HandyApe's 50 Favorite Films [Archive]

HandyApe

08-27-13, 11:10 PM

I've not been a member here long, but I thought I'd show you guys what my favourite films are anyway.

Thanks to HitchFan for the layout idea.

50. Shame

(Steve McQueen / 2011)
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http://oi41.tinypic.com/sm3nue.jpg

I saw Hunger, Steve McQueen’s first film, about a week before Shame was scheduled to be released in UK cinemas, and it felt like one of the longest weeks of my entire life: I was so excited to see this film that I thought it would never live up to my expectations, but it did. Fassbender's performance is one of the most striking in recent years, and the sheer power behind McQueen’s script/direction nearly brought me to tears.

49. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

(Luis Buñuel / 1972)
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http://oi41.tinypic.com/104hhj7.jpg

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is the perfect Luis Buñuel film: it’s a comic masterpiece, it’s critical of the Bourgeoisie, it’s surreal, and it’s radical. The film is interrupted a lot by dream sequences and other tales, but it all adds to the festivities. It’s not Buñuel most important film (that would be Un Chien Andalou or Los Olvidados) but it is his best.
48. Dial M for Murder

(Alfred Hitchcock / 1954)
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http://oi39.tinypic.com/16921ah.jpg

This is one of Hitchcock’s most visually compelling movies, filled with outstanding performances from Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings and more. Although considered second tier Hitchcock, the beautiful visuals and intricate script keeps the film engaging and enjoyable the whole time.

HandyApe

08-28-13, 01:23 AM

Also, I'll probably being one of these every other day. :)

Miss Vicky

08-28-13, 01:47 AM

I've not seen any of these first three, but I'll give ya plus rep for sharing.

donniedarko

08-28-13, 01:57 AM

I also haven't seen the first three, but all are ones I've w ated to watch. Everyday my interest in Shame increases

Gabrielle947

08-28-13, 03:40 AM

I've seen Shame only once but it's really one of the best 21st century dramas. :up: I think it needs repeated viewing to really appreciate it.

Cobpyth

08-28-13, 06:56 AM

I liked Shame and I LOVED Dial M for Murder. It's one of Hitchcock's best and most beautiful films. Ray Milland is also awesome as usual.

Great first set! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your list.

:up:

Mr Minio

08-28-13, 07:59 AM

Shame 4.5 - not sure whether this or The Turin Horse is the best movie of recent years
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie 2.5 - not a big Buñuel fan here
Dial M for Murder 3.5 - great Hitchcock

Cool list so far.

Skepsis93

08-28-13, 08:57 AM

Good start, I like all of these especially Discreet Charm which was on my own top 100. :up:

cricket

08-28-13, 09:34 AM

I love Dial M, just like I love most Hitchcock. I put on Shame once but was too tired and couldn't get past about a minute; have to get back to that one. I haven't seen the other.

HitchFan97

08-28-13, 12:12 PM

Nice start. :up: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie isn't my favorite Buñuel but I think it was the first of his features that I saw. Dial M for Murder is excellent and I haven't seen Shame.

Camo

08-28-13, 12:53 PM

Great start, Shame is my second fav film of the decade so far after The Master. Also Dial M For Murder is one of my best Hitchcock's, not seen The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie yet.

HandyApe

08-28-13, 09:08 PM

Thanks for all the nice comments so far!

47. Sansho the Bailiff

(Kenji Mizoguchi / 1954)
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http://oi42.tinypic.com/2agm3k3.jpg

I have seen Sansho only once, a year ago, but that single viewing has cast a strange spell over me. I’m hesitant to revisit it in the fear that it will not have the same effect, but it’s an essential viewing for any cinema lover.
46. Wall-E
(Andrew Stanton / 2008)
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http://oi44.tinypic.com/2afkajn.jpg

Wall-E manages to be an enthralling animated film and a critique on larger societal issues. It’s the most thought provoking Pixar film and it’s also the most powerful.
45. Imitation of Life
(Douglas Sirk / 1959)
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http://oi42.tinypic.com/25jzgpj.jpg

Douglas Sirk’s Imitation of Life is the most beautiful melodrama of the 20th century; stunning misce-en-scène and the peak of Sirkian irony, as critic Nevena Dakovic puts it. The end scene, the funeral of the Anine, is still my favourite ending to any American movie.

Lucas

08-28-13, 09:45 PM

Loving the read so far. Keep em' coming.

honeykid

08-28-13, 10:03 PM

Got any fun films on this list? :p

mark f

08-28-13, 10:05 PM

I think Discreet Charm is fun. :)

Miss Vicky

08-28-13, 10:26 PM

Have only seen Wall E but it is a great film and among Pixar's best. Shame they stopped making films of that caliber (Up being their last great movie).

