Best of the Decade

[Babbalanja]

I'll be the first to admit that I could be making connections that aren't intended, but this is definitely one of my favorites.

They're your hours, amigo, pass 'em as you wish. If such a superficial, exploitative, self-infatuated movie resonated with you, that's not my problem.

Regards,

Istvan

[Janine]

Lol, no cringing from me. A lot of the films that I enjoy can be considered serious, but I enjoy them the same way I enjoyed movies like The Goonies as a child. My favorite movies tend to be the ones that fill me with wonder, so my choices come from personal resonance, rather than technical mastery and that's why I would never list Citizen Kane as a top; I just don't connect with it, so to each their own.

I find it more interesting when people list their favorite of a particular genre, like the Teen-flick; Captain_Kuchiki's list is heavy on Sci-Fi and it makes me want to dust off my THX 1138 dvd and finally watch it.

Concerning British films: I was thinking of replacing Pulp Fiction with Marc Singer's Dark Days for my best of the 90's.

Thank Nick, the silence was deafening...and Daniel, stop that cringing!

Anyone like films by the Archers - Powell and Pressburger?

I have seen these and hope to see more:

The Red Shoes
Black Narcissus

I just ordered "Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" and I hope to see many more. I think their work is incredibly creative. "The Red Shoe" I have seen many times over and am always fascinated with the characters. It's beautifully choregraphed and filmed, too and the dance sequence is one of the longest in film history.

I also admire the Merchant Ivory Productions of classic adapatations, etc. I think that James Ivory and Ismail Merchant and their fine screenplay writer (her name now escapes me) make a terrific team and they bring many classics to the screen vividly and with much beauty.

Here are some I have enjoyed; I own most of these as well:

The Bostonians
A Room With a View
Howard's End
The Golden Bowl
Heat and Dust
The Remains of the Day
Jefferson in Paris

There I've gotten my English faction into this thread!

[DanielBenoit]

Anyone like films by the Archers - Powell and Pressburger?

Omg I loove Powell and Pressburger! The Red Shoes is among the most well-choregraphed films ever made!


Okay I'm going to cheat again, but this is my thread so I can do what I want

Do any of you have a top five or top ten all-time favorites that you feel will never change? Like do you have a top five that you know you will never change? Well I do, I am about certain that these five films will always be my immortal five favorites of all time.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2. 8 1/2
3. The Third Man
4. Citizen Kane
5. Singing in the Rain


Also, what films have you seen that you, in Ebert's words "hated hated hated hated hated"?

As for me:

Transformers 2
The American Pie direct-to-video sequels
North (read Eberts original review!)
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed


Also, what films have you seen that were so bad that you loved them? I can certainly name two:

The Room: A masterpiece of horridly aweful acting, directing and editing. Unintentionally hilarious from begining to end.

Plan 9 From Outer Space: So jaw-droppingly awful with such low production values, it is something of an accomplishment.

[NickAdams]

1. Werckmeister Hamornies (I must thank you for introducing me to this amazing film.)
2. Eyes Wide Shut

Those two will always be in my top five.

[DanielBenoit]

1. Werckmeister Hamornies (I must thank you for introducing me to this amazing film.)
2. Eyes Wide Shut

Those two will always be in my top five.

Oh I'm so proud Definitley in my top twenty and will always be.


Also, to add to my list of films I hated, two films which weren't exactly awful, but just really pissed me off was The Rookie and The Blind Side, directed by the same person funny enough.

[Janine]

Omg I loove Powell and Pressburger! The Red Shoes is among the most well-choregraphed films ever made!

Hurray!... someone finally agrees with me on something. I love that film and have seen it a couple dozen times...a gem of a film in my eyes. Also read the book; I believe it was written after they did the film...strange. I have never seen a bad performance by Anton Wallbrook. I have his version of "Gaslight"...it maybe a bit cruder a version overall than the other well known one but it's still fascinating because he plays the sneaky husband...such a psychological script and role. I just ordered those other two films by the team and one stars Wallbrook again. It's just a pity his emense talent was so shortlived. His loss was great for the film-maker community.

