My 2020 National Film Registry nominations
Each December, the National Film Preservation Board selects 25 films to be inducted into the National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
The board have said nominations from the public play a vital role in what films they choose to select. In 2017 one film I nominated, Superman (1978) was selected. In 2018 two films I nominated, The Shining (1980) and Brokeback Mountain (2005) had been selected. So they clearly take public nominations seriously.
If you want to nominate any films to be in the registry, go to https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/nominate
You can nominate up to 50 films and the deadline is September 15th.
Here are my picks for the 2020 National Film Registry.
The board have said nominations from the public play a vital role in what films they choose to select. In 2017 one film I nominated, Superman (1978) was selected. In 2018 two films I nominated, The Shining (1980) and Brokeback Mountain (2005) had been selected. So they clearly take public nominations seriously.
If you want to nominate any films to be in the registry, go to https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/nominate
You can nominate up to 50 films and the deadline is September 15th.
Here are my picks for the 2020 National Film Registry.
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- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsAl PacinoMichelle PfeifferSteven BauerIn 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.Arguably Brian De Palma's best film, it has become a staple of pop culture from Al Pacino's performance, the many quotable lines and even the poster. It is considered by many to be one of the best crime films of all time.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsMark WahlbergJulianne MooreBurt ReynoldsBack when sex was safe, pleasure was a business and business was booming, an idealistic porn producer aspires to elevate his craft to an art when he discovers a hot young talent.Fantastic film with an Altmanesque style of storytelling. It put director Paul Thomas Anderson into the spotlight and helped establish Mark Wahlberg as a serious actor. It also gave Burt Reynolds his only Oscar nomination.
- DirectorTobe HooperStarsMarilyn BurnsEdwin NealAllen DanzigerFive friends head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Something armed with a chainsaw.One of the most influential horror films of all time, it is credited with introducing several elements now common in the slasher genre including using power tools as murder weapons and the killer wearing a mask. Ridley Scott cited the film as an influence when making Alien (1979).
- DirectorTex AveryStarsElvia AllmanSara BernerDaws ButlerThe characters of the traditional fairy tale demand a new approach to the story as a sexy urban comedy with Red as a nightclub singer.
- DirectorRalph BakshiStarsSkip HinnantRosetta LeNoireJohn McCurryIn the late 1960s, a pretentious, womanizing young cat drops out of college, starts a riot in Harlem, hits the road with an ex-girlfriend and gets mixed up with domestic terrorists.Most infamous for being the first X rated animated film, it not only help break American animation out of its family friendly perception but also depicted the counter culture of its time though the use of anthropomorphic animals.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsWil WheatonRiver PhoenixCorey FeldmanA writer recounts a childhood journey with his friends to find the body of a missing boy.Although set in the 1950s, it has become a quintessential 80s film with themes of friendship and loss. It also brought a rekindled interest in the Ben E. King song in which the film is named after.
- DirectorRichard MarquandStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.The conclusion to the original Star Wars trilogy (as well as the only one not yet in the registry) it continued the traditions of the previous two films by creating innovative special effects that still inspire modern blockbusters.
- DirectorChris NoonanStarsJames CromwellMagda SzubanskiChristine CavanaughGentle farmer Arthur Hoggett wins a piglet Babe at a county fair. Narrowly escaping his fate as Christmas dinner, Babe bonds with motherly border collie Fly and discovers that he too can herd sheep. But will the other animals accept him?It features creative special effects for making real life animals talk and is often credited with starting the CGI talking animal revolution. It also has a great story of how being nice can help you succeed.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenOrlando BloomA meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
- DirectorJohn SturgesStarsSteve McQueenJames GarnerRichard AttenboroughAllied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.The film that made Steve McQueen a star, a much-loved story that continues to enchanted audiences. The action scenes had proven to be very influential with the barb-wire jump scene being one of the most iconic in film history.
- DirectorHenry SelickStarsDanny ElfmanChris SarandonCatherine O'HaraJack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.It features innovative stop-motion animation and was even nominated for a Best Visual Effects Oscar, a first for an animated film. Through the minds of Tim Burton and Henry Selick, they were able to create characters and images which are still recognised by audiences today. The fact that people debate whether or not it is a Christmas film or a Halloween film is a testament to its popularity.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsSterling HaydenColeen GrayVince EdwardsCrook Johnny Clay assembles a five-man team to plan and execute a daring racetrack robbery.Considered by the director himself to be his first mature work, it caught the attention of critics for its raw look and innovative camerawork and the non-linear structure has been highly influential on later films, such as Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994). Despite being a box office flop, it planted the seed for his later groundbreaking films.
