Top 10 Drama Films – Internet Challenge

Earlier today Radu of Radu Presents: The Movie-Photo Blog sent me a challenge., which requires I come up with a list of the ten films I consider my “top dramas.”  If you’ve happened on by this blog before you know I absolutely abhor lists.  While I am in awe of anyone who can convincingly come up with a “best” list in any category related to film, I am not one to be put in that position – for many reasons.  One, I have a difficult time deciphering what genre films actually fit in since there is so much cross-over.  How does one determine what a straight drama is these days, as a for instance, when you can have crime-drama, romantic-drama, and so forth.  Secondly, for every single film that occurs to me there may possibly be ten others I can easily replace it with that I love as much for different reasons.  Also, I am very fickle.  While I have films I absolutely adore no matter what, my “top films” can change daily, depending on my mood, when I last saw it and a host of other reasons.  So I hate lists.  But, since Radu was thoughtful enough to include me in this challenge I felt I should oblige as best I can.

Once I decided to do the list I had to think about how  (in hell) to find the films that are my top ten dramas.  I considered reading a host of lists on other sites, narrowing down my favorites and going from there.  I figured this would be the best way to not forget a film I might be particularly drawn to but may simply overlook.  Then I thought of going through my ever-growing film collection but that would take me time I don’t have.  And so on.  I think you get the picture I take very few things lightly.  In the end I decided to take the easy route.  I threw caution to the wind and simply made a list of the first ten dramas that came to mind knowing they’d all be films I love.  Problem solved.

Following are the only ten drama films I listed in the order they came to mind.  Call it my drama film word association test, which leads me to think it’s telling that these are THE ten.  But, I’ll think about that another day.  If I gave any of this more thought – the list or the whys of it I I could well be at it for weeks changing and replacing them.  I almost did just that as I reviewed the list because others came to mind immediately.  So, it stands as originally conceived.  Without further delay…my top ten dramas…today…

Frank Capra’s, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – trailer

Heart.

Billy Wilder’s, Sunset Blvd.  (1950) – trailer

Brilliance.

Robert Mulligan’s, To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) – trailer

Heroic.

Elia Kazan’s, A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) – trailer

Forceful.

George Steven’s, Penny Serenade (1941)

Nostalgic.

Michael Curtiz’, Casablanca (1942) – trailer

Perfection.

Francis Ford Coppola’s, The Godfather (1972) – trailer and The Godfather, Part II (1974) – trailer  (yes, rather a cheat to list them both but I can’t choose one without the other and they “came to me” at the same time)

Blood.

Clint Eastwood’s, Mystic River (2003) – trailer

Power.

Milos Forman’s, One Flew Over the Cookoo’s Nest (1975) – trailer

Sanity.

Sidney Lumet’s, 12 Angry Men (1957) – trailer

Justice.

There you have them and I don’t want to talk about it.

Well, OK if we must.  I know at least a couple of these choices may lead to some discussion even if the majority are no-brainers in the world of “top films” for most people.  I noted these were the first ones that came to mind, which is true.  But I love all of these films.  Even though they may not have been on a list I compiled tomorrow another list by me would not have been better in quality – this is as good as it gets.

I believe I’m supposed to pass this challenge along to others but I’m not.  I never quite know who to choose and those I do may be overwhelmed with other tasks and responsibilities.  Instead, I’ll ask for feedback here if you happen to drop in.  I’d love to see which films you’d choose as top dramas.  If you prefer to publish a post on your own blog in response let me know.  I love the idea.

Signed,

The fickle cinephile.