Archive for 'Films'
The Passion of Joan of Arc
July 11, 2004 by Ronn Ives, under Films.
There ARE moments of GLORY.
Our watching the famous film ‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’, French, silent, and made in 1928 by Carl Dreyer, became one of those moments a few nights ago.
I’d often read about this one, finding it on many critics ‘TOP TEN OF ALL TIME’ lists, and seeing the still shots… but never the REAL thing. And, let’s face it, your typical movie rental place does NOT stock such works.
Fortunately, in our region, two friends of mine own and run THE movie lover’s rental store, and offer the non-standard fare. Instead of walking down aisles of Hillary Duff, and The Whozit Twins adventures, you’re offered zones and rooms divided into ‘DIRECTORS’, ‘COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN’, ‘TEEN ANGST’, etc. ………….. I am home……..
…..and I almost always first visit the GERMAN section.
While in Germany, I remembered ‘Joan…’, so I went to France. There she was. The entire SUBJECT is a good one. First, that ERA – certainly a Dark Age. Then, the PERSON, Joan of Arc, and, her beliefs. Already VERY interesting. Then, the fact France CENSORED the film when it premiered in 1928. (Ironies abound… the film, at its most basic, is about CENSORSHIP hundreds of years back… THEN the film ABOUT censorship gets censored. Makes you wonder if France ever learns anything….) Then, just as JOAN was burned at the stake, the only two known surviving copies of the FILM went up in flames (decades ago). THEN, a lost copy was discovered in 1981 (!) in the closet of a Scandinavian insane asylum!! Very poetic. It was in very poor condition, of course, but at least it existed. (At the very LEAST, THIS is like discovering a major, lost Picasso.) The background story of film lovers setting out to digitally restore it, FRAME BY FRAME, is in itself epic. (You mean France ‘let it alone’ this time? I’m not sure, but I AM glad it was found in ANOTHER country.)
As for the film, it IS a GREAT work of Art. Having been trained in the ‘static’ visual arts, I can see that the director and photographer were also trained in 2-D static imagery… which is almost unavoidable in 1928. There was little scholarly training in ‘moving’ pictures at that time (plus, sound was not yet a serious factor). Each frame of each human pose and room setting is composed like a painting or etching. The shots are incredibly STARK, with NOTHING BUT what NEEDS to be seen for THAT shot. The bleakness of the shots was somewhat fashionable in Germany by that time, but NOT IN FRANCE! The French have ALWAYS been about the ‘frou frou’. Even compared to German films of the time (‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’, ‘Metropolis’, etc.), ‘Joan…’ is STARK… Waaay STARK.
The costumes, the sets, the lighting, the camera movements… AND the acting… are no-nonsense, no frills, no apologies formal, expressive Art. The acting is a tad melodramatic once in awhile, but barely (compared to an equivalent contemporary silent film). It is SO gritty, so intense, you’d think these people had traveled 60 years to the future, checked out ‘Taxi Driver’, and rushed back to 1928. Of course, the reverse is true. It was ‘Joan…’ (actress Maria Falconetti) that set the pace. Richard Einhorn, alive and composing, wrote the music inspired by and used in ‘Joan…’. He saw the film, and was moved to attempt making the expressive sound for it. The famous female Gregorian Chant group, 4 virtuoso women who call themselves ‘The Anonymous Four’ (they are wonderful), play a large role in the singing parts of this album. Also involved was the Netherlands Radio Choir, and Philharmonic Orchestra. Completed in 1995, I found the cd last night with my ‘detective work’ at the confused ‘Planet Music’. The music is so rich, so sad, so FULL of DOOM, so PERFECT for ‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’, I love it. It washes over you like a fog coming in from the North Sea. Thick… all-encompassing… and feeling permanent.
My ONLY ‘complaint’ is about the TIMING used by some actors as they REACT in some scenes. For me, they cross over from a long, powerful stare (for example) into a shot that steps into ‘a little too long’ – almost tedious. I understand that timing was different then, (partly to allow for the audience to read the dialog, partly due to theatrical roots), and this story focuses upon real people going through real events (taken from the REAL TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS OF Joan of Arc), and, each frame of this film is NOW considered very valuable (so WHO would DARE cut one frame?). But, I still hold that a few closeups could be shortened by split seconds, thereby removing a small distraction.
