10 Movies I Wish More Listologists Would See
Submitted by lbangs on Tue, 07/27/2004 - 01:02
Tags:
- Amateur - It is my favorite film. What more justification do I need?
- Andrei Rublev - Granted, most viewers won't like this film, but the ones that do might well love it.
- The Garden of the Finzi Continis - Yeah, Life Is Beautiful, The Pianist, and Schindler's List are all fine films, but this little film is my favorite movie that deals with the holocaust, especially effective since it focuses on individuals rather than masses of people.
- A Letter to Three Wives - The second best film by the director of All About Eve, Letter is an over-looked classic.
- Meshes of the Afternoon - Experimental, poetic film by one of the greatest female directors ever.
- sex, lies, and videotape - So many Soderbergh fans have yet to see my favorite of his films, this startling debut.
- Simple Men - My second favorite Hartley film; a observant piece on love, despair, and the macho ethic.
- Throne of Blood - The most under-rated Kurosawa? Oh yeah.
- Trust - The film that started my Hartley obsession; some of the greatest visual symbolism yet to hit the screen.
- Un Chien Andalou - Another experimental film, this one running riot with amazing, effective imagery straight from your dreams...
Cloned From:
L,
I agree with your Hartley recommendations; you introduced me to his films way back when, and the only thing I can criticize you for is that once I jumped on board, he began making films like Henry Fool and the Beauty and the Beast one set in Iceland. Decent films, but nowhere near his early to mid nineties heights. Why couldn't you have gotten me into him earlier? Oh yeah, we didn't know each other before that...
Anyway, I have wanted to see Finzi Continis for a long time, but it's never been released on DVD (at least it wasn't last time I checked). Any idea when it might be released?
Johnny Waco
Actually, it is out on DVD. I know because I own it. It's a bit expensive (I think it was fairly cheap when I found it, so it might have gone out of print), but definitely available here or here.
I, of course, am very happy you like Hartley's finest films. Most folks I introduce to him are rather under-whelmed. Naturally, understatement often leads to under-whelming, but I am still thrilled when somebody else likes the man and his movies.
As AJ noted below, Garden is on DVD, though I believe it is out of print. I suspect a nicer issue soon, perhaps on Criterion; I can't imagine this film being out of circulation for too terribly long. Amazon has third-party copies for under twenty bucks, but you may wish to wait.
BTW, I like Henry Fool a bit more every time I watch it, but I doubt I'll be paying No Such Thing another visit any time soon, despite some groovy, Lynchian Twin Peaks visuals...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
"In The Meshes Of The Afternoon" was a great movie. I remember seeing it when I was 9 (I was a precocious little bugger) and even at that age Maya Deren struck me as being a great director. I know that she was very much into voodoo, and she was also a dancer as well as being a director. Supposedly, she also had the strength to pick up a refrigerator. I heard that she slowly starved to death, do you know if there's any truth in that story?
Maya was into dance, but I have no idea how much weight she could lift. From what I have read, she did not die slowly but suddenly. Here is a quote from the AllMovie Guide's biography of her:
" Deren died suddenly on October 13, 1961, of a massive cerebral hemorrhage, most likely brought on by a longtime dependence on medically prescribed amphetamines and sleeping pills."
I hope that helps, and I am very happy you love Meshes. You are the first person I have every communicated with who saw the film younger than I saw it! It is wonderful.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
God I hate Throne of Blood. I don't think any Kurosawa that's gotten the Criterion treatment can be considered his most underrated at least not while No Regrets for Our Youth, my second or third favorite Kurosawa goes almost completely unmentioned.
There are people who haven't seen Un Chien Andalou? I guess I spend too much time with film majors.