1) Nashville
2) Taxi Driver
3) Pulp Fiction
4) Psycho
5) Star Wars Trilogy
6) Raiders of the Lost Ark
7) Citizen Kane
8) 2001: A Space Odyssey
9) Ran
10) Apocalypse Now
11) The Godfather
12) The Third Man
13) Jaws
14) Dr. Strangelove
15) Vertigo
16) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
17) Young Frankenstein
18) A Hard Day’s Night
19) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
20) The Shining
21) Blazing Saddles
22) City Lights
23) Fight Club
24) Raging Bull
25) Annie Hall
Maybe it’s the accent, but every time I watch NAKED, I feel like David Thewlis is channeling John Lennon or that his character is someone John Lennon might have been, had he not been successful.
Even before I knew the intended ending, the ending of the film seemed false. As a result, I’ve always considered Suspicion to be minor Hitchcock. Its all done better elsewhere – Joan Fontaine’s vulnerability in Rebecca and Cary Grant’s moral ambiguity in Notorious.
Nathan, I’m not sure I see where Jimmy Stewart’s role in Vertigo was a parallel. Scotty was never meant to be an outright villain, but the creepy obsession he does demonstrate seems uncompromised and a major strength of that film.
THE MORTAL STORM – 1940 (Frank Borzage)
Along with Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, this is the first major American film to directly take on the Nazis and it deserves comparison to Schindler’s List and The Pianist. Not that a film made at that time could be as direct and uncompromising, but despite limits of what could be shown, the sadness and dread are clear as can be. If the extent of the Holocaust was not known at the time, The Mortal Storm shows that it was suspected even in pre-Pearl Harbor 1940 Hollywood.
9/10
Also, the reason some of the endings may seem cliche is that hundreds of films made since have been freely appropriating Hitchcock. It may be helpful to imagine seeing the films (Psycho in particular) as if you were part of the original audience. If you do that, not only will they not be cliche, but instead something that had never been seen before.
Vertigo didn’t work for me either on my first viewing. Its a very multi-layered film. With repeated viewings, it became one of my all time favorites.
Soybean, I do think the alternate ending would have been a significant improvement, but even then I couldn’t put it on the same level of Psycho, Vertigo and Notorious. More on the level of Saboteur or The Man Who Knew Too Much. Maybe I actually consider Suspicion 3rd tier Hitch.
All the above is true, but the original point of the ratings system also points to why modern great films trend towards R. The R rating is an indicator that these films are made for adults. While we can all name children’s and youth oriented films that are also great, most interesting and/or challenging themes tend to be those that are geared towards adults.
Before the late sixties, most adult oriented films had no objectionable content because of the industry’s self-imposed sensorship starndards. Those films were, however, none the weaker for it.
Dimitris, I’m not giving up on you. This may be off topic, but I think it can be productive:
1) With the qualification that many lesser known directors also deserve our attention, do you believe that Alfred Hitchcock is an auteur worthy of respect and whose work is an essential part of film appreciation?
2) Please recommend one film from each of the other auteurs you mentioned so that we can check them out and avoid being silent, bigoted or ignorant.
Mad Love (‘35)
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Destroyer
Logan’s Run
A Serious Man
Pandora’s Box
The Thief of Bagdad (’40)
Stardust
Persepolis
Funny Farm
Timecrimes
La Jetee
Downhill Racer
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Scanners
Oh God!
Charlie Chan at the Circus
The Thin Man
Shadow of the Thin Man
The Mortal Storm
The Princess Bride
Labyrinth
Best find of November: Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
1) 29
2) Annie Hall (with Manhattan and Crimes & Misdemeanors close behind)
3) Few comedies are as funny. Few romances as moving. Few character studies as true.
4) Hollywood Ending
5) Oh yes!
6) Deconstructing Harry
ABSOLUTE POWER – 1997 (Clint Eastwood)
A rare misstep from Eastwood, all the more surprising with such stellar talent as Gene Hackman, Ed Harris Laura Linny, Eastwood himself and a script by William Goldman. Despite engaging performances, the script is a mess with plot holes abound and zero tension in this supposed political thriller. Hackman (a personal favorite) is sadly miscast.
3/10
Wondering what kind of music you’re all into. As you can see, I’m a classic rock junkie although I try to catch up with some new music as well. What’s your top ten?
1) The Beatles
2) Bruce Springsteen
3) The Who
4) Bob Dylan
5) The Rolling Stones
6) David Bowie
7) Neil Young
8) Elvis Costello
9) The White Stripes
10) The Kinks
There Will Be Blood vs. No Country for Old Men – There Will Be Blood
There Will Be Blood vs The Big Lebowski – The Big Lebowski
No Country for Old Men vs Punch Drunk Love – Punch Drunk Love
Blood Simple vs. Hard Eight – Hard Eight
I’m warming up to No Country for Old Men although I think A Serious Man did a better job at handling similar themes.
