It figures that many audiophiles are also film buffs. I love to see a director as brilliant and underrated as Atom Egoyan getting his props here. "The Sweet Hereafter" is stunning. I think "Exotica" is just as good, and perhaps more challenging. As for Lynch, although I love him, I couldn't get into "Inland Empire" either. On the other hand, I like "Mulholland Drive" as much as any movie I've seen in the last twenty years. Just a mind blowing movie.
How about a couple of great older "out of Hollywood" films? "Night of the Hunter" and "Out of the Past," both starring the great Robert Mitchum, turned out to be very influential, but still were far from typical Hollywood fare in their day. "Night of the Hunter" is especially original, and maintains its eerie surrealism fifty years later.
And then, just to keep the list going, here are a handful of nominations chosen absolutely at random.
Picnic At Hanging Rock
You Can Count On Me
Five Easy Pieces
Half Nelson
Away From Her
Red Rock West
Music Of Chance
Happiness
Heavenly Creatures
The Whale and the Squid
In The Company Of Men
My Dinner With Andre
House Of Games
Election
By the way, now that the Coens have won Oscars for best director, screenplay, and picture, can they still be considered "outside of Hollywood"?
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Great suggestions here from Blkadr and Audiofeil, and others. Blkadr - enjoyed Wild at Heart and didn't take to Inland Empire at all. I liked Lost Highway as well, and even was a big fan of Eraserhead back in the 80's. There's a good documentary about Lynch called Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch that's well worth seeing. In the realm of the child-actor theme and bouncing off of "To Kill a Mockingbird" (yes, the kids were great in that) - Also check out Robert Mitchum in "The Night of the Hunter" - kind of hokey dialogue, but outstanding sets, lighting and cinemaphotography...just beautiful visual style. I believe it was Charles Laughton's only directorial effort. Audiofeil - Nice group of suggestions; I loved many of those films. I'd add "Best in Show" for another hilarious Christopher Guest effort. I also love Atom Egoyan's other films way back to "Speaking Parts" and "Family Viewing". There are films that come out of Hollywood that defy the typical dreck you may come to expect from that meat grinder. Here are a few that come to mind: In the Bedroom Magnolia 3:10 to Yuma (that reminds me - check out Bale in "The Machinist") ...oh, and another really brilliant actor: Ryan Gosling - check him out in, "The Believer" for shades of over-the-top Oldman and early Ed Norton ala "American History X". I also enjoyed Gosling in "United States of Leland" Love the earlier stuff by Jarmusch - check out Benigni and Tom Waits in "Down by Law" OK, gotta get some work done. Albert, I can't argue with you there, she belongs in "Perfect Systems" for sure! |
Pretty Baby was controversial in its time, dont think they could make it now, even after the peak of the PC movement. We just got to the point where Leno can joke about weed on late night tv.
I cant remember the names of the actors (kids) in To Kill a Mockingbird or The Innocents, and Little Liz Taylor was precious in National Velvet. Great child acting all round in Stand by Me. Our Mother's House features a family of kids who bury their deceased mother in the garden in order to keep the house (brit 1967).
If you like Blue Velvet try Lynch's Wild at Heart. William Duefoe's teeth should get separate billing. I have Inland Empire but have not watched it yet.
Classic Bogart? Few people remember Beat the Devil. Bogart, Robert Morley. Peter Lorre, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida. Daily rewrites by Truman Capote turns the novel into a satire with the usual outstanding band of character actors and some big stars supporting Bogart as he does light parody of himself. Audience didnt get it so it flopped. Fun to watch.
Sorry, I realize Im going on and on. I think I should get out more. |
Blkadr
Thanks. I'll put them onto my short (well sort of now) list. I'm a big fan of C Walken. the 'Prophecy' series, Pool Hall Junkies, Suicide Kings, King of the city, Deer Hunter (most of all), and I loved the Pope flick too.
Roarke also played in a Skip Woods flick "Thursday" which will always remain in my top ten list as one of the best dark, violent comedies I've seen. Although I came by it on VHS instead of DVD. The prices for the DVD just blew me away as many simply overvalue this particular product. I've seen it being asked for as much as $200. it's good, but it's not that good.
