Hitchcock Masterpiece. This is one of the greatest suspense/thrillers in the history of cinema. The dialogue is sizzling and Cary Grant shines as the wrongfully accused man. Location is also key to the film, and the action takes place across most of the United States.

Hitchcock Great Work. A wonderful thriller that romantically portrays the city of San Francisco amongst a macabre love affair. Jimmy Stewart shows his maturity as an actor, giving a dark, edgy performance. Hitchcock's use of lighting and trombone shots create both a mystical atmosphere and a sense of vertigo in the film.

Scorsese Masterpiece. Scorsese made this film after a rough time in his life and career, and the grit, reality, and desperation in his own life are mirrored by Robert De Niro. Jake LaMotta's inevitable spiral downward is painful to watch, and his inability to see his plight makes it all the worse.

Scorsese Great Work. This is an example of what a gangster movie should be. In an unusual move, we don't see the perspective of the don, but rather from the low ranks. Joe Pesci gives a standout performance as an unstable mobster.

Bergman Masterpiece. This film is representative of Bergman's career. Existentialism, religious questioning, and a desperate attempt to find meaning in life highlight this work. Max Von Sydow turns in a masterful performance as the stoic Antonius Block, and Gunnar Fischer ushered in a new era in cinematography with his cliffside shots and the morbid ending dance on the mountain.

Bergman Great Work. Bergman takes an average family, dissects them, and looks at them under a microscope. A young girl's mental disorders cause suffering for her husband and family, and her increasingly inappropriate relationship with her naive young brother shows how families are destroyed. Her vision of god personified is haunting.

Kubrick Masterpiece. This film ushered in a new era in Science Fiction. It is a mature film that takes its time with its shots; visual beauty and music make vast portions of this movie a silent film. Indeed, Kubrick is able to achieve both visual beauty and progress the plot forward. HAL is as cold a villain as any in cinema history.

Kubrick Great Work. Obsession is the key word in this film. James Mason manages to make a pedophile a sympathetic character, and Sue Lyons plays the tempting nymphet Lolita with sizzle and sass. This film is a creative mixture of romance, drama, dark comedy, and tragedy.

Fellini Masterpiece. This film chronicles the life of a director as he wanders aimlessly trying to direct a movie he has no vision for. There are flashbacks, daydreams, and dream sequences that shuffle the director through all that had a creative impact on his career, from his wife, mistress, religion, and childhood. The parade sequence at the end highlights the insanity of the film.

Fellini Great Work. Fellini's love affair with the circus is highlighted in this delightful film. Although, this contains many elements often seen in Fellini films, it is inexplicably different. Great performance by Giulietta Masina.

Capra Masterpiece. This is late Capra at its finest. It is, perhaps, darker than most Capra films, but it contains the same amount of warmth, family values, and sweetness that mark all of Capra's best. It's easily the best feel good movie of all time.

Capra Great Work. There seems to be a trend here, with Jimmy Smith starring in director's master works, so he may deserve a little credit here too. This is an altruistic joy, with a great script and fantastic chemistry between Stewart and Arthur. The filibuster scene could stand as a model for acting.

Coppola Masterpiece. Not much can be said here. This is one of the finest films ever made, really one of the top two or three ever. Everything worked here, the camera, the music, the script, the acting; quite a fantastic movie. I never developed as personal an attachment to it as many have, but that aside, it is a masterpiece.

Coppola Great Work. This film has received considerably less fanfare than many other Coppola films, unjustly. Gene Hackman is superb as a paranoid surveillance tech, and Coppola gets the most out of Hackman's acting ability. This is a very realistic and intense thriller.

Kurosawa Masterpiece. Modern action films began with this work by Kurosawa. It featured the first combo of action movie elements, such as slow motion, an approaching enemy from a hillside, and reluctant heroes. Kurosawa not only directed the film, but he wrote and edited it as well, leaving himself extensive creative input. As usual, he coaxes the best performance possible from Toshiro Mifune.

Kurosawa Great Work. This film, like many other great films, deals with a man searching for meaning in his life, which has been filled with bureaucratic processes and not much more. Another frequent collaborator, Takashi Shimura, produces a mature, heartwarming performance.

Spielberg Masterpiece. Undoubtedly the saddest movie ever made. Spielberg portrays the holocaust realistically, without shying away from the gritty truth of the heinous crimes of the Nazis. William's score manages to give the film a somber tone, and Neeson gives depth and humanity to a flawed and imperfect hero. One of the best, but the subject matter and realism makes it a difficult watch.

Spielberg Great Work. This is one of the most realistic portrayals of the second world war ever made. The Invasion of Normandy scene is a feast for the eyes, but is presented with brutish reality. Spielberg manages to give each soldier a complex personality, which makes it easier to become attached to them than many other war movies. Also one of Tom Hanks best.

Wilder Masterpiece. Quite possibly the greatest overall comedy in cinema. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon shine as cross-dressing musicians hiding from mobsters. Marilyn Monroe also stands out as the innocent, buxom beauty that is the love interest of both men. Wilder coaxes just the right amount of slapstick out of his actors and makes sure that the laughs aren't short.

Wilder Great Work. One of the fine noirs, which sees Fred MacMurray playing a more mature role than he usually attempted. Barbara Stanwyck also shines as the Femme Fatale seductress of the movie, who has MacMurray wrapped around her little finger. This was one of Wilder's only attempts at making a film noir, but he nailed it perfectly.