I agree Eastwood can be hit or miss, but when he hits, its usually a home run. Play Misty for Me, High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Jose Wales, Mystic River and Letters from Iwo Jima would cement his reputation, but when you include a classic like Unforgiven, you can’t dismiss him just because he’s got a few Space Cowboys in his catalog. I’d put Gran Torino with Bronco Billy as enjoyable “B” movies he made particularly for his fans.
Also, I pretty convinced Eastwood could have Megan Fox any time he’d like.
Re: 8 1/2. Let me see if I’m understanding this. 8 1/2, the Fellini classic loved and revered by film buffs everywhere, might end up being seen by the general public due to this musical remake…. and that’s a BAD thing? Don’t we want people to seek out films like 8 1/2 instead of 2012 (regardless of the impetus)? I’m skeptical that this would actually happen, but wouldn’t it be great if it did?
These are the Pod People. You’ve seen them wandering about and know that if you could read their mind, you would simply hear repeated over and over again, “beer?”
Rules of the Game
Rebecca
Spellbound
Notorious
Black Narcissus
The Third Man
Ikiru
Tokyo Story
Seven Samurai
Throne of Blood
Straw Dogs
Ran
Wings of Desire
The Royal Tenenbaums
What films do you always catch shit for for not liking? over 3 years ago
That would be Blue Velvet. I’ve seen it a number of times on the off chance that everyone else is right and I’m wrong. Turns out I’m right. :)
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What films do you always catch shit for for not liking? over 3 years ago
Oh yeah, also A Christmas Story (just caught shit for that one yesterday.)
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Personal All-Time 25 over 3 years ago
1) Nashville
2) Taxi Driver
3) Pulp Fiction
4) Psycho
5) Star Wars Trilogy
6) Raiders of the Lost Ark
7) Citizen Kane
8) 2001: A Space Odyssey
9) Ran
10) Apocalypse Now
11) The Godfather
12) The Third Man
13) Jaws
14) Dr. Strangelove
15) Vertigo
16) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
17) Young Frankenstein
18) A Hard Day’s Night
19) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
20) The Shining
21) Blazing Saddles
22) City Lights
23) Fight Club
24) Raging Bull
25) Annie Hall
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What Movie would you like to see the beatles in? over 3 years ago
Maybe it’s the accent, but every time I watch NAKED, I feel like David Thewlis is channeling John Lennon or that his character is someone John Lennon might have been, had he not been successful.
Go to Comment
Hitchcock's Suspicion over 3 years ago
Even before I knew the intended ending, the ending of the film seemed false. As a result, I’ve always considered Suspicion to be minor Hitchcock. Its all done better elsewhere – Joan Fontaine’s vulnerability in Rebecca and Cary Grant’s moral ambiguity in Notorious.
Nathan, I’m not sure I see where Jimmy Stewart’s role in Vertigo was a parallel. Scotty was never meant to be an outright villain, but the creepy obsession he does demonstrate seems uncompromised and a major strength of that film.
Go to Comment
Last movie you saw and rate it over 3 years ago
THE MORTAL STORM – 1940 (Frank Borzage)
Along with Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, this is the first major American film to directly take on the Nazis and it deserves comparison to Schindler’s List and The Pianist. Not that a film made at that time could be as direct and uncompromising, but despite limits of what could be shown, the sadness and dread are clear as can be. If the extent of the Holocaust was not known at the time, The Mortal Storm shows that it was suspected even in pre-Pearl Harbor 1940 Hollywood.
9/10
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SHOULD we see more Clint eastwood and Jack Nicholson FILMS? over 3 years ago
Last time Clint Eastwood was involved in stunt casting, the result was City Heat with Burt Reynolds. So let’s be careful what we wish for.
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When I say "A Perfect Film", What One Film Pops Into Your Head First? over 3 years ago
Psycho
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What am I not Getting About Hitchcock? over 3 years ago
Also, the reason some of the endings may seem cliche is that hundreds of films made since have been freely appropriating Hitchcock. It may be helpful to imagine seeing the films (Psycho in particular) as if you were part of the original audience. If you do that, not only will they not be cliche, but instead something that had never been seen before.
Vertigo didn’t work for me either on my first viewing. Its a very multi-layered film. With repeated viewings, it became one of my all time favorites.
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Hitchcock's Suspicion over 3 years ago
Soybean, I do think the alternate ending would have been a significant improvement, but even then I couldn’t put it on the same level of Psycho, Vertigo and Notorious. More on the level of Saboteur or The Man Who Knew Too Much. Maybe I actually consider Suspicion 3rd tier Hitch.
Go to Comment
Why are 98% of good films rated R? over 3 years ago
All the above is true, but the original point of the ratings system also points to why modern great films trend towards R. The R rating is an indicator that these films are made for adults. While we can all name children’s and youth oriented films that are also great, most interesting and/or challenging themes tend to be those that are geared towards adults.
Before the late sixties, most adult oriented films had no objectionable content because of the industry’s self-imposed sensorship starndards. Those films were, however, none the weaker for it.
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Alfred Hitchcock - a true Auteur? over 3 years ago
I’m amazed that this is even a controversy.
