Recently I started sixth form, and one of the subjects I decided to take was Film Studies, and as a result I get to borrow films from the school library.
The point of the thread is this: what are some good films that I should take out? I'm willing to watch anything so long as it's decent. And if you include a brief synopsis of the film, no spoilers please.
EDIT: I also took History, Biology and Classical Civilisation for my A-levels, so stop being smug.
A scanner darkly is a amazing film with a very deep plot about an undercover cop trying to bust a drugs ring in an Orwellian future where everything is recorded, it documents the psychosis and metal break down he suffers from not only drugs but the strain of leading a double life. It also feature a unique art direction.
I am also doing history and Biology A levels Whoo!
In Bruge - Ok, so it's got Colin Farrell in it but really; you have to look past that because he is just so damn good in it. It is one of the best films I've ever seen. If you're doing film studies it's a good one to do because of the way the atmosphere is set and the scenery used and all of the long shots of a beautiful city.
Hot Fuzz- I've heard it's not as good as Shaun of the Dead, but it's a damn funny movie
Ferris Bueller's Day Off- A classic comedy about living your life and seizing the day. Driven partly by inner monologues and hilarious sub-plots, FBDO is a must-see.
Snatch- This movie about the criminal world beautifully intertwines several stories of different groups, mobs, and gangs all trying to get a hold of a huge diamond somewhere in the London underground. (the crime world, not the metro) The various sub-plots and plot twists are pulled off with grace, and the plot remains exciting and unpredictable from start to finish. Characters are varied and the humor is easy to grasp. The film bears a striking resemblance in theme, motifs, and style to Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
1408- Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is a writer who writes books about the paranormal. He has a lot to live with; his daughter died, his wife left him, and he doesn't even believe in ghosts. He receives a postcard to write about Room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel in NYC. Upon checking in, he discovers the hotel room is possessed, an evil spirt bent on making people suffer. Enslin must come to terms with himself in order to escape Room 1408.
This film is my favorite horror movie because, while most horror films nowadays are nothing but psychotic, invincible killers running around knocking people off, 1408 grasps that true, psychological horror is taking something you know and twisting it, making it seem as if the whole known universe is out to get you, and making the protagonist and the viewers not only afraid for the known, but for the unknown. Creating an unpredictable environment unleashes a sense of pure, uncontrollable fear. Psychological horror means more than just startling people. You have to delve deep, fuck with the mind. For example,
there's a part where the room transforms itself to look damaged and charred. Enslin sees his daughter, who died of cancer as a young child, standing amidst the rubble. She begins crying and saying she wants to go home. Enslin takes her in his arms, begins sobbing, and tells her "I've got you right here. I'll never let you go." as she slowly begins to crumble apart in his hands.
If you can do something on par with that, you've got yourself a damn good horror movie. Must see. Sorry I took so long on that one. I just wanted to explain some things.
A Scanner Darkly
Fight club
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Snatch
Lock Stock and two smoking barrels
Full Metal Jacket
Platoon
Goodfellas
Human Traffic
Spun
There are so many Tarantino suggestions here! In terms of films to study, how about trying some Coen Brothers films like Fargo and The Big Lebowski? Both excellent. Or if you want something a bit more weird and adventurous, try something by Pedro Almodovar. He's an incredibly flamboyant gay Spanish director who was at the forefront of the Spanish punk movement. His films are about transvestites and drug pedaling nuns and women with massive clevages in histronics - freaking awesome! Try All About My Mother and Volver (both won Oscars I think). My favourite is Tie Me Up Tie Me Down, where Antonio Banderas is let out of a mental institution and goes and kidnaps a drug addict porn star he once had sex with and ties her up til she falls in love with him. Finally could could try Nightwatch, a really interesting and stylised Russian fantasy-horror film - it's well worth a look.
Nosferatu the Vampyre, directed by Werner Herzog is a very chilling, beautiful remake of the original silent film. The music, combined with imagery both Wagnerian and Gothic, is a testament to the audio-visual element.
The Devil's Rejects, directed by Rob Zombie, is a very fun and very visceral slasher flick. The actors are very engaging to watch, as are the various crimes they commit.
Inferno, directed by Giuseppe de Liguoro, is an Italian silent film from 1911, almost 100 years ago. The technological and artistic prowess displayed here is beautiful, as Gustave Dore's illustrations come to life, with Tangerine Dream's soothing, dreamlike soundtrack filling in both the background and foreground.
In all seriousness though, there's a lot of good recommendations on the board already.
Chinatown and Apocalypse Now both took far too long to make it on this thread, and they're both very good films to pull out. As is Sunset Boulevard. If you want more, I could cough up the film list from my American Film class last year.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
