TELL ME WHAT TO WATCH: "The American Idol of Film"

If you haven't seen "A Beautiful Mind" with Russell Crowe, it is well worth watching. A brilliant film.

Geez, that was freaky. As I was reading your article, I kept thinking of Requiem for a Dream as what I would suggest to you. I think it's one of the best films of the past few years and has gotten little recognition from the main-stream critics. It does exactly what a good film should make you do - feel intense emotions and think about the characters and the moral implications for a long, long time after watching it. Just like a good book.

Well, since you took my first choice, then I would say "The House of Sand and Fog" - for the very same reasons.

A great movie that I would suggest to everyone is called "Cidade de Deus" which means City of God in English. A wonderful film.

If you're weak on the classics... maybe you should start there. Try Electra Glide In Blue. Not a classic, but from my favorite era of film...

I could name dozens. Maybe that marks me as too much of a movie addict. I'd agree about House of Sand and Fog--painfully incisive, totally frustrating in its depiction of people who should be able to make contact but can't. Requiem for a Dream was too unspeakably dreary for me to make it past the first half hour, and Beautiful Mind is just another hoked up biopic. Pace, Russell. I've been somewhat obsessively rewatching Kingdom of Heaven lately, finding something new in it every time. On the opposite end of the scale--slow, minimalist--Dead Man by Jim Jarmusch.

Off the bat I have to eliminate "Dead Man," "Cicade de Deus," and "A Beautiful Mind" from the list, just because I've seen them already. But of Jim Jarmusch, a few more words: I find his work to be agonizingly slow. I loved everybody who was cast in "Coffee and Cigarettes," the vignette film, and yet walked away with a disdain for the work. Why not just watch "Smoke," which at least had a Paul Auster screenplay at the heart of things? "Dead Man" has Johnny Depp, but something about the film rings hollow, and I think it has to do with the same stuff that makes David Lynch so inaccessible to viewers: you have to love filmmaking more than film (at times).

Faith -- "City of God" is a well-made film, but the crisp and deliberate cinematography made me think that something was hollow and out of place. Have you seen "Amores Perros"? I've never seen such fiercely controlled chaos: mucho enjoyable.

As for the double-edge of "A Beautiful Mind," yes, it's Hollywood claptrap, but it was a better made film than "Proof," and visually, Ron Howard only fell short of "American Beauty" (which is what he was shooting for) because of his script and subject. Dystopia is a lot easier to film than suburbia. ;)

On my list so far: "House of Sand and Fog" (Sheryl O.) and "Kingdom of Heaven" (C.M.).

Aaron - being a fan of Requiem, I'd be interested in hearing back from you on your impressions of House of Sand and Fog after you watch it. I hear the book is just as intense. It's on my looooong list of books to read.

May I also suggest "Altered States" with William Hurt? It's a little hoky, but the premise is kind of cool. And I really like William Hurt.
And "Bubble", a bizarre little Steven Soderbergh film set in West VA or someplace like that. He auditioned people from the town for the major roles - it's really pretty good.

Aaron, I don't know if you're willing to buy into documentaries but there are SO many good ones out there, I would hate for people to miss out. I think often we pass on them thinking they're going to be like the drek we were all forced to watch in grade school. If you're willing here's my list:

Jesus Camp -- alarming and fascinating all at the same time
Sunset Story -- growing old doesn't mean sitting in a corner and waiting for death
Wordplay -- you will never look at a crossword puzzle in the same way again
Born Into Brothels -- makes you wonder how many other kids are out there like this that we never see

Just a few suggestions :)

I thought about this a lot, and I came up with 'The Big Lebowski'.

People generally love or hate this movie, but are rarely indifferent.
I love the Coen brothers and their off beat humor.

That's too bad that you've already seen City of God and I think I understand what you're saying about it. I haven't seen "Amores Perros", definitely need to now, since I do love fiercely controlled chaos. Can't wait and thanks for the tip.

Oh man, all my favorites are classics - To Kill a Mockingbird, The Birds, Maltese Falcon, Horse Feathers! When it comes to modern movies I tend to go with entertainment value.

How about Chicago - wonderful story, incredible production values, music, dance and Richard Gere tap dancing! What more could a person want from a movie!

I would suggest a movie called Wide Awake. It stars Joseph Cross, Dennis Leary, and Dana Delany. (sorry if the spelling of the names is not correct). Its a great little movie with a ending that leaves you wondering. You'll see what Iam talking about. Not a thriller but a nice movie.

My suggestion: Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Erika, by all means, documentaries are fair game. I mean, in some ways they're harder to make than straight films, because they have to follow more of the rules of reality, while at the same time transporting us to another place. "Air Guitar Nation," which opens this week, succeeds with the sublimely silly. "Al Franken: God Spoke" fails miserably because it's too focused on what we all know (and love/hate). I am a self-professed crossword fiend, and I did see "Wordplay," (which I loved) and "Spellbound" (which, despite being manipulative, was a decent flick). I have heard nothing but good things (i.e., terrifying stories) about "Jesus Camp," and I'll gladly add it to the list. Thanks!