Cobpyth

08-28-13, 10:37 PM

Have only seen Wall E but it is a great film and among Pixar's best. Shame they stopped making films of that caliber (Up being their last great movie).

Toy Story 3

Very interesting new set, by the way.
Only seen Wall E, but I added Imitation of Life to my watchlist!

Miss Vicky

08-28-13, 10:40 PM

Toy Story 3

Well I wouldn't call Toy Story 3 great. I enjoyed it, but I'd say it's only very good. I wouldn't put it on the same level as Ratatouille, Up, Wall E, Monsters Inc. or Finding Nemo. I'd probably put it on par with Cars (which isn't an insult, I like that movie a lot).

Guaporense

08-28-13, 11:18 PM

Have only seen Wall E but it is a great film and among Pixar's best. Shame they stopped making films of that caliber (Up being their last great movie).

Indeed. Pixar declined fast from 2009 onwards. Toy Story 3 is good but not much above average, Brave is quite weak and I haven't watched the new one but it has received negative reviews.

Cobpyth

08-28-13, 11:23 PM

Well I wouldn't call Toy Story 3 great. I enjoyed it, but I'd says it's only very good. I wouldn't put it on the same level as Ratatouille, Up, Wall E, Monsters Inc. or Finding Nemo. I'd probably put it on par with Cars (which isn't an insult, I like that movie a lot).

I consider it the best thing Pixar has ever done and generally, I think it also belongs to the golden age of Pixar movies, as it is probably the best reviewed 3D animation picture of our modern times. It was even nominated for Best Picture!
I consider Cars a much inferior effort.

I agree that after that it all went downhill, though.

Mmmm Donuts

08-28-13, 11:29 PM

Well I wouldn't call Toy Story 3 great. I enjoyed it, but I'd say it's only very good. I wouldn't put it on the same level as Ratatouille, Up, Wall E, Monsters Inc. or Finding Nemo. I'd probably put it on par with Cars (which isn't an insult, I like that movie a lot).

I think Toy Story 3 is best if you watched the original as a kid. I don't know, it just drew a lot of emotion out of me, literally growing up alongside Andy and having to give up my childhood.

HitchFan97

08-28-13, 11:31 PM

Imitation of Life!!! I love that movie so much, seeing it on the big screen was an absolutely shattering emotional experience. Wall-E is great too, one of my favorite animated movies. I haven't yet seen Sansho the Bailiff but I really ought to.

honeykid

08-28-13, 11:31 PM

It was even nominated for Best Picture!
OK, you're old enough to know how little that matters. :yup:

Miss Vicky

08-28-13, 11:36 PM

I think Toy Story 3 is best if you watched the original as a kid. I don't know, it just drew a lot of emotion out of me, literally growing up alongside Andy and having to give up my childhood.

I was 14 when the original Toy Story was released, though I saw it probably a year after that. I wasn't especially impressed with it then and still am not that impressed with it now. I like it, don't get me wrong, but I'm not enamored with it like a lot of people are.

Cobpyth

08-28-13, 11:36 PM

OK, you're old enough to know how little that matters. :yup:

For an animation movie, it matters.

I'm not the kind of person who is the biggest fan of the whole trilogy by the way. I'm not a big lover of the original Toy Story. The third one is just one of the most entertaining films I've ever seen, sprinkled with a lot of great emotional stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEdsQLy0ZDc

honeykid

08-28-13, 11:43 PM

I was 14 when the original Toy Story was released, though I saw it probably a year after that. I wasn't especially impressed with it then and still am not that impressed with it now. I like it, don't get me wrong, but I'm not enamored with it like a lot of people are.
I think they were talking about being 10 or less. Of course, I could be completely wrong, but that's what I thought. I figured they were a similar age to Andy.

For an animation movie, it matters.
Only in its/their importance to the movie business. It's a bit like Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts winning. Best performance of that year? Or a thank you for all the money your films have made? IMO, it's about raising profile and adding credibility to animation in the casual movie goer.

Miss Vicky

08-28-13, 11:51 PM

I think they were talking about being 10 or less. Of course, I could be completely wrong, but that's what I thought. I figured they were a similar age to Andy.

Yeah, I got that. ;)

But that proves nothing of its greatness. I loved all the Herbie movies when I was a kid. I thought they were wonderful. I still like them today. But that doesn't make them great movies.

If a kid's movie is truly great, it should not matter how old I was when I first watched it.

