They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (+21st Century) Challenge (Official, October 2019)

[shugs]

Hello, ladies and gents and welcome to the TSPDT challenge!

Goal
Watch as many movies as you can from the TSPDT lists below!

Rules
- Each feature film (over 40 minutes) counts as one entry.
- 60 minutes of short films count as one entry.
- The miniseries rule applies (episodes over 40 mins count as one entry, otherwise add episodes up to 60 minutes to count as one entry).
- Rewatches are allowed.

Lists
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1-1000
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1001-2000
The 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films

For new watches, please make a new post, don't edit an older one. Thanks!

Have fun and happy watching!

Participants

Ranking	Participant	Score
1	Traveller	86
2	jeroeno	47
3	sol	46
4	Obgeoff	42
5	Coryn	38
6	AB537	33
7	blueboybob	32
8	hurluberlu	28
9	Kublai Khan	22
10	jdidaco	20
11	frbrown	18
12	shugs	17
13	albajos	13
14	blocho	11
14	maxwelldeux	11
14	sebby	11
17	Lonewolf2003	9
18	Ebbywebby	7
19	zzzorf	6
20	Cinepolis	4
20	Knaldskalle	4
20	ororama	4
23	allisoncm	3
24	RogerTheMovieManiac88	2
24	flavo5000	2
24	nimimerkillinen	2
27	3eyes	1
27	cinephage	1
27	mathiasa	1

[Traveller]

I'm in. Will probably be focusing on the 21st Century list, but might actually (almost) finish the main list (currently at 995/1001).

[sol]

Official Lists
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1-1000
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1001-2000
The 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films

Jumping the gun a bit there. The 1001-2000 list actually hasn't been made Official - yet. I'm not quite sure about the delay. I suppose there's the question of whether to make the list its own Official List or whether to add it onto the end of the Top 1000 list.

[blueboybob]

Maybe I will use this as a reason to finish the last 16 movies on TSPDT

TSZDT should also count

[Tarris1]

Ill try to get some movies done here next month. Not sure what my focus will be yet tho

[shugs]

Official Lists
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1-1000
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1001-2000
The 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films

Jumping the gun a bit there. The 1001-2000 list actually hasn't been made Official - yet. I'm not quite sure about the delay. I suppose there's the question of whether to make the list its own Official List or whether to add it onto the end of the Top 1000 list.

Yeah, my bad. Was in a hurry to make the thread before dinner. Corrected the OP.

[shugs]

TSZDT should also count

Don't forget the Horror Challenge is also in October.

[zuma]

I have had 7 left on the main list for a year. I will get in on this in the hopes it will inspire/force.

[sol]

First in... and with this post, first for all three challenges this month. And each time with a different film too.

It starts!

1. Berberian Sound Studio (2012) TSP 21C #559



This unusual thriller provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse of how movie sound effects works while Toby Jones is solid in the lead role, torn between perfectionism, while feeling nervous about whether he is actually going to get paid and what on earth everything is talking in a foreign language that he does not understand. Alas, his insecurities quickly grow repetitive and there is not much to the film beyond his mounting unease.

[sol]

Almost forgot to mention, that gives me Bronze on the TSP21C list.

[Coryn]

WOOOHOOOO, finally the time has come.
This month will be full of classics for me, I still have around 25 unwatched movies on 22+ top lists and will try to check them all off this month.

The only "non-classic" one will be the first ..

1. Gegen die Wand (2004)
2. Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

[3eyes]

I have a little list.

[albajos]

Is it possible to shorten the title of this thread a bit?

[shugs]

Is it possible to shorten the title of this thread a bit?

Done.

[blueboybob]

Does "Doubling the Cannon" count?

[Coryn]

Does "Doubling the Cannon" count?

They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1-1000
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? 1001-2000
The 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films

Only these 3 lists count I think.

[albajos]

only lists regularly updated by TSPDT.

Doubling the Canon is quite the opposite.

[Traveller]

01. Carlos (2010) - 7/10
02. Jauja (2014) - 7/10

[Coryn]

3. 8 1/2 (1963)

= 3739, 515

[Knaldskalle]

In, I guess. I do wonder, though, if I'll actually get around to watching any.

[sol]

They Shot Pictures Long Before They Shot ZombiesShow

1. Berberian Sound Studio (2012) TSP 21C #559

2. A Ghost Story (2017)



The first half of this film is a little bit of chore to get through with elongated shots that linger for ages while little of note happens on screen. The second half of the film is very interesting though as the ghost turns into mischievous poltergeist in frustration, as he listens to pessimistic conversations about memory, and as he takes to wandering the streets at night, eerily illuminated by bright signs and lights. Pretty cool moody music score too.

[Coryn]

4. Andrey Rublev (1966)

[maxwelldeux]

1. The Wicker Man (1973) TSPDT #664
This is fascinating... the IMDB plot description did not do this justice. I think I would have liked it more if I didn't spend the first third annoyed at it - but then the weird shit started happening. And I quickly fell into it from the point of view of an outsider looking in at Catholic (which is what I was raised) traditions - that shit would look batshit insane. And it was so... challenging. Super good film and a nice new entry to my favorites list.

[Coryn]

1. The Wicker Man (1973) TSPDT #664
This is fascinating... the IMDB plot description did not do this justice. I think I would have liked it more if I didn't spend the first third annoyed at it - but then the weird shit started happening. And I quickly fell into it from the point of view of an outsider looking in at Catholic (which is what I was raised) traditions - that shit would look batshit insane. And it was so... challenging. Super good film and a nice new entry to my favorites list.

