Top Ten Movies of All Time (In My Humble Opinion)

10) Salesman (1969)

This is one of the best documentaries of all time. Brought to life by Albert and David Maysles (who also created the excellent documentary Grey Gardens) this documentary showcases the daily struggles of a door-to-door salesman and also provides a snapshot of 1960s America.

9) Pulp Fiction (1994)

This amazing crime saga by Quentin Tarantino subjects the audience to the seedy underbelly of the Los Angeles crime world. Tarantino plays with the audience by telling the story out of sequence which adds to the drama and creates a satisfying climax to the film.

8) Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Can you tell that I like movies about salesmen? I was once a (unsuccessful) salesman briefly so maybe that is why. This movie is very dialogue driven like most David Mamet films and plays. Again, like with Salesman, this movie depicts the very hard life of door-to-door salesmen and with talents like Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, and Alan Arkin delivering razor sharp dialogue, this is a must see for any fans of drama and conflict.

7) A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

I am not a fan of Westerns, but this one is a favorite. It is a movie about poker and one other thing which I cannot reveal without spoiling the film. The performances by Henry Fonda and Jason Robards are outstanding and make the film worth watching regardless of the subject matter.

6) It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

In my opinion, maybe the best comedy ever made. It features an ensemble cast on many zany adventures and the laughs do not stop. Many talents of the 60s appear in this film to include Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, and Sid Caeser just to name a few. If this movie was made with today's top start it would cost maybe a half billion dollars in salaries alone. This film reflects a simpler time when acting was more about entertaining and less about clout.

5) Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Yes...I like movies from the 90s and three more will appear on this list! Nic Cage gets a great deal of criticism for over-acting, but I am a certified Nic Cage fan! One of the reasons for this is his heart-breaking portrayal of an alcoholic in this brilliant film for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor.

4) The Apostle (1997)

An amazing film written, directed by and starring the incomparable Robert Duvall. This film tells the tale of a passionate pastor whose love for God runs in contrast to his personal demons. The use of non-traditional actors in this film makes it even more authentic.

3) It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

The best holiday film ever made...hands down! This is a brilliant story of a man who struggles his whole life and gets rewarded for it at the end. I hate to admit it, but the final scene always brings tears to my eyes.

2) The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Yes, I am jumping on the Shawshank bandwagon! I know this is the favorite movie of many people and at one time (maybe still) was the top-rated movie on IMDB. There's a reason for that. This movie is brilliant. Much like It's a Wonderful Life, we see a man struggle for years but get rewarded at the end. This is the most inspirational movie of all time in my opinion.

1) Goodfellas (1990)

The absolute GOAT! The one movie I will stop what I am doing and watch anytime it is on television. If you've seen this movie, you know what I mean...if you haven't seen it, drop everything and watch it now. Every scene is meaningful. The acting is top-notch. The story is amazing. The Godfather wishes it was as good as this film.