Since you leave it so open ("American films") you leave the gate open for
me to list my favorites. These all seem to me to take American culture as
a main subject, and comment on it, usually in dark ways (my favorite way):
 
Musts:
 
Taxi Driver
Blue Velvet
Psycho
Nashville
Full Metal Jacket (yes, Kubrick is a Brit, but so what? Vietnam was an
   American War)
Paris Is Burning
Miller's Crossing
The Godfather Part II
 
Possibles:
 
Glengarry Glen Ross
The Player
Lolita
The Last Picture Show
Night of the Hunter
Roger & Me (funny/angry documentary about GM plant closings)
Do the Right Thing
The Manchurian Candidate
 
I'd love to teach a course with this film list.
 
John Hoppe
 
 
On Thu, 6 Oct 1994, Mark Dryfoos wrote:
 
> This spring I am teaching a course in American film.  Each year I try to come
> up with a listing of films which might be of interest to my class.  If anyone
> has a good list of films which they feel should (must) be shown, please let
> me know.
>