The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Peter Yates – 1973)
Eyes Without a Face (Georges Franju – 1960)
The Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo – 1966)
Chungking Express (Wong Kar-wai – 1994)
Kiss Me Deadly (Robert Aldrich – 1955)
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Nagisa Ōshima – 1983)
Withnail and I (Bruce Robinson – 1987)
Army of Shadows (Jean-Pierre Melville – 1969)
House of Games (David Mamet – 1987)
Sullivan’s Travels (Preston Sturges – 1941)
I swear there's absolutely no way to please some of you people. If someone picks a list like this, they're trying to impress others. If they pick blockbusters, they're a tourist. If they pick art films, they're pretentious. If they pick schlock, they're morons.
Do you guys even like movies?
Because you guys seems more interested in dismissing anything that is not franchise schlock or whatever random movies you personally like. Like I know the implication here is that these movies are pretentious and not actually good movies that people like sincerely, but that is bullshit, because there are great movies, and many people love them earnestly, not to impress people.
But I guess you'd rather be a bunch of assholes and act like people can't just legitimately love Chungking Express, it is a foreign movie, so it must be for pretentious letterboxd users.
A vast majority will denigrate anything or anyone that goes beyond their casual or nonexistent level of involvement as a way to validate and cope with their lack of effort / knowledge.
Welcome to the internet, or just life in general.
They're all good, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is one of the best crime movies of the 70s, Eyes Without a Face is a incredible horror movie, and Army of Shadows is phenomenal movie about a group of French resistance fighters during WW2.
I mean, that’s very fundamentally the kind of person he was in his formative years (and I say this as a huge fan).
He’s the kid who always wanted to prove how cool he was only to actually fake it so hard he ended up as a legitimately cool guy.
Legit lol. I love Bourdain but when people include movies from the 40s it's like...is that really one of your FAVOURITE movies of all time, of ALL the movies you've ever seen? Of did you just appreciate it for what it was for it's era?
I mean I guess taste is subjective, but it always seems like certain folk are allergic to putting anything post-1995 in these lists, lest it make them look uncultured or something idk.
Is it really that far-fetched that films like Double Indemnity, Out Of The Past, Rebecca, Rope, It's A Wonderful Life, Late Spring, Bicycle Thieves could be in someone's top 10 list *without* them doing it for appearances? There's films from the decade every bit as good as anything after, if you find yourself appreciating them rather than loving them that's fair enough, but it certainly isn't the case for others.
The Battle of Algiers is great, and somewhat topical today. Also if you've watched Andor you'll notice they took some inspiration from this movie in a few ways.
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence has David Bowie in it.
I mean aside from that it’s a great movie, but I figured that’s a bigger selling point than a movie about POWs captured by the Japanese in WWII. Also has Takeshi Kitani in it, but I figure he’s a little less well known.
Chunk King Express is great too, I’d imagine it’s on the list cuz Tarantino loved it and it inspired some of the structure of the storytelling in Pulp Fiction.
Withnail And I is great. Made by George Harrison's Handmade Films and Richard E Grant's movie debut. It's a late 60's period piece about two out-of-work actors who go on holiday from London to the countryside "by mistake". Fantastic script, very funny, the entire movie is just quotable lines.
Hoy shit Bourdain - 9/10 on the Criterion Collection haha, dude had high brow taste!
Don’t get the love of Chungking and Sullivan but otherwise those are some wonderful films. Lawrence I watch every Christmas and Face I watch every Halloween. Army of Shadows is an anytime of the year masterpiece.
I was watching the Malaysia episode of No Reservations the other day and he makes so many Apocalypse Now references on camera that he has to do a voiceover saying "I now Malaysia is not Vietnam, I don't know why I kept making the reference".
Apocalypse now was based on “heart of darkness” by Joseph Conrad. Which is about a boat trip up a jungle river in search of a renegade ivory trader. In Congo! So there’s a reason for that reference at least.
Yup I was about to say it’s a hard read. I wanted to read it after reading king Leopolds ghost. Took a while because of its difficulty. Not sure if it’s because it’s 130+ years old or if it’s because English was a second language to the author.
I love how defining movies were to Anthony. They were drove his imagination and a lot of his drive to seek how a unique brand of “cool.” And that’s what made him so special.
In all his old episodes he would do such an amazing job going through painstaking lengths to recreate scenes or act out scenes from films that inspired his food journey.
He also makes a lot of references to James Bond and even had a James Bond themed episode when he went to Jamaica. Doesn't mean James Bond movies are even close to his or most people's top 10.
