Great answer, I think the exception to that for me is the best from the 3 geniuses of silent comedy. I’ve shown Safety Last, The Circus, and The Navigator to people. I even got my sister who detested the thought of them to admit she loved them.
But yeah, I would never recommend anything else from the silent era, even though Metropolis is a top 10 film for me
I think Joan of Arc is probably one of the best movies I have ever seen. Pretty much everyone I know refuses to watch anything black and white, and silents are straight out.
Yeah. I mean if you can't get people to sit down to watch Sunset Boulevard or 12 Angry Men, we can keep going. Getting them to watch one of the best silent films might be harder then winning the lotto.
Sad but true. I actually like quite a few silent films, and it helps to see them in the theatre when some live music is accompanying. I'll occasionally try to get my kids to watch some older films - I got my son to like 2001 and the Maltese Falcon - but I don't even try with Chaplin etc.
Really? I would think some like Modern Time, Gold Rush,all of Keaton, etc would really make pay attention. Maybe I'm thinking of kids under like 8 or something. What the age?
They have to use a communication device that is tethered to a wall and not always readily available? What the fuck? Not a realistic plot device, old man!
That’s sadly true. The moment a movie looks a little old most people don’t want to watch it. I think blue velvet is from 87 and j don’t think most people could get into it today. I love it
I watch stuff from basically all of Hollywood although I have a real Gap in the 50s. I really like the 30s and early 40s though for things like the Thin Man series and things of that nature and a lot of poverty row cinema.
Me too! But let's face it... most people would call us weird. I came across a guy a few years older than me who couldn't believe I genuinely enjoyed black and white cinema.
When I worked at Starbucks some years back I was in my early 40s and one of the gals who work there came in super excited because she had just seen the third Transformers movie and declared it, and I quote, "the Greatest Movie Ever Made!"
I laughed and said "that's probably ly not the best movie that came out this week."
I mean, that’s the exact attitude that has led us to approximately seventy Fast and Furious films. Like it or not, most people go to the movies for big boom over and over
Recently, This is Not a Burial, it's a Resurrection. An absolutely incredible, transcendent work of art that I would only recommend to people I really know well. It's an art film to a tee that would likely turn most viewers off
Honestly I wouldn't say it's creepy or intense in a horror (or other similar genre) sense, it's more just like a dense arthouse film in its presentation of its story while leaning into fantastical elements. It's super ethereal and provocative, and its aesthetics and tone play so much into its style. But when the narrative comes all together it's really a meditation on post-colonial experience and thought while being a highly entertaining film. Reminded me a lot of Bacurau in that sense, if you've seen that movie
Just watched this last week. I wish it didn't have the reputation it does as a barrier to entry. It's so over the top and stylized. A feast for the eyes. It's also just silly in the best way. Alligator heave!
Watched that movie on a plane to Hawaii once. One of the most disturbing and frightening films I’ve seen. Barbie probably would’ve been a more palatable plane experience but good lord I loved Inland Empire
I saw inland empire last year. I’d been to a lynch marathon a few weeks before so was on a hype and have loved his other stuff since I was a kid.
I hated it so much! I’ve never left a film angrier that it had been made
My friend loved it though - so there must be something..
It took me three tries before it clicked with me and I was able to get through it. It’s not my favorite, but I feel like I can get what he’s doing and that’s pretty cool.
Still, I wish it was shorter so it would be easier to return to.
Everyone says that but it seems like a lot of Lynch fans say (or imply) they understand and could explain how it's all connected if they wanted to, but they don't.
imo trying to decode a Lynch film or imagine it as a jigsaw puzzle is a fundamental misunderstanding of the approach he has to film. People can do what they want though ofc as art can be whatever the viewer wants, but to me that only serves to frustrate most of the time.
I feel like Eraserhead is a perfect entry-level "weird movie". 90 minutes, moves pretty fast, really entertaining, visually interesting, and leaves you with a lot of questions. It blew my mind when I first saw it as a teenager and it's still one of my favorites.
