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Army of Shadows is my number 15. On my list: This is one of the coolest movies I've ever seen. Melville masters the art of slow-pace with a constant tension brewing with each new twist, and in the process creating a thriller that would've been a 100 if there was a little more character development within the slow pacing.
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I've seen From Here to Eternity years ago and have it on dvd, but don't remember it very well. I'm overdue for a rewatch. I bought Army of Shadows on Criterion blu ray, but still haven't watched it.
Seen: 50/72
Seen: 50/72
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From Here to Eternity was #9 on my ballot. In addition to the conflicts between various characters being fleshed out well and compelling to watch (specifically its critique on military superiors abusing their powers due to grudges they have with those below them in rank), it also shows how military life complicated their off-duty relationships and the various hurdles the soldiers had to jump over to keep them afloat. Due to that, it's fitting for the film to end with the U.S. entering WWII, making an uncertainty as to whether or not the soldiers will return alive or not and get to see their loved ones ever again. While tragedies occur in it, the mood it settles on is ultimately a mix between hope and doubt. This is a surprisingly oblique emotional register which caused the film to make such a big impact on me.
I like Army of Shadows quite a bit, though there are at least a couple Melville films I prefer. Still though, it's a powerful film and does a great job at capturing the fears of futility and betrayal those in the French Resistance felt. And this isn't without getting into how the film crafts numerous scenes of slow, quiet suspense out of scenes which most directors would trim up in length (even if Le Samourai and especially The Red Circle handle this better).
I like Army of Shadows quite a bit, though there are at least a couple Melville films I prefer. Still though, it's a powerful film and does a great job at capturing the fears of futility and betrayal those in the French Resistance felt. And this isn't without getting into how the film crafts numerous scenes of slow, quiet suspense out of scenes which most directors would trim up in length (even if Le Samourai and especially The Red Circle handle this better).
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My updated ballot:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. To Be or Not to Be (#41)
6.
7.
8.
9. From Here to Eternity (#30)
10. The Ascent (#33)
11.
12. Pan's Labyrinth (#54)
13. The General (#64)
14. Kanal (#61)
15. Red Angel (#100)
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23. Johnny Got His Gun (#97)
24. Night and Fog (#48)
25.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. To Be or Not to Be (#41)
6.
7.
8.
9. From Here to Eternity (#30)
10. The Ascent (#33)
11.
12. Pan's Labyrinth (#54)
13. The General (#64)
14. Kanal (#61)
15. Red Angel (#100)
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23. Johnny Got His Gun (#97)
24. Night and Fog (#48)
25.
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Zinnemann has made some favorites that have stuck with so I guess I should give that one another try. JP Melville is good.
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Army of Shadows was #58 on the MoFo Top 100 of the 1960s and #89 on the MoFo Top 100 Foreign Films while From Here to Eternity was #76 on the MoFo Top 100 of the 1950s.
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"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream it takes over as the number one hormone. It bosses the enzymes, directs the pineal gland, plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to Film is more Film." - Frank Capra
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99%
MF: Top Musicals
100%
MF: Top Noir Films
100%
MF: Top Films of 70s
100%
MF: Top Westerns
Here's two more of mine over the line. It's a little weird that it took so long for Army of Shadows to achieve its classic status, but in this sense cinema is a bit like war: politics by other means.
From Here to Eternity is not the only Montgomery Clift vehicle I voted for, but I expect it's the only one that will make the list. But everyone is good in this one, justifiably held in high esteem.
From Here to Eternity is not the only Montgomery Clift vehicle I voted for, but I expect it's the only one that will make the list. But everyone is good in this one, justifiably held in high esteem.
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Army of Shadows was my #3. I was absolutely entranced by it and its moments of silence from the very start. I'm a big fan of Melville and this film is cool in every sense but with some devastating character moments in there as well.
1917 was my #17. I thought the one shot gimmick was successful in conveying a sense of being part of the action and it was well shot, well acted and an interesting take on WWI, 100 years later.
That makes 10 from my list.
1917 was my #17. I thought the one shot gimmick was successful in conveying a sense of being part of the action and it was well shot, well acted and an interesting take on WWI, 100 years later.
That makes 10 from my list.
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I remember having a conversation in one of the HoFs regarding my on-and-off feelings regarding Lancaster after watching Sweet Smell of Success, and From Here to Enternity was highly recommended to watch regarding him, and I still haven't and most likely should at some point.
A year or two back, I got to truly explore several old-school French films/directors, including Jean-Pierre Melville; I saw and fell in love with this film.
