There are rules to a good Top 5 list—guidelines, if you will.
1) The best test for greatness is time. I have a two-year rule.
2) Honorable mentions are for suckers. Pick five and stick with it!
3) It’s hard enough selecting only five; the order doesn’t matter.
4) People change and so will you. I update this list yearly.
FILMS
Before I start, I thought I’d make another note. After discussing the scenario of Top 5 films with a friend, it made sense to clarify: this list is for classic, best-of-all-time type movies. Films like Dumb and Dumber or Happy Gilmore I could watch over and over again; they probably deserve their own list. I wouldn’t necessarily watch these classics every day, but they are still my favorite films. Make sense?
1) The Truman Show (1998)
Director: Peter Wier
Writer: Andrew Nicol
Starring: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris
2) A Bronx Tale (1993)
Director: Robert DeNiro
Writer: Chazz Palminteri
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato
3) High Fidelity (2000)
Director: Stephen Frears
Writer: Nick Hornby (book); D.V. Devincentis (screenplay)
Starring: John Cusack, Jack Black, Todd Louiso
4) The Life Aquatic (2004)
Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach
Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett
5) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Director: Michel Gondry
Writer: Charlie Kaufman
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson
ALBUMS
Music was harder to whittle down. If I could make a Top 5 list for every genre (which, really, if I had the time I would) it would be easier. There are favorite albums of mine not on this list: Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity comes to mind. Though Clarity would make the Top 5 Alternative Rock/Indie Album list, it’s not quite Top 5 of All Time material—to me, at least.
One last note: If I ever make a Top 5 Songs list, there would be songs, probably, not from this list of albums. Which is weird. There is something about an album—as a whole—that takes it to the next level. Gnaw mean?
1) Are You A Dreamer? – Denison Witmer
Genre: Folk/Singer Songwriter
Released: 2005
Label: The Militia Group
2) In Rainbows – Radiohead
Genre: Radiohead (Alternative Rock)
Released: 2007
Label: Self-Released
3) London Calling – The Clash
Genre: Rock
Released: 1979
Label: Epic
4) Tupelo Honey – Van Morrison
Genre: Rock?
Released: 1971
Label: Polydor / Umgd
5) I and Love and You – The Avett Brothers
Genre: Folk/Rock
Released: 2009
Label: American Recordings
BOOKS
I’ve been reading a lot of books lately. I’d love to put some of my more recent reads on this list, (I’ve been really into Stephen King, lately), though I think it’s wise to see if my joy wears off first.
I could read these books over and over again, though they are listed here for more than just that reason. They are beautifully written—absolutely masterful. NOTE: I listed The Lord of the Rings as one trilogy instead of picking a book by itself. That might be considered cheating, but it’s my list so back off!
1) Through Painted Deserts – Donald Miller
Released: 2005 (sort of)
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Get it Here: AMAZON
2) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – J.R.R. Tolken
Released: Over the course of many moons…
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Get it Here: Any thrift store
3) The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
Released: 1951
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Get it Here: AMAZON
4) The Snows of Kilimanjaro – Ernest Hemingway
Released: A collection of short stories from the 20’s and 30’s
Publisher: Esquire, originally; Scribner, now
Get it Here: AMAZON
5) The Stand: Uncut & Expanded– Stephen King
Released: 1978 (Expanded: 1990)
Publisher: Doubleday
Get it Here: AMAZON