Cobpyth

08-28-13, 11:57 PM

Well, 264 critics watched Toy Story 3 and 99% of them gave it a fresh rating on rotten tomatoes with an average score of 8.8/10. So I think it's safe to say that it also works for adults in general.

I know that doesn't prove that it should be a great movie for you personally, but it simply can't be excluded from Pixar's golden ages when it's the most highly acclaimed 3D animation film of all time (with the public and the critics). There was certainly no diminishing in quality yet up to that point. Pixar was still having one of the best streaks ever seen (but then came Cars 2 and Brave).

I just happen to agree with the critics and the public this time. There are other times I don't.

HandyApe

08-29-13, 01:37 AM

If I can throw my two cents in, I do think Toy Story 3 is a great film but I don't consider it part of the Pixar set because it's a sequel (the same applied to Toy Story 3).

Guaporense

08-29-13, 01:46 AM

I know that doesn't prove that it should be a great movie for you personally, but it simply can't be excluded from Pixar's golden ages when it's the most highly acclaimed 3D animation film of all time (with the public and the critics).

It's not. From a global perspective the most acclaimed is Wall-E, since it's the best placed film in the last Sign and Sound poll (which was drawn from a global set of critics instead of only American critics for Rotten Tomatoes).

I just happen to agree with the critics and the public this time. There are other times I don't.

Rotten Tomatoes ratings do not mean the critics loved the film, it means that the critics though that the film would be liked by the public. They are professional critics and their job is mostly to explain to their public if they would like the movie or not. Mediocre films that are easy to understand tend to score higher than more artistically accomplished films in RT.

The Road Warrior is considered a better film than 2001: A Space Odyssey and Vertigo by RT score: (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mad_max_2_the_road_warrior_1981/, http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000085-2001_a_space_odyssey/, http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vertigo/)

Daniel M

08-29-13, 09:50 AM

I have unfortunately only seen Dial M for Murder and Wall-E, one really good, and one great film. The others are all on my watchlist, I think.

Cobpyth

08-29-13, 10:14 AM

The Road Warrior is considered a better film than 2001: A Space Odyssey and Vertigo by RT score: (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mad_max_2_the_road_warrior_1981/, http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000085-2001_a_space_odyssey/, http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vertigo/)

You have to look at the score.

2001 and Vertigo get 8.9 and 8.7 respectively, while Mad Max 2 gets 8.3. ;)

And films like Forrest Gump or The Boondock Saints only get 71% and 23% respectively, so I wouldn't say that "mediocre films that are easy to understand" score higher.

I also think that the fact it is a sequel shouldn't matter. Empire Strikes Back was also a sequel. Does that mean it can't be considered one of the best Sci-Fi films of all time?

Toy Story 3 has the biggest box office yield, the highest acclaimed reviews and the highest public scores out of every 3D animation film. I'm not saying it should be considered as the best Pixar movie, but I think it is unfair to say that the quality of Pixar already diminished from 2009 on, if Toy Story 3, with all its praise, came out in 2010.

mark f

08-29-13, 12:02 PM

I never go to RT.

Camo

08-29-13, 02:40 PM

Haven't seen any from the last set unfortunately. I need to get around to Imitation of Life already, because it's my mums favourtie film.

honeykid

08-29-13, 05:04 PM

I never go to RT.
Of course you don't. Who needs to?

Daniel M

08-29-13, 05:05 PM

Of course you don't. Who needs to?

Neither do I. I use IMDB in order to keep track of what I watch, and find that has all the info I'd want when it comes to a film.

weeman

08-29-13, 05:15 PM

Everything went to poo when someone mentioned Toy Story 3 and Pixar :p

Also, the whole point of Rotten Tomatoes is that it "aggregates" the critic's scores of the film into positive/negative. Because of this, a film can have 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, but only a 6.0 average rating, whereas another film could have a 60% Rotten Tomatoes rating, but a 7.0 average rating. All RT shows to me is whether a film is uniformly liked/disliked, or has polarised views of it.

Also, RT has British critics on it too :p

cricket

08-29-13, 05:32 PM

My only experience with the last set is falling asleep during Wall-E.

Cobpyth

08-29-13, 07:43 PM

Only in its/their importance to the movie business. It's a bit like Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts winning. Best performance of that year? Or a thank you for all the money your films have made? IMO, it's about raising profile and adding credibility to animation in the casual movie goer.

That's probably right, but I still believe that they are basing their nominations at least partly on quality.

