August 19, 2009
Three You Should See
I recently combed through the Criterion Collection and plucked out my top 20 films that I felt were must-see. That list can be found here, and I will mention the top three from that list, but write a little something new for you, Deron.
Chasing Amy (1997)
The way I describe it is “Kevin Smith accidentally made a good film.” This movie just slayed me when I saw it for the first time last year. A frank exploration of how sexual experience shapes relationships, the film is witty and interesting and worth seeing, even if you despise Kevin Smith.
The Hows and Whys of Chasing Amy
Fanny and Alexander (1982)
I end up watching the six hour version of this movie about once every two years, and allow myself to be amazed all over again. The plot is so long that it’s hard to say it’s about any one thing, so it’s mostly about a family living their varied lives over the course of a few years. Bergman finally allows himself the time he needs to really explore his problems with religion, in the midst of the ultimate safety net: a large family celebrating the holidays. (What I mean by that is as a young child, you often feel the safest when you are surrounded by your entire extended family, when you can see and touch everyone you’ve ever really known who loves you.) But make no mistake, this isn’t a dry boring movie by any stretch of the imagination. It’s certainly one of the best holiday films I’ve ever seen, and has that ultimate touch of magical realism I crave in everything I see or read.
Grey Gardens (1975)
a Maysles brothers documentary about a mother and daughter, two American aristocrats who find themselves a relic of the past, wandering their enormous decaying Hamptons home while reminiscing about the past and worrying about the future. First reaction is confusion, then amusement, then horror, then you’re not sure what to think. I always end up feeling very tenderly towards Big Edie and Little Edie.
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Thank you, Amanda.