Running through the other recent selections, Amy S., you are correct that I've already seen the brilliant comedy "Thank You For Smoking." It's hard to be satirical without being a straight parody of the subject material, and the film was so seriously funny that I'd almost add it to my list again (if that weren't cheating).

Pat D., "The Big Lebowski," "O Brother Where Art Thou?" and "Fargo," are the three Cohen movies that I actually liked ("The Man Who Wasn't There" is close but no noirish cigar). I feel that The Dude makes that one the most accessible, even though it's a somewhat subtle parody of "The Big Sleep," and I could listen to that perfectly mundane dialog for days on end (and watch the dream sequence all night long).

Cynthia B., I fully agree that "Chicago" was a great film. I was razzle-dazzled by the brilliant back-and-forth direction between reality and fantasy, which is ultimately what the show comes down to: perception and truth. It's a truer courtroom drama than most pictures out there, and it comes with showtunes and top-notch acting, too. I enjoyed "Moulin Rouge" more because of the freewheeling complexity (Baz Luhrmann's whole Red Curtain Trilogy is a contemporary masterpiece), but it's certainly the best musical since.

Mark. E, I've never heard of "Wide Awake," but seeing Dennis Leary out of his element... how can I resist?

And finally, De M., I don't think "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is as accomplished a film as "Chicago" or "Moulin Rouge," but it captures the punk mentality far better than that "Velvet Goldmine" (also a good film, but you need the musical numbers).

On my list so far:
Sheryl O. - "House of Sand and Fog"
C. M. - "Kingdom of Heaven"
Erika B. - "Jesus Camp"
Mark E. - "Wide Awake"

So no Electra Glide in Blue?

Wow...hard to be limited and not mention classics. What came to mind first was Modigliani. I also really liked The Illusionist. A movie that was a pleasant surprise, was Miami Vice. But I am in my late forties and I was an avid Miami Vice fan. Michael Mann managed to modernize without losing any of the magic.

I would suggest these two (although I could name many)..
"The Constant Gardner"... great acting.. great story .. great cinematography

my favorite movie is: "Legends of the Fall"... and it's so much more than a "Brad Pitt" movie... there's a depth to it that I love and so many things it touches on in your heart.

Have you seen the movie "Stigmata"?

Okay I'm still trying to come up with a movie you have not seen.

I submit a few more suggestions:
Layer Cake - a caper flick, maybe not the best example of the genre, but entertaining
Croupier - kind of a noir, kind of a thriller, definitely a great low key performance by Clive Owen

Have you seen The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou? I love Wes Anderson's humor - The Royal Tenenbaums is definitely on my list of all time favorites - and Bill Murray is absolutely brilliant in it. I know a lot people think the movie is tedious, but my husband and I loved it. It's one of those that gets funnier each time you watch it. If you've seen it, I'd love to know what you think.

Josh G. - Electra Glide in Blue I'll gladly see, but right now I'm only taking directions for '97-07 films. As I work backward to the classics, I'll get there. I know that it's harder to come up with modern works that classics for all you film buffs out there who have seen everything, but just think of it as an added challenge ;)

Natalie S., both Miami Vice and The Illusionist are in my DVD queue at home, so I will get to one of them over the weekend and let you know what I think!

Amy E., "The Constant Gardener" I found to be a little slow-paced, although yes, filled with beautiful cinematography. I enjoyed "Rabbit Proof Fence" more -- another beautiful film, but without the political complications. "Legends of the Fall," however, that makes my list for this month ('94 is close enough, but if I get bogged down, I'll certainly put this one for Month 2).

Phaedra, not only did I see Stigmata, but I saw End of Days too, which was a hilarious double-feature in which Gabriel Byrne goes from playing the hero to the villain. Little ironic Hollywood twists like that are what I live for. Not a fan of either of those, and not a fan of The Ninth Gate either, but at least Depp was in that last one.

Pat - Layer Cake was alright, but I thought it was completely outdone by fellow films like Intermission, or the beautifully vibrant action of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. You have to move fast, and your narrative needs to have zip if you're going to pass off the same old story. (That's why "The Transporter" is a passable film, and "The Transporter 2" is a soulless freakshow.) Croupier, however, I'm glad to hear of!

Finally, Kat B. - Wes Anderson is touch-and-go with me. I actually prefer those who have built off his pretentious works and made better ones, like "The Squid and the Whale" or "Me and You and Everyone We Know." For me, "Rushmore" was a peak, with "Bottle Rocket" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" a little too stilted and awkward for me to enjoy (like, say the more violent "Buffalo '66"). "The Life Aquatic" just didn't do it for me at all.

