1. Goodfellas (1990)
Goodfellas is one of those films that does everything right. It's never anything less than 100% absorbing throughout it's 146 minute run-time; it fully deserves every single one of its 39 awards, and is even (whisper it) better than The Godfather. Anyone who needs convincing not just of the brilliance of Goodfellas, but also of the incredible cinematic prowess of Martin Scorcese would do well to watch the three minute long tracking shot that follows Henry and his date from his car to his table in the Copacabana Club. The scene moves from a crowded street full of people, lights and cars through a bustling kitchen and into the midst of a heaving club where a live band are playing. In three stunning minutes, we're given an indelible impression of time and place, but also in a few succinct actions and lines a sharp impression of Henry's, charm, wealth and influence. This is one of the finest examples of showing as opposed to telling in any medium; and by the end of the scene we the audience are every bit as overwhelmed as Henry's date.