MC Yearly Consensus - 1985

[Spinal]

Submit your five favorite films from this year and in a week I will give you a top ten. IMDb dates will be used.

The point system is as follows

1st Place-5 points
2nd Place-4 points
3rd Place-3.5 points
4th Place-3 points
5th Place-2.5 points

There will be no restrictions on short films. A minimum of three films must be listed. You may edit your post freely up until the time that the voting is closed, which will be in about a week. I will give at least 24 hours warning before tallying votes.

You may begin now.

IMDB Power Search (http://www.imdb.com/list)

[Spinal]

1. A Zed and Two Noughts
2. Ran
3. Brazil
4. 28 Up
5. Ladyhawke

6. Come and See
7. Back to the Future
8. 26 Bathrooms
9. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
10. The Emerald Forest

[Derek]

1. Vagabond (Agnes Varda)
2. Come and See (Elim Klimov)
3. Tampopo (Juzo Itami)
4. Ran (Akira Kurosawa)
5. Brazil (Terry Gilliam)
***************************
6. The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen)
7. Broken Down Film (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVzQwqnGpSg) (Osamu Tezuka)
8. A Zed & Two Naughts (Peter Greenaway)
9. Almanac of Fall (Béla Tarr)
10. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (Tim Burton)

HMs: My Life as a Dog (Lasse Hallstrom)
Day of the Dead (George A. Romero)
Hail Mary (Jean-Luc Godard)
Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis)

[origami_mustache]

1. Ran
2. Brazil
3. The Breakfast Club
4. The Purple Rose of Cairo
5. National Lampoon's European Vacation

[monolith94]

1. Brazil
2. After Hours
3. The Purple Rose of Cairo
4. Back to the Future
5. Ran

[Stay Puft]

1. Police Story
2. Disciples of the 36th Chamber
3. Day of the Dead

[soitgoes...]

1. The Unnameable Little Broom (Stephen Quay, Timothy Quay)
2. A Room with a View (James Ivory)
3. Come and See (Elem Klimov)
4. Witness (Peter Weir)
5. Ran (Akira Kurosawa)
-----------------------------------------
6. The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen)
7. After Hours (Martin Scorsese)
8. My Beautiful Laundrette (Stephen Frears)
9. No End (Krzysztof Kieslowski)
10. Runaway Train (Andrei Konchalovsky)

[ledfloyd]

1. The Purple Rose of Cairo
2. Shoah
3. Brazil
4. After Hours
5. Back to the Future

[Qrazy]

1. Vagabond (Agnes Varda)
2. Come and See (Elim Klimov)
3. Tampopo (Juzo Itami)
4. Ran (Akira Kurosawa)
5. Brazil (Terry Gilliam)


Really? Vagabond above those four... ehh...

[Qrazy]

1. Ran (Akira Kurosawa)
2. Brazil (Terry Gilliam)
3. Tampopo (Juzo Itami)
4. A Zed & Two Naughts (Peter Greenaway)
5. Come and See (Elim Klimov)

6. Mishima
7. After Hours
8. The Color Purple
9. Witness
10. Vagabond (Agnes Varda)

HMs: The Big Snit, No End, The Quiet Earth, Angel's Egg, Back to the Future

Might get to When Father was Away on Business before this is done.

[Weeping_Guitar]

1. Brazil
2. The Purple Rose of Cairo
3. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
4. Back to the Future
5. God’s Country

[Boner M]

Ahh, my Y.O.B. :pritch:

1. Come and See
2. After Hours
3. A Zed and Two Noughts
4. The Purple Rose of Cairo
5. Phenomena

RU: Demons, Back to the Future, Brazil

[Raiders]

1. Come and See (Klimov)
2. The Purple Rose of Cairo (Allen)
3. A Zed & Two Noughts (Greenaway)
4. Shoah (Lanzmann)
5. Vagabond (Varda)

-----------------------------

6. The Time to Live and the Time to Die (Hou)
7. To Live and Die in L.A. (Friedkin)
8. After Hours (Scorsese)
9. The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Barta)
10. My Beautiful Laundrette (Frears)

[Russ]

1. Crime Wave
2. Brazil
3. Pee-wee's Big Adventure
4. Vampires in Havana
5. Trouble in Mind

[Kurosawa Fan]

1. Ran
2. Purple Rose of Cairo
3. Back to the Future
4. Clue
5. Real Genius


Too many films I wish I had seen from this year.