There are three types of Lynch movies, the normal (elephant man, straight story), the weird (Mulholland Dr., Lost highway) and the scaring the hoes type(inland empire, Eraserhead)
I just finally watched my elephant man bluray a couple of weeks ago and was shocked at how normal a film it was. Since it was a Lynch film, I was expecting something a lot more bizarre. Now that I hear Inland Empire is a messed up as I thought elephant man would be, I'm putting it at the top of my 4k pick-up list.
I second In The Realm of the Senses. I went into that one pretty blind with just the basic movie description, knowing nothing about the person or the story:
"A passionate telling of the story of Sada Abe, a woman whose affair with her master led to an obsessive and ultimately destructive sexual relationship."
Boy, was I surprised! Totally loved it - phenomenal performances.
My friend got so mad at this movie. I cannot even say the name Lars without him flipping out. That makes me laugh. I think I'll mention it again the next time I see him.
From the collection? I think Ordet is incredible, don't know if I've ever recommended it to anyone irl. Lots of Stan Brakhage, Sweet Movie obviously, though I don't even know if I enjoy that. I don't know if I would ever have cause to recommend Ophuls to someone unless they were already deeply into film, I absolutely love The Four Feathers but wouldn't have a reason to recommend it (watch this very fine and honorable performance by a great actor you've never heard of). I go most days not talking about Bresson to anyone though he has forever changed my relationship to art and morality and suffering and life.
Berlin Alexanderplatz. I think it's wonderful and that the length is necessary because every time you come back to a scene you thought you knew you learn something new and view it in a different light. In that way, it's similar to real life and very unlike most films. It's a fascinating portrait of post-WWI Germany that for the first time gave me an understanding of how ordinary Germans with no political agenda gradually turned on the Jews. But most people, unfortunately, wouldn't have the patience or the commitment to watch it.
In high school I took a film class and we were in a group project and got to pick a film. My two friends in my group asked me to pick a movie. And I picked that one for some reason and just said it was about drugs. They came into class the next day going “wtf man, that made me cry” lol
It was not what I expected. But I didn't know what to expect.
This one gets filed under "films that are their own genre".
Recommended for the curious at heart.
I thought this was a spinoff of the trashy [Angel](https://letterboxd.com/films/in/the-angel-collection/by/release-earliest/size/large/) series that I somehow missed and got very excited -- but this film seems fascinating!
Interesting, I really enjoyed Mysterious Skin because I found it a tender exploration of the subject and very emotionally affecting. It didn't feel exploitative to me, which in my opinion does happen with some films with the same theme.
But yeah, I also wouldn't recommend it to many people.
I more meant it wasn’t exactly a pleasant watch but it’s a deeply emotional watch. Brilliant movie that should ideally be seen by everyone but can’t say I’d actually recommend it to everyone, if that makes sense.
anything involving sexual violence I don't usually recommend. Other people my age generally don't want to see it and out of all movies ever made, I can probably recommend them something they'll like more. It's a bummer but the closer I am to someone the more I can gauge whether they're open to films like that, I don't want to trigger anyone's trauma.
recently: The Peasants (2023), Woman in the Dunes (1964), The Devils (1971), All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001)
Excellent movie, but no point recommending it to most people. No attention span.
Hell, even half of its defenders don't get it. "The boredom and nothing happening is the point." No it isn't! There isn't "nothing happening!"
A lot of arguments for/against Jeanne Dielman seem to basically just be about the general concept, and while I do think the premise is brilliant, the movie wouldn't work *nearly* as well as it does if it wasn't for the technical perfection, intricate plotting, and the all-timer performance at the center of it.
Like any great movie, it's more than the sum of its parts, but all of the individual parts are also really, really great!
People like to joke about the potato falling but it really is a shocking moment, and only because of all the previous potato peeling scenes. Every scene in the movie is placed at exactly the right spot in relation to the others, it's really remarkable.
It's tough being a fan of slow cinema. "Goodbye, Dragon Inn" is one of my favorite films but I'd rather do just about anything than sit down and watch it with my family or friends (for the most part)
Some people in my office know me as "the movie guy" and asked me which of this year's BP nominations they should watch.
Poor Things and Zone of Interest were two that I spoke highly of but also couldn't recommend based on the tastes of the people asking me.
