Terminator 2: Judgement Day
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Sights, sounds, spectacle…old friends in newer clothes – this film has it all.
Every time I see Days of Heaven, I’m struck by how strong every aspect of the film is.
Such a difficult question, as soon as one film came to mind it was a chain reaction that led to many more. The first was Godard’s Breathless (one of my faves)…but if I answered this thread tomorrow I may have said something else—my perfect film depends entirely on my mood rather than any sort of technical assessment—technique never rates as high for me as resonance.
when i think of “perfect” film it is breathless that immediately springs to mind, although i wouldnt actually consider it my favourite.
Chungking Express. Everything a film should be, in my view.
L’Atalante
Jules et Jim – the characters enrapture me
In the Mood for Love – a sensuous dream, so beautiful
“The Best Years of Our Lives”, 1946, William Wyler. Elegantly staged, perfectly cast and performed, photogaphed and scored to perfection. It is a product of its time, yet the human relationships and how they are navigated are universal. It’s subtle, compelling, and “lived-in”. You believe these characters exist, know and love each other, are in conflict. Rarely has so much been communicated with a simple gesture, a look, a panorama. Stands as a valuable depiction of a historical moment, but modern audiences will have much to appreciate and enjoy. One of the most complete emotional experiences I have yet had at a movie.
CITIZEN KANE
Bob La Flambeur or Knife In The Water
Sorry. It’s very near trite at this point. But it is “Citizen Kane”.
The Endless Summer. Jaws. When Harry Met Sally.
I love Citizen Kane too. I loved the cinematography of In the Mood for Love…
Grand Illusion is great. Don’t forget the 1945 French Classic “the Children of Paradise”
2 others spanning different decades: 1927’s Sunrise and 2007 (?) The Live of Others.
I love Citizen Kane too. I loved the cinematography of In the Mood for Love…
Grand Illusion is great. Don’t forget the 1945 French Classic “the Children of Paradise”
2 others spanning different decades: 1927’s Sunrise and 2007 (?) The Live of Others.
For me, there are a couple, but if I have to name just one, it’s “Rear Window”.
If we’re simply talking about executing a story concept to perfection (and setting aside any arguments of cultural and historical importance for a moment), I’ll always cite this film as an example. Everything element that goes into making a great film – acting, directing, editing, sound design, music, cinematography, etc. – gets a moment to shine in this one. I still can’t find any huge flaws in this film.
Breathless.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK comes to mind,
followed by BLUE VELVET, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, and recently, for me, PERSONA.
Le Feu Follet
Unbearable Lightness of Being – a Casablanca for a more troubled time: Now see this on a separate thread under Philip Kaufman’s Greatest Movie to Date. I thought my review too long for this thread.
Every single scene in Hard Eight
T— excellent choice on La Jetee
I like imperfect films better.
Heaven’s gate, no doubt, La jetée for sure, Barry Lyndon unquestionnably, Au hasard Balthazar too.
Lawrence of Arabia
Alexander Payne’s “Sideways”
Great acting. directing, and pacing. And the writing was OUTSTANDING. It’s one of the few movies I can watch anywhere, anytime…I’m always in the mood for it! It may not be “textbook” perfect, but it’s perfect to me.
P.S. This is my first time posting, just found this site a few days ago through the criterion link, and while I haven’t had too much time to explore I can say that, at first glance, this is an awesome site. I hope you guys take it easy on the new guys…I’ve been a avid movie-watcher for years but have just recently discovered classic cinema, and so I’m gonna be relying on you guys to educate me and make some good viewing suggestions!
Ron, don’t let them get to you. I’m a relative newcomer to classic cinema as well. I’ve learned a lot about movies, films, cinema in general from just reading posts and watching films.
That said: I believe Spirit of the Beehive is absolutely perfect. It is visually stunning and the story flows so well.
Unforgiven
David Webb People’s script for that film is just absolutely flawless. Not a line wasted, not a single movement of a character done without impact. Add Clint Eastwood’s artfully invisible directorial style and some outstanding acting (perhaps most notably from Jaimz Woolvett, though Gene Hackman, Clint Eastwood, and Frances Fisher are pretty marvelous themselves) and you’ve got a movie without a single wrong note.
North By Northwest. Brilliantly constructed in every way!
Faces by Cassavetes.
Elsa Bannister
Twp Lane Blacktop… mmmm. And, Out of the Past.