I don't like Election's unused ending, either. The ending Payne gives us is perfect. The one from the novel lets the characters off the hook a bit, and that ain't the direction they would go. In the unused ending McAllister sees Tracy's modest upbringing and fears, humanizing her and likely further regretting his actions towards her. For her part, she trusts him as a responsible adult at face value, showing a level of naiveté and innocence we had not seen before. That's all hogwash and undercuts the petty decisions they let rule them. People don't change that dramatically that quickly. Especially not when they think they are in the right and free of blame, as both felt completely justified in their actions around the election. In the "real" ending, McAllister continues to be a bitter, delusional schmuck, and Flick is still on her upward trajectory likely making the exact same sorts of mistakes, failing upward until one of these days way down the line when she's not pretty enough to get away with such behavior. Apt and poetic fates for both. And still darkly funny.
What this guy said!
This is the first of my choices to appear on this list.
A wonderful dark comedy (but not too dark) with a strong female lead. Love it!
Of the other four, I have seen Remains of the Day, which I like very much. I am a big Merchant-Ivory fan. I am afraid I have never seen the two Iranian films.
Okay, this was a tangled web, a 4-way tie - Election found its way ahead of Remains of the Day based on highest position on ballots (they were still tied on a first pass with #1 rankings - on the second highest - Election took it, 3rd to 6th)
Election is a movie I like very much. Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick bounce perfectly against each other. I don't want to say they bounce off of each other because that would make it sound too sickly-sweet. And they aren't that...at all. And we're all the richer for it. I like almost any film Witherspoon's been in that I've seen and this one is no different. It's been a while since I've seen it but now I want to see it again. Alas, I didn't pick it for my list.
Close-Up I have heard of, even about the real-life story but I've yet to see the film.
Two no-shows from me. Argh.
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Last edited by dadgumblah; 3 days ago at 12:39 AM.
Close-Up is my 19th pick on my list. I had seen Taste of Cherry years and years ago and I really liked it and was surprised on reading reviews post-viewing the film, how divisive it was. Yes, it's slow, but it's never not-interesting and it's always thought provoking. Close-Up is a bit faster paced and as far as Abbas Kiarostami goes, I prefer it to Taste of Cherry. Oh and as a writer, I really did enjoy The White Balloon, despite my tendency to find that young girl a bit insufferable, and yes I know that's partly the point.
What's interesting to me about the film is how a single moment, just a random act on a complete whim can slowly build and build and build upon itself. Sabzian had no real interest to impersonate or mislead anyone until a chance opportunity came his way, which of course sent him down a rabbit hole that led to his ultimate arrest and trial for impersonating the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. I enjoy how the film takes a real event, and uses the same personnel for actors and tries to re-create it. Also it does seem like such an odd crime too. When I think about crimes that would make headlines or get media and public attention, impersonating film directors seems low on the list. But still.
The trial scene is great and the lines Sabzian speaks on what film meant to him and the subconscious motivation to be important or a person of value speaks volumes. I would imagine this is especially true in a nation like Iran where a person doesn't have quite the opportunity for upward social mobility as they do in America, let alone the ability or canvas in which to follow their passion. I think many of the lines do echo the sentiments that many of us have as lovers of film - not only as a narrative form, but also as a form that speaks to the human condition, chronicles history and culture, and film as a medium that brings together several different arts - music, acting, writing, photography, editing, and on and on. So yeah, some of the moments in this film really touched me. Also the sequence of his arrest is beautifully done in a very non-Hollywood and anti-climatic and non sensationalized way.
Much has been written and spoken about it's documentary and fictionalized style too and it does work really well for me. Obviously this is nothing new, even in 1990 - just see Errol Morris' Thin Blue Line and a handful of other films too... maybe even films and works that have origins in works like Truman Capote's non-fiction novel and true crime genre In Cold Blood, but of course Close-Up takes this all a step further.
