The MoFo Top 100 of the 2000s Countdown [Archive] - Page 13

PHOENIX74

01-11-22, 10:34 PM

Two great movies that just missed my ballot. Foreign language movies are really having their day!

28. Downfall : This made my ballot on the Foreign Language Countdown, and for that reason I kind of overlooked it for this - but of course I'm happy to see it here. I'm surprised though, at it's lofty place amongst all films for this decade. I really admire this film for looking beyond Hitler's bunker to the streets of Berlin where a battle raged for the Nazi capital. Happening here was one of the strangest historical dramas in history, with a sick and broken dictator still holding sway despite his nation being in ruins. From the survivors, every act was carefully recounted after the war, including from secretary Traudl Junge, whose testimony bookends the film. Breathtaking filmmaking - and such a careful reconstruction of this event with a standout performance from Bruno Ganz in a role that's been historically hard to play - Adolf Hitler. The scale of recreation here makes all previous films about the same subject look flimsy in comparison. Great movie.

27. Memories of Murder : This made my ballot for the Foreign Language Countdown too! I feel like I've stepped into that thread by accident. Chalk up another one for Bong Joon Ho (I really have to see Mother), and another surprise at this stage of the countdown. I love Memories of Murder - such an unexpectedly funny take on a mysteriously elusive serial killer, with disparate policing methods set against each other. Amazing second feature for Bong Joon Ho, and a really different way at looking at a well-represented genre. The film has a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and I'm really glad that it kind of runs free from any of the studio interference that would hamper a Hollywood kind of production. It also has a perfect kind of ending (or at least perfect in my eyes) which you wouldn't ordinarily see in a more mainstream kind of film. Glad to see this getting the recognition it deserves.

Seen 62/74

Thief

01-11-22, 11:32 PM

Some hint facts...

One of tomorrow's entries is from a returning director on the countdown.
One is a "foreign" film.
One of them featured only one professional actor.
Robert Altman said about one of these entries, "I think it's the best picture I've ever seen"
Both of the films are based on the novels that were published roughly 20 years apart.
In preparation for their roles, a director requested two of his cast members to "refrain from having sex and consuming sugar".
Cast and crew members had to use locals as security guards.
There's a total of 5 Oscar nominations between both films.

gbgoodies

01-12-22, 01:47 AM

I haven't heard of Downfall, but it sounds interesting.

I haven't seen Memories of Murder, but I added it to my watchlist when it made the Foreign Language Movies Countdown.

dadgumblah

01-12-22, 03:47 AM

I'm very interested in seeing Downfall and if anything, the parody videos have only made me want to see it more. I laugh at those, but I take the subject matter very seriously and can separate the two.

I haven't seen Memories of Murder but it looks really good. Neither made my list.

#5.Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 63
#8. Unbreakable 62
#10. Million Dollar Baby 57
#18. The Royal Tenenbaums 35
#22. Fantastic Mr. Fox 70
#20. Iron Man 83
#21 Finding Nemo 44
#23. The Descent 80
#25. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 76

StuSmallz

01-12-22, 05:07 AM

From 2010 to 2019, due to the constant parodies of the scene where Hitler screams angrily, Constantin Films started taking down the videos arguing copyright infringement? Director Oliver Hirschbiegel, on the other hand, has said that he's seen hundreds of these videos and enjoys them very much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuSkv-mkf1k&list=PLyegWs_ffuf2UlOn1YOQ4w9rOrk79O1kk&index=2My personal favorite "Hitler reacts" vid is the one where he freaks out about that terrible Morbid Angel record:

https://youtu.be/i8ZpJ4lvEs8

:D

John-Connor

01-12-22, 05:14 AM

Chypmunk

01-12-22, 05:19 AM

Aha, surely the 'sex and sugar' one must be Mamma Mia! as I know they were a little worried about Mr. Brosnan's singing perhaps drifting slightly off key if he got too excited. Not sure who the other cast member would have been though, perhaps Ms. Seyfried or Mr. Firth?

Very sneaky having the other fillum grab all the Oscar noms but writing the clue like they were shared - I likes it ;)

*checks to see how many Oscar noms Paul Blart: Mall Cop received (even though it's probably still far too early for that one to show)....

rauldc14

01-12-22, 08:16 AM

Requiem for a Dream 👍
Cidade de Deus 👍

Winner winner

ApexPredator

01-12-22, 08:45 AM

MovieMeditation

01-12-22, 10:09 AM

I know you can say this for probably most films, but Memories of Murder on the big screen is something else. I've seen it twice in the theater and probably two or three times on DVD. The visuals are easy to not think about as strongly because the story is so compelling.
The visuals are one of the things that makes this movie what it is for me. It has such a singular amazing vision that really sets the mood and tone and totally completes the already compelling story. :up:

Sedai

01-12-22, 10:29 AM

Late for the hint cycle again. Agree that these next two are Requiem for a Dream and City of God.

rauldc14

01-12-22, 10:32 AM

Yup they are. We can get 4 today since we already know both :)

Thief

01-12-22, 10:52 AM

Reveals in a few

Thief

01-12-22, 10:59 AM

223 points, 17 listsRequiem for a Dream (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/641-requiem-for-a-dream.html)Director
Darren Aronofsky, 2000

Starring
Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans

Thief

01-12-22, 11:00 AM

233 points, 17 listsCity of God (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/598-city-of-god.html)Director
Fernando Meirelles & Kátia Lund, 2002

Starring
Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Douglas Silva

Thief

01-12-22, 11:00 AM

Requiem for a Dream 👍
Cidade de Deus 👍

Good job!

Allaby

01-12-22, 11:02 AM

Seen both, voted for neither. Requiem for a Dream is a very good film, an 8/10. City of God was underwhelming for me,just a 6/10 from me.

ScarletLion

01-12-22, 11:06 AM

26. Requiem for a Dream (223 points)
25. City of God (233 points)

Both extremely good films. Especially City of God which has some stunning cinematography. But they just missed out on my list unfortunately.

https://i.imgur.com/fBC3Y7d.gif

Thief

01-12-22, 11:07 AM

Expanding on these...

Some hint facts...

One of tomorrow's entries is from a returning director on the countdown. (this is Aronofsky's second film here)
One is a "foreign" film. (City of God is from Brazil)
One of them featured only one professional actor. (most of its cast were locals and not experienced, and only Matheus Nachtergaele was a "professional")
Robert Altman said about one of these entries, "I think it's the best picture I've ever seen" (he said this of City of God)
Both of the films are based on the novels that were published roughly 20 years apart. (Requiem for a Dream was published in 1978, and City of God in 1997)
In preparation for their roles, a director requested two of his cast members to "refrain from having sex and consuming sugar". (Aronofsky asked Jared Leto and Marlon Wayans to do this)
Cast and crew members had to use locals as security guards. (when filming in the Brazil favelas, cast and crew were asked not to bring outside security)
There's a total of 5 Oscar nominations between both films. (Requiem had 1 nomination, City of God had 4. No wins)

Iroquois

01-12-22, 11:08 AM

No votes. I've seen Requiem for a Dream once many years ago and did find it lived up to its shocking, unforgiving reputation reasonably well - however, I look back and wonder if it was actually that good (enough to buy a cheap DVD, albeit one I'm not sure I'll ever rewatch). City of God made it onto the 2005 edition of my Top 100 but it's another film that hasn't really felt like it's worth revisiting - I know this for sure because I did revisit it last year and found it to only really be a 7/10 (which is about what I ended up giving Belly - sorry, Suspect).

MovieMeditation

01-12-22, 11:08 AM

Both are good films. Non of them was on my list though.

Miss Vicky

01-12-22, 11:12 AM

I've seen both, but voted for neither. I recall City of God being very good, but I've only seen it once. I meant to rewatch it for this countdown but life got in the way. Even so, it probably would not have made my ballot simply for the fact that there are too many well established personal favorites from this decade.

As already said, I don't like Requiem for a Dream or anything else I've seen from Aronofsky.

Seen: 45/76

seanc

01-12-22, 11:12 AM

Desperately need to see City Of God again, but just based off my first watch I had it at 22. Really pulled me in. I’m almost always in the bag for crime stuff anyway, but this one is special in my opinion.

On the other hand movies about hard drug addiction are usually not up my alley and Requiem was no exception. I don’t know what it is, maybe the characterizations in them, but they always lack a true hook for me. Didn’t hate Requiem by any means, just was never going to make my list and not something I will likely revisit.

Thief

01-12-22, 11:12 AM

Seen both, voted for ONE...

Requiem for a Dream was my #11. A truly harrowing portrayal of the descent into addiction with some excellent direction and perfect performances. It really got to me to the point that we bought the DVD about a decade ago, because we thought it was so great, and we still haven't brought ourselves to watch it again.

City of God was also a very hard watch, in how it portrays the violence that engulfs this kids. I did see this one a couple of times, but haven't really seen it in about a decade or more, so I left it out.

How much is it now?...

Seen: 59/76

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Synecdoche, New York (#46)
8.
9.
10.
11. Requiem for a Dream (#26)
12.
13. The Prestige (#38)
14.
15.
16.
17. Once (#103)
18.
19.
20.
21. Before Sunset (#42)
22.
23. Mother (#96)
24.
25.

Thief

01-12-22, 11:18 AM

With today's entries, Darren Aronofsky joins the list of directors with multiple entries. He had The Wrestler at #54 and now Requiem for a Dream at #26. Do you think The Fountain has any chance for him to go 3/3?

pahaK

01-12-22, 11:22 AM

I've seen the last four, once each. I don't remember many specifics from Memories of Murder or City of God, but I think I liked them. Downfall I remember a bit better, and it was pretty good too. I'm afraid that the memes might have destroyed that one scene, though. Requiem for a Dream I don't remember liking that much, and that seems to be in line with my experiences with Aronofsky in general. At least some of these would deserve a rewatch.

Seen: 38/76 (finally back to 50%)

John Dumbear

01-12-22, 11:30 AM

Two brilliant films, of course they're on my ballot.

Chypmunk

01-12-22, 11:37 AM

Requiem For A Dream is four-star good but was never really in contention for a spot on my list, I also don't really get why so many people say they find it such a tough fillum to watch as I found nothing particularly disturbing in it :shrug: City Of God is also very good and definitely was in contention but just lost out in the last round or two of cuts I had to make.

Seen: 49/76 (Own: 33/76)

3. Madeo [Mother] (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216496/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9) [#96]
6. Moon (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9) [#48]
8. Der Untergang [Downfall] (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#28]
15. Låt den rätte komma in [Let The Right One In] (2008) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#29]
16. The Descent (2005) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#80]
25. The Pool (2007) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0911024/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_6) [1-ptr]

Faildictions (millennial edition v1.01):
26. Superbad (2007)
25. Memento (2000)
24. Road To Perdition (2002)
23. The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
22. Shrek (2001)
21. Requiem For A Dream (2000) [26]
20. Oldboy (2003)
19. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
18. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
17. City Of God (2002) [25]
16. In The Mood For Love (2000)
15. O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
14. Children Of Men (2006)
13. Amélie (2001)
12. Zodiac (2007)
11. WALL·E (2008)
10. The Departed (2006)
9. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
8. Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
7. Mulholland Drive (2001)
6. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
5. There Will Be Blood (2007)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
3. Spirited Away (2001)
2. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
1. No Country For Old Men (2007)

Four down, twenty-two to go...

Captain Terror

01-12-22, 11:38 AM

we bought the DVD about a decade ago, because we thought it was so great, and we still haven't brought ourselves to watch it again.

Ha! Same here. This is one of those films that are seared into my brain despite the fact that I've probably only watched it 3 times at most in the past 22 years. Maybe only twice, in fact. Using my highly unscientific ranking process I decided it was the "best" film of the decade and ranked it #1.

My interpretive dance is only available to my OnlyFans members, I'm afraid. Age-restricted, of course.

SpelingError

01-12-22, 11:53 AM

Seen both of them.

Requiem For a Dream was on my ballot at #16. Even if you haven't seen the film, you've probably heard about its reputation as a horrifying film and it certainly lives up to that. A lot of this has to do with the terrific craft that goes into the film. Aronofsky scares you in so many ways with such an immense variety of editing/camera/lighting techniques that occur one after another at such an unbearably fast rate that watching it is akin to a complete and total assault on your senses as it wears them down, inch by grueling inch.

As an aside, Ellen Burstyn not only gives the best performance in the film, but also the single best horror movie performance by any female actress. She captures the curiosity and blind faith of her character, while simultaneously conveying her feebleness and vulnerabilities and how she's at the mercy of her dangerous lifestyle. It's a truly fantastic performance.

City of God didn't make my ballot, but it's also really good. I haven't felt the need to revisit it yet (I may do it eventually though), but I found it to be a disturbing gangster film which, instead of presenting gangster life/violence in a sensationalized or exciting way, focuses more on the disturbing/harrowing bits to it. Overall, I have a lot of respect for it and, though it gets its fair share of backlash for being a gateway foreign film, I still think it has a lot to offer.

1. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (#78)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. A Serious Man (#66)
8.
9. 28 Days Later (#45)
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16. Requiem For a Dream (#16)
17.
18. The Pianist (#31)
19.
20. Moon (#48)
21.
22.
23. Sunshine (#88)
24.
25. The New World (#99)

Thief

01-12-22, 11:58 AM

Critics

-

Critics thoughts on our #26, Requiem for a Dream...

https://i.imgur.com/1WOXJ6B.png

It currently has a 79% Certified Fresh Tomatometer score among critics, and a 8.3/10 score on IMDb (with 807,000 votes).

Roger Ebert gave it ★★★½ and said:

"What is fascinating about Requiem for a Dream, the new film by Darren Aronofsky, is how well he portrays the mental states of his addicts. When they use, a window opens briefly into a world where everything is right. Then it slides shut, and life reduces itself to a search for the money and drugs to open it again. Nothing else is remotely as interesting."

Meanwhile Wesley Morris, of San Francisco Examiner, said:

"It's one of the most beautifully unpleasant movies ever made -- its reverse charge being that it is no fun at all."

As for our MoFo reviewers, 77topaz said:

"It is definitely a very dark and disturbing film, and at times it is almost painful to watch, thanks to how well the effects are executed, and that’s perhaps the only thing that keeping me from giving this film a full five-star rating. Thanks to its disturbing nature and content, this is not a film for everyone, but if you feel up to it, this is certainly a film I would recommend you to see."

And Gideon58 said:

"Hubert Selby's screenplay, based on his own book, pulls no punches and offers no apologies for this twisted look at drug addiction that, to the uninitiated viewer might seem a little over-the-top, but for those who have ever dealt with addiction or love someone who has dealt with it, there are emotions and events and images presented here that have a basis in reality. Aronofsky's bold directorial vision and some spectacular performances, especially Ellen Burstyn, make this film worth watching...it's not an easy watch, but there are rewards to be had here and it might actually make you think twice the next time someone offers to buy you a beer. "

Thief

01-12-22, 12:05 PM

Critics

-

Critics thoughts on our #25, City of God...

https://i.imgur.com/tRPsWgH.png

It currently has a 91% Certified Fresh Tomatometer score among critics, and a 8.6/10 score on IMDb (with 731,000 votes).

Roger Ebert gave it ★★★★ and said:

"City of God does not exploit or condescend, does not pump up its stories for contrived effect, does not contain silly and reassuring romantic sidebars, but simply looks, with a passionately knowing eye, at what it knows."

Meanwhile J.R. Jones, of Chicago Reader, said:

"I came away from this film impressed by its narrative control but unmoved by anything it had to say."

As for our MoFo reviewers, seanc said:

"I would consider City of God a great crime drama. The story is extremely well told, with many interesting memorable characters. This is the kind of movie that is still with you weeks or months after you see it. I am looking forward to revisiting it in the future."

And LordSlaytan said:

"What I liked best about City of God is how real it all seemed. The people who starred in this did an amazing job making it really appear as if it were a documentary. It does a good job at showing the hopelessness in an environment that is completely unforgiving and doesn’t give a quarter to the children either."

Thief

01-12-22, 12:10 PM

Trailers

-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBwzN4v1vA0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcUOO4Itgmw

rauldc14

01-12-22, 12:16 PM

Dislike both of them. I never really understood the love for City of God.

I feel Requiem had good performances but the story really didn't do much for me. I should see it again sometime so I can have a fresh perspective in which to dog the film :).

At least we were smart and didn't have City of God in the top 10 this go around. I just remember it putting me to sleep.

TheUsualSuspect

01-12-22, 12:27 PM

18. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

A harrowing tale of what addiction and desperation can do to people. Absolutely terrific performance from Ellen Burstyn. She gives so much to the role that it earned her a Best Actress Nod, a well deserved one. That would be the only nomination the film would get.

Aronfsky is a polarizing director, offering up Black Swan one moment and Noah the next. He's a guy that I look forward to seeing what he can create because it will have some sort of affect on me, good or bad. Requiem was a film that knocked me off my feet when I first saw it. The low budget gritty style works with the themes incredibly well. The film famously has an incredibly amount of cuts (roughly 2,000) which again puts the viewer in the headspace of an addict. It's frenzied, chaotic and depressingly beautiful.

A hard film to revisit, but one that is well worth your time.

10. City of God (2002)

This film is listed in my top ten of all-time, yet it makes #10 here. That is simply because I need to re-watch this film to reassess it. It's been years, but man...what a powerful film this is. I think back to the scene when the kid is told to choose between which child he needs to shoot. Harrowing scene that has stuck with me to this day because of the ear piercing cries from the young child. What a horrible position to be in for everybody.

Maybe the first foreign film I watched that really stayed with me. I would have been roughly 15 or 16 when I watched it and it opened up my world to films from other countries.

Fernando Meirelles would go on to direct one of my least favourite films I've seen, Blindness, but this film is magnificent. I want to watch it again, but ever since becoming a father I've found myself more open emotionally to movies. I guarantee that this film would hit me harder than it did in my youth.

And how dare you Iro....how dare you put this on the same playing field as Belly.

Thief

01-12-22, 12:32 PM

Awards

-

Now to the awards received by Requiem for a Dream...

AFI Award for Movie of the Year
Awards Circuit Community Award for Best Original Score of the Decade (Clint Mansell)
Chlotrudis Award for Best Movie
Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress (Ellen Burstyn)
Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead (Burstyn) and Best Cinematography (Matthew Libatique)
Golden Satellite Award for Best Actress (Burstyn)

Among many others.

