Wagon Master and 7 Women definately need to be on Criterion! This guy’s probably the greatest American director ever yet he’s only got one film in the collection. His earlier talkies, namely Pilgrimage or Judge Priest would make excellent additions as well. I’d love to see some of the Harry Carey films on DVD as well. I just got a copy of Ford’s first film, Straight Shooting, with Carey, and its suprisingly powerful and espicially interesting because it points to the themes in later Ford films, namely The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
Just about anything by Ford, I’d say. And I think the “Squaw” scene is more important to the film than some might think. Ford shows Wayne and Hunter’s characters belittleing the squaw, and before long the Squaw runs away, only to be massacred by the U.S. Cavlery. That might also be one piece of Ford’s genious as a filmmaker, like Shakespere, he follows “Comedy” with Tragedy. After the whites have come to America, nothing is safe for the Natives.
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) 10/10 Absoutely amazing film and possibly my favourite of Ford’s work, although I could say the same about They Were Expendable, Wagon Master, The Sun Shines Bright, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
I disagree with you, Wonder6789. I’m assuming you arn’t a devotee to Ford’s work, because if you were, you would be aware that Ford, like in his earlier Fort Apache, instead trusts the audience in having the humanity to see what’s wrong with Wayne and Hunter’s actions.
But perhaps I’m still wrong. Maybe Ford, master psychologist as he was, was still not able to forsee that people would not be able to intinctually see the more subtle things in his work without being familiar with his other work.
I’m not the biggest Kurosawa fan, although I do like the baby being saved. The only Kurosawas I really like is Yojimbo and High and Low. And maybe Seven Samurai.
There’s obviously no way to find a single greatest film of all time. Anyways, I re-watched Kane very recently and suprisingly found myself fairly dissapointed. I’m not saying I didn’t like it; Welles is an absolute genious, but I found it not nearly as interesting as the famously “ruined” Magnificent Ambersons, which I think is a more genuinely moving film, regardless of it’s current state. Kane, on the other hand, while immensely entertaining, is still a very good version of the old Idealist finds power and is corrupted story. I was also very put off by the very “Hollywood-ish” lighting and obvious sets, although that may be because I’ve been watching Welles’s later works more often.
I agree with you about the camera angles, Justin. But John Ford had already been doing these same things with sets in Stagecoach and Young Mr. Lincoln, to much more subtle effect. Anyways, I think Welles’s less exaggerated films are more interesting, Ambersons and Chimes at Midnight in particular; Chimes maybe being his greatest film. Perhaps Kane is Welles’s most important film, but it’s certainly not his best film.
I’d love to be a part of this as well. It’s a teriffic idea I’d love to see what a general group of film lovers consider the greatest films of all time. I hope there is space left!
Although Coppola initially didn’t want to direct it. I think Godfather II is a much better film than Godfather I, as well as Apocalypse Now. It a much much deeper and richer film than the original, which I honestly believe is very overrated. The first film kind of stays in that safe zone, and is quite romantized, whereas Godfather II is a stunning indictment of America. Nevertheless, The Conversation is Coppola’s best film from this period.
“But i can’t really explain his decline, any more than Wenders, whose pretensions may have got the better of him.”
There’s a recent interview, dating from about 2000, where Bertolucci admits he has had less interest in his more recent films as opposed to what he was doing 10, 20 years earlier. However, I think as soon as he gets over his current problems he’ll return to making great films again. In interviews taken in 2008, Bertolucci goes at length to discuss his previous work, and says that he can now look at his films objectively once again. (The films being discussed were Before the Revolution and The Conformist) It seems as though the interest is returning.
Interesting that no one is mentioning Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man! Sure, it’s not The Conformist or Last Tango, but its an excellent film none the less.
And The Sheltering Sky really is a masterpiece. Besieged is excellent as well. The Dreamers is good as well, although not on the level of those two.
No sane person can’t mention Jean-Luc Godard. After that, probably Manoel de Oliveria, and then, though inconisistant, Bertolucci and Scorsese. Then perhaps Abel Ferrara.
