Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Film recommendations wanted

Sorry to keep going on about this film club but it is a novelty to be able to rent things again. We watched Borat yesterday evening and, as funny as I found it, I did think it went on a bit too much. I find Baron Cohen's humour best in small doses and I think the film format doesn't really work very well for him. I liked it best when he was just starting out in the UK and he went out interviewing politicians as his first incarnation which was Ali G. Now that did make me laugh.

Anyway, I now have a list of 40 films at Glowria and I would like to find out the films that you've seen over the last five years or so that really made a good impression. I've looked at some of the 'best film' lists and I've seen lots of them on there but it is the indie sort of film I am after. To give you a better idea, two of my most-watched films (we have hundreds of dvds here) are Garden State and Paris Texas. My favourite foreign films of the last few years are Tell No One (Ne le dis a personne) and The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen).

So, fellow bloggers, must- see film titles please.

Q: How many actors does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: 100: One to do it and ninety-nine to say "I could've done that."

Q: How many cinematographers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: It's not a bulb, it's a globe.

Q: How many art directors does it take to screw in a light bulb
A: Does it have to be a light bulb? I've got this amazing candle holder...

Q: How many editors does it take to change a light bulb?
A: If we change the light bulb, we'll have to change everything.

Q: How many stuntmen does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: Five. One to screw it in and four to tell him how marvellous he looked doing it.

Q: How many studio executives does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: We don't know. Light bulbs last longer than studio executives.

The Youtube clip is vulgar, crude and funny - be warned

46 comments:

Lola said...

Particularly liked these (which you've probably already got!):

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The Royal Tennenbaums

Little Miss Sunshine

Brokeback Mountain

+ Anything by Fassbinder,Herzog, Truffault.

Happy viewing!

XOXO LOLA:)

PS Agree about Ali G - his sort of humour has a very limited (repeat: extremely limited) lifespan!

French Fancy... said...

Blimey Nora - that was quick, you speedy thing you. Thanks for your tips but you are right - I have seen all the titles you named but there are probably some Truffaut and Fassbinder that I have missed. Thanks for the reminder

x

Miss Footloose said...

THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY 1 and 2

These are not new, so you may well be familiar with them, but they are among the funniest movies I have ever seen, especially if you have any kind of experience with cultures other than your own.

Ayak said...

Can't help with film titles I'm afraid...but I do like the "how many...lightbulb" jokes :-)

Lola said...

Me again! Just had another Spanish lesson - more subjunctive (am going down with Subjunctivitis. Any remedies?). Anyway, the BEST thing I saw all last year was made-for-tv: ~ The Wire!

Don't know if you managed to catch it on late-night BBC? When last in the UK, I bought a boxed set of the first series in order not to miss the early episodes (even though I knew the end!) Plus I didn't fancy Baltimore argot translated into incomprehensible Catalan here!

XOXO LOLA:)

PS Congrats on spotting the Ali G error - Truffaut with an 'l'!x

Carol said...

I'll have to give it some more thought but there were two titles that sprung to mind, living in France you may already have seen them, the first was Tais-toi (very funny) and the second was Chacun cherche son chat (Beautiful film).

C x

French Fancy... said...

Miss Footloose - thank you for that. I've just ordered 'Les Dieux sont tombés sur la tête'. They've only got the first one.

Yay - this is just the sort of thing I am after.

Ayak - sorry to include another Youtube vid. It's Ali G interviewing David and Victoria.

Nora - we love the Wire and often re-watch the DVDs. Likewise The Sopranos and Six Feet Under (they're in my profile)

Carol - Tais-toi is already on my list but I've just added Chacun cherche son chat. Thank you sweetie.

Steve said...

Ooh film recommendations! Amelie (ironically), About A Boy, Juno, Slumdog Millionaire... I could recommend a load of sci-fi but I'm not sure you're into that!

Tess Kincaid said...

Hee...thanks for the giggles. I'll have to think about some films to recommend....be back later...

softinthehead said...

I was going to say Amelie as well - just watched it for the second time, it is a little gem - so beautiful and quirky.

Fried Green Tomatoes - if you like sagas which I am a sucker for

Gone with the Wind

The Notebook - keep your hanky handy

same for Saving Private Ryan

Band of Brothers - best ever HBO series - I own that it is so watchable.

softinthehead said...

Whoops got a bit trigger happy - sorry

Anonymous said...

I'm reading a French book right now that was made into a movie a couple of years ago. It's supposed to be quite good. It's called "Ensemble, c'est tout" with Audrey Totou and Guillaume Canet.

French Fancy... said...