As for City of God, it won...

BAFTA Award for Best Editing (Daniel Rezende)
AFI Fest Audience Award for Best International Feature Film
Golden Satellite Award for Best Foreign Picture (Brazil)
International Cinephile Society Award for Best Foreign Language Film
National Board of Review Award for Top Foreign Films

TheUsualSuspect

01-12-22, 12:40 PM

5. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
6. The Pianist (2002)
10. City of God (2002)
13. Lost in Translation (2003)
14. Sin City (2005)
15. Hot Fuzz (2007)
16. Up (2009)
18. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
20. Battle Royale (2000)
25. American Psycho (2000)

John W Constantine

01-12-22, 12:57 PM

Two Good ones. Didn't vote for. I don't find either one truly great but glad they are here. Don't do drugs.

John-Connor

01-12-22, 12:58 PM

Seen: 56/76

City of God made the all time mofo top 100 twice as well as the foreign films list, nice to see it made top 25 on this one. Incredibly well done cinematography, storytelling and world/character building. One of the realest flicks I've seen, #5 on my ballot.

Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler are both great and were in contention for my vote but ultimately didn't make it.

Ballot: 11/25
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/dvKsQB84W2Sv6s7jpGmzQBVyQe3.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/iOpi3ut5DhQIbrVVjlnmfy2U7dI.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/4YEX7qUfg6kN2tHm84CMt2CEq9n.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/5y8B0YSsIP1q9WpxKPuCJ9E6dzf.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/ta2BX3THwYXytWuVVozaT0NsMM8.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/ebdFRfLMPLejRQXTREuxW4Cotfs.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/gsmCtO2K1SeFki8f0tbBYTh5l9t.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/3DzePKMbLMIM636S6syCy3cLPqj.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/yDY1LLuMdWA0xO09ciVeDHHJWFr.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/8qGW691AOyqbKsEhpe7nHwMEbRe.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/r2lDjWiuKuqDyLUcsjt8JugwNrQ.jpg

Deschain

01-12-22, 01:04 PM

City of God is excellent and another one that’s due for a rewatch from me.

Requiem is definitely a notable movie, not one I’d want to see again, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t hold up in the future.

I have a feeling we’re gonna get to the end of this countdown, there’s gonna be no LOTR movies, and a bunch of people are gonna be like, “What? Never heard of ‘em.” :D

crumbsroom

01-12-22, 01:06 PM

Two great films, and they are a pretty nice pairing as they are both movies which wear their greatness on their sleeve. You get a clear sense of what happens when a director uses their editors, composers, cinematographers, sound designers to the hilt. But it isn't just empty bombast. In both instances the films lack of subtle cinematic techniques are about exploding the emotional states of its characters. They are in complete service to narrative. And as purely 'filmic' as both of these are, they also offer audiences a perfect blend of narrative and character driver thrust. Technique and story are beautifully intertwined.

Requeim was on my ballot. How could it not be considering what my reaction to it was. I watched it twice in a row the night I put it on, and immediately as I woke up the next day. Then again later that afternoon when my girlfriend came to visit me. In many ways it is an absurdly over the top movie. And it's message that drugs destroy us is the most tired of all messages (and one that I, in some ways, can't help take but a personal affront to). But at the same time, it is an almost completely accurate representation of drug enduced psychosis. And how it can rot all manner of people. It's climax, possibly the most overwhelming assault on the senses I can think of from any (fairly) mainstream film. It's a movie that makes me lose my breath just thinking about it. And, as Popcorn mentioned, Burstyn is the ****ing emotional anchor of the whole film. She is both cartoon character and dreary American tragedy, all at once. As are most people who succumb to such fates. I haven't seen this for years because it feels like a movie that more belong in my past than present, as I'm less and less interested in bombast, or technical proficiency. But no matter how much I've been hibernating on it the last twenty or so years, I still know its a neutron bomb.

Not sure why I didn't pick City of God too (maybe I did, but I feel probably didn't). Maybe, as I summed up above with Requiem, it is a movie that is more emblematic of my tastes in my twenties and early thirties and have just grown out of championing movies that come at the audience full throttle. But it definitely deserves nearly as much as respect as RfaD. If one loves the things that go into making film, from the passion of the director, to the dazzling technical wonders they can create when really putting all of their sweat into something, City is a gift. A masterpiece in such obvious display that I'm clearly a fool for purposely (I think) omitting it.

As for the other new entries:

Downfall: Was from my list. A surprise inclusion as I've only just watched it, and only the one time. But so impressive was my experience with it (I would almost certainly rank it in the top 3 first time watches of last year) that this recent enthusiasm propelled it to my list. Not sure what I said about it initially last summer, but what else can really be said. It is the kind of movie that is many things at once. That movie lovers of all different stripes and sizes should be able to find something to latch onto. It's a historical indictment, a character study, an overheated and claustrophic drama. There is humor and terror and tension and heart in it. And ultiamtely, the whole thing is completely devastating. A pretty perfect thing.Can't believe I dismissed it for as long as I did. My bad. I'm dumb.

Kill Bill 2: Another one from my ballot. Pure cinema offered up by a man who understood the inherent artistic beauty of so much long neglected B-movie trash. Tarantino, with Kill Bill, takes a jackhammer to the line that separates high and low art. A huge public service. Is Kill Bill Vol 2 empty? In a lot of ways, if we want to simply discuss philosophy or history or the burning emotions and betrayals and victories of humankind, maybe. But when it comes to articulating the joy of creation, of paying respects to all the kinds of film we've ever unabashedly loved in our lives, to watch a man create a shining temple out of art that so many supposed critics have tossed to the sidelines of history, Kill Bill Vol 2 has meat on its bones. Is it as good as the first Volume in articulating this? Maybe, maybe not. But it fills in what the first film could not address in its willingness to rush headlong into pure, almost gravity-less filmmaking, that pays little caution to any proper narrative beats or full realized character development. It's the perfect yin to the first films yang. So it had to be on my list.

Up - I like Up. Just as I like most Pixar films. But it is, for me, at best in the middle of their pack. While I have no doubt it is rich with lots of overlooked details, my single watch of this didn't pick up on much of that, and so I was left with a film that I liked it pieces, but not such much as a whole.

Lost in Translation: Also could have made my list, but didn't. A film that allowed narrative to drift into a woozy space, and let us live in this foreign landscape with a similarly lost (both geographically and emotionally) tourist. All of its great attributes have been talked to death. I have nothing to add to any of it. Bill and Scarlett are magic together. Anna Farris is great comedic relief, as usual. Coppola refined her vision after the sloppy (but interesting) Virgin Suicides, to eventually become one of the more interesting, polarizing and ultimately misunderstood of this milleniums new brand of American auteurs.

The Pianist: Gruelling and uncompromising. I imagine this gets the shock and drudgery or evil more right than the considerably more cinematic (but also truthful, in its different way) treatment Schindler's List brought to the table. Pianist is a movie I respect a lot. Is one of the few best picture movie winners that doesn't seem like it was chosen by a herd of naked mole rats. But not one I have a lot of interest in revisiting. It's a very painful film (as it should be), but is articulated by Polanski in a way that makes me want to turn my back on it and forget what happened. Which, frankly, is probably about as good an endorsement for its greatness as anything. But it didn't make my list (glad it made others though)

Hot Fuzz: This took me a million times to get through. I always put it on at the wrong time. Would fall asleep. Would get called away from friends. Was in a mood where laughter felt like a betrayal of everything that was inside of me. Finally got through it all near the beginning of the pandemic, and I do like it. It's a deeply clever film, and incredibly reverential towards the kind of films it is making fun of (which is usually the best way to properly make fun of something). Pegg is great as the button down cop. And I can tell its just crammed full of little details that deepen its sense of fun and how well designed its parody is. But as I'm rarely one for pure comedy, and I'm not nearly as well versed in 80's action as those who might really have a soft spot for this, in wasn't going to be in contention.

Let the Right One In: Next to Martin and Blood for Dracula, the greatest vampire movie ever made. And unlike those two, isn't simply a caustic or satirical deconstruction of the genre. It takes its vampires very seriously. And by doing so, finds an emotional core that is so delicate and sad, I couldn't help but fall in love with the film. Oskar, as a character, is one of the perfect embodiments of childhood loneliness ever put on screen. And the relationship he ends up developing over the course of the film feels so real, and so pure, and in the end so tragic, that the emotions start to well up just thinking about it. All this and it also functions perfectly as a horror film. One of the great horror films of all time. Definitely made my list.

Memories of Murder: How can anyone fault the inclusion of this, even though I didn't include it, and have always felt an (almost certainly incorrect) slight dissatisfaction with the film. Why? I honestly don't know. If someone were to call it perfect, I'd probably agree. I think its frightening scenes are frightening. I think its endictment of the police force is razor sharp. I think the dynamics between the characters creates a rivetting drama outside of the pursuit of the murderer. And it also doesn't lose a sense of humor, somehow, miraculously. Why did I just give it a three and a half on Letterboxd then? I'll probably never know. But I just remember thinking two thirds of the way through it, that it felt like something was missing. Aching like a phantom limb I couldn't prove actually existed. But all of this said, I say all of that knowing I'm completely wrong in my assessment. No need to worry much about my particular dumbness in this case. I won't push it.

Hey Fredrick

01-12-22, 01:07 PM

From 46 to 25 I've seen 19 of the films, mostly good but a couple stinkers, with only one making my list. Keeping with the "I tried to vote for fun movies" my number 11 film was Requiem for a Dream. This movie is a blast! Stories documenting the rise and fall of drug addicts are almost always a guaranteed good time, then throw in a mother getting addicted to diet pills/speed with hilarious results and you've got a real crowd pleaser. Not quite as much fun as having bamboo splinters shoved under your finger and toe nails but it's close (so I'm told). Obviously, this isn't a movie I watch very often, in fact haven't seen it in years and it's part of my home library. Really can't recall the last time I was sitting on the couch and thought "Boy, Requiem for a Dream and a nice tall glass of that sweet nectar, anti-freeze, would really hit the spot tonight" but that's a credit to how well it's made. This is some brutal stuff. What Aronofsky does very well is get you to feel some sympathy for these people before dropping the hammer on us and he drops the hammer hard. There are scenes in this movie that are etched into my brain and I wish they weren't. None of the main four characters are really bad people, they're just ****ed up and become desperate. Desperate people tend to do desperate things and Aronofsky leaves little to the imagination. It's hard to think of a movie where the downfall is presented so vividly. From editing to acting to directing and especially the score, I can't think of anything that Requiem misses on. Ellen Burstyn should have won the Academy Award that year and Clint Mansell (composer) not even being nominated is a mystery.

My ballot is a total mess. There are quite a few movies that I either didn't log on that yellow tabbed movie site or I never updated the rating after re-watching.

My Ballot:
1. Yep
2. Sin City
3. Don't know
4. Yeah
5. Snatch
6. Hope so
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. haha...Nah. never had a chance
10. Definitely
11. Requiem for a Dream
12. Moon
13. Batman Begins
14. The Descent
15. Mystic River
16. No
17. No
18. Yes
19. No
20. No
21. Sunshine
22. Catch Me If You Can
23. Absolutely
24. The Aviator (106)
25. Little Miss Sunshine (102)

KeyserCorleone

01-12-22, 01:11 PM

Requiem for a Dream was my number 5. It is one of the most perfect films I've ever seen, and I'm never watching it again. It brings to mind those "don't do drugs" commercials from my childhood, except it doesn't hold back any truth, and by the end you feel sick.

Sent-In Ballot:

#3. Sin City (47)
#5. Requiem for a Dream (26)
#7. Yi Yi (49)
#10. Casino Royale (37)
#13. Million Dollar Baby (57)
#15. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (53)
#16. Let the Right One In (29)
#20. Iron Man (83)
#22. Pirates of the Caribbean (63)
#25. Hot Fuzz (30)

Post-Ballot:

#3. Sin City (47)
#5. Requiem for a Dream (26)
#7. Yi Yi (49)
#10. Casino Royale (37)
#12. Snatch (71)
#14. Million Dollar Baby (57)
#16. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (53)
#17. Let the Right One In (29)
#18. Slumdog Millionaire (not placed but it made my new 25)
#19. Monsters, Inc. (74)
#22. Iron Man (83)
#23. Fantastic Mr. Fox (70)
#25. Pirates of the Caribbean (63)

Seen 42/76

Iroquois

01-12-22, 01:24 PM

And how dare you Iro....how dare you put this on the same playing field as Belly.

I'll change this take when you drop the new 100.

donniedarko

01-12-22, 01:40 PM

Now we're talking, 3 of the last four from my list, all 4

My List
1. The Pianist
8. Gran Torino (2008). (#108)
11. Caché (2005)
15. Downfall (2004)
16. Dancer in the Dark (2000)
17. A Serious Man (2009)
18. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
21. Battle Royale (2000)
22. City of God (2002)
25. Bellamy (2009. (1 pointer)

mark f

01-12-22, 02:57 PM

Nowadays, I don't think that Requiem For a Dream is a complete waste of time. It does have some good acting and is decent in most all technical attributes, but I agree that I can't understand why people think it's all that significant. But I'm going to go ahead and post what I earlier said about it. Sorry.

I recently rewatched this movie and found it far more repetitious, boring and predictable than I did the first time, and I didn't really like it that much the first time. I realize that it's considered by some a modern-day classic, but I cannot understand why. I felt nothing for the characters because they all seemed to be puppets of director Aronofsky who seemed to be trying to show off but the repetition really killed it for me. Besides that, it seems almost as if Aronofsky is ambivalent about the fates of his own characters. Watching Ellen Burstyn in a fat suit seemed more off-putting this time too. By the way, this is a good chance for me to recommend my fave Selby film adaptation, Last Exit to Brooklyn. That one makes me cry.

I didn't vote for City of God, but there's no legitimate reason why it got cut while some others didn't. Ir's exciting filmmaking and actually has a cautionary tale to tell if one is open to it.

Sedai

01-12-22, 03:29 PM

Two good flicks. Back when it first hit, I was a HUGE Requiem for a Dream fan. An unsuspecting buddy would stop by, and I would say something like "Hey dude, check out the new Jen Connelly flick yet?" To which they would reply, "Not yet. What's it about?" "Ah, just some party kinds messing around." Or something like that.

A couple hours later, my friend is balled up on the couch, sweating bullets, telling me he might not stop by for a while. Good times! ;)

https://images.mubicdn.net/images/film/143/cache-7997-1544094147/image-w1280.jpg?size=1200x

I did give this one another watch for the countdown, and I am just not as over-the-moon for films like this these days. There are still several scenes that are gripping and I do enjoy the technical approach, but I don't get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It's not the harshness, as I still watch Se7en frequently, and I like that more than ever. Requiem for a Dream has just fallen off for me, simple as that.

Lil Dice and the boys in City of God are another story, and this film made my list at #24. That is probably a bit low, now that I think about it. Probably should be at least 8-10 places higher, but it didn't make it into my re-watch rotation before I made my list.

https://hotcorn-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/02/24103842/City-of-God-2.jpg

crumbsroom

01-12-22, 03:32 PM

But the repetition really killed it for me.

It certainly wouldn't be enough of a defence to redeem the movie for you, but I think there would be a good argument that any film that deals with drug addiction couldn't claim to have any idea what it was talking about if it didn't in some way mimic the nothing-ever-changes statis of this lifestyle. While degradation of the body is certainly one of the more visible (and more cinematic) side effects of hard drug use, its the soul crushing and seemingly never ending repetition that is one of the truest horrors that it is necessary to articulate (and the least satisfying from an audience perspective). It's a difficult balancing act for a director and one of the somewhat brilliant things I believe Aronofsky does to address it is to employ a surface flash of the rush of drugs that, through endless repetition, ends up becoming less and less thrilling than it is numbing. It looks technically great, but ultimately, becomes emptier and emptier.

Because of all this, we could then argue that maybe this makes drug use a subject that has limitations for cinematic treatment. And in a lot of ways I would agree with that. I think most drug movies are exceedingly bad, or completely miss the mark. But if we accept addiction is an important societal ill that needs to be addressed by movies, we kind of have to move towards the cyclical boredom that fills many hours of the life of an addict. For better or worse.

Still, it's certainly a movie that has more than enough aspects in it to push the audience away. After all, just look at how many fans of it say they will probably never even watch it again.

mark f

01-12-22, 03:38 PM

But if we accept addiction is an important societal ill that needs to be addressed by movies, we kind of have to move towards the cyclical boredom that fills many hours of the life of an addict. For better or worse.
Yes, and I know that from first-hand knowledge.

Wyldesyde19

01-12-22, 03:38 PM

Not a big fan of Requiem, but I can’t recall why, as it’s been over 15 years I’d say. At some point, I need to revisit it.

City of God is a brilliant film, and somehow I forgot to include it on my ballot. I didn’t purposely cut it. I just plain forgot about it after writing it down amongst the initial list.

Harry Lime

01-12-22, 03:51 PM

I had City of God at #5. It was a great experience in cinemas, way back then. I remember seeing Roger Ebert on his tv show (those were the days huh) put it near the top of his 2002 list. I hadn't heard anything about it anywhere (early internet days) but saw it was playing at the Fifth Avenue Cinema in Vancouver, a small little shop that still exists and I think still shows those lesser known films - not sure I moved east so haven't been for a while. For probably the next year I was hyping this movie to anyone that would listen.

Requiem for a Dream is a quality film too. I am not as much a fan after a rewatch years later but it would get in on a personal top 100 for the decade.

3. Yi Yi (2000)
4. Werckmeister Harmonies (2000)
5. City of God (2002)
6. Caché (2005)
9. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005)
22. The Aviator (2004)
25. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001)

Holden Pike

01-12-22, 03:53 PM

84344

Requiem for a Dream was #80 on the MoFo Top 100 of the Millennium List. City of God finished at #6 on that list, at #14 of the MoFo Top 100 Foreign Films List, #61 on the MoFo Top 100 Refresh, and #54 on the original MoFo Top 100.

Thief

01-12-22, 06:03 PM

Trivia

-

Requiem for a Dream

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/darren-aronofsky-director-and-eric-watson-producer-picture-id109603964

Did you know that...