I use RT because I think it's interesting to read certain opinions about films. It might enrichen my own experience and give new insights. I often disagree with the score, but it's still fun to read the reviews.

edarsenal

08-29-13, 09:46 PM

serious heavy hitters for opening movies, BRAVO. Only seen a small few of them, been very curious about Sansho lately, loved Dial M and Wall-E.
Looking forward to more of your list

HandyApe

08-29-13, 10:28 PM

44. The African Queen

(John Huston / 1951)
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http://oi41.tinypic.com/5kllr8.jpg

John Huston’s 1951 film holds what is still my favourite actor/actress pairing of all time. The on-screen chemistry between Bogart and Hepburn is outstanding. If only James Agee worked on more scripts! (This is about as fun as the list gets, honeykid. :p)
43. The Conversation

(Francis Ford Coppola / 1974)
___________________________________________

http://oi41.tinypic.com/34dpxd1.jpg

Released the same year as The Godfather: Part II, The Conversation has never really received its due, which is sad because it’s one of the smartest and more intriguing psychological thrillers I’ve ever seen. The image of Hackman (never better) eavesdropping is one of the most gripping in all of cinema.
42. Meghe Dhaka Tara

(Ritwik Ghatak / 1960)
___________________________________________

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ntwj.jpg

I doubt anyone else on here has seen this film, but it was such a treat. Like many of my favourite Indian films it provides a strong critique of the family institution, though this particular film is much more symbolic and elegant.

honeykid

08-29-13, 10:37 PM

The best set so far, but seeing as I don't like the others, that's not the compliment it should be. :) I for one have not seen Meghe Dhaka Tara.

edarsenal

08-29-13, 11:06 PM

remember seeing bits of The Conversation in the early eighties and always love watching bogart and hepburn go at it in African Queen. Another pairing she was really great at was with John Wayne in Rooster Cogburn -- VERY enjoyable to see

HandyApe

08-30-13, 01:37 AM

Mr Minio

08-30-13, 10:24 AM

Thank you for reminding me I have to watch more parallel cinema.

HitchFan97

08-30-13, 11:47 AM

I've only seen The Conversation from that last set but I don't remember too much about it.

Guaporense

08-30-13, 12:00 PM

You have to look at the score.

2001 and Vertigo get 8.9 and 8.7 respectively, while Mad Max 2 gets 8.3. ;)

True. But the fact is that The Road Warrior is 100% fresh while 2001 and Vertigo are not.

Anyway, the best measure in Rotten Tomatoes is the average user ratings:

Citizen Kane: 4.1/5.0
Apocalypse Now: 4.1/5.0
Pulp Fiction: 4.2/5.0
Spirited Away: 4.2/5.0
The Godafther 2: 4.3/5.0
The Godfather: 4.4/5.0
Seven Samurai: 4.5/5.0
PMMM the movie: 4.6/5.0

Strange that some ratings differ so much from the IMDB ratings (Pulp Fiction is rated the same as Nausicaa here while in IMDB is significantly lower).

And films like Forrest Gump or The Boondock Saints only get 71% and 23% respectively, so I wouldn't say that "mediocre films that are easy to understand" score higher.

In animation they do because critics review animation films from the perspective of the US public so movies that are considered good for the kiddies score higher. I think that US critics are huge fans of Pixar's "playing safe" style as well.

I also think that the fact it is a sequel shouldn't matter.

It matters. A movie with a 3 after the title is almost always trash. Toy Story 3 is not bad but it's not very good either.

Empire Strikes Back was also a sequel. Does that mean it can't be considered one of the best Sci-Fi films of all time?

The Empire Strikes Back was not called "Star Wars 2" at the time it was released. That's also a difference.

Toy Story 3 has the biggest box office yield, the highest acclaimed reviews and the highest public scores out of every 3D animation film.

No, the highest acclaimed in Wall-E, I have already explained that.

I'm not saying it should be considered as the best Pixar movie, but I think it is unfair to say that the quality of Pixar already diminished from 2009 on, if Toy Story 3, with all its praise, came out in 2010.

Well, most people here agree Toy Story 3 is weaker than UP, Wall-E and Ratatouille:

Wall-E 4_5
UP 4_5
Toy Story 3 3
Brave 2

Daniel M

08-30-13, 12:19 PM

Well, most people here agree Toy Story 3 is weaker than UP, Wall-E and Ratatouille:

Wall-E 4_5
UP 4_5
Toy Story 3 3
Brave 2

WALL-E 4.5
Toy Story 3 4
Up 4
Brave 3

Toy Story 2 is better than all of them ;)

Haven't seen any of the last set, hadn't even heard of the Indian film (not seen an Indian film yet), but they all interesting me, especially because I like Coppola and Huston so far.