Steve - I've seen all those you've mentioned but - as for sci-fi - Mr FF is a devotee and we have a fair few already here. I'd be happy to hear your recommendations of that genre. He's not stayed up to date at all.

willow - well, I got the Ralph Fiennes 'Sunshine' film thanks to you, so I do trust your judgment. Come back with some for me please

softinthehead - I'm not a fan of Gone with the Wind. I don't think it's stood up very well. The direction seems very ploddy to me and the script is below par (but what do I know, eh?)

Band of Brothers I saw on BBC tv and it is very good, I agree. The Notebook (N'oublie jamais) I have just put on my list - thank you for that. (I've seen FGT and SPR)

Dedene - thanks for the suggestion. I've just been reading a few reviews and the consensus seems to be that the film is not as good as the book. However I do like Berri's other films so I've added it to the list.

I've got the imdb window open, my film club window open, this blog open- and I'm going back and forth reading and adding to the list. It's great - thanks everyone.

Paul C said...

Three on my list include:
-Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium with Dustin Hoffman
-Bright Star, about poet John Keats
-The Last STation about Leo Tolstoy

Sarah said...

FF you might try:

Louise-Michel - odd but compelling

The Castle - Aussie and v funny

La Tourneuse de Pages with Catherine Frot - great tension

Keeping Mum with Rowan Atkinson and KScott Thomas

Vilaine who is deliciously bad

Sarah said...

OMG that video is so HILARIOUS!!! I had to stop watching it cos I'm at work and tears are rolling down my cheeks!!!

:)
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French Fancy... said...

Paul - I added Mr Magorium (thanks to an earlier comment from you), Bright Star I have pre-ordered from them and I don't think the Tolstoy film is listed there yet.

Sarah - Keeping Mum I've added already but I've just put your other four on there. thank you Mrs

That clip is funny - 'No, we did it in Denmark' - 'So why didn't you call him Denmark then?'

Dumdad said...

So many to choose from!

Off the top of my head here are a few that I can (and do) re-watch:

Wah Wah (Richard E Grant directs)

Last King of Scotland

The Queen

Children of Men (sci-fi)

Enemy Mine (funny, exciting sci-fi)

Man on Fire (Brainbox and I love this one; stars Denzil Washington)

Sea of Love (Al Pacino)

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Local Hero

Withnail and I

Blood Diamond

Matador (Pierce Brosnan in lovely black comedy)

etc etc etc etc

I've also bought various TV series boxed sets.

Lewis, a Morse spinoff, is good.

Life on Mars

Jonathan Creek

Lovejoy

etc etc etc etc

Happy viewing!

P.S. I totally agree with you about Gone With the Wind. I've never rated the film and found it dull and overlong on the two occasions when I watched it.

Lulu LaBonne said...

Crikey - sounds like you've seen most films - I don't get to the picture house as much as I'd like but one's not yet mentioned that I'll watch again are:
Me and You and Everyone We Know
Run Lola Run
Delicatessen
Harold and Maude

French Fancy... said...

Dumdad - right I've now added Wah Wah/ The Last King of Scotland/Children of Men/Blood Diamond/ Matador. As for the tv series - I'm not a fan of those you have mentioned. I didn't mind the first series of Life on Mars but only watched the first ten minutes of the follow up series.

Lulu - I've added your four (I've seen Harold and Maude but not for a long time and I loved it). Thank you

French Fancy... said...

p.s. - Dumdad, I loved Withnail and I - it is one of my top five films of all time (in fact the films you recommended that I did not mention are ones that I have already)

e said...

Here's a partial list...

Paris (2009)J. Binoche
Apres Lui(2007) C. Deneuve
A Time for Leaving
Someday You'll Understand
Le Doublure
Keeping Mum
Death at a Funeral
Black Books

I can come up with more, but I'm drawing a blank for some reason now. Most of these are French films or UK since that is what I watch mostly. The last four are comedies, the rest are dramas. Have you seen I have loved you so long???

I'll check my already watched listings for others. I also liked La vie en rose, the long engagement and Coco before Chanel.

French Fancy... said...

Hello e - thanks for taking the time to do this. I know you are really pushed for time atm.

Righty ho - I already own Black Books, Le Doublure and La vie en rose. Already put on my list at the film club are Coco before chanel, Keeping Mum, Death at a Funeral,Paris.

Your others I am about to go and try and add on. (I say try because I just got an email from them saying Wah Wah (which Dumdad recommended) is now unavailable. At least it shows someone is reading my lists.

Thanks again
x

Anonymous said...

The jokes are hilarious! Haven't watched too many new films recently..

