every great film should seem new every time you see it

    This is the next of several (seven?) posts that springs from an article, essentially listing "the most [x] book I've read." Having worked through the list in book form (e.g. here), I've decided to do the same with movies.   

 

The most apocalyptic movie I saw: Waterworld (1995)

    Peculiar, solitary, and both good and bad. It was a brave movie to make. I didn't hate it, just thought that the last third was dumb and unworthy of the film as a whole. Surprisingly (to me), I liked the apocalyptic part.

    (reviewed here)

 

The most elegant movie I saw: The White Countess (2005)

    People often ask me what leads me to the particular movies that I choose to watch. I don't keep track, of course. Who would? The movies come from all over: Best-lists (including AFI, Academy Awards and other honors); personal recommendations from family, friends, and blog readers; previews on other movies that I've really liked; actors, directors, or cinematographers whose work I've admired before, and critical reviewers by writers I generally trust. Sometimes it's just luck.

    As it was with this film. Maybe I found it during a Ralph Fiennes phase, or maybe while thinking about the late Natasha Richardson. Prehaps going down the rabbit-hole of Merchant/Ivory films. It's on some best-lists despite generally lukewarm reviews and audience response, though Roger Ebert's review—link in the title at top—is a lovely counterpoint. Doesn't really matter where I found it, because I liked it. Beautiful, tragic, romantic, and yes, elegant.  

    (reviewed here)

 

The most eloquent movie I saw: The Illusionist (2006)

    A mysterious movie, not like anything I'd seen before. Completely engrossing—the kind of film that doesn't allow me to fold laundry or work a jigsaw puzzle while I'm watching, but taking total attention. Edward Norton is such a wonderful actor, and is marvelous and mesmerizing in the title role. And, through him, the movie says profound, remarkable things.

    (reviewed here)

 

The most enchanting movie I saw: The Princess Bride (1987)

    This film is practically the definition of enchanting. It is that rare sort of film that is appealing both to children and adults, women and men. Silly, sly, romantic, funny, thoughtful, and action-packed, it is always as good as the first time.

    (seen several times, not reviewed, shocking, gotta watch it again soon to remedy that!)

 

The most intuitive movie I saw: Hud (1963)

    I think that Hud was one of the best films ever made. It is bleak and desperate, engrossing and repellent, and I couldn't tear my eyes away. How could Paul Newman seem so ugly? How could someone who seems like a hero be so awful? It doesn't feel like a movie, but like real life that we're getting to see as it happens. It seems like there's no script, just people interacting with others (and in some extraordinary ways). It's as if they're just feeling their way through. 

    (reviewed here)

 

[based on this post; the title quotation is from Roger Ebert]