Down by Law
Jim Jarmusch
While it is my all time favorite film, I also think it is the greatest modern fairy tale ever told too. When I watch films, I always wonder if within these characters if the film is showing the most important story of their lives and you never once doubt that it is. A slowburner like all Jarmusch films, I feel that this is one of Jarmush's 2 perfect films, with this one being about restarting yourself even though you remain who you are and Dead Man being a film about finishing yourself to what you shall become.
The Holy Mountain
Alejandro Jodorowsky
This is art. A rambling inside a fever dream. The saying is true for many film goers that I have heard about Holy Mountain and that is there is life before Holy Mountain and life after Holy Mountain. I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. A problem I have with many surrealist films is that they tire by the end of them and Holy Mountain never runs out of steam and possibly the greatest film about the creation of all things whether or not you understand them or not.
Branded to Kill
Seijun Suzuki
Fucking cool and absurd. I mean fucking way too cool. Like I can never make something as fucking cool as this. Yeah, Down by Law is cool too but this feels like beat poetry in motion. William S. Burroughs has shit on Seijum Suzuki.
Pink Flamingos
John Waters
Lude and crude and whatever other things you can rhyme with that, Pink Flamingos is of all things, a trash film that knows it is trash. If I was ever going to name one film that I know who made me feel acceptance for who I am and more so, making myself proud of my faults and my differences among others, Pink Flamingos is that film. Oh yeah, the film was probably the funniest film I have ever seen.
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Nicolas Roeg
I have always said the best science fiction is best left unexplained and The Man Who Fell to Earth wears that like a badge of honor. It is indulged in mystery that it can't explain so why bother. The theme is even in the title of the film, "The Man Who Fell to Earth" and not "The Alien Who Fell to Earth" and is really just a man's journey into alienation. I wish that sounded less first year film school.
Yi Yi
Edward Yang
The greatest film about the life experience in my opinion. I mean all stages of life. Relationships we have with lovers, friends, family, everyone. This is an epic film that is fully realized and is so incredibly beautiful. I think if any film is going to hold your answer for the meaning of life, Yi Yi is it. I sadly have yet to see any of Edward Yang's other films though.
Grey Gardens
Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Muffie Meyer
I have only seen this recently but it left me profoundly. Films like Grey Gardens are the reason why people make documentaries. When you sift through the reclusive lives of the eccentrics Little Edie and Edith, you sift through your own. These women allow themselves to decay with their same stories, it feels like a call of action to go out and do something. A remake for cable was made this year and I haven't seen it yet but I heard it was tasteful.
I am Cuba
Mikhail Kalatozov
When people talk about I am Cuba, it is mostly about its gorgeous cinematography and yes I agree with everyone that it is indeed gorgeous and probably the best shot black and white film I have ever seen. The film is greatly more than that though for I also think it is probably the best anthology film I have ever seen with each piece fitting for what many other films about a place usually fail at and that is making it feel like you are living there, you are a part of Cuba.
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Woody Allen
I am a massive Woody Allen fan and has been my favorite director since I was like 10. Crimes and Misdemeanors is the greatest film about guilt and how it can drag you down depending on how big of the disaster you put yourself to. Because it is built like that, the film follows two acts overlaping each other. Some people call Match Point a remake of Crimes and Misdemeanors but I believe Match Point lacks some of the gut of Crimes even though they do follow some of the same themes about circumstances. This is an unbearable heavy dense work but still a tragedy with well placed comedy from Woody Allen and my favorite of his.
The 400 Blows
François Truffaut
Really guys? The 10th round? Isn't this usually considered to be in like the top 3 films of all time? This is THE COMING OF AGE story. Sure I love great films of the genre like My Life is a Dog and Murmur of the Heart but I feel like the entire genre wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for this film. Hell, it might not even exist. This is essential for everyone. EVERYONE.
I am adding what I can in netflix, though. For someone, especially Hota, to put 10 movies forward as 10 to vote for or against, they must be excellent caliber movies.
.jpg)
