They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (+21st Century) Challenge (Official, June 2022)

Melvelet · #1

They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (+21st Century) Challenge (Official, June 2022)

Goal:
Watch as many films from the They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? Top 1000, 1001-2000 and 21st Century lists as you can.

Rules
- Each feature film (over 40 minutes) counts as one entry.
- A total of 80 minutes of short films or miniseries/TV episodes count as one entry.
- Rewatches are allowed and good for the soul.
- English Title (year, Country) or English title/Original Title (year, Country) is the preferred format.
- Do not edit your posts to add new watches, just create a new one.
- Try to give an indication of how much you liked/disliked your watchings (reviews, comments, ratings,...)
- Please providing IMDb links would be great as I intend to create Stats for the challenge (and also we will come up with a neat reference list for the next time)

Challenge runs from June 1st, 2022 - June 30th, 2022 in your local time zone

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

As a bonus challenge we can see how many of the lists we can watch collectively. Other bonus challenge ideas welcome!

Rank	Participant	Count	Minutes	TSPDT 21st Century	TSPDT Top 1000	TSPDT Top 1001-2000
1	gunnar	50	7033 (avg: 140.66)	10	34	8
2	AB537	38	4264 (avg: 112.21)	23	12	9
3	Kublai Khan	32	4049 (avg: 126.53)	14	14	9
4	kongs_speech	28	3326 (avg: 118.79)	9	15	6
5	beasterne	25	2982 (avg: 119.28)	9	11	12
5	sol	25	2786 (avg: 111.44)	12	9	14
5	tourdesb	25	2780 (avg: 111.2)	16	0	9
8	peeptoad	24	3026 (avg: 126.08)	7	12	3
9	DudeLanez	21	2204 (avg: 104.95)	8	8	10
10	ororama	18	1703 (avg: 94.61)	0	12	6
11	Melvelet	16	1837 (avg: 114.81)	15	1	5
12	klaus78	15	2136 (avg: 142.4)	6	0	12
12	magnusbernhardsen	15	1891 (avg: 126.07)	8	6	6
12	murnaunosferatu	15	1387 (avg: 92.47)	1	7	7
15	blocho	11	1140 (avg: 103.64)	7	2	2
15	maxwelldeux	11	1085 (avg: 98.64)	9	0	7
15	zzzorf	11	1149 (avg: 104.45)	7	1	4
18	erde	10	1010 (avg: 101.0)	2	3	7
18	nimimerkillinen	10	1107 (avg: 110.7)	4	1	5
20	lineuphere	9	957 (avg: 106.33)	0	6	4
21	jdidaco	8	897 (avg: 112.12)	8	1	0
22	Lammetje	7	912 (avg: 130.29)	4	2	2
23	cinephage	6	573 (avg: 95.5)	3	1	3
23	vortexsurfer	6	603 (avg: 100.5)	3	2	2
25	45MinuteZoom	4	430 (avg: 107.5)	1	4	0
25	Silga	4	419 (avg: 104.75)	1	2	1
27	Ebbywebby	3	313 (avg: 104.33)	2	0	1
27	hurluberlu	3	331 (avg: 110.33)	1	1	2
29	Hunziker	2	176 (avg: 88.0)	1	0	1
-	overall	452	52506 (avg: 116.16)	191	167	157

Decade breakdown:

Decade	Count
1900s	1
1910s	1
1920s	7
1930s	12
1940s	18
1950s	50
1960s	48
1970s	52
1980s	47
1990s	39
2000s	77
2010s	72
2020s	43

