guthmund

I'm enrolled in a film studies course and at the end of this shindig I have to submit a course project. It's an analytical film essay of about 10 pages. Nothing too demanding when compared with what's expected in my other classes.

Anyway, when I submit my next lesson, I have to submit a list of films I would like to use for my project and I thought it would be fun to hear your suggestions.

Like I said, nothing too overwhelming. I just have to find a film and then define the theme of my paper (anything from editing technique to mise-en-scene to symbology).

Personally, I have no preference. I could use a movie I'm already fairly familiar with and slap out a paper, but I want to learn something--maybe have a little fun--and that's where you guys come in.

The only requirement (so far anyway ) is that I choose a movie we haven't already viewed and discussed.
Have at it!

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BadNick

If it was me, being a fan of Wim Wenders and having recently viewed them all again, I'd do "Wings of Desire".

http://www.wim-wenders.com/movies/mo...gsofdesire.htm

ratbastid

Man, does every film professor teach Do The Right Thing?

I recommend Erendira, a Mexican film from 1983. It may be a little hard to get a hold of, but it's an amazing film. It's based on a short story from 100 Years of Solitude, adapted by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. If you can find it, it's a great film to discuss symbolism and imagery.

Also consider Hitchcock's Rear Window, which can be read as a commentary on film itself.

maleficent

Casablanca - it's a great movie that everyone should see

Or a little more obscure for today's generation.. A Place in the Sun (Montgomery Clift, Shelley winters, Elizabeth Taylor) this movie was based on Theodore Dreiser's book, an American Tragedy..

Or Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca - based on the book Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier - good book, good movie, movie differs from the book because Laurence Olivier was in thelead role as maxim dewinter - and well the real ending i don't think he'd play

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zed wolf

Raiders of the lost ark.
Or for something you may not have already seen, "Stroker Ace"

la petite moi

Films by Jean-Pierre Jeunet et Francois Truffaut- there is a certain similarity in both of their films, which I would say is Jeanet paying hommage to Truffaut (a French legend). I am also in a film-studies class, except it's also advanced French, as well- this is my topic for my speech next Tuesday.

PS: Jean-Pierre Jeunet did films like "Amelie" and "A Very Long Engagement."

Mister Coaster

I think The Sixth Scence would make a good topic, definately Shaymalan's (sp) best, theme could be unexpected plot twists that are plainly obvious after knowing the outcome.

In a similar "twist" category is The Usual Suspects. Although both of these are mainstream, I think a good report could be done on either.

On the lighter side, there is actually A LOT happening beneath the surface in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

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Sultana

American Beauty

The Usual Suspects

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

LA Confidential

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Pulp Fiction


Kill Bill

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Charlatan

Another vote for Casablanca.

It's A Wonderful Life - perfect example of classic Hollywood narrative

Here's a topic I did in Film Studies: Compare and contract the concept of community and family in the films Blade Runner and Witness (both staring Harrison Ford). I got an A. Too bad Blade Runner is off the list...

For editing you can't beat:
Dziga Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera or Sergei Esenstein's Battleship Potempkin (the famous Odessa steps sequence has been given the Homage Treatment in The Untouchables and Brazil... and others I am currently forgetting).

Speaking of great films... Brazil, great film that plays with narrative reality and the ability to trust the protagonist.

Great editing and temporal game play, look no further than Nicholas Roeg's Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession (highly recommend).

You can always count on Orson Welles: The Amazing Ambersons and Touch of Evil are always good, though the Lady from Shanghai and Mr. Arkadin are also good.

Jean Renoir's La Regle du Jeu (The Rule of the Game) is an excellent classic. Lots of bold depth of field shots and overlapping conversations that pre date Robert Altman by about 35 years.

Have a look at some film noir but also look at its predecessors in German Expressionism in the 20s (Metropolis, Der Golem, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, M) and a similar movement in France in the 30s (Quai des Brumes, Pepe le Moko, etc.). The germans did dark first, then moved to France as the Nazis pushed them out and then many end up in Hollywood in the 40s.

Check of the films of Otto Preminger... lots of fun.

Speaking of moody films... the films of Powell and Pressburger: The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus.... not to forget, Peeping Tom. The film that pretty much ruined Powell's career because it was so creepy.

You might also want to get adventurous and explore some the Hong Kong works of film makers like: Ringo Lam and John Woo (avoid the Hollywood films as they are not nearly as complex).

For my money, some of the oddest films you will see (that are still entertaining) come from Winnipeg. Guy Maddin is a mad genius: Tales from the Gimil Hospital, Archangel and The Saddest Music in the World are all good.

I am going to stop now... I think I haven't been watching enough film or tv lately. Sorry for the ramble.

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pan6467

The Rose.....

