Fight Club: Yeah, the twist was good, but in a sense, so unbelievable that it took away from the shock value. This was a good twist, like the film itself, but by no means great.
Shutter Island: This was a very nice twist, and Im with Dave that its one of the best movies Ive ever seen. DiCaprio gave a performance of a lifetime and truly had me convinced for part of the movie. The issue was the clues they dropped throughout the movie that he wasn't who he was thought to be, and by the end, I had it all but figured out. A phenomenal move nonetheless, but it wont get my vote.
The Machinist: This is my favorite Christian Bale movie. But again, I question how big of a twist the movie provided, as it was more inswight into the human psyche then anything. The twist made sense, and the payoff was a good one, but another one that the only ending that would have made any sense would have been this one. Great, great movie, but not a great twist.
The Departed: Where exactly was the twist here? The audience knew Damon was corrupt, and when Wahlberg was suspended, you knew you hadn't seen the last of him. I wasn't in shock or awe of how they pulled off the ending, I just felt it was poetic justice. I loved this movie, but another one that Im not sure is right for this list.
The Village: "Those of who we do not speak"! This movie was utter crap. I was disappointed that a clever idea was so badly put together, leaving the viewer uncapable of truly investing in the movie. Its hard to invest in a twist if youre not into the movie in the first place, and the most i can remember is asking my now wife 5 or 6 times, "Can we skip out and go eat already?" What could have been brilliant was poorly executed.
The Sixth Sense: A very close second for me. A wonderful film that gave the believability all along that Willis was alive. The only issue, but it played well into the movie, was his wife's seeming refusal to talk to him. But the investment in the character couldnt have been much better done, leaving for one hell of a payoff. There just happens to be one I prefer more here.
Gone Baby Gone: What a phenomenal movie. Casey Affleck was brilliant here, as was Michelle Monaghan. I didn't see it coming that the kidnapper had been Morgan Freeman, although he was the logical one. Still, it didn't have that "shock" feeling that the Sixth Sense and Shutter Island, amongst others, provided.
The Others: I liked this movie, I really did, but I expected so much more from a twist from this film. It was better then Knowing or Lady in the Water at least!
Memento: The movie I nominated, and will be sticking with after seeing the list. i won't spoil it for those who havent seen, butMemento is one of those pictures that will have you sitting in the theater(as it did me in 2000) after the lights come up so you can talk to everyone else about what they thought of the movie. A highly intelligent, original brain teaser that will have you guessing from beginning to end. Guy Pearce was simply phenomenal as the amnesiac in search of his wifes killer, and the reveal culdn't have been more shocking or better played out. This is what twists should aspire to be.
Unbreakable: Anothr movie I really enjoyed, although I understand those that didnt. At times, it was a little too unrealistic for me, bu it played out in such a slow, deliberate manner that you knew you were in for a surprise. It doesn'tquite getthere, but it gives The Sixth Sense and Memento a run for their money.
The Prestige: Another greatim, with an equally great reveal at the end. Theycouldnt have picked beter actors to be more convincing in their roles then Bale and Jackman. But the movie was quite dark for me was more about one-uppmanship then it was about the reveal at the end, and while its a movie I left pondering for a few hours, it was more about the complex characters then it was the twist.
Scream: Just no. Fine for what it was, a teen slasher flick, but the supense here was hardly palpable.
Donnie Darko: I watched this movie several times when it came out to truly get the twst of the ending. This movie was truly a brilliant mind-eff. But the twist doesnt masure up in comparison to some of thohers as it didnt stay true t thecharacter Ghylenhall was playing. It was a great movie, no doubt about it, but the twist wasn't that big.
TheDevils Advocate: Pacno was his brilliant self and Reeves did a nice job as his foil, nd the reveal completely caught meff guard. The problem is the movie just became more and moreabsurd as it went along that the reveal couldnt save the movie from being incongruent. The scene leading up to the reveal was also horrendous stuff. I liked the film all in all, but it wasn't a movie I think of when i think "Great twists".
American Psycho: The same could be said here that was of The Devils Advocate. The movie grew so absurdly violent and Bale's character so depraved that it was a stretch to tae it seriously, and the movie really could have ended only two ways, with Bale dead, or how it did. I like how they explored the dark, twisted places of one's imagination. In the end,the movie will nag at you, with the "Did he or didn't he?" question. And in the end,I think the answer doesn't really matter, as possibly the answer is the same regardless. But this movie left me with a sense of introspection rather then feeling twisted, and it wasn't a great movie either.
Memento will get my vote. Guy Pearce put on the performance of a lifetime, and the script was laid out perfectly with the end reveal being a masterpiece. I think about it 10 years later and still applaud the effort that was put in that made the twist so special and unique. Had it made the list, the Usual Suspects could have given it a run for its money, but Memento would still have been my choice most likely.
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