Less well known directors/films [Archive]

Luis Caffesse

09-26-2008, 11:38 AM

The Peter Watkins thread got me thinking....

...what other films/filmmakers do some of you like that may not be so well known by the mainstream
(I have to admit, I was not familiar with Peter Watkins until Graeme's thread).

So - any suggestions of directors or movies that I should take the time to check out that I may not have heard of?
We seem to have a pretty eclectic group of film fans here - so I'm sure each of us probably has something the others would benefit from.

Thanks.
:)

kelvin

09-26-2008, 11:57 AM

'Funny Bones'

this is my absolute number one favorite of overlooked masterworks. Essentially a drama, but told in a very peculiar, never tiresome way. You're in for some of the most superbe storytelling, most dark laconic English humor and most outstanding performances by Lee Evans, Oliver Platt and Jerry Lewis. In my all time top five, and definetly worth checking out.

and as a further treat

'The Ipcress File'

something I picked up last week. Style-overkill-thriller from James Bond Producers, featuring Michael Caine and a very tight espionage thriller plot.

Dances With Cameras

09-26-2008, 12:06 PM

Box of Moonlight.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115738/

For me, this movie is a little gem, but it's not very popular, AFAIK.

I saw it on local cable TV a few years back.

David Rasberry

09-26-2008, 12:14 PM

I was wondering when someone would start this thread.

Here are a few oddball favorites of mine for starters.

"Zardoz" and "Beyond Rangoon" couple of John Boorman's lesser films.

" Shadow of the Vampire" Toungue in cheek satire of the making of the original "Nosferatu" director E.E. Merhige. Absolutely hilarious without being the least bit campy.
Stars John Malkovich as F.W. Murnau and Willem Dafoe (brilliant) as Max Schreck.

Granty

09-26-2008, 12:50 PM

Also I wasn't aware of Watkins before the thread,

I love the film 'Zardoz', good film for anyone posting to the 'Is There a God?' thread.

I am not a big fan of the LOTR but I once followed the films of a less well known Director called Peter Jackson, more People need to look up his early Indie work, 'Bad Taste', 'Brain Dead' and 'Meet The Feebles' are all great.

'Psychomania' and 'Cover Girl Killer' are brilliant examples of British B movies.

dingos8mybaby

09-26-2008, 04:23 PM

'Once in a Summer' - Korean flick about love in the time of cholera...i mean, political unrest (revolution). Reminds me of 'Cinema Paradiso'.

'3 Iron' - Brilliant f***ing Korean movie about a homeless man who 'lives' in people's houses while they are off vacationing. The main character says nothing the entire movie, actually, there is barely any dialogue at all. Written and directed by the same guy who did 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter', which is another interesting little flick about monks being naughty.

'After Life' - Japanese film - the recently deceased are given a week to choose a single memory from their lives to take with them to eternity. A group of counsellors work hard to film each of those memories. In the same vein as 'Wristcutters: A Love Story' (no pun intended) but I think it' has better story structure (interesting way of handling the past).

'Sex is Zero' - Korean 'American Pie'. Funny as hell. If you like that kind of stuff.

'Happy Times' - Chinese film about an old bachelor adopting a little girl.

All foreign, but all modern (all made within the last 15yrs or so), and definitely all awesome-O. Check'em out.

fde101

09-27-2008, 04:42 PM

I like the "Picture Perfect" that was put out by "Feature Films for Families" -- the one with Dave Thomas in it, not the one I've seen sitting around at Costco more recently...

Peter Majtan

09-27-2008, 04:51 PM

I will just re-post it here from the P.W. thread, as here it is more appropriate...:

"Talking about rarely seen movies - did anyone see "Survive Style 5+" ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430651 ) Very artsy Japanese movie that is my favorite from modern Japanese cinema. Brilliant storytelling and spectacular cinematography. The acting has much to desire (beside couple of main characters) - but never the less, I loved it... :D :D :D"

Dances With Cameras

09-27-2008, 04:57 PM

Written and directed by the same guy who did 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter', which is another interesting little flick about monks being naughty.

Interesting way you're putting it. :)

Yannick Hagman

09-27-2008, 05:20 PM

Hal Ashby (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000797/) directed Harold and Maude as his second feature film. Just saw it after many years again.