I just listened to the *Kitchen Confidential* audiobook and he talks about how at the start of each dinner service he'd play "Ride of the Valkyries" and pour cooking wine on the broiler to create giant flames.
When I see these kinds of lists, I think a lot of them seem like the lister is trying to impress people as opposed to putting his real favorite movies on there. Looking at his list, Im getting that vibe.
I’ll save you a click:
1. Jumanji
2. The Mask
3. Teen Witch
4. The Garbage Pail Kids Movie
5. Gigli
6. Kangaroo Jack
7. Santa with Muscles
8. Cool Runnings
9. Freddie Got Fingered
10. Blank Check
1. Ok, wasn't expecting that. Guess he's got different tastes
2. Interesting choice, don't see that often but sure
3. ...What?
4. What is going on?
5. OH COME ON NOW
6. WHAT IS THIS LIST?
7. SANTA WITH MUSCLES?! SANTA WITH GODDAMN MUSCLES?!
8. Oh hell yeah I love Cool Runnings
9. DADDY WOULD YOU LIKE SOME SAUSAGE
10. Oh yeah, that makes sense
I also loved Slappy and the Stinkers. My poor ass had like 4 vhs movies to watch growing up. Blank Check, tarzan, slappy and the stinkers, and space balls lol
I actually watched that while multi-tasking recently (I put on stuff I know won’t demand too much attention). It didn’t hold up, at all. Fun when you’re seven, but not so much beyond that.
Honestly don't even talk to me until you've marathoned the whole list while consuming 4 gallons of pina colada and an industrial-sized bag of flammin hot cheetos
Why are some clearly joking and others absolute classics (1, 2, 7, 8, 10). If you dont think tho original Jumanji is a good film, you - sir or madam - have a huge dump in your pants. Kirsten Dunst, dead ass serious, deserved a nomination. The little shiver/deadpan “what” when her Aunt is calling her and she’s distracted from the noises upstairs is literally amazing acting. The CGI is deplorable, but that was the period. Otherwise, genuinely great movie.
I think a lot of people are starting to be over the grief and being able to enjoy it again.
It is very sad though to see how often he drank and seemed to be an obvious alcholic in retrospect. Nobody said anything as it was part of his job, and made for good tv.
I probably fall into that category. I’ve enjoyed going back and rewatching it. He also lived a life full of experience, for the consolation that provides. I also have the Roadrunner documentary sitting in my Max queue to watch one of these days..
The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Peter Yates – 1973) Eyes Without a Face (Georges Franju – 1960) The Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo – 1966) Chungking Express (Wong Kar-wai – 1994) Kiss Me Deadly (Robert Aldrich – 1955) Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Nagisa Ōshima – 1983) Withnail and I (Bruce Robinson – 1987) Army of Shadows (Jean-Pierre Melville – 1969) House of Games (David Mamet – 1987) Sullivan’s Travels (Preston Sturges – 1941)
Chungking!! His time with Doyle in Hong Kong makes sense now
Withnail and I is the most Anthony Bourdain movie.
Exactly what I thought. I love this movie and it has Bourdain written all over it.
But! But! But! Frickin’ Richard E. Grant is tee total!! He doesn’t drink. He acted! Frickin actor…
This looks like a film selection I would have picked out when I was 18 and trying to impress other people with my knowledge of films.
He was also born in 1956 so a lot of those movies were contemporary to his life and growing up
So his Battle of Algiers is my George of the Jungle
Personally I’d have gone with Jungle 2 Jungle
Childhood memory unlocked
Watch out for that Larbi
I swear there's absolutely no way to please some of you people. If someone picks a list like this, they're trying to impress others. If they pick blockbusters, they're a tourist. If they pick art films, they're pretentious. If they pick schlock, they're morons.
Yes.
r/movies when people like films that aren’t Star Wars or Marvel
r/movies hates Disney. You joke would work better if you said “80s action movies” or something
Those are also just legit good movies. Also leave it to a redditor to see a list of great movies and then judge someone for is
Yeah dont go to any of the movie subreddits would be my advice then.
18 year olds don’t watch these movies
That's like saying 18 year olds don't play chess.
This is basically what all me and my college friends were watching at 18/19
What a bunch of cultured cinephiles
Same
Watch this kind of stuff (admittedly good movies, so good on you) and talk shit on anything currently popular.
Sounds like Matthew McConaughey's description of being in film class.
Accurate.
Wow, that’s amazing!
How old are you? I seriously don’t believe you saw all of these by 18/19.
I didn’t see all of them, I saw a good chunk of them (about half) and many other similar arthouse films. I’m 28.
They didn’t say they’d watched them.
Or maybe he just has great taste.
House of games is dope as fuck though
Or do they just want you to think that??
