Dirty Recommendations

[b.miller]

In the vein of Headset's "Sola Sistims Favourite song of the day" and Bound's "I'm currently reading...", i thought Treatment might benefit from a hat where we can all throw recommendations people's way with varying degrees of explanation.


I'll start it off with Race with the Devil, starring Peter Fonda and Peckinpah staple Warren Oates as a couple buddies who take their wives on a RV vacation and accidentally witness a satanic ritual killing. The satanites then proceed to chase after them and this movie has perhaps the best tagline ever: When you race with the devil, you'd better be faster than hell.

Lots of car chase-y stuff, lots of Fonda and Oates being cool, lots of screaming wives and weird-looking yokels. There's even a rattlesnake scene and boy is it intense... so if you're bored and looking for a rental, consider this one watchworthy.

[Animal Boything]

I'll kick it off with three of my favorite totally obscure movies:

Cemetery Man (AKA Dellamore Dellamorte): Rupert Everett stars as a graveyard groundskeeper who, beknownst only to him and his grunting manchild assistant, is charged with the tiresome nightly task of re-killing and re-burying the ones that return from the dead (he doesn't report it because of the paperwork involved), meanwhile grimly pondering the meaning of life and death and quietly obsessing over a mysterious woman who keeps entering his increasingly odd life in increasingly odd ways. It's a combination of art film, dark comedy, and zombie gore flick the likes of which I've never seen. It's currently only available on VHS, but Anchor Bay has been dangling a possible DVD release in front of me for years, which keeps getting pushed back. Your local rental place might have it if you're lucky.

Extreme Prejudice: Nick Nolte and Powers Boothe star as childhood best friends who ended up on opposite sides of the law and fell for the same woman (a cheesy but venerable setup) in a rowdy, shamelessly testosterone-fueled modern-day western. William Forsythe is amazing in a small supporting role. Again, this lacks a decent DVD release. You can get it, but it's not even in widescreen!

Withnail & I: This one actually has a Criterion Collection release, thank the lord, but it still seems like nobody I meet has seen it. It's one of my all-time favorite films. It's a morose comedy about two out-of-work actors in 1969 London who decide to escape from their miserable life by taking a vacation to a rich uncle's country home... which leads to utter disaster. Filled with memorably eccentric minor characters and brilliant, quotable dialogue, it's one to watch over and over. (Trivia: Orbital sampled the line "Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day" from this film.)

[Professor]

here's some fun stuff.

Spellbound: A documentary (actually true, however feels like a Christopher Guest movie) about the national spelling bee in the US. I think it's really really funny and disturbing--but keep in mind....it's actually true.

Welcome to the Dollhouse: Very funny. Very disturbing. I'm usually the one in the theatre that's cracking up when everyone else is disgusted. "how can he SAY that?"

The Shining: if you haven't seen it....hehe...watch the original trailer first. one of the best trailers i've EVER seen. period. movie is good too.

[bklyndv]

The Shining: if you haven't seen it....hehe...watch the original trailer first. one of the best trailers i've EVER seen. period. movie is good too.

You mean, this trailer (http://www.ps260.com/molly/SHINING%20FINAL.mov)?

[mmm skyscraper]

Sunset Blvd.

Creepy film that explores what happens to ex-stars.

Listen to 'Antarctica Starts Here' by John Cale after watching it for a musical wrap-up of the movie.

[ndrwrld]

just watched the 1978 take of
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers.
i forgot just how creepy that movie is.

[grady]

The last three films playing on my DVD player. They're also three of my favorite films that would be found on a list of my top 15-25 films.

Me and you and everyone we know: The first film by Miranda July that came out this past summer. A wonderful, humorous and touching film. It's being released on DVD October 11th. Here is a link to the thread (http://www.dirty.org/forums/showthread.php?t=135) discussing the film earlier this summer on the forums.

THX-1138 (director's cut and original cut): George Lucas's first film that is quite good. Thanks to the inventive and enterprising bittorrent community over at myspleen.net I was able to get a DVD copy of the original cut of the film before Mr. Lucas went back and meddled with the film about a year ago, releasing his new 'director's cut' of the film. However, it must be noted that this was the one instance where Mr. Lucas meddled with his film and it wasn't detrimental to the film as a whole like the original star wars films.

