Terry Gilliam: The Fisher King (1991)

A member of the Monty Python group is Terry Gilliam who has since that done few independent movies. The most beautiful, deepest and funniest is absolutely 'The Fisher King'.
'The Fisher King' is not just a comedy but a strange, magnificent movie that has many levels. In it's main role is Robin Williams who makes a great work as Parry, former history teacher who went mad when his wife was killed, a man who escapes from his demons. Williams has a great companion in Jeff Bridges who sinks from dj to a bum.
The restaurant scene makes you cry for sure!

Howard Hawks: Rio Bravo (1959)

Howard Hawks made this movie three times but I like this most. In Rio Bravo The cast is perfect, the plot works and the movie has got everything that a fine movie can have.
John Wayne can't act many roles but in this even he is great. Dean Martin has always some charisma and who could forget the wonderful Walter Brennan! Rick(y) Nelson was in my youth a rock(?)star so it was interesting to watch him act. That didn't go very well but perhaps it's just the part he is playing?
Suspense, action anh humour; everything is in control.

Woody Allen: Manhattan (1979)

Woody Allen is an artist. His career is so long and it has many aspects. He started his career as writer and stand up comedian in night clubs. In the middle of sixties he got into movies writing, acting and directing and then involving in post production too.
Woody Allen started as comedian but very soon he brought in his movies a bergmanian side making few movies without any comedy at all. Allen in nowadays is a mix of that: he can write wonderful oneliners but he has sharp observation about human nature.
Woody Allen has done many great movies and Manhattan is one of them. One of my personal favourites. (But among Woody Allen movies I have several favourites!)
Manhattan is wonderful: it's funny, beautiful and very touching. And jewish. And it loves New York. It's a movie that has everything. It's perfect in it's genre. Think that someone can write and direct.

Stanley Kubrick: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Nobody's perfect... Except Stanley Kubrick!
His whole career was a triumph and he made a single mistake. (Was I now neutral? Yes, I was.)
From beginning to the end he was an auteur (or I really can say anything of Fear And Desire (1953) but otherwise...) who had his own hand writing. You can tell when you see a Stanley Kubrick Movie.
I could take any of them but my choice now is 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was my first love. It really took me to its world and hold me. Every set, every scene! If this ain't art, what is? And this was not actor's art, it was Kubrick's art. He wrote, he directed. He had visions.
Now, over forty years later you can watch still that movie. Perhaps year 2001 went already but this movie is still kicking.