Post by Boz on Feb 21, 2007 3:02:19 GMT
For me personally, last year was defined more by the many classic films I saw for the first time on DVD as opposed to the films I saw in theatres, although there were a couple good ones there as well. Interested to know what all of you felt were the best films you saw for the first time in 2006, wherever that may have been.
My picks:
Last Year at Marienbad
Alain Resnais 1961 France
Probably my pick for best film I saw for the first time last year, managed 2 viewings. The first came near the end of the summer, after I saw it listed as the strangest film of all time (as I've mentioned a couple times before). Had an old VHS copy I got from my library, and I remember just kind of passively watching the first few minutes, lying on the couch enjoying the weather, but pretty soon I was sucked in. So unique in nearly every aspect. I was just reading Capo's original proview and he made a good observation, talking about how this film's story and its characters really just exist in a universe, a place in time and space that has very little recognizable quality to us. It shows no real influence from anything in the outside world, and its characters seem to exist simply as personifications of emotions, confused emotions at that. The film that perhaps single-handedly sparked my interest in avant-garde and experimental films, it's led me to some interesting places. I had a second viewing as soon as I got to college and discovered the extensive film library here. I had anticipated it having a little less of an impact on me on that second go around but was proved wrong. Wish there was a nice Criterion DVD copy.
Irreversible
Gaspar Noé 2002 France
Referred by Capo back in early October, went into this knowing little to nothing about its subject matter, but fully aware of the widespread praise it's received here, and the intense polarization it's caused elsewhere. Really just seems to embody everything that I love about modern, 21st century film; big, bright, colorful, beautiful, violent, loud, strange, and yet meaningful. Noé experiments with the most effective use of CGI and new digital technology I've seen in cinema thus far (fuck LOTR), and doesn't sacrifice good old fashioned quality camera work and some picturesque framings. I've been itching for a second viewing, hoping to maybe be inspired by my writing here to hit it up this weekend. I finished off my first review with the words "fantastic, fantastic, fantastic," and looking back, I can't agree more.
United 93
Paul Greengrass 2006 US
Babel may have been excellent, and The Departed definitely didn't disappoint, but my lone viewing of this modern marvel all the way back in May still has my thoughts churning, AND it's still the only film I've been published for writing about (ok, ok, I'll stop). It's really kind of sad to think that people's uneasiness with the timing and the subject matter made them avoid this, and although I was really hoping for a Best Picture nod to reboost its prominence in the public eye late in this Oscar season (which we didn't get, still a directing nom though, I'm happy), hopefully this film doesn't just go down in history as the better but less-widely-seen comparison piece to Oliver Stone's supposedly shitty World Trade Center. I've occasionally second-guessed my handing out a 4 star rating to such a new film, but fuck it, it's that good. Another one I'm unfortunately still working towards a second viewing on.
I list all three of these among my top 20 favorite films of all time. It was a good year.
So what are yours?
Spill em kids.
My picks:
Last Year at Marienbad
Alain Resnais 1961 France
Probably my pick for best film I saw for the first time last year, managed 2 viewings. The first came near the end of the summer, after I saw it listed as the strangest film of all time (as I've mentioned a couple times before). Had an old VHS copy I got from my library, and I remember just kind of passively watching the first few minutes, lying on the couch enjoying the weather, but pretty soon I was sucked in. So unique in nearly every aspect. I was just reading Capo's original proview and he made a good observation, talking about how this film's story and its characters really just exist in a universe, a place in time and space that has very little recognizable quality to us. It shows no real influence from anything in the outside world, and its characters seem to exist simply as personifications of emotions, confused emotions at that. The film that perhaps single-handedly sparked my interest in avant-garde and experimental films, it's led me to some interesting places. I had a second viewing as soon as I got to college and discovered the extensive film library here. I had anticipated it having a little less of an impact on me on that second go around but was proved wrong. Wish there was a nice Criterion DVD copy.
Irreversible
Gaspar Noé 2002 France
Referred by Capo back in early October, went into this knowing little to nothing about its subject matter, but fully aware of the widespread praise it's received here, and the intense polarization it's caused elsewhere. Really just seems to embody everything that I love about modern, 21st century film; big, bright, colorful, beautiful, violent, loud, strange, and yet meaningful. Noé experiments with the most effective use of CGI and new digital technology I've seen in cinema thus far (fuck LOTR), and doesn't sacrifice good old fashioned quality camera work and some picturesque framings. I've been itching for a second viewing, hoping to maybe be inspired by my writing here to hit it up this weekend. I finished off my first review with the words "fantastic, fantastic, fantastic," and looking back, I can't agree more.
United 93
Paul Greengrass 2006 US
Babel may have been excellent, and The Departed definitely didn't disappoint, but my lone viewing of this modern marvel all the way back in May still has my thoughts churning, AND it's still the only film I've been published for writing about (ok, ok, I'll stop). It's really kind of sad to think that people's uneasiness with the timing and the subject matter made them avoid this, and although I was really hoping for a Best Picture nod to reboost its prominence in the public eye late in this Oscar season (which we didn't get, still a directing nom though, I'm happy), hopefully this film doesn't just go down in history as the better but less-widely-seen comparison piece to Oliver Stone's supposedly shitty World Trade Center. I've occasionally second-guessed my handing out a 4 star rating to such a new film, but fuck it, it's that good. Another one I'm unfortunately still working towards a second viewing on.
I list all three of these among my top 20 favorite films of all time. It was a good year.
So what are yours?
Spill em kids.