Best Film (cinematic) Aesthetically and by plot

For plot, I can't think of any film more fascinating than Memento.

I would also include Manchurian Candidate (original), Magnolia, Fargo, Blue Velvet, and Reservoir Dogs on my list of favorites.

Sorry I couldn't limit myself to 2 films. No high-five for me, the next time I'm in Saskatoon :-(
 
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I'm a big fan of craftsmanship, but I'd also like to suggest a film that was ground-breaking in its day for its rejection of the burden of craftsmanship in pursuit of a new esthetic: Faces by John Cassavetes. Handheld 16mm Eclair, often handled by Cassavetes personally, and lighting that can be described as rudimentary. But I think he showed that having something to say, and working intimately with a small cast could create rewards that technical perfection might not allow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BsmWI2cPdw
 
Around 25 years ago the film "Napoleon" by Abel Gance was shown for the first time in maybe 50/60 years. Critics hailed it as the greatest film ever made surpassing "Citizen Kane." Personally, I can't determine which is greater or lesser. That is very subjective but I thought that I would throw up that bit as few people have seen/heard of it. Tonight on TCM they are showing "Birth of a Nation" by DW Griffith. Along with "Intolerance" they are considered the masterpieces of silent cinema and mandatory for all film students. But, the former based up "The Klansman" is one of the most racist films ever shown. Anyway, I thought I would throw that up as long as this discussion is about films and if someone is interested.
 
For two of the most important films from the 20th century, I have to go with 'Citizen Kane' and Godard's 'Breathless'--the latter especially, but both for their completely opposite, yet revolutionary techniques.

My favorite period of films is the 70s. If you're a street photographer, you'll probably like this period, too.



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edited to remove the 'American' qualifier from the second to the last sentence.
 
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i am glad some other people liked barry lyndon as much as i did. iirc, a cine lens of f.095 was "invented" so kubrick could shoot everything available light.

for a movie that combines breathtaking cinematography and a timeless plot, i have to nominate jean cocteau's la belle et le bete (beauty and the beast).

the director's cut of blade runner is my favorite of all time, and i would rank it second behind cocteau.

what about the searchers?

oh, and das boot. what film work. what acting. what a twisting, guty-wrenching plot ...
 
Aesthetics:
Blade Runner / To Catch a Thief / Fargo / City of Lost Children / Se7en / The Royal Tenenbaums / The Good Thief.

Plot:
Se7en / The Big Lebowski / Monty Python and the Holy Grail / Pulp Fiction
 
There Will be Blood
Das Boot
Blade Runner
Chinatown
...anything by Kubrick
Miller's Crossing
Dead Man
The Conversation
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Aguirre: The Wrath of God
 
Unfortunately Night of the Hunter wasn't a very financially successful film, which is probobly why Laughton never stepped back into the director's chair.

Concerning other nearly perfect B&W films, I'd suggest

Louisiana Story (Shot by Ricky Leacock)
In Cold Blood (Shot by Conrad Hall)
Closely Watched Trains (shot by Jaromír Šofr)
Generation/Kanal/Ashes and Diamonds (directed by Andrzej Wajda)
Three Colours: Blue/White/Red (shot by Sławomir Idziak)

kevin m said:
Another excellent B&W film that's more well-known is Night of the Hunter. Hard to believe that Charles Laughton never made another film....!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFzTBPy7nl8
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My understanding is the opposite. The lenses in question already existed, Kubrick took a pair of older Mitchell camera (the Mitchell movement is by and far the most rock solid camera movement ever made and machined) and had them heavily altered to handle the special zeiss lenses. One of the Kubrick biographies goes into details about how he got Warner Brother studios to donate the camera's in question (they weren't using them anymore after all)

paulfish4570 said:
i am glad some other people liked barry lyndon as much as i did. iirc, a cine lens of f.095 was "invented" so kubrick could shoot everything available light.
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I've just watched "Pandora's Box" by Pabst for a second time. I haven't seen it since 1974. If you want to see the most beautiful woman of the 20th Century...Louise Brooks. It is amazing how many people have never seen any movies in the early part of the 20th Century. Just as an aside 90% of all silent films are lost. 50% of all films of the 1930's. Recently I have begun re-viewing films of the pre-WWII era and have seen themes and costumes not being touched in the last 10 years.
 
For aesthetics I'll go with Kurosawa's "Dreams."

For plot (and I know I'll take beating for this :D ) I'll go with "The Big Sleep" (1946). I know it is a little light on plot for some, but I like the movie and love the book.
 
Steve Bellayr said:
I've just watched "Pandora's Box" by Pabst for a second time. I haven't seen it since 1974. If you want to see the most beautiful woman of the 20th Century...Louise Brooks. It is amazing how many people have never seen any movies in the early part of the 20th Century. Just as an aside 90% of all silent films are lost. 50% of all films of the 1930's. Recently I have begun re-viewing films of the pre-WWII era and have seen themes and costumes not being touched in the last 10 years.
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Funny you should mention Louise Brooks and silent movies. I was cruising Netflix Saturday for a Louise Brooks movie and ended up watching Fritz Lang's "Destiny" (or "Weary Death")... which was fantastic. Only planned to watch 10 minutes or so. Ended up getting sucked into it completely. Another great filmmaker.
 
Ah, the "Big Sleep" the epitome of Film Noir. There were three writers on the film and each day while drinking they wrote the script for the next day. As I remember it (I do have 2 copies in my library) there are 8 murders and only 7 are solved. Ah, Fritz Lang"s "M" a movie about child molesting starring Peter Lorre.
During the late 1920's and early thirties Hollywood imported most of the major directors, actors, writers, etc. this continued until WWII. Is anyone aware that the actor who played the German in Casablanca was on Hitler's "Death List".
Two more movies: Jean Renoir's "Grand Illusion" and "Rules of the Game"
 
I wrestled with The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon for plot, but in the end, went with The Maltese Falcon because of all the twists and turns. However, The Big Sleep is my favorite Bogart movie.

I just recently watched All Quiet on the Western Front (the 1931 version) and was I was simply captivated by the film. Excellent work.
 
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There are many great ones out there, but one of my favorites, aesthetically, is Wong Kar Wai's 'My Blueberry Nights'. It's what I think of when I hear the word 'cinematic'. Many critics bashed the story, but I actually like it a lot, one of my favorite movies.
 
I didn't think about The Maltese Falcon [slaps self on forehead]. And somebody mentioned the movie you used for your avatar. I can't help thinking about bodily fluids and answering to the Coca~Cola Company.
 
Just one for me:

'Paris Texas'(1984) ... directed by Wim Wenders ... music by Ry Cooder.

Starring: Natasha Kinski, Harry Dean Stanton and Dean Stockwell.

US cinema doesn't get any better than this IMO. :)
 
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