Chungking Express: Wong Kar-Wai's fourth film that made a large splash for him on the international scene. A very simple film split into two seperate stories dealing with desire, loss, and longing. I really like this film.

[Stephen]

Withnail & I
Obscure in the states perhaps but we Brits love this film. So many classic lines. And all so fucking funny.

"We've gone on holiday by mistake."

"If you hit me, it's murder."

"We shall have cake and fine wine. The finest wines known to man."

"I shall have you even if it need be buglary!"

"MONTY YOU CUNT."

etc.

I like Midnight Run - "I've got 2 words for you. Shut the fuck up." and Glengarry Glenn Ross "Fuck you etc".

[monkeyboy]

Don't be a Menace starring the Wayans brothers

Great parodie on other "black" movies like "Menace to Society", "Juice" and "Boyz in the Hood". It's nothing like that shitmovie "Whitechicks"...were the Wayans also starred in.
Just a laugh!

[//\/\/]

barfly with mickey rourke - so, so many good lines - a real tale of descent!

[GreenPea]

I recommend Z (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065234/) One if the best political movies I've seen in a few years. I loved it.

[Leon]

For a nice not-too-difficult-to-understand action movie, watch Boondock Saints, nice how you first see ''after the murder scenes" and AFTER that you can see how it happened.

Requiem For A Dream, watch a guy, his mother (or grandmother?), his girlfriend and a friend of his (one of the Wayans who also stars in Don't Be A Menace) going way too far into the world of drugs. I don't watch many films but this one REALLY REALLY grabbed me. When the movie is over I keep a depressed feeling, very weird that a movie can do that to me. Very impressive! A must see.

[mark3]

Chungking Express: Wong Kar-Wai's fourth film that made a large splash for him on the international scene. A very simple film split into two seperate stories dealing with desire, loss, and longing. I really like this film.
I bought this dvd a few years ago, but have never finished it. Had to turn it off after 30 minutes because I thought it was too damn weird. Maybe I should give it another chance....
The thing that initially caught my eye was the Tarantino reference.... :o

[adam]

I'll second Me and You and Everyone We Know.

[Animal Boything]

Stephen I think you forgot GETINTHEBACKOFTHEVAN!

[mmm skyscraper]

I bought this dvd a few years ago, but have never finished it. Had to turn it off after 30 minutes because I thought it was too damn weird. Maybe I should give it another chance....
The thing that initially caught my eye was the Tarantino reference.... :o

I think the second story is better (at least more straight forward; maybe not better) than the first; so you really should go back and take a look.

[the mongoose]

I second Requeim for a Dream!:cool:

and add:

>>DALLAS 362<< (http://www.dallas362.net/)

It stars Scott Caan and Shawn Hatosy and it's a fucking blast. Very real conversations (like Tarrantino minus the nerdy hollywood stuff) and genuine laughs throughout. The supporting actors (Jeff Goldblum for one;) ) are all kick ass and wonderfully weird.

Check it out you'll be glad.:)

[Winston]

fear and loathing in las vegas

probaley the best dope movie with "stars" in

[Animal Boything]

I'd like to think that most dirts have already seen Fear and Loathing, but I guess it's worth mentioning just in case someone hasn't, because it is one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of human expression. And also funny.

[chino]

The Last life in Universe... such a great weird film.

[sola sistim]

hmm..
some of my favorite movies would have to be:
Anchorman: this is a rather funny comedy. soooo many good quotes.
Garden State: this is one hell of a weird/quirky movie.quite funny in parts.

[GforGroove]

The Last life in Universe... such a great weird film.

I follow this one.. gorgeous movie!!

and well for everyone interested on reach the top of the top and the meaning of existence.. My favorite new movie and one of the best all time!:

I *heart* Huckabees!!!!

