Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with films

Horror Twists

Holly — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:10:21 -0800

Two horror films from about 10 years ago, M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense" and Alejandro Amenábar's "The Others", basically have the same twist at the end (which I won't describe here). Are there any other films you've seen with the same twist or similar - released either before (ideally) or since?

Help us recreate iconic film costumes for our holiday party

Unicorn on the cob — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:22:37 -0800

[CostumeFilter]: My company is having a Hollywood-themed holiday party in two weeks. Please help me think of a good costume for myself and my boyfriend. Difficulty factors: He has a beard, I'm short and curvy. The idea is red carpet moments, classic Hollywood, or memorable screen roles. Ideally this would be something highly recognizable, like the Marilyn Manson/Rose McGowan red carpet look (but nothing x-rated) or, say, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra. Unfortunately, I can't think of many "memorable" red carpet/Oscar moments that couples have shared, and I don't want to just buy a nice dress (boring!) when we could go full costume instead.

The couple with the best outfit wins a significant amount of spending money and a trip to Hollywood, so we are motivated; he is willing to shave the beard if it's worth it.

So far, we've kicked around the idea of going as young Obi-Wan and Padme Amidala or Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz (he'd make a reluctant cowardly lion) but we don't want to get TOO crazy on spending money and have a short amount of time to work on it, since the Thanksgiving holiday's about to start.

Both of us have black hair and he wears glasses, if that helps. The celebrities we most closely resemble naturally are Tori Amos (me) and a mix of Charlie Chaplin and Justin Long (him).

We don't have to go as a specific couple from the movie itself, just two characters from the same film will also work but I'm having trouble finding stuff like this by poking around on IMDB. Googling for Hollywood couples is equally unhelpful, since I'm trying to cross-reference roles and memorable looks. Thanks for any suggestions!

Movies set at Christmas

bonaldi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:20:21 -0800

What are the best movies set at Christmas that aren't actually Christmas movies? I'm looking for some of the best movies set around the Christmas holiday season that aren't actually about Christmas or the Christmas spirit or anything like that.

It's a tricky line, but I think one way to judge is to consider if the film would work pretty much as well if it wasn't set at Christmas. So: No to Elf, The Santa Clause or Miracles on 34th Street, but yes to Die Hard, Die Hard II, Ghostbusters II, etc.

What is the meaning of the opening scene in "A Serious Man"?

schrodycat — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:53:19 -0800

What is the meaning of the opening scene in "A Serious Man"? (possible spoilers inside) What is the meaning of the opening scene in "A Serious Man"? It seems irrelevant to the rest of the story. Then again, many other things in the movie seem irrelevant. For example, the story of the engraved teeth. In fact, the movie made a point of saying that this story was pointless.

Don't get me wrong - I loved the movie - I just don't really understand it. Am I missing the connections, or is it just an abstract kind of movie?

Best Intelligent Feel Good Movies?

watercarrier — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:52:38 -0800

What's a really good, intelligent movie that's guaranteed to make you feel good? Anything goes except anything with talking animals, animation or anything holiday related.

Which are the best movies to get on Blu-Ray?

bent back tulips — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:15:20 -0800

Which are the best movies to get on Blu-Ray? So, the HD format wars are long over and I'm looking at buying my first Blu-Ray player. So I want to know: which films most benefit from the Blu-Ray medium? (Or television content, for that matter; I hear that Planet Earth is practically the first thing one should buy on Blu-Ray.)

So are there movies that blew your mind when you saw them in HD? Which are most impressive or improved over the DVD?

Also, assuming my player does a decent job of upscaling standard DVDs, will it be worth purchasing Blu-Rays of any movies that I already own on DVD? (Not that I'm averse to buying my fifth copy of Blade Runner, but...)

I should note that I'm mainly curious about visual pizazz since I do not own anything resembling a Sound System(tm), just the speakers on my TV.

Download films/tv shows legitimately in the UK without iTunes?

plechazunga — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:11:11 -0800

How can I LEGALLY pay for or rent and download movies in the UK without using iTunes? Not an iTunes hater, but want something that will let me stream from my laptop to my TV via my Xbox 360. Also I don't mind paying. I need this to satiate my occasional (usually drunken) desire to watch a film late at night once the shops are closed.

And I am in the UK!!!

Help a 13 y/o get to know the Amercian soldier.

keith0718 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:30:34 -0800

What resources (films, books, websites) can I share with my 13 y/o daughter who has expressed a recent keen admiration and care for the American soldier from the Vietnam War era to the present? I recently took my 13 y/o daughter to see The Hurt Locker, after which she expressed a deeply felt admiration for the American soldier. I told her that not everyone feels the same way; and that, especially after the Vietnam War, soldiers were subject to quite a bit of disrespect when they returned home. She was really interested in his phenomenon and I would like to direct her to some resources (films, books, websites) that help her explore it and empathize with the existential experiences of the American soldier both on the battlefield and at home.

Help me find "Living Famously"

crossoverman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:07:27 -0800

Can anyone help me track down a documentary series called "Living Famously"? That link goes to the Australia ABC site which screened the series in about 2004.

Details of the series here from 2002 MIPCOM:

LIVING FAMOUSLY
Documentary/ 25 x 60’
Language: English
Producer: BBC
Cast: James Dean, Marvin Gaye, Laurel
and Hardy, Peter Sellers, Karen Carpenter
Delivery status: in production
Year of production: 2002, Country of
origin: UK
A stunning series of biographical portraits
revealing the true stories of the lives of 25
of the greatest names in international
entertainment.

