Top 25 Countdown — No. 4


My Top 25 countdown continues with a classic, award-winning thriller.

No. 4 — The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn, and Ted Levine
Director: Jonathan Demme
Quote: "I've no plans to call on you, Clarice. The world is more interesting with you in it." — Hannibal Lecter
About: It's hard to say you love a movie that's as dark and complex as "The Silence of the Lambs," but that's the case. I remember the first time I saw it, when I was young, and the chills and terror it gave me. Hannibal Lecter, as played by the great Anthony Hopkins, was the most terrifying person I'd seen on screen. In a lot of ways, he still is. But now I've seen this movie dozens of times — including on the Big Screen as part of a classic rewind in 2014. And I still find it impeccably made and compelling, which is why it's on this list. It's also a classic of American cinema. It's one of only three films to win Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay in a single year. That's saying something. Especially since "The Silence of the Lambs" was released in January — not typically a time when Best Picture films are released. This is the definitive vision of this story, and probably the definitive version of Hannibal Lecter. There's a reason Hopkins won the Oscar and is on nearly every list of chilling screen villains, usually right at the top. Of course this film isn't for everyone, and it's often not an easy watch. But it's a classic, full of memorable lines and moments.
Rating: R for strong violence including grisly images, some sexual content, nudity, and language.

Top 25 Countdown:
5 — Simon Birch (1998)
6. The Godfather (1972)
7. Jurassic Park (1993)
8. Jaws (1975)
9. Gettysburg (1993)
10. Up In The Air (2009)
11. Die Hard (1988)
12. Doubt (2008)
13. Way of the Gun (2000)
14. Heat (1995)
15. The Paper (1994)
16. Watchmen (2009)
17. LA Confidential (1997)
18. Serenity (2005)
19. Children of Men (2006)
20. Miller's Crossing (1990)
21. About Schmidt (2002)
22. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
23. The Matrix (1999)
24. Independence Day (1996)
25. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

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