Okay I'm going to cheat again, but this is my thread so I can do what I want

Do any of you have a top five or top ten all-time favorites that you feel will never change? Like do you have a top five that you know you will never change? Well I do, I am about certain that these five films will always be my immortal five favorites of all time.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2. 8 1/2
3. The Third Man
4. Citizen Kane
5. Singing in the Rain

Throwing us another curve ball, eh...Daniel? Ok, I will have to think about this but pretty sure I know a few already. Let me come back to the question later on with my list. It's a difficult question but I will approach it like this; if all my films could disintegrate which ones could I not live with anymore. If I truly owe up to that, I might have to make a list of at least 10...oh well.

Also, what films have you seen that you, in Ebert's words "hated hated hated hated hated"?

As for me:

Transformers 2
The American Pie direct-to-video sequels
North (read Eberts original review!)
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed


Also, what films have you seen that were so bad that you loved them? I can certainly name two:

The Room: A masterpiece of horridly aweful acting, directing and editing. Unintentionally hilarious from begining to end.

Plan 9 From Outer Space: So jaw-droppingly awful with such low production values, it is something of an accomplishment.

One I really really hated was:

Dogville...ugh...how I suffered...

I know some people are now groaning...but I really despised that film...so what was with that silly ball and chain bit all about anyway? It's just personal preference, but I really hated it when it came to the ending. I tried to like it and see it as experimental and it captivated me for awhile; but ultimately, I just plain hated it! I *groan* everytime I see it my public library shelf.

[DanielBenoit]

Hurray!... someone finally agrees with me on something.

Oh yay! I've never disagreed with you until. . . ...

One I really really hated was:

Dogville...ugh...how I suffered...

I know some people are now groaning...but I really despised that film...so what was with that silly ball and chain bit all about anyway? It's just personal preference, but I really hated it when it came to the ending. I tried to like it and see it as experimental and it captivated me for awhile; but ultimately, I just plain hated it! I *groan* everytime I see it my public library shelf.

Uh-oh. I understand your percpective, but yes, I am groaning. Nick won't be happy

[NickAdams]

So bad it's good: The Ape directed by James Franco. I don't know why I'm so entertained by this movie. The acting is either bad or over the top (Franco gets a pass for trying to manage both acting and directing on a whim).

The Brave directed by Johnny Depp. This isn't a very good film, but I've seen it a few times. It's like an Ed Wood movie to me; it's so earnest that it's worth watching.

Hate hate hate: I don't remember if I ever hated a movie. There have been a few that I have disliked. When I hate a movie, it's mostly because someone defends it from my criticism. Crash is an example. There's good acting, good directing (I guess), but the script is horrible. There's no truth to it; I guess this is what I mean by personal resonance. For all the style, there isn't any truth to the movie. I can't believe it passed for gritty realism ... I hate it.

I might have hated The Blindside and Avatar if I would have seen them.

One I really really hated was:

Dogville...ugh...how I suffered...

I know some people are now groaning...but I really despised that film...so what was with that silly ball and chain bit all about anyway? It's just personal preference, but I really hated it when it came to the ending. I tried to like it and see it as experimental and it captivated me for awhile; but ultimately, I just plain hated it! I *groan* everytime I see it my public library shelf.

Uh-oh. I understand your percpective, but yes, I am groaning. Nick won't be happy

It's funny you say that about the ending. I was ready to throw my DVD player across the room when Grace was defending the town. I don't know what it says about me, but I was more than happy with her decision.

What I find interesting, I don't know if this is true for anybody else, is that by the end I disliked Tom the most. He was the less overtly cruel, but the false hope that he gave her was disgusting. We all do that, when we are "just being nice", but this extreme example shows the harm it can bring. Chuck took advantage of her physically, but Tom took advantage of her kindness and used her as an object for his theory. It makes a great case against seeing humans as numbers. The content was very provocative and held me like no other and the style ... Either Ebert or Roeper said that the style exhausted itself, but each time I though Von Trier couldn't add to the story with the style, he proved me wrong. From the "that we shall not mention" to when she is in the truck. I can't believe Elephant won the award.

[DanielBenoit]

Hate hate hate: I don't remember if I ever hated a movie. There have been a few that I have disliked. When I hate a movie, it's mostly because someone defends it from my criticism. Crash is an example. There's good acting, good directing (I guess), but the script is horrible. There's no truth to it; I guess this is what I mean by personal resonance. For all the style, there isn't any truth to the movie. I can't believe it passed for gritty realism ... I hate it.

And just when I thought people were hating on it because it had beaten Brokeback Mountain at the Oscars. I find your criticism to be geniune. But I mildly disagree. I found it to be a momentually powerful film with greatly profound twists and moments. But it was admittingly too melodramatic and obvious to stand up to the greatest film made about race in America, Do the Right Thing.

