YES! The two I've missed are Cul-de-Sac and What? Anybody gonna bite the bullet?

WHAT! and CUL-DE-SAC:

I thought the first was completely bland and uninspired, especially for Polanski.

The other is interesting if you can stand the bawdy, Beckett-inspired absurdity that creeps into Polanski's other work.

My favorite Polanski film is DEATH AND THE MAIDEN (1994). I can't recall more impressive performances than Weaver and Kingsley's anywhere in the cinema; this is some great drama.

How about Ingmar Bergman? Forget the faux objectivity of naming his "best" work, what are your favorites and why?

Well, first off, I think that everyone should watch Polanski's Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown, Macbeth, Tess, The Pianist. I can recommend many others, but I have to START with those.

Bergman? We don't have this thread here?

Wild Strawberries and Seventh Seal rank as my faves. They are two sides of the same coin: a discussion about death from both ends of the age spectrum. I also LOVE The Virgin Spring, The Magician, Fanny and Alexander, Through a Glass Darkly, Smiles of a Summer Night, etc. I don't know if I should go into TOO much detail if I don't think anyone will respond.

Mel Brooks?

No one seems eager to take this one on. So I will work with my limited knowledge:

1. Young Frankenstein
2. History of the World Part I
3. The Producers
4. Spaceballs
5. Blazing Saddles (sorry, but I hated that movie)

Paul Thomas Anderson

How many films does Paul Thomas Anderson even have? Punch Drunk Love, Boogie Nights, Coffee & Cigarettes, Magnolia (my favorite of the bunch)…any others?

Terry Gilliam

He does have four, but Coffee & Cigarettes is Jim Jarmusch, and Hard Eight is PT's first.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
He does have four, but Coffee & Cigarettes is Jim Jarmusch, and Hard Eight is PT's first.

I mixed it up with Cigarettes and Coffee, evidently.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138363/

It's kinda scary! I'm gonna sound like a complete Terry Gilliam hater!

1.Monty Python and the Holy Grail B+ -Codirected, but easily #1!!

2. The Fisher King B -A beautiful mess.

3. Jabberwocky B- -Garbage, but great garbage!

4. Brazil B- -Wonderful, visionary, incomprehensible!

5. 12 Monkeys B- -Good sci-fi, but....

6.Adventures of Baron Munchausen B- -A little generous, but creative enough.

7. Time Bandits C+ -Getting towards garbage.

8. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas C- -Pure Shiiiiite! But I understand (almost) why you disagree!

Billy Wilder!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
It's kinda scary! I'm gonna sound like a complete Tery Gilliam hater!

1.Monty Python and the Holy Grail B+ -Codirected, but easily #1!!

2. The Fisher King B -A beautiful mess.

3. Jabberwocky B- -Garbage, but great garbage!

4. Brazil B- -Wonderful, visionary, incomprehensible!

5. 12 Monkeys B- -Good sci-fi, but....

6.Adventures of Baron Munchausen B- -A little generous, but creative enough.

7. Time Bandits C+ -Getting towards garbage.

8. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas C- -Pure Shiiiiite! But I understand (almost) why you disagree!

I love Fear and Loating in Las Vegas and Brazil; the former was panned by uppity critics who felt obligated to preach some acceptable moral platform (a pretentious slant I remember reading again in the reviews for Requiem for a Dream, although to a lesser degree). If it came out now, near the time of Thompson's suicide, the reviews would read quite differently.

Fear and Loathing is a cult film. I understand that. It's beloved, especially by teenagers and gonzos. I certainly have no moral axe to grind concerning it. I just found it boring, pretentious and unpleasant.

Billy Wilder

I think this a decent topic, so if you don't like Billy Wilder, try Tim Burton.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
I think this a decent topic, so if you don't like Billy Wilder, try Tim Burton.

Tim Burton it is, then...


"Pee Wee's Big Adventure"- B

This one's an old childhood favorite. Looking back on the film as a 15 year old it is every bit as good as 7 years ago. It's not Burton's BEST film but if you are looking to be a hardcore Burton fan check this out....


Beetlejuice- C+

This one's funny and twisted but its messiness gets in the way of its charms. If you havent seen this I'd catch it on TV....


Batman- B-

When a "Spiderman" or "Hulk" or "Xmen" comes out I get pretty pumped but Im just not into the whole DC comic universe. I could go on and on about why I think Batman and Superman are the most creatively bankrupt characters out there but Im not going to waste your time. With that being said, I liked "Batman" alot. I liked its tone and art direction and Nicholson makes a classic Joker but overall Im pretty lukewarm about the whole thing.


