The 10 must-see films:
"Tokyo Story" (1953) A universal story about family relationships and respect for the elderly that is just as pertinent today, and in any country, as it was in Japan in the 1950s. This film may change your attitude about your parents.
"Soy Cuba (I Am Cuba)" (1964) My choice for the best cinematography of all time. The camera floats effortlessly around the scenes and captures life in Cuba just before Castro's revolution - and illustrates why the revolution was necessary.
"Au Hasard, Balthazar" (1966) Enigmatic parable about the life of a mistreated donkey - is it a Christ-like symbol, or what? You decide. A depressing film, but extraordinarily well-made, and with careful interpretation, can change your outlook on life.
"Salt of the Earth" (1954) Re-creation of a true story about a strike at a zinc mine in New Mexico. This film is in desperate need of a remake with full production values.
"Psycho" (1960) One of those rare movies where everything comes together: the sleazy, run-down atmosphere, the dry, witty script full of black humor, the brilliant direction, camera angles and editing, the superb acting, and of course the unforgettable background music.
"Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962) A macabre comedy-thriller about two sisters in a large house together, one crippled physically and the other mentally. Bette Davis turns in the performance of her career.
"2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) Landmark science-fiction film that easily surpasses modern-day sci-fi in terms of intellectual challenge. Ponderous and slow-moving, it bores young moviegoers raised on the frenetic action of video games. But it dares to ask the big questions and leaves it up to the viewer to come up with most of the answers. The only sci-fi film to even approach this in quality is "Contact" (1997)
"Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" (1965) The best action-adventure movie, even with a shoestring budget. Memorable characters, a sassy script loaded with double-entendres and thrilling action all add up to a roller coaster of a movie.
"Five Easy Pieces" (1970) A great character study, and Jack Nicholson's finest hour, in my opinion.
"El Norte" (1983) The best film ever about the topic of immigration.
Also these are essential films:
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Fantasia (1940)
Casablanca (1942)
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
The Bicycle Thief (1949)
Los Olvidados (1950)
Rashomon (1950)
Diary of a Country Priest (1951)
High Noon (1952)
From Here to Eternity (1953)
Glen or Glenda (1953)
The Yearling (1954)
The Seven Samurai (1954)
Rear Window (1954)
Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
East of Eden (1955)
A Man Escaped (1956)
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)
Vertigo (1958)
Pickpocket (1959)
Some Like it Hot (1959)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
The Americanization of Emily (1964)
Lilies of the Field (1965)
To Sir, With Love (1965)
Ship of Fools (1965)
The Loved One (1965)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)
Born Free (1966)
The Graduate (1967)
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Harold and Maude (1970)
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
What's Up, Doc? (1972)
Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
Chinatown (1974)
The Stunt Man (1978)
Life of Brian (1979)
E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982)
L'Argent (1983)
Dark Habits (1983)
Ed Wood (1994)
Contact (1997)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Daughter from Danang (2002)
March of the Penguins (2005)