Our Top 10 Must-Watch Movies

Go to film school.

We know, Rosebud. You’ve got the film classics down. But if you, like us, wish you had gone to film school (or you’ve simply exhausted all your binge-worthy content) you may be on the lookout for some non-basic movies that will broaden your cinematic horizons. You’re in luck. We reached out to our own silver screen sensei Jed Dietz, founder of the Maryland Film Festival, to curate ten essential films for you, dear readers. (For more Jed, you can catch his excellent show, “Midday at the Movies,” here.)

After Tiller

This film does what a great documentary should—it strikes right at the hardest, most complex part of any issue. In this case, the issue is late-term abortion. Jed promises no matter where you are on this issue, you are going to learn something from this film, in the deepest sense. The director, Lana Wilson, most recently directed “Miss Americana,” documenting Taylor Swift’s transition to singer/songwriter. 

The Battle of Algiers

During the Iraq war, the Pentagon actually screened this film to show the reality of insurgency—and how in this important battle, the French won tactically, but lost strategically. It also portrays the rollercoaster of activism and protest. Jed tells us it was one of filmmaker Jonathan Demme’s favorite movies. Beyond the significance of its message, the film is beautifully shot. 

Bicycle Thieves

Recently, the name of this film was updated to reflect the true translation (you may know it as “Bicycle Thief”). Jed was lucky enough to see this for the first time outdoors in Little Italy, but he thinks you will love this classic no matter where you view it. It’s a gritty look at urban life, but it still has heart and holds up well.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

We take it for granted that movies like “Parasite” or even the hit show, “Squid Game,” would find an audience, but that door was kicked open by Ang Li and this film. He took a gamble as he was still an emerging filmmaker, but it became the highest-grossing foreign language film in the US. 

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Maryland Film Festival, along with Sundance Labs, supported the making of this film adapted from a graphic novel, but Jed promises impartiality in his suggestion. Centered on a girl living with her bohemian mother in the 70s, it shares an honest and straightforward (and somewhat explicit) look at her complicated teenage sexual experience—mistakes and all. 

Full Metal Jacket

What more do you need to know? It’s Stanley Kubrick—a great work from one of our great filmmakers. This one responded to the reality of war, what it takes to get people to fight and how one can retain their humanity in the face of it.  

Get Out

Jed believes this picture introduced a new genre of horror film. And despite Jordan Peele’s obvious talent, it really came out of nowhere. It is both humorous and horrifying and wickedly wise about our culture and where we are now. It crowned a new force in filmmaking—and rightly so.

Lawrence of Arabia

While Jed was able to see the beautiful restored print of this David Lean epic, he promises you will enjoy any version of it. One could make the case that it’s the greatest movie ever made by considering all the cinematic tools used to make it. And it is simply an unbelievable story. 

Medicine for Melancholy

Jed invites us to revisit director Barry Jenkins before he made his Oscar-winner, “Moonlight.” This is a beautiful movie, and there is something genius about how he pulled this off. When you watch this, it’s no surprise that Jenkins has become a bright light.

Pioneer

The Maryland Film Festival is known for championing short films, and this short by David Lowery is a little creepy, but incredibly powerful. It follows, then, that Lowery is known to be very generous with other independent filmmakers and has gone on to direct features like “The Green Knight.” 

Primary

With documentary heavyweights such as Albert Maysles and D.A. Pennebaker involved, how could you not give this one a screen? The film follows Senators Hubert Humphrey and Jack Kennedy as they campaign in Wisconsin in 1960 for the Democratic nomination. We, of course, take the shooting style for granted today, but it was a departure at the time. And wouldn’t we be in a more convivial place if political campaigning looked this quaint today?