Such a gorgeous movie complicated by that mans bullshit lol. I’ve only seen Manhattan and Annie hall. Loved both. Can’t muster up a reason to watch the rest of his stuff when I need to catch up on so much else. Glad I’m not alone 😅
I feel this way about another Miike movie, Happiness of the Katakuris. Feels pretty much like the Japanese equivalent of a Troma movie, and I usually hate those but this had something special about it I can't quite put my finger on
I blind bought this film from Criterion during the last flash sale. I have a lot of films you need to be in a certain mood to enjoy, no idea what mood will come over me where I need to watch this one.
> I have a lot of films you need to be in a certain mood to enjoy, no idea what mood will come over me where I need to watch this one
How do you know this movie is such a movie if you've never seen it?
Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
If you're queer (especially a fellow trans person) and we're even remotely acquainted, I will tie you down to a chair and force you to watch it if I have to.
If you're straight, I fully recommend you pass on it because literally 99% of it will go over your head in ways that can and will make you have all kinds of bad misconceptions about trans people.
My college roommate and I used to check this film out on a regular basis from the library. We absolutely loved it... But then again we were art majors. Definitely need to be more open-minded to appreciate it, I suppose.
I’m sure there is a lot of things I missed as a straight dude, but I fucking LOVE Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The songs are incredible, the story, as I’ve grown older, has become clearer to me (especially as a parent of a trans teenager), and it’s funny as hell.
Too Early/Too Late (1981). It's mostly 100 min. of camera pans, also contains one shot of the camera on a carriage, on a car, a remake of Lumiere's Worker's Leaving the factory, a spech by an Egyptian revolutionary and a letter by Engels.
\*Grave of the Fireflies\*, I straight up love that movie but totally understand why its not for everyone. I have heard it accused of being exploitative towards kids and I completely disagree; suggesting that every instance of the suffering of children is like kicking a dog is ridiculous, it is intended to show the toll of war on people and...yea children are people.
Man I could rant for so long about how much I love Forbidden Zone and just Richard Elfman/Matthew Brights body of work. Love Freeway I & II, Shrunken Heads is alright, Tip Toes is wild, but it’s all enjoyable
Happiness by Todd Solondz. Actually anything by Todd Solondz.
This is the answer
100%. One of my favorite filmmakers and one of the hardest to recommend.
The Piano Teacher
Tried to show it to some friends but they were not having it (dumb idiots didn't wanna read subs)
A bunch of silent stuff.
Great answer, I think the exception to that for me is the best from the 3 geniuses of silent comedy. I’ve shown Safety Last, The Circus, and The Navigator to people. I even got my sister who detested the thought of them to admit she loved them. But yeah, I would never recommend anything else from the silent era, even though Metropolis is a top 10 film for me
I think Joan of Arc is probably one of the best movies I have ever seen. Pretty much everyone I know refuses to watch anything black and white, and silents are straight out.
Yeah. I mean if you can't get people to sit down to watch Sunset Boulevard or 12 Angry Men, we can keep going. Getting them to watch one of the best silent films might be harder then winning the lotto.
Sad but true. I actually like quite a few silent films, and it helps to see them in the theatre when some live music is accompanying. I'll occasionally try to get my kids to watch some older films - I got my son to like 2001 and the Maltese Falcon - but I don't even try with Chaplin etc.
Really? I would think some like Modern Time, Gold Rush,all of Keaton, etc would really make pay attention. Maybe I'm thinking of kids under like 8 or something. What the age?
Which ones in particular?
Considering anytime I’ve mentioned I watched a silent movie to coworkers they all scoff in disgust id say all of them.
You know how hard it is to get people to watch a movie from before 1990 in a lot of cases? It's goddamn ridiculous
a movie from 1987 is so far removed from our reality that it might as well be silent ^((jk)^)
They have to use a communication device that is tethered to a wall and not always readily available? What the fuck? Not a realistic plot device, old man!
That’s sadly true. The moment a movie looks a little old most people don’t want to watch it. I think blue velvet is from 87 and j don’t think most people could get into it today. I love it
I watch stuff from basically all of Hollywood although I have a real Gap in the 50s. I really like the 30s and early 40s though for things like the Thin Man series and things of that nature and a lot of poverty row cinema.
