Amanda's Top 10 All-time Favourite Films

Amanda's Top 10 Favourite Movies (in no particular order, but Waiting for Guffman always comes first. Always. ('With a 20% chance of rain. Always.')

Waiting for Guffman

Entirely improvised, Christopher Guest (of Spinal Tap fame) directs and heads the cast in this, the greatest story ever told. The residents of the fictional town of Blaine, Missouri are about to celebrate the town's 150th anniversary by 'putting on a show'. Hiring local drama teacher and off-off-Broadway veteran 'Corky St Claire' (Guest) to direct, Red White and Blaine thinks its "headin' for Broad-way!" We know better. A priceless gem, W4G is quite simply the funniest film ever made. And if you don't rent it NOW… 'Then I just HATE you, and I hate your ASS FACE!' (Corky St Claire.)

Film's Ultimate Message: Know your limits.

To Sir, With Love

Suave Sidney Poitier stars as 'Sir', a highly-trained top-notch engineer who can't get a job in Swinging England because he's black. Instead, he is forced to teach a bunch of Mod yobs at an East End secondary school. Stunned to find LULU in his classroom (who wouldn't be?), 'Sir' is at first confused - later angry - and ultimately triumphant, guiding the youngsters to a hopefully better life. A groovy tear-jerker with a healthy dash of a go-go and a soundtrack by The Mindbenders. A+ (Please see me.)

Film's Ultimate Message: We're all put here for a purpose; go find yours.

The Draughtsman's Contract

Peter Greenaway's sumptuous view of lust and murder in a 17th Century English country garden. Sexy and intelligent, The Draughtman's Contract will answer all your periwig cravings.

Film's Ultimate Message: Don't get too big for your boots.

Camelot

Richard Harris stars as a hip King Arthur, Vanessa Redgrave is his 'bird', and David Hemmings is a mod Mordred in this lavish musical production. More Carnaby than Celtic, the Sixties feel is omnipresent throughout, but only adds to the glory of it all. 'Don't let it be forgot that once there was a spot…'

Film's Ultimate Message: Might for Right.

Don't Look Now

Eerie retelling of Daphne du Maurier's short story, Don't Look Now finds a recently bereft Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland in a wintry Venice populated by blind psychics, midgets with daggers and their own, dead daughter. Scary enough for you?

Film's Ultimate Message: Listen to your instincts.

Charade

Audrey Hepburn is the girl. Cary Grant is the boy. Paris is the setting. Mancini wrote the music, and Walter Matteau lends comic relief. Can it get any better than this? (And will the real Charles Lampert please stand up.)

Film's Ultimate Message: Everyone should know at least a little something about stamp collecting.

Planet of the Apes

Although this movie has recently been a bit 'spoilt' for me through an encounter with an obsessed fan (of the movie, that is - certainly not of me!), P.O.T.A was my own childhood obsession, and must therefore be included in this list. Charlton Heston stars as a cynical astronaut who lands on an alien planet and encounters all manner of monkey business. The films final shot makes it all worth while.

Film's Ultimate Message: Be nice to minorities.

What's Up, Doc?

A kookie Barbra Striesand stars in this tribute to 'the screwball comedy' involving art dealers, spies, geologists and Madeleine Kahn. All are staying at the same San Franciscan hotel - and all have identical suitcases. 'Feel a plot coming on?

Film's Ultimate Message: Never buy cheap luggage.

Billy Liar

Tom Courtney plays pathological liar Billy Fisher in this tragi-comedy set in a bleak, Northern town in the early sixties. An absolute classic of the 'kitchen sink' genre, Julie Christie co-stars as the girl who tries to save Billy from his Life of Lyin'. And it's all terribly funny. And it's all terribly sad.

Film's Ultimate Message: Follow your dreams ('else they're worthless.)

Entertaining Mr Sloane

I find it difficult to express how much I love this insane, warped movie, exceeding as it does the highest level on my 'like-o-meter'. Based on the Joe Orton play, Beryl Reid steals the show as the stupid old bag who discovers a young and handsome hooligan (Mr Sloane) sunbathing on a gravestone and decides to take him home. Her brother is delighted, but "The Dada" is not best pleased. Verging on the surreal, Entertaining Mr Sloane is disturbing - and disturbingly funny. 'I blame the manufacturers'.

Film's Ultimate Message: There are good reason why 'morality' was invented!

It's A Wonderful Life

I know this will probably be on every Kittens in Underpants Top Ten Film list, but that doesn't stop it being on mine. The ultimate Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful life stars Jimmy Stewart as the put-upon George Bailey who discovers that - not matter how shitty life is - it's not to be missed.

Film's Ultimate Message: We all know this one.

Quest for Fire

Jean-Pierre Arnaud's fabulously imaginative movie tells the tale of a group of Neanderthals living rough on the Neolithic tundra. Unable to make fire, the tribe must rely upon the eternal flame they've kept burning forever. Accidentally extinguished, three less-than-cerebral tribesmen head out to find some more, their journey across a prehistoric landscape of Woolly Mammoths and 'missing links' leading them to a discovery far greater than a broken Bic and a packet of Bryant and May. The wonderful Ron Perlman stars. Come on baby, light my fire.

Film's Ultimate Message: Ug!

Jealousy, Italian Style ('Drama della Jalousia')

This film is a mystery. It is unavailable on video, and I've only seen it once (on the telly, and quite by chance.) Marcello Mastroianni stars as an Italian garbage man who falls in love with a crazy, suicidal Italian girl called 'Adelaide'. In turn, a young and handsome pizza chef falls in love with her, too, and the three decide to have a 'menage a trois' relationship. Obviously, they can't; they're Italian. A comedy as black as an espresso and as twisted as a plate of spaghetti, Jealousy, Italian Style beggars the question 'WHY was the film ever made?!' I don't know the answer - but I'm very glad that it was!
(And if anyone out there has it on video….)

Film's Ultimate Message: Italian's are nuts!

Georgy Girl

Lynn Redgrave stars as the plump-but-perky Georgy in this Swinging English look at love. Alan Bates and James Mason co-star as rivals for her attentions, whilst Charlotte Rampling plays Georgie's mean and beautiful flat-mate. Please note the groovy title sequence.

Film's Ultimate Message: Looks matter.

Okay. I cheated. There's 14 of them.)