Country breakdown

Country	Count
United States	183
France	61
United Kingdom	30
Italy	23
Japan	13
Sweden	13
Soviet Union	11
Iran	10
South Korea	8
Spain	8
West Germany	8
Canada	7
Australia	6
Denmark	6
Romania	6
Argentina	5
Hungary	5
India	5
Brazil	4
China	4
Germany	4
Poland	4
Russia	4
Mexico	3
New Zealand	3
Norway	3
Austria	2
Belgium	2
Czechoslovakia	2
Finland	2
Netherlands	2
Yugoslavia	2
Armenia	1
Cuba	1
Greece	1
Hong Kong	1
Ireland	1
North Macedonia	1
Philippines	1
Portugal	1
Switzerland	1
Turkey	1

Director breakdown (n >= 2)

Director	Count
Jean-Luc Godard	8
Lars von Trier	8
Abbas Kiarostami	7
Morten Arnfred	7
Ingmar Bergman	6
Paul Schrader	6
David Cronenberg	5
Robert Bresson	5
Andrei Tarkovsky	4
Luis Buñuel	4
Martin Scorsese	4
Miklós Jancsó	4
Peter Jackson	4
Sean Baker	4
Steven Spielberg	4
Wim Wenders	4
Alfred Hitchcock	3
Ari Aster	3
Claire Denis	3
Clint Eastwood	3
Céline Sciamma	3
David Fincher	3
Gene Kelly	3
Jean Renoir	3
Joachim Trier	3
Lee Chang-dong	3
Luchino Visconti	3
Pawel Pawlikowski	3
Philippe Garrel	3
Radu Jude	3
Roy Andersson	3
Ruben Östlund	3
Sidney Lumet	3
Spike Lee	3
Stanley Donen	3
Steve McQueen	3
William Friedkin	3
Aki Kaurismäki	2
Akira Kurosawa	2
Aleksandr Sokurov	2
Aleksey Balabanov	2
Andrea Arnold	2
Anthony Mann	2
Baz Luhrmann	2
Bernardo Bertolucci	2
Boots Riley	2
Brandon Cronenberg	2
Brian De Palma	2
Carl Theodor Dreyer	2
Cristi Puiu	2
Danièle Huillet	2
Denis Villeneuve	2
Elia Kazan	2
Emeric Pressburger	2
Erich von Stroheim	2
Ernst Lubitsch	2
François Ozon	2
Fritz Lang	2
Gus Van Sant	2
Henri-Georges Clouzot	2
Hong Sang-soo	2
Jafar Panahi	2
James Gray	2
Jane Campion	2
Jean-Marie Straub	2
Jean-Pierre Dardenne	2
Jean-Pierre Gorin	2
Jean-Pierre Melville	2
Joel Coen	2
John Carpenter	2
José Val del Omar	2
Jules Dassin	2
Ken Russell	2
Kenji Mizoguchi	2
Kiyoshi Kurosawa	2
Leos Carax	2
Luc Dardenne	2
Lukas Moodysson	2
Maggie Gyllenhaal	2
Max Barbakow	2
Max Ophüls	2
Michael Moore	2
Michael Powell	2
Michelangelo Antonioni	2
Monte Hellman	2
Nicholas Ray	2
Nicolas Roeg	2
Nicolas Winding Refn	2
Noah Baumbach	2
Olivier Assayas	2
Orson Welles	2
Otto Preminger	2
Pablo Larraín	2
Paolo Taviani	2
Paul Thomas Anderson	2
Peter Kubelka	2
Peter Strickland	2
Phil Alden Robinson	2
Quentin Tarantino	2
Ritwik Ghatak	2
Rob Reiner	2
Sam Peckinpah	2
Satyajit Ray	2
Sergei Eisenstein	2
Terrence Malick	2
Thomas Vinterberg	2
Vittorio Taviani	2
Wes Anderson	2
William Wyler	2
Woody Allen	2
Yorgos Lanthimos	2

Genre breakdown

Genre	Count
Drama	387
Comedy	108
Romance	81
Crime	77
Thriller	55
Mystery	51
Action	38
Adventure	35
Fantasy	31
History	27
Horror	27
Documentary	26
Biography	20
War	20
Music	16
Musical	16
Sci-Fi	15
Short	15
Film-Noir	9
Family	8
Western	8
Animation	3
Sport	3