I know I’m picky, and nearly sacrilegious. I may have pulled a ‘Ted Turner’: ‘Let’s smear color all over it for the impatient and uneducated out there’. As IF anyone would listen to me anyhow. So, let’s move on. I’m done.
It is great Art.
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The Most Beautiful Woman on Earth
December 31, 2003 by Ronn Ives, under Films.
I’m again watching the newer version of ‘Diabolique’. It’s a decent suspense drama… fun twists and turns that keep you wondering. But, there’s only one reason I watch this film repeatedly: plain jane Sharon Stone is paired with the most beautiful woman on the planet – the one, the only, the Oh My God – Isabelle Adjani.
I first saw her in Werner Herzog’s masterpiece version of ‘Nosferatu’. Not only was that film a revelation of story telling that finally explained to me the sense of doom, sadness, and sexuality of the Vampire legends (none of that Bela Lugosi/Hollywood junk), and, it added to my admiration of Herzog as a film maker and solidified my interest in the acting of Natassia’s crazy father – Klaus Kinski – but introduced me to, well, like I said: Oh My God, Issy.
How can one human be so gorgeous? I suppose it had to happen once, with all of the eventual genetic possibilities here on Earth. And to think I was alive when it happened… I believe in Santa.
So, I’m no teenage girl sitting in the audience at the Ed Sullivan theater, crying my eyes out for John Lennon in 1964, but I’ve had the adult male version of a goofball crush on Isabelle, for a quarter century now.
Maybe we each have a crush on a Cloudlike Someone… and it cannot be hidden… and we do not feel the need to do so.
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Not a single Action Figure on the shelf
October 7, 2003 by Ronn Ives, under Films.
In another 4 weeks, my yearly “Some of the Movies I Have Seen” compilation/review list will drop back to zero, only to rebuild throughout the next year.
Sometimes I think that if I were to suddenly wake up and find it to be 1968 again – but I retained what I know now – I would choose to reincarnate as a film making student. Yes, another difficult choice. So what’s new?
My only serious doubt is caused by the complexity & quantity of PEOPLE needed to make most films. I am NOT a team player nor much of a shmoozer. Keeping “delicate” personalities happy and raising funds for film projects would NOT be my forte. I would need someone – someone very good at those things – out in front of me. I admire people who can create under such conditions. Speilberg, Altman, Lucas, Scorcese, Bogdanovich, Mamet, Branagh, Kubrick, or Burton… they understand things about dealing with humans I will NEVER grasp. I’ve never met a major film maker, but I suspect I would feel more akin to artists like Herzog, Wenders, Egoyan, Lynch, Bergman, Guest, Bertolucci, Malle, Waters, Lee, Clark, Campion, Peckinpah, Allen, Boorman, and Cassevettes… Smaller projects, singular goals, no blockbusters released just before Xmess, no action figures.
Fortunately, I DO believe in the continuation of spirit, so it’s not out of the question. Good thing for me, I guess.
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The Sewer Pipe Dream of Yesterday
September 4, 2003 by Ronn Ives, under Films.
I’ve always made a point to follow artists and actors who have amazed me at least once. When he or she ASTOUNDS me, I want to be ASTOUNDED AGAIN, so I hunt down as much of their work as I can.
“Once” CAN mean he or she was just “lucky”. With actors, I believe it can also mean they have a good agent that properly directs careers, a good support system that helps prepare them for a role, a good director who knows how to bring out the best in them, a good editor who can turn a 1,000 hours of mediocre film footage into 2 hours of Art, a project with a decent budget (which allows the actor time to experiment or screw up), etc., etc..
It’s MORE than luck that someone like Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, or Robert DeNiro has always found quality work. You KNOW that if you pick up a film with their name on it, it can’t be all bad. Or, for example, if it’s music and you find Brian Eno’s name somewhere on it, it will be the BEST it can be. THAT is saying something!
