Questions About 'Chronicle's Star Ratings

Dear Editor,
    Re: Rich Latta's letter to the editor "Ratings' Logic Is Stupid and Irritating" [“Postmarks,” Feb. 17]: I also find the ratings system a little “stupid and irritating” sometimes with regard to whether or not a movie has reached perfection. In the five or so years that I have been reading the Chronicle, I have never seen a film reach the coveted five stars. A couple of times movies have hit 4.5 stars – most recently A Separation. I tried to search the AC's website for five-star-rated films to see what perfection looks like, but I was not able to search by the number of stars. My question (or research assignment) for the Chronicle staff is: Have one or more movies ever received the AC's five-star rating, and if so, what are they?

   [Film Editor Marjorie Baumgarten replies: It's my personal opinion that nothing in this world reaches perfection, hence no five-star movies. Over the years, a few reviewers have deemed some revived classics worthy of five stars: most recently, Fritz Lang's M and Akira Kurosawa's Ran. Reviews are available to be searched by their ratings by clicking on the "Browse All Film Reviews" link on the Film Listings home page. All the reviews the Chronicle has published since 1991 are available there.]