26: The Untouchables

If there's any doubt that this blog moonlights as an advertising outlet for CHUD.com then this post should do to that uncertainty what reality did to TV.

Noel Gallagher once sang "true perfection has to be imperfect." Whether you agree or not, there's no denying he's in the majority. One need only look at movie fans for evidence. Self-professed cinephiles are often associated with a paradoxical taste discrepancy. They praise classics new and old alike, (say, Once and The Graduate) before adding "I can't wait to ogle Sienna Miller's baps in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra!" Moreover, such fans will often count flawed genre properties amongst their favourite films ever, knowingly, legitimately defending them as above critical reproach.

The notion that a movie can be "perfect" despite a flaw or two isn't radical. It's, essentially, an extension (or variation) of the label "popcorn movie." Rather than being a term used to describe the type of film though, this breed of "perfect" cinema is "popcorn" in the sense that it's a source of entertainment first and foremost, an example of the end outweighing the sum of its parts. Pure movie, if you will. Drop into your local pub or coffee house and you might well hear something to the effect of "I know the tangent with Dennies Haysbert's getaway driver isn't essential but it's part of what makes Heat so perfect."

Why not liberate yourself from formulaic Channel 4 100 Greatest List territory by reading this list and getting in on the discussion with kindred spirits? See if you can spot the guy championing Office Space's chunky running time, while you're at it. Before you go... behold!

5 of Ian's "Perfect" Movies... with annotations!*
(In no particular order)

1. Annie Hall (1977.) Dir. Woody Allen. Club Med for neurotic zingers, insightful, touching, hilarious.
   
2. Re-Animator (1985.) Dir. Stuart Gordon. Four words: "cat dead; details later?!"
   
3. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986.) Dir. John Hughes. Most films are lucky to have one legendary performance. This has two: Jeffrey Jones and Alan Ruck. It's also the pick of "the Brat Pack" oeuvre.
   
4. Starship Troopers (1997.) Dir. Paul Verhoeven.** Devin really called it with this, in the original article. Still a benchmark for pulp sci-fi actioners.
   
5. Chasing Amy (1997.) Dir. Kevin Smith. The film his detractors say he peaked with. An endearing, supremely quotable charmer with what should have been a star-making turn from Jason Lee.
   

After reading this article, maybe you'll feel like sharing your own "perfect" movies here. Or maybe you'll want to bust my balls for not featuring older movies. Be my guest in the comments section below, movie Nazi!

* I'm trying not to repeat myself, so no Office Space or Heat.
** This wasn't an easy choice, as the mercurial Dutchman could easily warrant a list of his own.

--

Ian Pratt is looking forward to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. He's really more of a Rachel Nichols fan, though.