Edward Scissorhands- A+

This is Burton and his absolute best. One of my favorite films of all time. Not only does it harbor a PHENOMANAL Johnny Depp performance but its a scathing satire, touching love story, simple eye candy, and generally pretty creepy. If you want to limit yourself to one Tim Burton film let this be it....


A Nightmare Before Christmas- A

I've watched this more than any other Tim Burton film. It's an underrated classic. To put "Beauty and the Beast" and "Snow White" on a list without "Nightmare" is a crime to animation. This is more watchable and satisfying than the both of those "great" films. If you can only see TWO Burton flicks make this your second...


Ed Wood- B+/N-A

I havent seen much of this but from what Ive seen its a wonderful little gem and Johnny Depp and cast are of course magnificent.


Mars Attacks!- D

This is where Burton dropped the ball. Big time. He's a talented guy but hes absolutely dangerous with money. Now that he has a fanbase and a studio backing him Burton goes off to make one of the most bloated, unfunny, dissapointments Ive ever seen. To have a film exploding with talent and to fall this flat is a crime. Burton shouldve been kicked out of the DGA for this one....


Sleepy Hollow- B

Burton redeems himself. he goes back to his roots as a master of macabre design. Please, Tim, just stay in your comfort zone dpnt tinker with Charlton Heston films...


Planet of the Apes- F

Not only is this film the epitimy of mediocrity it is also helmed by one of New Hollywood's visionaries. Too bad Tim dropped the balll....AGAIN! This is just another remake. Nothing more. Nothing less. And thats why its so painful to watch. I saw this opening night expected to see a classic flick filtered through the demented skull of Burton.....nope just another time waster. Shitty ending, too.


Big Fish- C++ or B--

I came in with high hopes and came out feeling a variety of things. I was dissapointed but not because this was a poorly made film it was just lacking something. I am not one for Billy Crudups acting and Albert Finney wasnt really all that fantastic. Jessica Lange was sufficient and Ewan McGregor was, well Ewan McGregor. The story's fantastical and the visual's are dizzying but I prefer Burton when hes tackling true blacks and blood reds rather than fish and sacharinne sweetness....



Next: Richard Linklater or Kevin Smith

Ah, Kevin Smith. The sell-out bastard. Now that he realizes he can't make money without his trademarked characters he reverts to a Clerks sequel. Ah well, I love him nonetheless.

Clerks - A

A delightful little film, filled with some of the funniest dialogue and most ludicrous situations ever put to film. The low production values irritate some, but if you ask me they add to the charm. Much funnier if you've worked in the service industry. Smith never topped it, sadly.

Mallrats - C

Has its moments, but otherwise a disappointment. Whoever plays the lead (not Jason Lee, the other one) is an atrocious actor.

Chasing Amy - A

Smith's most mature work to date. Trademark snappy dialogue is here in spades. Fine acting all around.

Dogma - B

Very funny, but bad special effects and an underwhelming performance from Fiorentino weigh it down, not to mention the abrupt shift in tone towards the end.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back - B

Certainly not a profound work in any sense, but side-splitting.

Jersey Girl - D

I certainly did not see this coming. This one goes in the "what the hell were they thinking?" file, right next to Jack. Smith's worst, hands down.

Charlie Kaufman (And yes, I know he's a writer and not a director.)

I think the other guys name in Mallrats was Jason London.. I actually loved the movie and would argue at least a B for it. The reason WHY I'd give it a higher grade is because:

*Brodie is obviously a kickass character, add him and Jason's character together and you might as well have a complete human, which is really funny to watch.

*Jay and Silent Bob, they are so darned cool in this one. Especially the plans to take down the giant building for no apparent reason. I like how they just pop in, they add color and push sequences in directions they ordinarily wouldn't go.

*The point, which is I think, that even lowlifes have lives. At the start of the movie, we think "what losers," and as the movie nears its end they have an entire audience captivated by their love stories. Folks from all around the mall are interested in these two me, underdogs win. Woohoo, and the big man Affleck goes down.

PS: I know my points weren't great or catchy, but these were my memorable enjoyments of the films, in addition to some good Star Wars moments.

quote:

Originally posted by Crash

Charlie Kaufman (And yes, I know he's a writer and not a director.)

I can tackle this one....


Being John Malkovich- C+

I really wanted to like this one and I think Im being generous with my grading. This did nothing for me.I was expecting a really quirky interesting flick and I got total overrated crap. Maybe I have to see it again but if I recall this movie COMPLETELY fell apart at the end. Nothing made sense and it was just wierd for the sake of wierdness...