Although I'm not a fan of children playing roles of lowly reputed women, does anyone recall "Pretty Baby"? |
For another incredible child performance remember Tatum O'neil in Paper Moon. She and her dad Ryan were both superb, great film.
Just watched William H Macy in a strange, violent movie called Edmund. You think he was a good in Fargo? Not for the squeamish.
Oldman as Dracula?
Anyone remember Gary Oldman in dreads in the movie True Romance? There is also a classic scene between Dennis Hopper and Chris Walken in that flic.
Ever wonder if Eric Roberts or Mickey Rourke could really act? The Pope of Greenwich Village clears that up and you get scantily clad young Daryl Hannah for no extra charge. "artificial insinuation"
Once again I recommend Freeway. Be surprised by Reese Witherspoon playing a less sympathetic trashy character, she is brilliant in this black comedy. The scene when Kiefer Sutherland enters the coutroom is priceless. |
Fargo
Waiting for Guffman
The Ice Storm
The Sweet Hereafter
Big Lebowski
Full Monty
Slingblade
Rabbit Proof Fence
Royal Tannebaums
Life is Beautful |
Ouch! I wanted to stick to ten, but this one has to be in there as well (so make that an ex-aequo somewhere)
Tampopo (Juzo Itami) |
Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (Pedro Almodóvar)
The Big Lebowski (Ethan & Joel Coen)
Diva (Jean-Jacques Beineix)
Pret-à-Porter (Robert Altman)
Wasabi (Gérard Krawczyk / Luc Besson)
Subway (Luc Besson)
Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (Guy Ritchie)
Snatch (Guy Ritchie)
Fargo (Ethan & Joel Coen)
The 5th Element (Luc Besson) |
She belongs in the category: "Perfect System." Music for the eyes and intelligent too. This from USA Today, 2002 The 20-year-old actress is a junior at Harvard, a straight-A student (she reportedly aced her SATs while appearing on Broadway in "The Diary of Anne Frank") who sprinkles her conversation with phrases such as "social Darwinism" and "interdependent sense of self" and knows more about Kant than Cannes. But she's cool enough in between exams to hang with her friend Moby, attend Britney Spears' birthday party and dye her hair bright "Run Lola Run" red for Halloween.
Straddling the line between celebrity and normalcy, no small feat for anyone, is even more daunting for adolescents. Rehab centers are littered with former juvenile actors. Heartbreak, unscrupulous agents and legal tussles with family members are footnotes to many a career. But if anyone can keep her wits, it's Portman, even as her face graces billboards for the latest "Star Wars" summer blockbuster, in which she reprises her role in 1999's "Phantom Menace" as Amidala.
Here, in her "bubble," as she calls it, Portman is just another highly accomplished, fiercely smart student who has a cellphone in her pocket, is multilingual (she speaks Hebrew, French and Japanese), likes to make lists, says she's "not good with boys," has Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" on her night table and says her favorite movie of last year was the sweet French farce "Amélie."
Her petite stature (she's just over 5 feet tall) and nubile, almost luminescent beauty give her a vulnerable quality.
"You should have checked me out when I was 13," Portman says, laughing. "I was locking myself in the bathroom, threatening to kill myself -- being so mean to my mom and fighting with her all the time. Girls are horrible. I hope I have boys." She was 13 when she played Mathilda in the film, "Leon" across from Jean Reno, an assassin who takes her under his wing. This is one of my all time favorite movies. Natalie and Jodie Foster both hold a special place in my heart, |
Albertporter
posting pics.... uh, there's always that 'virtual systems' area I suppose... Could she be labeled as a 'vital component'? |
Agreed! If you like Portman here, DEFINITELY check out the film from around the same period titled, "Beautiful Girls". Absolutely outstanding performance on her part. Damn good film too. My favorite recent roll of hers is in "Closer". I'm surprised Albert hasn't joined in here...Don't get him started on Natalie! Is there any way to post photo's of Natalie here at Audiogon? |
Jax2
I like Gary O... He's one of the few I usually can't pick out in a film right off...even by his voice.
Got the Commitments, and a couple others named here. I'm becoming awed by these titles. i don't subscribe to international films... i've found too few flicks which are worth me spending a couple extra hours to view as the subtitles are more so an issue as of late... I gave up on doing Babel, and some others because of it. I might as well just get the book instead. But I keep trying like with Tommy Lee Jones’ Missing, and 3 Funerals for m Estrada, which I really enjoyed… and bought.
