who says all movies need to follow a
straight line I don’t understand what
I’m looking at why am i standing here in
there oh my god deja vu welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
counting down our picks for the top 10
nonlinear films
life is funny and shit this list we’re
taking a look at films that effectively
convey their stories out of
chronological order
making the plot more compelling and
thought-provoking number 10
Once Upon a Time in America sir where do
you wanna go anyway almost 30 years
after fleeing from Manhattan gangster
David noodles Aronson returns to face
his uncertain future and recollect his
past that’s what I’m gonna ask my son
135 he is noodles memories are triggered
by a series of poignant visual cues
flawlessly transitioning from his
boyhood street hustler days to his rise
up the rackets and back to the present
day long ago soon as a testament to how
crucial the nonlinear structure here is
this originally nearly four-hour epic
was edited down and put into
chronological order for its wide
American release robbing the narrative
of its depth sense of nostalgia and
poetry I’m not gonna be home tonight
number 9
Rashomon another its nonlinear narrative
aside this crowning achievement from
Akira Kurosawa is also groundbreaking
for its utilization of the Rosamond
effect
the film recounts four contrasting
versions of a murder told from the
perspectives of abandoned a wife a
woodcutter who stumbled upon the scene
of the crime and even the deceased
samurai who gives his testimony via a
medium don’t nobody play nothing up top
because your new young woman by the
film’s conclusion the truth behind the
murder isn’t what’s important what truly
matters is whether a priest’s faith in
humanity can be restored after hearing
such a disturbing tale oh you dig
Thank You number eight I’m not there
rather than making a straightforward
biopic about the life of Bob Dylan
director Todd Haynes evaluates the
musician from various stand points and
I’m not there
that’s hot change the film follows
several fictional characters inspired by
the many lives of Dylan most notably
Cate Blanchett’s oscar-nominated
performance as a controversial folk
singer that betrays his diehard fans
that’s right he’s diehard fans
there’s no doubt that Dylan will always
be remembered as a great songwriter and
singer through this unique approach
however we additionally see him as an
outlaw a poet a prophet and so much more
it’s like you got yesterday today and
tomorrow
all in the same room number seven Kill
Bill fall you won
welcome to arrow may I help you Okinawa
one way Quentin Tarantino wasn’t the
first filmmaker to employ nonlinear
storytelling but he certainly helped
popularize this narrative technique
through movies like Reservoir Dogs
and pop fiction so he hid it in one
place he knew he could hide something
his ass even more ambitious an example
is in Kill Bill which opens with a bang
as a bride is shot in the head well yes
you’re from there
Tarantino begins to unravel a tale of
betrayal and revenge full of colorful
characters Oh Renee she was born on an
American military base in Tokyo Japan
Louis if his chapters are told out of
order yet everything flows together
perfectly as the bride’s past catches up
with her present over the course of the
two volumes number six Eternal Sunshine
of the spotless mind Eternal Sunshine of
the spotless mind what makes the
disjointed narrative in internal
sunshine so ingenious is how it
completely catches the audience
off-guard in the final act remember me
try your best when Joel encounters
Clementine on a train in the film’s
beginning we’re led to believe that this
is their first meeting do I know you
in the end however it’s revealed that
the two actually met at a beach party
subsequently they engage in a
relationship broke up and try to expunge
each other from their memories show me
which constellations
against all odds they meet again in
Montauk bringing this whole train ride
full circle number 5 500 days of summer
Tom don’t go you’re still my best friend
we all know how love stories go boy
meets girl boy loses girl boy gets girl
back since 500 days of summer isn’t a
love story though it’s boy meets girl
boy loses girl and not necessarily in
that order
you if they see me as I dismiss jumping
around 500 days we see Tom’s complicated
relationship with summer at its best and
at its worst this is exactly what I’m
talking about what does that even mean
love you know one day he’ll be
victoriously leading a parade another
day his brain is literally rained upon I
never wanted to be anybody’s girlfriend
and I somebody’s wife the 500th day may
not end up is Tom it hoped but it does I
