This is another attempt to copy artist and poet Vanessa Matic with ’10 films’, my picks this time round, all of which I highly recommend (obviously), especially at this time of year. There are quite a lot of animal-based recommendations, others that will make you fall off your chair laughing, and some which may induce self-harm. Be careful with the following.
White God. A young girl loses her dog, who goes on a journey to rally the lost, abandoned, and unloved pups who take wonderful revenge on the many, many cunts of this world.
I Stand Alone. A morally bereft butcher (ha) makes his way through life barely worth living, with nothing but nihilistic results. This film is rather fucked up, with themes of incest, and is very depressing – Gaspar Noe’s best in my opinion.
The Blue Room. My other French hero – Mathieu Amalric’s poetic directorial debut involves adultery and melodic murder and subsequent consequences.
There Will Be Blood. A nutcase money-obsessed oil baron finds no redemption when faced with faith, back-stabbing, and trouble. Daniel Day-Lewis is unbelievable. “I drink your milkshake!” will keep you awake for days.
Viridiana. A nun gets unwelcome advances from her perverted uncle until he dies, and leaves her his estate, when she subsequently does her best to contain filth and gathering peasants. The movie which truly burst my faith in socialism.
Festen. A 60th birthday party with a morbid twist. It is the funniest and darkest film you will watch from this list; we can all relate to a family in crisis, but none come close to the absurdity and hilarity of this. I’ve always thought Thomas Vinterberg too handsome to make a groundbreaking film, and he’s indeed gone on to make tons. I was wrong. One can indeed have both.
Thalasso. Michel Houellebecq and Gerard Depardieu retreat to a sanctuary bereft of red wine to talk about life, the lack of red wine, and the strange surroundings – look out for a hilarious Stallone extra who ruins the entire show.
Dogman. A petty gang merchant who runs a dog parlor (and who loves dogs) winds up in trouble when being bullied by the local headcase.
Hannah and Her Sisters. Woody Allen’s multi-faceted tale of relationships, the madness of love, search for meaning, and the complexity of this insanity we call normality. Diane Wiest is to be worshipped. Problems, problems, problems – God, give me trouble. Woody Allen tries Catholicism, Oy Vey. “So you’re gonna believe in Jesus Christ?!” asks his father. “I know it sounds funny, but I’m gonna try.”
“How the hell do I know why there were Nazis? I don’t even know how the can opener works.”
EO. Au Hasard Balthazar for modern times. Follow a donkey’s journey from lowly beginnings, the horror in between, and stupidity to the end which brings transcendence. Ethereal and profound, heartbreaking. “Suffering is where we find the meaning of life.” Viola.
Henry Jacobson.