Human Nature- C

This is a fun little fluffy movie. It's like a Saturday morning cartoon filtered through the eyes of Kaufman. Which is overall interesting but it never amounts to anything at all. At times I was really bored at others I was enthralled. Definately the weakest of the bunch.


Adaptation- A

This is the perfect Kaufman film. It may or may not be his best work but it is the most Kaufmanesque. It toys with reality in such a way that you cant decipher fact from fiction. Performances are amazingly solid and unlike Malkovich the ending ties everything together in a neat easy to swallow package...


Confessions of a Dangerous Mind- B

This was one entertaining movie. Chuck Barris is sucha basket case and George Clooney is so visually inventive that the lightest Kaufman film is turned into one of the most enjoyable.


Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind- A

Such, such, such, such, SUCH a great movie....



Richard Linklater or John Waters

First off, Sam, please watch Being John Malkovich again.

I've missed way too many John Waters movies, but at least I have something to look forward to.

My first exposure was at an art-house double bill of Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble. They're both outrageous, disgusting, ultra-low budget "comedies". The problem is that I must have a watch up my ass because I just don't think they're funny or even any good. One thing's for sure, Female Trouble (Grade: C-) was a quantum leap in film technique over Pink Flamingos (Grade: D).

Polyester (Grade: C) was another step up in professionalism. Too bad I missed it in Odorama at the theatre. Divine is still the ultimate Waters star, even if he/she isn't eating dogshit anymore.

Hairspray and Cry-Baby (both B-) are approaching mainstream in their stories of the trials and tribulations of teenagers. The technique, wit and humanity seem to be approaching something easier to relate to, even if they're both still tweaked.

Serial Mom (Grade: B-) is Waters' most mainstream movie, with his biggest star cast. The first half of the movie (Grade: B+ for me) is outright hilarious, but somehow the second half goes into auto-pilot and produces none of the tremendous laughs provided up front.

Pecker (Grade: B-) is more modest, plus Edward Furlong and Christina Ricci make a good pair. I think Sam would LOVE this movie because of the subject matter (young photographer makes good plus girls!)

I'll try one oldtimer and one newtimer. You choose.

Peter Weir or M. Night Shyamalan

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Peter Weir or M. Night Shyamalan

I've been wanting to join this discussion for a while, but missed my chances with the directors whose movies I've seen enough of. I'll give Shyamalan a go:

1) The Sixth Sense - B+

I know this is everyone's favorite, but it really is the best. It is also the only one in my opinion, that is truly a scary movie. Willis and Osment are great, and the even though I knew the "twist" in advance, it still gave me a chill and I really enjoyed this movie.

2) Unbreakable - B+

Definately his most solid work. Shyamalan brilliantly created a contemporary, real-life story, that slowly became more and more like a comic book, and ended as a delightfully eery superhero story.

3) The Village - B

Why do so many people dislike this movie? It was great. I love movies that make you think. And The Village made me think more than any other Shyamlan flick. Bryce Dallas Howard and Adrien Brody were great and I was very surprised by the several "twists." I agree that at times it was unable to support certain pieces of it's premise, but still a great time at the movies.

4) Signs - C+

Without a doubt my least favorite. For one, it didn't really have a twist, one of my favorite aspects of Shyamalan films. Secondly, except for the one scene in the basement where you seen just the foot, the aliens were just silly. Mel Gibson didn't do that great a job, except for the scene when he starts crying at the dinner table, which was good. Despite all this, Signs is still a fairly enjoyable movie, but in my opinion does not compare to the other three.

Alright, next up, lets try:

Ridley Scott

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
I think Sam would LOVE this movie because of the subject matter (young photographer makes good plus girls!)

I'll check it out. My dad has banned me from goig near "Pink Flamingos" although along with "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover" it's one of his favorite films. Hes starting an indie film series with this indie-DVD rental owner at the University. It'll be like from midnight till 6 in the morning with triple bills. I think the first night will be something TROMA a foreign film and "Pink Flamingos". I'm trying to convince my dad to let me go. But, "Pecker" is nowhere as extreme, right?

quote:

Originally posted by EccentricSam:
But, "Pecker" is nowhere as extreme, right?

Well, Pecker is rated R, but it's not really raunchy, and those other two are/were X-rated, so no comparison. Pecker is actually downright sweet. In fact, my daughter "Ginny" likes photography, so I better show it to her ASAP.