Darren Aronofsky and producer Eric Watson optioned the film rights for $1000?
Faye Dunaway, Giovanni Ribisi, Neve Campbell, and Dave Chappelle were all considered for the lead roles?
Marlon Wayans read the novel three times and auditioned five times for the role of Tyrone?
in preparation for her role, Jennifer Connelly rented the apartment where the character lived, isolated herself, and designed the clothes that her character wore?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BN2UwNTdiNGYtNGVmMC00YjE5LTg2ZDQtZTNjZWQ3Y2VmMGE3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ3Nzk5MTU@._V1_.jpg

mrblond

01-12-22, 06:06 PM

• I've cut Requiem for a Dream from my ballot in the last minute. It would probably be my #28-29.
I finally saw this movie couple of years ago and yes, it is quite impressive. Ellen Burstyn was outstanding there.
4.0

• Still haven't seen City of God.

_____________
my stats
▽
Top 100 seen 40/76.
(seen one pointers 3/38 • seen 101-110: 5/10)
--
My list:
...
4. Snatch [#71.]
5. The Royal Tenenbaums [#35.]
...
8. Sideways [#39.]
9. Amores perros [#81.]
10. The Wrestler [#54.]
...
12. The Pianist [#31.]
14. The Man Who Wasn't There [#84.]
...
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/56mOJth6DJ6JhgoE2jtpilVqJO.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/z3r4kQQBoIAEIZMeW2diVRE8DIV.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/5p3tGb5a5426BeC0Ch92T3IWNK9.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/vV4vlD4ool5JSsS1rB82qjCF6z8.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/6OTR8dSoNGjWohJNo3UhIGd3Tj.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/3DzePKMbLMIM636S6syCy3cLPqj.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/lrCgt8NNMyFsfmXyXiSSCRXNH4u.jpg
--

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou [#98]
Werckmeister Harmonies [#97]
Pride & Prejudice [#93]
Caché [#85]
American Psycho [#79]
Battle Royale [#77]
Catch Me If You Can [#72]
Fantastic Mr. Fox [#70]
A Serious Man [#66]
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/qZoFLNBC78jzboWeDH6Ha0qavF2.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/nxWEG9JzmJx3eLE8y7CUHmaj3CE.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/sGjIvtVvTlWnia2zfJfHz81pZ9Q.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/IC2BPYDSsNPP1Q1VuXUiKrRwbU.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/3ddHhfMlZHZCefHDeaP8FzSoH4Y.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/uRhc1IfwYKwVqIp2OTZGFzTVsdF.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/vG3YcgXuZABv7C8nd5bEyuMfyTQ.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2//1eRgCKzvbL73LiBFqPR6FJGwuJQ.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/8Zjk3cvjkDa643NHXtdPu30gnyY.jpg

Yi Yi [#50]
Dancer in the Dark [#49]
Adaptation. [#43]
Before Sunset [#42]
Casino Royale [#37]
Lost in Translation [#32]
Requiem for a Dream [#26]
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/hTPkCpK9SLGDMXRbUwzoep0MxOx.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/tjWa4JBdxomtoojZr7dPIgJZgiX.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/qP4LbKYVRWw5j1n55sSjvvgmedM.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/gycdE1ARByGQcK4fYR2mgpU6OO.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/ta2BX3THwYXytWuVVozaT0NsMM8.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/yDY1LLuMdWA0xO09ciVeDHHJWFr.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/nOd6vjEmzCT0k4VYqsA2hwyi87C.jpg

Thief

01-12-22, 06:13 PM

Trivia

-

City of God

https://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/City-of-God/images/City-of-god-160.jpg

Did you know that...

Leandro Firmino, who was from City of God, had no ambitions to be an actor and only went to audition to accompany his friend?
most of the film was filmed in the favela Cidade Alta? At the moment of filming, Cidade de Deus was in conflict.
the scene where the gang prays before a fight was improvised? Right before shooting, a young boy asked director Fernando Meirelles if they weren't going to pray like they usually do before a confrontation. Meirelles told him to lead the prayer as he filmed it.
In 2018, it was revealed that Alexandre Rodrigues, who played the lead role, was an Uber driver?

https://i0.wp.com/blackbraziltoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Alexandre-Rodrigues-2.jpg?w=700&ssl=1

ueno_station54

01-12-22, 07:36 PM

they both mid

Thief

01-12-22, 09:35 PM

"Early" hint...

Put on your mask
Put on your hat
Hide who you really are
You're not all that

You're seeing things
In every single place
Inside, outside
Take off your face

Hide in the back
or in your room
You can't escape
Things that go boom!

rauldc14

01-12-22, 09:57 PM

Dark Knight and Two Towers

StuSmallz

01-12-22, 10:01 PM

Dark KnightThis low? No way; if it's any spot besides #1 here, I'd be amazed. Batman Begins, though, I wouldn't be surprised by at all...

PHOENIX74

01-12-22, 10:24 PM

26. Requiem for a Dream : "Ass to ass." Requiem for a Dream's characters hit their nadir long after it seems they already must have - terrifying low points that can never be recovered from, and somehow, despite who these people are, you really feel for them by this point. They do start out with dreams, but somewhat facile and unwholesome ones that they only believe will make them happy. Their terrifying descent is vividly illustrated in dream-like cinematic visions that really cement this as an outstanding and memorable film. Who can ever forget Ellen Burstyn being terrorized by her own refrigerator? Impinging from around the corners is a society that thoughtlessly hands them the tools of their own destruction with a lack of care that seems obscene. I was definitely impacted the first time I watched this, and was very pleased that Jennifer Connelly was forging a serious career for herself beyond Labyrinth. There are many films that come before it in my reckoning though, so it didn't make my list.

25. City of God : I watched this around 6 to 8 months ago, as I had both City of God and City of Men - and despite having seen the former before my memory of it was vague. The Brazilian favelas have a reputation for blood-soaked violence and murder - and here we have a diverging tale of two young people. One, Rocket, will rise above his situation to become a journalistic photographer. The other, Li'l Zé, will embrace the drug dealing gangster life to become a notorious killer and madman. It's a very good film, but I didn't enjoy City of Men half as much (apparently it's based on a television series the director put together in Brazil.) If you like gangland wars and tales of people growing up in those kinds of neighbourhoods and making good, this is one of the better films that follow this path and takes you to a place we don't hear all that much about in our day to day lives. It's not a favourite of mine though, so didn't make my list.

64/76

mattiasflgrtll6

01-12-22, 10:35 PM

Batman Begins, though, I wouldn't be surprised by at all...

Batman Begins is already on the list.

StuSmallz

01-12-22, 10:38 PM

Batman Begins is already on the list.Whoops, how'd I forget that? Anyway, I have no idea what else it might be, but I still say there's little chance that it'll be TDK this low; we'll see soon, though.

cricket

01-12-22, 11:43 PM

I like Requiem but not quite as much as I used to. I always found it to be more entertaining than disturbing.

1. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) (#59)
2. Downfall (2004) (#28)
4. City of God (2002) (#25)
5. Adaptation (2002) (#43)
6. The Devil's Rejects (2005) (#94)
8. 28 Days Later (2002) (#45)
10. The Wrestler (2008) (#54)
11. Mystic River (2003) (#65)
14. Sideways (2002) (#39)
15. Amores Perros (2000) (#81)
17. Y tu mamá también (2001) (#95)

KeyserCorleone

01-13-22, 12:14 AM

My first thought when I read "Put on your mask" was a line from The Death and Resurrection Show by Killing Joke, then I realized I had just seen a movie with that song and thought, is that it?

Then I remembered the movie: The Covenant. Nope.

KeyserCorleone

01-13-22, 12:23 AM

It is so totally Donnie Darko. Also gonna throw in The Departed.

dadgumblah

01-13-22, 05:54 AM

The latest two I've heard so much about but have seen neither. So, neither is on my list. I was hoping more of my list would make it so far, but it ain't looking good, folks!

#5.Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 63
#8. Unbreakable 62
#10. Million Dollar Baby 57
#18. The Royal Tenenbaums 35
#22. Fantastic Mr. Fox 70
#20. Iron Man 83
#21 Finding Nemo 44
#23. The Descent 80
#25. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 76

John-Connor

01-13-22, 09:20 AM

Thief

01-13-22, 09:30 AM

Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo
Dodgeball

Wrong. Too low.

Sedai

01-13-22, 09:38 AM

The Dark Knight and Inglorious Basterds

Thief

01-13-22, 10:33 AM

Reveals in a few...

Thief

01-13-22, 10:41 AM

241 points, 18 listsDonnie Darko (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/141-donnie-darko.html)Director
Richard Kelly, 2001

Starring
Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, James Duval, Drew Barrymore

Thief

01-13-22, 10:42 AM

243 points, 15 listsRatatouille (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/2062-ratatouille.html)Director
Brad Bird, 2007

Starring
Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy

Thief

01-13-22, 10:43 AM

It is so totally Donnie Darko. Also gonna throw in The Departed.

Good half-job! :D

rauldc14

01-13-22, 10:43 AM

Ratatouille was one of my last cuts. Cool to see it make it this high up.

Didn't see Donnie Darko yet.

My prediction game has been wayyy off

Thief

01-13-22, 10:47 AM

Hint breakdown...

"Early" hint...

Put on your mask (Bunny mask...)
Put on your hat (Chef hat...)
Hide who you really are (Linguini and Remy are deceiving people, but there's also the mystery of the man in the rabbit suit in DD)
You're not all that (Linguini is not that much of a chef)

You're seeing things (DD is seeing things, and in Ratatouille, characters often think they're seeing "things", ghosts, rats, etc.)
In every single place
Inside, outside (Kitchen, movie theater...)
Take off your face (Take of the bunny mask)

Hide in the back (Hide in the kitchen, where Remy usually hid)
or in your room (where DD is towards the beginning/end?)
You can't escape (as much as he tries...)
Things that go boom! (can't escape what's about to drop on him)

ueno_station54

01-13-22, 10:47 AM

as a kid i thought "wow this is so smart i love it" but now i'm like "wow this is so dumb i love it" in regards to Donnie Darko. i think i saw Ratatouille at the drive-in when it came out and never thought of it again.

Chypmunk

01-13-22, 10:48 AM

Don't really get the love for Donnie Darko, I don't particularly dislike it anymore (I used to) but it's still nothing special imo. Clearly I'm in the minority with that opinion though. Won't count Ratatouille as seen as though I might well have watched it all the way through at some point, if I have I certainly don't remember doing so.

Seen: 50/78 (Own: 34/78)

3. Madeo [Mother] (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216496/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9) [#96]
6. Moon (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9) [#48]
8. Der Untergang [Downfall] (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#28]
15. Låt den rätte komma in [Let The Right One In] (2008) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#29]
16. The Descent (2005) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#80]
25. The Pool (2007) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0911024/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_6) [1-ptr]

Faildictions (millennial edition v1.01):
26. Superbad (2007)
25. Memento (2000)
24. Road To Perdition (2002)
23. The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
22. Shrek (2001)
21. Requiem For A Dream (2000) [26]
20. Oldboy (2003)
19. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
18. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
17. City Of God (2002) [25]
16. In The Mood For Love (2000)
15. O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
14. Children Of Men (2006)
13. Amélie (2001)
12. Zodiac (2007)
11. WALL·E (2008)
10. The Departed (2006)
9. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
8. Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
7. Mulholland Drive (2001)
6. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
5. There Will Be Blood (2007)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
3. Spirited Away (2001)
2. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
1. No Country For Old Men (2007)

Six down, twenty to go...

Holden Pike

01-13-22, 10:49 AM

84353

Donnie Darko was #15 on the MoFo Top 100 of the Millennium List. Ratatouille was #37 there as well as #9 on the MoFo Top 100 Animated Films List.

Thief

01-13-22, 10:52 AM

Seen both, voted for none...

Ratatouille is charming and fun, but it's another one of those that I think I'm a bit "fatigued" off. Shortly after it came out, we often took care of our niece and she was all over that. Every time she was here, she would see that film 3 or 4 times a day, so as much as I enjoyed it, I got a bit tired off it. That said, I do appreciate all the ways it subverts a lot of the typical tropes of animated Disney/Pixar films.

I haven't seen Donnie Darko since it came out. Barely remember bits and pieces of it, but I remember digging its weirdness. I should give it a rewatch.

This is how we do it...

Seen: 61/78

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Synecdoche, New York (#46)
8.
9.
10.
11. Requiem for a Dream (#26)
12.
13. The Prestige (#38)
14.
15.
16.
17. Once (#103)
18.
19.
20.
21. Before Sunset (#42)
22.
23. Mother (#96)
24.
25.

ScarletLion

01-13-22, 11:01 AM

24. Donnie Darko (241 points) - really good film. Puzzling, dark and clever. Didn't make my list though
23. Ratatouille (243 points) - not my bag at all. Really surprised to see something like this in the top 25.

John Dumbear

01-13-22, 11:08 AM

Haven't seen either. Do want to see "Donnie Darko" though.

Allaby

01-13-22, 11:10 AM

Two excellent films, both a 9/10 from me, although neither made my ballot.

pahaK

01-13-22, 11:22 AM

That 50% didn't last long. I mean, technically I may still be at that, but I'm not sure if I've seen Donnie Darko. I know I've seen parts of it but the whole movie. Let's not count that. And Ratatouille is another Pixar animation so, obviously, I haven't seen it.

Seen: 38/78

Miss Vicky

01-13-22, 11:29 AM

https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MoFoPics2/chefremy.gif

I've loved rats for most of my life so when Pixar released a movie with a rat protagonist, it was pretty much guaranteed that I would love it. It became an immediate favorite and, though it's changed places a few times over the years, it has never left my all time top ten. It currently sits at #6 on my all-time favorites (behind 2013's Her), which puts it squarely at #5 on my ballot.

Here's what I wrote about it for the Pixar Hall of Fame:

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/ratatouillegrape.gif

Ratatouille (Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava, 2007)
Imdb (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382932/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

Date Watched: 3/6/19
Cinema or Home: Home
Reason For Watching: Pixar Hall of Fame, nominated by Citizen Rules
Rewatch: Yes

An animated film with a rat protagonist? Pixar would've had to really screw this one up for me to not like it.

That said, what Pixar delivered is one of their finest films and it was responsible for taking me from casual appreciator to all out fan girl. With every viewing I've been blown away by its meticulous attention to detail, vibrant colors, wonderful character design, and an engaging underdog - er, underrat - story about the importance of following your dreams and not taking your friends and family for granted.

What I really love about the film is how well it blends its realistic and fantastic elements to create something that is silly but also heartfelt. The animators really did their research and it shows. The food looks nearly good enough to eat and the rats move in a mostly rat-like way. I also love the little touches like Ego's coffin shaped office and his typewriter that resembles a skull, the rat band with their improvised instruments, and Skinner with his hilarious combover and little man syndrome. It's the perfect mix of whimsical and touching, and those rats are just too damn cute!

5

I tried to watch Donnie Darko once many years ago, but couldn't get through it.

Seen: 46/78

My Ballot:
1. Quills (#67)
2. Gladiator (#40)
3. Up (#33)
5. Ratatouille (#23)
6. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (#91)
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (#63)
25. Surf's Up (One-Pointer)

Thief

01-13-22, 11:43 AM

Critics

-

Critics thoughts on our #24, Donnie Darko...

https://i.imgur.com/QYqcPDe.png

It currently has an 87% Certified Fresh Tomatometer score among critics, and a 8.0/10 score on IMDb (with 773,000 votes).

Roger Ebert gave it ★★½ and said:

"The movie builds twists on top of turns until the plot wheel revolves one time too many, and we're left scratching our heads. We don't demand answers at the end, but we want some kind of closure."

Meanwhile Erik Anderson, of AwardsWatch, gave it ★★★★ and said:

"It's a dense, complicated and amazing amalgam of genres and influences that really defies any constraints."

As for our MoFo reviewers, TylerDurden99 said:

"If you like your films to come with the title 'mindfvck', your search is over. The aforementioned complicated storythread about time travel, rabbits and the end of the world requires full audience participation, and trying to decipher is part of the film's appeal, strength and rewatchability."

And Citizen Rules said:

"Never judge a movie by it's cover, that's what I did. I requested this from my library a couple months ago. I took one look at the cover and seen a young guy with an ax over his shoulder and said to myself, 'nope I'm not watching a slasher horror film.' So I never watched it... At the start I had an idea of what the movie might turn out to be. But the ending was completely different than what I had imaged. I liked it."

Thief

01-13-22, 11:45 AM

I have to say I was surprised to see this come up, especially as high as it did. Not because of its quality, or lack of (like I said, I barely remember it), but just because it's not a film you see come up often in discussions nowadays.

Sedai

01-13-22, 11:46 AM

Another flick I used to be a HUGE fan of back when it came out was Donnie Darko. Again, this one has fallen off for me a bit, so it wasn't on my list.

Saw Ratatouille once, and it didn't leave much of an impression on me.

KeyserCorleone

01-13-22, 11:53 AM

Dammit, I thought about Ratatouille, but I assumed it would be higher than The Departed.

Never saw the whole Ratatouille, but Donnie Darko was really cool. Funny enough, I watched it because I heard it was supposed to be really disturbing, but it didn't disturb me that much. Still, the writing and themes are excellent. I can't watch it often, though. I just hate that ****ing teacher so much.

Thief

01-13-22, 11:57 AM

Critics

-

Critics thoughts on our #23, Ratatouille...

https://i.imgur.com/3i6b8ci.png

It currently has a 96% Certified Fresh Tomatometer score among critics, and a 8.0/10 score on IMDb (with 682,000 votes).

Roger Ebert gave it ★★★★ and said:

"[Brad Bird's] eye for detail is remarkable. Every prop and utensil and spice and ingredient in the kitchen is almost tangible, and I for one would never turn off the Food Channel if Remy hosted a program named 'Any Rat Can Cook'. This is clearly one of the best of the year's films."

Meanwhile Roger Moore, of Tribue News Service, said:

"Has Pixar lost its magic recipe? Ratatouille is filled with fairly generic animated imagery, a few modest chases, a couple of good gags, not a lot of laughs."

