Left of centre, cult classics, or unusual movies to recommend

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I've just posted a few movies on another topic, but I thought that this is a subject that deserves it's own posting.

I love slightly unusual films, not completely bonkers, well not always, but not mainstream.

I'll try to list a top ten, will be difficult, but here goes.

DOGTOOTH - Greek, very dry and dark comedy

PSYCHOMANIA - English Hammer Horror, unintentionally hilarious

TIMECRIMES - Spanish time travel thriller, low budget, but engrossing

SURVIVE STYLE 5+ - Japanese movie of many parts, all connected, and all equally brilliant

TWIN TOWN - Unfairly called the Welsh Trainspotting, it's not, but it's equally as good

GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO - Swedish original, see it soon before hollywood ruins it

THE VANISHING - Original French/Dutch collaboration, so superior to the hollywood remake in every way

FARGO - The best Coen brothers film, and close to the greatest film ever made

13 (TZAMETI) - French thriller, low budget, but very tense and dark

DELICATESSEN - French, dark humour, visually stunning, and just plain brilliant

I'm sure everyone will have their own opinions, so any recommendations?

 

[Anonymous]

The Hill - with Sean Connery and Harry Andrews.

Walkabout - with a young and very gorgeous Jenny Aggutter.

Performance - with Mick Jagger and James Fox.

Mulholland Drive - pure genius from director David Lynch.

Sunset Boulevard - Gloria Swanson is just wonderful.

The Music Box - Laurel and Hardy's finest.

Kes - truly wonderful film from director Ken Loach.

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner - starring Tom Courtney, the best of the grim up north kitchen sink dramas of the early sixties.

The Offence - with Sean Connery as a cop interogating a suspected paedophile, his best ever performance.

 

[Big Chris]

All I can do is think of a couple of my fave films which for some reason never got the status they desrve. The 13th Warrior - Antonio Benderas' character is forced into a deadly battle with an un-named enemy alongside a dozen viking warriors. Much underrated IMO. Super Troopers - Comedy gang 'Broken Lizard's finest film to date (although I did enjoy 'Beerfest'), Not big, not clever, but it is funny. Apparently there's a S.T.2 in the pipeline. Tom Horn - McQueen may be better known for Bullitt & The Getaway, but I think this is one of his finest roles.

 

[bretty]

I watched '13 Assassins' yesterday. It's a new film, but I don't imagine it getting much exposure, so I thought it'd be suitable addition here. It's an Asian Shogun-era flick. It's absolutely brilliant. It's unlike any other asian martial arts film i've seen in years. After watching so many unrealistic, fantastic and bloodless martial arts epics over the last ten years, after 'Hidden Dragon' opened the floodgates, the violence in this film actually took me by surprise.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I saw 13 Assassins a month or so again at the Cinema, thought it was excellent.

It's a little, well quite a lot like Seven Samurai, but quite a bit shorter luckily.

Good movie, good choice Bretty!

 

[Paul.]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, one of the lesser know studio Ghibli movies (well, technically it was released before Ghibli was formed by Miyazaki). Absolutely beautiful film.

Another anime, Perfect Blue, very dark psychological thriller.

 

[bretty]

I saw 13 Assassins a month or so again at the Cinema, thought it was excellent.

It's a little, well quite a lot like Seven Samurai, but quite a bit shorter luckily.

Good movie, good choice Bretty!

Thanks, matey.

Oh, you're bang on, Big Boy; it's got more than just a passing resemblance to 'Seven Samurai'.

I forget to mention the part that I found most impressive: the final battle scene last for 45 minutes! and it's so well paced and shot that it doesn't flag at all during that time.

Oh, and it's directed by Takashi Miike, which I didn't know until the end credits rolled. I love his films. 'Audition' rocked!

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

[/quote]

Oh, you're bang on, Big Boy; it's got more than just a passing resemblance to 'Seven Samurai'.

I forget to mention the part that I found most impressive: the final battle scene last for 45 minutes! and it's so well paced and shot that it doesn't flag at all during that time.

Oh, and it's directed by Takashi Miike, which I didn't know until the end credits rolled. I love his films. 'Audition' rocked!

[/quote]

Great Director, though I've only managed to watch Audition the once, I have tried to watch again, but always get bored.

I guess it's a bit like Usual Suspects in that sense, once you know what happens, it loses it's ímpact.

Personally I like Ichi The Killer, Gozu, and Visitor Q, though all would most definitely be in the extreme category of movies, especially Visitor Q.

Worth checking out if you're open to some extreme weirdness.

 

[Anonymous]

Whilst you are talking about miike you should get a hold of Dead or Alive. Simply amazing. I'm a huge fan of his.

I watch alot of Asian cinema so here's a couple of faves.

A Bittersweet Life
Dumplings
Casshern.

Das Experiment from Germany and Festen from denmark are also must sees.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Whilst you are talking about miike you should get a hold of Dead or Alive. Simply amazing. I'm a huge fan of his. I watch alot of Asian cinema so here's a couple of faves. A Bittersweet Life Dumplings Casshern. Das Experiment from Germany and Festen from denmark are also must sees.

I've seen Dead Or Alive, and to be honest, I wasn't overly impressed. Good movie, but didn't blow me away.

A Bittersweet Life is excellent, Dumplings I can't remember if I've seen or not, could be one I saw on TV but fell asleep during.

Not seen Das Experiment, but it was already on my radar.

Festen is on my to buy list. Casshern I own, but haven't watched yet.

I bought Kontroll recently, but haven't had the chance to watch it yet, but check the reviews on Amazon, looks brilliant.