Your Favorite Film??? (Look inside and have some fun!) at DVinfo.net

Christopher C. Murphy · December 1st, 2004, 01:03 PM

Ho, Ho, Ho....Tis' the season to have some fun, so let's do it!

What is your Favorite film and why?

My favorite film and has been for about 2 years now...is "Boogie Nights". Yes, believe it or not! The reason I love that film is because of the amazing character study. It has lots of stories and everything weaves together perfectly. Also, the performance of Mark Walberg is the best. I think it's great. The whole cast is great. Also, the film takes a subject matter that's sensitive (something we all share, and yet it's taboo) and makes it very human.

I've watched the film 15 times now, and everytime I'm so sucked into the stories and the great performances. Also, "Magnolia" is an amazing big brother to the film.

Ok, post your FAVORITE film!! Please don't say, "can't pick one"...just pick something you keep going back to and use that as your choice.

Murph

Shawn Mielke · December 1st, 2004, 07:26 PM

Boogie Nights is fabulous, utterly. Easily one of my favorite American films from the last twenty years.

Could this be one of the great difficult to answer questions? I have a list of the most important films but the one that always goes to the top and vies, with one other film, by the same filmmaker no less, for the number one spot is

Andrei Tarkovsky's

STALKER.

...I've attempted several times here to put into words WHY, and I think i'll just go with:
Tarkovsky is cinema, a true artist and poet (a rarity in cinema). No one understood the medium better. STALKER was the zenith of his vision. It was the first of his films that I'd seen, and it is the one that has had the most impact on my understanding of cinema, and it's possibilities, and of the social role of art and artists. STALKER is the religious experience, in the broadest sense of the term. STALKER is Life. STALKER is the film that I watch to reset my compass and to remember what really matters while on this planet, in this form. Sounds pretentious, eh? The limitations of words...

Shawn

Anson Clement · December 1st, 2004, 08:35 PM

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

The camera angles are all fun and engaging, the acting is excellent, but above all the content keeps me coming back for more. I've seen it countless times but I still notice new tidbits with each viewing.

Xiaoli Wang · December 1st, 2004, 10:52 PM

Gattaca
Ghost World
Adaptation

But nothing comes close to...

Lost in Translation.

Dylan Couper · December 1st, 2004, 10:53 PM

Tremors

Michael Wisniewski · December 2nd, 2004, 02:44 AM

Strictly Ballroom - I always seem to end up finishing this movie, whenever I accidentally come across it on IFC. I always find it amusing and just fun to watch.

"I don't want to win your stupid Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Amateur Championships, I just want to dance my own steps."

Matt Woodson · December 2nd, 2004, 02:44 AM

The Decalogue Series,Trois couleurs, The 400 Blows, Once Upon A Time In America, M, The Wizard of Oz, It's a Wonderful Life, The Bicycle Thief, The Grapes of Wrath, Tokyo Story, The Seventh Seal, Singin' in the Rain, Rear Window, Persona, 8 1/2, Lawrence of Arabia, In the Heat of the Night, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Leon, Infernal Affairs, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Offret - Sacrificatio, The Motorcycle Diaries, Ichi The Killer, Auditon.

Christopher C. Murphy · December 2nd, 2004, 08:22 AM

Whoa, what a crazy mix of films!

Has anyone seen "The Statement" with Mike Caine? The film is ok, but the interview with Norman Jewison is interesting. He talks about independent film, and what he says is something like (paraphrase), "Hollywood is owned by international corporations, and Independent film is owned by the the people going out looking for the money. The most interesting stories are from indie films because you are not trying to sell products etc."

It's just opinion, but I read something similar in an article about 1-2 years ago. It said the Hollywood system is imploding because the "bigger, better and and more marketing" aspect can't sustain itself. The movie theaters, movie studios, actors are all racing towards a brick wall.

However, I have found and from what people have said here film-wise that indie films are like "Davey" (from Davey and Goliath). The success of the documentry genre in the past few years...to me points to the fact that people are saying "We're capable of watching films that make us think too."

I love Hollywood films like everyone, but I'm more encouraged by the future of film than I am about music! The Britney Spears' of the world seem to more bothersome than Hollywood film.

