10 Years Ago: A Short List for Snow-bound Viewers

I started this blog in December 2011--now ten years ago! It's hard to believe. I thought that this year I'd do some revisiting to posts I made during that first year. Here's one that included tons of films that fit particular moods.

Originally posted on January 23, 2012:

Feel like watching something to fit a very specific mood? I've compiled a list of not-so-typical categories and matched each with a show or movie that you will hopefully enjoy. Pile the blankets on, brew another cup of tea, and wait for those snow and ice storms to pass!

Animated: Ponyo (Hayao Miyazaki, 2008)

British Comedy: Black Books, seasons 1-3 (Dylan Moran, 2000-2004)

from China: The King of Masks (Tian-Ming Wu, 1997)

with intense Dialogue: My Dinner with Andre (Louis Malle, 1981)

Epic: East of Eden (Elia Kazan, 1955)

Fantasy: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Terry Gilliam, 2009)

with a Group of Guys: Diner (Barry Levinson, 1982)

Historical: The Way We Live Now, miniseries (David Yates, 2001)

Illuminating/Inspiring: Water (Deepa Mehta, 2005)

with a Journey: The Motorcycle Diaries (Walter Salles, 2004)

with a King: The Tudors, seasons 1-4 (Michael Hirst, 2007-2010)

with a Love Story: Lovers of the Arctic Circle (Julio Medem, 1998)

from Mexico: Like Water for Chocolate (Alfonso Arau, 1992)

about Nature: Life in the Undergrowth, miniseries (David Attenborough, 2005)

Outlandish: Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)

Psychological Thriller: Gaslight (George Cukor, 1944)

Quiet: Babies (Thomas Balmes, 2010)

Rebellion: The Wild One (Laslo Benedek, 1953)

about a Sleuth: Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, seasons 1-4 (John Bowen & David Cook, 1996-1998)

Tear-jerker: Biutiful (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, 2010)

Understated Classic: The Last Picture Show (Peter Bogdanovich, 1971)

Vivid Imagery: Raise the Red Lantern (Yimou Zhang, 1991)

Whimsical: Antonia's Line (Marlene Gorris, 1995)

eXhilarating: Man on Wire (James Marsh, 2008)

about Youth: My Life as a Dog (Lasse Hallstrom, 1985)

Zany: Micmacs (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2009)

If you ever want a specific recommendation or personal suggestion, send me a message. Eventually, I hope to create a little interactive quiz/questionnaire to do this- keep on the lookout!

FAVORITES: American Graffiti, Radio Days, and Rio Bravo

FAVORITES for November & December:

American Graffiti (George Lucas, 1973)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Coming of Age, 1960s, Romance, Complex Relationships

Why is it a Favorite?
Early rock 'n' roll? High school? Radio? What's not to love about this? I truly fell in love with American Graffiti as a new graduate student teaching a History of Rock 'n' Roll course. One day I asked the professor if he'd let me teach a unit on music in film, specifically watching clips from American Graffiti to illustrate the concepts. It was also a perfect way to talk about how music and technology changes our culture and is still constantly changing and shaping it. He, of course, said "yes" and I had a blast sharing this great film three years in a row.

It's a thoughtful, nostalgic look at growing up in a very specific time (in this case, 1962). The music on the radio is, arguably, the best character.

Radio Days (Woody Allen, 1987)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Coming of Age, Family, Autobiographical/Memoir, 1940s, Comedy

Why is it a Favorite?
Woody Allen is one of my favorite directors, mostly because of his silliness and fearlessness in writing what he wants. While I don't love all of his films, I do really gravitate toward the stories that are about the past. Radio Days is Woody Allen's memoir, so to speak--a glorious collection of stories from his childhood. They are funny and thoughtful stories that run parallel to another story about a society revolved around the radio. Much like in American Graffiti, the radio is a character and certain songs bring to mind very specific moments.

Plus Radio Days just has so hilarious scenes and great acting. A warm, fuzzy movie.

Rio Bravo (Howard Hawkes, 1959)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Neo-Western, Witty, Comedy

Why is it a Favorite?
Another favorite writer, Howard Hawkes, was introduced to me as a film student. One of my courses was completely devoted to the director and was also comparative. We watching Rio Bravo and I fell in love. It's my favorite Western, though it's quite different from most other films of that genre. I love that the main characters feel like a family and somehow seem more real than usual good guys and bad guys. There is depth in the witty dialogue, a completeness to the plot, and surprises in the acting. Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson? And Walter Brennan? :)

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

FAVORITES: Harold & Maude, Slumdog Millionaire, and Stand By Me

FAVORITES for September & October:

Harold & Maude (Hal Ashby, 1971)

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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Comedy, Coming of Age, Romance, Complex Relationship, Cult Classic

Why is it a Favorite?

