Recently I have been giving talks about my career in
film at the British Film Institute and at BAFTA. I was asked what were my
ten favourite films? It was difficult to get it down to ten so I selected films that were truly cinematic, films that had used the unique
tools of cinema to create their impact.
RAGING BULL 1980 Boxing biopic directed by
Martin Scorsese
Robert De Niro plays the tormented boxer Jake La Motta.
Scorsese used black and white film except for the colour home-movie scenes
which depict Jake LaMotta falling in love. The fight scenes are very graphic and Jake La Motta's decline is painful to watch.
This is my favourite film of all time.
THE ENGLISH PATIENT 1996 Romantic drama
directed by Anthony Minghella
What is striking is the extraordinary use of panoramic
landscape shots in this stunning film which follows the exploits of Hungarian
Cartographer Count Laszlo de Almasy played by Ralph Fiennes.
UNFORGIVEN 1992 Western produced, directed and
lead role by Clint Eastwood
I love the way this film inverts the moral order of the
West and puts the plight of the prostitutes at its heart. It is only the third
Western ever to win an Oscar for Best Picture.
MARNIE 1962 Psychological thriller directed
by Alfred Hitchcock
This film was described as a Sex Mystery at the time. Now we would call it a psychological thriller. It is highly stylised with a strong influence from German expressionism. Hitchcock was a great admirer of the films of Fritz Lang. In some scenes the images are suffused with red, an outward sign of Marnie's memory of blood being spilled.
POLLOCK 2000 Biopic of artist directed by and the lead role played by Ed Harris
This film was a labour of love. For years Ed Harris
immersed himself in the life of Jackson Pollock to create this outstanding
biopic. I think that is what makes it so special, that Ed Harris revered Jackson Pollock and wants to do justice to his life and work.
BLADE RUNNER 1982 Dystopian science fiction directed by Ridley Scott
The film is set in Los Angeles in November 2019 (not
long then!) Its production design is exceptional, it is thought provoking and it is a film that repays many viewings.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS 1946 Adaptation of
Charles Dickens directed by David Lean
This has a memorable opening scene that grabs the
viewer. Indeed all David Lean's films have brilliant opening scenes. I am a huge admirer of his work and love these quotes from him
too:
‘Always cast against the part and it won’t be boring.’
I think people remember pictures not dialogue. That’s
why I like pictures.’
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 2006 Comedy-drama directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 2006 Comedy-drama directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
I selected this because of its terrific script, its
character driven story and its great ensemble cast.
ALL ABOUT EVE 1950 Drama written and
directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
This has a sizzling script and memorable performances
from Bette Davis and Anne Baxter. It is the only film in Oscar history to
receive four female acting nominations.
CALAMITY JANE 1953 Wild West musical
directed by David Butler
I had to include a film starring Doris Day as in
December 1980 I organised a full retrospective of her films at the National
Film Theatre with my colleague Diana Simmonds. We called our season Move Over Misconceptions: Doris Day
Reappraised and we attempted to give a feminist re-reading of Day’s films. Other
stand out Doris Day films are: Love Me or Leave Me; Pillow Talk and Teacher’s
Pet.
I’d love to hear your top ten films.
I remember seeing Great Expectations sitting on a hard, low school bench in a cold classroom at school, it was supposed to be a treat, we were all freezing, cramped and bored. It put me off the film for life I'm afraid. Liz P
ReplyDeleteOh what a shame Liz. I first watched it in much better conditions and was hooked for life.
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