M (1931)

Can enough praise be heaped upon this? Firstly from the way the detectives meticulously pick over crime scenes (with notable the absence of fingerprinting or DNA) through to the hysteria and invasion of privacy in the name of "good" - the way it, not 'mirrors,' but still creepily echoes what still happens today - is mesmerising.

Then there's the way you see the crimes take place, then affect practically everyone but the killer. We hardly see him at all, let alone hear a word from him until almost the very end. The film is spectacularly put together, expertly done and very, very gripping.

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Released in 1942 and with a "patriotic sounding" name like that, I callously avoided this, fearing it was a run-of-the-mill "buy war bonds" positive emotion sweller. Turns out I couldn't be farther from the truth. What this is, in actual fact, is a fleshed out biofilm about a composer... which, for different reasons, happens to turn into a positive emotion sweller.

What stands out for me is Cagney's performance especially at the very end, turning his charm on himself and keeping himself feeling good. Which, not to sound nostalgic, but films nowdays could use a bit more of.

Buffalo '66 (1998)

Firstly, an admission: This is boring - unless you enjoy how its shot. Its long scenes drag and rarely feel like they're moving towards any form of conclusion and a lot of the time, as viewer, you're wondering why it is that you're watching these two people doing what they're doing. That's true.

What is more true, however, is that the film is so ultimately and satisfactorily worth it. The seemingly pointless, irredeemable characters and the meandering adventure they go on, unfolds in the back of your mind as the events of the final scenes play out and everything, simply, makes sense.

12 Angry Men (1957)

One should be careful when picking out this film for viewing, because there is a nearly identical 1997 remake with Tony Danza in it, and its not quite as good.

What makes both versions so good (more so the original black and white version, for its cinematography) is the way that the heat, the rain and everything that happens in that one confined space is framed so well and delivered, visually, so eloquently and poetically while the drama bubbles on in the background as we learn what happens and watch the "events" silently on the screen in our minds. Masterfully done.

Häxan (1922)

Often billed as a horror film, this in actual fact (at least during the one time I saw it) comes across as more of a documentary than a genre piece. Though, one should remember that "documentary" was a slightly nebulous term back then and as such this "history of witchcraft" involves reenactments and full body costumes in order to bring the historical events to life. This, what we would now consider 'unique' approach to the documentary gives it an involving feel, welcoming you into the events it depicts which lends it more a 'horror' theme than would otherwise, typically suit it.