The TV Addict 

The only reason I’m here, writing this blog, is because of the AFI.

Back when I was a wee fledgling film buff (i.e. 1998), I was like any teenager only really concerned with silly teen comedies, and bombastic Hollywood blockbusters. There a came point though when I felt a yearning for something more, something different, something deeper. Then AFI’s Top 100 Movies list hit, and my real film buff education began. I discovered what real films were.

The thing is my gratitude only extends so far. After that first list was met with a great deal of success, the AFI went on to make another list about the Top 100 Stars. Then they did another list about the top comedies, and then a list about the top thrillers, and so on and so on. They now have made ten of these lists (even re-evaluating that first list), each one seemingly less necessary than the previous one.

With their most recent list of “The 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres” (rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?) the AFI is starting to reek of insecurity and self-justification. After all, let’s face it, the average Joe has no idea what the AFI does, so these lists seem like they are solely designed to prove that the AFI somehow matters. The thing is, it does. It’s an invaluable part of the film industry, but for some reason the AFI wants to seek external, public recognition, not just that from its peers. So they go with what everybody loves: lists.

Well, they’re going to have to do better. I just don’t see the need for this kind of list, especially one with such questionable choices and omissions. I mean really, The Top 10 Films of 10 randomly selected genres? Yes, no list is perfect. Yes, lists are pretty much a staple of any magazine or blog dealing with movies. People love writing lists, and people love reading them. I myself am guilty on all accounts there. It’s just that not only are these lists straining relevancy now, the AFI is also just starting to cannibalize its own lists. It’s the same movies over and over again, just in different arrangement in accordance with the different focuses. As a result the lists’ greatest offense is that they are repetitive and dull.

That’s why I think it’s time for the AFI to let it go, because if I were to make a list of the best list makers out there, the AFI wouldn’t even crack my Top 10. So AFI, leave these kind of things to people like Entertainment Weekly and the numerous great film blogs out there.