[gambit]

All anime recommendations:

Perfect Blue - very creepy film; deals with a falling pop star and the people dying all around her.
Spirited Away - Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.
My Neighbor Totoro - it may be a family film, but Miyazaki can make them absolutely amazing.
The Grave of the Fireflies - feeling too happy lately? Then watch this film and be utterly depressed. ;) (Seriously, this is a fantastic film about two Japanese orphans during WWII.)
Ghost in the Shell - watch the new edition on DVD (the one with the silver cover); it has a better dub, which helps in understanding this cyberpunk classic.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - just for the hell of it; can't go wrong with interplanetary bounty hunters. :cool:

[Animal Boything]

As long as we're talking Anime, we must not forget Akira, which still holds my prize for best animation ever, as well as being just a really good movie... especially now that you can actually get a decent translation. Miyazaki is cool and all, but don't forget the classics!

[grady]

I follow this one.. gorgeous movie!!

and well for everyone interested on reach the top of the top and the meaning of existence.. My favorite new movie and one of the best all time!:

I *heart* Huckabees!!!!

HERE HERE!!

I LOVE THIS FILM as well and totally agree with Jerry. Such a great and amazing film. It's on the list.

[gambit]

As long as we're talking Anime, we must not forget Akira, which still holds my prize for best animation ever, as well as being just a really good movie... especially now that you can actually get a decent translation. Miyazaki is cool and all, but don't forget the classics!Yeah, I watched Akira for the first time when it was released on two-disc DVD however long ago, and to be honest, I wasn't impressed. Considering it was made in the mid-80s, the animation was superb and still holds up, but I wasn't in awe of it as I'm sure most people were when it came out. And I didn't think the story was that amazing either. I'm not saying it was a bad film or that it's not a classic; I just wasn't impressed by it in the 21st century.

[b.miller]

i still contend that the first half of Akira is great but I've never liked the second half much... too much yelling of names.


This post is gonna be several mini-reviews for a bunch of movies I saw recently that I liked. i recommend each one if/when you can see them.

Domino Tony Scott continues to explore his shotgun-blast style of coverage, going just as crazy now as Oliver Stone went when he did NBK and JFK and Nixon. So don't expect shots to last any longer than 5 seconds... but if you go for that particular style of storytelling, this is a really really fun movie. Hot Chicks, Guns, and mescalin... what more do you really need?

Wolf Creek This is an Australian horror film that's about a group of kids that... you know... get terrorized. What's great about this movie though is that it manages to avoid a good 90% of the cliches and pitfalls that are now racing through your head. Who knows, maybe it's because it's Australian, but it never devolves into the current hollywood cookie cutter of what horror films are like nowadays. I was reminded more of films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and especially The Hills Have Eyes for it's pacing and character. Really good film.

Strings This is a marionette epic... I think it's Dutch or Norwegian or something... somewhere up there but I managed to see a French print with an english audio track. From what I understand though, it's out on DVD and rentable. What makes this film so cool, and believe me it's REALLY cool, is that the marionettes have a complete mythology and belief system around their strings, tying them directly to their mortality. The film explores this concept as a worldview while simultaneously following this huge storyline with opposing armies at war and political strife and all kinds of stuff. There are these beautiful shots up at the sky, above the trees and everything, where you can see thousands and thousands of strings going down to control each marionette. You see how they die, how they are born, how they get hurt and heal, how they live in this world where they fully acknowledge their dependence on these strings but at the same time act with complete free will. It's a really wild ride and well worth seeing.

Feast The project greenlight movie... It's good fun for a midnight movie or a drunken movie or something like that. Don't expect shakespeare or anything, but if you let yourself open up to it and just enjoy it for what it is, it's a pretty fun time.

Zathura Favreau's new one from the same guy who wrote Jumanji and The Polar Express. It's certainly kind of like Jumanji in that there's a boardgame involved and kids play it and get into magical danger, but the tone of the movie, the theme of the movie and most importantly the quality of the movie are all much different (in most cases better). The two kids do an absolutely excellent job, especially the younger one, and the whole space/50s sci-fi theme to it works really well. Kids probably already want to check it out but it's still enjoyable for people like me (27).

