Top Ten Greatest Films of All Time: #9

Francis Ford Coppola is a true student of film. Along with fellow directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, Coppola was part of a great generation that was the first to attend film schools.

His resume is impressive, but his Vietnam War tale fittingly titled Apocalypse Now comes in at #9 on our list.

Other war films like Bridge on the River Kwai, Full Metal Jacket and Saving Private Ryan are undeniably among the best in the genre. However, Apocalypse Now distances itself from the rest due to the superb performances delivered by an all star cast, including legends like Marlon Brando and Robert Duvall.

Coppola’s war epic was beat out at the 1979 Academy Awards by the first film to tackle the topic of divorce, Kramer vs Kramer. But as time passed, Coppola’s provocatively graphic depiction of the war in Vietnam has stood the test of time and has been lauded for it’s accuracy.

The film won Oscars in Cinematography and Sound as it ushered in a new era of special effects in film. Throughout the eighties, numerous films followed suit with large explosions and innovative action sequences that were inspired by Apocalypse Now. The cinematography was unparalleled at the time, with a famous scene of actor Martin Sheen rising out of the water as the fog rolls past his painted face; a scene that can really get stuck in your memory.

Brando, Duvall and Sheen are joined by Harrison Ford and Laurence Fishburne to anchor an all star cast that seldom has a dry scene.

There are few aspects holding this film back, the most notable being the screenplay. Despite the writing being nominated this year, the story line can seem round-about at times, meaning that it seems like the story could be settled in a simpler way. Aside from that, there’s hardly anything wrong with Coppola’s last great film before severely falling off his game.

Stay updated on the list next Friday when I reveal the the number eight film on my countdown.