[Benny Profane]

1. Back to the Future
2. Come and See
3. Runaway Train
4. Pee Wee's Big Adventure
5. The Goonies.

[BirdsAteMyFace]

1. Brazil
2. Tampopo
3. A Zed & Two Noughts
4. Ran
5. My Beautiful Laundrette

[Qrazy]

Runaway Train never coming back ba doop da ba doo ba baddooo da booo.

[Lazlo]

1. Back to the Future
2. The Breakfast Club
3. Out of Africa
4. Pale Rider
5. The Black Cauldron

[Kurosawa Fan]

Ran, people. Ran!!!

[Ezee E]

1. Back to the Future
2. Pee-wee's Big Adventure
3. The Color Purple
4. Better Off Dead
5. Pale Rider

[Raiders]

Is there really nobody else who has seen Shoah? It is certainly worth every minute.

[Watashi]

1. The Purple Rose of Cairo
2. Ran
3. Back to the Future
4. Brazil
5. After Hours

[dreamdead]

Is there really nobody else who has seen Shoah? It is certainly worth every minute.

Sorry, though I certainly intend to watch it over some week at some point, I doubt it'll be this decade. No slight to its quality, as everything I've read about trauma studies regards it as the premiere film for analysis, but that length...:sad:

1. A Zed and Two Noughts
2. Ran
3. After Hours
4. Purple Rose of Cairo
5. No End

H/S: Come and See, Vagabond, Tampopo, Shoah

[Kurosawa Fan]

Is there really nobody else who has seen Shoah? It is certainly worth every minute.

It's been in my queue since I started Netflix, but that running time paired with that material is a hard sell.

[Raiders]

It's been in my queue since I started Netflix, but that running time paired with that material is a hard sell.

Don't really know what to say. It's a supremely powerful film. If the subject matter turns you away, then I doubt I can really convince you to see it. But, I find it a pretty definitive document on the Holocaust.

[ledfloyd]

Don't really know what to say. It's a supremely powerful film. If the subject matter turns you away, then I doubt I can really convince you to see it. But, I find it a pretty definitive document on the Holocaust.
it's in my top 100. one of the crowning achievements of the medium. in a class with Apted's Up series as the pinnacle of documentary.

didn't realize it was 85. edited.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Don't really know what to say. It's a supremely powerful film. If the subject matter turns you away, then I doubt I can really convince you to see it. But, I find it a pretty definitive document on the Holocaust.

My comment could easily be misunderstood. I'm definitely going to see it. I just have a hard time pushing it to the top of my queue. Every time I think about it, I always end up going for something else. I imagine it's a hard film to watch, so with that running time I seem to always balk.

[Yxklyx]

1. Brazil (Terry Gilliam)
2. Ran (Akira Kurosawa)
3. A Zed and Two Noughts (Peter Greenaway)
4. Vagabond (Agnès Varda)
5. My Life as a Dog (Lasse Hallström)

6. Come and See (Elem Klimov)
7. The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen)
8. A Room with a View (James Ivory)
9. Runaway Train (Andrei Konchalovsky)
10. The Breakfast Club (John Hughes)

[Pop Trash]

1. My Life as a Dog
2. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
3. Commando
4. Witness
5. European Vacation

6. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
7. After Hours
8. Re-Animator
9. Return to Oz
10.Better Off Dead

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

1. Come and See
2. A Zed and Two Noughts
3. Brazil
4. After Hours
5. Ran

[Qrazy]

Is there really nobody else who has seen Shoah? It is certainly worth every minute.

Too long and I'm Jewish so... preaching to the choir... jk, will see it eventually.

[Qrazy]

5. No End

Good to see another somewhat fan. I find even Kieslowski's lesser works fairly potent.

[Ezee E]

I saw Pt. 1. It was pretty rough to watch. I'd vote for it, but since i haven't seen it all, I don't think it should count.

[Derek]

Really? Vagabond above those four... ehh...