Gabrielle947

08-30-13, 06:03 PM

The Conversation was disappointing for me. :/

cricket

08-30-13, 06:14 PM

I only saw The African Queen once but loved it.

HandyApe

08-30-13, 08:12 PM

The Conversation was disappointing for me. :/

Really? How come?

Skepsis93

08-30-13, 09:52 PM

PMMM the movie: 4.6/5.0

You'll shoehorn this in wherever you possibly can lately, huh? :sleep:

Gabrielle947

08-31-13, 03:08 AM

Really? How come?
Actually,I'm not sure myself.I love Apocalypse Now and ,more or less,all Godfather movies.And by love,I really believe that Coppola made two masterpieces.So my expectations were very high for The Conversation.But I don't know,it was a boring film. :/ Also I expected to see more Cazale but he had quite a minor role.
It's not a bad film,I think it's actually very well shot but it just didn't stick with me.

HandyApe

08-31-13, 07:49 PM

Actually,I'm not sure myself.I love Apocalypse Now and ,more or less,all Godfather movies.And by love,I really believe that Coppola made two masterpieces.So my expectations were very high for The Conversation.But I don't know,it was a boring film. :/ Also I expected to see more Cazale but he had quite a minor role.
It's not a bad film,I think it's actually very well shot but it just didn't stick with me.

Ah, that sucks. :(

I've always thought the greatness of Coppola's films were in powerful images, and to me The Conversation has more of them than any of Coppola film.

Gabrielle947

08-31-13, 08:03 PM

Oh,well I'm more of a story and character person :)

Mmmm Donuts

08-31-13, 08:14 PM

T
Well, most people here agree Toy Story 3 is weaker than UP, Wall-E and Ratatouille

No way, man. Wall-E was fantastic, as well as UP, but I still see Toy Story 3 being superior to Ratatouille. I actually don't get the hype for that movie at all. Sure, the cooking element was unique, but there was nothing amazing in it for me. For a movie trilogy that's 15 years old, Toy Story 3 holds up great, and raised the stakes in every aspect.

HandyApe

08-31-13, 11:11 PM

41. Young Mr. Lincoln
(John Ford / 1939)___________________________________________

http://oi43.tinypic.com/212s6ck.jpg

Abraham Lincoln was one of John Ford's personal icons, and his first film to feature the 16th President as a central character is also one of my personal favorites. Henry Fonda delivers his finest performance, stirring feelings about the American past.

40. In the Realm of the Senses
(Nagisa Oshima / 1976)___________________________________________

http://oi41.tinypic.com/2cnd2lw.jpg

I stumbled across this review whilst I was on Rotten Tomatoes. It explains the film much better than I ever could.

“Nagisa Oshima's depiction of the obsessive lovemaking between a prostitute and the husband of a brothel keeper, which leads ultimately to the death of the man (with his own consent), is one of the most powerful erotic films ever made, but it certainly isn't for every taste. Based on a true story that originally made headlines in Japan in the 30s, which turned the woman into a tragic public heroine, the film concentrates on the sex so exclusively that a rare period shot—the man observing a troop of soldiers marching past—registers like a brief awakening from a long dream. This 1976 feature is unusually straightforward for Oshima, and those who are put off are likely to be disturbed more by the content than by the style. But the film is unforgettable for its ritualistic (if fatalistic) fascination with sex as a total commitment.”
39. Masculin Féminin
(Jean-Luc Godard / 1966)___________________________________________

http://oi40.tinypic.com/2ekksgp.jpg

Masculin Féminin is a beautifully made film that manages to mix pop-culture and politics so seamlessly. It is Godard’s best film from the 1960s (although I don’t really enjoy most of them). As the movie itself says, “This film could be called The Children of Marx and Coca-Cola.”

mark f

08-31-13, 11:20 PM

I don't like these last three at all, but you shouldn't worry about it. :)

Pussy Galore

08-31-13, 11:23 PM

I've only seen Wall-E and The Conversation so far. I liked them both. Really interesting list keep'em coming !

rauldc14

08-31-13, 11:25 PM

I wasn't a fan of The African Queen. Found it to be rather boring to be honest. And I'm a Bogart fan, he's had much better roles like Casablanca, Treasure of the Sierra Madre and Sabrina.

honeykid

09-01-13, 12:26 AM

I have to say I'm quite surprised you didn't like The African Queen. I'd that thought that was something you'd go for. Maybe not love, but certainly I'd expect you to enjoy it.

Cobpyth

09-01-13, 11:25 AM

It matters. A movie with a 3 after the title is almost always trash. Toy Story 3 is not bad but it's not very good either.