Great, great stuff here and I'm glad I was able to find this film on The Criterion Channel. I only have just taken a sip of Iranian cinema, however another great film - a more recent one, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is one of all time top favorite films. It's amazing really that a nation whose government I find to be corrupt and abhorrent is able to produce and create such wonderful films.
So yeah, I wasn't about to leave it off my list. It's one of my newer discoveries, but I loved it just the same.
My list so far...
10. Dead Man 19. Close-Up 25. Beauty and the Beast
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I'll make a completely blind guess of Galaxy Quest and Three Colours: Blue as the pair revealed tomorrow.
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I saw Election many years ago, but I didn't remember much about it except something about a bee sting. I rewatched it for the Group Watch thread, but it was only okay for me. I usually like Matthew Broderick, but I didn't like much about this movie.
I've never heard of Close-Up.
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Beneath the surface, Election is actually pretty powerful stuff and shares similarities with To Die For from 1995. Evil cutthroat overachieving psychopaths can and will influence society through politics or entertainment.
Still haven't seen Close-Up, yet.
The tie between Close-Up & Fugitive was broken up by most ballots (8 to 6)
* The Fugitive Trivia - Ford was a huge star by 1993, but he was not immediately thought of for the role of Dr. Richard Kimble. Alec Baldwin, Kevin Costner, Michael Douglas, and Nick Nolte were all considered. Nolte thought he was too old for the role, but Ford, who got the part, is only a year younger than him.
* Véronique was a bit of a bridge film, drawing from past works, while also inspiring future pieces. The musical score plays a significant role in the plot (similar to Blue). The cinematography is highly stylized, utilizing color and camera filters to create an ethereal atmosphere, which was experimented with in an episode of Dekalog, while Kieślowski expanded on the use of color for a wider range of effects in his Three Colors trilogy.
Kieślowski had previously explored the concept of different life paths for the same individual in his Polish film, Przypadek (Blind Chance). The central choice faced by Weronika/Véronique is based on a brief subplot in the ninth episode of Dekalog.
On a personal note, I adore the metaphysical qualities, the dreamy unknowable, the beauty and magic in it, the emotional resonance, and how I was completely immersed into this poetic world - I ranked this 14th on my list, but as with everything after the top 2, I could have easily placed this 3rd, or 8th, etc - the line between one to another was paper thin.
The Fugitive was previously unranked, Véronique was #58
The Fugitive is one of the best and most re-watchable films of the 90's. Like A Few Good Men it's a 'remote control dropper'; you stop flicking through channels and just watch it. Almost made my ballot but I was confident it would make it without my points. Great job MoFos!
i can't stand harrison ford so i've never seen the fugitive, likely never will. i assume the double life of veronique is good but will i ever get around to seeing it? who knows
I rewatched The Fugitive for this Countdown, but did not vote for it. Ford and Jones did not elevate it far above it's generic cat-n-mouse criminal investigation story for me.
I have not seen the rest up to now.
__________________ Movie Reviews | Anime Reviews Top 100 Action Movie Countdown (2015): List | Thread "Well, at least your intentions behind the UTTERLY DEVASTATING FAULTS IN YOUR LOGIC are good." - Captain Steel
This is the first ever MoFo List for The Fugitive and the only other appearance for The Double Life of Véronique came on the original recipe MoFo Top 100 of the 1990s, where it placed thirteen places higher at #58.
Last edited by Holden Pike; 3 days ago at 09:36 AM.
Ha, original recipe... in my mind I've been referring to the two 1990s lists as "Original" and "Extra Crispy"
I was not all that enamored with the Fugitive, but am surprised it's a first timer, but maybe you've never had an action - thriller list? (I'll take a look)
Edit - nope, didn't see one... but I did spot a foreign film countdown, and no Veronique there?
The Fugitive is an entertaining, well made action film with good performances. I like it, but it did not make my list. The Double Life of Veronique is also a very good film that I liked, but did not vote for.
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