Best films list from the recently watched ones (2021 list)

[zen]

After writing about Dune (2021), felt like rewatching it ... Finished 1/2 of the film y'day ... Dune is mind blowingly esp. when it comes to an aural-visual experience ... Takes the learnings from Metropolis (Gothicness), Seven Samurai (most frames can be good photographs), Lawrence of Arabia (outdoor visuals esp. the desert), & 2001: A Space Odyssey (Sci-Fi elements). 

 

Thumbs up to Greig Fraser! ... As for the score, Hans Zimmer score remains in the background, kicking in when required to leave an impression.  

 

 

 

 

[zen]

Hans Zimmer’s live performance: 

 

 

 

[bharathh]

Dune's soundtrack is middle of pack for Zimmer. 

[zen]

57 minutes ago, bharathh said:

Dune's soundtrack is middle of pack for Zimmer. 

 

Soundtracks like these already work well with visuals but when listened in isolation can grow with time  ... A track with similar shades:

 

 

 

[zen]

 

[Vijy]

On 6/28/2022 at 6:58 AM, zen said:

 

hans zimmer in "arrival" with villenueve gave an ATG soundtrack there as well

[zen]

On 6/29/2022 at 2:30 AM, Vijy said:

hans zimmer in "arrival" with villenueve gave an ATG soundtrack there as well

Arrival score is by Johann Johannson … Its score also uses elements from:

 

 

Will watch this tonight!

[Vijy]

1 hour ago, zen said:

Arrival score is by Johann Johannson … Its score also uses elements from:

 

 

Will watch this tonight!

thanks for spotting the error; for some reason, I thought it was Zimmer.

[zen]

On 7/8/2022 at 12:59 AM, Vijy said:

thanks for spotting the error; for some reason, I thought it was Zimmer.

 

Watched Arrival, which is a very good film (for some reason I had thought that I had watched it in the past but had only watched a part of it and then forgot to get back to it) ... However, in terms of aural-visual experience, it does not compare favorably with Dune as Arrival has a limited scope because of mainly being shot in and around a field with temp housing and an alien craft ... Dune, of course, has the benefit of using multiple planets as the backdrop and the score includes relatively new sounds (or the process of creating them) 

Edited July 11, 2022 by zen

[Vijy]

12 hours ago, zen said:

 

Watched Arrival, which is a very good film (for some reason I had thought that I had watched it in the past but had only watched a part of it and then forgot to get back to it) ... However, in terms of aural-visual experience, it does not compare favorably with Dune as Arrival has a limited scope because of mainly being shot in and around a field with temp housing and an alien craft ... Dune, of course, has the benefit of using multiple planets as the backdrop and the score includes relatively new sounds (or the process of creating them) 

visually, dune is better. I prefer the score in Arrival though. plot-wise, they are both very good since they are derived from well-regarded literary works.

[zen]

Rewatched Dune (2021). Not to mention that its 4K UHD transfer is awesome too.  
 

Talking about “dunes”, there is The Woman in the Dunes (1964), which can be discussed here too as it is among the best films! 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by zen

[Vijy]

7 hours ago, zen said:

Rewatched Dune (2021). Not to mention that its 4K UHD transfer is awesome too.  
 

Talking about “dunes”, there is The Woman in the Dunes (1964), which can be discussed here too as it is among the best films! 

 

 

great film, should have had a bit more "spice" IMO.

[zen]

7 hours ago, Vijy said:

great film, should have had a bit more "spice" IMO.

 

It has insects 

[zen]

2022 Top 12 List ...  Apart from screenplay, cinematography, score, acting, etc., this time, I have added emotions/poeticness to the mix. Because of this element, some of the films that have usually been on my lists have missed out.

 

 

Below is the list (not necessarily favorites) in the order of release (1 film per director and series where applicable):

 

 

Man with a Movie Camera (1929): A film with no traditional script, no professional actors, powerful editing, strong images, and a mesmerizing score conducted by the Alloy Orchestra (2014 restoration) to document everyday life in the Soviet Union around a 100 years ago! Can be said to be an inspiration for films such as Baraka (1992) and Samsara (2011).