As for our MoFo reviewers, meatwadsprite said:

"Easily Pixar's best work yet, the gigantic beautiful Paris, amazingly intense action sequences, and the delicious looking food - all come together in one of the best visual films ever. Don't let the recent lack of great animated films steer you away from the gripping and heartwarming tale of Ratatouille."

And BobbyB said:

"It was OK. Nothing more, nothing less. It's original, as most Pixar stuff is, and so that helps it along, but it just wasn't that good compared to their other work. It was a semi-entertaining, unfunny family film."

Thief

01-13-22, 11:59 AM

Dammit, I thought about Ratatouille, but I assumed it would be higher than The Departed.

:laugh: I thought about playing with the word "rat" in the hints, kinda mislead you all, but I also thought it would make it too obvious :D

Thief

01-13-22, 12:01 PM

Trailers

-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzLn8sYeM9o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgsQ8mVkN8w

SpelingError

01-13-22, 12:09 PM

Seen both, voted for neither.

Ratatouille is dark clever, and among Pixar's best films, though I didn't like it enough for it to make my ballot.

I watched Donnie Darko, but that was a while ago, so I barely remember it. I'm curious how well it would hold up with a rewatch.

Thief

01-13-22, 12:11 PM

With Ratatouille at #23, Brad Bird joins the group of directors with multiple entries on the list. He had placed The Incredibles at #36, which has him 2/2 as far as the decade goes. Ironically, the only other director that has gone 100% so far is Pete Docter, also from Pixar, who went 2/2 as well with Monsters, Inc. and Up.

Citizen Rules

01-13-22, 12:20 PM

Two I've seen, one I voted for, one I almost voted for.

I had Donnie Darko as my number 23. I haven't seen it since I first joined MoFo and wrote the review that Thief quoted. I've found memories of writing that little review as it's the second one I wrote here....so a big thanks to @Thief (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=109353) for including it in his review quote feature (such a neat idea for a countdown too!) I really like the movie too:p

Ratatouille was my nom in the Pixar HoF and it won! I didn't have room on my ballot but I knew it would make it and it did.

Harry Lime

01-13-22, 12:24 PM

I agree with sentiments posted. I liked Donnie Darko quite a bit back in the day, haven't watched it for a long time, and thought that its following had diminished over time - you just don't hear about it anymore. But...I guess I was wrong.

Ratatouille is top tier Pixar in my book. Good job. But I voted for the robot one.

Deschain

01-13-22, 12:26 PM

I don’t really like Donnie Darko but Ratatouille made my list. That’s 2 out of 3 so far for Pixars on my list.

Thief

01-13-22, 12:29 PM

Pixar released 7 films during the 2000s. 5 of them have already placed in the countdown. Will Cars and Wall-E make it to put the studio at 100%?

Miss Vicky

01-13-22, 12:33 PM

Pixar released 7 films during the 2000s. 5 of them have already placed in the countdown. Will Cars and Wall-E make it to put the studio at 100%?

No way Cars makes it. It's much maligned around here. I love it but I'm in the minority and even I didn't vote for it. (Had similar issue as you did with fatigue when my little nephew last visited and spent much of his waking moments watching and rewatching all of the Cars movies, so I don't love it as much as I used to.)

Wall-E is a lock.

Chypmunk

01-13-22, 12:34 PM

Pixar released 7 films during the 2000s. 5 of them have already placed in the countdown. Will Cars and Wall-E make it to put the studio at 100%?
Can I have $2.35 against please. Apologies for the odd amount but that's all the US change I could find down the sofa :D

seanc

01-13-22, 12:34 PM

I have seen both movies once, and quite liked them. Haven’t gone back to either of them at this point. They didn’t make my list.

kgaard

01-13-22, 01:02 PM

Requiem for a Dream and City of God are two more good films that I did not vote for. I'm not a big fan of Donnie Darko--it felt like a convoluted shaggy dog (or shaggy rabbit) story. Ratatouille was my #14--perhaps the richest and best realized film of Pixar's output of the decade (and obviuosly it was a good decade for them).

Iroquois

01-13-22, 01:04 PM

No votes. Despite seeming to be of the right age and temperament to appreciate it when it first came to my attention back in the mid-'00s, I have never gotten into Donnie Darko. I figured that if there was an '80s-set film about a disaffected teenager trying to navigate not only the various peers and adults he constantly found himself at odds with but also a cosmically absurd science-fiction scenario...well, I already had Repo Man to fill that gap. I even tried revisiting it and Southland Tales during the early days of quarantine and I honestly preferred the latter. As for Ratatouille, I have a similarly contentious opinion of it. I just remember being in such a foul mood when I went to see it in theatres that I was inclined to put it on a "worst 100" list, and while I definitely don't think it deserves that level of derision nowadays, I know that I'm probably never going to act on the occasional urge I get to revisit it.

CosmicRunaway

01-13-22, 01:34 PM

Didn't post yesterday because I don't remember anything about Requiem for a Dream, and I've never seen City of God.

Donnie Darko is a film that I legitimately forgot existed when I was making my list despite previously watching it a couple times (as high school friends really liked it), making a short parody video of it years ago, and thinking about it whenever I hear that "Mad World" song haha. I doubt it would've made my list, but my #24 was kind of random so in a theoretical situation where I remembered it but still forgot about The Descent, it may have been in that #24 spot.

I have not seen Ratatouille. Whenever Miss Vicky talks about it, I consider it briefly, but it'll probably need to be nominated in a HoF or something for me to actually get around to it.

Seen: 47/78

My List:
05. The Lives of Others (2006) - #41
06. Millennium Actress (2001) - DNP
08. Mother (2009) - #96
10. Iron Man (2008) - #83
11. Paprika (2006) - #64
12. Memories of Murder (2003) - #27
16. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) - #76
17. Hot Fuzz (2007) - #30
20. Moon (2009) - #48
25. Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006) - 1-pointer

MovieFan1988

01-13-22, 01:44 PM

Have seen so far: 25 - Donnie Darko - Weird movie, didn't care for it really
Have not seen so far: 57

mark f

01-13-22, 01:46 PM

Donnie Darko is still good and super crazy. No way I considered it for this list.

Ratatouille is my #5.

Basically, I think the film's message is along the lines that you may find your better half (Remy is obviously Linguini's better half) in the strangest places. I love and laugh out loud, repeatedly, at the way that Remy controls Linguini by pulling his hair. It's physical slapstick as good as it gets and just about as good as anything the great silent clowns ever did. Another message is that humans and non-humans can relate equally as long as they respect each other, although I'm not sure how much Remy actually respects Linguini up front, after all there's not much there.

In general, I just love the storytelling ability of Brad Bird. He may have used the TV more effectively in The Incredibles and The Iron Giant, but it goes without saying that Bird likes to communicate info through TVs, especially primitive ones. His use of the floating TV here is a classic movie motif - it's Remy's mind remembering what he's already seen. The thing which appeals to me about Ratatouille is that there is so much going on that I cannot complain about most of it because I'm too busy enjoying it. Yes, Act III is the best. Does everyone notice that Ego looks like a character out of a Tim Burton flick, that his typewriter has a skull on it and that his "gothic room" is in the shape of a coffin? You can see that all in the scene where Ego learns that Gusteau's is now popular again.

As far as the romance is concerned, maybe it is underdeveloped, but it's certainly believable. Linguini seems to have almost no social skills, but you don't need social skills to be attracted to women in the workplace. It's just normal. Linguini has very little past and very little depth (except for what Remy gives him), so it's not surprising that he doesn't especially grow after he learns he's the offspring of Gusteau. However, he does use what he can do quite well in Act III. Linguini uses his skating prowess to serve everyone quite handsomely when Ego shows up. He also seems less-tongue-tied than normal. The last 25 minutes are the best. However, among my earlier, fave lines are "Let's toast to your non-idiocy!" and " I don't LIKE food. I LOVE it. If I don't love it, I don't SWALLOW".

My List

1. The Incredibles
5. Ratatouille
7. Downfall
8. Up
10. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
11. Everything Will Be OK
19. The Pianist
21. Pride & Prejudice

TheUsualSuspect

01-13-22, 01:52 PM

I like both, but neither made my list.

Richard Kelly so far I think has been a one trick pony.

Sedai

01-13-22, 01:55 PM

I like both, but neither made my list.

Richard Kelly so far I think has been a one trick pony.

I did like Southland Tales, as well, but would agree that he doesn't have much of quality in his body of work. I do find both Donnie Darko and Southland Tales to be incredibly entertaining, I will say that.

John-Connor

01-13-22, 02:22 PM

84358

Seen: 58/78

I've seen 30 animated movies from the 00's and Ratatouille would definitely make my top 10 animated, love it.

Donnie Darko besides being a great film, it totally has that 80's vibe I love, my #4.

Ballot: 12/25
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/dvKsQB84W2Sv6s7jpGmzQBVyQe3.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/iOpi3ut5DhQIbrVVjlnmfy2U7dI.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/fhQoQfejY1hUcwyuLgpBrYs6uFt.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/4YEX7qUfg6kN2tHm84CMt2CEq9n.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/5y8B0YSsIP1q9WpxKPuCJ9E6dzf.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/ta2BX3THwYXytWuVVozaT0NsMM8.jpg
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/ebdFRfLMPLejRQXTREuxW4Cotfs.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/gsmCtO2K1SeFki8f0tbBYTh5l9t.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/3DzePKMbLMIM636S6syCy3cLPqj.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/yDY1LLuMdWA0xO09ciVeDHHJWFr.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/8qGW691AOyqbKsEhpe7nHwMEbRe.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/r2lDjWiuKuqDyLUcsjt8JugwNrQ.jpg

84357

Thief

01-13-22, 02:30 PM

I did like Southland Tales, as well, but would agree that he doesn't have much of quality in his body of work. I do find both Donnie Darko and Southland Tales to be incredibly entertaining, I will say that.

I don't think I've ever seen Southland Tales, but he does seem to be stuck in a bit of a rut since he hasn't made anything in the last decade.

Thief

01-13-22, 02:41 PM

Awards

-

Now to the awards received by Donnie Darko...

Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival Silver Scream Award
Chlotrudis Award for Best Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Best Screenplay (Richard Kelly)
Gérardmer Film Festival Premiere Award
Sweden Fantastic Film Festival Audience Award

As for Ratatouille, it won...

Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film
BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film
Saturn Award for Best Animated Film and Best Writing (Brad Bird)
AFI Award for Movie of the Year
Golden Globes Award for Best Animated Film
Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack (Michael Giacchino)

Thursday Next

01-13-22, 03:24 PM

Requiem for a Dream made my list at #19. Horrible, brilliant film. If the ballot had had another ten films on, City of God would have made it but it just missed out. I haven't seen either film in a long long time, but while I remember being impressed with City of God, I have forgotten a lot of the details, whereas there are scenes and images from Requiem that have stayed with me. The music is great too.

I cut Donnie Darko from my list very late on. I am starting to doubt my commitment to sparkle motion. I really, really should have had it on there.

I'm kind of surprised that Ratatouille made it this far - ahead of Up and The Incredibles. I can't say it was a film that made much of an impression on me, and I didn't find the concept of a rat in a kitchen all that cute.

Thief

01-13-22, 05:02 PM

Trivia

-

Donnie Darko

https://static.dw.com/image/17541538_303.jpg

Did you know that...

director and screenwriter Richard Kelly had trouble pitching the complex story to different producers? During 1999, he met with Francis Ford Coppola, Ben Stiller, William Horberg, and Betty Thomas. During the meeting with Coppola, Kelly recalls the director sliding the binder with the script down the table back to him and pointing at the line that said "The kids have to figure it all out these days, because the parents, they don't have a clue" and saying dramatically "That's what your whole movie's about right there."
Vince Vaughn, Patrick Fugit, Lucas Black, and Mark Wahlberg were all considered for the role of Donnie? Wahlberg even insisted in playing the character with a lisp.
in the original script, Donnie's sexual fantasies were about Alyssa Milano, but they had to change them to Christina Applegate for legal reasons?

https://c.tenor.com/5vQH7AGUNFMAAAAd/kelly-bundy-christina-applegate.gif

MovieMeditation

01-13-22, 05:16 PM

Donnie Darko was not on my list. A very interesting and different film but it’s never truly been for me… seen it twice I think

Ratatouille, however, was my #10.

It’s late so don’t feel like writing too much. It’s Pixar operating at a very high level. Once again being super creative with their ideas and super confident that in their execution.

Thief

01-13-22, 05:26 PM

Trivia

-

Ratatouille

https://img.ihned.cz/attachment.php/40/64366040/kONQ31UToJ7Bj2GhVzM0eHm9xyg6SRsE/jarvis_572f575a498e117467795505.jpeg

Did you know that...

the concept of the film, from original design, sets, characters, and core storyline, were developed by Jan Pinkava (director of the Oscar-winning animated short Geri's Game)? However, by 2005, he was displaced by Brad Bird. Although Pinkava is credited, this is something that he rarely speaks of.
Pixar hired rat expert Debbie Ducommun to offer insight on rat habits and traits? Along with that, the studio installed a vivarium with pet rats in a hallway so animators could study the movement of the animals' fur, noses, ears, paws, and tails as they ran.
the version of the titular dish was designed by renowned chef Thomas Keller, and is known as "confit byaldi"?

https://i1.wp.com/www.sipsnibblesbites.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ratatouille-4.jpg?fit=610%2C406&ssl=1

mrblond

01-13-22, 06:43 PM

I saw Ratatouille couple of years ago. Yes, it is a crafty animated production but after all it is actually an average kid movie. 3.0
---

In those years, we've been in the theatre for most of the new releases but I have no memories about Donnie Darko.

John W Constantine

01-13-22, 07:11 PM

I watched Donnie Darko right before started this countdown and to be honest I really dug it, hadn't seen it in more than ten years probably and to say I had no idea what it was about would be putting it mildly. And yes I also grew up with a movie crowd that also had high opinions about it.

Ratatoullie I watched around ten years ago when I watched all of pixar/s movies, I'm assuming this was right after the third Toy Story movie came out and there was a pixar-mania going around. I remember it being pretty good but not my favorite.

Both good choices and no beef about them being ranked this high.

cricket

01-13-22, 07:56 PM

Ratatouille was #1 for my animation ballot so it almost made my contenders list for this. Not quite though.

I grew to love Donnie Darko after not caring for it the first time.

1. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) (#59)
2. Downfall (2004) (#28)
4. City of God (2002) (#25)
5. Adaptation (2002) (#43)
6. The Devil's Rejects (2005) (#94)
8. 28 Days Later (2002) (#45)
10. The Wrestler (2008) (#54)
11. Mystic River (2003) (#65)
14. Sideways (2002) (#39)
15. Amores Perros (2000) (#81)
16. Donnie Darko (2001) (#24)
17. Y tu mamá también (2001) (#95)

ApexPredator

01-13-22, 08:00 PM

Haven't Seen: Ratatouille

Seen, Didn't Care For: Donnie Darko. Liked parts of this. But not the film itself.

Made the List:

City of God is my number one. The story about a kid and his quest to escape the favela in Rio is gripping. There may just be one actor in the group (it was the actor who played Carrot) but it's very hard to tell. There's an energy, a vitality throughout City of God that burns from the opening reel until the end. Thanks to director Fernando Meirelles, there's a nice mix of lighter moments (the fireworks) with darker ones (the endless war).

Requiem for a Dream is my number 15. It's a grim film with some dark humor measured in. But it does explore addiction in various forms using a group of people that are closely connected. As they struggle to feed their addiction, they get stuck in situations that place them deeper in desperation and delusion. Well acted and written (it appears to be a career high for Marlon Wayans who proves he can handle drama), it's not something to turn on when it shows up mid-film. But you pay attention to its rhythms and dive in to the film and it does prove to be a rewarding cautionary tale.

My List:
1. City of God
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
8. Up
9. Million Dollar Baby
11. Spider-Man 2
13. Brokeback Mountain
14. Finding Nemo
15. Requiem for a Dream
21. Chicago (Near Miss)
22. The Wrestler
25. Gladiator

Honorable Mentions:
Remember the Titans
Unbreakable

donniedarko

01-13-22, 08:12 PM

This list is on a heater- the film that got me into film and the best animation ever made

My List
1. The Pianist (2002)
2. Donnie Darko (2001)
8. Gran Torino (2008). (#108)
11. Caché (2005)
12. Ratatouille (2007)
15. Downfall (2004)
16. Dancer in the Dark (2000)
17. A Serious Man (2009)
18. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
21. Battle Royale (2000)
22. City of God (2002)
25. Bellamy (2009. (1 pointer)

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jExYacxqg9_gw0cdvILdiXEhljc=/1400x788/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10370303/1_t09vJE85R489sI-QC2BaeQ.0.0.0.0.jpeg

Thief

01-13-22, 08:57 PM

Hint, hint...

https://i.imgur.com/lsFFCjr.jpg

https://st.depositphotos.com/1004384/2208/i/600/depositphotos_22084159-stock-photo-girl-and-boy-playing-hide.jpg

dadgumblah

01-13-22, 09:47 PM

Hint, hint...

https://i.imgur.com/lsFFCjr.jpg

https://st.depositphotos.com/1004384/2208/i/600/depositphotos_22084159-stock-photo-girl-and-boy-playing-hide.jpg

Uh, Minority Report?
Mmm, No Country for Old Men? I'm horrible at hints.

I really enjoyed Donnie Darko but haven't seen it in a while so didn't place it on my list. I have yet to see Ratatouille but intend to. More failure for my list.

#5.Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 63
#8. Unbreakable 62
#10. Million Dollar Baby 57
#18. The Royal Tenenbaums 35
#22. Fantastic Mr. Fox 70
#20. Iron Man 83
#21 Finding Nemo 44
#23. The Descent 80
#25. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 76

Holden Pike

01-13-22, 10:31 PM

Oldboy is the first hint pic. Not sure about the second. Maybe O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

Citizen Rules

01-13-22, 10:41 PM

Holden is probably right about Old Boy from the first pic. I think the second pic clue is Catch Me If You Can.

Holden Pike

01-13-22, 10:44 PM

I think the second pic clue is Catch Me If You Can.

Catch Me If You Can was already revealed. #72 (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2264061#post2264061).

John Dumbear

01-13-22, 10:44 PM

One is definitely “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”.