P.S. I don't think anyone read them when i was at QT6 but just in case some of you did, I'm currently in the midst of something called FantasticFest that's going on here in Austin. It's basically a 4-day film festival showing only horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic films. These recommendations are basically what I saw during this first day (I saw Domino last Sunday). These mini-reviews came out of entries I made to my movie journal, so if you're at all interested in more details or more films in this vein then you can check them out by hittting up THIS PAGE (http://mymovie.medialife.org/?action=browse&sort=chrono&filter=week) throughout the weekend.

[ffolkes]

Yeah, I watched Akira for the first time when it was released on two-disc DVD however long ago, and to be honest, I wasn't impressed. Considering it was made in the mid-80s, the animation was superb and still holds up, but I wasn't in awe of it as I'm sure most people were when it came out. And I didn't think the story was that amazing either. I'm not saying it was a bad film or that it's not a classic; I just wasn't impressed by it in the 21st century.

That's funny, cos i have it the other way around.

I absolutely loved Akira, and i still do. The only bad thing about it is that every other Anime movie that i've seen later on has paled in comparison...
Nothing has made such an impact on me like Akira did.

TETSUOOOO!

KANEDAAAAA!

AAAAAAAAGH!

:D (that's for u, b. miller)

[ffolkes]

Domino,
Wolf Creek

I've waited for Wolf Creek ever since i first heard the reviews... It's supposedly very disturbing and shocking, which is pretty much up my alley. :)

Another horror movie that i desperately want to see is The Descent, which has enjoyed rave reviews. It's also a British movie so it might avoid the hollywood horror cliche bullshit, much like Wolf Creek did. I hear that 2005 has been in fact the best year for horror movies for ages... That's great.

As to Domino, i also want to see that one. I was a huge fan of Man On Fire, and i've always liked Tony's distinct visual style. Man On Fire appealed to me greatly cos of it's unforgiving nature, and also the acting was very first class IMO. (Dakota Fanning was stellar, and Denzel Washington slammed another powerhouse performance) Not too sure about Keira Knightley in Domino though, but i'm willing to give it a go.

[b.miller]

yeah give it a go... she's pretty badass as Domino.

[mmm skyscraper]

KANEDAAAAA!


On the Japanese track it sounds like he's saying Canada.

Millenium Actress is a great anime. No dub though.

[Winston]

I'd like to think that most dirts have already seen Fear and Loathing, but I guess it's worth mentioning just in case someone hasn't, because it is one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of human expression. And also funny.

if you have seen or not, it's a recommendation, isn't it :)

[Bargo]

I saw The Proposition (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421238/) today. It's a gritty, brutal western set in the early colonial days of Australia, and I found it to be an amazingly powerful film. The performances by everyone, Guy Pearce and Ray Winstone in particular, are fantastic.. the visuals, oh my god, the visuals are spectacularly beautiful, showing off an arid, hellish side to outback Australia.

It's quite a violent film, but it's seldomly gratuitous and it never revels in it. The ending shook me up quite a bit. Highly recommended.

[Animal Boything]

That's funny, cos i have it the other way around.

I absolutely loved Akira, and i still do. The only bad thing about it is that every other Anime movie that i've seen later on has paled in comparison...
Nothing has made such an impact on me like Akira did.Same here. Other movies come and go, but I never get tired of Akira. To me, the second half is the best part. The scene where Kaneda and Tetsuo relive their childhood friendship after having tried to kill each other is in my opinion one of the most powerful scenes in film history. I've seen it over and over and it never loses its impact. I guess it's a personal thing.

[monkeyboy]

All anime recommendations:

Perfect Blue - very creepy film; deals with a falling pop star and the people dying all around her.
Spirited Away - Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.
My Neighbor Totoro - it may be a family film, but Miyazaki can make them absolutely amazing.
The Grave of the Fireflies - feeling too happy lately? Then watch this film and be utterly depressed. ;) (Seriously, this is a fantastic film about two Japanese orphans during WWII.)
Ghost in the Shell - watch the new edition on DVD (the one with the silver cover); it has a better dub, which helps in understanding this cyberpunk classic.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - just for the hell of it; can't go wrong with interplanetary bounty hunters. :cool:

Fuck yeah I love anime...I have got Ghost in The Shell and it's fucking awesome.
Recenty I have been checking this anime called Naruto...great fighting scenes and some nice swearing in japanese.