All five are really, really close, so the order's not all that important. But as it is, yes, I prefer Vagabond by an ever-so-slight margin.


Ran, people. Ran!!!

I'm shocked that there's at least 6 or 7 lists that don't even have it in the top 5.

[Qrazy]

I'm shocked that there's at least 6 or 7 lists that don't even have it in the top 5.

I didn't post that, but I do agree with the sentiment.

[Derek]

I didn't post that, but I do agree with the sentiment.

Damned kids with their cutting and pasting.

[Yum-Yum]

1. Crime Wave

I always seem to miss this flick whenever it airs on Canadian television. Which is shame, because I'm quite the fan of John Paizs' Top of the Food Chain.

[Mysterious Dude]

1. Come and See
2. Krysar
3. Ran
4. Ladyhawke
6. Brazil

[origami_mustache]

The 1980s sucked so bad.

[Spinal]

Bah, there's plenty of great films in this decade. This year in particular is fantastic.

[ledfloyd]

Bah, there's plenty of great films in this decade. This year in particular is fantastic.
3 of my top ten of the decade are from this year.

[origami_mustache]

Bah, there's plenty of great films in this decade. This year in particular is fantastic.

Never said there is an absence of great films and music...but I still hate this decade for the most part.

[Spinal]

Never said there is an absence of great films and music...but I still hate this decade for the most part.

You implied it, you implier.

[origami_mustache]

You implied it, you implier.

You assumed, you assumer.

[Qrazy]

Never said there is an absence of great films and music...but I still hate this decade for the most part.

I agree with you... but more so 80's America than 80's rest of the world.

[Pop Trash]

I agree with you... but more so 80's America than 80's rest of the world.
I dunno...I had a pretty rad time growing up in 80s America.

[origami_mustache]

I agree with you... but more so 80's America than 80's rest of the world.

sounds about right.


I dunno...I had a pretty rad time growing up in 80s America.

So did I, but pop culture had little to do with it...and not sure I would describe it as "rad."

[Spinal]

You assumed, you assumer.

What else would you be talking about in a movie forum thread where we are listing our favorite movies? I'm supposed to think you're talking about Reagan and Chernobyl?

[Pop Trash]

So did I, but pop culture had little to do with it...and not sure I would describe it as "rad."
Pop culture had a lot to do with it for me...GI Joe...Transformers...Jim Henson...Spielberg...Nintendo. ..Garbage Pail Kids...uhhh dinosaurs? And are you more of a gnarly or tubular kinda guy rather than rad kinda guy? Perhaps your years growing up were thrashin'?

[origami_mustache]

What else would you be talking about in a movie forum thread where we are listing our favorite movies? I'm supposed to think you're talking about Reagan and Chernobyl?

Yes, but assuming I hate every film from the 80s is not giving me a lot of credit.

[Sycophant]

1. The Purple Rose of Cairo
2. Ran
3. Tampopo
4. Lost in America

Any year where I have to put Lost in America at number four is an awesome year. It's just a pity that I haven't seen something quite deserving of fifth place yet.

[dreamdead]

Good to see another somewhat fan. I find even Kieslowski's lesser works fairly potent.

Yeah, I wasn't all that invested in it emotionally. But whereas I initially held that as a slight against Kieslowski, I now feel like most of that was intentional. The first and third act were fascinating in their portrait of the social conditions, but some of the guerrilla plot careened on longer than I could find riveting. Still, the recursive way that Kieslowski manipulated fate was fascinating as always, and helps me to see why Zizek considers Kieslowski the fullest filmmaker after Hitchcock.

[Qrazy]

Yeah, I wasn't all that invested in it emotionally. But whereas I initially held that as a slight against Kieslowski, I now feel like most of that was intentional. The first and third act were fascinating in their portrait of the social conditions, but some of the guerrilla plot careened on longer than I could find riveting. Still, the recursive way that Kieslowski manipulated fate was fascinating as always, and helps me to see why Zizek considers Kieslowski the fullest filmmaker after Hitchcock.

Who's Zizek? But yeah I greatly admire and often love even his short films and film essays. I still have about a dozen shorts to seek out... karagarga ratio isn't quite good enough to splurge though.

