Jdanddiet's Top 100 Movies: 70-61

70.Cross of Iron (1977)

Sam Peckinpah turned his hand to World War 2 and produced this stunning adaptation of Willi Heinrich's excellent book.  Slo-mo long before Mr. Woo.

 

69.Swimming with Sharks (1994)

Before he broke out with 1995's The Usual Suspects, Kevin Spacey dominated the screen (literally) as a horrible studio exec torturing poor underling Frank Whaley.  A great commentary on the process of films and film making.

 

68.Scream 2 (1997)

Amusing, thrilling and fast-paced, it's a a sequel I've always had time for, especially as it contains more Liev Schrieber as the maligned Cotton Weary, who delivers a fantastic final line.

 

67.Star Trek (2009)

I hate the terms "re-boot" and "re-imagining" but they're quite apt in Star Trek's case, a prequel that cleverly manipulates events to allow for an entirely fresh franchise.  Expect more.

 

66.Ravenous (1999)

Reviled as much as it is revered, I've always been a fan of this film for several reasons: Jeffrey Jones' brilliant turn as a world-weary Colonel, the amazing score by Damon Albarn and Michael Nyman and a bizarre plot that contrasts nicely with the 19th Century setting.

 

65.Dawn of the Dead (2004)

I have seen the original and whilst it's good, feel it has dated somewhat.  Zac Snyder's update is as frantic as it is terrifying.

 

64.True Romance (1993)
Is it Christian Slater's best film?  Likely, but the competition ain't great...

 

63.Spoorloos (The Vanishing) (1988)

I caught this for the first time on Channel 4 late one night.  Brought up on action movies where the good guys always win and get the girl, the ending was something of a surprise.  Shame about the dreadful Hollywood remake.

 

62.The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Directed by John Huston from a Rudyard Kipling short story, and starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine, there's no doubting the talent on show in this sharp colonial metaphor.

 

61.48 Hours (1982)
You can't beat a bit of early 80's Eddie Murphy, and this is him at his wise-cracking best.