[stimpee]

Obscure in the states perhaps but we Brits love this film. So many classic lines. And all so fucking funny.

"We've gone on holiday by mistake."

"If you hit me, it's murder."

"We shall have cake and fine wine. The finest wines known to man."

"I shall have you even if it need be buglary!"

"MONTY YOU CUNT."

etc.


Withnail & I is my number one film of all time. There comes a point when you can quote the whole movie as almsot every line is funny and memorable (and its "monty you terrible cunt!" :p).

"You can stuff it up your arse for nothing and fuck off while you're doing it!" :D

"How should i know where we are. I feel like a pig shat in my head."

[Jason Roth]

I haven't seen it yet, but in Into The Blue, Jessica Alba spends the entire movie in a bikini.

Therefore, it's recommended.

[ffolkes]

Even though many might have seen it already, i'll still recommend:

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Directed by: David Mamet
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce and Alec Baldwin.


One of my fav movies ever, this is an "actor's film" if there ever is one.

Based on David Mamet's play, Glengarry Glen Ross revolves around four desperate real estate salesmen racing for clients (or "leads") as they do not want to get fired by the end of the week. Doesn't maybe sound that tight on paper, but on screen it gets very tense.

Glengarry has an all-star cast, and absolutely everybody is on superb form. Mamet's dialogue is also a standout.
(Who could forget that hardball sales pitch by Alec Baldwin?)

I love this film.

[b.miller]

one more movie that you probably won't see till next year... but hopefully when it comes out something in the back of your mind will go "hey! you heard this was good a long time ago!"

Hostel

From Eli Roth who did that movie Cabin Fever, this is about a couple of buddies backpacking through Europe in search of sex and end up... well... unhappy. There's a lot of hype going on about the movie right now about it being the goriest movie ever made and a new level in brutality and all that stuff... none of that's really true... but that doesn't keep it from being an absolutely kickass horror movie, compounded by the eery plausibility of the premise. I actually wouldn't be surprised if stuff like what's shown in this movie is actually happening somewhere in the World... which makes it all the more creepier. so yeah, Hostel gets a SOLID recommendation from me. Be sure to see it when it comes out!

[ffolkes]

Hostel gets a SOLID recommendation from me. Be sure to see it when it comes out!

Yeah i actually heard about this just last week! My brother works in a movie distribution company and he's always scouting for upcoming films... (He loves horror in particular) Anyway he mentioned "Hostel" and said that it's rumoured to be pretty sick.

I'll definitely check this out, as there can never be too many good horror movies.

Thanks! :)

[Stephen]

Withnail & I is my number one film of all time. There comes a point when you can quote the whole movie as almsot every line is funny and memorable (and its "monty you terrible cunt!" :p).
Marwood:
What about whatshisname?

Withnail:
What about him?

Marwood:
Why don't you give him a call?

Withnail:
What for?

Marwood:
Ask him about his house.

Withnail:
You want me to call whatshisname and ask him about his house?

Marwood:
Why not?

Withnail:
Alright. What's his number?

Marwood:
I've no idea. I've never met him.

Withnail:
Neither have I. What the fuck are you talking about?


Whole script here: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/3398/script.txt

That's work out of the window for a while...

[bklyndv]

Some fav's:

Sweet Smell of Success - Shakespearean tragedy set against a brassy, jazzed '50s American city. Simply some of the best dialogue ever. Great "acting" in the sense of professional craftsmanship that Hollywood once delivered.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe? - another script you could chew on. Fantastic performances. Challenged a lot of norms in its day, and broke a lot of social don'ts. This set up much of what's seen as "natural" acting.

Scratch - the definitive hip-hop documentary.

Casablanca - yah, one of the best. evar. If you've avoided this for some reason - stop that.

First Name: Carmen - this is one of Godard's finest, an elliptical trip filled with asides and funny gags. Very much a man at play with what a film is, and his own persona.