[MadMan]

Personally I think the 1980s are underrated when it comes to film and music, among other things.

[origami_mustache]

Personally I think the 1980s are underrated when it comes to film and music, among other things.

I'd say the opposite

[Sycophant]

The eighties tend to get plenty of recognition. However, it's mostly for the wrong stuff and makes one think the decade sucks, when in fact there was a good deal of awesome going on.

[Winston*]

The eighties tend to get plenty of recognition. However, it's mostly for the wrong stuff and makes one think the decade sucks, when in fact there was a good deal of awesome going on.
Like the movie Brazil, which seems to be conspicuously absent from your list.

[Grouchy]

1. Brazil
2. Ran
3. After Hours
4. Re-Animator
5. Flesh + Blood

[MadMan]

That said, looking over what I've seen from 1985 I don't feel really compelled to compile a Top 5 for this year, even though I really love some of the films from 1985. Maybe its just because I feel "meh" about 1985 in general. Or because I'm starting to think that I shouldn't even post lists in these threads unless I've seen about 25-30 films from the perspective years covered.

[Qrazy]

That said, looking over what I've seen from 1985 I don't feel really compelled to compile a Top 5 for this year, even though I really love some of the films from 1985. Maybe its just because I feel "meh" about 1985 in general. Or because I'm starting to think that I shouldn't even post lists in these threads unless I've seen about 25-30 films from the perspective years covered.

Well that's a little steep I don't think m(any) of us have seen 25-30 films for any given year from 1900-1940's

[MadMan]

Well that's a little steep I don't think m(any) of us have seen 25-30 films for any given year from 1900-1940'sI may change my mind, but I think it may be right and proper to hold fast to that rule during years that I haven't seen much from. If only to prevent myself from coloring or skewering the results. Plus I feel that at times I'm just pulling up three-five films that I love but probably won't be on the list had I seen more films from those respective years, just so I can vote in these threads.

[Russ]

If only to prevent myself from coloring or skewering the results.
But it states up front, "Submit your five favorite films from this year". You stated earlier, "I really love some of the films from 1985", so why not submit those? It's not intended to be definitive, just a snapshot of the forum members' tastes and general consensus right now. Frankly, I get more out of the individual lists of posters whose tastes I've grown to know and respect over the thread ending consensus lists (which are fun of their own accord).

[Derek]

Frankly, I get more out of the individual lists of posters whose tastes I've grown to know and respect over the thread ending consensus lists (which are fun of their own accord).

This.

Keep posting your lists Madman as long as you've really liked the 3+ films you vote for.

[MadMan]

But it states up front, "Submit your five favorite films from this year". You stated earlier, "I really love some of the films from 1985", so why not submit those? It's not intended to be definitive, just a snapshot of the forum members' tastes and general consensus right now. Frankly, I get more out of the individual lists of posters whose tastes I've grown to know and respect over the thread ending consensus lists (which are fun of their own accord).Ah, yes, this. Hmmm.....perhaps you've convinced me. Or maybe I just like furthering my post count. At times though I've felt like I'm simply contributing to these threads for that reason, or because I feel like helping out knowing that people actually take time to tally the results and that Spinal and co. put such effort into the Top 10s for each year. Or that simply maybe my lists may interest or intrigue others. I just didn't want to be acting pointlessly and not contributing to anything.

And thus I guess I'll throw in a list for 1985 so long as its not too late. If it is, then don't count it. I don't mind. Oh I've seen a good bit of horror from this year, which is a good thing. Once again a western features prominently near the top of my list, which isn't surprising:

1. Silverado
2. Re-Animator
3. Day of the Dead
4. Return of the Living Dead
5. Fletch
6. The Breakfast Club
7. The Goonies
8. Mr. Vampire
9. Back To The Future
10. Rocky IV

[Russ]

2. Re-Animator
3. Day of the Dead
4. Return of the Living Dead
I actually love two of these and both would have made my top ten, I'm sure. Not so hot on Romero's, but I can't say enough good things about Reanimator. It just barely missed my list.