The Empire Strikes Back was not called "Star Wars 2" at the time it was released. That's also a difference.

Ok, at least now I know I don't have to take you seriously ever again. A movie title has absolutely NOTHING to do with the greatness of the film itself.

mark f

09-01-13, 02:05 PM

Why did it take so long? :)

HandyApe

09-03-13, 07:30 PM

38. Blade Runner

(Ridley Scott / 1982)
___________________________________________

http://oi44.tinypic.com/2hx5cb9.jpg

Blade Runner is perhaps the most visually stunning and fascinating science-fiction film I’ve ever seen. The question of whether Deckard is a replicant or not seems futile in comparison to the film’s ultimate question: is there such a difference between humans and non-humans? A masterpiece for sure.

37. I Vitelloni

(Federico Fellini / 1953)
___________________________________________

http://oi40.tinypic.com/29qky1l.jpg

I don’t really enjoy Fellini’s films but this was such a joy to watch. The unidentified sadness of the characters, the beautiful Nino Rota score, the wonderful performances. Everything meshed together perfectly.

36. Hiroshima mon amour

(Alain Resnais / 1959)
___________________________________________

http://oi40.tinypic.com/v8het0.jpg

Alain Resnais' spectacular 1959 film about two lovers is so highly innovative and emotionally gripping it's hard to deny a place on this list. The film is like poetry; it's so beautiful and heartbreaking to watch but it's also visually superb and unique. No wonder why it's called the catalyst for the French New Wave.

Lucas

09-03-13, 07:34 PM

+1. Blade Runner is my favorite film.

HandyApe

09-03-13, 07:41 PM

+1. Blade Runner is my favorite film.

Thanks. It really is a masterpiece :)

Daniel M

09-03-13, 07:43 PM

Blade Runner is great, I have only seen a few Fellini films and that isn't one of them, and I have only seen Night and Fog from Resnais, I definitely want to watch it eventually though.

HandyApe

09-03-13, 07:52 PM

Blade Runner is great, I have only seen a few Fellini films and that isn't one of them, and I have only seen Night and Fog from Resnais, I definitely want to watch it eventually though.

Night and Fog is another Resnais masterpiece! I hope you get around to seeing the film soon

Daniel M

09-03-13, 07:56 PM

Night and Fog is another Resnais masterpiece! I hope you get around to seeing the film soon

I will do. I have Last Year In Marienbad on my watchlist too, and maybe a few others. I ended up watching Night and Fog before them as we had a short films tournament thing either this year or last, and it actually won it :)

HandyApe

09-03-13, 07:59 PM

I will do. I have Last Year In Marienbad on my watchlist too, and maybe a few others. I ended up watching Night and Fog before them as we had a short films tournament thing either this year or last, and it actually won it :)

I still need to watch Last Year In Marienbad as well, but I have it on Blu-ray.

That's great. What tournament was it?

HitchFan97

09-03-13, 08:24 PM

^Last Year at Marienbad is freaking awesome. The definitive mindf***, I say.

Blade Runner is a favorite of mine as well.

Daniel M

09-03-13, 08:28 PM

I still need to watch Last Year In Marienbad as well, but I have it on Blu-ray.

That's great. What tournament was it?

Here it is: http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=32142

A relatively quick little tournament set up by Skepsis where we had 32 films nominated by various members. Not the biggest number, but it meant that members could actually watch most, if not all (I managed to get through all 32 films) of what they were voting for :)

mark f

09-03-13, 08:39 PM

HandyApe

09-03-13, 09:25 PM

I Vitelloni has many similarities to Barry Levinson's autobiographical Diner. What do you think of that? We have a Resnais thread right here (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=436063). :)

Hmmm...didn't know that. Quite interesting.

Rhanks for the link. :)

By the way, what do you think of this set?

mark f

09-03-13, 09:34 PM

I think they're important and influential films, but you wouldn't find those three on any list of mine. That's why you're you.

HandyApe

09-04-13, 07:03 AM

I think they're important and influential films, but you wouldn't find those three on any list of mine. That's why you're you.

You're right about that!

HandyApe

09-04-13, 12:01 PM

^Last Year at Marienbad is freaking awesome. The definitive mindf***, I say.

Blade Runner is a favorite of mine as well.

I'm probably going to watch it later today.

HandyApe

09-08-13, 07:30 PM

Unfortunately, I'm going to be too busy to finish the list anytime soon so I think I'm just gonna post my top 10 (individually).