sure in a promising new autumn my name’s
Tom nice to meet you
I’m Adam number for Annie Hall you at
Granby Hall we call him you do before
there was 500 days of summer there was
this nonlinear not to mention
unconventional romantic comedy the only
lady at the end of the table who is it
classic jew-hater redefining Woody
Allen’s directorial career Annie Hall
opens up with an erotic Alvy Singer
discussing his failed romance with the
title character Annie and I broke up and
I still can’t get my mind around that he
not only evaluates his relationship with
Annie
but his relationships with family
schoolmates and other past loves too I
keep sifting the pieces of the
relationship through my mind and then
examining my life and trying to figure
out where did the screw-up come you know
while the road is disjointed it becomes
clear the destination won’t be a
storybook ending you wanted to break up
just as much as I do no question but I
think we’re doing the mature thing
without any doubt that doesn’t mean our
lovers can’t part on good terms though
and fondly look back at the old times I
I don’t think many couples could handle
us you know they could just break up and
remain friends number three citizen cave
your complete attention if you please
from its complex central characters –
it’s brilliant visual symbolism Citizen
Kane is often cited as the best film of
all time for good reason I don’t know
how to run a newspaper mr. fetch I just
try everything I can think of Orson
Welles his revolutionary use of
nonlinear storytelling particularly
cements the film’s masterpiece status
adding to the mystery as a reporter
attempts to uncover the meaning behind
Charles Foster Kane ‘he’s dying word
through a series of interviews we
flashback – Kane’s rise and fall from
greatness fryin been very rich I might
have been a really great man although
the journalist pastes together a
majority of teens life a vital piece
remains missing when all is said and
done oh I guess rose but it just a piece
in a jigsaw puzzle missing piece number
two memento I’m Leonard Shelby I’m from
San Francisco video war the truth is
that nobody can tell a story in reverse
but only a true creative genius could
keep the audience guessing from start to
finish I’m chasing this guy
no chase Christopher Nolan does exactly
this in memento which follows a man
suffering from anterograde amnesia as he
tries to solve his wife’s puzzling
murder
Oh what’s the last thing you remember
ultimately it’s revealed that our
protagonists life is a never-ending
cycle spiraling counterclockwise look
memory can change the shape of a room it
can change the color of a car and
memories can be distorted through his
oscar-nominated screenplay
Nolan established himself as one of the
most ambitious storytellers of this
generation which would carry on to
future nonlinear mysteries like the
prestige Anna :
the bloody fest in England why 50 yards
in a second
in a second Nolan we know he uses a trap
door ah brilliant before we wrap up this
totally linear list with our top pick
here are a few honorable mentions I
don’t know who I am what do you mean
you’re Rita no I’m not whose connector
cut our hair relaxed the festival’s
overseas video do not mean I don’t hear
you giving me any names so I guess when
I shot you the belly I ain’t too high
I’m sure you can call me sue out of love
with you I’ve got nothing left for you
nothing nothing
number one pulp fiction everybody coulis
Aurora cute every mother okay last one
of you in what many consider to be his
magnum opus Quentin Tarantino strings
together several interlocking stories
about crime Redemption and Royales with
cheese I got the metric system it was on
a good for pentagrams what did it go
they call it the Royale which royality
portraying these events out of order
Pulp Fiction is an unpredictable
experience where even one of the main
characters can die by the second act
which is technically the third act the
tone ranges from laid-back too
over-the-top too philosophical
constantly leaving us wondering what the
overall narratives working up to and I
will strike down upon thee with great
vengeance and furious anger those who
attempt to poison and destroy my
brothers as for the meaning behind this
twisted anthology of sorts that’s
something you’ll want to keep analyzing
with each repeated viewing it’s a
chopper baby this chopper Eastasia
Zed’s who said sans dead baby dead dead
do you agree with our list you what’s
your favorite nonlinear fill what do you
do when you get stung on a movie line
with a guy like this behind you for more
entertaining top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
now that’s an ending
you
