Freddie, if you give us yours first, we may have a better idea of what you’re getting at. (as it is, that description can mean very different things to different people.)
The incomparable Vampyr.
Hmm…I’m not going to dive into a top 3, but I’ll admit I watched SUNSET BLVD for the first time ever last night (shame) and was floored by the environment of Norma’s mansion….seems a real response to Welles’ Xanadu.
what a great film!! ^ i’ll never forget the monkey funeral!
i’m watching shadows of forgotten ancestors and i think it qualifies
Oo…very good call.
Where Evil Dwells
Orpheus
The Third Man
and what girlfriend in a coma said.
“Freddie, if you give us yours first, we may have a better idea of what you’re getting at. (as it is, that description can mean very different things to different people.)
I’m talking about films that seem to have a vibe, an atmosphere, a mystery about them that pulls the viewer right in and totally engrosses him to the point of making him sit there with baited breath, almost unable to tear his eyes off the screen. You’re right, it’s highly subjective but I think you know what I’m talking about. They’re not necessarily films built around a supernatural mystery as part of the intent but also films that make the proceedings depicted therein utterly enthralling and mesmerising through the use of art direction, photography, editing techniques, etc., although the actual events are deeply grounded in reality.
My top 3:
Mulholland Drive (some other films by Lynch would do as well)
2001: A Space Odyssey
Picnic At Hanging Rock
Oh, and films by Lang and Murnau also belong here.
“Hmm…I’m not going to dive into a top 3, but I’ll admit I watched SUNSET BLVD for the first time ever last night (shame) and was floored by the environment of Norma’s mansion….seems a real response to Welles’ Xanadu.”
I haven’t seen it yet but I like your mention of how the “environment” impacted you, that’s what i partly meant by “atmosphere”.
Outlaw and His Wife (17)
Autumn Mists (28)
Oramunde (33)
I Walked with a Zombie (43)
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (51)
Dillinger is Dead (69)*
Noroit (76)
Silvestre (81)
Helas pour moi (93)*
Dream Work (03)*
i can think of loads but if i’m narrowing it down to just three, the first that come to mind are:
pretty much any 60’s Polanski
Double Indemnity
any Dreyer
i find all of those contain extremely engrossing and mysterious atmospheres
Portrait of Jenny
Dersu Uzala
Roger Corman’s Poe series
Bound for Glory (you can almost feel the grit in your teeth for the opening 1/2 hour)
Not exactly sure what you’re looking for, but the first thing that came to mind was The Innocents. Also Rebecca and Vertigo (watching that Vertigo Variations on Notebook recently only reinforced it for me :)
Also 3 Women and a lot of Werner Herzog films
And agreed about Picnic at Hanging Rock and Mulholland Drive (though there are many Lynch films that could apply for me)
Captain,
I have a dvd of The Innocents but haven’t watched it yet, I know it’s definitely up my alley. Thanks for reminding )
3 Women is something I need to check out
“Dersu Uzala”
I need to rewatch that. A great film.
This occurs with religious/ideology confrontation/collapse. Picnic at Hang… Black Narc… A Passage to India
Might just be me, but I love to see a displaced psychology unravel and fray.
Freddie, did you get a chance to watch The Innocents yet? Or any of the other films for that matter
the turin horse!!!
Here are ten:
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Mirror (1975)
Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Sátántangó (1994)
Rebels of the Neon God (1992)
I Am Cuba (1964)
Morvern Callar (2002)
Come and See (1985)
Mauvais Sang (1986)
Cocteau’s La Belle et La Bete
Peter Weir’s The Last Wave
Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026758/
Werewolf of London (1935)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027194/
Engrossing atmosphere? Se7en – flame away.
Dead Man, of course.
Citizen Kane
The Enchanted Cottage (1945)
The Seventh Victim
Ever since I watched The Last Wave and Picnic at Hanging Rock, I have been fascinated by the Aboriginal belief of Dream Time. If anyone knows any other films dealing with this I’d be very interested.
@ captain: try the shout (1978) directed by jerzy skolimowski and roeg’s walkabout (1971)
i’ve never seen the chant of jimmie blacksmith but it looks good too
Satantango
Thanks Ruby. I’ve seen Walkabout, though its been a long time. Might have to give it another go. A good excuse to watch Jenny Agutter at any rate :)
And I’ll definitely keep the other two on my radar. Both were at least somewhat dealing with Aboriginal themes/elements, and both were nominated for the Palme d’Or in 1978? Interesting.
The Conformist (1970, Bertolucci)
Lost Highway (1997, Lynch)
Cache (2005, Haneke)
They really drew me into their worlds, their problems, their riddling imagery. The gaps they left for me to fill in are ones I mull over to this day.
The Night of the Hunter
Les Diaboliques
The Sweet Smell of Success
“Freddie, did you get a chance to watch The Innocents yet? Or any of the other films for that matter”
Oh jeez, I never seem to have the time. I keep buying the freakin’ dvds and blurays, though, in hopes that I might sit down one day and start actually watching them. I promise I will. )
Thanks for keeping them coming, people, I really appreciate that.
Freddie
What would be your Top 3, as of now?