This rant probably made no sense. Sorry..

Murph

Hayden Rivers · December 2nd, 2004, 08:43 AM

Gattaca
The Fellowship of the Ring
Fight Club
Blade Runner
The Matrix

Jeff Patnaude · December 2nd, 2004, 09:20 AM

Okay, here goes:
The Seven Samurai
Spartagus (original Kubrick)
Alien / Aliens
Matrix
Warriors
Braveheart
Tora Tora Tora
Return Of The Pink Panther
The Unforgiven
Amalie
Croaching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
All of the Fellowship of the Ring series

more as my mood changes....

Jeff P :>)

Yi Fong Yu · December 2nd, 2004, 09:21 AM

star wars (all 6). it rescued cinema and created a hunger for myth retold in different mediums (not just film). it is a rebirth of storytelling writ large. for some strange reason these series of movies tapped into American psyche. you can argue the world but i believe the phenomenon is very localized. i know there are fans worldwide but the states of the western civilization are the ones loving it the most. the citizens of the far east could give a rat's arse about it.

Shawn Mielke · December 2nd, 2004, 10:18 AM

I thought we were shooting for the ONE favorite film? Making a pile is easy! What is your favorite film?

Mathieu Ghekiere · December 2nd, 2004, 11:07 AM

Memento

...

Okay and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, A Clockwork Orange, Requiem For A Dream, Edward Scissorhands... ow, you know, just add a lot of Spielberg movies :-p I can't help it, sorry :-)
LOTR trilogy is also very good, 25th hour... No no I have to stop, they only asked one movie...

I hate your question ;-):-p
Héhé, driving people so nuts ;-)

Dylan Couper · December 2nd, 2004, 11:08 AM

Yeah come on guys. Don't wuss out and drop your top ten list. Anyone can do that. Pick one or go home. :)

Christopher C. Murphy · December 2nd, 2004, 11:32 AM

Ok..now I'm thinking it should have been "Top 10 Favorite Movies"?

Anyone think I should change the rules? Afterall, they were made to be broken right?

December 1st, 2004, 01:03 PM	#1
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Your Favorite Film??? (Look inside and have some fun!) Ho, Ho, Ho....Tis' the season to have some fun, so let's do it! What is your Favorite film and why? My favorite film and has been for about 2 years now...is "Boogie Nights". Yes, believe it or not! The reason I love that film is because of the amazing character study. It has lots of stories and everything weaves together perfectly. Also, the performance of Mark Walberg is the best. I think it's great. The whole cast is great. Also, the film takes a subject matter that's sensitive (something we all share, and yet it's taboo) and makes it very human. I've watched the film 15 times now, and everytime I'm so sucked into the stories and the great performances. Also, "Magnolia" is an amazing big brother to the film. Ok, post your FAVORITE film!! Please don't say, "can't pick one"...just pick something you keep going back to and use that as your choice. Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

December 1st, 2004, 07:26 PM	#2
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	Boogie Nights is fabulous, utterly. Easily one of my favorite American films from the last twenty years. Could this be one of the great difficult to answer questions? I have a list of the most important films but the one that always goes to the top and vies, with one other film, by the same filmmaker no less, for the number one spot is Andrei Tarkovsky's STALKER. ...I've attempted several times here to put into words WHY, and I think i'll just go with: Tarkovsky is cinema, a true artist and poet (a rarity in cinema). No one understood the medium better. STALKER was the zenith of his vision. It was the first of his films that I'd seen, and it is the one that has had the most impact on my understanding of cinema, and it's possibilities, and of the social role of art and artists. STALKER is the religious experience, in the broadest sense of the term. STALKER is Life. STALKER is the film that I watch to reset my compass and to remember what really matters while on this planet, in this form. Sounds pretentious, eh? The limitations of words... Shawn __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

December 1st, 2004, 08:35 PM	#3
Anson Clement New Boot Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 5	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas The camera angles are all fun and engaging, the acting is excellent, but above all the content keeps me coming back for more. I've seen it countless times but I still notice new tidbits with each viewing. __________________ www.durocco.com

December 1st, 2004, 10:53 PM	#5
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Tremors __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

December 2nd, 2004, 02:44 AM	#6
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Strictly Ballroom - I always seem to end up finishing this movie, whenever I accidentally come across it on IFC. I always find it amusing and just fun to watch. "I don't want to win your stupid Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Amateur Championships, I just want to dance my own steps." __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

December 1st, 2004, 10:52 PM	#4
Xiaoli Wang Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	Gattaca Ghost World Adaptation But nothing comes close to... Lost in Translation.