straight line I don’t understand what
I’m looking at why am i standing here in
there oh my god deja vu welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
counting down our picks for the top 10
nonlinear films
life is funny and shit this list we’re
taking a look at films that effectively
convey their stories out of
chronological order
making the plot more compelling and
thought-provoking number 10
Once Upon a Time in America sir where do
you wanna go anyway almost 30 years
after fleeing from Manhattan gangster
David noodles Aronson returns to face
his uncertain future and recollect his
past that’s what I’m gonna ask my son
135 he is noodles memories are triggered
by a series of poignant visual cues
flawlessly transitioning from his
boyhood street hustler days to his rise
up the rackets and back to the present
day long ago soon as a testament to how
crucial the nonlinear structure here is
this originally nearly four-hour epic
was edited down and put into
chronological order for its wide
American release robbing the narrative
of its depth sense of nostalgia and
poetry I’m not gonna be home tonight
number 9
Rashomon another its nonlinear narrative
aside this crowning achievement from
Akira Kurosawa is also groundbreaking
for its utilization of the Rosamond
effect
the film recounts four contrasting
versions of a murder told from the
perspectives of abandoned a wife a
woodcutter who stumbled upon the scene
of the crime and even the deceased
samurai who gives his testimony via a
medium don’t nobody play nothing up top
because your new young woman by the
film’s conclusion the truth behind the
murder isn’t what’s important what truly
matters is whether a priest’s faith in
humanity can be restored after hearing
such a disturbing tale oh you dig
Thank You number eight I’m not there
rather than making a straightforward
biopic about the life of Bob Dylan
director Todd Haynes evaluates the
musician from various stand points and
I’m not there
that’s hot change the film follows
several fictional characters inspired by
the many lives of Dylan most notably
Cate Blanchett’s oscar-nominated
performance as a controversial folk
singer that betrays his diehard fans
that’s right he’s diehard fans
there’s no doubt that Dylan will always
be remembered as a great songwriter and
singer through this unique approach
however we additionally see him as an
outlaw a poet a prophet and so much more
it’s like you got yesterday today and
tomorrow
all in the same room number seven Kill
Bill fall you won
welcome to arrow may I help you Okinawa
one way Quentin Tarantino wasn’t the
first filmmaker to employ nonlinear
storytelling but he certainly helped
popularize this narrative technique
through movies like Reservoir Dogs
and pop fiction so he hid it in one
place he knew he could hide something
his ass even more ambitious an example
is in Kill Bill which opens with a bang
as a bride is shot in the head well yes
you’re from there
Tarantino begins to unravel a tale of
betrayal and revenge full of colorful
characters Oh Renee she was born on an
American military base in Tokyo Japan
Louis if his chapters are told out of
order yet everything flows together
perfectly as the bride’s past catches up
with her present over the course of the
two volumes number six Eternal Sunshine
of the spotless mind Eternal Sunshine of
the spotless mind what makes the
disjointed narrative in internal
sunshine so ingenious is how it
completely catches the audience
off-guard in the final act remember me
try your best when Joel encounters
Clementine on a train in the film’s
beginning we’re led to believe that this
is their first meeting do I know you
in the end however it’s revealed that
the two actually met at a beach party
subsequently they engage in a
relationship broke up and try to expunge
each other from their memories show me
which constellations
against all odds they meet again in
Montauk bringing this whole train ride
full circle number 5 500 days of summer
Tom don’t go you’re still my best friend
we all know how love stories go boy
meets girl boy loses girl boy gets girl
back since 500 days of summer isn’t a
love story though it’s boy meets girl
boy loses girl and not necessarily in
that order
you if they see me as I dismiss jumping
around 500 days we see Tom’s complicated
relationship with summer at its best and
at its worst this is exactly what I’m
talking about what does that even mean
love you know one day he’ll be
victoriously leading a parade another
day his brain is literally rained upon I
never wanted to be anybody’s girlfriend
and I somebody’s wife the 500th day may
not end up is Tom it hoped but it does I
sure in a promising new autumn my name’s
