I’m making some progress on my 100 movies project. It stalled a little this week, as I realised that a) I need to actually put in some billable hours sometime soon or deal with homelessness and b) I have not made great progress on the whole work/life balance thing lately, and I should probably put some thought into it before I’m 65 and too old to have a life.
That said, I’ve been making some progress on your recommendations.
Thanks to Joanne, I watched I’ve Loved You So Long, and thought it was one of the best films I’ve seen in a really, really long time. Completely absorbing, very moving and the acting was just first class. Thanks to Jess, I saw La Vie en Rose, which I also loved – really fascinating. My French movie trio was rounded out with The Beat My Heart Skipped, which was breathtakingly good.
On Sky, I caught Moonstruck, Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Taxi Driver (not the cheeriest film ever, is it?). Thanks to the miracle of Lovefilm, I’ve also seen Into the Wild, An Inconvenient Truth, The March of the Penguins, Spellbound, Lord of Dogtown and No Country for Old Men. Sorry to say I got a bit bored by the penguins, but the others all rocked.
At the cinema I’ve seen Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Confessions of a Shopaholic (yeah, so shoot me) and Twilight. I live in Lancashire, they’re not big on independent film in these parts.
So I’m about 15 down, with another 85 to go. Any recommendations not yet listed?
In return, I think your lives could only be improved by seeing Into the Wild, I’ve Loved You So Long and The Beat My Heart Skipped. Oh, and then download the Eddie Vedder soundtrack to Into the Wild – it is utterly awesome.
Into The Wild is definitely one of my favourite recent films...great story, great acting, great soundtrack.
Posted by: Dan Thornton | February 25, 2009 at 12:08 PM
The Beat my Heart Skipped is an amazing film - not least in that it shows Paris off perfectly.
Another sweet French film is Les Choristes - kinda like a Gallic Brassed Off.
Cinema Paradiso however is a top Italian film as is Pani e Tulipani (Bread and Tulips is it's literal translation but not sure if it's actually the English title) it's set in Venice and will make you want to move there in a skipped heartbeat. Oh and I'm assuming you've seen La Vita E Bella? If not, do. It makes me ball my eyes out every time I watch it.
Enjoy the remaining 85
Posted by: David Child | February 25, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Apologies just realised a glaring apostrophe error - I'm sorry for sullying your post.
Posted by: David Child | February 25, 2009 at 03:53 PM
hi Sally,
one of my all-time favourite movies is an old david niven vehicle called "a matter of life and death"
imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038733/
well worth 104 min of your billable time.
ed
Posted by: ed lee | February 25, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Glad you liked I've Loved You So Long. I was in floods of tears after watching that.
If you're ready to visit the strangest film you will ever see, I recommend Santa Sangre directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky. Elephant funerals, armless women, transexuals playing the hurdy gurdy - it's all there. Unforgettable.
Posted by: Joanne Mallon | February 25, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Sally - would you recommend LoveFilm? I've been pondering it. Our local Blockbuster is appalling.
Posted by: Natalie W | February 25, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Natalie - So far at least, I can't say enough good things about Lovefilm - the choice of indie and world cinema seems excellent, and the service is very speedy.
Thanks everyone for the recommendations, too - much appreciated!
Posted by: Sally Whittle | February 25, 2009 at 07:36 PM
I've Loved You So Long is amazing. It took me an hour and a half to realise it was Kristin Scott-Thomas.
If you fancy crossing over into German from French try Goodbye Lenin and The Lives Of Others, both of which deal (from a comic and tragic point of view, respectively) with Communist East Germany.
Posted by: Chris Mc | February 26, 2009 at 05:33 PM
Chris - I know what you mean. I thought Kristin was so brave, particularly in the early part of the film, to be shown looking so "unbeautiful". Of course, she still looked beautiful because shes a stunning woman but it was SO different to how we're used to seeing her.
Goodbye Lenin I've seen and enjoyed, but will check out the other German movie, thanks.
Posted by: Sally Whittle | February 27, 2009 at 01:27 PM