Some quick ideas to spice up your movie viewing. These range from cult through to mainstream and represent some of my favourite films.
A Zed & Two Noughts
This 1985 film was the first art-house movie I saw. It had just come out and was on the big screen. I was hooked. From what I understand it’s about death, symmetry, decay, loss and the beautiful 17th century paintings of Vermeer. Plus throw in references to the forger of Vermeer; van Meegeren. No, I’m not kidding. If that’s not enough to absorb, we have the unforgettable music of Michael Nyman – all repetitions and tonal stabs. I’m not done yet; David Attenborough ‘appears’ and there are visual puns and clues to Vermeer’s famous paintings (the Director – Peter Greenaway – is also an artist/painter). It’s beautifully put together; each shot is like a professional photographer’s finest work. The film may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’ll make you think. And hopefully entertain you.
Let the Right One In
This 2008 Swedish film is chilling and yet moving. It’s a tale of a young vampire; who may – or may not – be a girl. The vampire is befriended by a lonely, bullied boy. It’s not Twilight by any means; it’s deeper and more intelligent. Yes it was remade in the USA (Let Me In), which wasn’t half bad. But seriously ; on a cold winters night, turn all the lights off and just be carried away by this original.
2001: A Space Odyssey
My favourite film of all time. It took about 3 years to make this sci-fi masterpiece; from 1965 to 1968. When you watch it today just remember there were no computer special effects – everything was done with models and effectively by hand. It unfolds over 3 acts. My terms for these are The Dawn Of Man(kind), A Journey into Space and A Journey Beyond Space. It’s deep and open to interpretation. The creators have never said exactly what “it’s about”. But don’t let that put you off. Again when watching it don’t forget we hadn’t landed on the Moon yet and computers – in 1968 – were slow things we talked to using glorified typewriters. IBM info