Stump the Movie Fool (emphasis on fool...)
Submitted by jgandcag on Wed, 02/20/2002 - 13:47
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- 1. Raise the Red Lantern: Zhang Yimou's direction makes this one of the best movies to come out in the 90’s. It is a wonderful but disturbing movie. I always appreciate a film that can tell a harrowing story in a beautiful message. I have said in the past and it bears repeating now, the best films take the viewer into a world foreign to them. And the great ones make the viewer forget it is foreign very quickly. The character of Li Gong so affected my Wife that it has had some direct personal results in my own life. My wife and I have been trying to have a child for some time with no luck, we are now considering adoption as an option and my wife and I are seriously considering adopting a Chinese baby girl. And who says movies are frivolous.
- 2. Cold Comfort Farm: Our good neighbors across the Pond often get it right when it comes to farce. This might be the first time I saw Kate Beckinsale and her performance as Flora Posse makes me sad to see her in dreck like Pearl Harbor. I would recommend this movie to anyone who needs a good laugh. The comparison to Austen’s Emma is inevitable but I think a little unfair. Of course if you like that wonderful novel and movie than you will most assuredly like a visit with Flora and the Starkadders.
- 3. Truly, Madly Deeply: A nice film. The script is quite strong. This might be the only way I can see Alan Rickman in a romantic lead role, as an annoying dead guy. I did find the movie lacking in the lead Actress role, I was never convinced that Juliet Stevenson was in pain or anguish. Still well worth a viewing.
- 4. Brain Donors: I like silly movies, I like John Turturro, heck I even liked the Richie Brockelman character Dennis Dugan used to play in The Rockford Files. I really should have liked this movie. I cannot say that I did though. Turturro is quite good and almost makes it worthwhile and Nancy Marchand was very good as Lillian Oglethorpe.
- 5. Breaking Away: Out of all the movies on Jim’s initial list, this one is the most dear to my heart. It is just a wonderful movie. It is so charming and honest about that time in a man’s life when being a boy is no longer an option but the fear of being a man is so great. I still need to write this up for my top 100 list so I will not write much more but if you have not seen this movie, I feel pretty confident in recommending it to anyone.
- 6. Bound: Like any heterosexual man, I appreciate lesbianism portrayed on screen. When you get 2 good looking lesbians, combine it with a very good script, a wonderful heel played by the great Joe Pantoliano; what do you get? You get a really nice way to spend a few hours. You really cannot or should not expect more from any movie.
- 7. Where the Money Is: This is the first movie I viewed based on asking for movies to view. It is not a great movie but Paul Newman and Linda Fiorentino are such good actors you almost don’t notice the weakness of script. I said almost. If you have seen this movie and even remotely liked it might I suggest a couple more for consideration? Newman’s Nobody’s Fool and Fiorentino’s Last Seduction. Two great movies.
- 8. The Train: Ah Burt Lancaster. They really do not make actors like him anymore and this is one of his better movies. Often forgotten when discussing great World War 2 movies, The Train has all the elements in place. Great actors, a well conceived and executed script and a wonderful director John Frankenheimer. Is great art worth losing a life over? That is the question at the heart of this movie and you will be thrilled to find out the answer if you have not seen this movie yet.
- 9. Walkabout: This is a beautifully shot movie and I am not sure Australia has ever looked as good in a film. I know I am in the minority on this movie but I found it to be a bit muddled and confounding. The concepts are sound; nature versus civilization, awakening adolescent sexuality and cultural diversity and similarities, but ultimately these are left hanging with little clarity.
- 10. Maelstrom
- 11. New Waterford Girl A nice coming of age movie. A true low budget indie that shows if you have a good script you can have a good movie.
- 12. The Hanging Garden This is a quite well made movie with a stunning little script that allows you inside the workings of one family. I found it to be very vouyeristic while almost bordering on an unhealthy invasion of family secrets. It is that line that the movie teters on that makes it enjoyable. The viewer is swept into the story of Sweet William and his journey of sexual awakening and obsessions. I highly recommend this movie.
- 13. Hear My Song I just finished reading Jenhowel's Hottest Actress list and then this movie choice made me think of Tara Fitzgerald. There is one actress who belongs on that list. I have always been a sucker for these Irish fables. And this one does not disapoint. I was particulary impressed by Ned Beatty, this might be one of his best performances.
- 14. Topsy-Turvy This is a wondeful choice AAA. It seems you are impressed with the marriage of music and film. As a lifetime fan of the same, I can understand why you would recommend this film. I love Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado and a movie on the making of that subject is ok with me.