Can recommend Avatar and Run Lola Run (a German film).

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

You've caught me at a good moment when I can actually recommend something! (We've had some duds off Netflix until recently.)

Priceless (Hors de Prix; loved Audrey Tautou in this one)

The Good Shepherd (chronology makes it hard to follow sometimes but I didn't mind overall)

The Red Violin

will said...

Here's A to C

•Ace In The Hole
•All the King's Men
•Angel Face
•The Asphalt Jungle
•Beyond The Forest
•The Big Combo
•The Big Heat
•The Big Sleep
•The Big Steal
•Black Angel
•The Blue Dahlia
•The Blue Gardenia
•Body And Soul
•Boomerang
•Border Incident
•Born To Be Bad
•Born To Kill
•Brute Force
•Call Northside
•Cape Fear
•Caught
•City That Never Sleeps
•Conflict
•Crack-Up
•Crashout
•Crime Wave
•Criss Cross
•Crossfire
•Cry Danger
•Cry Vengeance

mccork said...

Agree with earlier post, Priceless is lighthearted fun (sort of a funnier remake/update of Breakfast at Tiffany's) and as you liked Tell No One, have you seen Caché (Hidden) with Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche? Really thought-provoking film.

Anonymous said...

One I caught up with recently and absolutely loved was Dirty Pretty Things (Audrey Tatou in english); sad, sweet, surprising ... highly recommended.

Jean said...

Seabiscuit is a nice film. It's about a racehorse. Very gentle and heartwarming.

Rob-bear said...

Hmmmm. . .

Lawrence of Arabia

Bridge on the River Kwai

On the Beach

Seem to be
1. stuck on a theme, and
2. dating myself (silly old Bear).

So rarely go to the theatre any more.

Anonymous said...

Wow, all these recommendations are going to be keeping you busy for a while :) I'm going to borrow some of them for myself as I never know what films to watch!

Larry M. Brow said...

Glad you're a fan of Diva. I got to meet the lead actress, Wilhelmina, of all places, backstage at a concert here in Lawrence, Kansas. No camera tricks were used in the portrayal of her beauty.

Tango Lesson, by the British film-maker Sally Potter. Also, Local Hero, set in Scotland.

The Micheal York version of the Three Musketeers.

And the Michael Caine version of "The Italian Job."

And for a truly odd and wonderful double feature The Dirty Dozen, with Lee Marvin followed by "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks. You'll understand after you've seen them.

French Fancy... said...

Fi - we watched Avatar at the weekend. I'm still not sure what I thought about it - parts I gave 10/10 and parts I gave 2/10. I think I must rewatch it very soon - I was a bit dazzled by all the hype I think.

CT - right my long-standing bloggy friend - the minute I finish in the blogoshpere I am off to my rental list to add your three.

Savitra - that is beyond the call of duty. Thank you so much for giving me so much fodder. goodness, I hope this film club stays in business long enough for me to see all your selection

Hello mccork and welcome to the blog. I've not seen Hidden but I'm going to add it to my list on your recommendation - I do love those two actors

Alienne - I've actually seen that one and it was very powerful viewing. I was surprised to see Audrey in such a gritty sort of film. Agreed on its excellence

Jean - yes I saw it and it was okay (ish). I saw it on a friend's small tv though and I reckon if it had been on our wall I would have enjoyed it more. I've been spoilt really

Rob - I have actually seen all those three classic films (we've got L of A here) - I adore the famous old films (and have a particular penchant for Garbo).

Piglet - hope this list here will be of some help as well
http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?128@181.hNj9jP0PWKd@.776144c0

Hiya Larry - so, mixing with beautiful actresses, eh.
Tango Lesson I have on my list and as for Local Hero - I love that film. Anything about the Aurora has my interest, apart from the general loveliness of the film (and its music - especially the theme)

You've Got Mail I've seen before and didn't enjoy it enough to watch it again I'm afraid (even though I am curious about the connection with the Dirty Dozen)

thanks again everyone

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Goodness me, ma chere, a lot to be going on with, however, mes choix, amongst your favourites, which are also mine, quelle surprise(!), sont:

Little Miss Sunshine
La Vie En Rose
I love 'Practical Magic'
Alice In Wonderland (Tim Robbins)
Syriana
Black Hawk Down
Body of Lies
Napoleon Dynamite
Stepbrothers, both funny and crackers
Anchorman, ditto


Remade Classics:
Jane Eyre (Toby Stephens)
Persuasion (with Rupert Penry-Jones)
Persuasion (Ciaran Hinds)

Misc:

Solaris (Clooney, as well as the original Russian...)
Anything by Pedro Almodovar
Pan's Labyrinth
Amelie, of course
Secretary
The Dish

For US intelligent series, I like:

The Closer
The Good Wife
Medium (if you like the spooky - Patricia Arquette)

US Comedy:
My Name Is Earl (rednecks at their most hilarious!)
Malcolm In The Middle (family madness)


BBC:

Five Daughters (recent, haunting but beautifully acted)
Bleak House (Denis Lawson - 'Shake Me Judy!')
Cranford (Dame Judi)
North and South (Mrs Gaskell)
Tutti Frutti (classic, now on DVD, Robbie Coltrane/Emma Thompson)

I hope that's helpful - Love you, ma cherie, many thanks!

Cxxx

Lynda Howells said...

Hope you had fun with your films..most of the ones l like or love are on someone's list on here...so won't bore you with them again!x


Hi all my friends,
Sadly l have decided that with everything that is going on, l do not have time to carry with my blog
http://lynda-oneimageaday.blogspot.com
.......sigh! I think that l have achieved what l set out to do, which was expand my thinking of words and images. So l have not failed but just run out of time! My work as a therapist, helping my husband get well again, my family, my Art, my friends and life in general...... 24 hrs is just not long enough. So please join me on my other blog
http://chocolatelifeandjazz.blogspot.com
will look forward to seeing you therex thank for all your supportxlynda

Angie Muresan said...

The Lives of Others is probably one of my favorites. I also like Pan's Labyrinth, and have watched it countless times.

Laura said...

I loved Eastern Promises, and for a bit of lighter fare The September Issue and Valentino: The Last Emperor were fun.

Reasons said...

An Education
Lars and the Real Woman
Pass it On
Avoir et Etre
Postcards from the Edge
Pursuit of Happyness (yes it's correct spelling)
Sliding Doors

DJ Kirkby said...

I agree with you about Borat. Liked these Q&As and your new blog look!

Unknown said...

Hello FF,

Just popped over, as promised, to have a peek at your latest film but you've got the shutters too tightly closed! Can't offer you any recommendations I'm afraid because I'm the world's worst film-goer; just wait for everything to appear on TV. 'Troy', for example, has been on three stations in the past month! Pure fantasy but we all need that from time to time.

I wish you well with your new subscription.

French Fancy... said...

Goodness AONI - you have gone to a lot of trouble there. Thank you so much.I've seen a large number on your list but I must say I have rather gone off the BBC serials and remade films of great classics.

Lynda - sorry to hear one blog is closing but hope to get to know you better on your other blog


Angie - I'm with you on the Lives of Others. It is up there in my top three of films. It is stunning and moving and simply unforgettable. I feel the same way about Tell No one. Pan's Labyrinth I have seen a few times and also have the French version here.

Laura - right, three more there for my list. Thank you sweetie

Reasons - I want to see An Education but I don't think it is yet on my DVD club's list. Lars,Pass it On and Pursuit I will add to the list. Postcards from the Edge I love (I have severe Meryl love), Sliding Doors was ok. I saw Avoir et Etre on tv - yes, it had lots of merit and worthiness.

Hiya Den
x

Hello Derrick, nice to see you here



Wotcher Reasons -

Elizabeth said...

Agree with all on Withnail
(met Richard E.Grant in Marrakesh --he was charming.

A Russian film "Burnt by the Sun" was stunning....

French Fancy... said...

Hi Elizabeth - how reassuring to know that REG was as lovely in person as he appears to be in the films he stars in (when he is not reduced to the status of a bum!)

I wonder if this club will have that Russian film. I'll go and check

Larry M. Brow said...

My apologies, the unusual double feature should be The Dirty Dozen, and Sleepless in Seattle. My confusion with You've Got Mail is probably quite understandable, since they both star Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

And for silly fun, and a neo-Hamlet plot, Strange Brew.

French Fancy... said...

Oh I've seen Sleepless in Seattle, a couple of times on tv I think. I wonder what the connection with the Dirty Dozen is. I somehow can't see myself taking that one out - could you spill the beans please (silly phrase when you come to think of it).

Larry M. Brow said...

It's the scene where Tom Hanks and his friend get all teary eyed about the movie, "The Dirty Dozen,' while disrespecting women's teary eyed reactions to their own favorite movie. It's funny. They're a bit tongue in cheek. But it's also true. For all its explosions and murder, the Dirty Dozen does have notably sad parts, but few of the Sleepless in Seattle will have ever seen it, unless they're the boyfriends who got forced into watching Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan fall in love. Ewww.

I know. More work than it's worth.