Movies that have been challenged at least twice

Times challenged	Name	Year	IMDB	ICM
5	The Card Counter	2021
4	Red Rocket	2021
3	Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn	2021
3	Hereditary	2018
3	The Worst Person in the World	2021
3	Where Is the Friend's House?	1987
2	A Love Story	1970
2	Ad Astra	2019
2	Another Round	2020
2	Band of Outsiders	1964
2	Cargo 200	2007
2	Field of Dreams	1989
2	Force Majeure	2014
2	French Cancan	1955
2	High Life	2018
2	Inside Man	2006
2	Irma Vep	1996
2	Mirror	1975
2	Palm Springs	2020
2	Paris, Texas	1984
2	Petite Maman	2021
2	Possessor	2020
2	Pulse	2001
2	Rififi	1955
2	Rocco and His Brothers	1960
2	Singin' in the Rain	1952
2	Sorry to Bother You	2018
2	Spencer	2021
2	Spider	2002
2	Sweetie	1989
2	The Departed	2006
2	The Devils	1971
2	The French Dispatch	2021
2	The Lost Daughter	2021
2	The Neon Demon	2016
2	The Passion of Anna	1969
2	The Red and the White	1967
2	The Round-Up	1966
2	Together	2000
2	Under the Sand	2000
2	Viridiana	1961
2	Vivre Sa Vie	1962
2	Water-Mirror of Granada	1955
2	Woman on the Beach	2006

Entries of TSPDT Top 1000, 1001-2000 and 21st Century we have watched collectively (3 consecutive posts)

blocho · #2

It looks like the link to the 1001-2000 list doesn't work.

beasterne · #3

/in for the challenge! My plan this month is to try to make more progress on some of this year’s earlier challenges where I didn’t make the progress I wanted to. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish off the Women-directed films I had on my watchlist, and I have a few more Westerns to watch as well. After that it will be back to my big watchlist to try and keep making progress in various places. Aiming for 25-30 watches this month.

gunnar · #4

I've got a number of films lined up to watch this month for this challenge. I was going to watch some of them in May, but held them back. I need 39 films for bronze on the 21st Century list, but only 8 of the films I have ready are from that list and I doubt that I will pursue it.

45MinuteZoom · #5

Definitely in for some of these!

iCheckMovies · #6

I'm in !

Starting at :
- TSPDT 1-1000 : 1005/1005
- TSPDT 1001-2000 : 927/1000
- TSPDT 21st Century : 807/1001

Kublai Khan · #7

Quick question, I assume that the TSPDT Noir lists are covered under the Noir challenge, but how come Ain't Nobody's Blues But My Own or Brief Encounters isn't under the purview of this challenge?

sol · #8

It starts!

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) TSP21C #673 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/

Divided into twelve chapters for no apparent reason, this has been critically acclaimed for reflecting "millennial anxiety", but watched as a millennial, I found the protagonist so obsessed with her first world problems that she was difficult to relate to or like. The whole thing really felt like a bit a soap opera, scattered burst of comedy aside. The comedy is admittedly decent though, most notably when she gets stoned and experiences crazy hallucinations.

peeptoad · #9

1. Ostre sledované vlaky/Closely Watched Trains (1966, Czechoslovakia) 6+

Kublai Khan · #10

1. Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles-1965)

Spain/Switzerland 1,881 checks #163 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films

This might be one of my favorite Shakespeare movies. Original in concept and works on meta-levels considering the history of Orson Welles. Never have I seen a movie with so many fancy fat jokes.

sol · #11

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) TSP21C #673 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/

2. Strangers on a Train (1951) TSPDT #465 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/

Watched for a third time, this still registers as one of Hitchcock's finest films. Robert Walker absolutely shines, so calm and composed throughout (most eerily when staring during a tennis match) and the film features some fantastic compositions: all the angular low camera angles on Farley Granger; a strangulation seen in the reflection in the victim's eyeglasses. Great carnival climax too, even if the ending is a bit too neat and some plot issues abound.

