Think that watching movies is just a leisurely activity – something light, fun and meaningless? Well, think again. Cultural knowledge is something that is highly regarded. You read magazines other than Cosmo and Maxim? You are getting important cultural info. You watch artistically valid television? Then you have something to discuss at those wine and cheese parties. But film knowledge is something special. Films are referenced all over literature, television, magazines, art and music, and can be clutch points when writing essays and impressing hipsters of the opposite sex. So, we here at Artsweek scrounged the Nexus desks looking for a few suggestions; we came up with a top 5 list of films that could make your life a little better and make you that much smarter. Enjoy.
1. “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002)
2. “Clueless” (1995)
3. “Rush Hour” (1998)
4. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
5. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953)
Jessica Vrazilek, Artsweek writer
1. “Being John Malkovich” (1999)
2. “The Labyrinth” (1986)
3. “The Birdcage” (1996)
4. “Almost Famous” (2000)
5. “Waiting for Guffman” (1997)
Blaire Brown, Artsweek writer
1. “Rushmore” (1998)
2. “The Graduate” (1967)
3. “Grosse Pointe Blank” (1997)
4. “Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964)
5. “Fargo” (1996)
Joey Siara, Artsweek writer
1. “American Beauty” (1999)
2. “Almost Famous” (2000)
3. “Requiem for a Dream” (2000)
4. “Edward Scissorhands” (1990)
5. “Freaks” (1932)
Matthew Cappiello, Artsweek writer
1. “The Godfather” (1972)
2. “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
3. “Braveheart” (1995)
4. “The Boondock Saints” (1999)
5. “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966)
Tyler Vickers, Artsweek writer
1. “High Fidelity” (2000)
2. “Memento” (2000)
3. “Fight Club” (1999)
4. “Philadelphia” (1993)
5. “Garden State” (2004)
Amita Chollate, Artsweek writer
1. “Almost Famous” (2000),
2. “Trainspotting” (1996),
3. “High Fidelity” (2000)
4. “Big” (1988)
5. “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001)
Aly Comingore, Artsweek writer
1. “Charade” (1963)
2. “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
3. “Rudy” (1993)
4. “Legally Blonde” (2001)
5. “Good Will Hunting” (1997)
Stephanie Cain, Artsweek writer
1. “Better Off Dead” (1984)
2. “The Swimmer” (1968)
3. “Rushmore” (1998)
4. “Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964)
5. “WarGames” (1983)
Colin Marshall, Artsweek writer
1. “Rushmore” (1998)
2. “Lost in Translation” (2003)
3. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2003)
4. “The Graduate” (1967)
5. “Annie Hall” (1977)
Brenna Boyce, Artsweek editor
1. “Run Lola Run” (1998)
2. “The Virgin Suicides” (1999)
3. “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999)
4. “Velvet Goldmine” (1998)
5. “Doom Generation” (1995)
Jory Dominguez, Artsweek writer
1. “L.A. Confidential” (1997)
2. “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” (1997)
3. “Swingers” (1996)
4. “Gattaca” (1997)
5. “Clash of the Titans” (1981)
Vicky Springer, Nexus assistant copy editor
1. “American Beauty” (1999)
2. “Rushmore” (1998)
3. “The Big Lebowski” (1998)
4. “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” (1998)
5. “This is Spinal Tap” (1984)
Daniel Haier, Nexus Editor-in-Chief
1. “Moonstruck” (1987)
2. “Catherine the Great” (1995)
3. “Moulin Rouge” (2001)
4. “Best in Show” (2000)
5. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
Claire Goodman, Nexus copy reader
1. “Bible Black” (2001)
2. “Angel Blade” (2002)
3. “Lingeries Office” (2003)
4. “Mezzo Forte: Director’s Cut” (2001)
5. “La Blue Girl” (1992)
Mark Batalla, Nexus artist, Art Director
1. “The Big Lebowski” (1998)
2. “Old School” (2003)
3. “Braveheart” (1995)
4. “Big Fish” (2003)
5. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
Mike Long, Nexus managing editor
1. “Moonstruck” (1987)
2. “The Big Lebowski” (1998)
3. “Scarface” (1983)
4. Any Kevin Smith movie
5. “The Godfather” (1972)
Stefanie Bautista, Nexus layout/design editor
1. “Being John Malkovich” (1999)
2. “Elizabeth” (1998)
3. “Fist of Legend” (1994)
4. “Gods and Monsters” (1998)
5. “The Killer” (1995)
Jason La, Nexus University editor
1. “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
2. “A Clockwork Orange” (1971)
3. “Donnie Darko” (2001)
4. “Gladiator” (2000)
5. “The Godfather, Part II” (1974)
Sean Swaby, Nexus assistant Opinion editor
Compiled by Brenna Boyce