Three Times by Hou Hsaio Hsien
Mary by Abel Ferrara
Notre Musique by Jean-Luc Godard
Silent Light by Carlos Reygadas
Battle in Heaven by Carlos Reygadas
Golden Door by Emaunele Crielese
Gomorrah by Matteo Garrone
Youth Without Youth by Francis Ford Coppola
Go Go Tales by Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara – The Funeral
John Ford – Young Mr. Lincoln
Jean-Luc Godard – Notre Musique
Pier Paolo Pasolini – Accattone
Bernardo Bertolucci – The Conformist
Jean Renoir – French Cancan
Kenji Mizoguchi – Ugetsu
Martin Scorsese – The Age of Innocence
Edward Yang – A Brighter Summer Day
Erich von Stroheim – The Wedding March
I can’t help but just reconfirm what Kurt has already has said about Histoire(s), but it is simply Godard’s finest work. It’s not only a summination of Godard’s films, but of cinema and 20th Century art itself. Is it the greatest film ever made? Perhaps. I can’t help but recall the films final shot of the Van Gogh painting and think about how much awe I was in. Perhaps it is simply the summit of art in the 20th century, it’s peak.
And back on the initial subject of late Godard masterpieces, I’d have to say that other than Histoire(s) du Cinema, some of Godard’s other greats include
Notre Musique
Prenom Carmen
In Praise of Love
JLG/JLG: A Self Portrait in December
Nouvelle Vague
Hail Mary
I will be seeing Helas Pour Moi very soon and I’m expecting it to join these six films.
I really wish I could have Chaplin on here, as well as John Ford, but I’m afraid I can’t…
Anyways,
1900’s: Georges Melies
1910’s: Victor Sjostrom
1920’s: Erich Von Stroheim
1930’s: Jean Renoir
1940’s: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
1950’s: Nicholas Ray
1960’s: Jean-Luc Godard (although his 80’s and 00’s work are far superior!)
1970’s: Bernardo Bertolucci (with a very honorable mention to Rainer Werner Fassbinder)
1980’s: Woody Allen
1990’s: Abel Ferrara
2000’s: Edward Yang (the basis of this being that Yi Yi was the greatest film made this decade)
but more fairly..
2000’s: Manoel de Oliveria
I could care less about Jodorowsky, but I didn’t know that PT Anderson was working on a Scientology film. Sounds very interesting, as with There Will Be Blood he finally came into his own as a filmmaker. I doubt it will be out by 2010 though.
Anyways, here is what I most anticipate, in this order.
1. Abel Ferrara’s Jekyll and Hyde
2. Jean-Luc Godard’s Socialisme
3. Manoel de Oliveria’s The Strange Case of Angelica
4. Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life
5. Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island
Fellini – 8 1/2
Bergman – Fanny and Alexander
Kurosawa – Ran
Truffaut – Jules and Jim
Renoir – French CanCan
Fassbinder – Fox and His Friends
Herzog – Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Godard – Notre Musique
Antonioni – L’Eclisse
Bresson – Diary of a Country Priest
Hitchcock – Vertigo
Bunuel – L’Age D’Or
Lang – The Big Heat
Tarkovsky – The Mirror
Mizoguchi – Story of the Late Chrysthenmums
Rossellini – The Taking of Power by Louis XII
Altman – Short Cuts
De Sica – Bicycle Thief
Wenders – Wings of Desire
Melville – Army of Shadows
Kubrick – Barry Lyndon
John Ford over 3 years ago
Wagon Master and 7 Women definately need to be on Criterion! This guy’s probably the greatest American director ever yet he’s only got one film in the collection. His earlier talkies, namely Pilgrimage or Judge Priest would make excellent additions as well. I’d love to see some of the Harry Carey films on DVD as well. I just got a copy of Ford’s first film, Straight Shooting, with Carey, and its suprisingly powerful and espicially interesting because it points to the themes in later Ford films, namely The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
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What's the greatest Western? over 3 years ago
Just about anything by Ford, I’d say. And I think the “Squaw” scene is more important to the film than some might think. Ford shows Wayne and Hunter’s characters belittleing the squaw, and before long the Squaw runs away, only to be massacred by the U.S. Cavlery. That might also be one piece of Ford’s genious as a filmmaker, like Shakespere, he follows “Comedy” with Tragedy. After the whites have come to America, nothing is safe for the Natives.
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Greatest Movie of All Time over 3 years ago
Impossible to say.
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Last movie you saw and rate it over 3 years ago
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) 10/10 Absoutely amazing film and possibly my favourite of Ford’s work, although I could say the same about They Were Expendable, Wagon Master, The Sun Shines Bright, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
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Greatest samurai film of all time? over 3 years ago
I’ll put one out there for Mizoguchi’s “The 47 Loyal Ronin”.
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What's the greatest Western? over 3 years ago
I disagree with you, Wonder6789. I’m assuming you arn’t a devotee to Ford’s work, because if you were, you would be aware that Ford, like in his earlier Fort Apache, instead trusts the audience in having the humanity to see what’s wrong with Wayne and Hunter’s actions.