Isaac Brody

09-27-2008, 06:45 PM

Peter Weir's better known for his recent stuff, but Mosquito Coast is still my favorite of what he's done. It's one of those films that didn't resonate with critics or an audience, probably because people couldn't accept Harrison Ford as an anti-hero.

And best movie I saw recently was Reprise by Joachim Trier. Norwegian film, not well known in the U.S. but I'm recommending it a lot. Great direction, especially since a lot of the actors in the film are not professional.

David Rasberry

09-27-2008, 06:58 PM

Harold and Maude is a great cult classic indeed.

Peter Majtan

09-27-2008, 07:42 PM

Another good one - Dancer in the Dark... Björk's venture into acting. I had the pleasure to work on three music videos for her, but she blew me away in this film... :D

Tim Hole

09-27-2008, 07:56 PM

There are so many. One of my favourites is Beat the Devil with Humphrey Bogart, written by Truman Capote and Directed by John Huston.

I love old film noirs and there are so many obscure ones of those.

Lady in the the Lake is a great one. I think it was one of the first 1st person perspective films. You only see Philip Marlowe twice, once in the reflection of the mirror and in a car window. All the other player talk directly to the camera. Its really interesting.

The Naked City is another fantastic one by Jules Dassin, a fantistically quirky film noir (kind of documentary-esq)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3WHT4HpsCo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDBDzsYd7Nc&feature=related

that makes me smile whenever I watch it. Dassin also do probably one of my all time favourite films RIFIFI. Which includes a heist that lasts 45mins without any dialogue!!

watch the Song in the club from Rififi if you haven't seen it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMp4WTBdKKg

I love Vampyr (talking of nosferatu).

TEARS OF THE BLACK TIGER was such a surreal outing, a Thai Film (camp thai western)- crazy but so beautifully shot and the colour is out of this world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saTKuN5bc68

GUY MADDIN doesn't get as much talk as he should.

Matthew Barney is a whole other story. Its hard to get more arthouse than him!!!!

One of the best films I saw this year...without a doubt is LA ANTENA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWtWib9k7hs

Peter Majtan

09-27-2008, 07:58 PM

BTW - How many have seen the Dark City & City of Lost Children? They are both in my VI(F)P collection... :D

Isaac Brody

09-27-2008, 08:01 PM

Yes and yes. City of Lost Children is great, it reminds me of old Gilliam.

Peter Majtan

09-27-2008, 08:07 PM

I was lucky to see the Dark City before Matrix came out and I actually like it more. This is not to say I didn't like Matrix... :D Interestingly enough both films have a very similar theme...

Isaac Brody

09-27-2008, 08:08 PM

I would say identical themes.

Tim Hole

09-27-2008, 08:15 PM

I too saw Dark City before Matrix, also Ghost in the Shell should not be forgotten in this mix!!!! Also was working on a feature that had a lot of the ideas that Matrix has in it, more of a mix between Matrix and LOTR yet nothing like them at the same time and before the films came out.

Matrix was obviously heavily influenced by Snow Crash and Neuromancer.

Just named two of my favourites there Peter! I love Caro's Jules Verne-esq set design. Delicatessen is phenomenal as well. I love all of Jeunets films but mostly the ones with Caro in the loop.

Peter Majtan

09-27-2008, 08:43 PM

Amen! To both of You! :D

dingos8mybaby

09-27-2008, 11:14 PM

'Dark City' was pretty cool. Gotta love how they cast a guy who normally plays the 'bad guy' as the hero. Haven't seen it in a while, but remember thinking that they could have done more with the sfx (physical, not CG), for some reason.

Pietro Impagliazzo

09-28-2008, 12:02 AM

Chan-wook Park
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661791/ (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661791/)
http://www.nifff.ch/libraries/media/images/public/park_chan_wook_web.jpg

Not so "less well known" but lot's of people don't know him.

Vengeance Trilogy

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance | A little too weird for me.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310775/

Oldboy | My favorite of his films... Perfect! See It!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance | A little too stylish at times.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451094/

___

I'm a Cyborg but that's OK
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497137/

Yannick Hagman

09-28-2008, 01:40 AM

Impagliazzo, if he is unknown I absolutely have to write down Takashi Kitano.