When I first saw this film I was 17 years old and in my first head-over-heels teenage love experience. It was a complicated, tumultuous, and difficult time for me. How do you deal with another person's emotions? How do you make sense of your own? How do you maintain balance in your life? How do you handle judgment and reputation? Does it matter?

Harold & Maude wrestles with all of these questions. Yes, it is a story about an odd-couple romance between a young boy and an elderly woman, but it is ultimately a story about what love really means. It's also about being true to yourself and not compromising that. I think every teenager should see this film--it was life-changing for me.

Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan, 2008)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

India, Coming of Age, Gangster, Realism, Gritty, Trafficking, Romance

Why is it a Favorite?
This film is brilliant. The artistry, the story, the themes and symbols, the young actors, the music--everything. I fell in love with this one, though, because of the social realism and the message of hope. Slumdog Millionaire is about boys growing up on the streets, it is a film about poverty and human trafficking, it is about income inequality. It is about the triumph of determination and love over choosing the easy way.

As a graduate student I wrote about one particular scene from this film: a brutal blinding of a young boy. It is a stirring, gruesome scene that turned my stomach every time I watched. But Danny Boyle shows us the strength of the love, loyalty, and will of the boys after witnessing this cruelty--it is magnificent. The power of the human spirit is awesome.

Stand By Me (Rob Reiner, 1986)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Coming of Age, Boys, Adventure, Complex Relationships, Cult Classic

Why is it a Favorite?
Is there any better Coming of Age film, really? This one is just so perfect. Four friends, an adventure, emotions, great songs, nostalgia...

Stand By Me is a classic because of the writing and the chemistry between the young actors. We believe that these four boys are best friends. Truly. And we believe that their friendship is strong enough that they aren't afraid to share their fears and struggles with each other. River Phoenix's confession scene is quite possibly the most emotional moment in any film I've seen. And even though the story centers around an adventure to see a dead body, it's not about that at all. It's about the little things--the conversations, the wandering around, the teasing and testing and supporting of each other. The essence of friendship.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

FAVORITES: City of God, It Happened One Night, and The Motorcycle Diaries

FAVORITES for July & August:

City of God (Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, 2002)

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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Brazil, Gangs, Social Realism, Coming of Age, Cinema Novo

Why is it a Favorite?
This film is a masterpiece. It is gritty, dark, and disturbing, but also funny, entertaining, and escapist. It brings tears to your eyes and also gives you goosebumps. It leaves you feeling uncomfortable because of the state of humanity but also hopeful that change might happen. Meirelles does incredible things with editing, art direction, and narrative to make this story, based on true events, feel like fiction. So much brilliance.

It Happened One Night (Frank Capra, 1934)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Classic, romantic comedy, screwball, witty

Why is it a Favorite?
Frank Capra was the master of romantic comedies. He wrote wonderful lines and created moments that to this day are still funny and inspiring. He knew exactly how to place the actors in frame, he knew just when to fade or to cut the scene. I love this story because it is as hilarious as a Shakespeare comedy but as cute and happy-making as a fairy tale.

The Motorcycle Diaries (Walter Salles, 2004)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Travel, Based on Book, Social Realism, Political, Philosophical

Why is it a Favorite?
How can you not love a movie that is about travel and personal growth? When Ernesto "Che" Guevara took his epic motorcycle trip across the whole of South America he intended to see the continent on his way to practice as a doctor, but his journey showed him so much that disturbed and moved him that he changed his life completely. The awe-inspiring scenery and documentary-like aspects of this film never fail to make me yearn for the life of a traveler. Gorgeous film.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

FAVORITES: Antonia's Line, Central Station, and Tsotsi

FAVORITES for May & June:

Antonia's Line (Marleen Gorris, 1995)

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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Why is it a Favorite?
Who doesn't like a quirky movie about women and family? This one is so uplifting, too, because it celebrates the weird and non-traditional. I first saw this movie when I gave myself the goal of watching as many Oscar-winning foreign films as I could. I immediately bought the film after my first viewing. Don't believe the critics that claim this is an ultra-feminist film with an agenda. It isn't preachy, instead it celebrates individualism, independence, choice, and intelligence.

