Best of 10 Genres

My favorite Romantic movie is Spike Jonze’s Her. This is a delightfully poignant sci-fi romance story between a man and his operating system. It’s an emotional commentary on society and our potential relationships in the not too distant future. The characters and plot are fantastic. This high concept romance is sure to tug on your heartstrings and inspire you to live in the moment! Titanic is an honorable mention and another heartbreaking love story.

My favorite Western is James Mangold’s 2007 remake 3:10 to Yuma. Both Christian Bale and Russell Crowe give amazing performances, but the supporting characters are also very well cast. Ben Foster in particular gives a menacing performance as Russell Crowe’s right-hand gang member. His cutthroat character is one of, if not the best cowboy bandit villain ever. This western hits all the right notes and is beautiful to watch!

My favorite Dramatic movie is Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. J.K. Simmons delivers an Oscar winning performance as Miles Teller’s harsh mentor and insatiable bandleader. The music is fantastic, as well as the glimpses into Teller’s character’s relationships. Chazelle does an excellent job capturing the passionate artist’s struggle, and this story will especially resonate with anyone who’s had an overly demanding teacher.

My favorite Musical is Jason Moore’s Pitch Perfect. This is admittedly a movie that didn’t seem like it would ever appeal to me, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! Pitch Perfect is a charming musical movie, with bubbly characters and an upbeat tone. The songs are catchy, but more importantly, they add to the overall story instead of being randomly inserted where they don’t fit.

My favorite Comedy is Dean Parisot’s Galaxy Quest. This sci-fi comedy follows a cast of washed up actors who are hilariously mistaken as their TV characters by real aliens. It finds a rare balance between poking fun at and simultaneously respecting its subject matter, which adds to the overall fun! It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s clever dialogue and tasteful direction make it a joy to watch every time!

My favorite Fantasy movie is Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. Any movie from the trilogy qualifies, but I have a special place in my heart for The Fellowship of the Ring. The character introductions and tone shifts are expertly done, not to mention the epic world building. We’ll be discussing and dissecting this trilogy for at least the next 100 years, because that’s how well this fantastical film holds up!

My favorite Thriller is Andrew Davis’ The Fugitive. Harrison Ford is wrongfully sentenced to prison and the story follows his mission to prove his innocence against all odds. I love this movie because the protagonist is smart, apt, and someone that you want to root for throughout. Shooter with Mark Wahlberg is an honorable mention with a similar premise.

My favorite Horror movie is Ridley Scott’s Alien. The story follows the crew of the Nostromo, after they foolishly bring a mysterious life form onto their ship. They soon realize that the alien’s life cycle has merely just begun. This movie is all about creature design, dread, suspense, and isolation. Alien is a homerun horror flick, and is followed up with an equally amazing sequel!

My favorite Science Fiction movie is Christopher Nolan’s Inception. This movie explores a world where it’s possible infiltrate someone’s subconscious through their dreams and either gain information or plant ideas in their head. This high concept premise is not only astounding when visualized, but it also rewards repeat viewings. For that reason, Inception is at the very top of my favorite sci-fi films, which also happens to be my favorite genre!

Last, but certainly not least is the Action genre! My favorite Action movie of all time is John McTiernan’s Die Hard. The story follows an NYPD officer who gets caught in the middle of a hostage situation during a terrorist’s heist of the fictional Nakatomi Plaza. The dialogue is endlessly quotable and the action is both exciting and well balanced throughout the film. This is a must watch for casual filmgoers and movie buffs alike! The Matrix is an honorable mention for both the Action and Sci-Fi genres.