Kublai Khan · #12

Pictures that have been shot

1. Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles-1965)

Spain/Switzerland 1,881 checks #163 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films

2. The Squid and the Whale (Noah Baumbach-2005)

USA 10,689 checks #240 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films

One of those movies about dealing with the end of a relationship where you can't really sympathize with anyone involved, but you end up pitying them. Well done, but not my cup of tea.

blocho · #13

Kublai Khan wrote: ↑June 2nd, 2022, 1:55 am Well done, but not my cup of tea.

That was a movie that fell a lot in my estimation after a rewatch.

sol · #14

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) TSP21C #673 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/
2. Strangers on a Train (1951) TSPDT #465 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/

3. North by Northwest (1959) TSPDT #58 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/

Rewatched for the first time >15 years and in high definition for the first time, the rear projection effects here do not quite hold up here, but as a narrative the film still works through and through. It is very funny too; the clever auction escape is equally funny and thrilling, while Jessie Royce Landis steals her every scene as Roger's disapproving mother. The film's best asset though is Bernard Herrmann's pulsating score that feels like it is taunting him.

sol · #15

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) TSP21C #673 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/
2. Strangers on a Train (1951) TSPDT #465 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/
3. North by Northwest (1959) TSPDT #58 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/

4. Rebecca (1940) TSPDT #686 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032976/

This is an engrossing look at an insecure and overwhelmed young woman who begins to feel increasingly like an imposter in her new surrounds. Joan Fontaine shines in the role too, though the film's best asset is its Oscar-winning photography. The opening shot that glides through a closed gate before sweeping in and around the mansion is breathtaking, as is the way Hitchcock later lights its interiors. Impressed by how well this stood up to rewatch.

peeptoad · #16

2. L'eclisse (1962, Italy) 8
3. Petite maman (2021, France) 7+

shot and seen

1. Ostre sledované vlaky/Closely Watched Trains (1966, Czechoslovakia) 6+

vortexsurfer · #17

1. Dark Days (Marc Singer, 2000) - 8/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235327/
2. Last Resort (Pawel Pawlikowski, 2000) - 8/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258761/
3. Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski, 2013) - 9/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2718492/

sol · #18

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) TSP21C #673 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/
2. Strangers on a Train (1951) TSPDT #465 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/
3. North by Northwest (1959) TSPDT #58 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/
4. Rebecca (1940) TSPDT #686 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032976/

5. MASH (1970) TSPDT #935 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066026/

More interesting with each repeat viewing (this was my fourth), this is certainly easy to despise at first between its disjointed plot, overlong football match and childish humour that ranges from racist to sexist to homophobic. It is also hard to objectively evaluate given the vast superiority of the television series that it spawned. Quite a bit works though, most notably the religion slamming and the whole audio design from the hidden mic to the overlapping voices.

gunnar · #19

1 - Hair (1979) - 7/10 - TSPDT 1001-2000 #648 - A young man in Oklahoma heads to NYC after receiving his draft notice in the 1960s. He encounters a group of hippies and becomes friends with them before heading to boot camp. I wasn't really enjoying this that much through a good part of the film, but there were enough decent songs and some of the interactions were amusing so it wasn't too bad by the end.

iCheckMovies · #20

1. Taifû kurabu (1985, Shinji Sômai) TSPDT #1168
2. Incompreso (Vita col figlio) (1966, Luigi Comencini) TSPDT #1856
3. The Card Counter (2021, Paul Schrader) TSPDT21 #831
4. Rocks (2019, Sarah Gavron) TSPDT21 #924
5. El dependiente (1969, Leonardo Favio) TSPDT #1923