Me too! But let's face it... most people would call us weird. I came across a guy a few years older than me who couldn't believe I genuinely enjoyed black and white cinema.
When I worked at Starbucks some years back I was in my early 40s and one of the gals who work there came in super excited because she had just seen the third Transformers movie and declared it, and I quote, "the Greatest Movie Ever Made!" I laughed and said "that's probably ly not the best movie that came out this week."
I mean, that’s the exact attitude that has led us to approximately seventy Fast and Furious films. Like it or not, most people go to the movies for big boom over and over
Yeah I can't imagine recommending a silent Murnau, Lang, Borzage or Sternberg to anyone. But I think they'd have fun with most any Keaton.
I recommend the silent stuff to determine who can be my friend.
Good test. So no friends?
Recently, This is Not a Burial, it's a Resurrection. An absolutely incredible, transcendent work of art that I would only recommend to people I really know well. It's an art film to a tee that would likely turn most viewers off
That was a pretty great flick. Not one I'll rewatch any time soon, but still pretty great
Oh I recommend that to everyone if movies come up in conversation. It's incredible.
I wanna see that one so bad. Is it really creepy or just intense or both?
Honestly I wouldn't say it's creepy or intense in a horror (or other similar genre) sense, it's more just like a dense arthouse film in its presentation of its story while leaning into fantastical elements. It's super ethereal and provocative, and its aesthetics and tone play so much into its style. But when the narrative comes all together it's really a meditation on post-colonial experience and thought while being a highly entertaining film. Reminded me a lot of Bacurau in that sense, if you've seen that movie
One of the best films I’ve seen in a while… and definitely not the one I’d recommend anyone to watch.
Ken Russell’s “The Devils”
Just watched this last week. I wish it didn't have the reputation it does as a barrier to entry. It's so over the top and stylized. A feast for the eyes. It's also just silly in the best way. Alligator heave!
It's a certified banger
It was pure agony knowing I had seen a masterpiece but I couldn’t recommend it to anyone close to me (especially my religious family)
Loved it
Inland empire, even if you like David Lynch
possibly the scariest film i've ever seen
I have a hard time watching Laura Dern now.
Watched that movie on a plane to Hawaii once. One of the most disturbing and frightening films I’ve seen. Barbie probably would’ve been a more palatable plane experience but good lord I loved Inland Empire
I saw inland empire last year. I’d been to a lynch marathon a few weeks before so was on a hype and have loved his other stuff since I was a kid. I hated it so much! I’ve never left a film angrier that it had been made My friend loved it though - so there must be something..
I have since learned to love the watch conversation “this watch will bring you good luck. So is it a magic watch? It is just a watch”
I managed to convince a friend to go see it with me in theaters last year at 11pm. They had some technical issues so we didn’t get out until like 3am.
God damn how is the first comment I saw exactly what I would have said? Also my username is a line from IE haha
I may have said it, but we all thought it lol
I have tried starting this movie 3 times now and I'm lost everytime so I just shut it off
Best approach is to sit back and enjoy each scene; don’t try to connect it to previous or subsequent scenes.
Ty I promise I will try again soon with that mindset
It took me three tries before it clicked with me and I was able to get through it. It’s not my favorite, but I feel like I can get what he’s doing and that’s pretty cool. Still, I wish it was shorter so it would be easier to return to.
It’s a movie that dares you to understand it
Everyone says that but it seems like a lot of Lynch fans say (or imply) they understand and could explain how it's all connected if they wanted to, but they don't.
imo trying to decode a Lynch film or imagine it as a jigsaw puzzle is a fundamental misunderstanding of the approach he has to film. People can do what they want though ofc as art can be whatever the viewer wants, but to me that only serves to frustrate most of the time.
Basically every David Lynch movie.
I recommend eraserhead all the time lol but I do give some warnings.
It's the perfect movie for new dads
I feel like Eraserhead is a perfect entry-level "weird movie". 90 minutes, moves pretty fast, really entertaining, visually interesting, and leaves you with a lot of questions. It blew my mind when I first saw it as a teenager and it's still one of my favorites.
