The National Film Registry is a collection of films that deserve preservation. The movement started in 1988 under the National Film Preservation Act, with twenty-five films selected for preservation every year. The National Film Preservation Board accepts submissions for films through mid-September and announces their selections every December.
I was fortunate enough to make my submissions just before the deadline this year, and I would like to share my ten choices with you.
For a film to be selected for the National Film Registry, it needs to be at least ten years old and be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” I was surprised to see the list of films not yet selected, but I remind myself that only twenty-five make it each year.
Here are my 2020 submissions:
Rope (1948)
Perceived by many to be one of his most controversial films upon release, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope turned into one of his most memorable. The use of long takes was and still is a rarity in film. Cleverly edited to seem like one long take, with only one obvious cut, Rope unfolds in real-time. This is a way to give the viewer the sense that they are watching a play (Rope was originally a play, written by Patrick Hamilton). This film, along with four other Hitchcock classics, was unavailable to the public for almost three decades until Hitchcock himself bought back the distribution rights. Rope is one of the most unique films of all time.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
A true comedic gem with the onscreen pairing of Steve Martin and John Candy, this film is a delight. Set in the busy travel season close to Thanksgiving, Neal Page (Martin) and Del Griffith (Candy) make their way home to Chicago. Their trip would be pleasant if not for the many pitfalls they endure, and their frequent personality clashes. John Hughes wrote and directed this comedy classic full of laughs and heart, which shines on many levels – I watch it every Thanksgiving.
When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
This film tackles one of the most common questions about human relationships: Can a man and a woman be friends without succumbing to attraction? It might be a challenge in Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally’s (Meg Ryan) case. These two characters start out hating each other but reunite years later when they both are looking for a friend. They become each other’s confidants, but their friendship may lead to more. This is one of the most original comedies of all time, with great direction from Rob Reiner. Nora Ephron deserved her Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, including one of the most famous lines in film history: “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Dazed and Confused (1993)
A day in the life of a group of teenagers in 1976 Austin has a unique brilliance in Richard Linklater’s sophomore film. Linklater’s debut film Slacker (1991), already on the registry, shifts between many interesting subjects, each with a different outlook on life. Dazed and Confused explores various high school cliques on their last day of school. This film launched the careers of greats like Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, and Renee Zellweger (mostly present in the background). The film’s soundtrack is one of its best aspects, with music from Alice Cooper, Foghat, and Black Sabbath.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
This film put stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on the map. Their original screenplay, rife with intelligent dialogue, won the Academy Award in 1998. The scenes with Damon and Robin Williams are great examples of that verbal genius. Williams also won his first Academy Award for his performance as Sean Maguire, an alcoholic therapist still struggling with the loss of his wife. Director Gus Van Sant added another remarkable film to his filmography, which includes the breathtaking My Own Private Idaho (1991).
Magnolia (1999)
After the success of Boogie Nights (1997), director Paul Thomas Anderson reunites with most of his cast for this film about a day in the San Fernando Valley. Each of the characters has a connection with a TV show that tests the intelligence of kids and adults. The show’s producer is a dying man (Jason Robards) who asks his caretaker (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to find his estranged son (Tom Cruise). The producer’s wife (Julianne Moore) has a revelation that she genuinely loves him, and not for his money. The show’s host (Philip Baker Hall) also tries to make amends, but with his daughter (Melora Walters). This film about human relationships and forgiveness was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Cruise), Best Original Screenplay (Anderson), and Best Original Song (“Save Me” by Aimee Mann).
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Charlie Kaufman’s offbeat and bizarre style shows in this sweet tale of love and heartbreak. Joel (Jim Carrey) is desperate over his break-up with Clementine (Kate Winslet). He confronts Clementine and discovers that she has no memory of him because of a procedure that wiped her memory clean of him. Joel decides to go through the same procedure, invented by the affable Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson). After the procedure begins, Joel decides to retain his memories of Clementine and goes through many memories to keep her there. This film is unique in its settings, which take place in Joel’s mind. Director Michel Gondry’s visual style is perfect for this story, with creative camerawork, lighting, and visual effects.
Crash (2005)
Racial tensions among a small group of Los Angeles residents reach their peak in the coldest winter in the city’s recent history. Writer/director Paul Haggis came up with the idea after experiencing a mugging incident. He must have asked himself what led to the culprits’ encounter with him. This film offers interesting interactions between the characters, who mostly differ in race, class, and philosophies on life. Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, and Matt Dillon (who was nominated for his performance) are brilliant in this film. It catches your attention and never lets you go. This film also won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2005. Crash is truly one of the most unforgettable films of all time.
The Departed (2006)
“I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me.” The first line of Martin Scorsese’s The Departed is captivating, much like the opening scene of his film Goodfellas (1990). Scorsese said that this is the first film he directed with a plot. Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), a powerful Boston mob boss, plants Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) in the Boston Police Department. The Boston police have their own mole, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) who joins Costello’s crew. However, Costigan and Sullivan learn that they each must find the other mole to protect their own identities. William Monahan won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, which was from the popular Chinese film Infernal Affairs (2002).
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Directors Joel and Ethan Coen shift genres between films, and many say that they have never made the same film twice. If I would compare this film to one of their previous films, it would be Fargo (1996). Both are about crime, deals that went wrong, and a bag of money. The key difference is that Fargo has an abundance of humor. No Country for Old Men has a bleaker tone but is a faithful adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel. It is about three men: a jaded sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones), a psychotic hitman (Javier Bardem), and a civilian (Josh Brolin) who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This film is composed of brilliant acting, directing, and camerawork. The remarkable cinematography by Roger Deakins shows the southern American landscape along the Rio Grande. This film also won four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (for Bardem).
What films would you like to see added to the National Film Registry?
Happy watching!