Citizen Rules

01-13-22, 10:51 PM

Catch Me If You Can was already revealed. #72 (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2264061#post2264061).It's so good it's making it again! I have no idea then what the other clue is, maybe its?... or hell I don't know:p

Miss Vicky

01-13-22, 10:52 PM

I'm probably way off but that second pic reminds me of this:

84368

gbgoodies

01-14-22, 02:25 AM

I have the DVD of Requiem for a Dream, but I didn't watch it because I thought it was a foreign language movie. (I probably had it confused with another movie, but I'm not sure what movie.) It might not be my type of movie, but maybe I'll watch it eventually.

I haven't seen City of God.

I watched Donnie Darko several years ago. (I think it was nominated in a HoF or movie tournament a while back.) I thought it was a strange movie, but I liked it enough that I bought the DVD. I rewatched it for this countdown, and it definitely was better the second time. It's still a strange movie, but I find it very intriguing, and I think it's the type of movie that will probably be better on each rewatch.

Ratatouille is a good movie, but IMO it's a mid-tier Pixar movie. (I think part of the problem might be that the concept of rats in the kitchen might subconsciously be an issue for me.)

Captain Spaulding

01-14-22, 03:13 AM

Hint, hint...

https://i.imgur.com/lsFFCjr.jpg

Clearly that's the comedic masterpiece Little Man. Couldn't be more obvious. About damn time it showed up. I was beginning to worry that it missed the countdown.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/df/Littlemanposter.jpg/220px-Littlemanposter.jpg

PHOENIX74

01-14-22, 04:01 AM

24. Donnie Darko : - This was the absolute last agonizing cut I made from my list, and all for naught anyway because the film I cut it for didn't make the countdown (unless it shocks the hell out of me and appears yet.) I rewatched Donnie Darko specifically for this, and had a great time becoming reacquainted with it. If anything, it's gone up in my estimation and is grounded by a superb performance from Jake Gyllenhaal and fantastic script from Richard Kelly whose career nosedived, perhaps for being a little too ambitious after this breakout writing/directing effort. Kelly welded teenage alienation to the very forces that drive the universe and let if flow through a nostalgic trip back to the 1980s, with a soundtrack that just compounds how good everything feels in this film. I have all the time in the world for Donnie Darko, and can see myself watching it many more times in the future - it has no flat spots - something interesting is always happening and questions are always being asked. I don't know if it really has any of the answers - but it's the looking and pondering that I enjoy, and I got plenty of that from this film in a very entertaining yet spooky and dark manner.

23. Ratatouille : I have not seen Ratatouille and I did not realise it was this popular and well regarded. Pixar films are set to dominate this countdown (they already do, but I'm sure there are another few yet to be revealed.)

Seen 65/78

ApexPredator

01-14-22, 07:43 AM

rauldc14

01-14-22, 10:30 AM

Oldboy and Two Towers

Thief

01-14-22, 11:18 AM

Reveals in a few...

Thief

01-14-22, 11:25 AM

247 points, 19 listsOldboy (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/670-oldboy.html)Director
Park Chan-wook, 2003

Starring
Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Byung-ok

Thief

01-14-22, 11:25 AM

249 points, 15 listsO Brother, Where Art Thou? (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/134-o-brother-where-art-thou.html)Director
Joel Coen, 2000

Starring
George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Chris Thomas King

mark f

01-14-22, 11:27 AM

Oldboy is a twisty revenge mystery-thriller with style to spare. Very violent yet also poetic, it's got some scenes which are iconic and seem to have existed in our collective subconscious since long before 2003.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoC7JnmY04g

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a funny, tune-filled saga with a great KKK scene and this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRQkC2FDXuw
No votes.

Thief

01-14-22, 11:28 AM

Oldboy is the first hint pic. Not sure about the second. Maybe O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

You reign supreme!

One is definitely “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”.

Oldboy and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Oldboy and Two Towers

You just get half of what Holden gets, and split it into three.

Allaby

01-14-22, 11:28 AM

A little surprised to see O Brother rank this high. It's an enjoyable film, but I never thought of it as one of the greatest films of the decade. I know Oldboy was well regarded, but I didn't like it at all.

Chypmunk

01-14-22, 11:34 AM

Love Oldboy, it getting a spot on my ballot was never in doubt. O Brother Where Art Thou? is an entertaining enough watch but wasn't ever really in contention for my ballot.

Seen: 52/80 (Own: 35/80)

3. Madeo [Mother] (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216496/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9) [#96]
6. Moon (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9) [#48]
8. Der Untergang [Downfall] (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#28]
11. Oldeuboi [Oldboy] (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3) [#22]
15. Låt den rätte komma in [Let The Right One In] (2008) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#29]
16. The Descent (2005) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#80]
25. The Pool (2007) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0911024/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_6) [1-ptr]

Faildictions (millennial edition v1.01):
26. Superbad (2007)
25. Memento (2000)
24. Road To Perdition (2002)
23. The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
22. Shrek (2001)
21. Requiem For A Dream (2000) [26]
20. Oldboy (2003) [22]
19. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
18. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
17. City Of God (2002) [25]
16. In The Mood For Love (2000)
15. O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000) [21]
14. Children Of Men (2006)
13. Amélie (2001)
12. Zodiac (2007)
11. WALL·E (2008)
10. The Departed (2006)
9. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
8. Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
7. Mulholland Drive (2001)
6. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
5. There Will Be Blood (2007)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
3. Spirited Away (2001)
2. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
1. No Country For Old Men (2007)

Nine down, seventeen to go...

ScarletLion

01-14-22, 11:35 AM

22. Oldboy (247 points) - My #13. An absolute tour de force from Park Chan Wook. The story and visuals (those transition scenes!!) are just incredible. Amazing film, which went some way to start my journey into international film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMQ9pDUmY3Q

21. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (249 points) - I remember liking it but not loving it. I should revisit it soon.

Miss Vicky

01-14-22, 11:36 AM

I have a really spotty history with the work of the Coens and O Brother is among those I didn't like. I very strongly dislike George Clooney and found the movie kind of irritating. Being subjected to the soundtrack for months each time I hung out with a particular friend didn't help anything.

I haven't seen Oldboy and the only way that will change is if I'm forced to watch it.

Thief

01-14-22, 11:36 AM

Seen both, voted for none...

Oldboy is veeeery good. I love the setpieces and I love how it cleverly sets everything up for that final reveal. Still, I ended up cutting it towards the end. Glad to see it make it so high.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a lot of fun, but it probably wouldn't crack my Coen Top 5. I also haven't seen it in a good while, so it wasn't that fresh in my mind. Good soundtrack, though.

How did we get here?...

Seen: 63/80

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Synecdoche, New York (#46)
8.
9.
10.
11. Requiem for a Dream (#26)
12.
13. The Prestige (#38)
14.
15.
16.
17. Once (#103)
18.
19.
20.
21. Before Sunset (#42)
22.
23. Mother (#96)
24.
25.

rauldc14

01-14-22, 11:38 AM

That faildiction list is playing with fire.

Yoda

01-14-22, 11:39 AM

O Brother, Where Art Thou? was my #10.

When Ocean's Eleven showed up earlier in the countdown, I said this about it:

I really like seeing a talented director "slum it" a little, but in the process elevate the banal material into something genuinely good, and I think that's what happens here.
Well, in this case, instead of "banal material" we have, ya' know, The Odyssey as a rough frame to smear the Coens' zany character plaster on. But I think something similar is happening, anyway, since the quote above is less about the material being bad, and more about it being familiar or easy. It's like a world-class bowler using the bumpers: they don't need them, but they can have a lot of fun bouncing off them and doings they couldn't. Just because you don't need a safety net doesn't mean you can't turn it into a hammock for the audience to luxuriate in.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is funny, well-acted, charming, genuinely sad at points, and has one of the best soundtracks you will ever hear in a movie. The Coens have an obvious fondness for the semi-rural, and for dialects, and they've chosen a setting that allows them to indulge fully in both. And as usual they've cast actors whose ability wildly outstrip necessity (same as the directors), which (same as the directors) allows them to do quirky things they otherwise wouldn't be able to.

84374

MovieFan1988

01-14-22, 11:40 AM

I never saw any of the recent movies but damn, O Brother, Where Art Thou? was #96 on the Millennium list and makes it way to #21 on this list. Let's keep it up with the big changes and hopefully new movies make it too.

Holden Pike

01-14-22, 11:40 AM

84373

Chan Wook-Park's Oldboy was #20 on the MoFo Top 100 of the Millennium List as well as #10 on the MoFo Top 100 Foreign Films List. Joel & Ethan Coen's O Brother, Where Art Thou? jumps seventy-five spots from the Millennium List (#96).

Chypmunk

01-14-22, 11:45 AM

That faildiction list is playing with fire.
Which is exactly how it ought to be at this end of the countdown :)

Thief

01-14-22, 11:46 AM

Miss Vicky

01-14-22, 11:53 AM

This is the Coens third entry into the countdown after The Man Who Wasn't There (#84) and A Serious Man (#66). They still have the following films eligible:

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
The Ladykillers (2004)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Burn After Reading (2008)

Is there any chance that they'll go 100%?? :shifty:

No way.

No Country will, though I sure as hell didn't vote for it. Don't think the others are that widely regarded.

Thief

01-14-22, 12:02 PM

Critics

-

Critics thoughts on our #23, Oldboy...

https://i.imgur.com/KTgd41Z.png

It currently has an 81% Certified Fresh Tomatometer score among critics, and a 8.4/10 score on IMDb (with 551,000 votes).

Roger Ebert gave it ★★★★ and said:

"Oldboy ventures to emotional extremes, but not without reason. We are so accustomed to "thrillers" that exist only as machines for creating diversion that it's a shock to find a movie in which the action, however violent, makes a statement and has a purpose."

Meanwhile Josh Larsen, of LarsenOnFilm, gave it ½ star and said:

"I’d like to defend Oldboy’s shock tactics, to say that they capture the perversity of revenge by depicting how, once enacted, vengeance pulls everything it grasps into the same deadly maw. But for me to profess that would be hollow. Almost as hollow as Oldboy professing that revenge is anything but good, grisly fun."

As for our MoFo reviewers, Cobpyth said:

"I also love how Oldboy is able to hold a sincere emotional core throughout all its weirdness. The plot is extremely improbable, but the film handles everything with enough style, seriousness and emotion to make everything engaging and entertaining."

And Citizen Rules said:

"What we get is the usual revenge, action, torture stuff which is crap to me and reminded me of Pulp Fiction, a film I don't like. I'm not generally a fan of Korean movies, the ones I've watched seem like Korea's version of the Hollywood blockbuster, big on action and cheap thrills. I like movies that feed the soul and the mind. I don't care for movies that are the equivalent of deep fried pork rinds."

John Dumbear

01-14-22, 12:02 PM

Feel like I hit the jackpot with the latest "group of ten". Going to say that it's the best "group of ten" so far. Fully expect the last two "groups of ten" will be even better. I really like typing "group of ten"!

1. 100%
2. City of God
3. 80%
4. Let the Right One In
5. Requiem for a Dream
6. 70%
7. Sideways
8. In Bruges
9. On Brother, Where Art Thou?
10. 80%
11. 0%
12. 40%
13. Quills
14. 20%
15. Old Boy
16. The Wrestler
17. 28 Days Later
18. 40%
19. 50%
20. 0%
21. 20%
22. 1%
23. 30%
24. American Psycho
25. The OH in Ohio 1-ptr

Have seen so far: 43/ 81
Put on list for future viewing: 13
My list that ended up on the cutting room floor (dammit!): 6
Put on "meh" list : 18
Zero chance of ever watching: 12
1 Ptrs: seen 8

Sedai

01-14-22, 12:05 PM

Love both films, but neither made my list. Oldboy is one of those flicks I have seen a few times, but perhaps never need to see again. That is some dark ****, right there.

Oh brother is a ton of fun, while also being whip smart, even if it's about some people that are dumber than a sack o' hammers. Found myself in a tight spot! ...as I tried to fit it on my list. In the end, its chariot didn't swing into the final grouping.

Thief

01-14-22, 12:09 PM

Critics

-

Critics thoughts on our #21, O Brother, Where Art Thou?...

https://i.imgur.com/AcIu7fc.png

It currently has a 78% Certified Fresh Tomatometer score among critics, and a 7.7/10 score on IMDb (with 302,000 votes).

Roger Ebert gave it ★★½ and said:

"I left the movie uncertain and unsatisfied. I saw it a second time, admired the same parts, left with the same feeling. I do not demand that all movies have a story to pull us from beginning to end, and indeed one of the charms of The Big Lebowski, the Coens' previous film, is how its stoned hero loses track of the thread of his own life. But with O Brother, Where Are Thou? I had the sense of invention set adrift; of a series of bright ideas wondering why they had all been invited to the same film."

Meanwhile Geoff Andrew, of Time Out, said:

"Great dialogue, superb 'Scope camerawork from Roger Deakins, and a genuinely wondrous deus ex machina are among the delights."

As for our MoFo reviewers, Cobpyth said:

"If you're in the mood for an entertaining, hilarious, visually stunning and adventurous ride through the old South with a delightful classical touch, you should definitely see this film. It's a great piece of modern cinema!"

And meatwadsprite said:

"Although it's story is a lot more straightforward than the majority of the Coen films, it still missing some big developments like many great stories: though the visuals and humorous style of it won't let you down on."

ueno_station54

01-14-22, 12:10 PM

seen O'Brother once like forever ago. i think i liked it at the time but there's no actual memory of it. Oldboy on the other hand sucks @ss. just the dumbest script ever, tires to be overly slick while being shot on a potato. the worst of the trilogy for sure and i honestly think i prefer Spike Lee's.

Thief

01-14-22, 12:12 PM

Trailers

-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HkjrJ6IK5E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW9Xo2HtlJI

John Dumbear

01-14-22, 12:13 PM

John W Constantine

01-14-22, 12:15 PM

Oldboy was quite an experience the first time around years ago, been meaning to watch again during this countdown. I'm quite a Coen Bros. fan like all of us, OBWAT was one I liked less than their late 00's collection, but tonight should be a good night to revisit. 75 spots is quite a jump.

I'm guessing I have five votes that are locks and maybe one other that has an outside chance heading into the top 20.

Miss Vicky

01-14-22, 12:18 PM

You should watch Alexander Payne's "The Descendents". Feel this is Clooney's very best film.

So far the only movie I've liked with him is Burn After Reading and that's mostly because Pitt and Malkovich are so awesome.

cricket

01-14-22, 12:35 PM

If I had time to prepare for this countdown, Oldboy would have been number 1 on the list of movies I need to see again. It's the kind of movie I'd be completely into, yet the one time I watched it I was very disappointed. I still want to give it another try.

The Coens are extremely hit or miss with me. I love a few of their movies but they have other things that I see as so goofy that I flat out dislike them. Unfortunately Oh Brother is part of the latter. I do seem to recall some decent music though.

Thief

01-14-22, 12:44 PM

Stats: Pit Stop #8
https://i.imgur.com/n3eMStT.png

-

This is the eighth pit stop (80), so here are our stats so far:

Decade Breakdown

2000 = 15
2001 = 9
2002 = 6
2003 = 7
2004 = 9
2005 = 12
2006 = 4
2007 = 6
2008 = 5
2009 = 7

2000 continues to reign supreme, and separates itself from the other years. 2005 is still the closest, with 2001 and 2004 a bit further!

Director Breakdown

Joel & Ethan Coen = 3 (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Man Who Wasn't There, A Serious Man)
Wes Anderson = 3 (The Royal Tenenbaums, Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou, Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Brad Bird = 2 (Ratatouille, The Incredibles) = 100%
Darren Aronofsky = 2 (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler)
Bong Joon-ho = 2 (Memories of Murder, Mother)
Clint Eastwood = 2 (Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby)
Ang Lee = 2 (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain)
Danny Boyle = 2 (28 Days Later, Sunshine)
Richard Linklater = 2 (Before Sunset, Waking Life)
Pete Docter = 2 (Up, Monsters Inc.) = 100%
Christopher Nolan = 2 (The Prestige, Batman Begins)

The list continues to grow as the Coen tie with Wes Anderson for the top spot, while Aronofsky and Bong join the list. Also, Brad Bird and Pete Docter go 2/2 each to represent Pixar at 100%!

Genre Breakdown

Musical = 2
Biopic drama = 6
Romantic drama = 5
Horror = 5
Coming of age = 2
Thriller = 10
Drama/mystery = 4
Comedy drama = 10
Action comedy = 3
Epic, war drama = 2
Psychological drama = 5
Animated drama = 2
Animated comedy = 6
Superhero action = 4
Crime = 7
Western/Neo-western = 2
Science fiction = 2
Martial arts = 2
Action = 1

80 films in and thrillers have finally caught up with comedy dramas! Crime films, and then animated comedies and biopic dramas are next.

And finally, a bunch of foreign films in this last batch takes our total to 22 out of 80. As for animated, films, we add one more for a total of 8.

jiraffejustin

01-14-22, 12:47 PM

1. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
3. Everything Will Be OK
5. Synecdoche, New York
9. American Psycho
13. Oldboy
14. Adaptation.
15. Punch-Drunk Love
24. Kill Bill Vol. 2
25. Jason X

seanc

01-14-22, 12:50 PM

Inexplicably I don’t love O Brother after three watches. I love the Coens humor. Think the songs are cool. I just don’t love it, it’s bottom third of their awesome filmography for me.

Did love Oldboy first watch but I haven’t returned to it. Which probably the only reason it didn’t make my list.

Thief

01-14-22, 12:53 PM

And adding up to our list of notable actor occurrences...