Grey Gardens - or so I hear.

[monkeyboy]

Natural Born Killers

Original script of this movie was done by Tarantino, but Oliver Stone changed it a but and apparently Tarantino got pissed off. Still this is a great movie.

It's about a duo (Mickey and Mallory) who kill for pleasure. They do all kinds a crazy shit and the media is hyping them as heroes.
Great shocking movie!!!

[Winston]

I haven't seen it yet, but in Into The Blue, Jessica Alba spends the entire movie in a bikini.

Therefore, it's recommended.

i second that

[ndrwrld]

Leon - deluxe edition.
awesome.
i think a sequel would be an excellent idea..
call it ' without Leon '.

[b.miller]

Leon - deluxe edition.

for just a second I thought you were talking about Leon the fellow dirt and thought that was really awesome.

Brian - director's cut
Scott - unrated edition
Tom 1.5 with exclusive footage from Tom 2!

[Winston]

tom 1.5 is dope

what's the story on tom2?

[Tom]

I do my own sex scenes.

[Sardo]

I saw The Proposition (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421238/) today. It's a gritty, brutal western set in the early colonial days of Australia, and I found it to be an amazingly powerful film. The performances by everyone, Guy Pearce and Ray Winstone in particular, are fantastic.. the visuals, oh my god, the visuals are spectacularly beautiful, showing off an arid, hellish side to outback Australia.

It's quite a violent film, but it's seldomly gratuitous and it never revels in it. The ending shook me up quite a bit. Highly recommended.

I loved this too. The last movie i saw in a cinema and way better than most of the shit out there. Bloody awful place to live hey! The actors and crew were operating in +50C temps and said it helped them get into the roles a heap better than before. Said that if it was 30C they would have complained etc, but 50C they were too hot to worry so acted all the better. I never knew Danny Huston before, he is fuckin great! What a good bad guy!

Ive seen some other goodies lately on the big screen;

Little FIsh - About a smack addict going clean against the odds. Great role by Hugo Weaving (Mr Anderson from Matrix etc, if you didnt know) and some excellent bit roles by oz faves.

What The Beep Is It All About? - quantum physics and stuff. If ever I wanted to pause a movie to digest it and discuss its guts, this is the one. Luckily its on DVD now so you can.

As for oldies to recommend that you mighten have heard of.

Slaughterhouse Five - The movie is really hard to find, but as i was 7 or 8 when i saw it on as a midday movie when home sick, it had me stunned with the whole out of chronological order thing going on. My first exposure to really different filmmaking and it left a big mark on me.

Tape - Simple little dialogue based movie shot in a motel room. Ethan Hawke and Uma and the guy from Dead Poets. Really engrossing and left me changed.

Only a thousand others to add but that will do for now. Im about to watch Kingdom Of Heaven and Batman Begins. Im crossing fingers they are alright in comparison.

Oh the movie about the 2 gay cowboys coming out soon, looks sublime. Anyone know more or seen it? S'got Jake Gullyenhall and, ummm...:confused:

[Stephen]

What The Beep Is It All About? - quantum physics and stuff. If ever I wanted to pause a movie to digest it and discuss its guts, this is the one. Luckily its on DVD now so you can.
Ooh, watch yourself. This was widely hammered on these forums previously and in a lot of press too. Mainly because it's bollocks (as in 'utterly untrue'). I've not seen it myself but from what I've read here and elsewhere, it's a deliberately misleading mock documentary with none of the educational merit it purports to have.

Someone who's seen it could probably comment more eloquently.

[b.miller]

another recommendation.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang


If you were ever a fan of tough guy movies or Raymond Chandler mysteries or Lethal Weapon, I can just about guarantee 100% that you will like this movie. If you are not a fan of any of those... then you still might like it. It's convoluted, funny, cool, homage-y, and smart. also great performances from both Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer.... and Michelle Monaghan is HOTT

definitely get out and see it.

[sunflowereye]

Here is a list of recently viewed movies, some old favs, some new:

For comedy we have:

"The Big Lebowski" - hands down the best Cohen movie ever. So many good lines. Probably John Goodman's best role.