The last few years, I’ve been following the work of younger actors Dominique Swain, Joachim Phoenix, Lili Taylor, Clare Danes, Juliet Lewis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Robin Wright Penn, Jack Black, Robin Tunney, Taylor Pruitt Vince, Laura Dern, Tom Hulce, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, Edward Norton, Gary Oldman, Anna Paquin, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Christina Ricci, Elisabeth Shue, Ben Stiller, Tilda Swinton, Liv Tyler, Emily Watson, Kate Winslet, Sean Penn… and I don’t give a crap about their politics. If anything, I wish some of them would just shut up and go about doing what they do best… give THAT which they love, EVERYTHING – ALL THEIR ATTENTION – and let the other things be handled by pros in THOSE fields. (It’s just SAD to see a typical actor thrown into a singing role, or musician allowed to illustrate their own album cover, etc.. Think back to those incredibly self-centered, indigestible “art” covers by Joni Mitchell or Jackson Brown. Hey, you didn’t see Picasso recording an album of his favorite songs, did you? “Pablo sings Elvis!”)
I’m SURE it’s a real temptation, considering the spotlight never seems to go dark, to express themselves in/on many mediums. They ALWAYS have someone nearby who claims to be interested – if not “amazed” – at what they have to say. There’s no reason to think WE would be immune to that hype either. The Industry is in constant need of gossip snax – calorically empty and vitamin free – to feed a shallow, hungry public. They have publicists telling them their faces need to be seen all the time no matter what the venue. “It’s better to have something BAD written about you, than nothing at all!”
The implication is, of course, that the public has no memory and is easily swayed from one frill to the next. Well, it’s true. So what do “you” do about it? If you give the public what they want – which is usually the lowest common denominator available – they’ll “love” you for a week, and tire of you. (also known as “The Four F’s”, for those of you who remember THAT phrase.)
“Flavo Flave of the Week: Millie Vanilli!”
They were here, eaten, digested, and, uh… passed down the Sewer Pipe Dream of Yesterday.
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Every Tribe NEEDS its Story Tellers
March 31, 2003 by Ronn Ives, under Films.
March 31, 2003:
ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR
(If talking about The Film bores you, skip reading me now, because that’s all I’m going to do. Movie chat. Snippet thoughts. At least that’s my plan…)
- I was disappointed in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. I haven’t read the books, but I will assume they are written for children only. If adults read them with enjoyment, well, fine, but that wasn’t the plan. If anything, the bean counters in the FILM industry would more likely try to influence a movie to “capture” the broadest range of audience, so Harry Potter (the film) probably contains more “adult bits” than the book.
I enjoyed the heck out of the first “Lord of the Rings” film, and I love the original books.
BOTH films center on young, naive characters being suddenly thrown into roles with huge & dangerous responsibilities, while still being surrounded by wise adults, powerful monsters, evil spirits, and very complex environments. Why does one disappoint me, and one excite?
Special effects were better in Rings, but I dismiss that angle. “The Blair Witch Project” was a very smart film, and had NONE of that techno-stuff. “Chuck & Buck” had low production values, yet was a moving, interesting story. The acting was weak in Harry Potter. The kids were flat, the adults cartoon-like. I was given no “real” reason to like or dislike any of the characters. TELLING me someone is a “bad guy” just ain’t gonna make it. The story seemed like a clothes line full of separate action/FX bits. A party mix. Short, easy-to-read chapters.
Okay, so I rented a weak movie. No biggie. I try to avoid it, but when renting 300+ films a year, it’s going to happen. We watched “One Hour Photo” (congratulations to Robin Williams for using all of his strength to NOT overact), which was an eerie, admirable, visually intelligent story about one man lost in his own tiny world shared by no one. For that reason, story-wise it reminded me of “Taxi Driver”. This is a movie that should be studied by art students, and anyone else wanting to begin learning what goes into making right visual choices… which is much – not all – of what makes up a film.
We watched “White Oleander” this week, as well. Are there REALLY kids faced with such lives? Of course there are, and since it was hopefully NOT YOUR experience, THIS is one of the strongest films to take you inside… show you around… teach you a few things… and then – WHEW – let you go. Acting was superb, situations intense and sad, complex motivations made clear and full of insight. Even if the story doesn’t seem of direct interest to you, the deeper question – how DO WE react through the random kicks of our lifetimes? – IS useful.
Every tribe has Story Tellers. The Stories are intended for use. As individuals, and as a group, we sit towards the firey bright light, listen to the story, think it over, and find our Reasons.