In bold the ones I've added to my favorites

erde · #21

1. Witness (1985, Peter Weir) - TSPDT 1001-2000 #290 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090329/

maxwelldeux · #22

1. You, the Living (2007) 2k#426, 21st#289
Comments in Nordic challenge

sol · #23

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) TSP21C #673 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/
2. Strangers on a Train (1951) TSPDT #465 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/
3. North by Northwest (1959) TSPDT #58 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/
4. Rebecca (1940) TSPDT #686 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032976/
5. MASH (1970) TSPDT #935 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066026/

6. Laura (1944) TSPDT #510 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037008/

Revisited after more than fifteen years, this unfortunately disappoints. Clifton Webb has certainly never been better, full of sharp, quick-witted insults and always so calm, however, almost every scene without him falls flat -- and Dana Andrews makes for a dull lead. There is a terrific reveal around halfway in that almost captures some latent feelings, but the reveal seems quite preposterous upon revision. The film does look great though; wonderful photography.

Kublai Khan · #24

Pictures that have been shot

1. Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles-1965)

Spain/Switzerland 1,881 checks #163 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
2. The Squid and the Whale (Noah Baumbach-2005)

USA 10,689 checks #240 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films

3. Extraordinary Stories (Mariano Llinás-2008)

Argentina 316 checks #559 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films and #877 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2000

I know I'm terrible at doing challenges because I choose 4-hour epics for a single point, but I've been wanting to watch this for a while since it's on the ICM Most Favorites and the ICM 500<400 lists.

It was a very different experience to watch this. The strong majority of the movie is narrated with just overheard details being vaguely specific. Despite the immense detail and insight into the 3 protagonists, we are robbed of their names or even hearing them speak. It just results in a complete void of emotional attachment. (Though I admit my own ignorance of Argentinian culture, government, geography, & history likely contributed to my detachment) Instead, I was engaging with the movie on a purely intellectual level in a way that was really satisfying. This is an early favorite.

ororama · #25

1. Forty Guns (1957) * 80 min. TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2000 # 405
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050407/

A little florid for my taste, and I suspect considerably less gritty than Fuller thought it was, its western and romantic cliches are more than offset by tense action, strong characterization and attention to detail. The acting is very good across the board, with top honors going to Barry Sullivan as a tired but relentless gunman. Barbara Stanwyck succeeds in creating a nuanced character, changing over time and with circumstances and never feeling like she is becoming a stock character. Obviously a big influence on Unforgiven.

*First time viewing

hurluberlu · #26

1. Nosferatu / Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (F.W. Murnau 1922) [TSDPT #118] [Rewatch] 8 (=)

gunnar · #27

2 - Gun Crazy (1950) - 8.5/10 - TSPDT #715 - Bart grew up crazy about guns and became an excellent shot, but didn't want to hurt anybody. He falls for a lady sharpshooter that he meets at a carnival and the two later go on a major crime spree. This is a very nice film noir.

3 - Day of Wrath (1943) - 7/10 - TSPDT #263 - Anne is the young second wife of an aging pastor in 1623 Denmark. Her mother-in-law is domineering and she falls in love with the pastor's son. Anne's mother was suspected of being a witch, but was let off. The movie is well made, though a bit slow at times.

4 - Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) - 7/10 - TSPDT21 #505 - Hedwig grew up as a boy named Hansel in East Berlin. Now she travels to the United States where her former partner has stolen her music. The music in the film is excellent and the animated bits are also pretty good.

Spoiler

1 - Hair (1979) - 7/10 - TSPDT 1001-2000 #648

sol · #28

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) TSP21C #673 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/
2. Strangers on a Train (1951) TSPDT #465 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/
3. North by Northwest (1959) TSPDT #58 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/
4. Rebecca (1940) TSPDT #686 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032976/
5. MASH (1970) TSPDT #935 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066026/
6. Laura (1944) TSPDT #510 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037008/

7. Anatomy of a Murder (1959) TSPDT #876 REVISION https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052561/

Rewatched for the first time in around twenty years, this still really delivers and is a more dynamic to rewatch knowing how it ends. James Stewart has hardly ever been better than a the "small country lawyer" here who realises that winning juries in America is more about showmanship than evidence. Lee Remick excels as the accused's femme fatale wife too. It is kinda chilling to watch Otto Preminger expose just how rickety American legal justice can be.