HandyApe

09-09-13, 11:33 PM

10. Sunset Boulevard
(Billy Wilder / 1950)___________________________________________

http://oi39.tinypic.com/16iza8h.jpg

The first time I saw Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard was on T.V, and I was not expecting much. And I have to say I was still not that interested by the time the opening scene started -- that is until William Holden’s voiceover began (which, admittedly, is about a minute into the film). From there I was completely immersed in the picture.

John F. Seitz’s atmospheric cinematography is simply beautiful, especially in the scenes set in Norma Desmond’s vast house. Wilder’s script plays out like a great satire of Hollywood films, although he never liked to say whether or not that was his intent. Gloria Swanson and Erich von Stroheim gave their absolute best, and some of the younger stars deliver equally formidable performances. There is so much to say about this film.

honeykid

09-09-13, 11:53 PM

Now that's a great film. :cool:

Mmmm Donuts

09-10-13, 02:20 AM

Too bad you had to cut this short, but I'm sure you'll finish strong!

HandyApe

09-10-13, 02:41 AM

Too bad you had to cut this short, but I'm sure you'll finish strong!

I know. I'm heading back to uni soon and unless I do 4 sets a day I won't have time.

I'll post the full list when I finish the countdown, though, so at least you can see what would have been there!

LP Quagmire

09-10-13, 03:02 AM

[CENTER]38. Blade Runner

(Ridley Scott / 1982)
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http://oi44.tinypic.com/2hx5cb9.jpg

Blade Runner is perhaps the most visually stunning and fascinating science-fiction film I’ve ever seen. The question of whether Deckard is a replicant or not seems futile in comparison to the film’s ultimate question: is there such a difference between humans and non-humans? A masterpiece for sure.

BLADE RUNNER is a film that gets better with age (the film's and that of the viewer)

Daniel M

09-10-13, 08:27 AM

Sunset Boulevard is a great film that would probably be on my top 100 too :up:

HitchFan97

09-10-13, 09:47 AM

Nice choice and one that I really need to rewatch. :up:

HandyApe

09-10-13, 09:55 PM

9. Taxi Driver
(Martin Scorsese / 1976)
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http://oi41.tinypic.com/o73vih.jpg

Watching Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver is a sweltering experience. It’s such an intense yet meditative examination of its main character, Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), that you may not at first completely understand what the movie is trying to say. (I’ve seen the film at least ten times and I still don’t exactly know who Bickle is made out to be.)

The movie is shot in such an incredibly detailed way (the fragmented shots of Travis’ cab, I think, signals the many different places the character is in). The depth of the characters is also very striking, and Scorsese/Paul Schrader decide to leave many parts of the film opaque and ambiguous. Bernard Herman’s score is among the finest I’ve ever heard; the way it juxtaposes with the ugliness onscreen is…refreshing…if not quite uncomfortable.

Taxi Driver is such a powerful and overwhelming film it’s no wonder so many people admire it — and I’m one of those admirers.

(P.S.: If you get the chance to watch the film with Robert Kolker’s commentary, please do — it reveals a lot about the film.)

Lucas

09-10-13, 09:58 PM

Amazing choice. Amazing list. Keep em' coming.

HitchFan97

09-10-13, 10:00 PM

Fantastic choice! I absolutely adore Taxi Driver.

LP Quagmire

09-10-13, 10:04 PM

The Gunslinger45

09-10-13, 10:22 PM

Taxi Driver! My favorite movie!

HandyApe

09-10-13, 10:49 PM

Taxi Driver! My favorite movie!

Have you seen it with Robert Kolker's audio commentary? It really opened my eyes to the film's greatness. :)

The Gunslinger45

09-10-13, 11:19 PM

Have you seen it with Robert Kolker's audio commentary? It really opened my eyes to the film's greatness. :)

I have not. I need to check it out.

honeykid

09-10-13, 11:47 PM

+ rep for Taxi Driver because it's great. :up:

Daniel M

09-11-13, 08:48 AM

Taxi Driver is brilliant, and was in my last 10 too, so a great choice :)

HandyApe

09-11-13, 08:48 PM

8. Rome, Open City
(Roberto Rossellini / 1945)
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http://oi41.tinypic.com/f4fzae.jpg

Although Rossellini has a handful of truly great films (Germany, Year Zero; Europa ’51; Journey to Italy), none of them moved me quite like Rome, Open City did. It’s such an honest and heartbreaking representation of what the Nazis called the “open city”, even though it was only made a couple of months after the liberation.