- DirectorOtto PremingerStarsWilliam HoldenDavid NivenMaggie McNamaraTwo aging playboys are both after the same attractive young woman, but she fends them off by claiming that she plans to remain a virgin until her wedding night. Both men determine to find a way around her objections.Directed by the frequently controversial Otto Preminger, the use of language was shocking and revolutionary at the time and was one of the films that weakened the influence of the Production Code.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppMartin LandauSarah Jessica ParkerAmbitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent.
- DirectorDave FleischerSteve MuffatiStarsBud CollyerJoan AlexanderJackson BeckThe Man of Steel fights a mad scientist who is destroying Metropolis with an energy cannon.The first cinematic appearance of Superman, it brought the popular comic book superhero to the big screen without losing the impact he had on readers. It would eventually influence the comics and subsequently the live-action films and television shows.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittEdward NortonMeat LoafAn insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.I can’t talk about it.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellWilford BrimleyKeith DavidA research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.Although a critical and commercial failure when it was released, it has since been cited as an influence by directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Edgar Wright, been regarded as one of the best remakes of all time and been considered an iconic 80s horror film.
- DirectorHoward HughesEdmund GouldingJames WhaleStarsBen LyonJames HallJean HarlowBrothers Monte and Ray leave Oxford to join the Royal Flying Corps. Ray loves Helen; Helen enjoys an affair with Monte; before they leave on their mission over Germany they find her in still another man's arms.It is often considered to be one of the first sound action films. It is also notable for featuring the only colour footage of Jean Harlow.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonEdward FurlongA cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.Often considered one of the greatest sequels of all time, it (along with Jurassic Park (1993)) revolutionised visual effects and made breakthroughs in CGI such as the first partially computer animated main character.
- DirectorDavid ByrneStarsDavid ByrneJohn GoodmanAnnie McEnroeA small but growing Texas town, filled with strange and musical characters, celebrates its sesquicentennial and converge on a local parade and talent show.
- DirectorRoger CormanStarsJonathan HazeJackie JosephMel WellesA clumsy young man working at an impoverished flower shop discovers that the strange plant he has been nurturing has an insatiable appetite for blood, forcing him to kill to feed it.Filmed in only two days and using sets and actors he already had, Roger Corman still managed to create a memorable film that became a staple of late night television with its strange plot and off-beat sense of humour. It inspired a successful broadway musical and subsequent a film adaptation directed by Frank Oz.
- DirectorWes CravenStarsSandra PeabodyLucy GranthamDavid HessTwo teenage girls heading to a rock concert for one's birthday try to score marijuana in the city, where they are kidnapped and brutalized by a gang of psychopathic convicts.Although highly controversial and even banned in some countries when it was released, it remains an influential exploitation film and the tagline "It’s only a movie" has become somewhat iconic in recent years.
- DirectorLois WeberStarsCourtenay FooteMyrtle StedmanHerbert StandingThe parallel stories of a modern preacher and a medieval monk, Gabriel the Ascetic, who is killed by an ignorant mob for making a nude statue representing Truth, which is also represented by a ghostly naked girl who flits throughout the film.Groundbreaking for its nudity, multiple exposures and intricate editing, it propelled Lois Weber to the front ranks of silent directors.
- DirectorHarold RamisStarsChevy ChaseRodney DangerfieldBill MurrayAn exclusive golf course has to deal with a flatulent new member and a destructive dancing gopher.Popular 80s comedy with tons of quotable lines and hilarious performances by Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield. It is also Harold Ramis' directorial debut.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJames CagneyPat O'BrienHumphrey BogartA priest tries to stop a gangster from corrupting a group of street kids.One of many Warner Bros. gangster films of the 1930s, it is considered a landmark in the genre and James Cagney's performance is one of his most iconic.
- DirectorNorman JewisonStarsCarl ReinerEva Marie SaintAlan ArkinWithout hostile intent, a Soviet submarine runs aground off New England. Men are sent for a boat, but many villagers go into a tizzy, risking bloodshed.
- DirectorFritz LangStarsEdward G. RobinsonJoan BennettDan DuryeaA man in mid-life crisis befriends a young woman, though her fiancé persuades her to con him out of the fortune they mistakenly assume he possesses.Considered a central film in the film noir genre, it was the first Hollywood film to have a criminal not get punished for his crime.