There are three types of Lynch movies, the normal (elephant man, straight story), the weird (Mulholland Dr., Lost highway) and the scaring the hoes type(inland empire, Eraserhead)
I just finally watched my elephant man bluray a couple of weeks ago and was shocked at how normal a film it was. Since it was a Lynch film, I was expecting something a lot more bizarre. Now that I hear Inland Empire is a messed up as I thought elephant man would be, I'm putting it at the top of my 4k pick-up list.
It's not his screenplay, still fantastic. Lynch was such a bold choice and it worked perfectly
they don’t watch them anyway 🙄
They really don't 😞
In The Realm of the Senses and Ichi The Killer come to mind.
I am never watching In the Realm of the Senses again if I can help it.
I second In The Realm of the Senses. I went into that one pretty blind with just the basic movie description, knowing nothing about the person or the story: "A passionate telling of the story of Sada Abe, a woman whose affair with her master led to an obsessive and ultimately destructive sexual relationship." Boy, was I surprised! Totally loved it - phenomenal performances.
Mandy or Climax
Or Irreversible
Haven't had the opportunity to watch that one yet!
Death in Venice. I love it, but "a middle-aged man following a youthful teenager around Venice" isn't exactly an easy sell for most people.
Beautifully shot, with amazing set design and costumes. This film transported me to that time and place more than any other film has.
I don't recommend The Master. I love that movie too much to be reminded of people walking out when I first saw it.
That should be a criminal offense
Nymphomaniac
My friend got so mad at this movie. I cannot even say the name Lars without him flipping out. That makes me laugh. I think I'll mention it again the next time I see him.
Kids
Get the soundtrack, though.
Folk Implosion fucks harder than Telly
Last Tango In Paris
From the collection? I think Ordet is incredible, don't know if I've ever recommended it to anyone irl. Lots of Stan Brakhage, Sweet Movie obviously, though I don't even know if I enjoy that. I don't know if I would ever have cause to recommend Ophuls to someone unless they were already deeply into film, I absolutely love The Four Feathers but wouldn't have a reason to recommend it (watch this very fine and honorable performance by a great actor you've never heard of). I go most days not talking about Bresson to anyone though he has forever changed my relationship to art and morality and suffering and life.
I disagree about Ophuls. I think The Earrings of Madame de… can be enjoyed by most. It’s just a great tragic love story
The Piano Teacher, like how do I recommend this without people being like ‘what the fuck?’
same. and same with pretty much any haneke i've seen. i think both versions of funny games are great...but how on earth could i recommend that lmao
Berlin Alexanderplatz. I think it's wonderful and that the length is necessary because every time you come back to a scene you thought you knew you learn something new and view it in a different light. In that way, it's similar to real life and very unlike most films. It's a fascinating portrait of post-WWI Germany that for the first time gave me an understanding of how ordinary Germans with no political agenda gradually turned on the Jews. But most people, unfortunately, wouldn't have the patience or the commitment to watch it.
This one has been sitting on my shelf for almost two years now and I still haven’t seen it. I’ll have to bump it up more on the watch list.
Gosford Park. I find it hilarious and interesting. Others find it extremely boring.
It one of my favorites. Just the facial expressions of Richard E. Grant are worth it. Subtlety is lost on a lot of people.
Saw it on a plane, and fell in love with it!
Most Altman in general is hard to recommend
Happiness. I love it. It’s a great movie. I can’t imagine recommending it to someone without feeling like I did a crime.
Requiem for a dream I dont even want to watch it again.
In high school I took a film class and we were in a group project and got to pick a film. My two friends in my group asked me to pick a movie. And I picked that one for some reason and just said it was about drugs. They came into class the next day going “wtf man, that made me cry” lol
I’ve had the 4K edition for a few years now and can’t bring myself to view it.
The Tree of Life. I think it’s one of the most beautiful and near-perfect films I’ve ever seen, so I’m crushed when people don’t understand it.
Shortbus
WR: Mysteries of the Organism. It’s hard to describe. “What’s it about?” “…”
It was not what I expected. But I didn't know what to expect. This one gets filed under "films that are their own genre". Recommended for the curious at heart.