[Spinal]

The Goonies ahead of Back to the Future? :crazy:

[MadMan]

The Goonies ahead of Back to the Future? :crazy:This response put a big grin on my face. I like both films a lot, and I know that BTTF is the better movie, but damnit The Goonies never ceases to brighten my day when I watch it.


I actually love two of these and both would have made my top ten, I'm sure. Not so hot on Romero's, but I can't say enough good things about Reanimator. It just barely missed my list.I love Romero's, and I knew that after I gave the film a strong 90 that I had reached fanboy levels with the man's work. As for Return of the Living Dead, it is indeed goofy awesome fun, and almost bests Romero's film.
I think most folks in this thread like Re-Animator, which so far is the best horror film I've seen from the 1980s.

[origami_mustache]

I don't think anyone in the world could validate a 90+ rating for Day of the Dead to me.

[MadMan]

I don't think anyone in the world could validate a 90+ rating for Day of the Dead to me.I can understand why someone would give the film higher than a 90, or a 100. I can also understand those who hate the movie, like Roger Ebert.

[Pop Trash]

1. Silverado
2. Re-Animator
3. Day of the Dead
4. Return of the Living Dead
5. Fletch
6. The Breakfast Club
7. The Goonies
8. Mr. Vampire
9. Back To The Future
10. Rocky IV

Don't worry...your list is more than cool. Just be honest and put what you like and don't be afraid to contribute just because your taste leans more towards pop entertainment than some other posters.

[Qrazy]

I was pleasantly surprised by Silverado. I found it lost it's way a bit near the end but it was fairly enjoyable.

[balmakboor]

I was pleasantly surprised by Silverado. I found it lost it's way a bit near the end but it was fairly enjoyable.

Those were the days when I actually liked Kevin Costner and Lawrence Kasdan had a hot hand. When I saw Silverado on that list, I experienced a serious surge of nostalgia.

[Spinal]

The best part of Silverado is John Cleese.

"You idiot, he's hit everything he's aimed at!"

[Spinal]

One more day.

[Spinal]

Last call.

[MadMan]

The best part of Silverado is John Cleese.

"You idiot, he's hit everything he's aimed at!"Heh, pretty much.

And the late great Father Barry agreed with me when I said that Silverado was the last great popcorn western. Despite having tons of action and excitement, 3:10 To Yuma actually was a pretty serious western, and thus doesn't qualify. Although I enjoyed that one a lot, even if other more recent westerns were far superior.

[Spinal]

Tally is complete. Results later today when I can.

If anyone wants to throw up a list before I get to the results, I'll just add it in.

[Spinal]

#10

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/vagabond-400.jpg

Vagabond

Director: Agnès Varda

Country: France

In winter in the south of France, a young woman is found frozen in a ditch. Through flashbacks and brief interviews, we trace her final weeks, as she camps alone or falls in with various men and women, many of whom project their needs onto her or try to give her life direction.

Won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Sandrine Bonnaire was named Best Actress at the César Awards and by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. The original French title is Sans toit ni loi, which means "without roof or law".

"Since there are no obvious judgments made by the director, our opinion of the protagonist suddenly matters a great deal, and this allows our response to the film to tell us some profound things about ourselves. Taken strictly as the narrative of an unfortunately free young woman, Vagabond is heartbreaking. Taken as an examination of how we watch and react to the films (and the real people) that we see, it becomes transcendent." - Jeremy Heilman

[Spinal]

#9

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/tampopo-kiss.jpg

Tampopo

Director: Juzo Itami

Country: Japan

A trucker rides into town like a modern Shane to help Tampopo set up the perfect fast-food noodle restaurant. Woven into the main story are a number of smaller stories about the importance of food.

Nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Independent Spirit Awards. The hobo scene was referenced in the animated science fiction show Futurama's episode "The 30% Iron Chef".

"Tampopo is perhaps the funniest movie about the connection between food and sex ever made. But, as you're watching it, the movie's base broadens, and the parallels between the noodle-maker's art and the filmmaker's become richer, sweeter." - Hal Hinson

[Spinal]

#8

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/18742149.jpg

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

Director: Tim Burton

Country: USA

Pee-wee's bicycle, a material object he desires above all human relationships, is stolen. The journey he is forced to make exposes him to the land that suburbia forgot, a mythical working-class America filled with truck stops, waitresses and runaway convicts.