4 FILMS

Christian Bale (#38*, #60*, #79*, #99)
Bill Murray (#32*, #35, #70, #98*)
Willem Dafoe (#44, #70, #79, #98)

3 FILMS

George Clooney (#20*, #70*, #68*)
Brad Pitt (#51*, #68, #71)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (#46*, #73, #90)
Cillian Murphy (#45*, #60, #88*)
Samuel L. Jackson (#36, #62, #83)

2 FILMS

Jake Gyllenhaal (#24*, #52*)
Jared Leto (#26*, #79)
Frances McDormand (#84, #90)
Robert Downey Jr. (#76*, #83*)
Tom Hanks (#69*, #72*)
Paul Bettany (#83, #100)
Colin Farrell (#56*, #99*)
Gael García Bernal (#69, #81*)
Casey Affleck (#51*, #68)
Geoffrey Rush (#63, #67*)
Keira Knightley (#63, #93*)
Owen Wilson (#35*, #70, #98)
Michael Gambon (#70, #98)
Brendan Gleeson (#45, #56*)
Michelle Williams (#46, #52)
Mickey Rourke (#47*, #54*)
Ethan Hawke (#42*, #82)
Julie Delpy (#42*, #82)
Benicio del Toro (#47, #71)
Bruce Willis (#47, #62*)
Sam Rockwell (#49*, #51)
Meryl Streep (#43*, #70*)
Scarlett Johansson (#38, #32*)
Russell Crowe (#40*, #100*)
Joaquin Phoenix (#40, #67)

*means leading part

Again, I'm sure I might be missing something.

Deschain

01-14-22, 01:01 PM

Oldboy is a helluva film for sure.

As much as I love the Coens, O Brother is not one I ever really connected with. I don’t think I like when Clooney tries to do comedy. He goes too goofy. The man’s at his best when he’s playing cool, like Ocean’s Eleven or From Dusk Til Dawn.

KeyserCorleone

01-14-22, 01:06 PM

YES YES YES! Oldboy was my #2! And it's in my top 5 movies of all time. The action and twists wee always good from the getgo, but the plot twists of the last twenty minutes redefine EVERYTHING. Kinda disappointed that O Brother Where Art Thou got more points. I started it, got about 20 minutes in, and was pretty bored.

Sent-In Ballot:

#2. Oldboy (22)
#3. Sin City (47)
#5. Requiem for a Dream (26)
#7. Yi Yi (49)
#10. Casino Royale (37)
#13. Million Dollar Baby (57)
#15. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (53)
#16. Let the Right One In (29)
#20. Iron Man (83)
#22. Pirates of the Caribbean (63)
#25. Hot Fuzz (30)

Post-Ballot:

#2. Oldboy (22)
#3. Sin City (47)
#5. Requiem for a Dream (26)
#7. Yi Yi (49)
#10. Casino Royale (37)
#12. Snatch (71)
#14. Million Dollar Baby (57)
#16. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (53)
#17. Let the Right One In (29)
#18. Slumdog Millionaire (not placed but it made my new 25)
#19. Monsters, Inc. (74)
#22. Iron Man (83)
#23. Fantastic Mr. Fox (70)
#25. Pirates of the Caribbean (63)

Seen 44/80

ApexPredator

01-14-22, 01:18 PM

This is the Coens third entry into the countdown after The Man Who Wasn't There (#84) and A Serious Man (#66). They still have the following films eligible:

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
The Ladykillers (2004)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Burn After Reading (2008)

Is there any chance that they'll go 100%?? :shifty:

I think one, maybe 2 max of those 4 make it. No Country will make it for sure. And I think it's a coin flip whether Burn After Reading makes the cut (although it probably needs to show up soon if it does make it).

SpelingError

01-14-22, 01:20 PM

Haven't seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but I should probably get around to it at some point.

I remember liking Oldboy quite a bit, but that as a while ago, so I barely remember it. I'm curious to find out if a rewatch will cement it as a gateway film I moved on from or a legitimate great film. Only one way to find out...

donniedarko

01-14-22, 01:34 PM

Oldboy is my #6, the ultimate revenge film and one of the first foreign language films I saw and fell in love with, need to revisit it- been to long

O Brother is solid Coen but no where near my favorite, certainly an entertaining watch

My List
1. The Pianist (2002)
2. Donnie Darko (2001)
6. Oldboy (2003)
8. Gran Torino (2008). (#108)
11. Caché (2005)
12. Ratatouille (2007)
15. Downfall (2004)
16. Dancer in the Dark (2000)
17. A Serious Man (2009)
18. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
21. Battle Royale (2000)
22. City of God (2002)
25. Bellamy (2009. (1 pointer)

Citizen Rules

01-14-22, 01:39 PM

Oldboy I seen it and I totally get why people love it, but not me I previously wrote this about it:
Oldboy...Did Quentin Tarantino dirty up the rest of the world's cinema with pulpy, cheesy torture fluff scenes? OMG I hope not!!! But Oldboy sure seems like Pulp Fiction meets Disney mass entertainment...and I blame Tarantino
O Brother...I haven't seen it but I like the Coen films that I've seen, so should be right my alley.

John-Connor

01-14-22, 01:41 PM

Seen: 60/80

Added O Brother, Where Art Thou? to my ballot at the last second', my #25.
I wanted to include at least one film on my ballot that features song/dance and could fit in the 'music' genre.

No vote but Oldboy is solid and deserves a spot on the list.

Ballot: 13/25
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/dvKsQB84W2Sv6s7jpGmzQBVyQe3.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/iOpi3ut5DhQIbrVVjlnmfy2U7dI.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/fhQoQfejY1hUcwyuLgpBrYs6uFt.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/4YEX7qUfg6kN2tHm84CMt2CEq9n.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/5y8B0YSsIP1q9WpxKPuCJ9E6dzf.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/ta2BX3THwYXytWuVVozaT0NsMM8.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/original/ebdFRfLMPLejRQXTREuxW4Cotfs.jpg
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ScarletLion

01-14-22, 01:45 PM

Oldboy I seen it and I totally get why people love it, but not me I previously wrote this about it:
.

Don't get the comparison with Pulp Fiction at all. Totally different films. Oldboy has some flashbacks maybe but Pulp Fiction is a very good hyperlink film, sure with some revenge themes but so much more than that.

TheUsualSuspect

01-14-22, 01:47 PM

22. Oldboy (2003)

I was straight up shook when I first watched this film and still think it delivers on many levels. I still can hear Oh Dae-su screaming and barking like a dog in the climax. The music is sharp, the camera work is just right for this story and the mystery builds and unravels at a good pace. Oldboy rocks.

Terrible Americanized remake though.

mrblond

01-14-22, 01:49 PM

• After I've noticed its popularity, I saw O Brother, Where Art Thou? couple of years ago.
Being the guys supported by the ruling rings, the Coen Brothers always have grand budgets. That's why, this movie is a feast of the cinematography and scenography and that's all. Alas, what a disappointment was the empty screenplay. Couldn't believe this mediocrity was by these prominent filmmakers. I rate it 3.0 only because of the nice photography.

The film was ranked #7 on MoFo 2000 Film Chart (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=64356).

84379
-----

• Oldboy is in my watch list of the last years but still can't find it.

_____________
my stats
▽
Top 100 seen 42/80.
(seen one pointers 3/38 • seen 101-110: 5/10)
--
My list:
...
4. Snatch [#71.]
5. The Royal Tenenbaums [#35.]
...
8. Sideways [#39.]
9. Amores perros [#81.]
10. The Wrestler [#54.]
...
12. The Pianist [#31.]
14. The Man Who Wasn't There [#84.]
...
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/56mOJth6DJ6JhgoE2jtpilVqJO.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/z3r4kQQBoIAEIZMeW2diVRE8DIV.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/5p3tGb5a5426BeC0Ch92T3IWNK9.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/vV4vlD4ool5JSsS1rB82qjCF6z8.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/6OTR8dSoNGjWohJNo3UhIGd3Tj.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/3DzePKMbLMIM636S6syCy3cLPqj.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/lrCgt8NNMyFsfmXyXiSSCRXNH4u.jpg
--

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou [#98]
Werckmeister Harmonies [#97]
Pride & Prejudice [#93]
Caché [#85]
American Psycho [#79]
Battle Royale [#77]
Catch Me If You Can [#72]
Fantastic Mr. Fox [#70]
A Serious Man [#66]
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/qZoFLNBC78jzboWeDH6Ha0qavF2.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/nxWEG9JzmJx3eLE8y7CUHmaj3CE.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/sGjIvtVvTlWnia2zfJfHz81pZ9Q.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/IC2BPYDSsNPP1Q1VuXUiKrRwbU.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/3ddHhfMlZHZCefHDeaP8FzSoH4Y.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/uRhc1IfwYKwVqIp2OTZGFzTVsdF.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/vG3YcgXuZABv7C8nd5bEyuMfyTQ.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2//1eRgCKzvbL73LiBFqPR6FJGwuJQ.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/8Zjk3cvjkDa643NHXtdPu30gnyY.jpg

Yi Yi [#50]
Dancer in the Dark [#49]
Adaptation. [#43]
Before Sunset [#42]
Casino Royale [#37]
Lost in Translation [#32]
Requiem for a Dream [#26]
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/hTPkCpK9SLGDMXRbUwzoep0MxOx.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/tjWa4JBdxomtoojZr7dPIgJZgiX.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/qP4LbKYVRWw5j1n55sSjvvgmedM.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/gycdE1ARByGQcK4fYR2mgpU6OO.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/ta2BX3THwYXytWuVVozaT0NsMM8.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/yDY1LLuMdWA0xO09ciVeDHHJWFr.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/nOd6vjEmzCT0k4VYqsA2hwyi87C.jpg

Citizen Rules

01-14-22, 01:50 PM

Don't get the comparison with Pulp Fiction at all. Totally different films. Oldboy has some flashbacks maybe but Pulp Fiction is a very good hyperlink film, sure with some revenge themes but so much more than that.It's cool if you don't, for me personally the second half after he's out of his prison room and involved in the payback killing reminded me of Pulp Fiction.

pahaK

01-14-22, 02:00 PM

I saw Oldboy when it was new. Didn't really get what all the hype was about then. Maybe I should give it a rewatch one day. One of those films where the twists seemed more important than being a good and entertaining watch. I haven't seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

Seen: 39/80

Wyldesyde19

01-14-22, 02:07 PM

crumbsroom

01-14-22, 02:28 PM

Oldboy is my #15. From the opening scene it hooks you and never lets go, taking you on twisting tale of revenge. I don’t quite agree with the QT comparisons, as the violence depicted isn’t something he has a monopoly on, and it doesn’t have the same flourishing dialogue as his often do.
If you’re a fan of Oldboy, treat yourself to the whole (loose) trilogy, Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and Lady Vengeance.

Yeah, unless Tarantino invented the concept of revenge, not seeing all that many similarities between these two filmmakers outside of the fact that they are both marvellously gifted at visual storytelling. And I guess, both revel in violence. But even on this surface comparison of Oldboy being a violent revenge film (and Tarantino essentially being a revenge filmmaker), Park Chan-Wook seems to have a more mature understanding of the human toll it takes and allows a little mystery to penetrate the motives of characters. He also has a more developed sense of irony and there is a much more cutting and despairing sense of humor in his films. Conversely, Tarantino has never gotten much past devoting his films to high-school wet dreams about how to get back at the baddies (and I say this as a devoted fan of this particular man-child, he has the emotional maturity of a Happy Meal)

I think an important element which might draw the two filmmakers close together in the mind of some viewers though, is that I think these two directors attract a lot of their audience from the same pool of filmmgoers. Someone who is a QT fanboy, is certainly ripe picking to become a similar drooler over Oldboy. The type of person who really mostly just cares about stylized bloodlettting. And if we are judging the filmmaking qualities of them both by the company they sometimes keep (which, I will be very clear, we definitely shouldn't), I can see why they might leave a bad taste in some mouths. For many, possibly an interchangeably similar bad kind of taste.

seanc

01-14-22, 02:38 PM

Tarantino unapologetically cribs from exploitation films, usually not modern ones either. So, yeah, I don’t think he’s going for subtlety or thematic resonance with his violence. Also, despite it being what he’s known for, I don’t think it’s what most of his fans like about him. I also think he picks his spots with the violence. His movies are very dialogue driven.

CosmicRunaway

01-14-22, 03:31 PM

I saw Oldboy when it was new, and while some scenes were certainly interesting, I found the whole thing just okay. Friends of mine who saw it later really loved it though, and every couple of years I've thought about rewatching it. Whenever it comes up online, I also think about rewatching it, but I never have.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is I film I rented with my mom when it came out on video. Neither of us knew anything about it going in, and we both hated it. I've had no desire to revisit it, even though I can no longer recall why I disliked it in the first place.

Seen: 49/80

My List:
05. The Lives of Others (2006) - #41
06. Millennium Actress (2001) - DNP
08. Mother (2009) - #96
10. Iron Man (2008) - #83
11. Paprika (2006) - #64
12. Memories of Murder (2003) - #27
16. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) - #76
17. Hot Fuzz (2007) - #30
20. Moon (2009) - #48
25. Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006) - 1-pointer

Thief

01-14-22, 04:39 PM

Awards

-

Now to the awards received by Oldboy...

Asia-Pacific Film Festival Award for Best Actor (Choi Min-sik) and Best Director (Park Chan-wook)
Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Film
Bangkok International Film Festival Audience Award
Cannes Film Festival Grand Prize of the Jury
Grand Prix de l'UCC
Hong Kong Film Award for Best Asian Film

Among many, many others.

As for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, it won...

BMI Film & TV Award Special Citation (T-Bone Burnett)
British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography (Roger Deakins)
Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor (George Clooney)
Grammy Award for Album of the Year
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Soundtrack and Score (Burnett and Carter Burwell)

Thief

01-14-22, 05:06 PM

Bit of countdown trivia... entry #21 (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) and entry #20 are tied at 249 points, with the former being in 15 ballots only as opposed to 19 ballots for #20. That pair will be the last tie in the countdown, as the gaps in points get wider towards the Top 20.

John Dumbear

01-14-22, 05:53 PM

Awards

As for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, it won...

Grammy Award for Album of the Year

This alone makes it a mandatory inclusion. I happen to catch the "Down From the Mountain" concert when it toured through here. Many of the artists were the acts. It was...SPECTACULAR!

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/DemandingSpectacularBoubou-size_restricted.gif

donniedarko

01-14-22, 06:00 PM

When the LOTR trilogy is going to cram the top 20 :yawn:

ApexPredator

01-14-22, 06:34 PM

I like Oldboy. It was worth watching it in a "theater" with a bunch of people. The reactions from the audience as the film unspooled were priceless. But it didn't make my list.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? was my number 4. Sure, it's the Odyssey thrown into depression-era southern America. But the interplay between Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson is breathtaking (whether they sing at the radio station or Delmar at the river fears that Pete has been turned into a horny toad), the cinematography is impressive and the script has a good mix of dramatic and comedic moments. Throw in some good support from John Goodman and Holly Hunter and a memorable climax and you got a trip worth taking.

My List:
1. City of God
4. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
8. Up
9. Million Dollar Baby
11. Spider-Man 2
13. Brokeback Mountain
14. Finding Nemo
15. Requiem for a Dream
21. Chicago (Just Missed)
22. The Wrestler
25. Gladiator

Honorable Mentions:
Remember the Titans
Unbreakable

MovieMeditation

01-14-22, 08:28 PM

O Brother is not one of my favorite Coens, but Oldboy however, was my #12.

One of the best revenge movies made. It’s also brutal in its own twisted way, but very well done and everything works all the better for it. Great movie. Could even be higher tbh.

Thief

01-14-22, 08:30 PM

I like Oldboy. It was worth watching it in a "theater" with a bunch of people. The reactions from the audience as the film unspooled were priceless. But it didn't make my list.

Ooof, I would've loved to hear/see that :laugh:

Wyldesyde19

01-14-22, 09:09 PM

Just noticed one of the 1 pointers, Bon Cop Bad Cop, is playing on a Netflix now.

*furiously adds to watchlist*

Thief

01-14-22, 09:35 PM

Trivia

-

Oldboy

https://i1.wp.com/www.hanamidango.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Oldboy-Portada-Hanami-Dango.jpg?fit=640%2C432&ssl=1

Did you know that...

the film is loosely based in a 1990s manga of the same name written by Garon Tsuchiya?
actor Choi Min-sik actually ate the live octopus in the restaurant scene? There were four used and Choi, a Buddhist, said a prayer for each one.
the hallway fight scene took 17 takes in 3 days to perfect and was one continuous take? There was no editing, except for the CGI knife stab in the back of Oh Dae-su.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwIIDzrVVdc

Thief

01-14-22, 09:45 PM

Trivia

-

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTUxNjc4YzktYmU1OS00NGM1LThjNzgtYWQ3ZTAyOTVlZTgyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTI3MDk3MzQ@._V1_.jpg

Did you know that...

Tim Blake Nelson, who has a degree in classics from Brown University, was the only person on set who had read The Odyssey? Not even the Coen brothers, despite the fact that Ethan describes it as one of his "favorite storyline schemes", being familiar with it through adaptations and pop culture.
George Clooney practiced his singing for weeks, but his voice was still dubbed by country blues singer Dan Tyminski?
J.K. Simmons auditioned for multiple parts, but backed out when the one character the Coens thought about casting him as was too similar to his racist character on Oz? The Coens would later cast him in The Ladykillers, Burn After Reading, and True Grit.

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e05e534402434aa0f846c2/1536767464215-TU7ZQDTHPAPYQ5P3PRWD/bar1.jpg?format=1500w

PHOENIX74

01-14-22, 10:22 PM

Foreign language movies are being so well represented. Very glad to see.

22. Oldboy : This is very much due another viewing from me. A really dark film with an interesting plot which sets up a mystery after our protagonist has been held against his will for an extraordinary long time without knowing why or who is doing it. The violence in this film is nothing compared to the final reveal near the end and what happens after that. I've never seen the more recent remake as nothing can compare to director Park Chan-wook's vision and version of this story. It's really my kind of film, and perhaps it would have made my list if I'd watched it again in preparation for this countdown. After rearing it's head in the Foreign Language Countdown I really should have done that by now. I was shown this film by a friend who really isn't into violent and horrific films, but is a fan of Asian cinema. That made some scenes more unexpected for me - it can be confronting at times, but despite it's hard edge there's a compelling story with depth and substance. Despite that I'm still really surprised at the lofty position this film has shown up in.

21. O Brother, Where Art Thou? : This is one Coen Bros film that I've very slowly warmed up to - and if I say it's one of my least favourite of theirs it's not because I hold this in particularly low regard, but because the rest of their output has been so great. Something that puts me off quite a bit is the twangy old-time singing that the escaped convicts in this start making their name (The Soggy Bottom Boys?) with. I watched this some time last year, once again with a view that I'd finally have more of an appreciation for it. I did, slightly. I think George Clooney is great in it - and I never miss and opportunity to enjoy anything John Turturro does, especially in relation with the Coen Bros. This is another big surprise for me - I would have been expecting A Serious Man to place around here, and for O Brother, Where Art Thou? to place around about where the former did. Then again, that's mainly because I pretty much expect everybody else's taste to align exactly with mine.