Central Station (Walter Salles, 1998)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Coming of Age, Travel, Complex Relationships, Spirituality

Why is it a Favorite?
I have to include Central Station in my list of favorites because I believe this is the film that made me want to study film. I was taking a course in college called "Cultures in Transition" where we watched films from Russia, China, and Brazil and then discussed how the films reflected the changing societies of those nations. It was a favorite class and Brazil was my favorite unit. Central Station does something to me, it transfixes me with all the subtle dialogue, gorgeous photography, and documentary-like moments. Walter Salles is now one of my favorite directors. This film also made we want to study Coming of Age films. It is a powerful story because it feels real and gets at deep-seeded, hardly expressed emotions.

Tsotsi (Gavin Hood, 2005)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Gangster, Coming of Age, Poverty, Complex Relationships, Income Inequality, Philosophical

Why is it a Favorite?

I can't praise this film enough. Tsotsi is so much more than a Gangster film or a Coming of Age film. It is so much more than a film about the slums of South Africa. There is a philosophical thread (almost spiritual) in this story that weaves its way in and out of the plot, a main character that makes you ache with compassion, a setting that will bring tears to your eyes...the story stays with you for days. Of all the films I have seen (which is a ridiculous number) this is one that I always recommend everyone view. It's startling and harsh and gritty and disturbing but also so very poignant.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

FAVORITES: The Fall, The Lady Eve, and M*A*S*H

FAVORITES for March & April:


The Fall (Tarsem Singh, 2006)

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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Visually Stunning, Whimsical, Artistic, Philosophical

Why is it a Favorite?
I'm a sucker for beautiful films and films that stray from the traditional narratives. This one weaves reality with fiction, is touching and dramatic at the same time whimsical. Tarsem makes incredible art and he traveled all over the globe (28 countries) for 4 years to make this masterpiece.

The Lady Eve (Preston Sturges, 1941)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Romantic/Screwball Comedy, Witty

Why is it a Favorite?
Because they just don't make romantic movies like they used to. This one is the best, in my opinion. Barbara Stanwyck was sexy, funny, smart, and beautiful. And this story is so bizarre it's hard not to enjoy.

M*A*S*H (Robert Altman, 1970)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Korean War, Comedy, Satire

Why is it a Favorite?
Not only is this one of my favorites, it is my all-time favorite. I don't know why, really, it just makes me incredibly happy. I think this is the best dramatic comedy of all time, quite possibly the wittiest American film. And it is timeless.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

FAVORITES: Amelie, Diner, and A Town Called Panic

FAVORITES for January & February:

Amelie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Whimsical, Coming of Age, Adventure, Romance

Why is it a Favorite?
I saw Amelie in the theater when I was 16 years old, just starting my journey into the realm of movies and romance. This film means a lot to me, not just because it brings back memories of my teenage years and the tumultuous relationships I had, but also because it made me start thinking about what I value and who I want to be. It's a darn good film, one of the best ever made, in my opinion. It is escapist, but it also has meaningful moments. It is gorgeous in the artistry and cinematography--oh, those bold colors. It has complicated, strange, and interesting characters. It employs an interesting narrative structure...I could go on. There is a certain "comforting something" about the atmosphere of this film--like puffy clouds and chalk drawings and mud between the toes--that makes me nostalgic and contented.

Diner (Barry Levinson, 1982)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

1950s, Coming of Age, Friendship, Day-in-the-life

Why is it a Favorite?
I LOVE coming of age films that center around a group of men, as you've read on this blog many times before. Diner is definitely that, but it also has the advantage of having a very improvisational script which leads to a flow that really appeals to me. Some might call it "slow" or "aimless," but I like that. I enjoy being the eavesdropper/voyeur who just watches what's going on. Films don't have to have monumental struggles or conflicts, there doesn't need to be a big moment of truth. This film feels like real-life, the conversations, the relationships, the arguments, the little moments.

A Town Called Panic (Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar 2009)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Whimsical, Animation, Adventure

Why is it a Favorite?
I first saw this film when I was home sick and browsing through my Netflix streaming options. It looked fun and uplifting so I pressed "play." The series of reactions that ensued sounded something like this:
"What?" then
"What is this?" then
"OMG, what?!" then
"Seriously, what the **** is this?"
I have never laughed so hard and something I barely understood. This film is completely, absolutely bizarre and I love it. I can't describe it so you'll just have to watch.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here