Filmmaking - The Most Professional Movie You Have Ever Seen

[Lucas Lightfeat]

Here's a list of some of my favourite films. I like them all. If I were to choose my favourite 100 films next week, it might not look like this, because I'd think of a whole load of other stuff. Anyway, this list isn't difinative, I just typed as I thought of them:

Fanny and Alexander, Sweden
Festen, Denmark
Seven Samurai, Japan
American Beauty, USA (English Director)
Together, Sweden
Paris Texas, USA (German Director)
You Can Count On Me, USA
The Idiots, Sweden
Andrei Roublev, USSR
Withnail & I, England
Welcome To Sarajevo, UK
Pulp Fiction, USA
Good Will Hunting, USA
Shine, Australia/UK
The Shawshank Redemption, USA
Central Station, Brazil
One Flew over the Cookoo’s Nest, USA (Czech Director)
Cyrano De Bergerac, France
Schindler’s List, USA
Into the West, Ireland
Little Big Man, USA
Rashomon, Japan
The Straight Story, USA
Kes, UK
Black Cat White Cat, Jugoslavia
Time of the Gypsies, Jugoslavia
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, UK
Trainspotting, UK
Shallow Grave, UK
Goodfellas, USA
Life Is Sweet, UK
Amadeus, USA (Czech Director)
Apocalypse Now, USA
The Third Man, USA
The Big Lebowski, USA
Spinal Tap, UK
Rushmore, USA
Brazil, UK
The Deerhunter, USA
Secrets And Lies, UK
Night On Earth, USA
Gosford Park, UK (USA Director)
M*A*S*H, USA
Drugstore Cowboy, USA
Bufallo 66, USA
Meet The Parents, USA
Nuts In May, UK
Best In Show, USA (UK Director)
Show Me Love, Sweden
Mirror, USSR
Ivan’s Childhood, USSR
Seventh Seal, Sweden
Blue Velvet, USA
Ran, Japan
Throne of Blood, Japan
Mifune, Denmark
The Usual Suspects, USA
Catch Me If You Can, USA
Two Way Stretch, UK
The Ladykillers, UK
The Lavender Hill Mob, UK
The Shining, UK/USA (Iranian Director)
Cidade De Deus, Brazil
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, USA
Jojimbo, Japan
Amelie, France
Regles des Jou, France
Dirty Pretty Things, UK
Monsoon Wedding, UK/India

Notice I like the Scandinavian scene and also the American scene. Both great Cinema nations. I'd like to see a list of some of your faves.

I still ned to see The Pianist, The Hours and About Schmitt, if they're still in the cinemas!

Lucas

[tfunch24--lazy]

S8 Booster,

I think the film which you refer to as "The Astronaut" is Terms of Endearment. It was released in 1983 and it stars Jack Nicholson and Shirley Maclaine.

Tom

[Scotness]

Okay a quick list off the top of my head - some favourite films:

Bladerunner
Dr Zhivago
Clerks
Breaker Morant
Dances with Wolves
Lawrence of Arabia

there's more but I'm just too tired right now -- my favourite thing is historical epics I'd say (any good reccomendations?)

Just on American cinema - I don't like most American movies - but they can produce the occasional gem like Bladerunner or Dances with Wolves (which Ithink is a faultless film). I though Saving Private Ryan had too much American propaganda in it - but the reality of the fighting scenes was worth it and a very powerful statement in it's own right.

I'm trying to watch alot of Australian cinema from the 60's and 70's at the moment because alot of that was done on low budgets, 16mm and deals with historical situations in the Australian landscape or bush -- which covers pretty well everything I'm trying to do! And in terms of the rebirth of the Australian cinema these guys were the pioneers back then - this was before we started sucking on the American tit! There seems to be a great ciultural cringe here - first pre 60's/70's the more British you were the better - now it's replaced with America - and success in America is deemd as success itself. This is why Iadmire European and French cinema so much they don't seem to have that trait. We're getting more and more American films shot here and the true Australian industry isn't getting nearly enough focus on it.

Anyway my 2 cents

Scot M

[MovieStuff]

Searching for Bobby Fischer-
Dances near perfection. Underplayed and just wonderful from begining to end. Wish I had made it.

Once Upon a Time in the West-
Fun to see Sergio Leon do to our westerns what America did to pirate tales. High fantasy value. Never seen anyone's eyeball as big as Bronsons in close up.


The Godfather-
Wonderfully and intentionally bad lighting. The word "fill light" apparently never uttered on the set. I love it.

Colossus, the Forbin Project-
Sci-Fi from the 70's with a downer ending that was way ahead of its time. Starring that Rat Patrol guy.....

'32 version of King Kong-
'40 version of Mighty Joe Young-
Big monkeys on the loose. Obie at his best.

Seventh Voyage of Sindbad-
Sword fighting skeleton to the tune of Bernard Hermann. What more could you ask for.

Aliens-
Takes off and builds speed until you think you can't stand it anymore. I came out of the theater both inspired and depressed. I don't know how to make films. THIS guy (Cameron) knows how to make films but I clearly don't know how to make films.

The Right Stuff-
Uncompromisingly masculine and totally boss from the first frame to the last. Directed by Philip Kaufman, one of the few true artists from the US these days. His films always look like they were shot in the actual era dipicted.

Outlaw Josey Wales-
Superior western ALSO directed by Kaufman, though Eastwood took over near the end and put his name on it. Eastwood has spent the last 30 years trying to convince anyone that will watch his films that he really did direct Wales. No way. Kaufman=Good. Eastwood=Bad. But nobody has the balls to tell him!

I'll think of more later....

