Film Suggestion
A discussion with Dee Bunk and Leon in a recent Open Thread prompted me to start this forum. I'm interested in everyone's top favorite films. In particular, I'd like to see people mention films that are not only "enjoyable" to watch, but that are, to you, important or meaningful or just really worth seeing. For instance, while I really enjoy the Harry Potter films, I wouldn't exactly categorize them as brilliant cinema. Perhaps this sounds elitist. Whatever, that's the watchword of film buffs. Commentary optional.
In no particular order:
Match Point (Woody Allen, 2006): Unlike any other Allen film in every way. Brilliant plot; Dostoyevsky would be proud.
Eraserhead (David Lynch, 1977): Mind-bogglingly weird and surreal.
Lost Highway (David Lynch, 1997): Blue Velvet always gets all the credit when it comes to Lynch's "dual realities" films, but I think this is better.
Rope (Hitchcock, 1946): Hitch was the master, and I'll take this film over any of the classics.
Irreversible (Gaspar Noe, 2002): Quite simply the most profoundly disturbing film I've ever seen. Combine the cartoonish violence of Braveheart and American History X, and it's still nowhere near as overwhelmingly unpleasant and disquieting as this film's notorious first and fourth scenes.
Citizen Ruth (Alexander Payne, 1996): Back before he was doing cute little films about yuppies drinking Pinot Noir, Payne made this, the most savage satire on the abortion question I've ever seen.
Menace II Society (Hughes Brothers, 1992): Makes Boyz In Da Hood look like Sesame Street. Brilliant commentary on Rodney King-era race politics, among other things. Highly quotable. Some great shoot-outs. Embarassingly cheesy sex scene.
Bad Education (Pedro Almodovar, 2004): Explicit gay/transexual activity. But a brilliant story.
Tie: Miller's Crossing and Fargo (Coen Brothers, 1993 & 1996): Too close to call.
Your Friends and Neighbors (Neil LaBute, 1998): Not much to say about it. You'll love it or hate it, and either way you'll be uncomfortable the whole time.
The Believer (Henry Bean, 2001): Intense flick about a Jewish Neo-Nazi. Sounds cheesy. Isn't. Lots of theological questions raised, though some of the more complex aspects of Judaism may have gone over my head. Possibly the greatest final scene of any film I've ever watched.
Guess that's it for me. Any suggestions??
