But perhaps I’m still wrong. Maybe Ford, master psychologist as he was, was still not able to forsee that people would not be able to intinctually see the more subtle things in his work without being familiar with his other work.
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Rashomon over 3 years ago
I’m not the biggest Kurosawa fan, although I do like the baby being saved. The only Kurosawas I really like is Yojimbo and High and Low. And maybe Seven Samurai.
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Who do you think the most overrated director is? over 3 years ago
Stanley Kubrick.
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What's the greatest Western? over 3 years ago
And anyways, the woman’s humanity is emphised in the next scene!
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What's the greatest Western? over 3 years ago
Anyways, Anthony Mann’s westerns are excellent as well, The Naked Spur and Man of the West in particular.
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3 Favourite Movies From 5 Favourite Directors over 3 years ago
Whatever, I’ve got 7.
John Ford:
1. The Searchers/Young Mr. Lincoln
3. The Man who Shot Liberty Valance
Jean-Luc Godard:
1. Notre Musique
2. Week-End
3. Hail Mary/ In Praise of Love
Jean Renoir:
1. The Southerner
2. The River
3. The Rules of the Game
Martin Scorsese:
1. The Age of Innocence
2. Raging Bull
3. Kundun
Bernardo Bertolucci:
1. The Conformist
2. The Last Emperor
3. Before the Revolution/1900
F.W. Murnau:
1. Tabu: A Story of Two Seas
2. Sunrise
3. Faust
Orson Welles:
1. Chimes at Midnight
2. Touch of Evil
3. The Trial
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IS CITIZEN KANE THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE OR JUST THE BEST HYPED? over 3 years ago
There’s obviously no way to find a single greatest film of all time. Anyways, I re-watched Kane very recently and suprisingly found myself fairly dissapointed. I’m not saying I didn’t like it; Welles is an absolute genious, but I found it not nearly as interesting as the famously “ruined” Magnificent Ambersons, which I think is a more genuinely moving film, regardless of it’s current state. Kane, on the other hand, while immensely entertaining, is still a very good version of the old Idealist finds power and is corrupted story. I was also very put off by the very “Hollywood-ish” lighting and obvious sets, although that may be because I’ve been watching Welles’s later works more often.
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3 Favourite Movies From 5 Favourite Directors over 3 years ago
Actually, subsitute Welles’s The Trial for Mr. Arkadin.
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IS CITIZEN KANE THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE OR JUST THE BEST HYPED? over 3 years ago
I agree with you about the camera angles, Justin. But John Ford had already been doing these same things with sets in Stagecoach and Young Mr. Lincoln, to much more subtle effect. Anyways, I think Welles’s less exaggerated films are more interesting, Ambersons and Chimes at Midnight in particular; Chimes maybe being his greatest film. Perhaps Kane is Welles’s most important film, but it’s certainly not his best film.
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The Auteurs "Sight & Sound" Poll over 3 years ago
I’d love to be a part of this as well. It’s a teriffic idea I’d love to see what a general group of film lovers consider the greatest films of all time. I hope there is space left!
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just watched godfather II over 3 years ago
Although Coppola initially didn’t want to direct it. I think Godfather II is a much better film than Godfather I, as well as Apocalypse Now. It a much much deeper and richer film than the original, which I honestly believe is very overrated. The first film kind of stays in that safe zone, and is quite romantized, whereas Godfather II is a stunning indictment of America. Nevertheless, The Conversation is Coppola’s best film from this period.
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What happened to Bernardo Bertolucci? about 3 years ago
“But i can’t really explain his decline, any more than Wenders, whose pretensions may have got the better of him.”
There’s a recent interview, dating from about 2000, where Bertolucci admits he has had less interest in his more recent films as opposed to what he was doing 10, 20 years earlier. However, I think as soon as he gets over his current problems he’ll return to making great films again. In interviews taken in 2008, Bertolucci goes at length to discuss his previous work, and says that he can now look at his films objectively once again. (The films being discussed were Before the Revolution and The Conformist) It seems as though the interest is returning.
Interesting that no one is mentioning Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man! Sure, it’s not The Conformist or Last Tango, but its an excellent film none the less.
And The Sheltering Sky really is a masterpiece. Besieged is excellent as well. The Dreamers is good as well, although not on the level of those two.
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who is the greatest living filmmaker? about 3 years ago
No sane person can’t mention Jean-Luc Godard. After that, probably Manoel de Oliveria, and then, though inconisistant, Bertolucci and Scorsese. Then perhaps Abel Ferrara.
