Pancho says:
Here's a link to an online list of all the top scoring films from the notoriously stringent Halliwell's film guide.
Single-handedly authored by Leslie Halliwell (until his death in 1989) his yearly updated eponymous guide is considered to be one of the most authoritative, balanced and (crucially) comprehensive critical lists of the movie canon.
It pioneered the four-star rating system whereby films only receive one (or more) stars if they are remarkable, interesting, challenging or brilliant. Most films in the guide receive no stars with only a handful (well, 251) receiving a four-star rating. this top grade has long been considered one of the highest accolades for the discerning film director. The Halliwell's Four Star list has been accused of favouring Black and White films from the '30s and '40s but, needless to say, that is some of its charm
Reader comment:
Dave says:
While Halliwell's Film Guide may well be the most comprehensive in print, but "most authoritative [and] balanced" is far off the mark! Halliwell was an absolute master of waffle (meaningless remarks like "Some people have found pleasing things in it") and gross inconsistencies. He'll compliment a film and then give it no stars at all, and then he'll diss another film for being average and then give it two stars. Usually an entertaining read, but far from balanced.