The weirdness started at minute 5 for me with the song about the barkeepers daughter

[sebby]

01 The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933)

[blocho]

1. Black Narcissus (1947)
2. BlacKkKlansman (2018)
3. Ensayo de un Crimen (1955)

Some interesting parallels here. Two "Black" movies. And Black Narcissus is about nuns, while Ensayo de un Crimen contains several references to nuns and convents.

Spike Lee, unfortunately, never met a story good enough that his didacticism couldn't run roughshod over it. That being said, the last two movies of his that I saw were Oldboy and the execrable Miracle at St. Anna, both of them pushing him perilously close to the "dead to me" list. This movie was decent enough to push him back.

[Traveller]

03. Head-On (2004) - 6/10
04. The Edge of Heaven (2007) - 6/10
05. Toni Erdmann (2016) - 5/10

Silver on Lola Award - Best Film.

[sol]

They Shot Pictures Long Before They Shot ZombiesShow

1. Berberian Sound Studio (2012) TSP 21C #559
2. A Ghost Story (2017) TSP 21C #456

3. Videodrome (1983) TSPDT #292 REVISION



I love everything about this film, from Howard Shore's constantly brooding moody score to the camerawork that creeps around Cronenberg's highly detailed sets in such a voyeuristic manner. And then there's the way the film blurs fantasy/hallucination and reality to such a degree that they pretty much cannot be separated from each other by the end of the film, quite true to Brian O'Blivion's quips about how about how there is nothing real beyond our perceptions of reality, and his line about how what we watch on TV emerges the same as experiences that we ourselves have lived. But I guess, beyond all else, what I really appreciate about the film is its acute portrait of a lonely and frustrated man getting lost along what would seem to otherwise be a road to self-discovery. Awesome stuff - and still as fresh as ever after ten viewings.

[shugs]

03. Head-On (2004) - 6/10
04. The Edge of Heaven (2007) - 6/10
05. Toni Erdmann (2016) - 5/10

Silver on Lola Award - Best Film.

Carlos counts as 3 points, so I have you at 7.

[Traveller]

03. Head-On (2004) - 6/10
04. The Edge of Heaven (2007) - 6/10
05. Toni Erdmann (2016) - 5/10

Silver on Lola Award - Best Film.

Carlos counts as 3 points, so I have you at 7.

It was only when I started the movie that I realized that I had the short 3hour'ish version only, so I went with rating it as a movie. Just let me know if you still consider it worth three points and I adjust my numbers.

[hurluberlu]

1. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (Russ Meyer, 1970) [TSPDT #993] 4+
Didn't expect to rate a film from TSDPT list so low but yeah, that was terribly bad.

[jeroeno]

01. Jogo de Cena (2007)
02. Iracema - Uma Transa Amazônica (1975)
03. Os Fuzis (1964)

[shugs]

It was only when I started the movie that I realized that I had the short 3hour'ish version only, so I went with rating it as a movie. Just let me know if you still consider it worth three points and I adjust my numbers.

Yes, I'll count is as 3 points.

[Kublai Khan]

1. 4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile {aka 4 months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days} (Cristian Mungiu-2007) {#614}

[Coryn]

5. Gone With the Wind (1939)

Can I get 3 points for this as well?

[maxwelldeux]

Who is "they"? WHO IS "THEY"?!?Show

1. The Wicker Man (1973) TSPDT #664

2. Poison (1991) TSPDT2K #611
On the BFI Flare list, this has three unrelated stories cut together to complement each other, one of which is decidedly gay-themed. Ultimately, the way this was cut together really sold the movie for me - despite the stories having nothing in common, the feel from one scene paved the way for the next. Great editing and a pretty unique way of telling a story.

[sol]

They Shot Pictures Long Before They Shot ZombiesShow

1. Berberian Sound Studio (2012) TSP 21C #559
2. A Ghost Story (2017) TSP 21C #456
3. Videodrome (1983) TSPDT #292 REVISION

4. Evil Dead II (1987) TSPDT #608



While this often feels like a random catalogue of gore with little story - much like its predecessor - Sam Raimi makes this a distinctly different movie from the first by turning up the black comedy aspect. The humour fits in well with our hero's delirium; an especially potent moment has him laughing out loud at the same time as a trophy deer head. Much of the comedy works too thanks to Bruce Campbell's energetic performance (see above).

[Traveller]

It was only when I started the movie that I realized that I had the short 3hour'ish version only, so I went with rating it as a movie. Just let me know if you still consider it worth three points and I adjust my numbers.

Yes, I'll count is as 3 points.

Cheers, continuing from 8 then.

08. 25th Hour (2002) - 7/10
09. You Can Count on Me (2000) - 3/10
10. Margaret (2011) - 1/10
11. Manchester by the Sea (2016) - 7/10

[frbrown]

Starting at the very bottom (of the 21st Century list)

1. Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

[Kublai Khan]

I Watched Pictures, Didn't I?Show

1. 4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile {aka 4 months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days} (Cristian Mungiu-2007) {#614}

2. Persona (Ingmar Bergman-1966) {#19}

This is first time i've watched this. I know it's a brilliant movie and all, but the experience isn't terribly pleasant. I feel like I've been given the final exam for a Psych 302 class. It's intelligent and analytical, but also just.. cold and distant. It's unnerving to sit and watch characters cry and scream and act their hearts out but just feel no empathy for them. I get that there is a conflict of identity as Alma struggles, but damned if I know why it's happening beyond Bergman implicitly stating "this is a metaphor for art. I am showing you these images to show how people react to and deal with art". It's just.. Eh.. I'm rambling. I'm probably watch this again in 5 yeas or so and see I feel about it.