I’d planned another GDC Articulate today, but I got a follow up email from someone I’d chatted movies with during GDC and, well, this happened instead. Here’s a subjective list of my favorite “must see” movies. These are not only well written, directed, and/or performed, but they strike a deep emotional and/or intellectual chord.
Peter Chelsom Funny Bones (comedy with a surprisingly honest examination of what drives a creative soul)John Hillcoat The Proposition (Australian western with some incredible performances)Miranda July Me and You and Everyone We Know (quirky romantic comedy meets disturbing look at the impact of western sexual mores on the children in our culture)Jim Jarmusch Down by Law (starring John Lurie, Tom Waits, and Roberto Benigni in his first English-speaking role)Ghost Dog (great mob send up with some powerful messages about intolerance)Deadman (sepia-toned western & afterlife journey)Coffee & Cigarettes (shot piecemeal over his entire directing career)Zacharias Kunuk Atanarjuat (Inuit written/directed movie that reflects some critical cultural storytelling differences)Julie Taymor Titus (hands down the most powerful Shakespeare adaptation to date (at least until the director’s cut of The Tempest is released and fixes the theatrical release’s issues))John Turturro Illuminata (a layered examination of the intersection of love and creativity)Stanley Tucci The Impostors (brilliant farcical period comedy with an amazing cast)Again–these are not all time film greats, but just a subset of movies that spoke to me personally and also happen to be of objective exceptional quality. These are movies that have shaped the way I think about storytelling, movies that I can go back and rewatch time and time again when I feel the need for inspiration and teaching-by-example. You’ll also notice that (with the exception of two outliers: the very light Impostors and quite dark Proposition) these movies tend toward the bitter sweet–bleak landscapes interwoven with generous threads of hope. They also often use light humor and/or absurdity to mask deep emotionality.
So what’s missing? Well, I’m not comfortable with the fact that there’s only 2 women and 1 person of color on this list. My next “tier” of movies has a broad representation of directors that are women, persons of color, and not based in the USA, so why aren’t more of them reflected here? Hopefully it’s just a matter of exposure and rewatching, or watching for the first time, to elevate some overlooked gems. So I’ve asked for input on Facebook and Twitter where I received the following suggestions:
Sophia Coppola: Lost in Translation (will rewatch)
Lisa Cholodenko: High Art (will watch)
Martha Coolidge: Nope–too light for this list
Jane Campion: Not the biggest fan of Campion. Good? Absolutely. Speaks to me? Not really at all. Still, I’m giving Bright Star (*sigh* and Piano since so many people insisted) a watch
Kathryn Bigelow: I’ve enjoyed her work, but it’s a little too blockbustery for this list
Margarethe von Trotta: Rossenstrasse (will watch)
What else belongs on this list? (And no, KirbyBits, Clueless, while delightful, does not belong on this list.)
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