"The Blues Brothers" - one of the funniest movies of all time with more cameos and car crashes than should normally be allowed.

"Tommy Boy" - still the best Chris Farley flick.

"Half-Baked" - Dave Chapelle before he freaked out. Funny stuph.

"Catch-22" - can't stand up to the book (one of my all-time favorite pieces of literature), but it is still pretty damn good. Dark humor at its finest.

"Real Genius" - super-funny 80s flick with Val Kilmer stealing the show.

"Shaun of the Dead" - this tribute to George Romero is fall down funny. Just might have to go as Shaun for Halloween this year.

For drama:

"Wonderland" - Another Val Kilmer pic, in another drug-crazed role ("The Salton Sea" was good too. Badgers make me cringe now), as porn star John Holmes implicated in a multiple murder mystery. Very good acting, with good supporting roles from Tim Blake Nelson & Lisa Kudrow.

"City of God" - Whoah! Amazing flick. The DVD also has the documentary that kicks just as much ass as the flick.

Action:

"Master & Commander" - Love the books, so this is a no brainer. Great cinematography & acting. The final battle is insane! "Grappling hooks away!"

"The Winter War" - the Finns, outnumbered 10 to 1, hold back the Russian hordes in this superb WWII flick.

Weird:

"Donnie Darko" - crazy time travel & evil bunnies. ????! Great wtf? flick.

"Pi" - also up there in the "serious head fu*k" category. From the guy that brought you "Requiem for A Dream."

Anime:

Complete "Starblazers" series. Still my all time favorite Japanimation series, even over the entire Robotech series.

"Star Wars Clone Wars: Vol I & II" - these prequels to Episode III kick Episode III's ass.

"Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Vols I-III" - twisted humor at its best. So many funny episodes. Me and the wife went as Dr. Wierd & Steve for Halloween last year. Our costumes ruled.

Documentaries:

"Do You See Me Laughing" - great pic on little known Blues artists T-Model Ford, Junior Kimbreaugh, R. L. Burnside and others. If you love the blues you must see this.

"Children of Beslan" - heart wrenching HBO doc on the horribly gone wrong terrorist hostage situation at a schoolhouse in Russia in September of last year all told from childrens' POV. Seriously made me tear up.

"A Tale of Two Johns" - great documentary on one of my favorite bands - They Might Be Giants. Lots of great interviews.

Music:

"Primus Hallucino-Genetics 2004" - live show from Chicago last year with sick live footage! Second set has "Frizzle Fry" played in its entirety! This is worth the purchase alone. Les Claypool is hands down the best bass player ever!

"Ween: Live in Chicago" - another show from Chicago from 2003 I believe. Great DVD as it comes with an audio CD as well.

[grady]

The Wages of Fear

A french film directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot tells the story of four men driving trucks of nitroglycerine through a hazardous mountain route in South America. The film was made in 1953 and is perhaps one of the most intense and suspenseful films I've ever seen. William Freidkin later remade the movie in the movie calling it Scorcerer. The Wages of Fear also won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953.

[undarrenworld]

Donnie Darko have amazing soudtrack.;)

[bklyndv]

The Wages of Fear

A french film directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot tells the story of four men driving trucks of nitroglycerine through a hazardous mountain route in South America. The film was made in 1953 and is perhaps one of the most intense and suspenseful films I've ever seen. William Freidkin later remade the movie in the movie calling it Scorcerer. The Wages of Fear also won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953.

This sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the heads-up.

On the suspense tip, I checked out Hitch's Torn Curtain recently and it surprised me with how atmospheric it was. I'd seen the fight scene (you'll know the one if you see it) years ago and marvelled at it, and seeing the full film was really gratifying. Not his best, a bit uneven, but well worth the time and very much the kind of film that shows how Hitch, even in his lesser films, was so much more the director than contemporary suspense filmmakers.

[b.miller]

Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

the new Winterbottom is just as good as you expect it to be. It's like Full Frontal tried to be but it doesn't fall apart. more notes HERE (http://mymovie.medialife.org/?action=movieDetails&movieID=465)

[Sardo]

"The Blues Brothers" - one of the funniest movies of all time with more cameos and car crashes than should normally be allowed.