Tom nice to meet you
I’m Adam number for Annie Hall you at
Granby Hall we call him you do before
there was 500 days of summer there was
this nonlinear not to mention
unconventional romantic comedy the only
lady at the end of the table who is it
classic jew-hater redefining Woody
Allen’s directorial career Annie Hall
opens up with an erotic Alvy Singer
discussing his failed romance with the
title character Annie and I broke up and
I still can’t get my mind around that he
not only evaluates his relationship with
Annie
but his relationships with family
schoolmates and other past loves too I
keep sifting the pieces of the
relationship through my mind and then
examining my life and trying to figure
out where did the screw-up come you know
while the road is disjointed it becomes
clear the destination won’t be a
storybook ending you wanted to break up
just as much as I do no question but I
think we’re doing the mature thing
without any doubt that doesn’t mean our
lovers can’t part on good terms though
and fondly look back at the old times I
I don’t think many couples could handle
us you know they could just break up and
remain friends number three citizen cave
your complete attention if you please
from its complex central characters –
it’s brilliant visual symbolism Citizen
Kane is often cited as the best film of
all time for good reason I don’t know
how to run a newspaper mr. fetch I just
try everything I can think of Orson
Welles his revolutionary use of
nonlinear storytelling particularly
cements the film’s masterpiece status
adding to the mystery as a reporter
attempts to uncover the meaning behind
Charles Foster Kane ‘he’s dying word
through a series of interviews we
flashback – Kane’s rise and fall from
greatness fryin been very rich I might
have been a really great man although
the journalist pastes together a
majority of teens life a vital piece
remains missing when all is said and
done oh I guess rose but it just a piece
in a jigsaw puzzle missing piece number
two memento I’m Leonard Shelby I’m from
San Francisco video war the truth is
that nobody can tell a story in reverse
but only a true creative genius could
keep the audience guessing from start to
finish I’m chasing this guy
no chase Christopher Nolan does exactly
this in memento which follows a man
suffering from anterograde amnesia as he
tries to solve his wife’s puzzling
murder
Oh what’s the last thing you remember
ultimately it’s revealed that our
protagonists life is a never-ending
cycle spiraling counterclockwise look
memory can change the shape of a room it
can change the color of a car and
memories can be distorted through his
oscar-nominated screenplay
Nolan established himself as one of the
most ambitious storytellers of this
generation which would carry on to
future nonlinear mysteries like the
prestige Anna :
the bloody fest in England why 50 yards
in a second
in a second Nolan we know he uses a trap
door ah brilliant before we wrap up this
totally linear list with our top pick
here are a few honorable mentions I
don’t know who I am what do you mean
you’re Rita no I’m not whose connector
cut our hair relaxed the festival’s
overseas video do not mean I don’t hear
you giving me any names so I guess when
I shot you the belly I ain’t too high
I’m sure you can call me sue out of love
with you I’ve got nothing left for you
nothing nothing
number one pulp fiction everybody coulis
Aurora cute every mother okay last one
of you in what many consider to be his
magnum opus Quentin Tarantino strings
together several interlocking stories
about crime Redemption and Royales with
cheese I got the metric system it was on
a good for pentagrams what did it go
they call it the Royale which royality
portraying these events out of order
Pulp Fiction is an unpredictable
experience where even one of the main
characters can die by the second act
which is technically the third act the
tone ranges from laid-back too
over-the-top too philosophical
constantly leaving us wondering what the
overall narratives working up to and I
will strike down upon thee with great
vengeance and furious anger those who
attempt to poison and destroy my
brothers as for the meaning behind this
twisted anthology of sorts that’s
something you’ll want to keep analyzing
with each repeated viewing it’s a
chopper baby this chopper Eastasia
Zed’s who said sans dead baby dead dead
do you agree with our list you what’s
your favorite nonlinear fill what do you
do when you get stung on a movie line
with a guy like this behind you for more
entertaining top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
now that’s an ending
you
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