During the entire time Large Marge tells her story, she never blinks. The drive-in sequence was filmed at the Studio Drive-In, formerly located in Culver City, CA. The Studio was built in the 30s, and was the first drive-in theatre constructed in California. It served as a set for several films, including Grease. It was closed in 1993 and demolished in 1998.

"Tim Burton's first major motion picture is still his best. It is sly, witty, irreverent, and totally freaking hilarious. It's got the vigor of an old screwball comedy, the charm of an antiquated amusement park, and the unhinged exuberance of a young kid all hopped up on goofballs and gobstoppers." - D_Davis

[Spinal]

#7

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/Dudelookslikealady.jpg

After Hours

Director: Martin Scorsese

Country: USA

A meek office worker impulsively travels to Manhattan's Soho District to date an attractive but apparently disturbed young woman and finds himself trapped there in a nightmarishly surreal vortex of improbable coincidences and farcical circumstances.

Scorsese won Best Director at Cannes and at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film also received an Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature. Scorsese told Griffin Dunne to refrain from sex and sleep during filming in order to get a more realistic feeling of paranoia.

"After Hours is a comedy, according to the strict definition of that word: It ends happily, and there are indications along the way that we're not supposed to take it seriously. It is, however, the tensest comedy I can remember, building its nightmare situation step by insidious step until our laughter is hollow, or defensive. This is the work of a master filmmaker ..." - Roger Ebert

[Spinal]

#6

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/future460.jpg

Back to the Future

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Country: USA

Marty McFly helps out his friend Doc Brown, and ends up being taken back in time by Doc's time-machine. Marty, a boy of the 80's, has to come to grips with being in the 50's and get his parents to fall in love to set straight the damage his presence has done to the events of the past.

Won an Academy Award for Sound Effects Editing. Also nominated for Best Sound, Best Original Screenplay and Best Song ("The Power of Love"). Was the top grossing release of 1985. Michael J. Fox is only ten days younger than Lea Thompson, the actress who plays his mother, and is almost three years older than his on-screen dad, Crispin Glover.

"Zemeckis and his writing partner, Bob Gale, were among the few TV-influenced filmmakers of the mid-80s who weren't ashamed of their sources. They love the crassness, obviousness, and manic energy of old TV, and it gives their work a uniquely American zip and vulgarity, like the best early-60s rock." - Dave Kehr

[Spinal]

#5

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/zed_still_27.jpg

A Zed and Two Noughts

Director: Peter Greenaway

Country: UK

A set of identical twins lose their wives in a car crash caused by a white swan. The brothers, who are zoologists, become obsessed with the death and decay of animals. They both have a relationship with the driver of the crashed car.

We are shown a front-page newspaper article about the deaths of the protagonists' wives. This front page also contains sidebar articles detailing events from two of director Greenaway's subsequent films, The Belly of an Architect and Drowning by Numbers. Greenaway's first collaboration with cinematographer, Sacha Vierny. The two would work together on several more films over the years until Vierny's death in 2001.

"No movie has ever been less abashed by its mythic, scientific, aesthetic, and metaphysical concerns, here asserting their presence in every inch of the production design and every preposterous plot point. The characters in Zed aren't convincingly human, but neither are they meant to be. Greenaway is exclusively interested in the details of their anatomy and in assigning them symbolic roles. You want the human touch, go cozy up with Mike Leigh." - Nathan Lee

[Spinal]

#4

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/bffmof.jpg

Come and See

Director: Elem Klimov

Country: Soviet Union

A boy is unwillingly thrust into the atrocities of war in WWII Belarus, fighting for a hopelessly unequipped resistance movement against the ruthless German forces. Witnessing scenes of abject terror and accidentally surviving horrifying situations he loses his innocence and then his mind.

Though still in his early 50's, Klimov retired from filmmaking after this feature, stating that he felt that he had already done all of which he was capable. Klimov planned to have Aleksei Kravchenko hypnotized by a psychotherapist during the most dreadful and violent scenes so that they wouldn't affect his young mind. However Kravchenko turned out not to be susceptible to hypnosis. The original name of the film was supposed to be Kill Hitler!