Keep it coming folks! You decide what I see! TELL ME WHAT TO WATCH, and I will! And we'll sit down and talk about it (you bring the popcorn).

THIS MONTH IN FILM [April '07]
Sheryl O. - "House of Sand and Fog" (2003)
C. M. - "Kingdom of Heaven" (2005)
Erika B. - "Jesus Camp" (2006)
Mark E. - "Wide Awake" (1998)
Natalie S. - "Miami Vice" (2006)
Amy E. - "Legends of the Fall" (1994)
Pat D. - "Croupier" (1998)

I always thought Legends of the Fall was disappointing. Lots of great actors, but rather than being an interesting drama, it slips into smarmy chick flick.

So what you're saying is that it's no "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"?

After reading your comments, I think you may find Croupier a bit slow.
I am interested in your opinion after you see it.

I have another suggestion for austrailian films.
Cosi - this film did not get much notice in the U.S., but I quite liked it
The Proposition - a western. Gory, stark, atmospheric

Or the movie that made me a big Chris Cooper fan: Lone Star.
This is another one that you may find a bit too slow, and the reveal at the end is no big surprise. Even so, it's one of my personal favorites.

I HATED 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'.
I wish all the characters had been in the house when it burned.

I think Croupier will be enjoyable; slow films aren't bad -- I did like Fargo, and Lone Star was a sweet character piece. Never heard of Cosi, so I'll check it out. The Proposition is a severely underrated film, and Guy Pierce has done more than just Memento. I recommend people check out Ravenous; that's the film that sold me on him as an actor. (You know, before The Time Machine made me sad.)

'Fargo' is one of my favorites. Another film of that sort is 'Clay Pigeons'.

Another great little film that I heard of through word of mouth:
Scotland P.A. - This movie is a version of Macbeth, set in modern times in a fast food restaurant.

I moved 'Intermission' up in my Netflix queue. I have more movies in my queue than I will ever have time to see. Its simple math. I usually see one movie a week, but add 2 or 3 to my queue.

You're definitely in the majority with your opinion of Life Aquatic. Most people I know that have seen it didn't like it. I went to see it in the movie theater and fell asleep. Then we tivo'd it and watched it several more times and at about the 3rd viewing I really started to like it.

I'm sure you've seen this one . . . but I'll throw it out there just in case. "Napoleon Dynamity" is another one I can watch over and over again.

I thought The Squid and the Whale was excellent. I haven't seen "Me and You and Everyone We Know" but it was recommended to me recently, so it's on the ever growing list.

Oh I forgot about this one!
Sexy Beast - a british gangster movie (sort of). Even though this movie is in english, I ended up turning on the subtitles because I could not understand the dialog. I don't have much of an ear for the accent or the idioms of 'london gangsta'.

I recommend you want to watch it right after 'House of Sand and Fog', and have a sort of Ben Kingsley film festival.

Another one I just thought of is "Hustle & Flow", a interesting depiction of the crunk lifestyle in Memphis. Terrence Howard's performance made this movie work. I didn't think I'd like it, so it really suprised me, even with the all-too-pat ending.

Hi! If you are into really deep thought provoking material, I would suggest Schindlers list, or City of Joy. And then if you are looking for laughs and feel good movies there are Diary of a mad black woman, and the Scary Movie flicks (ALL HILARIOUS!) I love so many movies that I would have to write a book for you!

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada - by far one of the most underappreciated independent films of the past few years. Tommy Lee Jones stars and directs - and truthfully, surprised me with how wonderful a job he did. It's an updated western with undercurrents of family dynamics and a particular relevance to today's immigration unfriendly world.

OK... RECENT MUST SEE: NARC -- This film looks amazing and was casted to near perfection. Let me know what you think.

Kat B. - I'm really not a fan of the over-hyped, over-referenced, over-the-top Napoleon Dynamite. The way in which this exaggerated story was over-the-top was to be the exact opposite, quiet and lonely, but that wasn't subtle, it was painfully obvious, and it made the entire piece a deliberate art piece, like an installation that references only itself. I much prefer "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure." That was original, dark, and thrilling.

Hustle & Flow was a decent film, but miles from what I'd call the best offering of '97-'07. Nice to see more walks of culture represented, and I like the grit that the direct managed to lend to the flick -- and I agree, the performances were inspired . But it ain't got that swing, if you know what I mean.

Elana K., though it sounds like you've got different tastes from me, that's part of what this great experiment is all about. And I did like the original Scary Movie, so while I don't think it aged as well as the Scream franchise, I'm more than willing to give that fourth installment a shot. It'll be nice to have some comedy up here.

Alex M. - I meant to see Tommy Lee Jones' pseudo-Western when it came out, and I thank you handily for giving me the excuse to do so. You make it sound very good.