December 2nd, 2004, 02:44 AM	#7
Matt Woodson Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Winnipeg,Manitoba, Canada Posts: 53	The Decalogue Series,Trois couleurs, The 400 Blows, Once Upon A Time In America, M, The Wizard of Oz, It's a Wonderful Life, The Bicycle Thief, The Grapes of Wrath, Tokyo Story, The Seventh Seal, Singin' in the Rain, Rear Window, Persona, 8 1/2, Lawrence of Arabia, In the Heat of the Night, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Leon, Infernal Affairs, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Offret - Sacrificatio, The Motorcycle Diaries, Ichi The Killer, Auditon. __________________ "Don't settle for the one you can live with, wait for the one you can't live without"

December 2nd, 2004, 08:22 AM	#8
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Whoa, what a crazy mix of films! Has anyone seen "The Statement" with Mike Caine? The film is ok, but the interview with Norman Jewison is interesting. He talks about independent film, and what he says is something like (paraphrase), "Hollywood is owned by international corporations, and Independent film is owned by the the people going out looking for the money. The most interesting stories are from indie films because you are not trying to sell products etc." It's just opinion, but I read something similar in an article about 1-2 years ago. It said the Hollywood system is imploding because the "bigger, better and and more marketing" aspect can't sustain itself. The movie theaters, movie studios, actors are all racing towards a brick wall. However, I have found and from what people have said here film-wise that indie films are like "Davey" (from Davey and Goliath). The success of the documentry genre in the past few years...to me points to the fact that people are saying "We're capable of watching films that make us think too." I love Hollywood films like everyone, but I'm more encouraged by the future of film than I am about music! The Britney Spears' of the world seem to more bothersome than Hollywood film. This rant probably made no sense. Sorry.. Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

December 2nd, 2004, 08:43 AM	#9
Hayden Rivers Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 53	Gattaca The Fellowship of the Ring Fight Club Blade Runner The Matrix

December 2nd, 2004, 09:20 AM	#10
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	Okay, here goes: The Seven Samurai Spartagus (original Kubrick) Alien / Aliens Matrix Warriors Braveheart Tora Tora Tora Return Of The Pink Panther The Unforgiven Amalie Croaching Tiger, Hidden Dragon All of the Fellowship of the Ring series more as my mood changes.... Jeff P :>)

December 2nd, 2004, 09:21 AM	#11
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	star wars (all 6). it rescued cinema and created a hunger for myth retold in different mediums (not just film). it is a rebirth of storytelling writ large. for some strange reason these series of movies tapped into American psyche. you can argue the world but i believe the phenomenon is very localized. i know there are fans worldwide but the states of the western civilization are the ones loving it the most. the citizens of the far east could give a rat's arse about it. __________________ bow wow wow

December 2nd, 2004, 10:18 AM	#12
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	I thought we were shooting for the ONE favorite film? Making a pile is easy! What is your favorite film? __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

December 2nd, 2004, 11:07 AM	#13
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Memento ... Okay and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, A Clockwork Orange, Requiem For A Dream, Edward Scissorhands... ow, you know, just add a lot of Spielberg movies :-p I can't help it, sorry :-) LOTR trilogy is also very good, 25th hour... No no I have to stop, they only asked one movie... I hate your question ;-):-p Héhé, driving people so nuts ;-)

December 2nd, 2004, 11:08 AM	#14
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Yeah come on guys. Don't wuss out and drop your top ten list. Anyone can do that. Pick one or go home. :) __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

December 2nd, 2004, 11:32 AM	#15
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Ok..now I'm thinking it should have been "Top 10 Favorite Movies"? Anyone think I should change the rules? Afterall, they were made to be broken right? __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer