imagination. It is always at the top of film lists, but it never claims the top spot, and rightfully so. Casablanca did not have the influence or the depth of Citizen Kane, so it deserves to rank right behind it. It may be more entertaining, but it was not as deep or culturally significant, which is exactly why it is so justly-rated.
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