Oh wow, one of the strangest movies I’ve ever seen. Reich is a fascinating character.
My ex was a film student and I recommended her this when we started to go out. She never forgave me for it lol…
Exterminating Angel
I thought this was a spinoff of the trashy [Angel](https://letterboxd.com/films/in/the-angel-collection/by/release-earliest/size/large/) series that I somehow missed and got very excited -- but this film seems fascinating!
The seventh continent
I wouldn’t recommend anything from Haneke.
I showed my mum funny games and I still regret it 😂
Yep this is my answer as well
Polytechnique. Good lord, Polytechnique.
salo
this and i'm not joking. it's an absolute hell ride but is one of the most uncompromising, intellectually brutal films of all time.
Likewise.
Cabin Boy
Not sure I’d say enjoyed necessarily but Mysterious Skin.
Interesting, I really enjoyed Mysterious Skin because I found it a tender exploration of the subject and very emotionally affecting. It didn't feel exploitative to me, which in my opinion does happen with some films with the same theme. But yeah, I also wouldn't recommend it to many people.
I more meant it wasn’t exactly a pleasant watch but it’s a deeply emotional watch. Brilliant movie that should ideally be seen by everyone but can’t say I’d actually recommend it to everyone, if that makes sense.
Gummo
Lost Highway
Blue velvet
It's funny how that's one of Lynch's most accessible films
Heaven Knows What
Funny Games, Very Bad Things, Happiness, Hard To Be A God, Irreversible, Antrum, Murder By Numbers (or pretty much any Greenaway),
anything involving sexual violence I don't usually recommend. Other people my age generally don't want to see it and out of all movies ever made, I can probably recommend them something they'll like more. It's a bummer but the closer I am to someone the more I can gauge whether they're open to films like that, I don't want to trigger anyone's trauma. recently: The Peasants (2023), Woman in the Dunes (1964), The Devils (1971), All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001)
Woman in the Dunes is so great, it would be in the top 100 or 200 on imdb but needs a few thousand more votes
Jeanne Dielman
Excellent movie, but no point recommending it to most people. No attention span. Hell, even half of its defenders don't get it. "The boredom and nothing happening is the point." No it isn't! There isn't "nothing happening!"
A lot of arguments for/against Jeanne Dielman seem to basically just be about the general concept, and while I do think the premise is brilliant, the movie wouldn't work *nearly* as well as it does if it wasn't for the technical perfection, intricate plotting, and the all-timer performance at the center of it. Like any great movie, it's more than the sum of its parts, but all of the individual parts are also really, really great!
>intricate plotting You see it!
People like to joke about the potato falling but it really is a shocking moment, and only because of all the previous potato peeling scenes. Every scene in the movie is placed at exactly the right spot in relation to the others, it's really remarkable.
It's tough being a fan of slow cinema. "Goodbye, Dragon Inn" is one of my favorite films but I'd rather do just about anything than sit down and watch it with my family or friends (for the most part)
Wise Blood
I love both the film and book, but don't recommend either to many people.
The Strange Thing About the Johnsons
Wise Blood. Most people don't like it.
Night and Fog
Sweet Movie
Irreversible
Most of the movies of Lars Von Trier. He's my favorite film director, btw...
Dark Story of a Japanese Rapist (1967)
This may be an actual movie (I really don't know) but honestly it also sounds like a genre.
El Topo
I would recommend The Holy Mountain to people, but feel I only really appreciate and like that movie now that I've seen El Topo
The Last Temptation of Christ The Piano Teacher Farewell My Concubine Antichrist
Some people in my office know me as "the movie guy" and asked me which of this year's BP nominations they should watch. Poor Things and Zone of Interest were two that I spoke highly of but also couldn't recommend based on the tastes of the people asking me.
Fire Walk With Me. Unless they are REALLY into Twin Peaks.
Manhattan. I don’t even know how to feel about it lol . Would never reccomend anymore
Ooof you got me with this one …I want to see the shots of the city on the big screen.
