10 Best Movies Turning 50 In 2022 | Screen Rant
Timeless classics like The Godfather and Deliverance celebrated their fiftieth this year. Sci-fi, dark comedy and epic fantasy are all represented.
With so many exciting movies being released year after year, not to mention the prevalence of the MCU, there are plenty of things for movie fans to look forward to. But cinephiles would be remiss if they didn't check out some all-time classics that turn fifty this year.
From the quintessential mobster movie to one of the most memorable thrillers ever, 1972 was a great year for filmmaking. While some of these movies show their age more than others, they're all filled with timeless themes and unforgettable characters. Even half a century later, these flicks are worth checking out or delving back into.
Play It Again, Sam features Woody Allen and Diane Keaton as divorced writer Allan Felix and his best friend's wife, Linda Christie. After watching the film Casablanca, Allan is inspired to be like and is visited by visions from its main character, Humphrey Bogart. With Bogart's advice, Allen attempts to pursue his romantic interests.
Named after one of the most misquoted movie catchphrases ever, this Woody Allen comedy has all the things that have made him one of the most revered comedic minds of his generation: Razor-sharp dialogue, a casual surreality, and the performance of an inadequate and neurotic misanthrope the likes of which only Allen could deliver.
Jeremiah Johnson features Robert Redford and Will Geer as war-veteran-turned-mountain-man, Jeremiah Johnson, and his mentor, "Bear Claw" Chris Lapp. While trying to help the people that he encounters, Johnson becomes locked in a bloody feud with a tribal chief.
Based on the legendary John "Liver-Eating" Johnson, this film was the first western to be entered into the famous Cannes Film Festival and takes viewers on an emotional journey of survival and resiliency. Indeed, the movie has a lot more going for it than just being the source of the Nodding Guy meme, and it's easily one of Redford's best movie roles.
Love In The Afternoon features Bernard Verley and Zouzou as married businessman Frédéric Carrelet and his ex-girlfriend, Chloé. After reuniting with a recently homeless Chloé, Carrelet is torn between their spontaneous passion and his eternal love for his wife.
This French film, originally titled L'Amour l'après-mid, was released to North American audiences as "Chloe in the Afternoon". It is the sixth film of writer/director Eric Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales" series and carries his signature style into one of his finest works. His deliberate pacing, authentically engaging dialogue and character-driven plot are all on display in this timeless romance.
Deliverance features Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds as friends Ed Gentry and Lewis Medlock. After canoeing down a Georgian river with their two other friends, the group encounters a pair of dangerous and despicable mountain men.
While the graphic nature of the film certainly isn't for all viewers, the movie was an immediate hit for the gripping tension that increases at a masterful pace. Voight and Reynolds deliver powerful performances, and even half a century later, Deliverance has many things that still hold up to this day.
Cabaret features Liza Minnelli and Michael York as dancer Sally Bowles and writer Brian Roberts. After Brian moves into Sally's boarding house, the pair begin a romantic relationship that is soon complicated by the presence of a third party.
This musical comedy is set in 1931 Berlin, and the dramatic irony of knowing how quickly fascism rises around them yields a surprising amount of humor. Liza Minelli is at her absolute best, and she sings and dances her way into the hearts of those around her. This performance embedded her in the hearts of many fans as well.
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie features Fernando Rey and Paul Frankeur as high-class colleagues, Rafael Acosta and Francois Thevenot. At a fancy dinner party for the social elite, strange occurrences persist to interrupt their attempts to enjoy their meals and conversations.
The surrealist style with which one scene proceeds to the next in this film is what keeps the roughly 90-minute social gathering so interesting to watch. The film was a critical hit for how it critiqued the entitled arrogance of the bourgeoisie, and there were even plans to remake the film into a musical by Steven Sondheim.
Aguirre, The Wrath of God features Klause Kinski and Helena Rojo as Lope de Aguirre and Ines de Atienza. The Spanish conquistador Aguirre faces off against friend and foe while on a perilous journey to find the fabled Seven Cities of Gold.
This cult classic is one of the most unique and influential films ever made and is rife with interesting behind-the-scenes controversies regarding its development. Legendary director Werner Herzog had his hands full with the rebellious Kinski but went on to create one of his very best movies.
Solaris features Donatas Banionis and Natalya Bondarchuk as psychologist Kris Kelvin and his deceased wife, Hari. Kelvin is sent to investigate the well-being of astronauts on the Solaris space station and experiences seemingly supernatural occurrences.
Based on Stanislaw Lem's 1961 novel of the same name, this film uses the science fiction genre to draw audiences into a tense, emotional journey that was decades ahead of its time. Solaris is considered by many to be the greatest work of Andrei Tarkovsky, the legendary Russian writer/director.
The Dawns Here Are Quiet features Andrey Martynov and Yelena Drapeko as Soviet soldiers Sergeant Vaskov and Lisa Britschkina during the Second World War. After seeking a more disciplined caliber of a soldier, Vaskov is surprised to receive an all-female troop.
Earning an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, this movie uses colorful flashbacks to show the former lives of the soldiers. These lively depictions of the relationships and dreams they once hard contrast starkly with the greyed-out war-torn present. Few war films succeed in making viewers care so deeply for the safety of their characters.
The Godfather features Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as mob boss Vito Corleone and his youngest son, Michael. After Vito is hospitalized by a rival crime family, Michael grows into his role as the Corleone kingpin, ruthlessly securing power in 1940's New York City.
No amount of effusive praise would ever seem excessive with regard to The Godfather. It's inarguably considered one of the greatest films of all time, and the record-breaking box-office numbers compliment a bevy of Academy Award wins and nominations. Legends of the industry such as Francis Ford Coppola, Brando, Pacino, James Caan, and Robert Duvall help make this a truly timeless classic, and the star-studded cast is just one of many things that still hold up.