Official Film Recommendations Thread

[green]

I was talking with someone recently and they hadnt heard of these, which suprised me...so

A town of Blaine, Missouri is preparing for celebrations of its 150th anniversary. Corky St.Clair, an off-off-off-off-off-Broadway director is putting together an amateur theater show about the town's history, starring a local dentist, a couple of travel agents, a Dairy Queen waitress, and a car repairman. He invites a Broadway theater critic Mr. Guffman to see the opening night of the show.

The owners (and handlers) of five show dogs head for the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. A film crew interviews them as they prepare for the trip, arrive at Philly's Taft Hotel, and compete. From Florida come the Flecks: she keeps running into old lovers. A wordless ancient in a wheelchair and his buxom trophy wife who may have a thing for the dog's handler own the two-time defending best in show, a poodle. From the piney woods of N.C. comes a fella who wants to be a ventriloquist. High-strung DINKs feud loudly in front of their Weimaraner. Two outré gay men from Tribeca round out the profiled owners. The dog show brings out the essence of the humans. Who will be best in show?

When folk icon Irving Steinbloom passed away, he left behind a legacy of music and a family of performers he has shepherded to folk stardom. To celebrate a life spent submerged in folk, Irving's loving son Jonathan has decided to put together a memorial concert featuring some of Steinbloom's best-loved musicians. There's Mitch and Mickey, who were the epitome of young love until their partnership was torn apart by heartbreak; classic troubadours The Folksmen, whose records were endlessly entertaining for anyone able to punch a hole in the center to play them; and The New Main Street Singers, the most meticulously color-coordinated neuftet ever to hit an amusement park. Now for one night only in New York City's Town Hall, these three groups will reunite and gather together to celebrate the music that almost made them famous.

 

[trentoid]

you like that director don't you

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Double post.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Brick. A little slow paced but it has fantasic dialouge and is a nice twist on detective movies.

 

[War Party]

Night Watch

Trailer:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/night_watch/large.html

Official Synopsis:
Among normal humans live the "Others" possessing various supernatural powers. They are divided up into the forces of light and the forces of the dark, who signed a truce several centuries ago to end a devastating battle. Ever since, the forces of light govern the day while the night belongs to their dark opponents. In modern day Moscow the dark Others actually roam the night as vampires while a "Night Watch" of light forces, among them Anton, the movie's protagonist, try to control them and limit their outrage.

 

[Cyrusbales]

you seen any of the footage of daywatch yet? looks rather pleasant!!!

 

[War Party]

Lady Vengeance

Trailer:
http://www.cinemas-online.co.uk/content/run_trailer.php?tFn=lady_vengeance_trailer_850k.mov

Plot Synopsis:
Lee Geum-Ja, at the age of 19, goes to prison for the murder and abduction of a child on behalf of her accomplice Mr. Baek, only to find out that she is betrayed. While in prison, she carefully prepares for her revenge by winning the hearts of her fellow inmates with her kindness, thus earning herself the nickname 'kind Ms. Geum-Ja'. Upon her release from prison after 13 years, she finally sets out to seek revenge on Baek, with the help of her former prison mates.

 

[War Party]

you seen any of the footage of daywatch yet? looks rather pleasant!!!

No I haven't but that is good to hear.

 

[Cyrusbales]

No I haven't but that is good to hear.

Zavalon stops a bus by standing in front of it like a scarecrow, and the whole bus is demolished....

 

[Cyrusbales]

Lady Vengeance

Trailer:
http://www.cinemas-online.co.uk/content/run_trailer.php?tFn=lady_vengeance_trailer_850k.mov

Plot Synopsis:
Lee Geum-Ja, at the age of 19, goes to prison for the murder and abduction of a child on behalf of her accomplice Mr. Baek, only to find out that she is betrayed. While in prison, she carefully prepares for her revenge by winning the hearts of her fellow inmates with her kindness, thus earning herself the nickname 'kind Ms. Geum-Ja'. Upon her release from prison after 13 years, she finally sets out to seek revenge on Baek, with the help of her former prison mates.

amazing but still not the directors best! go for JSA instead! Brilliant!