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WHICH MOVIES...PUT OUT IN LAST 5 YEARS...DO YOU THINK WILL ONE DAY JOIN THE CRITERION COLLECTION? about 3 years ago
Three Times by Hou Hsaio Hsien
Mary by Abel Ferrara
Notre Musique by Jean-Luc Godard
Silent Light by Carlos Reygadas
Battle in Heaven by Carlos Reygadas
Golden Door by Emaunele Crielese
Gomorrah by Matteo Garrone
Youth Without Youth by Francis Ford Coppola
Go Go Tales by Abel Ferrara
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10 directors 1 movie about 3 years ago
Abel Ferrara – The Funeral
John Ford – Young Mr. Lincoln
Jean-Luc Godard – Notre Musique
Pier Paolo Pasolini – Accattone
Bernardo Bertolucci – The Conformist
Jean Renoir – French Cancan
Kenji Mizoguchi – Ugetsu
Martin Scorsese – The Age of Innocence
Edward Yang – A Brighter Summer Day
Erich von Stroheim – The Wedding March
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Mr. John Ford - Your take over 2 years ago
Personally, I think John Ford still is the greatest artist to ever emerge out of the American Cinema.
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Jean-Luc Godard's Last Masterpiece over 2 years ago
I can’t help but just reconfirm what Kurt has already has said about Histoire(s), but it is simply Godard’s finest work. It’s not only a summination of Godard’s films, but of cinema and 20th Century art itself. Is it the greatest film ever made? Perhaps. I can’t help but recall the films final shot of the Van Gogh painting and think about how much awe I was in. Perhaps it is simply the summit of art in the 20th century, it’s peak.
And back on the initial subject of late Godard masterpieces, I’d have to say that other than Histoire(s) du Cinema, some of Godard’s other greats include
Notre Musique
Prenom Carmen
In Praise of Love
JLG/JLG: A Self Portrait in December
Nouvelle Vague
Hail Mary
I will be seeing Helas Pour Moi very soon and I’m expecting it to join these six films.
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Greatest Director of Each Decade over 2 years ago
I really wish I could have Chaplin on here, as well as John Ford, but I’m afraid I can’t…
Anyways,
1900’s: Georges Melies
1910’s: Victor Sjostrom
1920’s: Erich Von Stroheim
1930’s: Jean Renoir
1940’s: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
1950’s: Nicholas Ray
1960’s: Jean-Luc Godard (although his 80’s and 00’s work are far superior!)
1970’s: Bernardo Bertolucci (with a very honorable mention to Rainer Werner Fassbinder)
1980’s: Woody Allen
1990’s: Abel Ferrara
2000’s: Edward Yang (the basis of this being that Yi Yi was the greatest film made this decade)
but more fairly..
2000’s: Manoel de Oliveria
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Vancouverites Unite over 2 years ago
I want Bigger Than Life
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Vancouverites Unite over 2 years ago
Kurt, don’t skip Russian Ark. It’s a really great film and I’m sure it will look fantastic in a theatre.
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What 2010 Titles are you Looking Forward to? over 2 years ago
I could care less about Jodorowsky, but I didn’t know that PT Anderson was working on a Scientology film. Sounds very interesting, as with There Will Be Blood he finally came into his own as a filmmaker. I doubt it will be out by 2010 though.
Anyways, here is what I most anticipate, in this order.
1. Abel Ferrara’s Jekyll and Hyde
2. Jean-Luc Godard’s Socialisme
3. Manoel de Oliveria’s The Strange Case of Angelica
4. Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life
5. Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island
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Vancouverites Unite over 2 years ago
I wish I could make it on the 27th! If anyone is interested on seeing it a second time or if they can’t make it either pleeeeease contact!
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Best film by each of these directors over 2 years ago
Fellini – 8 1/2
Bergman – Fanny and Alexander
Kurosawa – Ran
Truffaut – Jules and Jim
Renoir – French CanCan
Fassbinder – Fox and His Friends
Herzog – Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Godard – Notre Musique
Antonioni – L’Eclisse
Bresson – Diary of a Country Priest
Hitchcock – Vertigo
Bunuel – L’Age D’Or
Lang – The Big Heat
Tarkovsky – The Mirror
Mizoguchi – Story of the Late Chrysthenmums
Rossellini – The Taking of Power by Louis XII
Altman – Short Cuts
De Sica – Bicycle Thief
Wenders – Wings of Desire
Melville – Army of Shadows
Kubrick – Barry Lyndon
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Rohmer is dead! over 2 years ago
Granted, he is working on Socialisme, is he not?
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Last movie you saw and rate it over 2 years ago
My Darling Clementine
8/10
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