Saw a couple Jimmy Stewart films lately which were good. One by Hitchcock, Rope… the other by Preminger, “Anatomy of a Murder”… Otto did a fine job with that one given when it was filmed. Very cutting edge that one. |
In both versions they resist injecting any sexual tone to Leon's attitude, but the precocious young Portman does suggest it ever so subtly in her character. Shes remarkable. Agreed! If you like Portman here, DEFINITELY check out the film from around the same period titled, "Beautiful Girls". Absolutely outstanding performance on her part. Damn good film too. My favorite recent roll of hers is in "Closer". I'm surprised Albert hasn't joined in here...Don't get him started on Natalie! |
There is an "uncut international" version of Leon the professional. Its 24 min longer and most of the additional is the relationship between Leon and the girl. In both versions they resist injecting any sexual tone to Leon's attitude, but the precocious young Portman does suggest it ever so subtly in her character. Shes remarkable. |
Thanks... I have the one about the hit man and the little girl. "The Professional" I'll look into the rest If you like Gary Oldman's over the top performance as the bad cop in that film, also check out Nicholas Roeg's film, "Track 29" which is another strange and brilliant performance by Oldman (one of my favorite actors) - largely wasted in his Hollywood performances). Track 29 is a very odd film - not for everyone for sure. |
Diva.
The Kite Runner
The Rabbit Proof Fence
Das Boot
Idiocracy
Across the Universe
Sicko
Stop Making Sense
The Commitments |
Jax2
Thanks... I have the one about the hit man and the little girl. "The Professional" I'll look into the rest |
I love film, and I hate most of the stuff that comes out of Hollywood, so I could go on and on, but these are all at the top of my list:
Wings of Desire
Secrets and Lies
Everything is Illuminated
I Like Killing Flies
Stroszek
Berlin Alexanderplatz
City of Lost Children
The Remains of the Day
Lovely and Amazing
The Professional
Amores Perros
Sex and Lucia
Things Change
Blue Velvet
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Great.
I suppose defining non Hollywood films is like the difference between commercial lable driven music, and that which is fueled by the artist (s) & director. Excellent can and is had, in each arena.
I've found many main stream films, enjoyable, provocative, and worth spedning my money on. here, though I sought more to cast light onto those which aren't usually mentioned in casual passing conversations regarding film. Personally, I could not mention thousands of worthwhile celluloid products as my favs. Doubtless though, there likely are even more than that waiting to be discovered.
It would be good to hear more titles to investigate though... eclectic or main stream if one feels the need.
Any Film Noir candidates out there? |
"KOYAANISQATSI" Is one of the most mesmorizing films I've ever seen.
87 minutes of nonstop music and visual imagery. No dialog. No actors.
Only watch it when you have time to see it from beginning to end. |
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - R Downey Jr/ Val Kilmer
Dirty Filthy Love - Brit
Down in the Vally - Edward Norton indy
Pretty Persuasion - It aint Clueless
Repo Man - 80s cult love it
Sexy Beast - he's no Gandhi
Shallow Grave - Brit
Hard Times - Bronson overlooked w/James Coburn, Strother Martin
Freeway - Illegally Blond, Reese kills, so does Kiefer!
Infernal Affairs - Chinise film Scorcese made into "The Departed"
Hobson's Choice - Charles Laughton, John Mills, Brenda de Banzie sweet wonderful forgotten classic
Just a few that pop into my head, I love film, On the Waterfront is on, got to go... |
the lindsey anderson trilogy of 'if', 'oh lucky man', and 'britainia hospital'........'crime wave'(pre hollywood sam raimi, the cohens, etc)......alan rudolph's'remember my name'(alberta hunter soundtrack)......and a thousand more as well..... |
All "marty" movies before "Color of Money"....
Nearly all "pre code" films..
All PT Anderson flics..
Odd-n-ends:
The Sweet Hearafter
The Ice Strom
Barton Fink
Seconds
Save Us All
Body Double
Affliction
Babel
Syriana
Red October
and on and on....
I think the roblem is defining "Hollywood" movies...
Good thread, but, I could list thousands, John |
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I found Fargo brilliant, seen it a dozen times it always makes me laugh. |