 

[War Party]

JSA is on my next buy list when I order from Amazon. I just got 3-Iron and Memories of Murder.

 

[KingOfDreams]

Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) - Probably the best existentialist film I've ever seen. The plot to this German film from 1998 involves Lola (Franka Potente) and her wannabe gangster boyfriend Manni. Manni screwed up and lost the money he was supposed to bring to a gang boss. Lola has 20 minutes to try to get it to him. This plot repeats itself several times in the film and certain things are different each time. The point I gathered from the film is that even small things can change the future.

12 Monkeys - A bit of a mind**** but I like movies like that. While he didn't write the movie, Director Terry Gilliam's unique and brilliant vision colors everything. The human race has been decimated by disease and those who survived went underground...literally. Some scientists decide that they can change humanity's fate by sending someone (Bruce Willis) back in time to stop the epidemic before it starts. But nothing ever goes completely to plan. The film has fantastic performances and Brad Pitt got an Academy Award nomination for his role.

25th Hour - Probably the only Spike Lee movie that doesn't have any major African-American characters. The basic theme of the movie is the disillusionment of the American Dream in the wake of 9/11. The movie follows a man (Edward Norton) through his last days before going to prison.

Harvey - Jimmy Stewart plays a man who has a unique friend, a pooka named Harvey. A pooka is a celtic mythological creature that usually takes the form of a giant rabbit. Most people think Jimmy's character is going insane. But things happen that convince these poeple otherwise. Stewart's performance is fantastic, especially when you consider that in many scenes he's not talking to anybody.

Mirrormask - Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean have created a brilliant visual experience. Well, McKean's done that. Neil's created a brilliant fantasy tale like he always does. The movie follows a carnie girl as she finds herself in a new, fantastical realm. But is it just her imagination? Who knows.

Sleeper - Perfect satire and probably my favorite Woody Allen movie. Allen's character has been reawakened 200-some years in the future after having been cryogenically frozen. The movie's dystopian but makes fun of dystopian stories as well as being great social commentary of world society in the era the film was made in. The soundtrack is fantastic too, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

 

[green]

you like that director don't you

Yeah, I gotta say I do.t:
Its more than just the director though, it has alot to do with the same cast he uses over and over and seeing the range of characters they come up with. Some people see his movies and dont get em, they definately arent for everybody.

 

[superduperhero]

Bee Season

11-year-old Eliza Naumann comes from an odd family; they all divert their emotional frustrations into secret channels. When Eliza unexpectedly begins winning spelling bees, what had been a stable dynamic within the family becomes disrupted; long held secrets emerge, and a latent spiritual yearning is awakened in her withdrawn father Saul and compulsive mother Miriam. As Eliza moves closer and closer to the national spelling bee, the Naumann family finds itself in a spiral of surprising discovery and jarring uncertainty...

Great movie and great direction.....

 

[Cyrusbales]

Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) - Probably the best existentialist film I've ever seen. The plot to this German film from 1998 involves Lola (Franka Potente) and her wannabe gangster boyfriend Manni. Manni screwed up and lost the money he was supposed to bring to a gang boss. Lola has 20 minutes to try to get it to him. This plot repeats itself several times in the film and certain things are different each time. The point I gathered from the film is that even small things can change the future.

12 Monkeys - A bit of a mind**** but I like movies like that. While he didn't write the movie, Director Terry Gilliam's unique and brilliant vision colors everything. The human race has been decimated by disease and those who survived went underground...literally. Some scientists decide that they can change humanity's fate by sending someone (Bruce Willis) back in time to stop the epidemic before it starts. But nothing ever goes completely to plan. The film has fantastic performances and Brad Pitt got an Academy Award nomination for his role.

25th Hour - Probably the only Spike Lee movie that doesn't have any major African-American characters. The basic theme of the movie is the disillusionment of the American Dream in the wake of 9/11. The movie follows a man (Edward Norton) through his last days before going to prison.