Josh G. - Narc WAS a great film; Patric and Liotta did a bang-up job making a film that I thought was in every way shape and form better than Training Day. Saturation isn't something most crime flick filmers think about, but that picture was sizzling with a greasy badness. Got anything else for me?

----------------------[APRIL]-------------------------
Sheryl O. - "House of Sand and Fog" (2003)
C. M. - "Kingdom of Heaven" (2005)
Erika B. - "Jesus Camp" (2006)
Mark E. - "Wide Awake" (1998)
Natalie S. - "Miami Vice" (2006)
Amy E. - "Legends of the Fall" (1994*)
Pat D. - "Croupier" (1998) / "Sexy Beast" (2000)
Elana K. - "Scary Movie 4" (2006)
Alex M. - "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" (2005)

Not sure how Miami Vice made this list, but you gotta do what you gotta do... Let's go Horror... Everyone hates remakes, but the new Amnityville Horror was pretty good. Ryan Reynolds was surprisingly scary.

Since you said Requiem... Check out Irreversible...

Aaron, you know...you are right about Constant Gardner.. it WAS slow LOL ... but I guess Ralph Fiennes, story and cinematography kept me admiring it. I have heard of Rabbit Proof Fence - actually picked it up several times and now I think I'll finally watch it instead of putting it back on the shelf... .thanks for the recommendation.

Comparing Gilbert Grape to Legends of the Fall is embarassing to me.... not a comparison I'd agree with LOL. On the outside Legends could be seen as a chick flick but not to me. I hate chick flicks. You have to look deep into the characters and their desires and themes to enjoy the movie as I do... not just the plot.
I'm excited to see what you think - good or bad.

Hi, good group, good comments. I too, would recommend Schindler's List,
pretty powerful. On a sidenote, could use anyone help on the following.

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One of my favorites is the French film Trois Couleurs: Bleu (1993). It's the first of a typtic about modern French society (Rouge and Blanc are the other two). It's the story of a woman coping with the death of her family in a car accident. It's very powerful.

Jennifer C., aside from your love of Lynch, you've got the same take on films as me. Jean-Pierre Jeunet is one of my favorite directors (so much so that I'll even revisit "Alien: Resurrection"), and "The City of Lost Children" is a delightfully dark fantasy. I like his other films better, like "Delicatessen" or "Amelie," because they seem more playful, but I don't think he can do wrong.

Josh G., I'm pretty sure I spoke about "Irreversable" in another thread, but it's one of the few films whose scenes I can recount shot by shot because of how it haunts me. The film IS hard to watch, both because of the painful emotions and the vertiginous camera, but you almost have to suffer through it.

John M., that trilogy has been on my list for a while. I think I wound up seeing "Underground" instead of "Blue" when I was still using Netflix, but I'll get to it when I start going through '87-'97 in May.

As for "Schindler's List," I know I thought it was a well-made film, but it wasn't as powerful as I thought it would be from all the hype. It just seemed a little too culled, a little too proper. But that's part of the point, part of the character.

Anyway, this is everybody's last week to pick a film for me to watch in in April. This is where I draw the comparison to American Idol: whatever you choose, I will see. You might pick horrible Sanjaya-like flicks because you don't like me, or you might do some serious soul-searching and find that deep-down gem of a movie. If you want to change what you've picked, just let me know and I'll amend the list, but hopefully this list will end up representing the best films of the '97-'07 period.

----------------------[APRIL]-------------------------
Mark E. - "Wide Awake" (1998)
Pat D. - "Croupier" (1998)
Jeanette D. - "Sexy Beast" (2000)
Sheryl O. - "House of Sand and Fog" (2003)
C. M. - "Kingdom of Heaven" (2005)
Alex M. - "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" (2005)
Josh G. - "The Amityville Horror" (2005)
Erika B. - "Jesus Camp" (2006)
Elana K. - "Scary Movie 4" (2006)
Natalie S. - "Miami Vice" (2006)

-----------------------[MAY]-----------------
John M. - "Trois Coleurs: Blue" (1993)
Amy E. - "Legends of the Fall" (1994*)

I just watched Half Nelson this weekend. I'm not sure what to make of it yet, I will definitely need to see it again. It certainly defies the overdone, cliched inspirational-white-teacher-in-bad-neighborhood-genre and the acting is superb. If you've seen it, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it, especially the interjection of the political commentary, which seems to be done almost at random.

Well, I still stand by my pic for May - (Legends of the Fall) but since it wasn't a TRUE pic for the time period (oops)... I'd like to recommend another.

The Aviator - 2004

that would be my pick for that time period. I look really forward to your reviews.

Thanks to Amazon DVD rental, I recently saw Luc Besson's 1989 film, The Big Blue, for the first time. I'd nominate it as a 'modern' classic.