365 Films- Post 26
This post is chock-full of films that I love.
201. Daisies
202. L'Eclisse
203. The Burbs
204. Sunrise
205. 12 Angry Men
206. Being There
207. Gravity Falls: Weirdmageddon
208. The Fog of War
209. M. Hulot's Holiday
210. All These Women
Short Films:
*Everything Will Be Ok
*New York, N.Y.
Rewatches:
Evil Brain From Outer Space
Daisies (1966)
Daisies is a brilliant and hilarious embrace of chaotic anarchy. The movie is undeniably weird, but you get caught up in it so thoroughly that it is hard to stop watching. The performances of the two leads are incredible, and the story seems tailor-made to their comic sensibilities. Be sure to check this out before it leaves Hulu in November.
Standout Moment: The big finale is a perfect culmination of the bizarre energy that holds the rest of the film together.
L'Eclisse (1962)
The way that Antonioni works and creates art is inspirational and marvelous. Themes of alienation and personal malaise dominate his early work, especially. Arguably, L'Avventura is the greatest expression of those common creative threads. Considering the power of his other work, I feel as if L'Eclisse is one of his weaker efforts, although there are still really incredible moments.
Standout Moment: The stock market crash and its aftermath is gripping.
The Burbs (1989)
The Burbs is criminally underrated. Bruce Dern is phenomenal in it. Go watch it.
Standout Moment: "Pretty girl, she your girlfriend?" "She came with the frame."
Sunrise (1927)
Although moments may be a bit too melodramatic for modern audiences, it is undeniable how modern this film feels. It is a silent film that does not feel like a silent film. The performances are so great, the cinematography is so beautiful, and the story is so transcendent that is easy to forget that you are watching a film from nearly a hundred years ago.
Standout Moment: The pig chase is especially fun.
12 Angry Men (1957)
Who would think that a movie about 12 men discussing something could be so gripping? I attempted to put this on as background noise, but ended up watching intently from beginning to end. The performances are astounding, the camerawork is subtle and perfect, and the writing is nuanced and poignant. 12 Angry Men is a classic for a reason.
Standout Moment: The performances.
Being There (1979)
Peter Sellers is one of the best actors of the modern era and this is one of his best roles. Being There is a must-see film for anyone who enjoys watching or making movies. Despite how sparse and quite most of the film is, it fells very controlled and specific throughout. The use of existing television programming is superb. It is also extremely funny on top of its dedication to larger themes.
Standout Moment: Peter Seller's performance is amazing.
Gravity Falls: Weirdmageddon (2016)
Gravity Falls is an unexpectedly deep and entertaining piece of programming. It is aimed at older children, but it is just as engaging for adults. Weirdmageddon is the last four episodes of the series, and it is one of the best endings to a television show I have ever seen. It is hard to make an ending that lives up to the rest of a longer series, but Weirdmageddon walks that perfect line of being cathartic without being too "easy." Watch the whole show first (currently on Hulu), and make sure to see it with your kids.
Standout Moment: There are too many great moments to pick just one!
The Fog of War (2003)
This is one of the most important documentaries made since 2000. It is, in essence, a feature length interview, and it's riveting. Robert McNamara, the film's subject, gives an unprecedented look into his reasoning as Secretary of Defense during the Cuban Missile crisis and the Vietnam War. It emphasizes the absurdity of war, and yet the inevitability of its pain.
Standout Moment: The realization of how close America was to Nuclear war during the Cuban Missile crisis is nothing short of alarming.
M. Hulot's Holiday (1953)
Jacques Tati (the director, writer, and star of this film) is the rightful successor to Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd. The film is more of a collection of humorous set pieces rather than a traditional story (although there is a nice overarching plot), and it is all the better for it. The film is light and goofy with real moments of pathos. I watched this one with my boys who are 7 and 5. We all loved it.
Standout Moment: The taffy cart.
All These Women (1964)
I love Ingmar Bergman's work. His films and books are some of the most inspirational media I have experienced. There is a real honesty in all of his work that is refreshing in an industry that seems to be predicated on public facades and ego. That being said, All These Women is a real miss for him. It seems like an attempt to combine the humor of Smiles of a Summer Night and the anarchy of Hour of the Wolf, and it never quite clicks together. If you haven't seen anything by Bergman, you are really missing out, but don't start with this one. Begin with The Silence, Persona, and The Seventh Seal instead.
Standout Moment: There are great concepts in this film, although they never quiet make the impression they are supposed to make (such as the absence of the cellist)