19) Pan’s Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro, 2006)

Guillermo del Toro’s beautifully poetic tale of a young girl’s courage against all odds, Pan’s Labyrinth is part magical fantasy and part strikingly real drama. Set just after the Spanish Civil War, we follow Ofelia as she visits her stepfather’s army camp with her heavily pregnant mother. As the madness and reality of conflict sets in around her, she envisions a mythical faun who sets her three tasks to prove she is an immortal princess. Ofelia must finish these tasks to escape the world in which she lives; one in which war, sickness and cold brutality are a part of everyday life. Encountering various creatures along the way, Ofelia is faced with tough decisions about what is most important to her. An exceptional film, Pan’s Labyrinth contains an incredibly moving and bittersweet ending, and is a testament to del Toro’s abilities as a master storyteller; essential. 9/10

18) The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)

Francis Ford Coppola’s first masterpiece is a stunningly eloquent and compelling story on the nature of family, power and greed. One of the most revered and beloved films ever made, The Godfather transcends it’s gangster setting to tell the story of a man who is unwittingly destined to follow in the footsteps of his father. Vito Corleone is the aging head of a New York crime family, whose influence within America stretches far and wide. When an attempt is made on the Don’s life, the whole family must pull together. Vito’s youngest son Michael, a war hero, involves himself in family affairs and makes a decision which will change his life. The cast is phenomenal, especially Marlon Brando in an iconic turn as Vito Corleone and Al Pacino as Michael, a man whose character arc is beautifully realised. A wonderful collection of talents, the film boasts remarkable cinematography from Gordon Willis and an instantly recognisable score from Nino Rota. One of only a handful of films that can claim to be the best ever made; essential. 10/10

17) Casino Royale (Martin Campbell, 2006)

A fantastically well conceived ‘reboot,’ Casino Royale reinstated James Bond as a tough and ruthless agent fighting a dangerous enemy; whilst maintaining a great sense of humour and flare. Stripping the series of any needless excess, it channelled the previous 44 years of 007 into a 21st century package which exceeded any contemporary thriller. Nobody had seen a Bond film this good since the early days of Sean Connery, or perhaps ever. Daniel Craig approached the main role brilliantly; bringing back a physicality to the character as well as an inexperienced and vulnerable side we had never seen before. The main storyline is preposterous, but importantly it works, and the script is helped by having Ian Fleming’s debut novel as a backbone. The action sequences are enthralling and breath-taking but the film is also strong on character as Bond’s flaws are examined and he falls in love. A brilliantly bold thriller, the film stands as a testament to the courage of the producers and the enduring appeal and legacy of James Bond; essential viewing. 8/10

16) Toy Story (John Lasseter, 1995)

My generation grew up with the Toy Story films; and when I was seven years old, this is where it all began. The first full length computer-generated animation, Toy Story lived up to the hype in both style and substance. The fantastically creative minds at Pixar struck gold with an inventive and iconic mix of adventure, comedy and morality. The film follows a group of toys who come alive when their human owner Andy is not around. Woody is a cowboy and leader of the group, whose authority is challenged by a new toy, the impressive space ranger Buzz Lightyear. When Woody tries to oust Buzz, things go horribly wrong and they embark on a life-changing adventure. The screenplay is fantastically funny and all of the characters are incredibly well developed and voiced. Crucially, it’s success is based on universal themes of belonging, the fear of being replaced and friendship that everyone can relate to. A wonderful film which paved the way for both Pixar, and all other animation, in the years to come; essential. 9/10

15) Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979)

Francis Ford Coppola’s monumental Vietnam epic was his fourth great film of the 1970s. A stunningly real and poignant story about the madness and hallucinogenic qualities of war, it is remembered as one of the best films ever made. Martin Sheen plays Captain Willard, an American army officer charged with sailing up river into Cambodia to kill a rogue American Colonel. Along with an inexperienced and hapless crew, Willard ventures into unknown territory, experiencing increasingly dark, twisted and absurd situations. The film’s climax becomes almost unbearably murky and drawn out, as it does for Willard, before he finally manages to make a move. The screenplay by John Milius is superb; the story having been adapted from Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness.’ The cast are fantastic, especially Robert Duvall as the insane Colonel Kilgore and Marlon Brando as the mysteriously unhinged Colonel Kurtz. A famously troubled shoot, credit has to go to Coppola for reigning in the madness and constructing an outstanding work of art; essential. 9/10