- DirectorPeter WeirStarsJim CarreyEd HarrisLaura LinneyAn insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show.Hilarious and though-provoking at the same time, it gave Jim Carrey, previous know for his lowbrow comedies, the opportunity to show his dramatic chops and has been analysed for its themes of celebrity culture and Christianity.
- DirectorJames CruzeStarsJ. Warren KerriganLois WilsonAlan HaleTwo wagon caravans converge at what is now Kansas City, and combine for the westward push to Oregon. On their quest the pilgrims will experience desert heat, mountain snow, hunger, and Indian attacks. To complicate matters further, a love triangle develops, as pretty Molly must chose between Sam, a brute, and Will, the dashing captain of the other caravan. Can Will overcome the skeleton in his closet and win Molly's heart?
- DirectorErle C. KentonStarsCharles LaughtonBela LugosiRichard ArlenA mad doctor conducts ghastly genetic experiments on a remote island in the South Seas, much to the fear and disgust of the shipwrecked sailor who finds himself trapped there.
- DirectorRobert MulliganStarsAnthony PerkinsKarl MaldenNorma MooreTrue story of the life of Jimmy Piersall, who battled mental illness to achieve stardom in major league baseball.A bold depiction of mental illness, well ahead of its time in showing that it can happen to anyone whether your an average joe or a famous celebrity. It is also the feature directing debut of Robert Mulligan and feature producing debut of Alan J. Pakula, who together made six films - including To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).
- DirectorOscar ApfelCecil B. DeMilleStarsDustin FarnumMonroe SalisburyWinifred KingstonA chivalrous British officer takes the blame for his cousin's embezzlement and journeys to the American West to start a new life on a cattle ranch.The directing debut of Cecil B. DeMille, the first feature film made in Hollywood and been successfully remade by the same director three times. Need I say more?
- DirectorHal AshbyStarsDavid CarradineRonny CoxMelinda DillonThe early life of Woody Guthrie as a vagabond folk singer.Ambitious and out-standing in its own way, one of the most visually stunning films ever made and the first film to use a Steadicam. Directed by the underrated Hal Ashby and toped off with a great performance by David Carradine.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsHumphrey BogartLauren BacallWalter BrennanDuring World War II, American expatriate Harry Morgan helps transport a French Resistance leader and his beautiful wife to Martinique while romancing a sensuous lounge singer.
- DirectorDon ChaffeyStarsTodd ArmstrongNancy KovackGary RaymondThe legendary Greek hero leads a team of intrepid adventurers in a perilous quest for the legendary Golden Fleece.Hugely influential fantasy, perhaps the most famous and acclaimed film to feature Ray Harryhausen’s legendary stop motion special effects. Tom Hanks even called it the greatest film ever made.
- DirectorGus Van SantStarsRiver PhoenixKeanu ReevesJames RussoTwo best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way.Landmark LGBT film, notable for its then-taboo subject matter and avant-garde style. It also has one of River Phoenix’s most enduring performances of his brief career and an early mature role for Keanu Reeves. A true pioneer of queer cinema.
- DirectorByron HaskinStarsBobby DriscollRobert NewtonBasil SydneyThe treasure seeking adventures of young Jim Hawkins and pirate captain Long John Silver.Disney’s first live-action film, particularly iconic is Robert Newton’s portrayal of Long John Silver which is thought to have started the modern day stereotype of pirates. A grand spectacle from start to finish.
- DirectorFrank LloydStarsCharles LaughtonClark GableFranchot ToneFirst mate Fletcher Christian leads a revolt against his sadistic commander, Captain Bligh, in this classic seafaring adventure, based on the real-life 1789 mutiny.
- DirectorAndrew StantonLee UnkrichStarsAlbert BrooksEllen DeGeneresAlexander GouldAfter his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home.One of Pixar’s most beloved films, filled with memorable characters and beautiful animation. A tale of the importance of family and the difficulties of being a single parent. The voice acting alone speaks for itself (no pun intended) in particular Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres.
- DirectorRobert AltmanStarsElliott GouldNina van PallandtSterling HaydenPrivate investigator Philip Marlowe helps a friend out of a jam, but in doing so gets implicated in his wife's murder.Robert Altman’s satirical and daring neo noir, transporting 1940s detective Philip Marlowe to the very different 1970s. Easy-going narrative and voyeuristic camerawork make this an underrated classic.