1. Schindler's List (1993)
1993 in many ways epitomizes Steven Spielberg's entire career. Always a prolific director, Spielberg released two films that year. The first came out during the Summer and was one of the finest entertainments ever crafted: Jurassic Park. But while in post-production on that first film, Spielberg braved the cold of Poland and set out to create his grandest and most important film yet. Released just six months after Jurassic Park, Schindler's List would turn out to be the defining moment in Spielberg's career, a monumental achievement that most directors could only dream of reaching. The historical context and harrowing nature of the film tends to overshadow the fact that, at its core, Schindler's List is very much a movie. Though it dwells on extended tangents depicting the horrors of the Holocaust and makes a point of contextualizing the events that it depicts, Schindler's List is essentially the story of a greedy, morally ambivalent industrialist who sees the Holocaust at first as a business opportunity, only gradually but eventually grow to see its true horrors and grow a soul in the process. It is an epic film but also a very intimate one. The craftsmanship on display is some of the best as well: Kaminski's cinematography has never been better and John Williams' score is truly heartbreaking. Many people tend to criticize this film's ending as suffering from Spielberg's usual dose of sentiment, but once again I would chalk this up to a complete misunderstanding of Spielberg's intentions. When viewed in context, Schindler's breakdown is not stirring or inspirational. It is sad, and terribly tragic. Here is a man who realized, too late, that he had the power to save lives. He did so much for these people, all but throwing his life away in the process, and all he can think about is how many more he could have saved. It is a sad, humbling moment, and though often ridiculed, is actually one of the most tragically poignant moments in a film filled with tragedy. Not only is Schindler's List the finest film of Spielberg's illustrious career, serving as the pinnacle of his humanistic and emotional instincts as well as his directorial skill and aptitude, but it is also one of if not the most important and greatest films ever made.
Do you agree with these rankings? Are there films that are too low on this list? Too high? Or do you agree with my assessment of one of the greatest film careers in history? Feel free to discuss in the comments.