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kurty[B]

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

dboydbla

I recommend vanilla Sky or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Great movies...lots of stuff you could analyze in these movies. The Cube is also a good movie.

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roachboy

hmm....

depends on what you want to do, really: what kind of analysis interests you. you have several types of films on the syllabus/list.
strange that the directors are almost all american. why is that? is this a requirement (hitchcock being the only exception...and he worked alot in the states---the guy who made koyaanisqatsi maybe another...)

if you have to stay with american directors, then:

orson welles: lady from shanghai
david lynch: eraserhead
harmony korine: gummo or julien donkeyboy

werner herzog lives in the states now so maybe he counts too?
grizzly man
aguirre wrath of god
even dwarves started small (an excellent, excellent, excellent, very very strange film)

you have some noir films on the list so there is great fun to be had using french noir films like:

wages of fear
le cercle rouge
quai des orfevres

you could bounce the french film "la haine" off "do the right thing" in interesting ways.

from "blade runner"--tarkovsky's "solaris" (NOT the idiot soderberg remake)

there are a riot of brilliant documentary filmmakers--i am not a fan of michael moore, really---for recent political film, check out "this divided state" (stylistically very straightforward, but kind of a freakshow content-wise);

anything by chris marker or jean rouch

ulrich seidl: animal love

lars von trier: five obstructions (though anything by him would be great fun to take apart--a really great director)

why is there no eisenstein on this syllabus anyway? no dziga vertov? no meliès?
geez...there is so much more stuff out there, so much cooler than the list gives you access to.

anyway, hope this helps.
if you give a bit more information about the kind of project you'd prefer to do, maybe more film titles can be generated.

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ratbastid

Ooh! I forgot A Bout de Souffle! Brilliant Goddard film from 1960--released in the US under then name Breathless.

shesus

There are many good movies and many of them listed here. I would have to second Hithcock movies. Also, as LPM mentioned Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Although I would use City of Lost Children or Delicatessen (if you can find it). The use of colors is amazing.
Also a good movie that is visually appealing is Akira Kurosawa's Dreams, but I always crash during it. It's very relaxing.
There are many more, but those are the movies I find visually nice.

Almodovar is also an excellent director if you haven't checked out any of his movies. And of course for analyzing plot, Pi or Requiem for a Dream would be interesting.

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beavstrokinoff

A Running Man - No, not "The Running Man" with Arnold.

Crack

Brick: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393109/

Very good movie

/myvote

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Glory's Sun

I'm no film buff like some people in this thread so I'll just shoot one that comes into my mind first


Kids

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113540/

Halx

Dr Strangelove is filled with symbology. If I recall, its really just about a bunch of men dealing with sexual problems.

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little_tippler

I saw Kids...damn that's a heavy film.

Some ideas from a non-expert:

Before Sunrise/Before Sunset

Memento

Lost in Translation

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guthmund

I have no idea why the ol' boy only went with American directors, but there's no special requirements as it relates to the project as far as I know. I'd prefer to stay away from the overly technical stuff (I have a Tom Clancy like tendency to get bogged down in the details ), but everything else is game.

Some excellent suggestions so far... The obscurity factor as far as films go is going to cut both ways. I mean, with an obscure film, there's a good chance I'll be the only one writing about it, but I also run the risk of not finding the thing through conventional sources.

Keep 'em coming.

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Grancey

Blue Velvet, directed by David Lynch

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freeload

I would recommend "The Others" (Nicole Kidman) - I really like how the story unfolds, and suddenly turns. I'm shure there's a lot to analyze (besides good acting)

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Charlatan

Just make sure you have the Goddard film and not the American remake with Richard Gere...

Jodorowsky's El Topo or The Holy Mountain (I believe they both just received a rerelease recently).

Luis Bunuel's L'age D'or or Belle de Jour

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TexanAvenger

Singin' in the Rain

It's simply a great film.

frogza

Go with Fiddler on the Roof, all kinds of stuff to analize.

roachboy

ok so here are some seconds from the list above and some other possibilities.
but first: i dont know where you are in realspace, but netflix has a pretty good selection of stuff. for more "obscure" films, maybe get a facets account--they are the shit, in the parlance of our times.

http://www.facets.org/asticat

i have the good fortune of living near them, so dont know about the netflix-like service. but their selection is pretty overwhelming. and they are the best source for eastern european films--czech new wave in particular--in the states.

anyway: jodorowsky is great. i dunno if his films are out on dvd yet, though--i saw them on vhs. they are worth tracking down tho.

bunuel...geez, what a great director. if you can find "land without bread" do it.

the saragossa manuscript is beautiful and freaky and would be great fun to write about. here's the imdb link:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059643/

and the music is amazing. speaking of great sound....

masaki kobayashi's "kwaidan" is gorgeous and the first sequence (there are 4) will keep you busy writing away for a while.

and teshighara's "woman in the dunes" is stunning....

