Usually, we won't put dedicated film information on the blog - however, as some of you didn't know anything of the 'Hanibal Lector Trilogy' we were worried about what other great films you might not know about!
Remember: you can still be thinking about and applying your knowledge of narrative structures to films as well as literary texts!
Mr. D
Okay, so the title might be a little melodramatic, but these are all great films. I’ve tried to include as wide a variety of different genres as I can – and be warned, most of them are from (gasp!) before the year 2000…
If you want any more information on them, come and speak to me.
- Mr Lawes
Citizen Kane (Dir.: Orson Welles, 1941)
This film regularly tops all of those ‘greatest movies of all time’ lists produced by movie magazines like Empire and Total Film. It tells the story of Charles Foster Kane, whose dying word is ‘rosebud’ – and the reporter who sets out to find out who or what ‘rosebud’ means. It’s a landmark of modern cinema for loads of reasons (like the brilliant camera work) but it’s also just a really entertaining film to watch. Look out for the mock news broadcast at the beginning – very famous.
If you like this, then try: Rear Window; North by Northwest; Brick.
Apocalypse Now (Dir.: Francis Ford Coppola, 1979)
The best war movie made ever - it’s based on Joseph Conrad’s fantastic book Heart of Darkness. The director, Coppola drove himself to a nervous breakdown making this movie, and it was worth it. There are so many iconic scenes in it that it’s tough to choose any of them – but Lieutenant Kilgore’s immortal line is probably the best: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning…”
If you like this, then try: The Deer Hunter; Full Metal Jacket.
Goodfellas (Dir.: Martin Scorsese, 1990)
“As far back as I can remember, I’d always wanted to be a gangster” – Henry Hill. For me, this is a gangster movie that approaches the genius of The Godfather. It’s slick, it’s fast, and it’s very, very cool. Based on the true story of Henry Hill, who worked his way up the ranks of the mafia until eventually being caught and tried by the FBI, it’s a beautifully filmed, brilliantly scripted slice of gangland cool.
If you like this, then try: Pulp Fiction; Scarface; The Godfather.
Psycho (Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
This is an absolute classic horror film. It’s got that shower scene in it, and I still think it’s scary. Not only that, but the ending is still able to shock, even though the film’s fifty years old. Hitchcock’s important to cinema because he is the absolute master of building suspense up right through a movie, until it’s almost unbearable. This film follows the story of a young woman who steal some money from her boss, but ends up spending the night at the creepy Bates Motel…
If you like this, try: Dial M For Murder; North by Northwest.
A Clockwork Orange (Dir.: Stanley Kubrick, 1971)
This film was banned shortly after its release because of a series of copycat killings. It follows the story of young Alex and his three droogies. Alex is fond of ultra-violence, rape, and Beethoven – the film’s exactly as weird and disturbing as it sounds. But it’s also brilliantly clever social commentary, and very famous (not least for the magnificent opening shot of Alex and his droogies in the Moloko Milk Bar). Bloody, violent, difficult to watch, and undoubtedly genius.
If you like this, then try: Fight Club.
Amores Perros (Dir.: Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu, 2000)
Okay, so cinema from outside the UK or the US remains something of a niche market. But that’s a shame, because there are absolutely loads of films like ‘Amores Perros’ which are much better than most of the movies around, but don’t get many people watching them. This is a Mexican film about dog fighting and criminal gangs, and the story of three young people who get caught up in the violence of life in modern Mexico. Genius film-making; plus when you say you know about Mexican cinema, it makes you look dead clever.
If you like this, then try: Cicade de Deus (City of God); La Haine.
Blade Runner (Dir.: Ridley Scott, 1982)
This is based on an absolutely amazing book (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick) – and is one of the few examples of a great book becoming a great movie. It’s about a series of androids which are indistinguishable from actual humans, and an agent who has to try to find four rogue ones. So it’s Science Fiction (SF), but don’t let that put you off – it’s also a really clever take on government and society in general. Like so many of these films, it’s full of iconic moments – the best being the opening scenes, which were shot in Tokyo and still look pretty amazing.
If you like this, then try: Alien; Brazil; Terminator 2 – Judgement Day.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Dir.: George Lucas, 1977)
I know, I know – the new ones were rubbish. And I’m sure most of you have already seen this. But it remains an absolute milestone of cinema for all sorts of reasons: it’s the first time SF became really mainstream; Lucas had to invent all sorts of new techniques to be able to film it the way he wanted (including surround sound); the special effects were revolutionary; and it’s an absolutely compelling story. The updated version, with better graphics, is an improvement in some ways but not others, I think – but it does remain absolutely brilliant. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a much darker, more grown-up film; but I still don’t think it’s as satisfying as this one.
If you like this, then try: not to watch the three new ones. Or Return of the Jedi.
Pulp Fiction (Dir.: Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
Absolutely, undoubtedly, one of the best movies ever. It’s fast, it’s funny, and it’s full of dialogue sharper than one of Samuel L. Jackson’s suits. It tells the stories of a boxer, two hitmen, and a mob boss’ wife, whose stories all interlink in brilliant ways. It’s difficult to say too much without spoiling the film – but it is full of absolutely iconic moments of modern cinema. “Mmm-hmm, this is a tasty burger…”
If you like this, then try: Kill Bill Vols. I and II; Reservior Dogs; Death Proof; Planet Terror.
Requiem For A Dream (Darren Aronofsky, 2000)
The most depressing film I have ever watched, but one I seem to watch time and time again. Aronofsky’s editing and camerawork are really, really innovative – he uses split screen shots better than anyone I’ve seen. It tells the story of Harry and his friends Marion and Tyrone, whose ambitious plans go awry as their drug habits spiral out of control. This really is a film only for the strong-stomached, but it’s worth the payoff. You’ll be depressed for weeks.
If you like this, then try: Trainspotting; Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; Brick.
So, that’s it – a very short list of some great movies. Some that didn’t make the cut, but perhaps should have: Taxi Driver (tough); American History X (thought-provoking); The Shawshank Redemption (prison break); Casablanca (old school); The Usual Suspects (surprising); The Silence of the Lambs (scary); The Battleship Potemkin (Russian); The Matrix (“I know kung fu!”); The Third Man; La Haine (French); Leon; LA Confidential (retro); Raging Bull (boxing); The Maltese Falcon (the original); Gorky Park (Russian murder mystery); Indiana Jones (all of them); Batman Begins (“My anger outweighs my guilt”); Saving Private Ryan (gory); Monty Python and the Holy Grail (“We are the knights that say…”); 2001 A Space Odyssey (classic SF); Some Like It Hot (funny); The Omen (creepy); The Exorcist (terrifying); Jaws (bitey); Fargo (clever); and Crash (very weird).
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