I can't believe Elephant won the award.

No, I'm glad Elephant won. Trier already won for Dancer in the Dark, and Elephant for me was even more profound and masterfully well made. My #8 pick for best films of the decade.

Btw, as a note on Trier, I think he may be the most skilled audience puller since Hitchcock, and certainly the most sadistic. As a result some of his films feel condesending towards the audience and sometimes even cruel. But he is still a masterful director, and has got to be one of THE most powerful filmmakers to ever live next to Dreyer and Bergman.

Hey, since it's well past the end of the decade and I've been so busy these past few weeks, I'll just complete decade list of reviews I've been posting on my blog and just reveal the rest here (oooh big deal). I'll include the rest of the reviews soon on my blog.

10. Gosford Park - Robert Altman
9. Elephant - Gus van Sant
8. Man Push Cart - Ramin Bahrani
7. The Curious Case of Benjeman Button - David Fincher
6. The Aviator - Martin Scorsese
5. Where the Wild Things Are - Spike Jonzes
4. Tarnation - Jonathan Cauette / Mulholland Drive - David Lynch
3. Chop Shop - Ramin Bahrani
2. City of God - Fernando Meirelles
1. Werckmeister Harmonies - Bela Tarr

[NickAdams]

And just when I thought people were hating on it because it had beaten Brokeback Mountain at the Oscars. I find your criticism to be geniune. But I mildly disagree. I found it to be a momentually powerful film with greatly profound twists and moments.

I always cringe when every character in an ensemble piece talks about the theme and even that would be okay, but having them "crash" into each other amounts "when propaganda goes wrong". A greatly executed ensemble piece is Magnolia and the characters this film exist beyond the theme. The have personal lives and needs, but the connect. Crash is just such a contrivance.

But it was admittingly too melodramatic and obvious to stand up to the greatest film made about race in America, Do the Right Thing.

Do the Right Thing is another movie you can add to your list of so bad it's good. I'm just in a goofy mood today. I'm not a big fan of Do the Right Thing (my money is on Bamboozled), but you're right. My criticism of Crash doesn't hold up when applied to Lee's "joint". It was the early 90's, it was hot (which is really more significant that I would have guessed, but NYC in the summer can get out of hand) and it was concentrated. Do the Right Thing is plausible, but Crash isn't even poetically plausible. I'll give Crash one thing: that whole thing with the invisible cape was great, cheesy or not, it was delivered well.

My #8 pick for best films of the decade.

I know. I'm still waiting on your full review of your top three. Come on Daniel.

Btw, as a note on Trier, I think he may be the most skilled audience puller since Hitchcock, and certainly the most sadistic. As a result some of his films feel condesending towards the audience and sometimes even cruel. But he is still a masterful director, and has got to be one of THE most powerful filmmakers to ever live next to Dreyer and Bergman.

I do get the same feeling when watching a Bergman film. Before I discovered Beckett, discovered in the way Columbus did, Hemingway and Faulkner were my top guys in literature and Kubrick and Bergman in cinema. I got the same out of watching a Kubrick film as I did reading Hemingway (not so much anymore) and Bergman felt the same as Faulkner. But, Dogville and Dancer in the Dark produced the exact sensation in me that Sanctuary and Light in August did when I first read them. Though, Von Trier doesn't resonate the way Bergman does. To think that Bergman's last film came out this past decade and it hasn't received a wink since it was released.

[DanielBenoit]

Do the Right Thing is another movie you can add to your list of so bad it's good. I'm just in a goofy mood today. I'm not a big fan of Do the Right Thing (my money is on Bamboozled), but you're right.

Now that's just blasphomey! You are in a goofy mood today. I just don't understand that. The Room + Do the Right Thing = Contradiction in the purest sense.

[NickAdams]

Now that's just blasphomey! You are in a goofy mood today. I just don't understand that. The Room + Do the Right Thing = Contradiction in the purest sense.

The problem with Do the Right Thing is that it was given to me as a Christmas gift, that I asked for, and it just wasn't what I expected (years of hype). I was actually impressed by some of the style, particularly Radio Raheem's love/hate speech. What I liked about the film is that it was about racism, yes, but the way the day went it just happened to be what pushed them over the edge; something else could have provoked the climax and that just shows that Spike showed us people leaving and not thematic mouthpieces.