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Genuinely pessimistic films over 3 years ago
In the Company of Men
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Alfred Hitchcock - a true Auteur? over 3 years ago
Dimitris, I’m not giving up on you. This may be off topic, but I think it can be productive:
1) With the qualification that many lesser known directors also deserve our attention, do you believe that Alfred Hitchcock is an auteur worthy of respect and whose work is an essential part of film appreciation?
2) Please recommend one film from each of the other auteurs you mentioned so that we can check them out and avoid being silent, bigoted or ignorant.
Go to Comment
Alfred Hitchcock - a true Auteur? over 3 years ago
Thanks Dimitris.
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Alfred Hitchcock - a true Auteur? over 3 years ago
“for a professor to blindly dismiss the canon is almost as bad as blindly following it.” – Amen!
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What I Watched This Month over 3 years ago
Mad Love (‘35)
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Destroyer
Logan’s Run
A Serious Man
Pandora’s Box
The Thief of Bagdad (’40)
Stardust
Persepolis
Funny Farm
Timecrimes
La Jetee
Downhill Racer
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Scanners
Oh God!
Charlie Chan at the Circus
The Thin Man
Shadow of the Thin Man
The Mortal Storm
The Princess Bride
Labyrinth
Best find of November: Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
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STOP THE LISTS! over 3 years ago
All I know is my “latest update” is not, in fact, my latest update.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum is giving a lecture for my cinema class tonight. Any questions you'd like to ask? over 3 years ago
Yes. How does he justify Jerry Lewis’ Hardly Working being included in his “canon” list?
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The Woody Allen Q and A over 3 years ago
1) 29
2) Annie Hall (with Manhattan and Crimes & Misdemeanors close behind)
3) Few comedies are as funny. Few romances as moving. Few character studies as true.
4) Hollywood Ending
5) Oh yes!
6) Deconstructing Harry
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Ballet in Film over 3 years ago
Modern Problems
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Last movie you saw and rate it over 3 years ago
ABSOLUTE POWER – 1997 (Clint Eastwood)
A rare misstep from Eastwood, all the more surprising with such stellar talent as Gene Hackman, Ed Harris Laura Linny, Eastwood himself and a script by William Goldman. Despite engaging performances, the script is a mess with plot holes abound and zero tension in this supposed political thriller. Hackman (a personal favorite) is sadly miscast.
3/10
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Favorite Kurosawa flicks? over 3 years ago
1) Ran
2) Throne of Blood
3) Seven Samurai
4) Rashomon
5) Ikiru
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Which movies would you like to see on The Auteurs? over 3 years ago
A Fish Called Wanda
(also, everything on Mr. D’s list)
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Off Topic - Ten favorite bands / music artists over 3 years ago
Wondering what kind of music you’re all into. As you can see, I’m a classic rock junkie although I try to catch up with some new music as well. What’s your top ten?
1) The Beatles
2) Bruce Springsteen
3) The Who
4) Bob Dylan
5) The Rolling Stones
6) David Bowie
7) Neil Young
8) Elvis Costello
9) The White Stripes
10) The Kinks
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There Will Be Blood or No Country For Old Men, which is the better film? over 3 years ago
There Will Be Blood vs. No Country for Old Men – There Will Be Blood
There Will Be Blood vs The Big Lebowski – The Big Lebowski
No Country for Old Men vs Punch Drunk Love – Punch Drunk Love
Blood Simple vs. Hard Eight – Hard Eight
I’m warming up to No Country for Old Men although I think A Serious Man did a better job at handling similar themes.
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national board of review over 3 years ago
I agree Eastwood can be hit or miss, but when he hits, its usually a home run. Play Misty for Me, High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Jose Wales, Mystic River and Letters from Iwo Jima would cement his reputation, but when you include a classic like Unforgiven, you can’t dismiss him just because he’s got a few Space Cowboys in his catalog. I’d put Gran Torino with Bronco Billy as enjoyable “B” movies he made particularly for his fans.
Also, I pretty convinced Eastwood could have Megan Fox any time he’d like.
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Potential 2009 Oscar Contenders, Anyone? over 3 years ago
Re: 8 1/2. Let me see if I’m understanding this. 8 1/2, the Fellini classic loved and revered by film buffs everywhere, might end up being seen by the general public due to this musical remake…. and that’s a BAD thing? Don’t we want people to seek out films like 8 1/2 instead of 2012 (regardless of the impetus)? I’m skeptical that this would actually happen, but wouldn’t it be great if it did?
Go to Comment
People who don't watch films / enjoy music. over 3 years ago
These are the Pod People. You’ve seen them wandering about and know that if you could read their mind, you would simply hear repeated over and over again, “beer?”
Go to Comment
List/Order all Criterions you own over 3 years ago
By year of release:
Rules of the Game
Rebecca
Spellbound
Notorious
Black Narcissus
The Third Man
Ikiru
Tokyo Story
Seven Samurai
Throne of Blood
Straw Dogs
Ran
Wings of Desire
The Royal Tenenbaums
Thank God for Netflix!
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