Seen 67/80

Thief

01-14-22, 11:19 PM

Hint, hint...

Take your car
Remember to lay low
Go to your mother's
Kill, and go with the flow

Pick up your girlfriend
Can you perform?
Go and drink some
And wait to go home

Watch for them scurries
They'll get you in trouble
Kill or be killed
I'll have a double.

dadgumblah

01-14-22, 11:46 PM

Have not seen Oldboy but I've certainly heard enough about it to intrigue me. I'm like mrblond in that I can't find it to save my life. What with three streaming services and YouTube and IMDB's free movies, you'd think it would show up somewhere but no go.

I love O Brother, Where Art Thou? because it's the Coens being crazy off-kilter and I love them that way the best, but then again I love pretty much anything by them. Still, I saved room for one Coen film in particular that I think is their masterpiece and I'm convinced it will show up in the Top 20 or more likely the Top 10. Neither of these two made my list. Dammit! At this rate, maybe four or five films on my list will make it...hopefully.

#5.Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 63
#8. Unbreakable 62
#10. Million Dollar Baby 57
#18. The Royal Tenenbaums 35
#22. Fantastic Mr. Fox 70
#20. Iron Man 83
#21 Finding Nemo 44
#23. The Descent 80
#25. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 76

Iroquois

01-15-22, 12:13 AM

No votes. Oldboy is definitely an indelible film that I liked, but like so many twisty films it's one I don't really go back to. O Brother is definitely a solid Coens joint and in the top half of their filmography at least.

Holden Pike

01-15-22, 12:42 AM

From the hint sounds like Shaun of the Dead made it. "You've got red on you."

KeyserCorleone

01-15-22, 01:52 AM

From the hint sounds like Shaun of the Dead made it. "You've got red on you."

This and No Country for Old Men.

gbgoodies

01-15-22, 02:12 AM

I haven't seen Oldboy, but it doesn't sound like my type of movie. It's probably too violent for my taste.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? was one of the first few movies that I watched for this countdown. It was recommended by a friend because I'm generally hit or miss with Coen Brothers movies, so he suggested this one. The movie was okay, but I enjoyed the soundtrack much more than the movie itself.

rauldc14

01-15-22, 06:36 AM

Zodiac and Shaun of the Dead

Thief

01-15-22, 07:19 AM

Good morning, peeps! I might be out of the house all day, so I might do an early reveal today. Probably in an hour, after I feed my two gremlins.

Chypmunk

01-15-22, 07:29 AM

Good morning, peeps! I might be out of the house all day, so I might do an early reveal today. Probably in an hour, after I feed my two gremlins.
*checks time
Carry on! :)

ApexPredator

01-15-22, 07:54 AM

Shaun of the Dead and Inglorious Basterds?

Thief

01-15-22, 08:05 AM

249 points, 19 listsShaun of the Dead (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/747-shaun-of-the-dead.html)Director
Edgar Wright, 2004

Starring
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis

Thief

01-15-22, 08:05 AM

267 points, 19 listsThe Departed (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/1422-the-departed.html)Director
Martin Scorsese, 2006

Starring
Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg

Thief

01-15-22, 08:07 AM

From the hint sounds like Shaun of the Dead made it. "You've got red on you."

This and No Country for Old Men.

Zodiac and Shaun of the Dead

Shaun of the Dead and Inglorious Basterds?

Split the loot!

Thief

01-15-22, 08:13 AM

Hint breakdown...

Hint, hint...

Take your car ("Take car...")
Remember to lay low (laying low, don't get caught)
Go to your mother's ("Go to Mum's...")
Kill, and go with the flow ("Kill Phil...", but also reference to killing zombies)

Pick up your girlfriend ("grab Liz...")
Can you perform? (vague reference to Matt Damon's character "impotence")
Go and drink some ("go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint...")
And wait to go home ("...and wait for all of this to blow over", but also reference to completing the undercover mission)

Watch for them scurries (scurries... rats)
They'll get you in trouble (self-explanatory)
Kill or be killed (applies to both films and the survival of its characters)
I'll have a double. (another reference to having a drink)

Chypmunk

01-15-22, 08:16 AM

Shaun Of The Dead is my favourite of the Cornetto trilogy but it's been a long time since I've seen it so it was was never really in consideration for my ballot. I did have The Departed on there though. A little surprised both aren't a little higher.

Seen: 54/82 (Own: 36/82)

3. Madeo [Mother] (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216496/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9) [#96]
6. Moon (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_9) [#48]
8. Der Untergang [Downfall] (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#28]
11. Oldeuboi [Oldboy] (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3) [#22]
12. The Departed (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#19]
15. Låt den rätte komma in [Let The Right One In] (2008) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#29]
16. The Descent (2005) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) [#80]
25. The Pool (2007) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0911024/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_6) [1-ptr]

Faildictions (millennial edition v1.01):
26. Superbad (2007)
25. Memento (2000)
24. Road To Perdition (2002)
23. The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
22. Shrek (2001)
21. Requiem For A Dream (2000) [26]
20. Oldboy (2003) [22]
19. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
18. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
17. City Of God (2002) [25]
16. In The Mood For Love (2000)
15. O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000) [21]
14. Children Of Men (2006)
13. Amélie (2001)
12. Zodiac (2007)
11. WALL·E (2008)
10. The Departed (2006) [19]
9. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
8. Shaun Of The Dead (2004) [20]
7. Mulholland Drive (2001)
6. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
5. There Will Be Blood (2007)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
3. Spirited Away (2001)
2. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
1. No Country For Old Men (2007)

Nearly halfway there already - a round dozen down, fourteen to go...

Thief

01-15-22, 08:28 AM

Seen both, voted for none...

Shaun of the Dead is a lot of fun. I've seen it several times. It's the kind of film that if it's on TV, I leave it on. I probably considered it early, but didn't vote for it in the end.

The Departed is also pretty solid. Probably on my Scorsese Top 5, which considering how I feel about Marty, doesn't mean much, but well... I like it, though. Saw it in theaters and what happens towards the end made everybody jump on their seats. Still, didn't make it on my ballot.

Where? What?...

Seen: 65/82

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Synecdoche, New York (#46)
8.
9.
10.
11. Requiem for a Dream (#26)
12.
13. The Prestige (#38)
14.
15.
16.
17. Once (#103)
18.
19.
20.
21. Before Sunset (#42)
22.
23. Mother (#96)
24.
25.

Tugg

01-15-22, 09:03 AM

The Departed was #4 on my ballot.

CosmicRunaway

01-15-22, 09:06 AM

The comedy and satire in Shaun of the Dead is right up my alley. The earlier scenes, where Shaun is unaware the zombie apocalypse has happened are absolutely fantastic. Hot Fuzz might be more fun, especially for action fans, but Shaun has a special place in my heart, along with more relevant (if on the nose) social commentary. It was my #9.

I know people say great things about The Departed, but I've never bothered to watch it. I have however seen the Chinese film it's based on, and my dislike of both Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese would likely prevent it from being as enjoyable as Infernal Affairs was anyway.

Seen: 50/82

My List:
05. The Lives of Others (2006) - #41
06. Millennium Actress (2001) - DNP
08. Mother (2009) - #96
09. Shaun of the Dead (2004) - #20
10. Iron Man (2008) - #83
11. Paprika (2006) - #64
12. Memories of Murder (2003) - #27
16. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) - #76
17. Hot Fuzz (2007) - #30
20. Moon (2009) - #48
25. Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006) - 1-pointer

ueno_station54

01-15-22, 09:33 AM

i remember both of these being fine

ScarletLion

01-15-22, 09:34 AM

Shaun of the dead - funny film, but not in contention for my ballot.

The Departed - one of the most overrated films of al time. One of Scorsese's weakest. The original is far, far better with much more depth of characters and better writing. The Departed is just an average remake. Not really got a clue how it is rated so highly.

John Dumbear

01-15-22, 10:24 AM

Both solid and worthy of a spot. "The Departed" was one of my last cuts.

John Dumbear

01-15-22, 10:26 AM

The Departed - one of the most overrated films of al time. One of Scorsese's weakest. The original is far, far better with much more depth of characters and better writing. The Departed is just an average remake. Not really got a clue how it is rated so highly.

Wait...WHAT! This is a remake? Must seek out...

ScarletLion

01-15-22, 10:35 AM

Wait...WHAT! This is a remake? Must seek out...

Yes, and the remake was eligible for this countdown I think.

It's called 'Infernal affairs' and is excellent. Scorsese has done a few remakes now : Silence, Cape Fear, The Departed and I don't think any of them match up to the originals.

Yoda

01-15-22, 10:41 AM

I think The Departed does. I saw Infernal Affairs and it was...messy. One could say it was at a disadvantage since I saw it second (fair), but it was at an advantage in the sense that I already knew the rough sketch of the story, so for me to find it confusing anyway seems particularly bad. It's just made with a lot less style, too. Obviously it gets points for the concept itself, but it's always tough to gauge how much to value originality versus execution when they both exist at the same time once you've found them.

rauldc14

01-15-22, 10:46 AM

The Departed certainly belonged on my list but I left it off because, well, I knew it would be on the list and fare well. I did this with about 2 other films, one of the others is Ratatouille and the other one is still to show. It's a real good Scorsese for me.

Yoda

01-15-22, 10:46 AM

Anyway, my opinion on The Departed has moved quite a bit over the years.

I saw it in theaters, with a packed house, and people were really into it. I thought it was very fun, and enjoyed it...but I didn't think it was anything more than that. I almost thought of it like Ocean's Eleven, like Scorsese doing something silly and enjoyable very well, but that it wouldn't really have any staying power once the twists and turns were known in advance. So for a year or two, that was my opinion: lots of fun, nothing else to see, one of his lesser works in terms of, ahem, art.

Then for whatever reason I popped it on to kill some time one day, and kinda...kept doing that. It became a frequent background film in the evenings, something to put on when I wasn't sure what to watch. Knowing everything that happens in advance made it more enjoyable, not less. I appreciated the way the story unfolds a lot more (and well as the acting and staging of each scene) when I didn't have to expend as much focus keeping up with the breakneck pace it inflicts on you in that first viewing.

84411

Once I realized The Departed is a farce, I started enjoying it even more. All the things that seemed a little unserious about it suddenly seemed necessary and deliberate.

I still wouldn't put it among his best, but I've come around to the idea that it's actually a very good film.

rauldc14

01-15-22, 10:49 AM

What's your best Scorsese? Yoda

Iroquois

01-15-22, 10:55 AM

One vote. Shaun was my #6, a formative moviegoing experience for a young Iro that served as a gateway into all manner of genre cinema, plus it holds up so well as its own thing. Departed is one of my least favourite Scorsese films (you can easily find an extremely negative review of it I wrote once, but I've mellowed on it since then).

The Rodent

01-15-22, 11:01 AM

Marks another... Shaun was my #6 :)

1. Moon (2009) - 48th
.
6. Shaun of the Dead (2004) - 20th
.
8. Sin City (2005) - 47th
.
11. Million Dollar Baby (2004) - 57th
.
13. Cast Away (2000) - 69th
.
20. Unbreakable (2000) - 62nd
21. Gladiator (2000) - 40th
.
22. Watchmen (2009) - 87th
23. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) - 63rd
.

John W Constantine

01-15-22, 11:11 AM

I now have five in the top 18

crumbsroom

01-15-22, 11:14 AM

Donnie Darko - I watched this when it was first released on DVD, and I had zero idea what it was. It was amongst a bunch of DVD's my friend had got for free from work at a television studio, and I chose it to watch simply because the cast seemed like such a random bunch of has-beens and never were's at the time. Plus this unknown named Jake Gyllenhall, whose face I didn't like. So, I got to see it well before any of its cult status had developed, and while I remember thinking it was kind of an odd duck of a movie, and not a waste of time as a curiosity, I thought it had a bad case of the 'try hards'. There would be moments where I really thought it was potentially starting to cook, that it had real potential (its really great and very funny depiction of America in the late 80's), and then it would get goofy with unneccessarily showy camera tricks, or most egregiously, a bunny suit boogeyman. And no matter how iconic that bunny has become over the years, I still think it is a deeply stupid addition to the film. It reeks of 'how can we make this super weird and twisted', without it actually seeming particularly weird or twisted as it comes off as a deeply unimaginative ingredient, hoping to get it some credit from the weirds watching. Of course, a lot of the weirds lapped it up, but I just roll my eyes with every rewatch. Unfortunate, as I think the films general conceit is really good, and there are little pockets of brilliance. But it's never lifted off much from just being a curiosity to me. But one now that has die hard, frothing at the mouth super fans who I general find even more annoying than the movie.

Ratatouille: This has been pretty consistently been my least favorite Pixar that I've seen, next to cars. My reasoning is pretty bad. I don't like the gag of the rat controlling the cook by pulling his hair. My suspension of disbelief dies at that moment. Brilliant rat cooks are entirely acceptable to me though. Still alright, as Pixar at this point were masters of what they were doing. But simply too much hair pulling for me.

Oldboy: Already talked about it above. I liked it a lot. But no great favorite of mine.

O Brother Where Art Though: The rare Cohen Brothers movie that doesn't really work for me. I still like it, and would watch it if it was on tv right now, but I find its episodic structure boring, and its humor gawks too much. There is only so much Clooney overbite I should be expected to accept. Great music though. Also may have been the film where I started to feel John Goodman, American treasure, kind of annoys me.

Shaun of the Dead: Just a fantastic horror comedy hybrid. So few have ever done this balancing act correctly, and it nails treating its horror with genuine dread and pathos, while its humor effectively saws the legs off all of the genre tropes it is simultaneously using to thrill us. Probably as brilliant as scripted parody can be. It knows what it is doing and it excels at it. Just missed my list though.

The Departed: I recently rewatched this and it is a lot more enjoyable than I remember. None of its deeper themes really resonate much with me, and at the point this came out I had grown tired of Mob Scorsese, but there is some amount of thrill and perversity in watching the cat and mouse game between Leo and Matt Damon. So, slightly better than my initial experience with it, but still in the bottom third of Scorsese's filmography. At least it allows Mark Wahlberg the chance to play the character he was born to play--a douchey *******. No need to suffer through his doughey eyed innocence in this one. Or that weird whispery thing he does when he is playing sincere. Just straight up insufferable prick. Perfect casting!

crumbsroom

01-15-22, 11:15 AM

Once I realized The Departed is a farce, I started enjoying it even more.

I think this was what I missed on my first viewing of it. I had put on my Goodfella or Mean Street glasses, and it is very much not that kind of movie, requiring that kind of viewing. The less seriously it is taken, the more power (and fun!) it has.

Miss Vicky

01-15-22, 11:22 AM

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MoFoTop100/thedeparted.gif

I didn't think I was going to like The Departed when I first saw it. Marky Mark is probably my least favorite actor ever and I don't like Alec Baldwin or Matt Damon either. I'd also had very limited experience with watching Jack Nicholson at that point (I still do, actually) and, while I'd respected DiCaprio's performance in things like What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Catch Me If You Can, and The Aviator, I still mostly thought of him as the pretty boy all the other girls had been swooning over in Titanic. But my mom wanted to see it, she was paying, and it's rare that I'll pass up a free trip to the theater.

I loved it. The story really pulled me in, it was surprisingly funny, had great characters, and somehow that pretty boy wasn't so pretty anymore. He was HOT. It rocketed up my favorites and secured a place in my top ten for many years. It's slipped a bit and fell to number 18 the last time I did my top 100 and I'm not sure where it would land now. I am overdue for a rewatch and it was one among many that I'd planned to see again before voting but never got to. But there was no way it wasn't going to place somewhere on my ballot and after much shuffling and reshuffling, it ended up at #14.

https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MoFoPics2/departedleo.gif

I didn't care at all for Shaun of the Dead.

Seen: 49/82

My Ballot:
1. Quills (#67)
2. Gladiator (#40)
3. Up (#33)
5. Ratatouille (#23)
6. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (#91)
14. The Departed (#19)
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (#63)
25. Surf's Up (One-Pointer)

Yoda

01-15-22, 11:27 AM

What's your best Scorsese? Yoda
Casino.

MovieFan1988

01-15-22, 11:33 AM

Have seen so far: 27 - Shaun of the Dead - An exciting and fun zombie comedy film. The Departed - A great crime film that takes place in Boston.
Have not seen so far: 59

My Ballots So Far
#1. The Departed (2006)
#9 - Spider Man 2 (2004)
#13. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
#20 - Hot Fuzz (2007)
One Pointer - #25 - Anger Management (2003)

Allaby

01-15-22, 11:35 AM

The Departed was number on my ballot and is one of my all time favourites! Shaun of the Dead is great too, but didn't make my ballot.

honeykid

01-15-22, 11:37 AM

There's been quite a few reveals since my last visit here and some of them were even good films.:D So let's start there.

City Of God I saw a few times when it came out and was a big fan of, always talking it up and getting people to see it. I thought it was fantastic and the only reason I didn't put it on my 100 was because I'm sure I've not seen it enough to warrant it's place. Another viewing or two and it might be there.

Donnie Darko I knew of because Drew's production company were making it (and she's in it, extra rep for John-Connor for the pic of her in the movie :cool: so when it was released I was eager to hear what people thought and also to see it myself. I really liked it, but I wasn't in love with it as so many were at the time. Maybe I was just a little too old to get caught up in it like that? Anyway, a really interesting film. Drew looks great and is the perfect 'cool' teacher you (I'd) always wanted, but I'm not sure how I'd view it today?

Let The Right One In was another film which had a real groundswell of 'You've gotta see this' from the festivals at the time, so I was eager for it. I saw it twice and both times I thought it was fantastic. Beautifully filmed and it uses its locations really well. Great performances and, at the time, probably the best recreation of the 80's I could remember seeing. I feel this would definitely hold up to a viewing today.