Roger

[Lucas Lightfeat]

On the subject of Saving Private Ryan, the film as a whole is not a masterpiece, but I have to agree with you Scott, that openning half hour is the most harrowing anti-war scene I can remember seeing. I defy anyone to watch it and think still that going to war a fun idea. I, like most men, seem to find something strangely compelling about war - we're a weird bunch, eh?

Dances With Wolves is brilliant, but I can barely forgive the fact that it stars Kevin "balsa" Kostner (he's lightweight and wooden). I despise him. As an actor, he's right up there with Keanu in the hall of shame. Strangely, his wooden quality is perfect for this film, as the character works well played in this stiff way. He is good in the part, unlike everything else he has ever done. I also love "Little Big Man" starring Dustin Hoffman. It has a similar theme, and is also epic, but more leftfield.

Lucas

[Actor]

Mind you, I cannot think of a decent film he has been in since that lot from his early years.

• The Man Who Would be King(1975)
• Without a Clue(1988)
• A Shock to the System(1990)
• Little Voice(1998)
• The Cider House Rules(1999)
• Quills(2000)
• The Quiet American(2003)

[crimsonson]

Lucas you have a nice set but I highly recommend films from China [like the "5th Generation" filmmakers] and Hong Kong [Wong Kar Wai]. If like Japanese films - check out "Maborosi" along with Wong Kar Wai's films it it one of best shot films in modern cinema.

[Guest]

What have been everyone talking about? The most professional film, the most seen, or the most industrial? Honestly i couldn't yet understand what everyone is talking about here.

Fernando, Spain

[David M. Leugers]

Wow. The lists of film favorites shows me we all have a lot more in common than our differences. Let's face it, a good movie is a good movie no matter where, when, who or how it was made. I personally favor (in no particular order) : black and white, artfully done color, imagination, tight script, proper camera work {I prescribe to the belief that for any scene there is only one proper view for the camera to take / way too much camera movement these days just for the sake of movement} pointed dialogue and endings leaving you thinking. I also like to be entertained, there I said it! Did I mention black and white? 8) It is kinda strange in a way that I brought up Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" because I generally do not like his films except for Jaws, Schindler's List, and Saving Private Ryan. He is way too commercial and sappy with his endings especially, most of the time. The ending to Schindlers List almost destroyed the whole picture I thought. I agree that the begining and ending of SPR could have been eliminated and it would have made a better film. However, I do not understand the "propaganda" tag because I thought this film was one of the least American propaganda films set during WWII. It is a very anti-war film and it does nothing to promote old stereotypes that we Americans have grown up seeing in war films. Many Americans were shocked to see Americans portrayed killing enemy soldiers who were surrendering as well as killing savagely. The whole point of the film was the incredible waste of life and de-humanizing war is for everyone involved. And yes, it was certainly meant to remind us of the sacrificies made by our soldiers. Every main character dies except for Private Ryan and one other soldier who had almost deserted and another who had been a coward. Not your typical John Wayne war film. The camera work is incredible and attention to detail is superb as well as the direction and editing. IMHO I still think that "Apocolypse Now" is a greater film. 8) My wife and I make routine trips to a theatre 30 miles away to see films not shown in the multi-plexes. It is our only relief from the usual crap and I find it a special treat. I think when eveyone makes films that are personal to their experience we all benefit. Here's to the independants!

David M. Leugers

[S8 Booster]

S8 Booster,

I think the film which you refer to as "The Astronaut" is Terms of Endearment. It was released in 1983 and it stars Jack Nicholson and Shirley Maclaine.

Tom

This is it - you are right. Thanks.

Interesting film lists and evaluations folks!

R

[S8 Booster]

What have been everyone talking about? The most professional film, the most seen, or the most industrial? Honestly i couldn't yet understand what everyone is talking about here.

Fernando, Spain

The most professional film you have seen. Subject of film is your choice but all other film aspects should be on an even and high standard. A film recommended to see for aspiring filmmakers, or everyone for that matter

Personally I can easily give away some technical brilliance for creativity and a good story. I can almost "swallow" a mike for a good story for that but have never seen it on more expensive productions. (Michrophone showing on the film - shouldn´t be here. Maybe not there so often these days?)

R

[wahiba]

Mind you, I cannot think of a decent film he has been in since that lot from his early years.

• The Man Who Would be King(1975)
• Without a Clue(1988)
• A Shock to the System(1990)
• Little Voice(1998)
• The Cider House Rules(1999)
• Quills(2000)
• The Quiet American(2003)

Must confess to only having seen the first, not particularly memorable. As for the rest, must check them out before further comment :oops:

[mattias]

why do people like schindler's list so much? i thought it was stunningly shallow compared to its ambition, which i believe is the definition of pretentious.

my partial list, heavily biased towards newer films:

fucking åmål/show me love
donnie darko
trainspotting
chasing amy
waking life
the royal tenenbaums
hedwig and the angry inch
magnolia
jisatsu circle/suicide club

/matt

[Angus]

come on. das boot was made in 1982 and back then these people were doing great stuff as well. they're just old and tired, that's all. there's plenty of young and fresh stuff made in the u.s. today. look at the work by wes anderson, steven soderberg, p.t. anderson, richard kelly and beyond...

Can't help laughing that in 1982 Soderberg was making a rock video with Yes which got nominated for a grammy...

[mattias]

cool, but why is that funny?

and yes, chunking express should also be on my list. thanks for poiting that out. and while we're in china, add the tai chi master too. easily the best kung fu movie ever. the movie that gave wo ping yuen the hollywood ticket he should have flushed down the toilet. not that matrix or crouching tiger weren't great, but his spirit is sadly missing from the hong kong scene today...

/matt