Looking for a film to rent? Here are some of my picks for great films that have
been (or should soon be) released on video. My rating system for these films is
"Stellar" vs. "Really good." I've generally excluded real obvious great ones.
No guarantees here--I'm just a guy with high standards and a bad memory. Feel
free to send
me your reactions.
I'm always looking for film suggestions from people with similar tastes--If
you like the films on this list, please send
me some of your picks.
1991, USA, 112 min., Director: John Singleton, Drama
Really good. Good story about several young guys in South Central L.A. Gives a
realistic view of life in a gang-ridden inner city, and hints at a more politically
aware way of understanding urban problems. Amazing debut for the then 23-year-old
director.
1992, USA, 104 min., Director: Joe Berlinger; Bruce Sinofsky, Documentary
Stellar. Fascinating telling of a legal episode in the Upstate New York village
of Munnville involving a microcosm of early 20th century farm life, the clash
between the mainstream and the rural, and grassroots solidarity.
1989, USA, 120 min., Director: Spike Lee, Drama/Comedy
Really good. Spins an entertaining tale while exposing the issues, perspectives,
and happenings that could explain a racial riot. Laugh and take notes, but be
prepared to find no heroes.
1989, Australia, 100 min., Director: John Duigan, Drama
Really good. Entertaining and slightly off-beat awkward youth story. Much better
than the title. Based on the same protagonist as Duigan's The
Year My Voice Broke.
1991, USA, 130 min., Director: Jon Avnet, Drama/Comedy
Really good. A good story that kept me involved almost the whole way. Make
that two stories. Definitely Hollywood-infected (it looks like Avnet is shooting
for a meaningful tale of personal empowerment), but strong suggestion of a positive
lesbian relationship. Some funny bits.
1986, USA, 103 min., Director: Woody Allen, Drama/Comedy
Stellar. I think this is perhaps Allen's best film. Beautiful, perceptive/insightful
dialogue and rewarding character development permeate a handful of sub-tales
of life and relationship in an (of course) up-scale and troubled Manhattan family.
Funny. Well casted and acted.
1986, France, 122 min., Director: Claude Berri, Drama
Really good. Nice story about access to water in a remote French farming community.
Moves perhaps a little slowly in a couple of places, but it is a tale of country
life. Beautifully filmed. Best viewed as the first half of a larger story that
all comes together at the end of the sequel, Manon of the Spring.
1979, USA, 114 min., Director: Martin Ritt, Docudrama/Drama
Really good. Based on a true story, Norma Rae is perhaps the only popular U.S.
film giving unions their due. A bit Hollywood, but very entertaining--not just
a "go labor" film.
1995, U.K., Length?, Director: Simon Langton, Drama
Really good. I'm not sure the A&E series is out on video. Won't disappoint,
if you like that up-tight 19th century English, Austen-based, witty romance
dialogue with fairly bourgeois middle-class heroes. For some reason, I do. Really
well executed, except for the character of Mrs. Bennett, who is a little too
histrionic.
1948, USA, 81 min., Director: Alfred Hitchcock, Drama/Suspense
Stellar. Loosely based on a real case, an engaging story about the twisted elitism
of two (implicitly homosexual) college men. Filmed entirely in one apartment,
with a near-successful attempt at filming the entire thing in one take, you might
really feel like a fly on the wall. The actors' tension in performing marathon
takes (which Hitchcock said was intentional) enhances a naturally tension-making
premise. Pulls you in from frame one.
1988, USA, 116 min., Director: Sidney Lumet, Drama
Really good. Poignant story involving children affected by their parents' prior
political choices. Actually portrays leftists as intelligent, caring, balanced
people.
Stellar. Nothing funny about this one--it's actually a psychodrama. Six people
in one place for a long time, driven by Allen's perceptive pen. One of them has
a secret.
1996, Australia/UK, 105 min., Director: Scott Hicks, Docudrama/Drama
Really good. Off-beat and really engaging. The tale is apparently a bit overstated,
especially the purported madness-inspiring impact of performing the "Rach-3."
But if you ever see the real David Helfgott, you can see that the portrayal
of him in the film (as an adult) is amazingly on target. Terrific film.
1972, UK, 138 min., Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Mystery
Really good. From the online review at All-Music Guide: "Sleuth is an engaging,
intelligent mystery about a mystery author...plotting revenge against his wife's
lover...by inviting him over to their house for an evening" where "dangerous games"
ensue.
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