Céline and Julie Go Boating, which I saw on the 4th August, got in to my Top 20, as far as older films are concerned.
As far as new releases are concerned that would have to go to Enter the Void which I saw in November 2009.
searching for the wrong eyed jesus. super styles and structure to it. its by the bbc arena dudes.
Doc: American Pimp
Fiction: Last Life in the Universe
Cecil have you seen I Stand Alone?
I have, and I loved it. But Enter the Void is just so stunningly visceral, cinema at its most experiential. From its first moment until its last I couldn’t look away, being beaten, hurled around the cinema, left to wallow, then hurled around some more. And the emotion of it, devestating to the point where I almost wanted to curl up in a ball and hide..
it was murnau’s the last laugh which i somehow never saw until director’s cup
For new films, probably The Ides of March and Drive.
Finally saw The Brood the other day. When it was over, I turned to my wife and said, “Oh, hell yes! That is what a horror movie should be!”
I couldn’t narrow it down to one title – sorry.
A top five of ‘films first viewed in 2011’ that remain, in the memory at least, profound and memorable experiences:
The Boss of it All – von Trier
Ondine – Jordan
Public Enemies – Mann
The Life of the Dead – Desplechin
Tetro – Coppola
Generally I haven’t made that many great discoveries this year (compared to last year), but the five films listed above were remarkable, exciting, life-affirming, etc…
And the most memorable “re-watch”:
Decalogue III – Kieślowski
Not just my favourite episode of The Decalogue, but a possible contender for my favourite film of all time. I don’t remember having much of a reaction to it the first time I saw it (which must have been 2004), but this long overdue return was a genuine revelation.
lol – The Brood is great. I just saw it for the first time about six months. Very entertaining.
germany year 90 nine zero
i don’t know why this happens. i hate being a fan-girl. each time i go into a new godard expecting to be, intending to be, disillusioned, and whatever i think, that never happens. but this one….this one was even more special…
i’m not watching another jlg until 2012. it’s ridiculous.
I’d say The Hairdresser’s Husband comes the closest. I really loved that film. I also thought highly of Goodbye, Dragon Inn, but I’m not sure it “blew me away.”
Others I really liked that I saw this year:
Quiet City
Of Gods and Men
The Illusionist (the animated film; loved this!)
Recently Subconscious Cruelty and The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda have had my brain really reeling. It’s been a while since I’ve come across something fresh and felt the need to watch it over again multiple times in a short span of time.
It was a short russian animated film , Island(1970) …. superd.
I saw a lot of excellent film but none “Blew me away” recently.
What most memorably blows my mind are low-budget films that rely merely on scenario, good acting and everyday locations to credibly create an other-worldliness, a convincing concept that I can relate to larger, political institutions or to the human condition at large.
One such film that did this for me was “Dogtooth”. I admire its theme and execution. I’ve shown it to many friends. I’ll not soon forget it.
to be blown away is pretty significant. i would only say that films which upon being viewed earned the #1 spot on my list of favourites have “blown me away.” as such, the last movie to blow me away was THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC by carl thedor dreyer
“The Tree of Life.”
Eraserhead.
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964) directed by Sergei Parajanov … some of the more imaginative camera work, art direction and story-telling I’ve had the pleasure of viewing, along with Parajanov’s later, more poetic Colour of Pomegranates (1968) … I’d like to view some more of his later films too.
^Those are great films, Deimel.
They sure are, Odi! Eraserhead too; definitely my favourite Lynch.
That’s great to hear — I’ve yet to see Inland Empire but I found Eraserhead so fascinating because it had so many themes and characters that were solid David Lynch, not to mention his work with sound, and I felt like seeing it after I’d seen the others was like finding the mother lode. But I rave on… :)
Rewatched An American in Paris the other day and had a profound experience.
-Many times it takes a few days of contemplation. Sometimes repeat viewings allow you to discern the true value of a film to you. But these movies took no time; immediately I knew. I was effected, felt their power and felt awe, thus the appropriate time to call them “awe-some”.
TREE OF LIFE
APOCALYPSE NOW
DOGTOOTH
CHINATOWN
THE SEVENTH SEAL
RED DESERT
*I really should add “REVANCHE” to that list. Blows me away every time.
Blade Runner
This film had elements that reminded me of Fellini’s aesthetics in Histoires extraordinaires-Toby Dammit and also Amarcord (maybe having to do with the flamboyant aspects of the female characters)…. that mix of fantasy and dreams resulting in a painterly grandeur, perhaps.
For those of you who loved Dogtooth, check out the mubi thread on the film.
X-Men: First Class
Ya, was very surprised myself.
Latest current film: Dogtooth
Latest older film: tied between Shock Corridor and Mondo Trasho
[Safe]
Scampi
New releases or older films you’ve seen for the first time.
For new releases I have to go back 2 years to Haneke’s The White Ribbon.
For older films I saw Anthony Asquith’s The Browning Version about 6 months ago, and that floored me.