Harvey - Jimmy Stewart plays a man who has a unique friend, a pooka named Harvey. A pooka is a celtic mythological creature that usually takes the form of a giant rabbit. Most people think Jimmy's character is going insane. But things happen that convince these poeple otherwise. Stewart's performance is fantastic, especially when you consider that in many scenes he's not talking to anybody.

Mirrormask - Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean have created a brilliant visual experience. Well, McKean's done that. Neil's created a brilliant fantasy tale like he always does. The movie follows a carnie girl as she finds herself in a new, fantastical realm. But is it just her imagination? Who knows.

Sleeper - Perfect satire and probably my favorite Woody Allen movie. Allen's character has been reawakened 200-some years in the future after having been cryogenically frozen. The movie's dystopian but makes fun of dystopian stories as well as being great social commentary of world society in the era the film was made in. The soundtrack is fantastic too, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Have you seen La Jetee? It's the film that inspired 12 monkeys? It's a cinematic masterpiece, it's about 30 mins long and well worth buying! Also I presume you have the whole vengeance trilogy by Park Chan Wook?

 

[War Party]

I love the revenge trilogy. All great films. You see the trailer for his new film "I'm a Cyborg, But That's O.K.?" Here's the teaser:

http://www.twitchfilm.net/archives/007660.html

 

[KingOfDreams]

Have you seen La Jetee? It's the film that inspired 12 monkeys? It's a cinematic masterpiece, it's about 30 mins long and well worth buying! Also I presume you have the whole vengeance trilogy by Park Chan Wook?

I haven't seen anything you've mentioned here. I have been meaning to track down La Jetee though. Isn't it all just still photographs? I've never heard of this revenge trilogy.

 

[Cyrusbales]

I haven't seen anything you've mentioned here. I have been meaning to track down La Jetee though. Isn't it all just still photographs? I've never heard of this revenge trilogy.

Revenge trilogy by Park Chan Wook
-Sympathy for mr vengeance
-Oldboy
-Lady Vengeance

La Jetee is a sumblime work by chris marker, although entirely made of stills with narration, there is a moment when the speed of montage accelerates so it almost looks as if a woman looks at you, it's a debate/admiration that is often voiced about the film.

BTW, tell me some of your fav films or genre's and i'll give you some recommendations...(I am entirely submerged in films, lol)

 

[KingOfDreams]

Ah, okay, I've heard of Oldboy. Haven't seen it yet, though. I'd have to say that I really like dystopian and existential films. Dark comedy/satire and sci-fi are also favorite genres of mine.

 

[War Party]

Ah, okay, I've heard of Oldboy. Haven't seen it yet, though. I'd have to say that I really like dystopian and existential films. Dark comedy/satire and sci-fi are also favorite genres of mine.

You should definitely check out Oldboy. You know what, check out all the films in the revenge trilogy. They're all very good.

 

[Max J Power]

Christopher Guest movies are great.

 

[XwolverineX]

Die Hard.

 

[DCW]

I just bought The Rocketeer from Wal Mart for five bucks and I must say, I really love that movie. It's a totally cliche and lighthearted popcorn flick but I thouroughly enjoy it. Oh, and James Horner's score for it is inspired.

 

[ToddIsDead]

The Kid. What's to say? Charlie Chaplin at his best.

 

[MrScissorhands]

Cabinet of Dr Caligari - Robert Wiene, potentially the most influential director ever, produced this film in 1919, 3 years before nosferatu. This film recieves little credit in comparison to Noseferatu, which does draw heavily from it. This film is the original and best horror film. It focuses on a series of murders in a town that are linked to a carnival attraction, a somnambulist. The sets are easily some of the best ever seen on screen, and the framing is exquisite, more meaning and power is behind this film than almost any other. A brilliant film on its own, but when extrapolating the meanings with the context of it's creation, it becomes a near perfect film.

If anyone's interested in checking out this film, you can download it here, it's legal and it's free (the film is in the public domain).
I saw Caligari once in a theater that only showed classics and stuff. The film was shown mute and accompanied by a live piano. I loved it.
Also, if there's any Tim Burton fans here, you owe it to yourselves to check out Caligari, because Burton draws heavily from that film's imagery and it served as inspiration for characters like Edward Scissorhands and The Penguin.