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Great Films
February 8, 2000 by Ronn Ives, under Films.
GREAT FILMS YOU SHOULD SEE!
Plenty of films have been made that are good ONE-TIME views, but THIS list contains only films I’M driven to see REPEATEDLY, for one or more reasons…
I love The Movies…
…and Life is short.
The films are in alphabetical order ONLY – NOT by preference, theme, mood, date, location, stars, graphic levels of violence, sex, etc. However: most are NOT for children! (I placed an “ok” at the end of any listing that I feel are fine for kids, but I may be more liberal about this issue than yourself.) Films are dated because sometimes there exists more than one version. Some of these films will require that you find a quality video/dvd rental store covering more than your typical mainstream offering. In my opinion, you have an obligation to find & support those places in your area anyhow! THEY are the people TRYING to get some Art to you, and in turn, need your support!
NOW THE DISCLAIMER: I have preferences.
- First and foremost: I prefer drama;
- I DON’T avoid films due to graphic violence, sex, or language;
- Black & white is as BEAUTIFUL – at times more beautiful than color
(Can you imagine “Eraserhead” or “Manhattan” in color??);
- I prefer “METHOD” acting (Marlon Brando) over “classic”
theatrical style acting (Sir Lawrence Olivier);
- I EXPECT superb acting, intelligent scripts, sound & music
tracks that support the film, smart lighting, story continuity
& accuracy, etc., and,
- Whenever possible, I want some actual INNOVATION in the subject,
and the way in which the subject is depicted! I want to be shown
something new & of value that I can somehow “USE” – in my head,
and/or heart.
- If it’s a COMEDY, I lean towards the darker, more sarcastic,
intellectual type (as opposed to slapstick or “farttittygiggle”
flicks).
- I prefer fiction, or historically accurate films – whereas, I
HATE “serious” films that play fast and loose with history (such
as the sort Oliver Stone is willing to make).
- I DON’T mind subtitles – I prefer them over that goddawful dubbing.
(I love kitschy-cheezie bad films. Yes, “Plan Nine from Outer Space”
IS one of the two worst films of all time…the other being “Beyond
the Valley of the Dolls”), but that type is not for THIS list.
They are NOT great films.)
- Oh, also: I DETEST musicals, and with so few exceptions, I’ll
just say: I DETEST MUSICALS!
If you’ve found yourself generally agreeing with me, this list might be of use. Let me know. I’m curious.
I realize many films on the list will suffer from not being seen on the “big screen”, but anymore it’s a compromise I’M willing to accept. The average movie audience has become a room full of pigs, who ruin your chance for a quality movie-going experience.
=====================================================================
(last update 9-24-06)
A
The Accidental Tourist, 1988
The Accused, 1988
Affliction, 1998
The African Queen, 1951, ok
Aguirre: The Wrath of God, 1972, German
Alien, 1979
Alfie, 1966, English
All or Nothing, 2002
All Quiet on the Western Front, 1930
All the Real Girls, 2003
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, 199X
Amadeus, 1984
Amelie, 2001
American Grafitti, 1973, ok
American Heart, 1992
American Psycho, 2000
An American Rhapsody, 2001
Amy’s O, 2002
Anchoress, 1993
Anchorman – The Legend of Ron Burgandy, 2004
Andersonville, 1996
Angela, 2002
An Angel at my Table, 1990, New Zealand
Angels and Insects, 1995