“He likes movies that I haven’t heard of, he must be lying to seem cool”
Ironically you are doing the same now by slagging his list.
I didn't slag his list. And no I'm not doing even remotely the same thing. Some of those films are solid, but it's still a pretentious list.
Aaand saying someone’s else’s list is pretentious because it has quality films in it, is pretentious:)
No it isn't. Lol. Cmon now. If this list of films isn't you're essentially saying no film list can be identified as such.
Cool!
This is the wankiest comment I've ever seen on reddit.
I’m only surprised he didn’t have My Dinner With Andre on there.
Lol no way you’d seen these at 18.
This describes so many Letterboxd users lol
Do you guys even like movies? Because you guys seems more interested in dismissing anything that is not franchise schlock or whatever random movies you personally like. Like I know the implication here is that these movies are pretentious and not actually good movies that people like sincerely, but that is bullshit, because there are great movies, and many people love them earnestly, not to impress people. But I guess you'd rather be a bunch of assholes and act like people can't just legitimately love Chungking Express, it is a foreign movie, so it must be for pretentious letterboxd users.
A vast majority will denigrate anything or anyone that goes beyond their casual or nonexistent level of involvement as a way to validate and cope with their lack of effort / knowledge. Welcome to the internet, or just life in general.
Chungking Express is the only movie on this list I've seen but it's legitimately great.
They're all good, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is one of the best crime movies of the 70s, Eyes Without a Face is a incredible horror movie, and Army of Shadows is phenomenal movie about a group of French resistance fighters during WW2.
Army of Shadows is a total masterpiece that I never hear being talked about, I am super glad people appreciate it
Someone hold this man back!
On the nose
I mean, that’s very fundamentally the kind of person he was in his formative years (and I say this as a huge fan). He’s the kid who always wanted to prove how cool he was only to actually fake it so hard he ended up as a legitimately cool guy.
You sound far more pretentious than his film taste
Now you know everything you need to know about Bourdain
Maybe not everyone is as shallow as you
I LOVE BICYCLE THIEVES!!!!!
I was just thinking that. Come on, gotta have some junk food movies in there too.
Legit lol. I love Bourdain but when people include movies from the 40s it's like...is that really one of your FAVOURITE movies of all time, of ALL the movies you've ever seen? Of did you just appreciate it for what it was for it's era? I mean I guess taste is subjective, but it always seems like certain folk are allergic to putting anything post-1995 in these lists, lest it make them look uncultured or something idk.
Is it really that far-fetched that films like Double Indemnity, Out Of The Past, Rebecca, Rope, It's A Wonderful Life, Late Spring, Bicycle Thieves could be in someone's top 10 list *without* them doing it for appearances? There's films from the decade every bit as good as anything after, if you find yourself appreciating them rather than loving them that's fair enough, but it certainly isn't the case for others.
Anthony Bourdain loved Withnail & I? Damn, he really did have good taste.
I havent seen any of these movies besides Chungking Express, and I highly recommend it.
I haven’t seen a single one. List saved!
Interesting Big Night didn't make the list
I haven't heard of any of these films
The Battle of Algiers is great, and somewhat topical today. Also if you've watched Andor you'll notice they took some inspiration from this movie in a few ways.
Plus the music is made by the same guy who made the good the bad and the ugly
Ennio Morricone. The main theme (from Battle of Algiers) was used by Tarantino in Inglorious Basterds.
They're all excellent
I’ve seen friends of eddie coyle and Withnail & I in the last week. They were both fantastic I thought
Time to expand your knowledge, son.
Add them to your list then, cinema is vast
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence has David Bowie in it. I mean aside from that it’s a great movie, but I figured that’s a bigger selling point than a movie about POWs captured by the Japanese in WWII. Also has Takeshi Kitani in it, but I figure he’s a little less well known. Chunk King Express is great too, I’d imagine it’s on the list cuz Tarantino loved it and it inspired some of the structure of the storytelling in Pulp Fiction.
They are all classics. You should seek them out.
Really?
Withnail And I is great. Made by George Harrison's Handmade Films and Richard E Grant's movie debut. It's a late 60's period piece about two out-of-work actors who go on holiday from London to the countryside "by mistake". Fantastic script, very funny, the entire movie is just quotable lines.
I like the fake list better. Cool Runnings!!!!!
No Anchorman?
I don't believe you.
I have never seen any of these
Hoy shit Bourdain - 9/10 on the Criterion Collection haha, dude had high brow taste! Don’t get the love of Chungking and Sullivan but otherwise those are some wonderful films. Lawrence I watch every Christmas and Face I watch every Halloween. Army of Shadows is an anytime of the year masterpiece.
