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OK, tinear, you asked. If I were going away for a long to watch some old favorites here's a representative list I could really be happy with:- A Vertical Ray Of The Sun - I'll have it for you soon.
- The Professionals - My favorite Western.
- Dr. Strangelove - Sterling Hayden is a favorite.
- Blade Runner - Rutger Hauer always moves me here.
- Le Samourai - Was there ever a man more beautiful and cool than the young Alain
Delon? Melville ain't bad either.
- Moby Dick - The other Melville.
- The Hustler - More beauty and cool in the young Newman. Jackie Gleason's greatest
turn.
- Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolfe? - Wit, intensity, brutality and sadness hardly get better.
- The French Connection - I love this oyster-eating Fernando Rey performance.
- The Big Lebowski
- Dead Man - Worth it for Henricksen and Mitchum.
- Das Boot
- Apocalypse Now
- Fitzcarraldo - My dose of Kinski
- Viva Zapata - Brando!! Another western.
- The Getaway - The McQueen one, although, I like both.
- A History Of Violence - Still impressive to me.
- Wild River - Lee Remick (yummy). Montgomery Clift. The TVA story.
- Psycho
- Waiting For Godot - Beckett on film is still good.
- The Rules Of The Game
- Playtime
- Ran
- Dersu Uzala
- Russian Ark- I need to see this many times.
- The Sacrifice - Ditto
- The Ipcress File
- Alfie
- We're No Angels - My favorite Christmas film. Bogart tickles me.I welcome your comments.
Follow Ups:
think his three finest performances were in "The Young Philadelphians," "Long Hot Summer" and "Harper."
In LHS, he played a character extremely close to that of Brando in "The Fugitive Kind," though his love interest is the store owner's young daughter, not his wife.
The contrast in their acting styles is very apparent: Brando never plays to the audience, asking for approval---if anything, he makes himself obnoxious. Newman, unfortunately, adopted the habit of grinning too widely and often, seemingly attempting to ingratiate himself to the viewer.
Anyhow, Orson Welles, Joanne Woodward, and several others enliven the film: it's so over the top it becomes grand entertainment: I believe it's based on a Faulkner short story, "The Barn Burner."
It bears, as I mentioned, a lot of similarities to the Williams story: I wonder who plagiarized whom?
I would have expressed it another way but those are spot-on observations about the contrasting styles. I take it that since you compare the two that you have a high regard for both.They are both giant entertainers - which was their abiding intention. Immensly sensual and interesting to watch no matter what they chose to do, on and off screen.
It's paradoxical that in order to make such finely drawn comments one must have the historical advantage.
artist. He studied acting with and became the most famous proponent of a certain acting style which, I believe, came from Russian theater (Stanislovski? going on really old memory, here).
Brando's fame originated from his massive success in the theater, starring in, especially, Tennessee Williams's plays.
He had the skill to play pretty much any character, combining in one impossibly talented package the charisma of a leading man with the flexibility and skill of a world-class character actor.
Newman was a very good actor, as well, though he didn't have the menace of Brando, the almost-out-of-control explosiveness. That was Brando's unique gift which early became apparent in his film career in "The Wild Ones."
Newman, as I mentioned before, early developed a grinning tendency which was irksome: his persona was one of immense conceit and this was his "wink" to his audience.
I'd have to rate James Dean ahead of Newman. Far ahead, actually.
But we're talking about massive talents here so that's hardly an insult...
...I won't argue against any of these points. And it's gratifying to read them. My remarks were strictly from a movie lover's point of view. Meant in no way to demean or glorify either Brando or Newman.My point was simply that both have provided immeasureable pleasure and inspiration over a lifetime for me, regardless of talent levels. Would I trade Hud for On the Waterfront? Or The Sting for Teahouse...? Or Judge Roy Bean....for One-Eyed Jacks? Probably. But, it would be a Sophie's choice to trade one's career for the other.
I've derived every bit as much pleasure over the years from watching Newman as from Brando.
I've been thinking recently how much I owe, how much I appreciate the transcendent influence of artists like Brando, Sydow, Hackman, Caine, Kingsley, Mifuno, Guinness, ad infinitum. They all have their particular talents. And they wanted to expose, to show themselves to us. To please us. Therefore, my remarks about entertainment. Not a trivial thing.
What I'm after here on this forum is to learn more about how to deepen my understanding and pleasure of movies. Just as I relish the personal exposure of the artist on the screen, the same goes for private revelations here.
Which "Apocalypse Now"?
Rico, I like the original because that's how I learned it.In contrast to the director's cut - I guess that's what they call the one with added scenes - the original becomes almost spare. Both somehow become different. Actually, I became different.
I like knowing both but the early theater release is my keeper.
eschewing of Hollywood.
I see you're a Michael Caine fan: Ipcress File is unknown to modern audiences and that shouldn't be. I think it and "Spy Who Came in From the Cold," with Burton and that great German actor who was considered the finest German Shakespearian actor of his time (Oscar Werner) are the two best spy films--I place "The Third Man" and several Hitchcock films in another category.
I think Sterling Hayden's finest performances were in that early Kubrick film and in the Elliot Gould vehicle, "The Long Goodbye."
Your list has reminded me of many old favorites so...yeah, I'm going to have to revisit them.
Thanks.
I could go to the movies with you. Your comments about "The Spy...", Burton, Werner, Hayden, Hitchcock could have come out of my mouth.Gould is another overlooked one, I believe. I'll add "Mash" to make it an even 30.