Anne Frank Remembered, 1995
Annie Hall, 1977
Apocalypse Now, 1979
Apollo 13, 1995, ok
The Apostle, 1997
Artemesia, 1997, French
The Atomic Cafe, 1982
Au Revoir Les Enfants, 1987, French
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, 1974, ok
Avalon, 1990, ok
Awakenings, 1990, ok
The Awful Truth, 1937
B
Bambi, 1942, ok
Barfly, 1987
The Basketball Diaries, 1995
Basquiat, 1996
Bastard out of Carolina, 1996
A Beautiful Mind, 2001
Beetle Juice, 1988, ok
Being John Malkovich, 1999
The Believer, 2003
The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946
Beyond Rangoon, 1995
Big Fish, 2003
The Birdman of Alcatraz, 1962, ok
Black Rain, 1990
Black Robe, 1991, Canadian
Black Hawk Down, 2002
Blade Runner, 1982
The Blair Witch Project, 1998
Blood Simple, 1984
Blowup, 1966, British
Bob Roberts, 1992
The Boondock Saints, 1999
Born on the Fourth of July, 1989
Bottle Rocket, 1996
The Boys, 2000, Australian
Boys Don’t Cry, 1999
Braveheart, 1995
Brazil, 1985
Breaking the Waves, 1996, Danish
The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957
Bringing Out the Dead, 1999
Brokedown Palace, 1999, ok
A Bronx Tale, 1993
A Bug’s Life, 1998, ok
Bully, 2001
The Burmese Harp (“Biruma No Tategoto”), 1956, Japanese
C
Camille Claudel, 1988, French
Capote, 2005
Capturing the Friedmans, 2003
Career Girls, 1997
Carrington, 1995, British
Casablanca, 1942, ok
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1958
The Cell, 2000
Central Station, 1998, Brazilian, ok
Changing Lanes, 2002
Charlotte Gray, 2001
Charly, 1968, ok
Chattahoochee, 1990
Chikamatsu Monogatari (Crucified Lovers), 1954, Japanese
Children of Heaven, 1997, Iranian, ok
Chinatown, 1974
A Christmas Story, 1983, ok
Cinderella Man, 2005
The Cider House Rules, 1999
Cinema Paradiso, 1988, Italian, ok
Citizen Kane, 1941
Citizen Ruth,
City Slickers, 1991, ok
The Claim, 2000
Clean, Shaven, 1993
A Clockwork Orange, 1971
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 1977, ok
Closer, 2005
Closet Land, 1991
The Color Purple, 1985
Come Back Little Sheba, 1952
Coming Home, 1978
The Contender, 2000
The Conversation, 1974
Cool Hand Luke, 1967
Crash, 2005
Crimes and Misdemeanors, 1989
Cross of Iron, 1977
The Crucible, 1996
D
Damage, 1992
Dancer in the Dark, 2000
Dangerous Liaisons, 1988
Das Boot, 1981, German
Days of Wine and Roses, 1962
Deconstructing Harry, 1997
The Deer Hunter, 1978
Devi, 1960, Hindi
Diary of a Country Priest, 1950, French
Dogfight, 1991
Do the Right Thing,
Dominick and Eugene, 1988
Donnie Darko, 2002
Door to Door, 2002
The Double Life of Veronique, 1991, Polish/French
The Dreamlife of Angels, 1998, French
Driving Miss Daisy, 1989, ok
Drop Dead Gorgeous, XXXX
Dr. Strangelove…, 1964, British
Drugstore Cowboy, 1989
E
East of Eden, 1955
8mm, 1999
Edward Scissorhands, 1990, ok
Ed TV, 1999
The Elephant Man, 1980
Elizabeth, 1998, British
Empire of the Sun, 1987
Enemy at the Gates, 2001
Enigma, 2002
Equinox, 1993
Equinox Flower, 1958, Japanese
Eraserhead, 1978
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004
Europa Europa, 1991, French/German
Even Dwarfs Start Small, 1968, German
Every Man For Himself and God Against All (or also titled
The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser), 1975, German
Exotica, 1994, Canadian
Eye for an Eye, 1996
Eyes Wide Shut, 1999
F
Failsafe, 1964
The Falcon and the Snowman, 1984
Far From Heaven, 2002
Fargo, 1996
Fearless, 1993
The Fight Club, 2000
The Fisher King, 1991
Fitzcarraldo, 1982, ok
Flirting with Disaster, 1996
Focus, 2002
Following, 1999
