TOP 11 FILMS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE…SO FAR
Here is the list of the top 11 films that have changed my life…so far. I say so far because there are so many movies I have yet to see and probably just as many I’ve fogotten about. This list could change at any moment really, in fact when I started writing this post it was a top 10 list. For the most part though I’ve been consistant about over half of them for a very long time. I chose these eleven based on a few things, like their influence on my film making, the way they made me feel, and the point in my life at which I watched them. A few of these films I’ve seen so many times I couldn’t tell you the number, and a couple I’ve only seen once but they had a huge impact on me. When I made the list I was surprised I had so many foreign films included. If you know me though and have seen any of my films that probably makes a lot of sense.
I have always thought you can tell a lot about a person based on their favorite movie.
What’s your favorite movie? Have you seen any of these films? What did you think of them?
IN NO ORDER:
La Rivière du Hibou (1962) DIR: Robert Enrico
An old surrealist film that I watched in high school. It was one of the biggest motivators that made me want to make films myself. The 30 second segment where he is about to meet his wife I could watch for hours. This is a must watch for any and all filmmakers, period!
Jeux d’enfants (2003) DIR: Yann Sammuell
This is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. It’s French, of course, has an amazing color quality, and gives inspiration on what a real relationship can and even should be. I could go on a long time about this one…
Russkiy Kovcheg (2002) DIR: Aleksandr Sokurov
A Russian film that used true raw ability to make a film rather than that other stuff. The films tag line says it all “2000 cast members, 3 orchestras, 33 rooms, 300 years, ALL IN ONE TAKE” That’s right ONE TAKE! No cutting ever for a 99 minute film! The flow, wonderfull 19th century set design, and cinematography are enough to watch this film alone.
Requiem for a Dream (2000) DIR: Darren Aronofsky
I’ve always thought this film didn’t get the credit and exposure it should have. It was brilliantly made in every aspect I can think of. It made me comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. I relyed on it’s repetitiveness, but it made me second guess if what I was doing had a purpose and led me to seriously change how I felt about film making in long terms.
Fight Club (1999) DIR: David Fincher
The influence Fight Club had on me still lasts today. I was about 18 years old when I saw it. I watched it in theaters twice, which I never really do. I did get some out of this film in terms of film making but mostly what I took away from it was life lessons in an odd way. I related to some of the ideas it made me aware of and in some ways I wanted to be just like Tyler Durden.
Psycho (1960) DIR: Alfred Hitchcock
The reason this movie had such an impact on me may be because it used to be the one and only movie I owned. It was on VHS and I had no TV stations to watch so I played the tape over and over and over. I rented a room from someone I didn’t really know at the time and If I was home Psycho was on. Of course you might say, “well it’s Hitchcock too”, but truthfully I don’t tend to like other Hitchcock movies very much. I know, shoot me. I think it’s all that British influence he has, No offence to you Brits, I loved the ‘I.T. Crowd’…”0118 999 881 999 119 725….. 3″ (watch it and you’ll get it)
Goodfellas (1990) DIR: Martin Scorsese
How could I be a real Italian-American and not include a Scorsese film in my top list!? My Papa (Grandfather) talks about him like he’s a small god. This movie is what I hope life will be like, the first half anyway. The community, the ability to make money within it, and all that good Italianness :) Maybe all that stuff’s just engrained in my blood.
The Fountain (2006) DIR: Darren Aronofsky
How this film finally came to be is important to me as a filmmaker. Darrens long determination and patience in having to wait to get The Fountain made is inspiring. It speaks volumes about having faith in your ideas and accomplishing them. The film itself puts me in awe when watching all those flashback images and listening to the Kronos Quartet. The musical score is mesmerizing and I really dislike other films using it recently. Production for this film went on for ever, everything from make up to special underwater effects took Darren a long time to complete. It all paid off in my opinion, yet still another underrated film.
El ángel exterminador (1962) DIR: Luis Buñuel
Although I’ve only watched this movie recently in 2009, I can already tell how it is influencing the way I think about story telling, repetitive shots, and character building. As my skills grow I predict that people like Buñuel and Salvador Dali will heavily form my creative ideas and how I shoot them. I already have something in the works in fact, inspired by this film. This is a must watch for anyone who likes surrealism, but in a more normal way. Interesting facts about this film are that has 27 instances of repetition. It was even banned in Russia, Luis was used to getting his films banned though.
The Big Lebowski (1998) DIR: The Coen Brothers
I like almost every Coen brothers movie and this one is my favorite. I can guarantee I’ve seen it more times than any other movie, even Psycho. (just ask @hmarie99 , my old roomate) My favorites are not usually comedies so it strange I liked this one so much. It made me laugh the entire way through. It has all those one-liners you remember later and laugh again about. ‘The Dude’ taught me how to make White Russians even, which I still drink almost every time I go out.
Ladri di biciclette (1948) DIR: Vittorio De Sica
Bicycles Thieves in considered part of a film movement called Italian Neorealism. Italian Neorealism is extremely important to film as a whole and teaches us that life stories don’t always end well or end at all, and you may just end up where you started. Although it’s kind of depressing to think like that, it makes a lot of sense in historical context. It doesn’t have to be negative though. The theories brought forth in this film and others in its category changed how I feel about life and what it means to accomplish even a daily task.
