Sight and Sound 2012 Poll

[braex27]

The results of the 'Sight and Sound' 2012 critics' poll and directors' poll for the top 10 films of all time have been released.

The Critics’ Top 10
1. Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958)
2. Citizen Kane (Welles, 1941)
3. Tokyo Story (Yasujiro Ozu, 1953)
4. The Rules of the Game (Jean Renoir, 1939)
5. Sunrise: A Song for Two Humans (F.W. Murnau, 1927)
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
7. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956)
8. Man with a Movie Camera (Dziga Vertov, 1929)
9. The Passion of Joan of Arc (Carl Th. Dreyer, 1927)
10. 8 ½ (Federico Fellini, 1963)

The Directors’ Top 10
1. Tokyo Story (Ozu, 1953)
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Kubrick, 1968)
2. Citizen Kane (Welles, 1941)
4. 8 ½ (Fellini, 1963)
5. Taxi Driver (Scorsese, 1976)
6. Apocalypse Now (Coppola, 1979)
7. The Godfather (Coppola, 1972)
7. Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958)
9. Mirror (Tarkovsky, 1974)
10. Bicycle Thieves (De Sica, 1948)

 

[braex27]

I am not too surprised with any of the entries in the lists, though I must confess I have not seen Searchers, Man with a Movie Camera, Passion of Joan of Arc, Apocalypse Now and Mirror.

I am glad to see Sunrise: A Song for Two Humans on the list. Such a wonderful film.

 

[Yves]

Great thread. Thanks for the list.

I am glad to see Sunrise: A Song for Two Humans on the list. Such a wonderful film.

Same here. Sunrise (1927) is wonderful. I saw it a couple of years ago for the first time. The UK 2009 DVD/Blu-ray edition by "Masters of Cinema" is fabulous. Great extras. The Blu-ray is region FREE.
Review and additional details here:
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans Blu-ray - Janet Gaynor

Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) is another favorite. A masterpiece of the silent genre. It is available on DVD in the US ("Criterion Collection") Great edition. Also available on Hulu.
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) - The Criterion Collection

A new UK restored high-definition version was just announced a few weeks ago ("Masters of Cinema") It looks promising.
Catalogue | The Masters of Cinema Series

 

[braex27]

Having reflected on the list, I can't help but feel something's missing from a 'greatest films' list which does not include any Kurosawa films. In particular, I am thinking of Ikiru.

 

[unloadonme]

It strikes me that many of those who voted wished to appear erudite than we might otherwise think them to be by voting for the most obscure films they could think of.

 

[braex27]

I don't agree. With the possible exception of Sunrise, Man with a Movie Camera, Passion of Joan of Arc and Mirror, the other films are well-known or at least known-of by many people if for no other reason than many have been parodied or featured on The Simpsons.

Don't blame obscurity because you don't like films with subtitles.

 

[unloadonme]

Subtitles aside and with the added benefit of being sober (which was far from the case last night), I still think the lists are the result of people showing off and are extremely pretentious as a result.