I'm sure you're aware that Sterling Hayden was a fine writer?
his character was modeled on Papa Hemingway.
Only one Tarkovsky, and easily not his best. I do like some films on your list. But an interesting things happened to the Ark... I decided to take the second look, and that time it did not do too well. Maybe I love Hermitage too much? Can't wait to walk through it again in a couple of weeks.Thank you for posting it, lists like this tell us about each other.
Maybe tin would post his next? I think I know him well enough, but would be interesting to see how HE sees his favorites... I know his tilt...
are Watching Us," "The Bicycle Thief," "Miracle in Milan," "Marriage Italian Style," "The Garden of the Finzi-Continis," "The Two Women," and a few more.
I forget if you've seen "The Children are Watching Us." To me, it's as powerful as "Hidden Games."
I'd m a y b e put Antonioni ahead of Fellini, too, though I hate this type of exercise because it's like comparing great wines from different vintages or different varietals. It's interesting though because it stimulates sharing opinions and conversation.
Yes, I saw the Children, and I hate to be putting great movies in ranks... to me the Games is still more involving, but this might be personal. Ditto for those great directors. I am just glad all three of them worked and lived.You forgot to mention De Sica's one before last and wonderful Una Breve Vacanza.
Victor, most of these were impromptu, emotional choices. Intentionally, I gave little thought to any qualitative measure. I guess I'm just lucky to possess a natural good taste. ;~) The list could easily have included 29 different titles. I was just trying to be true to the challenge, without referring to some "best of..." list.
I am still absolutely baffled by aspects of the Tarkovsky and of "The Ark". "The Sacrifice" shows great humanity to me. These two and "Waitng For Godot" were intellectual choices. To challenge my mind while on the island. Again, three others could have sufficed.Strange thing about Kubrick is that my regard for his work has not held up over the years. He's still a favorite but I've begun to detect a detachment in his films that I'm surprised at having to accomodate. Still, "Dr. Strangelove" is on my list.
As for Fellini, much as I admire him, he just doesn't touch my heart in the right way. "8 1/2" is in my queue but I fell asleep recently watching "Nights Of Cabiria".
On my desert isle, I'll take one of my cheaper choices above. For instance, "Wild River" is most ordinary; I chose it because as a 13 year old I fell in love with Lee Remick in that film. It's my only nostalgic choice.
I love Russia and Petersburg, and the Hermitage. I suffered one of the world's greatest embarassments while once pursuing my beautiful ex-wife through the museum. Russia is a most foreign place.
You should give it another shot. It's another one of those funny, heartbreaking but ultimately a celebration of the human spirit, films.
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
nt
.. I'm gonna give it another try.Antonioni is my current favorite Italian. I'm seeing new things in his work, so it may work for Fellini.
Do you have a heartfelt list? No fair peeking elsewhere., To insure spontaneity you've got 24 hours. LOL.
and in no particular order.Rashamon
Dr. Zhivago
Paths Of Glory
Dr. Strangelove
Network
Badlands
Wings Of Desire
The Bicycle Thief
The Return
Last Temptation Of Christ
The Unbearable Lightness Of Being
Lovers Of The Arctic Circle
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
The Thin Red Line
The Mission
The Last Wave
The Barbarian Invasions
Chariots Of Fire
Contempt
Harold And Maude
The Royal Tenenbaums
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Solaris (just saw this)
Nobody Knows
Ashes and Diamonds
Tony Takitani
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
you've shown me new things to look into.I love it that you included Badlands. The Mission is an interesting choice; I need to see that again. The Royal Tenenbaums (what wacky, lovey fun), Lovers Of The Arctic Circle, The Last Wave, The Garden....This is a very personal list. And useful. Thanks.
-
The Mission I included for the music, cinematography and just the feeling when the Indians come out with the cross and are shot down.Badlands is all about the feel (could've easily included TM's other two movies for the same reason).
I don't think Lovers Of The Arctic Circle was particulalry well reviewed but it struck a chord with me. I could also easily have included Sex And Lucia also by Medem (and also not SO well reviewed) but I like his style.
Another movie I almost included was Frances. Don't know how I'd feel today but that was the first time I saw a movie and left feeling devestated.
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
I appreciate not having the "Best XXX" title, it is much more personal without it.I would not go on that darn island without a couple of Kubricks - his Paths of Glory and Barry Lyndon. The rest I could do without... for a while.
I would also make sure My Fair Lady was there waiting for me, and the Breakfast at Tiffany's was served.
Fellini is my long time love, not sure why it is not working for you, as he is a true poet. La Strada and Nights of Cabiria for starters.
We forgot Bergman, of course. Either the Seventh Seal or the Ullmann directed Faithless.
Among the musts... Forbidden Games, La Grande Illusion, L'Atalante, Profession: Reporter, Ivan the Terrible, Tony Takitani, Il Posto, It Happened One Night, and.... and... and many others.
Like you, I just reached quickly into my memory... aren't we lucky there is so much there?
Ah... almost forgot! Borat! As the sore reminder of why we are on that island in the first place!
..are up next. I just noticed that "Persona" arrived. I wish it would rain, or snow.
... about the absence of movies carried by women. For the life of me I couldn't unforcefully name one which is naturally close to my heart. You named a couple quickly, and I agree that they are deserving of high praise.I think I'll start a new thread.
springtime St. Petersburg.
You're a lucky man.
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