Where did you see The Room?! Was it on Adult Swim or did you catch it in theaters? I haven't seen it, but the clips on youtube are hilarious.

[JuniperWoolf]

Also, what films have you seen that you, in Ebert's words "hated hated hated hated hated"?

Blindness. Oh god, I hated it. I hated it so much. Even thinking about that *&^% right now fills me with rage. I have an undying hatred of that wretched garbage. I despised it on so many levels. *spit* I WOULD punch the people responsible for that movie right in the face.

[DanielBenoit]

The problem with Do the Right Thing is that it was given to me as a Christmas gift, that I asked for, and it just wasn't what I expected (years of hype). I was actually impressed by some of the style, particularly Radio Raheem's love/hate speech. What I liked about the film is that it was about racism, yes, but the way the day went it just happened to be what pushed them over the edge; something else could have provoked the climax and that just shows that Spike showed us people leaving and not thematic mouthpieces.

Okay, there are some scenes in the film like when Mookie talks to John Tuturro's character about his racial insensitivity, and while I would usually be bothered by moral blabbering, it works in Do the Right Thing because it is a masterful juxtaposition of style throughout the history of cinema. From gritty handheld long shots to sweeping classical Hollywood aerial shots. All of the speeches in the film are important for establishing the dualities of the characters and ironically, the engimaticy of the director.

Btw, Radio's love/hate speech is a direct quotation from The Night of the Hunter, one of the greatest films ever to come out of classical Hollywood.

Where did you see The Room?! Was it on Adult Swim or did you catch it in theaters? I haven't seen it, but the clips on youtube are hilarious.

Saw it on Adult Swim. The funniest non-comedy I've ever seen. It is endlessly quotable, but my typing does not do justice to Wisaeu's magnificently incomprehensible voice.

"I did not hit her, it's not true. It's bull****. I did not hit her. I did naaaaaaat. Oh hi Mark."

"Oh hi Johnnie."

"I have a problem. It's Lisa. She sd that ah hit her."

"Whaaat? Well did you?"

"No man it's not true don't even ask. . . . . . .So what's up with you?"

"Oh I'm just sitting up here thinking."

Blindness. Oh god, I hated it. I hated it so much. Even thinking about that *&^% right now fills me with rage. I have an undying hatred of that wretched garbage. I despised it on so many levels. *spit* I WOULD punch the people responsible for that movie right in the face.

Yeah! What's even worse is that it was directed by Fernando Meirelles, the great man who directed City of God. It was probably the biggest disappointment I've ever had at the movies.

[Janine]

It's funny you say that about the ending. I was ready to throw my DVD player across the room when Grace was defending the town. I don't know what it says about me, but I was more than happy with her decision.

I am not sure what you mean on this. It sounds good, but I am confused. Can you explain this better? I doubt I would ever watch that film again...as I said I groan whenever I see it. I liked it for about the first hour, thinking this is something really different; then I the tide turned for me and I got sick of it. I also wanted to throw my DVD player across the room or better yet hail rotten tomatoes at the screen!...but then I would have to clean it up myself.

What I find interesting, I don't know if this is true for anybody else, is that by the end I disliked Tom the most. He was the less overtly cruel, but the false hope that he gave her was disgusting. We all do that, when we are "just being nice", but this extreme example shows the harm it can bring. Chuck took advantage of her physically, but Tom took advantage of her kindness and used her as an object for his theory. It makes a great case against seeing humans as numbers. The content was very provocative and held me like no other and the style ... Either Ebert or Roeper said that the style exhausted itself, but each time I though Von Trier couldn't add to the story with the style, he proved me wrong. From the "that we shall not mention" to when she is in the truck. I can't believe Elephant won the award.

Was Tom the character played by Paul Betany? I have always liked his acting and so that was my main reason for venturing to see "Dogville" to begin with.

Either Ebert or Roeper said that the style exhausted itself, but each time I though Von Trier couldn't add to the story with the style, he proved me wrong.

Exactly how I felt - it just exhausted itself way before the ending. Von Trier - was that her father? I can't recall now and again I say, I won't watch it again. Patricia Clarkson began to wear on my nerves...sometimes she has that effect on me. I liked her better in "Pharaoh's Army"...thought that was an interesting story which caught my interest. I know she's a fine actress, but she tends to exasperate me...I am not sure exactly why...I am sure that's just personal choice...she so often plays such depressing characters.