Jeunet is a director I don't really like that much. I found delikatessen and city of the lost children too much over the top, too off-key so to speak.

Pietro Impagliazzo

09-28-2008, 04:14 AM

Talking about Kitano, Rio de Janeiro Int'l Festival is going on.

I went yesterday to see Dark House, well good movie till the end.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1260567/

For a first time director (Terra Shin) I guess we'll be seeing good stuff from him soon.

And from Kitano I wanna see Kantoku Banzai! (Glory to the Filmmaker!), looks absurdly fun.

Not so thrilled about Achilles and the Tortoise though.

Jaime Valles

09-28-2008, 06:36 AM

BTW - How many have seen the Dark City & City of Lost Children? They are both in my VI(F)P collection... :D
Both of those films are excellent.

Also, has anyone here seen Delicatessen (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101700/)? Another brilliant movie by the same people that made City of Lost Children (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112682/). Too bad Jean-Pierre Jeunet went on to make Alien: Resurrection (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118583/). At least he redeemed himself in a big way with Amélie! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/)

Dark City (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118929/) in many ways surpasses The Matrix (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/). I love both, though. Not the Matrix sequels, though.

Jared Caldwell

09-28-2008, 10:10 AM

Yeah, I watched Delicatessen. Loved the colors! Though these people are pretty well known, avant garde films definitely hold a special place for me. Just a few directors: Viking Eggling, Maya Daren (Meshes of the Afternoon is shown a lot), Vito Aconcci (the MAN), Stan Brakhage (I love the shorts he made in his later years where he painted on the individual frames of film).

These are pretty big names in the avant garde world, but some people may not know these. Most of these are in short film form, and don't take up too much time to watch. YouTube is your friend! :)

Luis Caffesse

09-29-2008, 04:17 PM

Speaking of Takashi Kitano, loved his performance in 'Battle Royale.'
Not his film...but he owned it.
:thumbsup:

There are a lot of great suggestions in this thread - many films I've never even heard of.... looks like I might be signing up for Netflix again.

Keep 'em coming.

Not that it's a great cinematic classic - but I really enjoyed 'Over the Edge' from the 70's... I believe it was made as a TV movie if I remember correctly, with a very young Matt Dillon (may have been his first film).

Great little suburban backlash film.

Tim Hole

09-30-2008, 06:56 PM

My girlfriend thinks she is Maya Deren reincarnatedhttp://www.scarletuser.com/images/icons/icon10.gif. I've had a long love affair with her (well both of them I guess!!).

One ultimate filmmaker that really should not be forgotten...

http://judao.com.br/blogs/gutural/files/2008/04/zedocaixao.jpg

Pietro Impagliazzo

09-30-2008, 08:19 PM

Zé do Caixão?

Did you see his latest movie?

Tim Hole

10-01-2008, 06:20 AM

No I haven't whats the virdict...http://www.scarletuser.com/images/icons/icon10.gif...same as usual dark twisted weirdness. Does he still do TV show in Brazil?

Pietro Impagliazzo

10-01-2008, 10:41 AM

I've never seen his films... =/

His last film had significant distribution and the production value was higher than any other his films.

The film is called Devil's Incarnation.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923683/

MattN

10-01-2008, 12:10 PM

Dark City is pretty good, although parts of it weren't quite there.

City of Lost Children is one of my all time favorites. Each shot is just perfectly set and put together.

Tim Hole

10-01-2008, 04:02 PM

I was wondering when someone would start this thread.

" Shadow of the Vampire" Toungue in cheek satire of the making of the original "Nosferatu" director E.E. Merhige. Absolutely hilarious without being the least bit campy.
Stars John Malkovich as F.W. Murnau and Willem Dafoe (brilliant) as Max Schreck.

You forget one of my favourites in that line up he's played more vamps than Christopher Lee...Mr Udo Kier:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/movies/filmography/1/WireImage_1448303.jpg

Another little obsession of mine...what a face. Steely Blue eyes! I would love to cast him...man would I!!!

David Rasberry

10-01-2008, 04:04 PM

You forget one of my favourites in that line up he's played more vamps than Christopher Lee...Mr Udo Kier:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/movies/filmography/1/WireImage_1448303.jpg

Another little obsession of mine...what a face. Steely Blue eyes! I would love to cast him...man would I!!!