Downfall I think I've only seen once. Maybe twice? This (along with Memories Of Murder) I bought blind with the money I was saving when I quit smoking in 2007 (I think) and thought it was brilliant. I think I did take this to a friends for her to see (which is why I think I might've seen it twice) but I've not seen it since, which is a shame because I'd probably love it as much now as I did then. If I could sit long enough to actually watch it. :(

Speaking of Memories Of Murder, which I did, I thought it was also really good, but I don't see what makes it 'great'. Something I'd certainly recommend (and have done) but when people talk about it in such glowing terms I wonder what I missed.

Requiem For A Dream I saw twice and thought it was fantastic, but not really disturbing as others seem too. There may be a good reason for that. People have already mentioned Ellen Burstyn, but she really is magnificent in it.

I was a big fan of The Coen's in the 90's and did enjoy O Brother Where Art Thou? but it's the first film I noticed the work of the colourist and, while I thought it was OK, even then it bothered me a little. Surprisingly the music didn't, not that I'd want to listen to it at any other time, but in the film it worked well.

I thought The Departed was OK, but it didn't blow me away. I think I've only seen it the once. Shaun Of The Dead I was really excited about but it didn't work for me. I think I laughed twice in the whole film (when the landlady is introduced and the guy's torn apart in the pub) but otherwise it was just there, really. I've since found out that I don't really like any of the creative work of the people involved, so it's just not for me.

I've not seen Hot Fuzz at all. Ratatouille and Oldboy I think I might've started but quickly bailed from at some point, but I'm not sure.

BTW, for those who've never seen it and those who thought they wouldn't again, here's the best of the Downfall memes. Made by our very own Weeman for the 90's countdown. I include it because it's funny, because it does contain some of the feeling of excitedly waiting for the day's reveal, only to be disappointed and the fact that Raul has been doing a very good impression of SC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCNnruQE0fA

I agree with sentiments posted. I liked Donnie Darko quite a bit back in the day, haven't watched it for a long time, and thought that its following had diminished over time - you just don't hear about it anymore. But...I guess I was wrong.

Meant to include this. It's a 00's countdown for, I would guess, a majority voting age of over 30? You have 25 slots to fill. What else are you going to vote for?

Holden Pike

01-15-22, 11:54 AM

84414

Shaun of the Dead did not make the Millennium List though it was #17 on the MoFo Top 100 Horror List and #21 on the reboot of that list. The Departed was #12 on the MoFo Top 100 of the Millennium List as well as #7 on the original MoFo Top 100, though it completely missed that list in the recent reboot.

rauldc14

01-15-22, 11:58 AM

There's been quite a few reveals since my last visit here and some of them were even good films.:D So let's start there.

City Of God I saw a few times when it came out and was a big fan of, always talking it up and getting people to see it. I thought it was fantastic and the only reason I didn't put it on my 100 was because I'm sure I've not seen it enough to warrant it's place. Another viewing or two and it might be there.

Donnie Darko I knew of because Drew's production company were making it (and she's in it, extra rep for John-Connor for the pic of her in the movie :cool: so when it was released I was eager to hear what people thought and also to see it myself. I really liked it, but I wasn't in love with it as so many were at the time. Maybe I was just a little too old to get caught up in it like that? Anyway, a really interesting film. Drew looks great and is the perfect 'cool' teacher you (I'd) always wanted, but I'm not sure how I'd view it today?

Let The Right One In was another film which had a real groundswell of 'You've gotta see this' from the festivals at the time, so I was eager for it. I saw it twice and both times I thought it was fantastic. Beautifully filmed and it uses its locations really well. Great performances and, at the time, probably the best recreation of the 80's I could remember seeing. I feel this would definitely hold up to a viewing today.

Downfall I think I've only seen once. Maybe twice? This (along with Memories Of Murder) I bought blind with the money I was saving when I quit smoking in 2007 (I think) and thought it was brilliant. I think I did take this to a friends for her to see (which is why I think I might've seen it twice) but I've not seen it since, which is a shame because I'd probably love it as much now as I did then. If I could sit long enough to actually watch it. :(

Speaking of Memories Of Murder, which I did, I thought it was also really good, but I don't see what makes it 'great'. Something I'd certainly recommend (and have done) but when people talk about it in such glowing terms I wonder what I missed.

Requiem For A Dream I saw twice and thought it was fantastic, but not really disturbing as others seem too. There may be a good reason for that. People have already mentioned Ellen Burstyn, but she really is magnificent in it.

I was a big fan of The Coen's in the 90's and did enjoy O Brother Where Art Thou? but it's the first film I noticed the work of the colourist and, while I thought it was OK, even then it bothered me a little. Surprisingly the music didn't, not that I'd want to listen to it at any other time, but in the film it worked well.

I thought The Departed was OK, but it didn't blow me away. I think I've only seen it the once. Shaun Of The Dead I was really excited about but it didn't work for me. I think I laughed twice in the whole film (when the landlady is introduced and the guy's torn apart in the pub) but otherwise it was just there, really. I've since found out that I don't really like any of the creative work of the people involved, so it's just not for me.

I've not seen Hot Fuzz at all. Ratatouille and Oldboy I think I might've started but quickly bailed from at some point, but I'm not sure.

BTW, for those who've never seen it and those who thought they wouldn't again, here's the best of the Downfall memes. Made by our very own Weeman for the 90's countdown. I include it because it's funny, because it does contain some of the feeling of excitedly waiting for the day's reveal, only to be disappointed and the fact that Raul has been doing a very good impression of SC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCNnruQE0fA

Meant to include this. It's a 00's countdown for, I would guess, a majority voting age of over 30? You have 25 slots to fill. What else are you going to vote for?

I'll admit I started acting like SC, but then I haven't been as disappointed with the results as SC was, so it's thrown my whole act off. We have a little ways to go though, so stay tuned :)

rauldc14

01-15-22, 12:03 PM

By the way, I just rewatched that and absolutely still laughed hysterically

cricket

01-15-22, 12:09 PM

I think Yoda is spot on with The Departed. It's just a lot of fun, and of course it appeals to me being a Boston guy with characters who talk the way I talk. I think there are some movies/characters/people/etc, which in order to like them, a certain amount of confidence in oneself can be helpful. Is it a great movie? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe f**k ya self.

I like Shaun of the dead more than Hot Fuzz but that ain't saying much.

1. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) (#59)
2. Downfall (2004) (#28)
4. City of God (2002) (#25)
5. Adaptation (2002) (#43)
6. The Devil's Rejects (2005) (#94)
8. 28 Days Later (2002) (#45)
10. The Wrestler (2008) (#54)
11. Mystic River (2003) (#65)
13. The Departed (2006) (#19)
14. Sideways (2002) (#39)
15. Amores Perros (2000) (#81)
16. Donnie Darko (2001) (#24)
17. Y tu mamá también (2001) (#95)

KeyserCorleone

01-15-22, 12:13 PM

I've seen Shaun of the Dead twice. I thought it was pretty damn funny, but not the masterpiece the internet makes it out to be. I'd go as far as to say I prefered Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim. My favorite Edgar Wright film, btw, is Hot Fuzz.

The Departed was #8 on my list. With most Scorsese movies, they're very enjoyable, but I always find something I don't like. Such was not the issue with The Departed.

Sent-In Ballot:

#2. Oldboy (22)
#3. Sin City (47)
#5. Requiem for a Dream (26)
#7. Yi Yi (49)
#8. The Departed (19)
#10. Casino Royale (37)
#13. Million Dollar Baby (57)
#15. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (53)
#16. Let the Right One In (29)
#20. Iron Man (83)
#22. Pirates of the Caribbean (63)
#25. Hot Fuzz (30)

Post-Ballot:

#2. Oldboy (22)
#3. Sin City (47)
#5. Requiem for a Dream (26)
#7. Yi Yi (49)
#8. The Departed (19)
#10. Casino Royale (37)
#12. Snatch (71)
#14. Million Dollar Baby (57)
#16. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (53)
#17. Let the Right One In (29)
#18. Slumdog Millionaire (not placed but it made my new 25)
#19. Monsters, Inc. (74)
#22. Iron Man (83)
#23. Fantastic Mr. Fox (70)
#25. Pirates of the Caribbean (63)

Seen 44/80

Deschain

01-15-22, 12:17 PM

Two more from my list. How’s that for a slice of fried gold?

Thief mentioned in the trivia section that 28 Days Later was inspired by the Resident Evil games. Well so was Shaun of the Dead. As a fan of the video game franchise this makes me happy. Ironically no actual Resident Evil movies will be making the countdown.

Whenever a while goes by since I’ve seen The Departed it always makes me think it’s not that good, probably from all the negative reactions to it on the internet. Then I watch it again and love it all over again. I live in Massachusetts and saw it opening night with my friends in a packed theater. During the shocking climax the guy in front of us stood up and yelled, “That’s the Boston police department for yah!” And dragged his lady out of the theater.

SpelingError

01-15-22, 12:55 PM

Shaun of the Dead was on my ballot at #13, making it the second zombie film to make my list. Here's what I wrote on it a while ago:

This is now among my favorite horror comedy films and my favorite horror films of the decade. While many zombie films usually have a couple or more extraneous characters who don't do much, the same can't be said for this film. Every single major character and multiple events in the film play an important role in advancing the character arc of Shaun: an electronics salesman with no direction in his life. The film starts off as a romantic comedy as it details how his life is slowly falling apart. Once the zombie apocalypse breaks out though, it's up to him to redeem himself for his family and his friends. This character arc could've been presented by way of a drama film, but the zombies themselves add an extra layer to the film. This layer is how Shaun, in many ways, acts as a social zombie by how his daily routines are occasionally dull and lifeless. Scenes with him walking towards the camera in a zombie-like manner and an extended sequence of him walking to a convenient store without noticing a number of zombies pursuing him along the way serve to reinforce how his physical behavior holds certain similarities to them. In addition to some well-written lines and scenes of comedy and some memorable instances of violence, this film definitely earns its status as a great film.

The Departed didn't make my list since my memory of the film is really poor, but I might rewatch it someday to see how well it holds up. Compared to some other Scorsese films I watched around that time (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street), this is the one that disappeared from my memory the most. I do remember liking it though. I thought the acting was fine, the pacing operated at a breakneck speed which worked for a little while but eventually wore me out in the final act, and there were also some suspenseful and unexpected twists and turns of the plot.

1. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (#78)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. A Serious Man (#66)
8.
9. 28 Days Later (#45)
10.
11.
12.
13. Shaun of the Dead (#20)
14.
15.
16. Requiem For a Dream (#16)
17.
18. The Pianist (#31)
19.
20. Moon (#48)
21.
22.
23. Sunshine (#88)
24.
25. The New World (#99)

pahaK

01-15-22, 01:01 PM

I've seen both, and I'm back at 50%. Shaun of the Dead carries the burden of being a horror-comedy, a genre combination I very rarely like. I watched it when it was new, and didn't find it funny. I tried to give it another chance when it was on telly several years ago but didn't even finish that rewatch. The Departed was a mediocre film that I've never felt the need to revisit. No votes, but I'd consider both if we ever do a list of the most overrated films.

Seen: 41/82

MovieMeditation

01-15-22, 01:07 PM

Surprisingly I’ve never loved Shaun of the Dead the same way others do. But I still think it’s really good and it deserves to be here. I like Hot Fuzz more myself, but realize this one is usually thought of as the best in the Cornetto trilogy. So it makes sense it’s higher.

I’ve only seen The Departed once. And it was a long time ago. Always meant to watch it again but never got around to it. So honestly I can’t say what my opinion on it is. I remember it to be good enough but not as great as its reputation…

mrblond

01-15-22, 01:36 PM

• I saw The Departed in the theater when it came out. Somehow, couldn't impress me much and I even forgot about it till about five months ago when I accidentally came across it on the telly and re-watched some segments. 3.0
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• Noticing its popularity, I saw Shaun of the Dead about a year ago. Honestly, can't understand why people watch movies like this. 1.5

_____________
my stats
▽
Top 100 seen 44/82.
(seen one pointers 3/38 • seen 101-110: 5/10)
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My list:
...
4. Snatch [#71.]
5. The Royal Tenenbaums [#35.]
...
8. Sideways [#39.]
9. Amores perros [#81.]
10. The Wrestler [#54.]
...
12. The Pianist [#31.]
14. The Man Who Wasn't There [#84.]
...
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/56mOJth6DJ6JhgoE2jtpilVqJO.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/z3r4kQQBoIAEIZMeW2diVRE8DIV.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/5p3tGb5a5426BeC0Ch92T3IWNK9.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/vV4vlD4ool5JSsS1rB82qjCF6z8.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/6OTR8dSoNGjWohJNo3UhIGd3Tj.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/3DzePKMbLMIM636S6syCy3cLPqj.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/lrCgt8NNMyFsfmXyXiSSCRXNH4u.jpg
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The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou [#98]
Werckmeister Harmonies [#97]
Pride & Prejudice [#93]
Caché [#85]
American Psycho [#79]
Battle Royale [#77]
Catch Me If You Can [#72]
Fantastic Mr. Fox [#70]
A Serious Man [#66]
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/qZoFLNBC78jzboWeDH6Ha0qavF2.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/nxWEG9JzmJx3eLE8y7CUHmaj3CE.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/sGjIvtVvTlWnia2zfJfHz81pZ9Q.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/IC2BPYDSsNPP1Q1VuXUiKrRwbU.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/3ddHhfMlZHZCefHDeaP8FzSoH4Y.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/uRhc1IfwYKwVqIp2OTZGFzTVsdF.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/vG3YcgXuZABv7C8nd5bEyuMfyTQ.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2//1eRgCKzvbL73LiBFqPR6FJGwuJQ.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/8Zjk3cvjkDa643NHXtdPu30gnyY.jpg

Yi Yi [#50]
Dancer in the Dark [#49]
Adaptation. [#43]
Before Sunset [#42]
Casino Royale [#37]
Lost in Translation [#32]
Requiem for a Dream [#26]
https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/hTPkCpK9SLGDMXRbUwzoep0MxOx.jpg https://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/tjWa4JBdxomtoojZr7dPIgJZgiX.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/qP4LbKYVRWw5j1n55sSjvvgmedM.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/gycdE1ARByGQcK4fYR2mgpU6OO.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/ta2BX3THwYXytWuVVozaT0NsMM8.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/yDY1LLuMdWA0xO09ciVeDHHJWFr.jpghttps://www.themoviedb.org/t/p/w600_and_h900_bestv2/nOd6vjEmzCT0k4VYqsA2hwyi87C.jpg

Harry Lime

01-15-22, 01:44 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCNnruQE0fA

Still makes me laugh. Good times. Thanks for posting, HK.

seanc

01-15-22, 01:59 PM

Two more very good movies that didn’t make my list. Both would have been on a list of my 50 I would think.

Two viewings in on The Departed and I find it highly entertaining with great characters and performances. I always want a little more from m Nicholson’s character. That might be what keeps it below movies like Goodfellas and Wolf for me.

Only watched Shaun once, but it was quite the surprise. Really entertaining and funny. I will check it out again at some point.

Citizen Rules

01-15-22, 02:02 PM

I didn't care for The Departed and I'm not that big of a fan of Scorsese anyway.

Didn't see Shaun of the Dead, not interested.

seanc

01-15-22, 02:03 PM

Still makes me laugh. Good times. Thanks for posting, HK.

OMG, totally forgot about that. Brilliant

Harry Lime

01-15-22, 02:35 PM

Right on I had Shaun of the Dead at #17. Very watchable, rewatchable, just fun to watch, and smart. If there was a real zombie apocalypse I would prefer it to be like this.

3. Yi Yi (2000)
4. Werckmeister Harmonies (2000)
5. City of God (2002)
6. Caché (2005)
9. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005)
17. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
22. The Aviator (2004)
25. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001)

As for the others that have shown, Oldboy is very good and maybe 10 years or so ago it would have made my list. O Brother is not my favourite Coen bros film but I do like it and as others have said, that soundtrack is great. It's not even my type of music and I enjoy it quite a bit. I do like The Departed but kind of place it upper mid-tier Scorsese. I think that was my initial impression and figured that might change with a recent rewatch, but it didn't, felt pretty much the same. I get why it's loved by many, though.

Holden Pike

01-15-22, 02:39 PM

84417

I have gone through this before, but again, as a hardcore, longtime, die hard megafan of Marty Scorsese I find The Departed to be in the bottom third of his filmography quality-wise and therefore frustrated that it was the movie that finally got him his Best Director Oscar. It is not terribly unusual for the Academy to reward somebody later in their career for lesser work. For one with a Scorsese connection, there's Paul Newman. To a movie fan who isn't up on Oscar trivia, to find that Paul Newman won an Oscar is not at all surprising. But then if you asked them which performance he won for you'd likely get guesses of Cool Hand Luke, Hud, The Verdict, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, The Hustler, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and maybe even Slap Shot before you would have to tell them nope, it was for The Color of Money. Newman is not bad in that film, at all. He's quite good. He's usually quite good. He's Paul frickin' Newman. But were it not for the fact that he won his belated Oscar for The Color of Money it is not a performance that he would be linked to very strongly.

And that is The Departed, for this Scorsese fan. It's not a bad movie, certainly. It just isn't objectively one of his five or so best (for me I rank it twentieth). But it is the one that got him that Oscar. That Marty didn't win for Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, GoodFellas, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, or The Irishman and wasn't even nominated for Taxi Driver, The Age of Innocence, Silence, The King of Comedy or Casino but won for The Departed.... Honestly and truly I would rather he had never won at all and remain forever in the ranks of Hitchcock, Kubrick, Altman, Lumet, and every great foreign language director who ever lived as brilliant filmmakers who never won Best Director at the Academy Awards than to have him win for The Departed. Like Newman's win, in fifty years and to more casual fans they will assume he won for one of his bona fide classics.

But hey, people love it, so whatareyougonnado? It did fall completely off of the MoFo All Time 100 reboot, which was my happiest surprise of that particular countdown (for the record GoodFellas was #3 there, Taxi Driver #14, and Raging Bull #49). I knew of course The Departed would remain on this list, but at least it slipped a little.

As for Shaun of the Dead I love that movie but it is Top 50 for me, not Top 25, and thus not on my ballot. Very glad to see it make the collective list and happily surprised by how high it got. Gives me hope that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World will place well in the eventual 2010-2019 countdown (start the early campaigning now).