Garnered from the truth, Jean-Pierre Melville takes a more existential road. He presents a more fatalistic, sans "action" account of French Resistance members during Germany's occupation of France in World War II.
Starring Lino Ventura, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse, Jean Pierre Cassel, Claude Mann, and Paul Crauchet. There are no daring acts of sabotage, focusing on the desperation of these ordinary people attempting the impossible as the Gestapo hunts and exterminates them. They spend far more on the run, being held in captivity, tortured for information before being killed, and the necessity of killing a fellow member for the preservation of the Shadowed Army of Resistance. Secrecy so deep not even brothers who work within the Resistance know that the other does.
Countdown List Watched 35 out of 72 (48.61%)
1.
2. Rome, Open City aka Roma città aperta (1945) (1945) (#37)
3. Stalag 17 (1953) (#35)
4. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) (#66)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. l'armee des ombres aka Army of Shadows (1969) (#29)
10.
11. M*A*S*H (1970) (#39)
12. The Dirty Dozen (1967) (#32)
13. Glory (1989)) (#38)
14. Johnny Got His Gun (1971) (#97)
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22. 1917 (2019) (#31)
23. Mrs. Miniver (1942) (#85)
24.
25.
One-Pointers Watched 5 out of 24 (20.83%)
Rectification List
Coming in at #9
29. l'armee des ombres aka Army of Shadows (1969)
29. l'armee des ombres aka Army of Shadows (1969)
A year or two back, I got to truly explore several old-school French films/directors, including Jean-Pierre Melville; I saw and fell in love with this film.
Garnered from the truth, Jean-Pierre Melville takes a more existential road. He presents a more fatalistic, sans "action" account of French Resistance members during Germany's occupation of France in World War II.
Starring Lino Ventura, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse, Jean Pierre Cassel, Claude Mann, and Paul Crauchet. There are no daring acts of sabotage, focusing on the desperation of these ordinary people attempting the impossible as the Gestapo hunts and exterminates them. They spend far more on the run, being held in captivity, tortured for information before being killed, and the necessity of killing a fellow member for the preservation of the Shadowed Army of Resistance. Secrecy so deep not even brothers who work within the Resistance know that the other does.
Countdown List Watched 35 out of 72 (48.61%)
1.
2. Rome, Open City aka Roma città aperta (1945) (1945) (#37)
3. Stalag 17 (1953) (#35)
4. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) (#66)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. l'armee des ombres aka Army of Shadows (1969) (#29)
10.
11. M*A*S*H (1970) (#39)
12. The Dirty Dozen (1967) (#32)
13. Glory (1989)) (#38)
14. Johnny Got His Gun (1971) (#97)
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22. 1917 (2019) (#31)
23. Mrs. Miniver (1942) (#85)
24.
25.
One-Pointers Watched 5 out of 24 (20.83%)
Rectification List
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Last edited by edarsenal; 09-16-23 at 11:01 PM.
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Have yet to see Army of Shadows. Love From Here to Eternity but didn't vote for it.
#4 1917 Forward! #31
#7 The Longest Day Hit the beach! #36
#8 Hacksaw Ridge On point #67
#10 The Hurt Locker Bombs away! #58
#12 Dunkirk Retreat! #47
#18 The Dirty Dozen #32
#21 Tora! Tora! Tora! In the vanguard #63
#4 1917 Forward! #31
#7 The Longest Day Hit the beach! #36
#8 Hacksaw Ridge On point #67
#10 The Hurt Locker Bombs away! #58
#12 Dunkirk Retreat! #47
#18 The Dirty Dozen #32
#21 Tora! Tora! Tora! In the vanguard #63
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Last edited by dadgumblah; 09-17-23 at 09:05 PM.
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I didn't vote for this one but it's a great film, Happy to see it make the countdown!
Army of Shadows (1969)
Army of Shadows (1969)The style of direction is sublime...it suits me. Look at that image, what do you notice?....Empty space. A small figure of a man, in a cavernous room. The set is so large that even the empty desk looks barren of hope. That composition speaks volumes.
I loved the way Army of Shadows was shot. The long scene takes, that lingered long enough for them to seep into the mind giving time to feel what we just seen. I loved the coldness of the blue green palette. The camera work was effectively still, no 'trick shots' for the sake of showing off. The camera moves when it emphasizes a need for movement and the camera is still when stillness best delivers the ambiance of oppression. Definitely liked this one.
I loved the way Army of Shadows was shot. The long scene takes, that lingered long enough for them to seep into the mind giving time to feel what we just seen. I loved the coldness of the blue green palette. The camera work was effectively still, no 'trick shots' for the sake of showing off. The camera moves when it emphasizes a need for movement and the camera is still when stillness best delivers the ambiance of oppression. Definitely liked this one.