Forbidden Games, 1952, French
Four Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle, 1986, French
Frances, 1982
Frankie Starlight, 1995
Freaks, 1932
Freedom Song, 2000
The French Connection, 1971
Fresh, 1994
Fried Green Tomatoes, 1991
Full Metal Jacket, 1987
G
Gaby: A True Story, 1987
Gandhi, 1982
The General, 1998, Irish
Georgia, 1995
Germinal, 1993, French
Ghost World, 2001
The Gingerbread Man, 1998
Girl, Interrupted, 1999
Girls Town, 1996
Glengarry Glen Ross, 1992
Glory, 1989
The Godfather, all 3 parts, 1972-90
Goodfellas, 1990
Good Night, and Good Luck, 2005
The Graduate, 1967
Grand Canyon, 1991
The Grapes of Wrath, 1940, ok
The Grass Harp, 1996, ok
Grey Zone, 2001
Grizzly Man, 2005
Groundhog Day, 1993, ok
Gummo, 1997
H
The Hairdresser’s Husband, 1992, French
Hairspray, 1988
Hannah and Her Sisters, 1986
Happiness, 1998
Harakiri, 1962
Harry and Tonto, 1974, ok
Hart’s War, 2002
Heart of Glass, 1976, German
Heaven, 1987
Heaven and Earth, 1993
Heavenly Creatures, 1994
Heavy, 1996, ok
Helter Skelter, 1976
Henry and June, 1990
Henry V, 1989, British
Herdsmen of the Sun, 1988
High Art, 1998, Canada
Hilary & Jackie, 1998, British
Himalaya, 1999, Tibetan
Hoffa, 1992
Homeward Bound, 1993, ok
Homicide, 1991
Hoop Dreams, 1994, ok
Hope and Glory, 1987
House of Sand and Fog, 2003
Hud, 1963
The Hudsucker Proxy, 1994
Hurly Burly, 1998
Hurricane Streets, 1998
Husbands and Wives, 1992
The Hustler, 1961
Hysterical Blindness, 2003
I
The Ice Storm, 1997
Imaginary Crimes, 1994
The Importance of Being Earnest, 2001
In Cold Blood, 1967
The Incredibles, 2004
The Indian Runner, 1991
Inherit the Wind, 1960
Interiors, 1978
Intermezzo, 1939
Interview with a Vampire, 1994
In the Bedroom, 2002
In the Company of Men, 1997
In the Heat of the Night, 1967
In the Name of the Father, 1993
Into the Arms of Strangers, 2000
The Invisible Circus, 2001
Iris, 2001
Ironweed, 1987
I Shot Andy Warhol, 1996
It Happened One Night, 1934, ok
It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946, ok
J
JAZZ, 2001
Jerusalem, 1996, Swedish
The Jimmy Show, 2003
Johns, 1996
Journey of Hope, 1990, Swiss
The Joy Luck Club, 1993
Judgment at Nuremberg, 1961
K
Kalifornia, 1993
Kids, 1995
The Killing Fields, 1984
The King is Alive, 2002
King of the Hill, 1993, ok
Kiss of the Spider Woman, 1985
L
Lancelot du Lac, 1974, French
Lantana, 2002, Australian
L’Argent, 1983, French
The Last Days, 1998
The Last Emperor, 1987, Italian
L.A. Story, 1991
The Last Picture Show, 1971
Last Tango in Paris, 1973, French
The Last Temptation of Christ, 1988
Late Spring, 1949, Japanese
Lawrence of Arabia, 1962
Leaving Las Vegas, 1995
Lessons of Darkness, 1992, German
Life is Beautiful, 1998, Italian
The Life of Brian, 1979, British
The Lion King, 1994, ok
Little Boy Blue
Little Dieter Needs to Fly, 1998, German
Little Fugitive, 1953, ok
Little Shop of Horrors, 1986, ok
Little Women, 1995
Lolita, 1997, British
Lonesome Dove, 1991
The Long Way Home, 1997
Lord of the Flies, 1963
Lord of the Rings, 2001, 2002, 2003
Lost Horizon, 1937
Lost in America, 1985
Lost in Translation, 2003
The Lost Weekend, 1945
Love Liza, 2003
Lovely & Amazing, 2002
Lust for Life, 1956
M
The Machinist, 2005
Made for Each Other, 1939
The Magdalene Sisters, 2003
Man Bites Dog, 1992, Belgian
Manhattan, 1979
The Man in the Moon, 1991
Man in the Wilderness, 1971
The Manchurian Candidate, 1962
Manny & Lo, 1996
The Man Who Wasn’t There, 2001
Martha + Ethel, 1994, ok
Marty, 1955, ok
Mean Streets, 1973
Menace II Society, 1993
Memento, 2001
Metropolis, 1926, German