 

City Lights (1931): A love story, among the first (if not the first notable one) rom-com films, in the inimitable Charlie Chaplin style. Boasts of a memorable feel-good ending. Also, among a handful of feel-good films on this list.

 

Late Spring (1949): A touching tale where the daughter avoids marriage to take care of her aging father, who has to devise a plan to get her married. Great cinematography with low camera angles, frames, and “pillow shots”. Simplicity at its best. Ozu’s Tokyo Story (1953) is equally impactful.

 

Singin’ in the Rain (1952): A musical romantic comedy that takes you to a different world through its sets, costumes, use of colors, and dance numbers. A film about films, dealing with the transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920s. A feel-good film where eventually the good, the talented, and the hardworking triumph.

 

Seven Samurai (1954): One of the most referenced & remade films. An epic that encompasses various themes including friendship, sacrifice, code of honor, and so on.

 

Vertigo (1958): A film noir masterpiece. Beside sporting well thought out color concepts and framing techniques, along with a brilliant score by Bernard Herrmann, this film charts an emotional journey of a man hopelessly in love and the inability to let go.

 

Persona (1966): Ingmar Bergman's experimental psychological drama which not only blends a variety of topics but also sports an emotive B&W photography. The film may require multiple viewings to understand its various angles

 

The Conformist (1970): A film that highlights the negatives of fascism by presenting a case study on conformism and dilapidated morals in 1930s Italy in a relatively sarcastic fashion. The lead character, who is shaped by various negative experiences in childhood, shows no empathy for almost anyone apart from himself. The film has a notable mix of excellent cinematography (many frames are like paintings), score (gets bonus points for it), non-linear storytelling, and acting.

 

The Godfather I & II (1972-1974): Both films are clubbed together as they are more or less like a one-long film (made into a series as well where the stories from different periods were presented linearly). Valued for acting, cinematography, score, and an emotion packed adaption of the Mario Puzo novel.

 

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984): Weaves thought provoking visuals of the apocalyptic future to provide a great message on anti-war, ecological, and environmental themes. The background score is probably the best among Studio Ghibli films (the film led to the foundation of the studio). Often described as anime’s answer to Dune, dieselpunk or steampunk post-apocalypse, etc.

 

In the Mood for Love (2000): An unusual romantic drama by and large set in 1960s Hong Kong. It is a pleasing film to not only look at but also listen to. A hallmark of this film is the flow of emotions through non-verbal acting.

 

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009): The story is told non-linearly to weave historical events in Argentina from the 70s and the 90s into the story, which covers love stories, crime, police procedural elements, and the quest for justice. Excellent screenplay and acting drive this film to its emotion packed ending that can leave a lasting impression.

 

 

[Vijy]

1 hour ago, zen said:

2022 Top 12 List ...  Apart from screenplay, cinematography, score, acting, etc., this time, I have added emotions/poeticness to the mix. Because of this element, some of the films that have usually been on my lists have missed out.

 

 

Below is the list (not necessarily favorites) in the order of release (1 film per director and series where applicable):

 

 

Man with a Movie Camera (1929): A film with no traditional script, no professional actors, powerful editing, strong images, and a mesmerizing score conducted by the Alloy Orchestra (2014 restoration) to document everyday life in the Soviet Union around a 100 years ago! Can be said to be an inspiration for films such as Baraka (1992) and Samsara (2011).

 

City Lights (1931): A love story, among the first (if not the first notable one) rom-com films, in the inimitable Charlie Chaplin style. Boasts of a memorable feel-good ending. Also, among a handful of feel-good films on this list.

 

Late Spring (1949): A touching tale where the daughter avoids marriage to take care of her aging father, who has to devise a plan to get her married. Great cinematography with low camera angles, frames, and “pillow shots”. Simplicity at its best. Ozu’s Tokyo Story (1953) is equally impactful.