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Hmmm, I just realized that for some reason I didn't put From Here to Eternity on my ballot, but I could've. I saw it a couple of years ago and I was really surprised by it. Here's my full review, but here's also an excerpt from it:
I definitely could've had this somewhere in my Top 25. What was I thinking?
I haven't seen Army of Shadows.
Seen: 28/72
"The soldiers in the film, but most specifically the three we focus on, are indeed 'damned' in many ways; banished to a far away island and condemned to be alone, punished and tortured, and to ultimately die; sometimes at the hands of the same Army they are sworn to serve. Still, I would've liked to see the end result with no interference from the Army and the Hollywood Code. I think the film would've been more interesting without that filter and the overall impact would've been greater."
I haven't seen Army of Shadows.
Seen: 28/72
My ballot:
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2 excellent movies, 1 I voted for.
2. Ballad of a Soldier (#68)
8. From Here to Eternity (#30)
14. Red Angel (#100)
16. Waltz with Bashir (#45)
17. Underground (#43)
20. Johnny Got His Gun (#97)
24. Wings (#79)
2. Ballad of a Soldier (#68)
8. From Here to Eternity (#30)
14. Red Angel (#100)
16. Waltz with Bashir (#45)
17. Underground (#43)
20. Johnny Got His Gun (#97)
24. Wings (#79)
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I've had eight of my ballot movies make the countdown.
My #5 was From Here to Eternity. I just rewatched this film for the third time less than a week ago and if anything I'm even more impressed now. People often criticize films by invoking the dreaded 'it's a soap opera'. Surprise! From Here to Eternity, is very soap opera like...The correct term is melodrama and that just means the film's focus is on the interconnected relationships of a group of people.
I don't know where to start with my praise? Probably with the script which is sweeping, engaging and yet always tightly focused on the conundrum at hand. A 'hard headed' private (Montgomery Clift) refuses to bend the demands of his new military rifle company who want him to box. That refusing to give up one's inner sense of being is repeated in the parallel stories of a married woman (Deborah Kerr) who refuses to be stuck in a loveless marriage. And in a Sergeant (Burt Lancaster) who refuses to become something he's not, an officer. Donna Reed's character, a bar hostess, refuses to give up hope that she can live a higher class life someday...And poor Frank Sinatra's character refuses to bend for anyone. Those refusals to go with the flow will destroy some and guide others away from the military base at Pearl Harbor. The catalyst is the soon to occur attack on Pearl Harbor.
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30. From Here to Eternity - It's been quite a while since I last saw From Here to Eternity - my clearest memory of which is the thuggish Judson character, who proved that Ernest Borgnine really had range. Aside from that I keep recalling Montgomery Clift moments that probably come from The Young Lions and not this. Although I'll have to watch it again to catch up, I'm including this as seen - it'll all come back to me as I watch it. I mean, the kiss in the surf scene is famous - and if I'm not mistaken, there's probably more kissing in this film than there is fighting, making it's status as a war film kind of ironic. I can't say that from a position of certitude though, so I'll leave it at that.
29. Army of Shadows - Here's another shortlist film which nearly made the cut, but was squeezed out at the last moment. A lot of films have killing in them, but Army of Shadows is one of those rare films where the killing seems real, and horrifying. Dark, gritty, bleak and horrific, it takes us inside the French Resistance with a cast of characters that have had to become murderers for their cause. It's not a kind of heroism we're used to seeing - and it really haunts your imagination. From a purely technical standpoint, the cinematography and sound is quite brilliant, and as such it's the full package. It left it's impression on me, and even though I've only ever seen it once I nearly voted for it.
Seen : 52/72
I'd never even heard of :12/72
Movies that had been on my radar, but I haven't seen yet : 8/72
29. Army of Shadows - Here's another shortlist film which nearly made the cut, but was squeezed out at the last moment. A lot of films have killing in them, but Army of Shadows is one of those rare films where the killing seems real, and horrifying. Dark, gritty, bleak and horrific, it takes us inside the French Resistance with a cast of characters that have had to become murderers for their cause. It's not a kind of heroism we're used to seeing - and it really haunts your imagination. From a purely technical standpoint, the cinematography and sound is quite brilliant, and as such it's the full package. It left it's impression on me, and even though I've only ever seen it once I nearly voted for it.
Seen : 52/72
I'd never even heard of :12/72
Movies that had been on my radar, but I haven't seen yet : 8/72
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I would wager that most of the films on my ballot will make the list. My #1 pick, however, has no chance of making the list. I knew this would be the case from the get go.
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