I get asked for movie recommendations all the time and decided to start actively compiling lists of films that I love For Reference Purposes. Each month of 2016, I will select a different theme.
January 2016:
BEGINNINGS
a list of debut films
THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, dir. Sofia Coppola
synopsis: In an ordinary suburban house, on a lovely tree-lined street, in the middle of 1970s America, lived the five beautiful, dreamy Lisbon sisters, whose doomed fates indelibly marked the neighborhood boys who to this day continue to obsess over them.
A pretty obvious choice, I know - I love this movie, I rec it all the time, but it's so good. My favorite Coppola film, and arguably her best (sorry Lost in Translation).
THIS IS SPINAL TAP, dir. Rob Reiner
synopsis: In 1982 legendary British heavy metal band Spinal Tap attempt an American comeback tour, accompanied by a filmmaking fan.
HILARIOUS, and also the source of my favorite screen cap of all time (see below). Best watched at 3 am with your high school besties and a case of Budlight that some guy in the Walmart parking lot bought for you. Not that I'm speaking from experience.
HILARIOUS, and also the source of my favorite screen cap of all time (see below). Best watched at 3 am with your high school besties and a case of Budlight that some guy in the Walmart parking lot bought for you. Not that I'm speaking from experience.
synopsis: Set during a sultry summer in a French suburb, Marie is desperate to join the local pool's synchronized swimming team, but is her interest solely for the sake of sport or for a chance to get close to Floriane, the bad girl of the team?
Sciamma is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors (Girlhood and Tomboy are both wonderful as well), and Water Lilies is a fantastic debut film. It has everything I love in a film - Coming of age story featuring a teenaged girl! Who has a crush on a rebellious older teen! Who is also a girl! Sports drama!! Brightly colored synchronized swimming uniforms! France! Etc., so you know it's pretty much perfect.
Sciamma is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors (Girlhood and Tomboy are both wonderful as well), and Water Lilies is a fantastic debut film. It has everything I love in a film - Coming of age story featuring a teenaged girl! Who has a crush on a rebellious older teen! Who is also a girl! Sports drama!! Brightly colored synchronized swimming uniforms! France! Etc., so you know it's pretty much perfect.
BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, dir. Spike Jonze
synopsis: Unemployed New York City puppeteer Craig Schwartz reluctantly takes a temp job as a filing clerk for the eccentric Dr. Lester. While at work, Craig discovers a portal that leads into the mind of renowned actor John Malkovich.
My love for this movie is probably more for its screenwriting (the ever-brilliant Charlie Kaufman) than Jonze, BUT this is a really incredibly debut for Jonze as well. Funny, bizarre, & undeniably human.
My love for this movie is probably more for its screenwriting (the ever-brilliant Charlie Kaufman) than Jonze, BUT this is a really incredibly debut for Jonze as well. Funny, bizarre, & undeniably human.
BREATHLESS, dir. Jean Luc Godard
synopsis: Petty thug Michel considers himself a suave bad guy in the manner of Humphrey Bogart, but panics and impulsively kills a policeman while driving a stolen car. On the lam, he turns to his aspiring journalist girlfriend, Patricia, hiding out in her Paris apartment while he tries to pull together enough money to get the pair to Italy.
One of the most influential films OF ALL TIME!!!!! but don't be put off by it's Historical Film of Deep Artistic Merit or it being in black & white or w/e. It's a fantastic film that feels incredibly modern considering it was made over 50 years ago. Plays with genre in a really interesting way & features tons of chic costume choices. Directly responsible for 15-year-old me spending hours fantasizing about moving to Paris and selling newspapers.
THAT DAY, ON THE BEACH, dir. Edward Yang
synopsis: Two friends who haven’t seen each other for thirteen years reunite. One is a successful concert pianist just back from a European tour and the other has just started a new business.
I watched this for the first time in a Taiwanese Film Studies class and have been unable to track it down since - I don't know if it ever got a proper English release which makes finding a copy of it quite challenging. UM. So sorry for rec'ing a movie that may be impossible to find but like all of Yang's work, it's truly worth watching.
I watched this for the first time in a Taiwanese Film Studies class and have been unable to track it down since - I don't know if it ever got a proper English release which makes finding a copy of it quite challenging. UM. So sorry for rec'ing a movie that may be impossible to find but like all of Yang's work, it's truly worth watching.
BUFFALO '66, dir. Vincent Gallo
synopsis: Convict Billy Brown dreads going home so much upon his release from prison that he tries to get back inside. In desperation, Billy kidnaps Layla from a tap dancing class and pleads with her to impersonate his wife and to accompany him home to visit his parents.
I have very conflicted feelings about this movie because on one hand, Vincent Gallo is a dickhead of the first order and pretty terrible filmmaker but I guess the film gods were smiling on this production because Buffalo '66 is kind of amazing. Worth watching for Christina Ricci & the gorgeous production design.
I have very conflicted feelings about this movie because on one hand, Vincent Gallo is a dickhead of the first order and pretty terrible filmmaker but I guess the film gods were smiling on this production because Buffalo '66 is kind of amazing. Worth watching for Christina Ricci & the gorgeous production design.
BADLANDS, dir. Terrence Malick
synopsis: Teenage girl Holly angers her father when she begins dating an older and rebellious boy.
I realize that all of these blurbs are basically "I love this movie, please watch it" but like... I love this movie. One of my favorite Malick films and (probably?) his most accessible work. Holly (played by queen Sissy Spacek)'s dreamy detachment makes this one of the most hauntingly beautiful films I've ever watched.
I realize that all of these blurbs are basically "I love this movie, please watch it" but like... I love this movie. One of my favorite Malick films and (probably?) his most accessible work. Holly (played by queen Sissy Spacek)'s dreamy detachment makes this one of the most hauntingly beautiful films I've ever watched.
DONNIE DARKO, dir. Richard Kelly
synopsis: After surviving a freak accident, Donnie begins to explore what it means to be alive, and in short order to be in love, he uncovers secrets of the universe that give him a tempting power to alter time and destiny.
A lot of people think this movie is overrated but it's seriously so good and I will defend it forever. Also features baby Jake Gyllenhall, which is more than enough reason to watch something.
A lot of people think this movie is overrated but it's seriously so good and I will defend it forever. Also features baby Jake Gyllenhall, which is more than enough reason to watch something.
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