Definitely recognize the face. Didn't know who he was though. Thanks.

Tim Hole

10-01-2008, 04:12 PM

A lot of people know him from the first blade film. He's one of the head vampires that gets his teeth ripped out and is left to burn on the beach in sunrise. He is, like Stellan Skaarsgard (another favourite) in every Lars Von Trier film.

Peter Majtan

10-01-2008, 04:19 PM

The ultimate Vampire... :devil:

David Rasberry

10-01-2008, 04:42 PM

Anyone remember "A Boy and His Dog" 1975 sci-fi cult classic based on a Harlan Ellison story.

David Rasberry

10-01-2008, 04:43 PM

A lot of people know him from the first blade film. He's one of the head vampires that gets his teeth ripped out and is left to burn on the beach in sunrise...

Such a drama queen!:violin:

Tim Hole

10-01-2008, 04:47 PM

The gayest and campest vampire on the block...truly.

Peter Majtan

10-01-2008, 05:26 PM

Which is why he's perfect... :devil:

Tim Hole

10-01-2008, 05:31 PM

Which is why he's perfect... :devil:

That is so true. I've got a role all lined up for him...make that two...maybe i'll just try and cast him in everything I do...bit like Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott. Its a bit like David Bowie playing an alien. If anyone was to be an alien it would have to be him...or Tom Cruise. (Ground Control to Major Tom!!)

MattN

10-01-2008, 06:29 PM

Anyone remember "A Boy and His Dog" 1975 sci-fi cult classic based on a Harlan Ellison story.

That's a great flick. I was lucky enough to get to see it on the big screen just a month or two ago.

MattN

10-01-2008, 06:29 PM

That is so true. I've got a role all lined up for him...make that two...maybe i'll just try and cast him in everything I do...bit like Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott. Its a bit like David Bowie playing an alien. If anyone was to be an alien it would have to be him...or Tom Cruise. (Ground Control to Major Tom!!)

Did you like Bowie's alien in The Man Who Fell To Earth?

David Rasberry

10-01-2008, 07:00 PM

That's a great flick. I was lucky enough to get to see it on the big screen just a month or two ago.

It was filmed in Technorama, 35mm 2 perf pull down for cheap cinemascope style screen ratio. Effectively about 16mm res.

Aaron G.

10-01-2008, 08:49 PM

Luis Caffesse

10-01-2008, 11:08 PM

Did you like Bowie's alien in The Man Who Fell To Earth?

Nicolas Roeg is another great one that doesn't get mentioned enough.
The opening sequence of 'Walkabout' is simply awesome.
And 'Don't Look Now' is just flat out creepy.

Weston

10-02-2008, 12:33 AM

I am not a big fan of the LOTR but I once followed the films of a less well known Director called Peter Jackson, more People need to look up his early Indie work, 'Bad Taste', 'Brain Dead' and 'Meet The Feebles' are all great.

Agreed on the early Pete Jackson films. Heavenly Creatures is good too.

Tim Hole

10-22-2008, 06:39 PM

Did you see the orignal Insomnia?

No, never got a chance to watch it. My brother has it back in Norway. I really wanted to have an oppinon when they remade it...but I couldn't and I am a Nolan fan...

Oh and MattN, dude anything with Bowie in is ace...inc Fire walk with me...but he was perfect as an alien (and as a vampire obviously) loved the style of it...to see it on the big screen would be awesome (add to list).

David...I haven't seen Boy and his Dog but I have heard of it---but I remember Digby:happyhappy:and

See its quite cheap on DVD...man...Quiet Earth...classic...gonna buy the two together Prime Delivery yes please...nice

Scrubs

11-04-2008, 02:13 PM

Delicatessen - French film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (More known for director of 'Amelie')
The directing and editing is nothing short of inspirational.
http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/large/Delicatessen_%281990%29.jpg
http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/large/Delicatessen_%281990%29.jpghttp://cinephile.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/05-07-delicatessen.jpg

Another great film of his is 'City of Lost Children'
Amazing Cinematography...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/City_of_lost_children_french_movie_poster.jpg