 

Singin’ in the Rain (1952): A musical romantic comedy that takes you to a different world through its sets, costumes, use of colors, and dance numbers. A film about films, dealing with the transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920s. A feel-good film where eventually the good, the talented, and the hardworking triumph.

 

Seven Samurai (1954): One of the most referenced & remade films. An epic that encompasses various themes including friendship, sacrifice, code of honor, and so on.

 

Vertigo (1958): A film noir masterpiece. Beside sporting well thought out color concepts and framing techniques, along with a brilliant score by Bernard Herrmann, this film charts an emotional journey of a man hopelessly in love and the inability to let go.

 

Persona (1966): Ingmar Bergman's experimental psychological drama which not only blends a variety of topics but also sports an emotive B&W photography. The film may require multiple viewings to understand its various angles

 

The Conformist (1970): A film that highlights the negatives of fascism by presenting a case study on conformism and dilapidated morals in 1930s Italy in a relatively sarcastic fashion. The lead character, who is shaped by various negative experiences in childhood, shows no empathy for almost anyone apart from himself. The film has a notable mix of excellent cinematography (many frames are like paintings), score (gets bonus points for it), non-linear storytelling, and acting.

 

The Godfather I & II (1972-1974): Both films are clubbed together as they are more or less like a one-long film (made into a series as well where the stories from different periods were presented linearly). Valued for acting, cinematography, score, and an emotion packed adaption of the Mario Puzo novel.

 

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984): Weaves thought provoking visuals of the apocalyptic future to provide a great message on anti-war, ecological, and environmental themes. The background score is probably the best among Studio Ghibli films (the film led to the foundation of the studio). Often described as anime’s answer to Dune, dieselpunk or steampunk post-apocalypse, etc.

 

In the Mood for Love (2000): An unusual romantic drama by and large set in 1960s Hong Kong. It is a pleasing film to not only look at but also listen to. A hallmark of this film is the flow of emotions through non-verbal acting.

 

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009): The story is told non-linearly to weave historical events in Argentina from the 70s and the 90s into the story, which covers love stories, crime, police procedural elements, and the quest for justice. Excellent screenplay and acting drive this film to its emotion packed ending that can leave a lasting impression.

 

 

amazing list with impeccable taste... hard to pick favs, but mine will be late spring (1949) from this group; nausicaa - honorable mention because it is an animated film

Edited December 31, 2022 by Vijy

[zen]

In 2023 (esp. the 2nd half of the year), I did not watch as many films (and cricket) as I used to watch so skipped making a list. In 2024, I reacquired a major chunk of interest in films by reconnecting with Bollywood. I came here to make the 2024 list but after going through my 2022 list (a couple of posts above this post), I felt that it is still good enough.

 

In 2024, I will only expand that 2022 list to 15 by adding 3 more films, following the same rule of 1 film per director/series and in the order of release: 

 

Black Narcissus (1947): Based on the 1939 novel by Rumer Godden and directed by the team of Powell and Pressburger. The directors (or one of the directors) claimed this as their (his) most erotic film. Jack Cardiff won the Oscar for Best Cinematography.  The film is about a mission of group of nuns to build a school and a sanatorium in the Himalayas. The film has elements of psychological drama, concepts of forbidden love, etc. A beautiful film. 

 

Teesri Manzil (1966): A Bollywood representation. A collaboration b/w Nasir Husain (screenplay and dialogues) and Vijay Anand (direction and editing) created a magical cinematic experience. Despite being almost 3 hours long, almost nothing feels redundant. The editing maintains a crisp pace and energy. The songs are woven in the story, not feeling as if they have been “inserted”. The production design is superb too esp. in songs. Cinematography is top notch relying on frames within frames. R.D Burman have a breakthrough soundtrack of his career.  This is Shammi Kapoor’s film and shines in whatever he does. The film is as Hitchcockian as a Bollywood film can be. Teesri Manzil is on the list as it captures the essence of the Bollywood style of film making perfectly! 

 

A Separation (2011): A solid drama film from Iran that has won many awards including the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film. It has excellent screenplay.