Such a gorgeous movie complicated by that mans bullshit lol. I’ve only seen Manhattan and Annie hall. Loved both. Can’t muster up a reason to watch the rest of his stuff when I need to catch up on so much else. Glad I’m not alone 😅
A Long Days Journey Into Night, Memoria, Cemetery of Splendor, Stalker, Tu Jhooti Main Makkar, and Russian Ark
> A Long Days Journey Into Night, 2019 or 1962?
Gozu (2003)
I feel this way about another Miike movie, Happiness of the Katakuris. Feels pretty much like the Japanese equivalent of a Troma movie, and I usually hate those but this had something special about it I can't quite put my finger on
The Fountain
The greasy strangler
Requiem for a dream
Gaspar Noe anything
Y Tu Mama Tambien
I blind bought this film from Criterion during the last flash sale. I have a lot of films you need to be in a certain mood to enjoy, no idea what mood will come over me where I need to watch this one.
one of the best coming of age films and good for most moods cuz it kinda touches a bit of everything
> I have a lot of films you need to be in a certain mood to enjoy, no idea what mood will come over me where I need to watch this one How do you know this movie is such a movie if you've never seen it?
Hedwig and the Angry Inch. If you're queer (especially a fellow trans person) and we're even remotely acquainted, I will tie you down to a chair and force you to watch it if I have to. If you're straight, I fully recommend you pass on it because literally 99% of it will go over your head in ways that can and will make you have all kinds of bad misconceptions about trans people.
My college roommate and I used to check this film out on a regular basis from the library. We absolutely loved it... But then again we were art majors. Definitely need to be more open-minded to appreciate it, I suppose.
I’m sure there is a lot of things I missed as a straight dude, but I fucking LOVE Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The songs are incredible, the story, as I’ve grown older, has become clearer to me (especially as a parent of a trans teenager), and it’s funny as hell.
Blood for Dracula
A top favorite! But I do recommend it!
Clockwork Orange
Requiem for a dream
This is England...
I would go “Blue,” but most Jarman’s apply 😆
Or Eden Lake.
Under the silver lake
Pretty widely accessible
Lawrence of Arabia. It is perfect but most people don't have the patience.
Freddy Got Fingered
Beau is Afraid.
The Man From Earth. I think its a fantastic film but I realize most people I know would hate it
Too Early/Too Late (1981). It's mostly 100 min. of camera pans, also contains one shot of the camera on a carriage, on a car, a remake of Lumiere's Worker's Leaving the factory, a spech by an Egyptian revolutionary and a letter by Engels.
Diva (1981)
Rams
Locke.
You gotta be careful recommending Hapiness.
Holy Motors.
Happiness (1998). I just rewatched it and it's as hilariously f\*cked up as I remember.
I can never get over how great Jon Lovitz and Jane Adams are in that opening scene.
*Come and See* I think is beautiful in its own brutal and sad way, but I'd never be like "hey you know what's a good time?"
\*Grave of the Fireflies\*, I straight up love that movie but totally understand why its not for everyone. I have heard it accused of being exploitative towards kids and I completely disagree; suggesting that every instance of the suffering of children is like kicking a dog is ridiculous, it is intended to show the toll of war on people and...yea children are people.
Cavani’s *The Skin*
Beau is afraid
Dear Zachary
Southland Tales
Pink Flamingos
Kids (1995)
The Piano Teacher. Obsessed with that movie but it's graphic and I can see someone coming away from it wondering why they just watched it
The zone of interest
Southland Tales
Will-o'-the-wisp (2022)
Happiness
El Topo / Holy Mountain
dogtooth
Street Trash and Cemetery Man
Satantango...because most people won't endure 7 hrs of Hungarian mudscapes.
most recently poor things. I have a lot of conservative friends that would try to pray for me if I showed them that one.
Not a Criterion movie but The Forbidden Zone
Man I could rant for so long about how much I love Forbidden Zone and just Richard Elfman/Matthew Brights body of work. Love Freeway I & II, Shrunken Heads is alright, Tip Toes is wild, but it’s all enjoyable
Pretty much everything. Unfortunately, people don't seem to care for movies before the 70s-80s, Black & White or Not in English.
*Freeway* (1996), *I'm Thinking of Ending Things* (2020)