14) The Shawshank Redemption (Frank Darabont, 1994)

Frank Darabont’s outstanding adaptation of the Stephen King short story has grown into one of the most popular and beloved films ever made. An inspiring story of friendship and overcoming hardship, Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins play long term convicts who bond during their stay in Shawshank prison. A fantastically well envisioned film, we follow their struggles over almost twenty years, which is surprisingly engaging and consistently entertaining. The climax feels like a deserved pay-off for both the characters and the audience, and although sentimental, both leads have had to work hard to achieve their ‘redemption.’ Freeman is superb as the quietly charismatic Red, who carries the whole film, and Robbins is great as Andy, a man who learns the hard way how to deal with adversity. The film’s subject matter of hope and maintaining integrity are at the heart of what makes it resonate, and it’s popular classic status will surely only grow in time; essential viewing. 9/10

13) North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)

Hitchcock’s sublime and knowing adventure thriller was made in the middle of a phenomenally creative period in which the director released ‘Vertigo’ the year before and ‘Psycho’ the year after. Whilst those two films are ranked alongside the greatest ever made, North by Northwest is not far behind as one of Hitchcock’s best. A classic case of mistaken identity, Cary Grant plays Roger Thornhill, a man on the run for his life. Wanted by enemy agents and the authorities, he must prove his innocence before it’s too late. To complicate matters, he encounters Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendall, a mysterious woman concealing a deep secret. The superb crop duster plane scene is iconic, as is the thrilling finale on Mount Rushmore. Other notable components include Bernard Herrmann’s stirring score and Ernest Lehmann’s witty, tense and consistently gripping screenplay. A bold and visually stunning technical masterclass from Hitchcock; essential viewing. 9/10

12) Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942)

One of the great American films, Casablanca is a stunning example of classic Hollywood filmmaking at it’s best. Famously viewed as ‘just another studio film’ upon production, a fortuitous combination of events turned Casablanca into one of the most beloved motion pictures of all time. The most enduring theme is the love between Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). However, this isn’t a run of the mill Hollywood romance; this is a tale of a past love which cannot be fully realised. The film takes place within the chaos of unoccupied Casablanca during the second world war as people hope in vain to escape to America. A wonderful mix of cynical humour and political drama, we also follow Lazlo, a freedom fighter crucial to the plight of the Allies, and Strasser, a German Army officer keen to eliminate Lazlo’s influence. A special mention has to go to Claude Rains as the corrupt head of police Captain Renault, who steals the show with great humour. An enduringly iconic film, and one of the best ever made; essential. 10/10

11) Inception (Christopher Nolan, 2010)

Christopher Nolan’s Inception is a testament to both the director/writer’s vision and imagination as a film maker, and the fact that such a daring film could be a blockbuster success. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Dom Cobb, an exiled American and expert ‘extractor’ who infiltrates people’s dreams to steal ideas. He is approached by a Japanese businessman, offering him a safe passage back to America if he achieves ‘Inception,’ to plant an idea in a business rival’s mind. The central theme of the film is about redemption and whether Cobb will achieve it. He is a tragically flawed character who cannot move on from the past and inhabits the world of his memories. A stunning visual feast with an intriguingly outrageous and complex narrative, the film is a bold cinematic experience. The international cast is superb and the ambiguity of the final scene is a wonderfully teasing end; essential viewing. 9/10

10) From Russia With Love (Terence Young, 1963)

For over 50 years, James Bond has been capturing the imagination of the world. Many of my teenage years were spent idolising these films and the unique blend of action, humour, sex and adventure they bring. Whilst not technically great film-making, it’s hard to ignore the iconic style and influence of the early Bond films. Of these, it’s Bond’s second mission, ‘From Russia With Love,’ which comes out on top. A superb mix of jet-setting action and dark intrigue, it features an (almost) believable storyline and some tremendous characters which combine to make a fun and gripping espionage thriller. Sean Connery is on fine form as the suave anti-hero, supported by the charismatic Pedro Armendariz as his ally Kerim Bey. Daniella Bianchi is stunningly beautiful as Bond’s love interest Tatiana Romanova and Lotte Lenya is terrifying as the battleaxe Rosa Klebb. A special mention has to go Robert Shaw as Bond’s villainous equal Donald Grant, whose fight with 007 has to go down as one of the best in film history. A blueprint for all future Bond films, and a sublime escapist adventure; essential. 8/10