+16
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
__________________
Remember - everything has an ending except hope, and sausages - they have two.
We miss you Takoma