- 15. The Commitments Movie and music again...hmmm I am seeing a theme here. A funny story about this movie. I saw it when it first came out in a theatre with 2 Irsih girls visting from Dublin. Since the irsih are the most caustic and abrasive of the female species I know ( I mean this in a nice way...really), I suspected they were going to hate this movie. Boy was I wrong, they loved the movie so much, they blew off getting dinner just to call home and check in with their family. BTW, I recommend this and just about any other Roddy Doyle book about the Rabbitte Family
- 16. The Castle This one did not work for me. I kept watching the timer on the DVD to see when it was going to be over. This is not a good sign for a comedy. Comedies are hard to make and this movie is a prime example of why. The idea of an insular family that thinks together is a sound premise for a comedy. The fact they all look at the world in the most annoying manner makes this a very annoying film for me. Once again, a movie viewed while not in the greatest of moods so that could explain why I found it annoying while most everyone else found it amusing.
- 17. Local Hero A wonderful movie by the under appreciated and sorely missed Bill Forsythe. He is not dead. He just has not made a movie in 4 years and a little research did not find any new projects on the horizon. I have also always thought Peter Riegert never gets his due. Our old friend Boon from Animal House has turned into a very solid character actor and this might have been his best role. The movie is charmer without being insufferable. Well worth a viewing and if you are looking for a double feature, I would recommend Forsythe’s earlier movie Gregory’s Girl.
- 18. To Live Added to my movie watching list
- 19. The Limey One of the best things about Steven Sodebergh is the variety of movies he directs. It is often impossible to tell you are watching a Sodebergh film. He allows his actors to put their stamp on a movie so you often think of it as an actor’s film. Think Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich or George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez in Out of Sight and most definitely Terrence Stamp in the Limey. Stamp dominates this movie and is just wonderful in the role of Wilson. I would not have been disappointed if he had won the Academy Award. Also solid performances by Peter Fonda, Lesley Ann Warren, Barry Newman and Luis Guzman make this a very enjoyable revenge movie.
- 20. La Femme Nikita This movie is one of the prime examples I use when I want to make the argument that Hollywood does not know its arse from it’s elbow. I challenge anyone to watch this wonderful French version and it’s American counterpart Point of No Return with Bridget Fonda and not come to the conclusion that Hollywood would not understand a good idea if it slapped them in their proverbial head. Actually don’t take that challenge I do not want to be responsible for anyone giving two hours of his or her life to the drivel that was the remake. If you actually have the four hours just watch this version twice.
- 21. Delicatessen What a wonderful movie. I could try to describe the plot but in no way would it do justice to this surreal black comedy. A visually masterful movie that I think I am going to rent again because I have not seen it in some time. I would highly recommend the same course of action if you have not seen it in some time or you have not seen it yet.
- 22. Devil in a Blue Dress It would be a shocker if I did not like this movie. I think Denzel Washington is one of the best actors making films. I loved the director’s, Carl Franklin, earlier movie One False Move and I have read many of Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins’ books. Well no shocks from me today. This is a very strong and often neglected movie. It is easily one of Denzel’s top five movies and I still think Don Cheadle steals the movie much like his character Mouse steals a lot of the books. Well worth a viewing if you have not seen it.
- 23. Ginger Snaps Click Here
- 24. Down By Law I remember there was a long discussion somewhere else on Listology about what is an independent film. I had no real strong opinions on the matter so I stayed on the sidelines but when I think of independent films I think of directors. Directors like John Sayles, Hal Hartley, Alan Rudolph and Jim Jarmusch. These guys could most certainly get hired by the studios to direct big budget extravaganzas (I actually might like to see what some of these guys would come up with the huge budgets) but they choose autonomy and full control. This is Jarmusch’s best film. A wonderful black and white movie that sings like a great old blues song. At times funny and tragic it has great performances by musicians turned actors Tom Waits and John Lurie. The first time I ever remember seeing Roberto Benigni in a movie and he is simply hilarious in this movie.
- 25. Stop Making Sense I am not a huge fan of concert movies. I find film to be too cool a medium for the ultra hot experience of a live concert. But if they are going to make them, then they should watch this Jonathan Demme directed version of a Talking Heads concert before they do. It does a wonderful job of capturing the zaniness, inspired lunacy and clever insight that was the Talking Heads at their peak.
- 26. Georgia There are two great performances by Mare Winningham and Jennifer Jason Leigh in this movie. They both are very strong as sisters where one sister (Winningham) is a star with talent and the other one who desperately wants the same thing but has absolutely no idea how to achieve it. They are great performances but I am not sure I could recommend this movie. It is too depressing, too long and ultimately Leigh’s character reminded me to much of a train wreck waiting to happen.
