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in
11.
Stalker: 1979 (NR) NEW
USSR / MosFilm
100%
This one should be familiar to anyone who participated in the 2nd MoFo Hall of Fame Tournament. This selection is due to our very own Guaporense, who I would like to thank him for nominating this movie. Now I have had a very up and down relationship with Andrei Tarkovsky. I first started watching his films after joining this site. I first saw Ivan’s Childhood and I liked it. Then I saw Solaris… which I thought was okay, but felt a rewatch was in need. Then I saw Andrei Rublev… which was an absolute chore to watch. And then The Mirror was very pretty to look at but did nothing for me. So I thought Tarkovsky was just not my thing. Then I watched this movie and got knocked on my ass!
Holy crap was this simply a FANTASTIC piece of art! A film very bleak at first (what with the black and white scenes) but then cut to “The Zone” and BOOM! Not only is it in color but the scenery is beautiful and somehow otherworldly. Plus the camera movement’s look like I felt like I was watching a painting being made as opposed to a film being watched. There was not much to the characters, and while there are arcs, they are minimal. But you are not here for the characters, you are here for the atmosphere!
Tarkovsky also likes to explore metaphysical and religious themes in his movies, and there was more than a few instances of such symbolism like the crown of thorns, or the motivations of the skeptical Professor. It does leave some hope towards the end and after I first saw the film it felt like I got hit in the chest with an emotional sledgehammer. Many of you know I went on record that day that (as of now) it is the best film I have seen from the standpoint of film as a piece of art. Not the best as a story telling medium mind you, but as pure visual power, look no further than Tarkovsky.
Stalker: 1979 (NR) NEW
USSR / MosFilm
100%
This one should be familiar to anyone who participated in the 2nd MoFo Hall of Fame Tournament. This selection is due to our very own Guaporense, who I would like to thank him for nominating this movie. Now I have had a very up and down relationship with Andrei Tarkovsky. I first started watching his films after joining this site. I first saw Ivan’s Childhood and I liked it. Then I saw Solaris… which I thought was okay, but felt a rewatch was in need. Then I saw Andrei Rublev… which was an absolute chore to watch. And then The Mirror was very pretty to look at but did nothing for me. So I thought Tarkovsky was just not my thing. Then I watched this movie and got knocked on my ass!
Holy crap was this simply a FANTASTIC piece of art! A film very bleak at first (what with the black and white scenes) but then cut to “The Zone” and BOOM! Not only is it in color but the scenery is beautiful and somehow otherworldly. Plus the camera movement’s look like I felt like I was watching a painting being made as opposed to a film being watched. There was not much to the characters, and while there are arcs, they are minimal. But you are not here for the characters, you are here for the atmosphere!
Tarkovsky also likes to explore metaphysical and religious themes in his movies, and there was more than a few instances of such symbolism like the crown of thorns, or the motivations of the skeptical Professor. It does leave some hope towards the end and after I first saw the film it felt like I got hit in the chest with an emotional sledgehammer. Many of you know I went on record that day that (as of now) it is the best film I have seen from the standpoint of film as a piece of art. Not the best as a story telling medium mind you, but as pure visual power, look no further than Tarkovsky.