Kublai Khan · #29

Pictures that have been shot

1. Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles-1965)

Spain/Switzerland 1,881 checks #163 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
2. The Squid and the Whale (Noah Baumbach-2005)

USA 10,689 checks #240 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films
3. Extraordinary Stories (Florian Zeller-2008)

Argentina 316 checks #559 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films and #877 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2000

4. The Father (Mariano Llinás-2020)

UK/France/USA 2,495 checks #987 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films

Finding it hard to know what to say about this. It's an effective capture of what we can imagine Alzheimer's effect is on those that suffer from it. All the parts are excellent: editing, writing, acting (bravo to both Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins), and cinematography. But I can't place this in the top echelons because something eludes it.

vortexsurfer · #30

4. Sex, Lies, and Videotape (Steven Soderbergh, 1989) - 8/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098724/

Spoiler

1. Dark Days (Marc Singer, 2000) - 8/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235327/
2. Last Resort (Pawel Pawlikowski, 2000) - 8/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258761/
3. Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski, 2013) - 9/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2718492/
4. Sex, Lies, and Videotape (Steven Soderbergh, 1989) - 8/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098724/

erde · #31

2. Field of Dreams (1989, Phil Robbins) - TSPDT 1001-2000 #725 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097351/

Spoiler

1. Witness (1985, Peter Weir) - TSPDT 1001-2000 #290 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090329/

peeptoad · #32

4. Days of Heaven (1978, US) 7

shot and seen

1. Ostre sledované vlaky/Closely Watched Trains (1966, Czechoslovakia) 6+
2. L'eclisse (1962, Italy) 8
3. Petite maman (2021, France) 7+

AB537 · #33

Starting with a couple of long overdue rewatches.

1. Letyat zhuravli - The Cranes Are Flying (Mikhail Kalatozov, 1957) 7.5/10 ... All Time #442
2. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Powell/Pressburger, 1943) 8/10 ... All Time #208

Starting point:

TSPDT Top 1000 All Time: 876/1005
TSPDT 1001-2000 All Time: 669/1000
TSPDT 21st Century: 680/1001

Kublai Khan · #34

Pictures that have been shot

1. Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles-1965)

Spain/Switzerland 1,881 checks #163 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
2. The Squid and the Whale (Noah Baumbach-2005)

USA 10,689 checks #240 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films
3. Extraordinary Stories (Florian Zeller-2008)

Argentina 316 checks #559 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films and #877 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2000
4. The Father (Mariano Llinás-2020)

UK/France/USA 2,495 checks #987 on TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films

5. Earth (Aleksandr Dovzhenko-1930)

Soviet Union 2,032 checks #170 on TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films

I want to be a fully-rounded appreciator of film, but maybe I just need more background to appreciate movies like Earth. I recognize that there are beautiful shots and symbols and compositions, but I'm not really moved by any of them. I never react well to propaganda.

kongs_speech · #35

I don't care about forum challenges at all, but if I'm going to be watching these films anyway, I might as well post them.

01) Edward Scissorhands (1990, Tim Burton) - 5/5 [TSPDT #737]
02) Spider (2002, David Cronenberg) - 4/5 [TSPDT 21st #433]
03) Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948, Max Ophuls) - 3.5/5 [TSPDT #122]

iCheckMovies · #36

6. Le pélican (1974, Gérard Blain) TSPDT #1741
7. Sous le sable (2000, François Ozon) TSPDT21 #978
8. The Grand Bizarre (2018, Jodie Mack) TSPDT21 #927
9. Hereditary (2018, Ari Aster) TSPDT21 #398
10. César et Rosalie (1972, Claude Sautet) TSPDT #1995

From this batch, none added to my fav list. I might consider adding Sous le sable though.