- 27. Mute Witness Added to my movie watching list
- 28. Ruthless People Seen comments coming soon
- 29. Bachelor Mother Seen Comments coming soon
- 30. One, Two, Three Seen Comments coming soon
- 31. Hail the Conquering Hero Seen Comments coming soon
- 32. The Freshman Seen Comments coming soon
- 33. Gertrud Added to my Movie watching list
- 34. Ordet Added to my Movie watching list
Author Comments:
Ok here is the theory and story behind this list. I watch way too many movies. But insomnia has its advantages. One advantage is extra hours that needs filling. I was writing my Damn I watch too many movies list... and I found I was watching a lot of movies for a second and third viewing. I knew Listologists are movie experts so I thought I would find a way to get recommendations and suggestions from such a cinematically astute crowd. I brought up my quandary on the list and Jim and I formed an idea. This is the fruition of that idea. Anyone can suggest movies that they really like. If I have not seen them I will add it to my to see list and If I have seen it I will give you an honest opinion of the movie. I have watched many, many movies so I am looking for obscure but good films. My only qualifications would be that you really think it a good movie. Also try to limit the selections of new releases. I usually wait for them to come out on DVD. I am certainly not an expert just a fool looking for some good movies I have not seen yet.
I have started the list with the first nine recommendations from our esteemed Listology creator Jim. I hope to here from many of you. Thanks
About Walkabout. Thats pretty typical of Nicolas Roeg, who directed that film. He's pretty consistent at the unclear message, leave you hanging type of direction. Thats what I find so intriguing about all his films. He's on my great directors list for such films as this one mentioned here and The Man Who Fell To Earth, Insignifigance, and the classic horror film Don't Look Now.
Yes I understand that is Roeg's modus operandi and it really did not bother me in The Man Who Fell to Earth and Dont Look Now. I really liked both of those movies. There is just something about Walkabout that just did not feel right to me.
Here are three Canadian films I quite liked
Maelstrom (2000)
New Waterford Girl (1999)
The Hanging Garden (1997)
I will add these three to my List. I have only seen The Hanging Garden, a very disturbing movie. It will be interesting to see if I can get access to the small Canadien imports
Well, I would highly recommend these films:
Hear My Song
Topsy-Turvy
The Commitments
The Castle
Thanks for the input AAA, I have seen the first three and I will make comments on them. I have not seen The Castle yet but I will add it to my list of movies to see.
Fantastic! Great to see this list make its promised appearance. Also happy to see that you wouldn't have been led astray (for the most part) had you not see more of my recommendations. After checking out this relevant list from bertie, I have two more I'm curious if you've seen: Wages of Fear and Local Hero.
Best of luck in your parenthood pursuit. Was Raise the Red Lantern ever a candidate for your 100 Best/Favorite list?
Thanks for the feedback Jim. As to your recommendations, I actually find I like lots of movies. So only really bad ones piss me off. Somehow I did not suspect I would get any of those rcommendations from you.
I have seen bits and pieces of Wages of Fear so I will add it to my to see list. Local Hero, I truly loved it and I will write it up soon.
Thanks for the parenthood encouragement. I figure I need someone to pass on my obsession with movies. Raise the Red Lantern did get consideration and probably belongs on the list somewhere. I think I am going to have to expand that list to to the top 200 someday.
Hi Gill . . . You seem to have caught all my suggestions! Wages of Fear is written up elsewhere, and the Local Hero writeup is still pending, but otherwise you've knocked out my entire list. So here's round #2: To Live (another Zhang Yimou), The Limey, La Femme Nikita, Delicatessen, and Devil in a Blue Dress
I have not seen To Live yet, I will add it. All the others I have seen and will comment soon.
Dang, I guess I need to reach a deeper level of obscurity in my suggestions! I'll see what I can do for round #3.
I really could suggest anything Zhang Yimou has done, but I think Raise the Red Lantern and To Live are my favorites by him, so I won't go to that well again in future rounds.
Indeed, I am a fan of music in film. My favorites of last year were both musicals (Hedwig and Moulin Rouge!), and Dancer in the Dark is another recent favorite of mine. I have three more recommendations for you:
Ginger Snaps, a Canadian film from last year (or 2000 if you are strict on your IMDb-ness).
Down By Law, Jim Jaramusch, great film.
Stop Making Sense OR Georgia (there go my musical tie-ins).
AAA, I have seen Down by Law, Stop Making Sense and Georgia and I will comment soon. I haven't seen Ginger Snaps yet, but i will add it to my list.
Thanks
I would be interested in knowing what you think of Mute Witness (1994), if you ever get an opportunity to see it. It's not high art but damn if it wasn't interesting. And it has one of the longest, extended, tension-building scenes I've seen in a movie of its ilk. Once you see it (I hope) you'll know which part I am referring to.
Thanks for giving me a movie recommendation that I have not seen. I have added it to my Netflix queue. And thanks for pointing out how far behind I am on this list. Geez :)
Ah I see it is not available through Netflix. This could take some digging on my part. Cool
Did a little digging myself and it turns out that it hasn't been released on DVD yet! :-) Oops. I'd check a library if you have one close by. I know ours has it.
I don't know if you have seen these, but I would recommend:
Ruthless People (1986)
Bachelor Mother (1939)
One, Two, Three (1961)
Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)
The Freshman (1925)
Note that all are comedies.
Thanks for the recommendations. I have seen all of these and I will comment soon. Great choices on The Wilder film, One, Two, Three and The Sturges film Hail The Conquering Hero.
If I remember correctly, you are the young man who is having trouble getting your parents to allow you to view R-rated movies? You are 16?
Have you seen all these movie? If so that is pretty remarkable for someone of your age. I fear you may end up like me a 40 year old looking for good movies but what a wonderful trip you have in front of you.
Wow, you've seen all of those? I guess I'll have to dig deeper for more obscure choices.
Well, it all started when the AFI released their list of the 100 Funniest Movies. I decided I had to see all of those movies. And, it took me about a year, but I did (which is where I got "The Freshman" from). Then I started working on their list of the 500 movies nominated for the list (which is where I got "Bachelor Mother", "One, Two, Three", and "Hail the Conquering Hero", all of which, in my opinion, should've made the list). I'm also currently working on the AFI's list of the 100 Greatest Movies.
So, yeah, I probably will end up a 40-year-old looking for good movies. (BTW, off the record, I'm only 15.)
Hey, all this talk about someone who has seen a lot of movies reminded me of something: once I read an article about a man who had seen about 7,500 movies. When asked for his favorite movie, he said it was a tie between two Danish dramas, "Ordet" (1955) and "Gertrud" (1964). Have you seen those movies? (I haven't.)
jgandcag? It's been about 7 months and it still says "Comments coming soon" for my movies. Or have you pretty much just given up on this list?
Coming soon is a relative term. There are scientists who will tell you that the end of the universe is coming soon. Of course most of them think it is still thousands of years away.
In comparison seven months is a blink of an eye.
Of course this is just a blatant attempt to blur the obvious which is I am way, way behind in my Listology duties.
At some point when life settles down a little, I will get back to this and other lists, I promise....
jgandcag? Any word on "Gertrud" or "Ordet"?
looking these 2 up I see Hamlet is not the only melancholy Dane but I have not seen these two movies. I will add them though I can not say I am looking forward to them too much because those Danes are seroiusly depressing folks. Who knows I could be wrong but reading the write-ups on IMDB, they are not giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
I just watched Dryer's Day of Wrath, the film he made right before Gertrud and Ordet. Mesmerizing film. Horrifying, also. Pessimistic? You bet!
I'll try to type up some more specific comments on my list tomorrow.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I'm so pleased you've enjoyed most of my attempts to stump you. At least it shows I'm on the right track, even if you'd already seen most of my entries. I am particularly pleased that you liked Devil in a Blue Dress, although in hindsight I shouldn't have been worried with it being a Denzel movie and all. Still, I remember it opening to lukewarm reviews, so I thought I might be in the minority on that one. And oftentimes when I'm in the minority it's for good reason. :-)
Well, I don't see you mentioning it anywhere, so I will recommend Commandments, with Courtney Cox and Aidan Quinn. It's not exactly obscure, but it was a bomb in the theaters and few people saw it. I adore it. Definitely black comedy. I especially like the main character's "to-do list."
Since To Live is the only suggestion of mine you have yet to see, let me throw another movie into the ring: Man of the Century. You've probably seen dgeiser13's review. I quite liked it as well. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on it.
Okay, it's a month later and I'm not regretting asking you to see Man of the Century. But that gentle prod is not why I'm here. I saw Sorcerer (1977) a couple days ago, liked it then, and I'm still thinking highly of it now, so I'm going to kick it into the pool.
I have not seen Man Of The Century. I want to say I did see Sorcerer but looking it up IMDB I am not sure, I will add both to my Netflix Queue.
Try 'The Outsiders' or this .
Highlights - watch out in advance for :
(i) the brilliant Stevie Wonder song at the closing credits - 'Stay Gold'
(ii) the cast (includes the young Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, and Emilio Estevez in 'support' roles)
(iii) the atmospheric photography
(iv) one of the nurses is played by S.E. Hinton (she wrote the novel), in a very minor role
The storyline is a little reminiscent of 'Rebel Without A Cause' in some ways, with Matt Dillon in the James Dean role, but the two other leads have more equal (or possibly even more leading) roles than Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo had. It is not about Matt Dillon (his role).
Let me know what you think - even if you have already seen it.
- - the professor - -
The Outsiders, now there is a movie from the back of my brain. I liked that movie a lot but it has been a long time since I saw it. I remeber it did a real nice job of creating a unique and special universe that only existed in that movie. Movies likes that and Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing have always been special for me.
Definitely check out If You Were Young: Rage (Kinji Fukasaku, 1970) if you haven't seen it or really anything on my list here.