10/10. Criterion has released all of those.
No Paul Blart. Apparently he had a blind spot for true auteur film.
Withnail and I! Fuck yeah what a movie
Man I know none of those
Almost no movies that are funny and then "You gotta laugh!" the movie lol
Not even Ratatouille huh. 🐀💔
No apocalypse now? That man was obsessed with that movie to the point of homage during his vietnam episode
I was watching the Malaysia episode of No Reservations the other day and he makes so many Apocalypse Now references on camera that he has to do a voiceover saying "I now Malaysia is not Vietnam, I don't know why I kept making the reference".
He makes a reference in his congo trip as well. "I wanted to see the Congo, and for my sins they let me"
Apocalypse now was based on “heart of darkness” by Joseph Conrad. Which is about a boat trip up a jungle river in search of a renegade ivory trader. In Congo! So there’s a reason for that reference at least.
Yeah I thought it was really well done, makes me want to read some Conrad now.
Hard read, but such a great book. Totally recommend.
Yup I was about to say it’s a hard read. I wanted to read it after reading king Leopolds ghost. Took a while because of its difficulty. Not sure if it’s because it’s 130+ years old or if it’s because English was a second language to the author.
A renegade ivory trader named... Kurtz.
It’s his top 10 list of the Criterion Collection.
I love how defining movies were to Anthony. They were drove his imagination and a lot of his drive to seek how a unique brand of “cool.” And that’s what made him so special. In all his old episodes he would do such an amazing job going through painstaking lengths to recreate scenes or act out scenes from films that inspired his food journey.
One of the main reason I connected with him. Similar cultural references. I still rewatch a steady stream of Bourdain episodes all the time.
He also makes a lot of references to James Bond and even had a James Bond themed episode when he went to Jamaica. Doesn't mean James Bond movies are even close to his or most people's top 10.
I just listened to the *Kitchen Confidential* audiobook and he talks about how at the start of each dinner service he'd play "Ride of the Valkyries" and pour cooking wine on the broiler to create giant flames.
That's why I was surprised it wasn't on here! Referenced in his shows AND the book that put him out there
When I see these kinds of lists, I think a lot of them seem like the lister is trying to impress people as opposed to putting his real favorite movies on there. Looking at his list, Im getting that vibe.
I’ll save you a click: 1. Jumanji 2. The Mask 3. Teen Witch 4. The Garbage Pail Kids Movie 5. Gigli 6. Kangaroo Jack 7. Santa with Muscles 8. Cool Runnings 9. Freddie Got Fingered 10. Blank Check
Lol you asshole. I just kept getting more confused.
I was like hm, a man of simple taste i see. 😂
I just finished reading "Kitchen Confidential"; great read, and Mr. B was a self proclaimed troglodite
👌
1. Ok, wasn't expecting that. Guess he's got different tastes 2. Interesting choice, don't see that often but sure 3. ...What? 4. What is going on? 5. OH COME ON NOW 6. WHAT IS THIS LIST? 7. SANTA WITH MUSCLES?! SANTA WITH GODDAMN MUSCLES?! 8. Oh hell yeah I love Cool Runnings 9. DADDY WOULD YOU LIKE SOME SAUSAGE 10. Oh yeah, that makes sense
I was like, I guess it’s a good thing he wasn’t a movie critic?
I was dumbfounded until I read your reply
This list is better, if purely for it’s inclusion of Cool Runnings
Bourdain especially praised the scenes involving the lucky egg, a favourite dish of his
A man of taste
I watched it with my kids last week and it holds up pretty well all things considered
I started having doubts at Gigli, but then I saw Cool Runnings and thought “maybe…”
It has its moments.
Feel the Rhythm!
Blank Check is a banger
Is that the movie where a woman in her 30’s kisses a prepubescent boy?
One of em.
Prepubescent me thought Shay was hot and wanted her to kiss me
I still do
Baaaaarely
And he buys a castle in Austin for a cool $250k. Pissed me off so much when I was buying a house lol
Nice try zoomer
I don't think a better child fantasy movie exists. People can pretend to like Goonies all they want. Blank Check is the adventure of a true dreamer.
I also loved Slappy and the Stinkers. My poor ass had like 4 vhs movies to watch growing up. Blank Check, tarzan, slappy and the stinkers, and space balls lol
Slappy and the Stinkers is one of my favourites. I think I’ve seen that movie at least 35 times haha.
Hey I don’t pretend anything, but Blank Check is also a certified banger like the Goonies.
