Beyond the Canon results now posted — Not your usual 100 best films

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Chris Nelson

Earlier this year Iain Stott of the One-Line Review challenged a group of over 150 internet film critics to help come up with a list of the top 100 films not on standard best-of cinema lists (Your usual Goddard and Truffaut staples were almost completely off limits). Kris and I were lucky enough to be two of the participants, and after months of deliberation and voting, the results have finally been posted. The lists from everyone proved wildly diverse, with each participant submitting up to 100 films for consideration, and covering everything from oft overlooked gems to the guiltiest guilty pleasures, but amazingly the resulting list is fairly solid. Any list that includes Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as its number four film is more than okay in my book.

You can head on over to Beyond the Canon to check out all the recommended films. While there, be sure to check out the introduction to the project, the official 100, and the list of all films that received four or more votes. And finally, be sure to check out Kris and my individual lists. You’ll find that there are a number of films on each that either of us were the sole supporter of (ie: The Young Poisoner’s Handbook and The Cremaster Cycle).

In making our lists we tried to make sure to include films that we not only loved, but films that we would be willing to sit down and watch again at the drop of a hat. Still, despite the months of deliberation and list-making, certain of our favorite films completely escaped our minds, while others simply got lost in the editing and revision shuffle. For example, if you look at our lists closely, you’ll notice the conspicuous absence of Fallen Angels. Though we chalk these omissions up to time pressures, we fully intend to post a revised list here on the site of our personal top 100 films.

For now, enjoy the lists.