"Come And See paints a real historical event as an expressionist nightmare, full of abstract horrors and heightened surrealism. In this way and others, it's the Russian cousin to Apocalypse Now ..." - Scott Tobias

[Raiders]

You know Spinal, your ranking of Ladyhawke above Klimov's film has made me eager to see it. Plus, a young Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer.

[Spinal]

#3

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/the-purple-rose-of-cairo-woody-alle.jpg

The Purple Rose of Cairo

Director: Woody Allen

Country: USA

After losing her job, a Depression-era waitress goes to see a film in hopes of raising her spirits. Much to her surprise, one of the characters walks off the screen and into her life.

Earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Won the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes. Allen has said more than once that this is his favorite of the movies he's made. After the film was previewed, Allen was told that if he just changed his ending, he could have a big hit. Allen declined, saying that the ending is one of the reasons he made the film.

"This is one of Woody's most dazzling comedic fantasies, on the surface a light and fluid fantasia of dream and imagination, and yet its heart is hard as stone and its message is pure Allen pragmatism ... Ultimately, the film examines the nature of fantasy and reality, the connections between them, and the importance of choosing reality no matter how harsh the consequences." - Ed Howard

[Spinal]

You know Spinal, your ranking ?of Ladyhawke above Klimov's film has made me eager to see it. Plus, a young Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer.

Uh oh. :)

Nah, I think you'll like it, though it is naturally a very different and much lighter experience. How do you feel about Matthew Broderick? It will help if you find him at least somewhat charming.

[Sycophant]

The Purple Rose of Cairo contains everything I love about Woody Allen's films, save for Woody Allen the actor.

[Spinal]

#2

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/brazil_l.jpg

Brazil

Director: Terry Gilliam

Country: UK

In a vision of the future, the populace are completely controlled by the state, but technology remains almost as it was in the 70's. A civil servant one day spots a mistake in one of the pieces of paperwork passing through his office. The mistake leads to the arrest of an entirely innocent man, and although the civil servant attempts to correct the error, it just gets bigger and bigger.

Earned Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Art Direction. In the autumn of 1985, Gilliam and Robert De Niro appeared on Good Morning America. Joan Lunden asked Gilliam, "I hear you're having trouble with the studio, is this correct?" Gilliam responded with "No, I'm having trouble with Sid Sheinberg, here is an 8x10 photo of him," and showed the entire nation his photograph.

"From the grey bathtub water and the rusty (bloody?) stains on so many walls, to the goldfish trapped in his bowl in Kurtzman's office, from the cage-like public transport to the billboards that line the highway to disguise the environmental damage beyond, Gilliam fills Brazil with the kind of clutter that makes his Orwellian vision so distinctive and believable." - Dan Jardine

[Spinal]

#1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/CastleBurn_Ran.jpg

Ran

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Country: Japan

The Great Lord has decided to step aside to make room for the younger blood of his three sons. The Lord's only wish now being to live out his years as an honored guest in the castle of each of his sons in turn. While the older two sons flatter their father, the youngest son attempts to warn him of the folly of expecting the three sons to remain united.

Won the Oscar for Best Costume Design. Also nominated for Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction. Several hundred costumes were all created by hand, a process that took two years. Unlike most other characters in the film, the character of the fool has no basis in historic Japan. He is based on the Jester of European medieval times and, of course, William Shakespeare's character of the Fool from King Lear. Kurosawa's wife of 39 years, Yôko Yaguchi, died during production. Kurosawa halted filming for just one day to mourn before resuming work on the picture.

"Ran should be required viewing for everyone who wants to rule the world, and not just for two unforgettable battle scenes in which oversaturated blood pours out beneath grey, uncaring skies. As lifelong Kurosawa admirer Sidney Lumet points out ... Ran is a story about the inherent tragedy of how one generation never really connects with the next ... Kurosawa's magnum opus just gets richer with each year that bears out its hard truths and vindicates the mastery of the man behind them." - Keith Phipps

[Spinal]

1. Ran (56)
2. Brazil (55.5)
3. The Purple Rose of Cairo (39.5)
4. Come and See (34)
5. A Zed and Two Noughts (31)
6. Back to the Future (30.5)
7. After Hours (23.5)
8. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (18)
9. Tampopo (14.5)
10. Vagabond (10.5)

Nothing else really close:
The Breakfast Club (7.5)
My Life As a Dog (7.5)

[Spinal]

Brazil was leading most of the voting, but Ran was just able to nip it at the end. I love 'em both, so whatever.

