So, in the interests that you will recommend things to me, I am going to recommend five movies to you. If you are anything like the the potlatch-practicing indigenous peoples of our country's northwest (or any other culture that might create a gift economy), you will endeavor to make your recommendations superior in quality to mine. And together, we will become better people. Or at least people who see better movies.
My Recommendations:
- Little Children. A movie based on the book by Tom Perrotta, this is a really well-done investigation into modern suburban hypocrisy.
- The Comedians of Comedy (The Movie). This is available, I believe, only from Netflix. It follows several young(er), edgy comedians on tour, and was fun to watch to see comics when they are "on" and, even more interestingly, when they aren't. To me, this movie neatly travels a line that almost (almost) illustrates the subtle difference between the comedian and the madman.
- In the Realms of the Unreal. A documentary about outsider artist Henry Darger, with some interesting ways of presenting (and animating) Darger's work. This is especially good if you don't know a whole lot about Darger, as I didn't, because of the sudden and shocking way a certain facet of his art is revealed. For reasons I don't want to explain, I would recommend viewing it in tandem with...
- The Devil and Daniel Johnston. Another great and moving documentary, this one focusing on outsider recording artist Daniel Johnston. As with the Darger movie, things develop within the film that are as riveting and suspenseful as any Hollywood psycho-drama, if not more so.
- Yellow Brick Road. This movie documents a Long Island organization's attempt to stage a version of The Wizard of Oz with a cast made up of people with physical and/or mental disabilities. Truly powerful, and quite moving.
As I look at this list, it occurs to me that four (and arguably five) of these movies have to do with mental illness (or madness) in one form or another. I guess that's always been an area of interest (and a fear and an aversion) for me. If nothing else, these movies will make your life seem calm and carefree in comparison.
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6 comments:
Being the contrarian that I am, I will see your five movies and raise you 5 of the worst movies ever made, but movies you must see, none the less. These are not bad movies that should be forgotten. These are truly horrible pieces of cinemagraphic crappola that must be seen to truly realize how bad they are. They are the true Epics of films gone horribly wrong. The "Citizen Kane(s)" of horrible films.
Without further ado:
Capture of Bigfoot: This is worth watching for the Disco dancing scene alone. It is just stunning in its wretchedness. The fact that it was filmed at my boyhood home (the used the resort as the main set) and my Dad and his buddies have several scenes in the movie had no influence what so ever.
I may hit the character limit, so I shall add the next 4 in separate comments.
Hmmm, Capture of Bigfoot may be one of those lost classics that haven't ever made it to DVD. I see Amazon's got some used copies fo $8, though, and some real intriguing customer reviews: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B00004YS69/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful/103-0731317-6773406?ie=UTF8&n=404272#customerReviews
Howard the Duck: Seriously, I love this movie. Interspecies romance, the goofy Principal from Ferris Bueller, Quack-Fu martial arts and the dreaded Space Rabies.
Absolutely Brilliant.
The Cabin Boy: How can yuo not love this piece of junk. Chris Elliot at his finest (err... worst?) See the movie just for the part with David Letterman. "Your one of those fancy lads aren't you? Wanna buy a monkey?" Best line from this movie: "You remind me of my fat drunken abuse uncle I never had."
I had to go back and look at our netflix queue, it had been so long since we watched a movie! I would say:
Anything by Francois Ozon, although, Tom would say nothing by Francois Ozon.
In the vein documentary streak you seem to be on:
Capturing the Friedmans (and you MUST watch the Special Feature on Children's Party Clowns)
Mad Hot Ballroom
And I know Tom would recommend Scorsese's Presents: The Blues, but I think mostly just the first one that himself directed.
We saw Tim and Suzanne tonight and I asked them to post recommendations. You and the Mrs. give us hope that there is such a thing as an 8pm bedtime in our future.
And we want to hear what you think, good and bad, of our suggestions! We have already seen (and loved) the Darger and the Devil and DJ). Little Children is in the queue--I'll leave it to Tom to rent YBR.
Have you read High Wind in Jamaica? The current addition has a Darger cover--very appropriate! We just happened to see the film and read the book at the same time and that was one of the best chosen cover art selections ever.
Finally, this wasn't on Netflix last time I checked, but look at your local MFA movie listings for Killer of Sheep. We missed it cause relative were visitng the new baby and we had too many commitments the weekend it showed here, but a friend said it was a "poem. it changed my life forever." pretty strong recommendation, eh?
BeastMaster:
Come on. You have to love this. Heroic ferrets, brainless leatherclad "who's your daddy" henchmen, giant mute freaks that dissolve humans by wrapping them in their wings, Rip Torn half-naked, and more uncomfortable homoeroticism than an entire season of Oz. Oh, and yes, that is the father from Good Times wearing a leather thong. Freakin' Brilliant.
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