Absolutely, My favourite movie for sure. sunflowereye.

I got a lot out of the movie re What The Bleep. It opened my mind and reinforced the idea that thoughts are powerful and life-changing. I remember though, at the cinema thinking that the Skeptics Society would be creaming themselves of it. I still liked it but not for the same reasons as was prehaps designed for. :D

[the mongoose]

"Me, you, and everyone we know."

Great film.....the less you know the better though.:)

[grady]

Match Point

Woody Allen's newest film that is very similar to his film Crimes and Misdemeanors, which was released in 1989. This was Woody's first decent film since Sweet and Lowdown back in 1999.

[grady]

This sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the heads-up.


Definently check it out. It's one of my favorite films. I think you should also see the remake if you have a chance, kind of a compare and contrast. I still stand by the original being better, however, there are some like, writer/director Roger Avary, who like the remake Scorcerer more than the original, The Wages of Fear.

[b.miller]

>>DALLAS 362<< (http://www.dallas362.net/)





I rented this based on your reco, mongoose....


it was pretty good. For a low-budget indie movie made with a bunch of friends, I'd say it's really good. I thought Goldblum's performance and character was awesome, but found a few things kinda hokey. Still though, you could definitely do worse with a movie choice. that's for sure.

PS. it doesn't actually take place in Dallas, in case that was holding anyone back :)

[kid cue]

BUMP because i never got to participate in this thread ...

Pickpocket - only the second Robert Bresson film i've seen. it's essentially about a guy who becomes a pickpocket (duh). Bresson's attention to gestures and texture is so ravishing (and weird when you think about it) that i just want to eat parts of the movie. another reason i enjoyed it was because it was like a film-length exploration of that pickpocket scene in the beginning of the first TMNT movie, which awed a 10-or-so year-old me.

Kings and Queen - a recent one by Arnaud Desplechin, which weaves together two storylines and is alternately somber, absurd, hilarious, and tragic. it's an incredibly ambitious, epic film that largely succeeds IMO. completely maximal, overflowing with ideas and moments. the use of intricate cuts makes it feel like a very long film (it also is one), and seems very fresh compared to other very long, epic films with less youthful dispositions.

The Death of Mr. Lazarescu - a Romanian film about a man's trip through a very fucked-up medical system. it treads a very fine line between satire and documentary, and is extremely effective because it's believable. not as bleak as the title sounds, and relentlessly (if cynically) entertaining.

Cafe Lumiere - this Hou Hsiao-Hsien film about a young Japanese freelance writer and a guy who goes around recording subway noises is one of my favorites. because it's incredibly understated, nothing seems to happen, yet i can't stop thinking about it. used bookstores, coffee shops, train rides, guy wth big headphones, etc.

Patlabor WXIII - anime. i still haven't seen the first two, directed by Oshii, but this third one has been wrongly maligned IMO. the story, about a monster on a rampage, is very familiar, but every shot drips with atmosphere, and there is a pretty sophisticated handle on tone and an implied longer story throughout (similar to the above). i guess you might call it a midlife crisis version of Akira's teenage angst.

eXistenZ - i still think this is an incredibly underrated Cronenberg classic. the tale of virtual reality games is tired but the execution is sublime, and the referenes to classic adventure gaming are very endearing. i love how Cronenberg films seem to slither across the screen.

Le Cercle Rouge - i saw this a while ago but have been itching to see it again. it's a masterpiece of form and style. has anyone seen Le Samourai?

Vengeance Is Mine - a 1970s Japanese film about a black sheep son who goes on a killing spree and then tries to hide in the city. it's amazingly funny at times and unflinchingly violent at others. the ending, which is haunting and very unforeseen, makes the preceding story rather transcendent, if that makes any sense. i haven't managed to untangle the generational angst that was being sorted out (or maybe it was just straight nihilism), but it's a surprisingly versatile "portrait of a killer" type film. the funky intro and end music is also kickass.