My current top ten list; based on what each film taught me about story telling.
“Mosquito Coast”- For the scene that builds the conflict between father and son as they stand with their family before a crowd of natives who are enamored with the father’s recent invention of an ice machine. The camera movement employed in this scene is used almost identically in PT Anderson’s recent “There Will Be Blood”, also about a father and son in conflict.
P.T. Anderson’s “Punch Drunk Love” – The villain, Philip Seymour Hoffman, scares me to death even while getting a haircut.
“Back to the Future” – How a simple story drives rather than special effects.
“Decalogue 5” – The only clear narrative account that has utterly convinced me murder is always abhorrent.
“The Last Laugh” – A shining example of Weimer Cinema’s style and subjective camera use.
“Dick Tracy” – The directing, production design and cinematography working in tandem always captivates me.
“Heat” – The tagline says it all, “A Los Angeles Crime Saga.”
“The Son” – The common Biblical issue, Grace, portrayed in such a way I actually walk away with hope.
“Patton” – One of the greatest American war movies about one of the greatest American Generals.
“Unforgiven” – In my opinion, the last western. It took the conventions and themes of almost a century long genre and laid it to rest on the premise that yes the west was won, but on mercy not sacrifice.
If you haven’t seen these movies give them a few a fair viewing. And please send me your top 10 list to let me know what I may have missed!
Back to the Future
1985 Dir: Robert Zemeckis
Dekalog, piec / Decalogue 5 “Thou Shalt Not Kill”
1989 Dir: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Der Letzte Mann / The Last Laugh
1924 Dir: F.W. Murnau
Dick Tracy
1990 Dir: Warren Beatty
Heat
1995 Dir: Michael Mann
Le Fils / The Son
2002 Dir: The Dardenne Brothers
Mosquito Coast
1986 Dir: Peter Weir
Patton
1970 Dir: Franklin J. Shaffner
Punch Drunk Love
2002 Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson
Unforgiven
1992 Clint Eastwood
Top Ten Today – July 12th 2008
My current top ten list; based on what each film taught me about story telling.
“Mosquito Coast”- For the scene that builds the conflict between father and son as they stand with their family before a crowd of natives who are enamored with the father’s recent invention of an ice machine. The camera movement employed in this scene is used almost identically in PT Anderson’s recent “There Will Be Blood”, also about a father and son in conflict.
P.T. Anderson’s “Punch Drunk Love” – The villain, Philip Seymour Hoffman, scares me to death even while getting a haircut.
“Back to the Future” – How a simple story drives rather than special effects.
“Decalogue 5” – The only clear narrative account that has utterly convinced me murder is always abhorrent.
“The Last Laugh” – A shining example of Weimer Cinema’s style and subjective camera use.
“Dick Tracy” – The directing, production design and cinematography working in tandem always captivates me.
“Heat” – The tagline says it all, “A Los Angeles Crime Saga.”
“The Son” – The common Biblical issue, Grace, portrayed in such a way I actually walk away with hope.
“Patton” – One of the greatest American war movies about one of the greatest American Generals.
“Unforgiven” – In my opinion, the last western. It took the conventions and themes of almost a century long genre and laid it to rest on the premise that yes the west was won, but on mercy not sacrifice.
If you haven’t seen these movies give them a few a fair viewing. And please send me your top 10 list to let me know what I may have missed!
Back to the Future
1985 Dir: Robert Zemeckis
Dekalog, piec / Decalogue 5 “Thou Shalt Not Kill”
1989 Dir: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Der Letzte Mann / The Last Laugh
1924 Dir: F.W. Murnau
Dick Tracy
1990 Dir: Warren Beatty
Heat
1995 Dir: Michael Mann
Le Fils / The Son
2002 Dir: The Dardenne Brothers
Mosquito Coast
1986 Dir: Peter Weir
Patton
1970 Dir: Franklin J. Shaffner
Punch Drunk Love
2002 Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson
Unforgiven
1992 Clint Eastwood