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058625/

both have music by toru takemitsu.
i am obsessed with his film sound.

godard's "breathless" is excellent (the remake is abysmal)--but i would go for "band of outsiders" so you can learn to do the madison (who wouldn't want to?)--but see alphaville. just do it. trust me.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058279/

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fatbob

i wrote a dissertation on bladerunner and orientalism.
i would suggest that.
great film loaded with film crap to talk about but still good to watch.

citizen kane too - especially for film technique and breaking all the classical hollywood rules, but then everyone writes their essays on the old rosebud stuff...

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Zeraph

A Clockwork Orange!

Intense1

It might be a tad bit obscure, but I am still enthralled by the 30 minute "Le Balloon Rouge", filmed in Paris back in the 1950's. It's about a little boy who is followed throughout his day by a balloon, and brings forth the most amazing range of emotions in such a short amount of time. It also won an oscar, if I'm not mistaken.

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stevie667

Stargate!! (second ! added to get to character limit, but it's kind of redundant now i've typed all this...)

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ktspktsp

You can go with The bicycle thief (aka Ladri di Biciclette) by Vittorio De Sica. It's a very good movie from 1948 about a man in dire economic conditions (in post-war Italy) who finally gets a job, but he needs his bicycle for it - and it gets stolen. The movie details his attempts to get his bike back, and how it affects him and his family. You can analyze the gradual loss of dignity that the main characters goes through.

Moskie

Glitter.

Heh: just print a list out of IMDB's Bottom 100 and throw a dart at it. That could actually amount to an entertaining essay.


If it were me, I might pick a contemporary movie that's meant a lot to me. little_tippler already listed a few that spring to mind. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind used lots of subtle and not-so-subtle film and editing techniques that help create the world of Joel's mind, and they really came up with some great ideas to show his memories being erased as he relives them. I'd love to spend the the time to write a 10 page paper on it.

I think I'd have difficulty doing Before Sunrise|Sunset, given what was assigned. If I were to analyze them, I'd almost have to just focus on character analysis, as opposed to the filming techniques of the movie. Yet again, they are beautifully shot... so it could work.

Dark comedies might also be fun: Heathers, War of the Roses, The Witches of Eastwick, Election.

Oh, Big Fish would be fun too.

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Les Choiristes

Cinema Paradiso

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jorgelito

Why not break the mold of stuffy, take-themselves-way-too-seriously, pretentious, snotty film people and pick some more fun films. Most film lists have become cliched. Be bold. Be different.

EX:

Ishtar
Blues Brothers
Spinal Tap
Fantasia
Once Upon A Time in China
Austin Powers
The Brothers McMullen
Ace Ventura
Cinema Paradiso
Shrek
The Wedding Singer
Plan Nine from Outer Space
Pink Flamingoes
The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Try something new and more importantly, have fun. Good Luck!!

zed wolf

Oh, I forgot about The Usual Suspects! that is an awesome movie, one of the few I own actually.
I still think Stroker Ace would be good though. Good funny light hearted comedy with some interesting cultural um.. stuff.

Dilbert1234567

well i second both plan 9 from outerspace, and Dr Strangelove.

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zed wolf

I just looked at that IMDB bottom 100 list, I forgot about Leonard Part 6. That was a really bad movie. now that I think about it I'm surprised I didnt see Howard The Duck on that list.

Willravel

What a coincedence, I was totally going to say Koyaanisqatsi.

Here are a few I'd reccomend:
- Alien (easily the best horror film in history)
- Sexy Beast
- City of God
- Dune (2001)
- Gangs of New York
- Layer Cake
- Closer

I, myself, did a decent essay on Alien. I don't know where it is.

Martian

You have some great suggestions already. Just adding to the list...

El Mariachi - If you've ever wondered who Robert Rodriguez is, it's because you haven't seen this film. Suitable themes for analysis are fate and revenge.

The Boondock Saints - Who doesn't like a film about brothers who kill lots of bad guys? The main theme I took from it was that of moral ambiguity; the parity between law and justice and whether an individual has the right to judge another man for himself.

Pulp Fiction - I don't think I need to explain this one.

Total Recall - I know, it's Arnold. It also blurred the line between reality and hallucination long before Laurence Fishburne came along with his fancy Ray-bans.

Get Shorty - I'd normally say to steer clear of novel adaptations, but this one actually works quite well, possible because of Leonard's prior Hollywood experience. In any case, it's a fun film and I'm sure you could find some theme to pull out of there.

Clerks - This one's a bit over-exposed by now, but it's a good one all the same. The dialog is what carries it; again, pulling out themes of films I've seen over a year ago after midnight is tough for me, but it shouldn't be too hard.

Between these and all the suggestions above, I'd say if you can't find something that suits you you're probably in the wrong class.

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