My top 10 favourite films of all time

When I set out to write this list, I thought it would be a brisk and enjoyable process. I was wrong. I'd forgotten a crucial factor - that I love film. In my humble opinion, it's the purest and yet most complex art form and it's that complexity that makes clarifying the 'best' movie such a difficult task. There's an endless amount of amazing movies out there and they are all brilliant in very different ways. Because of this, my list of 'favourite' films changes on the hour depending on my mood. If you asked me this question tomorrow, I'd probably give you a completely different answer. But then again, that's part of the fun. So, as of right now anyway, these are my top 10 favourite films of all time. (feel free to leave some of your own in the comments below)

10. The LEGO Movie (2014)

Intelligent, hilarious and so much more than the shameless cash-grab is was initially perceived to be. The comedic talents of an all star cast are showcased under the improv heavy environment Phil Lord and Chris Miller create in their projects. The attention to detail in visual gags and the design choices of the animation is staggering, the humour is well balanced and irreverent and there's a surprisingly heartfelt emotional payoff. The best endorsement for LEGO that the brand could have ever hoped for. The LEGO Movie will have your inner 10 year old jumping for joy.

9. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Probably the movie I've seen more times than another. Everybody has those comedies that are integral in crafting a person's sense of humour, and in my case Ron Burgundy is the moustached linchpin of what I understand to be comedy. The humour is somehow both crass yet tasteful at the same time, and there are so many jokes throughout that you could watch Anchorman 100 times and still find something new to laugh at. Arguably Will Ferrel's best work and his chemistry with Carell, Rudd and Koechner is incredible. Up there with the most quotable movies ever made. 60% of the time, you'll love it every time.

8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

I don't love Jim Carrey, but his performance in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is essential to the immense impact of the narrative. Taking the universal experience of going through a traumatic breakup and presenting it in a way that feels both authentic and totally unexpected hits the emotional sweet spot expertly. Some of the scenes crafted are genuinely breathtaking - Joel's sprint through his childhood is dizzying to watch. A movie that opened my eyes to exactly what film as an art form is capable of. If you haven't seen it, you must.

7. Whiplash (2014)

As Charlie Parker once said, "They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art". The umbrella theme may be drumming, but in reality Whiplash is about sacrifice, revenge and how the line between dedication and obsession can easily be blurred. There is literally nothing wrong with it. Not a frame is wasted in a rather lean 107 minute runtime - every single scene offers something significant. The music throughout is incredible, much of which is played by Miles Teller himself, who is fantastic. The crowning jewel is J.K. Simmons. I'd equate his character to Dr Cox from Scrubs on steroids. Emotionally and physically abusive at almost every chance he gets, he is almost otherworldly in his villainy. Yet, at the time, his character's relationship with Teller is so brutally relatable. His Oscar winning performance is to me one of the greatest supporting turns in the history of cinema.

6. The Dark Knight (2008)

I love Christopher Nolan. I also love Batman. It was inevitable that I was going to love Nolan's gritty superhero trilogy. The Dark Knight, however completely transcends the genre of a superhero movie. It's outstanding in every aspect. Incredible action set pieces that are a perfect blend of practical and digital effects. Gripping and gritty throughout with no dull moments in between. Amazing performances from the entire cast. In my mind, Heath Ledger's Joker is the best cinematic villain of all time, and one of the greatest performances ever given. His posthumously awarded Oscar is one of the most deserved in the Academy Awards history.

5. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Taika Watiti is quickly becoming one of my favourite directors and Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the film that introduced me to his immense talent. The balance of cheeky and dark humour is spot on, as you'd expect from Watiti, but it's intertwined with a narrative filled with genuine heart. Julian Dennison's breakout performance is hilarious and his presence on screen even rivals that of veteran Sam Neil, who of course smashes this role. Seeing their relationship flourish over the course of the film is hugely satisfying and leads to a tear-jerking conclusion. It's heart warming, tragic and like all great comedies gets funnier every time you watch it.

4. LA LA Land (2016)

As well as reminding the world of how great musicals are, LA LA Land pays fitting homage to the classics whilst offering a fresh and original take on the genre. Every part of the film is gorgeous, especially the bold and inventive uses of colour. Damien Chazelle is a master of framework and this allows for the stunning choreography to be appreciated to the full. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone both give fantastic performances. The music is impossibly catchy and upbeat. Yet, underneath the feel good tone is a powerful sentiment of choosing what's really important to you and a twist on a typical love story. There's a reason that it nearly won 'Best Picture'.

3. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

As soppy as it may sound, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the main reasons that I love movies. A culmination of everything that has come before it, Civil War serves a wish fulfilment to comic-book and superhero fans everywhere. Almost as entertaining as watching the Avengers Assemble is watching them beat the crap out of each other. Tense and enthralling action set pieces are rife throughout, including not one but two of the best scenes from any comic-book movie. However, whilst the digital effects and action beats are flawless, the conflict is so entertaining is you completely buy the reasoning and motivations behind it. Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans draw from years of experience as their respective characters and as a result offer two outstanding performances. It might well be eclipsed by Infinity War, but for now it stands the best Marvel movie and one of my all-time favourites.

2. Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

I loved Roald Dahl as a child, in particular Fantastic Mr Fox, but Wes Anderson's adaptation somehow manages to improve a near perfect story. It's a very Anderson movie in all the best ways. The stop-motion animation is simply brilliant, with ridiculous amounts of effort going into making the puppets feel alive. The framing and the look of each shot is perfect, with smooth lateral and vertical movements that always keep the frame centred on exactly what you want to be looking at. The pragmatic delivery of the lines from an amazing cast blends some darker subjects with unconventionally hilarious comedy. If you don't like Anderson's movies, then it's definately not for you. If you do, this is one of his best. A truly enjoyable movie.

Before I reveal my number one, here are some honourable mentions (Shut up - it's hard to narrow it down to 10!) The following are all unlucky not to make my list:

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Toy Story

Jurassic Park
Get Out
Baby Driver

1.The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

I redrafted the rankings for this list several times but my number one slot never changed. The Shawshank Redemption is a perfect movie.The score by Thomas Newman is phenomenal. The characters are an eclectic bunch played brilliantly by the cast.The writing and the dialogue is so profound and yet feels completely real. Despite the story continually turning from triumph to tragedy, as a viewer you never give up the unrelenting hope for Andy Dufresne and witnessing his gradual redemption is incredibly moving. It's a beautiful film that is filled to the brim with charm. It is, in my humble opinion, the best movie ever made.