[Qrazy]

Yeah Purple Rose of Cairo doesn't do much for me. I find it to be one of Allen's most aesthetically uninteresting works.

[Spinal]

Yeah Purple Rose of Cairo doesn't do much for me. I find it to be one of Allen's most aesthetically uninteresting works.

Seemed out of place to me as well. But it's been quite some time since I've seen it, so maybe there's more there than I remember.

In general, movies about movies and their interaction with reality seem to do well with this crowd.

[Qrazy]

Seemed out of place to me as well. But it's been quite some time since I've seen it, so maybe there's more there than I remember.

In general, movies about movies and their interaction with reality seem to do well with this crowd.

Yeah true, and cineastes in general. I grow tired of them much more quickly. Too much self-reflexivity tends to lose my interest. Even films like Day for Night and 8 1/2 I don't love as much as most film buffs.

[Raiders]

Nah, I think you'll like it, though it is naturally a very different and much lighter experience. How do you feel about Matthew Broderick? It will help if you find him at least somewhat charming.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of his. I want to see the new movie Finding Amanda solely because of him, actually.

[Spinal]

Yeah, I'm a big fan of his. I want to see the new movie Finding Amanda solely because of him, actually.

Well, I can't say that you will like it more than Come and See, which is itself extraordinary, but it might be a good bet.

[ledfloyd]

Yeah true, and cineastes in general. I grow tired of them much more quickly. Too much self-reflexivity tends to lose my interest. Even films like Day for Night and 8 1/2 I don't love as much as most film buffs.
i don't really like day for night.

purple rose of cairo however, is my favorite film by my favorite director.

[Qrazy]

i don't really like day for night.

purple rose of cairo however, is my favorite film by my favorite director.

I don't love the films story or characters but I can see how someone conceivably could but still as I said my major problem with the film is what I feel to be a lackluster aesthetic. This film for me marks the beginning of Gordon Willis's decline as a compelling visualist.

[ledfloyd]

I don't love the films story or characters but I can see how someone conceivably could but still as I said my major problem with the film is what I feel to be a lackluster aesthetic. This film for me marks the beginning of Gordon Willis's decline as a compelling visualist.
i could see that. it does have a drab palette. the story compensates plenty though.

[monolith94]

Damn, so close!

[Derek]

In general, movies about movies and their interaction with reality seem to do well with this crowd.

Meta-cult!

[Qrazy]

Meta-cult!

Boo-urns, seen it once and you've seen it all.

[Derek]

Boo-urns, seen it once and you've seen it all.

No. To suggest that the way it's used in Godard, Truffaut, Fellini, Tarantino, etc., for better or worse, is all the same is lunacy and you know it.

[Bosco B Thug]

Yowza this year would have been too much to handle. The Top 10, Commando, Re-Animator, Return of the Living Dead, Breakfast Club, TLaDiL.A., Back to the Future, Clue... a certain film called Lifeforce.

[Qrazy]

No. To suggest that the way it's used in Godard, Truffaut, Fellini, Tarantino, etc., for better or worse, is all the same is lunacy and you know it.

Same shit different auteur.

I hope you realize I'm joking of course.

[Pop Trash]

No. To suggest that the way it's used in Godard, Truffaut, Fellini, Tarantino, etc., for better or worse, is all the same is lunacy and you know it.
I'd like to name drop Charlie Kaufman at this time.

[Derek]

I hope you realize I'm joking of course.

By this point, yes. :)


I'd like to name drop Charlie Kaufman at this time.

Who?

[Pop Trash]

Who?
You might know his more famous brother Donald who wrote the serial killer masterpiece The Three.

[MadMan]

No love for Re-Animator? Bah I say. Bah.

[Grouchy]

No love for Re-Animator? Bah I say. Bah.
Another bah from me, it deserved a spot or at least a mention.