I thought we'd kick off this forum with a relatively easy topic, what films and directors we admire the most.
I always liked to think of myself as a knowledgable fan of cinema when I was younger, but if I told you some of the films I've only watched for the first time since early last year, you'd be stunned.
So I've spent a bit of time recently 'catching' up with films I'd never seen and rewatching those I've always loved, and what I've noticed is that certain films and certain directors standout. It might sound cliché and maybe a little pretentious, but I enjoy the films of John Carpenter, Sergio Leone, Alfred Hitchcock, The Coen Brothers and Quentin Tarantino the most.
If I were to list the films I'd want to take on a desert island with me, which I guess is what I'm doing now, I'd go with:
The Shining, Halloween, Once Upon a Time in the West, Avengers Infinity War (or more so the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe), Alien, Rope, Rear Window, True Grit (2010) and Inglorious Basterds.
What about you?
Got a lot of spare time with Lockdown #3 and all, so I watched Double Indemnity the other day. I'd be contemplating making a Billy Wilder thread to say this, but this one will do.
Sunset Blvd., The Apartment, Some Like It Hot, Double Indemnity. They're the only four films of his I've seen, and I think they could compete with any other director's top 4. Holy moly they're great.
So, I come to this serious discussion of films with this pathetic clip
Not my all time favourite but a really good movie is Shutter Island (2010) by Scorsese. DiCaprio in a leading role.
I watched Groundhog Day for the first time in 10 years. Still holds up. Excellent movie.
Is it uncool to say I loved Harold Ramis as a director? He made some of my favourite movies. And for me 'favourite' means a movie I want to watch more than once. That I think of often and want to enjoy the scenes play out even though I've seen them many times before.
Favourite directors include Krzysztof Kieslowski, Robert Altman, Giuseppe Tornatore and lots more probably. GF1 & 2 remain my favourite films but Cinema Paradiso isn't far behind.
And I think Hitchcock is overrated. I didn’t really like anything by him other than Rear Window.
My favourite film has got to be A Streetcar Named Desire. I have no political sympathies for Kazan, but he was a genius. And so was Tennessee Williams. And Brando. And Leigh.
Then there’s
On the Waterfront
Casablanca
Citizen Kane
A Place in the Sun
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
More recent ones:
Anything by Paul Thomas Anderson (particularly There Will Be Blood)
Anything written by Charlie Kaufman (specially Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
Anything directed by Darren Aronofsky (particularly the masterpiece that is Mother!, but really all of them)
My favourite film is Casablanca. I can recite almost every line, 'here's looking at you kid'. If I had that, a Fred Astaire film and Cabaret on my island, I would be happy.