*Spoiler warning*

Professor Fabio Troncarelli wrote beautifully of Pina’s final scene, saying, “In the scene of Pina’s death, Rossellini was able to create a modern ‘Pietà’, sculpting the air better than Michelangelo with marble and putting a woman’s body where Christ’s body traditionally lies.” Indeed, Anna Magnani’s performance as Pina really is something spectacular: like in most of her films, she captures the essence of working class Italian motherhood. Not many films have made me feel so deeply for its characters.

Mmmm Donuts

09-11-13, 09:01 PM

Never heard of this movie, but it sounds very good.

HandyApe

09-11-13, 09:04 PM

Never heard of this movie, but it sounds very good.

If you ever get the chance to watch, I seriously advise you do. I really wasn't expecting it to be as raw and powerful as it ended up being.

HitchFan97

09-12-13, 09:14 PM

The only Rossellini I've seen is Voyage in Italy, which I thought was really good. I'll have to check this one out.

HandyApe

09-15-13, 07:39 PM

7. Blue Velvet
(David Lynch / 1986)
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http://oi40.tinypic.com/ilj0nq.jpg

Unlike with most outstanding movies, Blue Velvet’s greatness is hard to describe. Sure, you can say it hosts incredible performances from the entire cast — especially Dennis Hopper and Isabella Rossellini — or that it has a lot of interesting motifs and beautifully symbolic imagery, but quite frankly that’s not just all it is. It’s something far beyond words. It’s something you feel. It has a power that holds on to you, and it doesn’t let go until long after you’ve seen the film.

Daniel M

09-15-13, 07:43 PM

Blue Velvet is a fantastic film and one that's probably in my top 10, and I mean my real top 10 and not the place holding Lynch one that I am currently using! :)

HandyApe

09-15-13, 07:57 PM

Blue Velvet is a fantastic film and one that's probably in my top 10, and I mean my real top 10 and not the place holding Lynch one that I am currently using! :)

Haha, only just saw your top 10. :p

Glad you agree on Blue Velvet!

HitchFan97

09-15-13, 08:01 PM

Blue Velvet! This is shaping up to be one hell of a top ten. :cool:

Lucas

09-15-13, 08:26 PM

The Gunslinger45

09-15-13, 08:39 PM

Blue Velvet, my number 2 favorite movie! I am digging this top ten!

cricket

09-15-13, 09:34 PM

Taxi Driver is my 2nd favorite movie of all time and Blue Velvet my favorite Lynch movie.

HandyApe

09-15-13, 11:40 PM

This movie taught me what a "love-letter" is. Blue Velvet is amazing, might even sneak into my top 10 one day. +1

Ha, I like that :)

The Gunslinger45

09-16-13, 01:41 PM

More movies please. The way this top ten is going I am thinking more of the movies in my top 10 are next! :D

Gideon58

09-19-13, 04:14 PM

Very pleased to see THE CONVERSATION on your list...probably one of the 5 best films of the 1970's.

Gideon58

09-19-13, 04:20 PM

SUNSET BOULEVARD...anyway you slice it, a classic.

HandyApe

02-05-14, 07:58 AM

Hey guys, I'm back! I haven't been posting here lately because of an increased workload...though I'm sure you don't want to hear about that.

Anyway, I thought I'd finish of this list by posting my top 10 films. I've made some changes (for example, Wall-E was somewhere in the 40s on my original list but, having seen it again, it managed to crack my top 10).

Here it is:

10. Wall-E
(Andrew Stanton / 2008)
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http://oi44.tinypic.com/2afkajn.jpg

9. Rome, Open City
(Roberto Rossellini / 1945)
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http://oi58.tinypic.com/fmqck9.jpg

8. Laura
(Otto Preminger / 1944)
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http://oi58.tinypic.com/301lut0.jpg

7. Blue Velvet
(David Lynch / 1985)
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http://oi57.tinypic.com/9k2c5x.jpg

6. The Godfather: Part II
(Francis Ford Coppola / 1974)
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http://25.media.tumblr.com/1ad420aa1ffe01830608f1ad29f4c274/tumblr_mp40g387c11r2enhho1_500.jpg

5. In the Mood for Love
(Wong Kar-wai / 2000)
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http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6qg67v8ZW1r2dnhn.jpg

4. 79 Primaveras (79 Springs)
(Santiago Álvarez / 1969)
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http://oi59.tinypic.com/2isdzle.jpg

3. Five Easy Pieces
(Bob Rafelson / 1970)
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http://oi57.tinypic.com/25gcme8.jpg

2. Lola
(Jacques Demy / 1961)
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http://oi62.tinypic.com/4jev9.jpg

1. Nothing But a Man
(Michael Roemer / 1964)
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http://oi60.tinypic.com/zl659f.jpg

I look forward to posting back here again!