Seen so far

1. Taifû kurabu (1985, Shinji Sômai) TSPDT #1168
2. Incompreso (Vita col figlio) (1966, Luigi Comencini) TSPDT #1856
3. The Card Counter (2021, Paul Schrader) TSPDT21 #831
4. Rocks (2019, Sarah Gavron) TSPDT21 #924
5. El dependiente (1969, Leonardo Favio) TSPDT #1923
6. Le pélican (1974, Gérard Blain) TSPDT #1741
7. Sous le sable (2000, François Ozon) TSPDT21 #978
8. The Grand Bizarre (2018, Jodie Mack) TSPDT21 #927
9. Hereditary (2018, Ari Aster) TSPDT21 #398
10. César et Rosalie (1972, Claude Sautet) TSPDT #1995

Lammetje · #37

1. Paris, Texas (1984): 7/10

Very good acting, well executed overall, but it wasn't really my kind of movie. It had its moments though.

Seen

1. Paris, Texas (1984)

gunnar · #38

5 - Le Corbeau (1943) - 8.5/10 - TSPDT 1001-2000 #332 - Somebody in a town in France starts sending out poison pen letters slandering a local doctor and also accusing others of improprieties. The people in the town are greatly disturbed and search for the author of the letters, which are signed 'Le corbeau'. I enjoyed the film quite a bit. It is a very nice noir film with a smart script and good acting.

6 - The Invisible Man (2020) - 7/10 - TSPDT21 #962 - A woman escapes from her wealthy, but domineering and mentally abusive partner. Shortly thereafter, he is found dead from an apparent suicide, but she thinks that he faked his death and is using a high tech invention to stalk her invisibly. It's a decent thriller with a good performance from Elizabeth Moss.

7 - Widows (2018) - 7.5/10 - TSPDT21 #862 - When four armed robbers are killed in a shootout with police and the money they stole burns up in their van, the criminal that they stole from informs the widow (Viola Davis) of one of the ringleader that she is responsible for the debt and has two weeks to find a way to pay up. She recruits the other widows to pull a big heist so that they can pay off what is owed and have money left over to start their lives again. It's a nice crime drama with a nice cast. Daniel Kaluuya was good in a supporting role and Elizabeth Debicki was also good as one of the other widows.

8 - Late Spring (1949) - 10/10 - TSPDT #81 - Noriko (Setsuko Hara) is a 27 year old woman who smiles and laughs a lot. She is very happy living with and taking care of her widowed father (Chishu Ryu). Noriko's aunt thinks that she should marry and convinces Noriko's father about this. Noriko has no interest in marriage, but faces constant pressure from her aunt, father, and a close friend. You can see the happiness in her diminish as this goes on. It's an excellent film and the performances by Hara and Ryu are excellent as well.

Spoiler

1 - Hair (1979) - 7/10 - TSPDT 1001-2000 #648
2 - Gun Crazy (1950) - 8.5/10 - TSPDT #715
3 - Day of Wrath (1943) - 7/10 - TSPDT #263
4 - Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) - 7/10 - TSPDT21 #505

blocho · #39

Kublai Khan wrote: ↑June 4th, 2022, 6:33 pm I want to be a fully-rounded appreciator of film, but maybe I just need more background to appreciate movies like Earth. I recognize that there are beautiful shots and symbols and compositions, but I'm not really moved by any of them. I never react well to propaganda.

I have sometimes had the experience of watching some highly praised, canonical movie, finding it lackluster, and then doubting my own judgment. I often ask myself what I missed, but I've eventually come to realize that I probably didn't miss anything and I don't have to feel bad about not liking something.

Incidentally, I didn't like Earth either.

gunnar · #40

I'll third the lack of interest in Earth. It had some nice visuals on occasion, but was pretty dull.