(restored version by Giorgio Moroder, 1984), ok
A Midnight Clear, 1992
Midnight Cowboy, 1969
A Mighty Wind, 2003
Minority Report, 2002
The Miracle Worker, 1962, ok
Les Miserables, 1998
The Mission, 1986
Moll Flanders, 1995
Monster, 2004
Monsters Inc., 2002, ok
The Mosquito Coast, 1986, ok
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, 1936, ok
Mr. Saturday Night, 1992
Mrs. Dalloway, 1998, British/Dutch
Munich, 2005
Muriel’s Wedding, 1994, Australian
Music Box, 1990
My Dinner with Andre, 1981
My Left Foot, 1989, Irish
Mystery Men, 1999
The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser, or,
Every Man for Himself & God Against All, 1975, German
Mystic River, 2003
The Myth of Fingerprints, 1997
N
Naked, 1993, British
Naked Lunch, 1991, Canadian
National Lampoon’s Animal House, 1978
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, 1989, ok
National Velvet, 1944, ok
Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud, 1995, French
Network, 1976
Niagara Niagara, 1998
Night Falls on Manhattan, 1996
Nineteen Eighty Four, 1984, British
Normal Life, 1997
Nosferatu the Vampyre, 1979, German, ok
O
Odd Man Out, 1947
Of Mice and Men, 1981, ok
Of Mice and Men, 1992, ok
The Old Man and the Sea, 1958, ok
Once Upon a Time in America, 1984
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975
Onegin, 2000
One Hour Photo, 2002
One True Thing, 1998, ok
Onibaba, 1964, Japanese
The Onion Field, 1979
On the Beach, 1959
On the Waterfront, 1954
Open Range, 2003
Orlando, 1993, British
Orpheus, 1950, French
Out of Africa, 1985
The Out of Towners, 1970, ok
P
Padre Padrone, 1977, Italian
Panic, 2000
The Paper Chase, 1973
Paper Moon, 1973, ok
Papillon, 1973
Paradise Road, 1997
The Passion of Joan of Arc, 1928
Paths of Glory, 1957
The Pawnbroker, 1965
Pelle the Conqueror, 1988, Swedish
A Perfect Murder, 1998
A Perfect World, 1993
Performance, 1970
Perfume, 2001
Permanent Midnight, 1999
Personal Velocity, 2003
Persuasion, 1995
The Piano, 1993, New Zealand
Places in the Heart, 1984, ok
Platoon, 1986
The Playboys, 1992, Irish
The Player, 1992
Poltergeist, 1982
Ponette, 1996, French
Il Postino, 1994, Italian/French
Presumed Innocent, 1990
Priest, 1994, British
The Princess Bride, 1987, ok
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, 2005
Pulp Fiction, 1994
The Purple Rose of Cairo, 1985
Q
Queen Margot, 1994, French
R
Rabbit Proof Fence, 2002
Raging Bull, 1980
Rain Man, 1988
Raising Arizona, 1987
Rambling Rose, 1991
Ransom, 1996
The Rapture, 1991
Ratas, Ratones, Rateros, 1999
Rebel Without a Cause, 1955, ok
Record of a Tenement Gentleman, 1947, Japanese
Red Sky at Morning, 1970
The Red Violin, 1998, Canadian
Reservoir Dogs, 1992
Ridicule, 1996, French
The Right Stuff, 1983, ok
The Rise & Fall of the Third Reich, X year.
Road to Perdition, 2002
Robots, 2005
Rob Roy, 1995
Roger Dodger, 2003
Romeo & Juliet, 1968, British, ok
Romeo & Juliet, 1996
Romero, 1989
Rosemary’s Baby, 1968
The Rose Tattoo, 1955
Rules of Attraction, 2003
Runaway Jury, 2003
S
Safe, 1995
Sansho the Bailiff, 1954, Japanese
Save the Tiger, 1973
Schindler’s List, 1993
The Secret Garden, 1993, ok
The Secret of Roan Inish, 1994, ok
The Secret of Santa Vittoria, 1969
Secretary, 2002
Secrets & Lies, 1996, British
Serpico, 1973
Seven Days in May, 1964
Seven Years in Tibet, 1997
sex, lies, & videotape, 1989
Shadowlands, 1993, British
Shakespeare in Love, 1998
Shame, 1968, Swedish
Shane, 1953, ok
The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
She’s So Lovely, 1997, French/U.S.
