I think it’s safe to say that I’ve watched a lot of movies.
If Netflix had a frequent-flyer program, I’d be well on my way to a platinum membership, kind of like George Clooney’s character in Up in the Air, only I wouldn’t have that contemplative moment where I discover that my hollow quest has left me lonely and unfulfilled.
See what I do? I talk in ‘movie’.
Anyway, several months ago I promised a friend that I would put together a list of movie recommendations and I’ve been so busy watching movies *cough* having a life, that I just put it off until now. There are too many excellent films to cram into just one post, and I thought it best to divide them up into more manageable chunks.
So, to get us started, here are my Top Five Favorite Films:
I have waxed poetic about this film before. Everytime someone asks about my favorite movies, this is always at the top of the list and it is almost always the one movie that no one has ever heard of. I’ve seen it many times over the past two years, and I still love it. It is beautiful. It is captivating. I can (and have) enjoyed just sitting and watching the trailer repeatedly. Seriously…see this film.
2. Donnie Darko (trailer)
Like a good book, a good movie changes the way you look at the world. Donnie Darko changes the way you look at time. It’s strange, it’s inventive, it’s superbly well-acted. And fun fact: it’s the only film that the Gyllenhaal (yill-en-HOO-le-hay) siblings have starred in together. This movie is like a puzzle that you will want to piece together over and over again.
3. The Wind That Shakes The Barley (trailer)
Set in early 1900′s Ireland during the Irish war for independence, this movie is haunting and heartbreaking. How much can be justified in the fight for sovereignty? In the end is it really true that “all we’re changing is the accents of the powerful and the colors of the flag”? There are no easy answers to be found here. The Wind That Shakes The Barley won the 2006 Palm d’Or at Cannes and it is the highest-grossing Irish-made independent film ever. It’s incredible and it really deserves a wider audience.
4. Ma Vie En Rose (trailer)
This is a film about a little boy who believes he is a little girl, and a lot of the discussion related to the movie centers around gender issues. To me, though, that’s not really the heart of the story. The main character, Ludovic, is 7 years old: maybe he’s transgendered, maybe he’s not. The real tragedy is that strict gender norms might create something sinister out of a child’s guileless play and curiosity. This movie is really about Ludovic’s family, his community, and how one little boy tries to reconcile what he feels with what he’s told. George Du Fresne is an enchanting young actor in a very enchanting little film. I highly recommend it.
5. The Darjeeling Limited (trailer)
I’d put this up there with The Fall as one of those movies you should see just to see it. Filmed entirely in India, each scene is rich with textures and bright colors. You can practically smell the saffron. Wes Anderson’s films are quirky, to be sure, but they also contain an emotional depth to offset the eccentricity, and of all his films I feel like this one found that balance perfectly. It’s very funny, it’s kind of sad, and it has a great soundtrack.
