If there was one movie you think everyone should see what would it be?

[Rodgerwilco]

Random fun fact that you might be interested in: the quirky female lead is also the vocalist for Eyes on Me from Final Fantasy VIII. She's great, in my opinion (both acting-presence-wise in the few films she's appeared and musically-- has a solid self-written Cocteau-Twins-inspired album (Restless/Anxiety) that shows up on a lot of Dream-Pop top lists, too).

Wow that is an awesome random fact!! Glad we're seeing some cross-over from the Final Fantasy thread over in the Geek Emporium lol.

 

[The Macho King]

Random fun fact that you might be interested in: the quirky female lead is also the vocalist for Eyes on Me from Final Fantasy VIII. She's great, in my opinion (both acting-presence-wise in the few films she's appeared and musically-- has a solid self-written Cocteau-Twins-inspired album (Restless/Anxiety) that shows up on a lot of Dream-Pop top lists, too).

Other random fun fact:

Tony Leung is somehow even hotter in In the Mood For Love than he was in this.

 

[Jack Straw]

After giving this some thought I decided on Dean Spanley, a) because I think pretty much everyone would enjoy it, and b) because I don't think it had a wide theatrical release in the US so a lot of people might not have seen it. I had never heard of it until my mom handed me the DVD and said, "You have to watch this!"

Without giving too much away (because there is a twist or two), Peter O'Toole (in one of his last roles) plays Fisk Sr. Fisk Sr lives alone, maybe in London, in the early 20th century. One of his sons was killed in the Boer War, his other son- Fisk Jr (Jeremy Northam), visits him every Thursday afternoon. Fisk Jr doesn't particularly enjoy these visits where he is subjected to extended complaining from his father regarding the sad state of affairs today (today being back then).

So one day Fisk Jr sees a notice in the paper that a Hindu mystic is giving a lecture on reincarnation nearby and suggests they go to that. Fisk Sr agrees. Fisk Jr is surprised to see Dean Spanley ("Dean" being his title at the local church, played by Sam Neill) at the lecture. They talk and Fisk Jr is intrigued.

After a couple more chance encounters, Fisk Jr eventually convinces Dean Spanley to meet with him for regular talks every week. But Dean Spanley insists that Fisk Jr bring a bottle of Imperial Tokay wine to these chats. Imperial Tokay was reserved for members of the Habsburg royal family and was hard to get, but fortunately Fisk Jr "knows a guy" (played by Australian actor Bryan Brown) who can get his hands on some, on the condition that he be invited to the meetings with Dean Spanley.

When Dean Spanley partakes of this particular beverage, strange things happen to him. He becomes very "chatty" (who among has not experienced that after a case of Bud Light?). And things get interesting from there. Fantastic performances by O'Toole and especially Sam Neill. At the time I had only seen him in Jurrasaic Park so didn't expect this kind of acting from him.

Overall a funny, charming, thoughtful film.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Dr. Strangelove or how I learned stop worrying and love the bomb

 

[BB79]

1984...then again we've been living it for 5+ years now so maybe not

Requiem for a dream

That movie freaked me the hell out. I had no idea what it was about going into it. Just kind of blindly watched it. Great music too.

 

[BMann]

Excellent film, really enjoyed it! Thanks for the recommendation. Right up my alley as far as sci-fi goes. Feels like something Hideo Kojima would recommend lol.

More like reality at the time Rodger. People lived under the threat of annihilation. The film even moved Reagan to start working with Gorbachev to cut down the nuclear arsenal. We had Threads in the UK. There are several earlier movies on this theme, Failsafe & The Last Beach.

I know you wanted just one but here are three. Amadeus about human envy & ambition, Come & See about the horror of war (very visceral & unnerving) & Cinema Paradiso a charming love letter to cinema. The final montage always gets many crying.

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

Back to the Future