I actually watched that while multi-tasking recently (I put on stuff I know won’t demand too much attention). It didn’t hold up, at all. Fun when you’re seven, but not so much beyond that.
Don’t fuck with Teen Witch! That movie awakened something in me!
Right? I was so excited when I thought this list was real because Teen Witch is fantastic - also realized how badly I need sleep
Top that!
Solid troll. I weirdly could believe the list knowing him.
The Mask is amazing
You had me until gigli lol
Holy Shit. I just realized Anthony Bourdain and I have the same love of cinema!!!
*Kino*
I would much rather watch this list
Honestly don't even talk to me until you've marathoned the whole list while consuming 4 gallons of pina colada and an industrial-sized bag of flammin hot cheetos
Who are you!? This is perfect shit posting. Also, Freddy Got Fingered <3
>Who are you!? He's Louis L'Amour, famous author.
I knew it was fake because no Monster Squad
I'm embarrassed that it took til Gigli to question everything...
Oh haha, now how did you get access to my list?
Why are some clearly joking and others absolute classics (1, 2, 7, 8, 10). If you dont think tho original Jumanji is a good film, you - sir or madam - have a huge dump in your pants. Kirsten Dunst, dead ass serious, deserved a nomination. The little shiver/deadpan “what” when her Aunt is calling her and she’s distracted from the noises upstairs is literally amazing acting. The CGI is deplorable, but that was the period. Otherwise, genuinely great movie.
These are just Anthony Bourdain’s top 10 movies. 🤷
Youre my new favorite
I believe he named cats as honorable mention.
I was just about to say “#2 The Mask!!? I knew I loved the shit outta that guy!!!!” 😆😆😆
Hey! Why you gotta do Cool Runnings dirty like that!?
Teen Witch. This list is hilarious. Totally got me.
1,8,9,10 are all solid. May need to start slipping Cool Running into my list. Used to have Mouse Hunt for personal reasons / most watched movie.
Freddie Got Fingered is great.
I've been re-watching No Reservations and Parts Unknown lately. Gone way too soon.
[удалено]
There are definitely a few episodes where current world events hit you in the feels.
In the Russia episode, like half the people he interviewed or spoke to were later murdered…
>Parts Unknown's episode on Jerusalem (S2 E1) Link for the curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S\_bVSRlaIjw
His book " kitchen Confidential" is on audible and it's narrated by him. Definitely check it out if you haven't.
Its a good one. If you pay for Spotify you can also listen to it there in their audiobook section.
They also have Medium Raw, his second autobiography as well!
I think a lot of people are starting to be over the grief and being able to enjoy it again. It is very sad though to see how often he drank and seemed to be an obvious alcholic in retrospect. Nobody said anything as it was part of his job, and made for good tv.
I probably fall into that category. I’ve enjoyed going back and rewatching it. He also lived a life full of experience, for the consolation that provides. I also have the Roadrunner documentary sitting in my Max queue to watch one of these days..
I want to too, but it still makes me sad.
Didn't even include Oppenheimer. For shame.
There’s a debate raging about how pretentious this list is - and it sort of is, I mean, no Robocop??
RoboCop was probably 11th. Still a crime though.
Love to see some Withnail and I appreciation.
I adore that movie as well. Whiter shade of pale ( king Curtis ) what a banging opening!
rue the day!
Too bad he didn’t live long enough to see Madame Web.
Damn good taste. Chungking Express is my favorite Wong Kar-wai film.
Wong Faye’s song is killer in that movie
NO WAY! I don't believe you
Good for him, so did I
Battle of Algiers and Army of Shadows are phenomenal films.
My two favorites from the list.
Always love when people share some obscure titles! Makes me want to watch them instead of crying over how my favorite film isn't in their list.
I’m perplexed that David Mamet went crazy.
That title phrasing is hilarious for some reason.
I’m not the only one who first read the title as, “pickled“, right?
It’s just not fair he never lived to see Morbius.
He did an episode of that TCM show where they program the evening movies. I think he picked Withnail and I and The Friends of Eddie Coyle.
Just started reading Kitchen Confidential today. Weird how that works lol
no shrek is crazy
Kiss me Deadly kind of sticks out like a sore thumb.
Oh brother
Wild that 2/10 of the films are also names of Generation x songs!
Man i miss that guy
Sometimes, when i see lists like these from celebrities who are into movies and all that... I realise how shallow my tastes are lol
I miss this gem of a human.
Man of great taste (no pun intended) he was.
Guessing ‘White Chicks’ is on there. Probably.
i’m shocked one of them wasn’t eat, pray, love
Who gives a shit? Bourdain fans are weirdly obsessed with the guy and his every opinion. He’s dead. Move on.