Oscar's - Best Picture of the Year

In 2009 the Oscars will celebrate their 81^st anniversary. Through the years the academy has honored the best films made and the actors who brought them to life. The range of motion pictures to have won the best picture Oscar are as varied as the individuals who brought them to life. In the past 81 years there have been some truly remarkable movies made, some of which have literally changed our lives and our perceptions of right and wrong. They have moved us, cheered us, made us shed a tear or two, and the really good ones did all of these. Some have caused us to reflect and think about the deeper meaning of life and what is truly important. Others have simply taken our breath away.

Each decade has produced a list of fine films. It is difficult to narrow this list down to a single film, and even then each persons opinion will vary. With so many great films to choice from, let us begin our search by breaking down the films by the individual decades in which they were produced. Some decades produced more great films than others, but each had a significant offering to our collection of nominees.

1920's - All Quiet of the Western Front (1929/30)

1930's - Gone With the Wind (1939)

1940's - Going My Way (1944)

1950's - Ben-Hur (1959) , The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

1960's - The Sound of Music (1965)

1970's - Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) , Rocky (1976), The Sting (1973), The Godfather (1972)

1980's - Rain Man (1988) , Ordinary People (1980)

1990's - Schindler's List (1993), Titanic (1992), Silence of the Lambs (1991)

2000's - A Beautiful Mind (2001)

So, the list of many is narrowed to just sixteen. Three movies dealing with times of was, two musicals and eleven which are clumped into the drama category. All great films, each with their own merits and each deserving praise. However, we have yet to find a winner. So, the nominees to best motion picture of all time are;

Schindler's List (1993) - The Sting (1973) - Ben Hur (1959) - The Godfather (1972) and Gone with the Wind (1939)

And the winner is - The 1959 epic "Ben Hur"

Of course opinions will vary and this selection will not suite many, but that is fine. All of the sixteen films listed, plus another eighty or so could have just as easily been named best film ever, depending on who is doing the voting. How did your favorite fare, was it even mentioned? Comments welcome and encouraged.