Shine, 1996
Shooting War, 2000
The Shop on Main Street, 1965, Czech
Short Cuts, 1993
Shrek, 2001, ok
Sid & Nancy, 1986
Sidewalks of New York, 2002
The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
The Sixth Sense, 1999
Slacker, 1991
Sleuth, 1972
Sliding Doors, 1998
Sling Blade, 1996
Small Faces, 1995
Something Wild, 1986
Some Mother’s Son, 1997
Sometimes a Great Notion, 1971
Sophie’s Choice, 1982
The Spanish Prisoner, 1998
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, 1965
Stand by Me, 1986, ok
Stardust Memories, 1980
Stealing Beauty, 1996, French
The Sterile Cuckoo, 1969
The Story of Adele H., 1975, French
Storytelling, 2002
The Stranger, 1967
Stranger than Paradise, 1984
Straw Dogs, 1971
A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
Stroszek, 1977, German
The Substance of Fire, 1996
subUrbia, 1996
Sullivan’s Travels, 1941, ok
Summer of ’42, 1971
Sunset Blvd., 1950
The Sweet Hereafter, 1997
Sweetie, 1989, Australian
Swept Away, 1975, Italian
Sybil, 1976
T
Tae Guk Gi, 2005, Korean
Talk Radio, 1988
Tape, 2002
Taxi Driver, 1976
Telling Lies in America, 1997
Tender Mercies, 1983, ok
Terms of Endearment, 1983
Tess, 1979, French
They Might be Giants, 1971, ok
The Thief, 1997, Russian
The Thin Red Line, 1999
Thirteen, 2003
13 Conversations about One Thing, 2001
Thirteen Days, 2000
This Boy’s Life, 1993
This is Spinal Tap, 1984
Thousand Pieces of Gold, 1992
The Three Faces of Eve, 1957
Three Seasons, 1999, Viet Namese
Time Out, 2003, French
To Die For, 1995
To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962, ok
Tokyo Story, 1953
Tom & Viv, 1994, British
Tora Tora Tora, 1970
Toy Story I, 1995, ok
Toy Story II, 1999, ok
Training Day, 2002
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1945
Trees Lounge, 1996
The Triplets of Bellville, 2004
The Trip to Bountiful, 1985, ok
Truce, .
The Truce, 1997, Italian, etc.
True Romance, 1993
Tully, 2003
Twelve O’Clock High, 1949
25th Hour, 2003
Twentyfourseven, 1997, British
Twice in a Lifetime, 1985
2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968, British
Two Women, 1960, Italian
U
Ugetsu, 1953, Japanese
Umberto D., 1952, Italian
Under Suspicion, XXXX
Unforgiven, 1992
United 93, 2006
Unstrung Heroes, 1995, ok
The Untouchables, 1987
V
The Vanishing, 1988, Dutch/French
Village of the Damned, 1960, English
Vincent, 1987, Australian
W
Wag the Dog, 1997
Waiting for Guffman, 1997
Wall Street, 1987
Washington Square, 1997
The Waterdance, 1992
Waterland, 1992
Welcome to the Dollhouse, 1996
We All Loved Each Other So Much, 1974, Italian
We Were Soldiers, 2002
Whale Rider, 2003
The Whales of August, 1987, ok
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, 1993
When Harry Met Sally, 1989
When Trumpets Fade, 1998
Where the Green Ants Dream, 1985, Australian/German
Where the Heart Is, 2000
White, and, Red, and, Blue (3 films), 1993, French
White Badge, 1997, Korean
White Oleander, 2003
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966
Wigstock the Movie, 1995
Wild at Heart, 1990
The Wild Bunch, 1969
The Wild One, 1954
Wings of Desire, 1988, German
Winter Light, 1962, Swedish
Wit, 2001
Woman in the Dunes, 1964, Japanese
Woodstock, 1970
Working Girl, 1988
The World According to Garp, 1982
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, 1993
Y
The Year of Living Dangerously, 1983, Australian
Your Friends and Neighbors, 1998
Z
Zelig, 1983
Zorba the Greek, 1964