(From the ABC Australia site: Camera/Director: Cassie Farrell)

It hasn't screened in Australia since then, nor can I find any reference to it on the BBC site. I am particularly interested in the episodes that covered classic Hollywood, because the collection paints an interesting portrait of how entangled the lives of certain celebrities were during the 30s and 40s.

Is this series for sale anywhere? Online? Torrents? I am actually happy to pay for it if it's for sale anywhere, but my Google Fu isn't working if that's true.

I almost doubted the series existed (as a series, I thought it might have been old A&E bio episodes repurposed for screening here) - couldn't quite remember its name, until I searched the ABC Australia site (Lana Turner, who I knew had been profiled, led me to its name).

Now I find it odd I can barely find it referenced anywhere - ie. it doesn't seem to be on IMDB at all!

The accumulation of team members in space movies

np312 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:08:42 -0800

Please name some sci- fi space movies that have a team of (at least) four characters, a team of heroes that eventually forms organically over the course of the film (ex: Star Wars.) I'm -not- looking for any situation where there is a PRE-ESTABLISHED team/military force/family unit of space travelers already in place before the film begins, such as in Star Trek movies, that has Star Fleet already established to put groups together.

I AM interested in sci fi movies set in space where a team of characters that have never met before, band together as the story progresses. My definition of "team" is that they all share a common goal, even if it's just survival, and they work closely together to achieve that goal.

Only looking for space movies, thanks. Other than Star Wars and Spaceballs, I can't think of any.

Films about dogs for adults

K.P. — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:34:42 -0800

Can you help me find more films like Marley and Me--i.e. films about dogs, but made for adults. For the purpose of this search, Marley and Me is the ideal film as it contains

1. A dog (first seen as a puppy) no bigger than a lab, and does not exhibit human-levels of IQ--nor cause anything beyond normal, realistic dog-related mayhem and

2. A plot/script aimed at adults, with children either absent or almost inconsequential.

I'd like to find more films like this.

I would like to avoid what are most definitely children's films, the kind that parents simply endure while the kids laugh. The sort where the precocious child or children "save the day" and the adults are all incompetent imbeciles, only present to be on the receiving end of tedious slapstick. "Home Alone plus a dog" type films.

In between these 2 extremes are films with children and dogs, but without imbecilic adults, dogs that are extra-brainy and "save the day" (or go on "an incredible journey"), dogs that talk, and people resurrected as dogs. I'm not looking for films with a premise like these, unless you think they're especially good. Or films that seem to promise lots of onscreen dogs but don't deliver (does Must Love Dogs actually have lots of dogs onscreen?)

K9 is a borderline case, but Turner and Hooch is not (Hooch is too big and slobbery). The Truth About Cats and Dogs would be ok if it had two or three times as much screen-time for the dogs.

The Year of the Dog looks like it fits the bill, and so does My Dog Skip and Dog Park. The Shiloh trilogy looks like an acceptable borderline case. Old Yeller is, of course, already on the list.

So....what are some other good films about dogs that are made for adults instead of children?

How to track down public performance rights for films?

muscatlove — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:29:55 -0800

What happened to the US public performance rights for many Studio Ghibli (home of director Hayao Miyazaki) animated films? I'm trying to set up a film festival and no one seems to know who owns the rights.. is there any way to find out? I've been trying to get a series of 4 films to show for a Japanese film series for about 3 months, and I'm at the bang-head-on-desk stage of things as I wonder why companies make it so difficult to find out how to legally screen their products. After giving up on a number of films with no US rights holder due to companies that are seemingly impossible to get a response from, I thought that it might be much easier to deal with US rights holders with clear policies instead.

So I turned to Swank Motion Pictures, distributor for Disney/Buena Vista Home Entertainment, who owned the US rights for several Studio Ghibli films. However, I went through their catalog and was surprised to see only 4 films listed, when there used to be many more. After talking to them on the phone, they told me that recently they had been excited to expand their animation offerings by several orders of magnitude, only to receive warning that the rights were no longer valid for a large percentage of films not long after, forcing them to pull many titles from their catalogs, including most of the Studio Ghibli films I wanted to show.

Thinking this was odd, I searched online (Google, Variety.com, etc.) for a few hours trying to see if the US rights moved elsewhere instead.. no dice. Then I got a phone number for Walt Disney/Buena Vista's reception from a reference librarian, and the staffer said I'd have to talk to the legal department for information, and that phone transfer lead me to a message that the voice mail for the number was not valid and it hung up on me. Calling back hasn't worked so far..

I'm starting to wonder just what happened to the screening rights for all of these films (specifically "Whisper of the Heart" and "Porco Rosso"), as the DVDs are still for sale and I can't find a single reference anywhere to legal difficulties.

Anyone know what might have happened, or how to find out? My eternal gratitude if you know of some centralized database where one can find out who owns the rights (and how to contact them!) for films that ISN'T the Internet Movie Database..

Movies about creative collaboration?

oulipian — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:48:04 -0800

Examples of movies about people collaborating on creative projects? I'm looking for examples of movies that are about groups of people working on creative projects together. I'm teaching a class for artists and designers that focusses on collaborative creative work, and may show some of these movies in class.

A couple of examples I've come up with so far: My Best Fiend, about the troubled working relationship between director Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski, and I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, a documentary following Wilco during the making of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

I think documentaries would be most useful for my purposes, but feel free to suggest fiction as well, or even other media if you think it might be helpful.

Looking for movies with similar monologues like the one Sigourney Weaver gives in Prayers for Bobby.

querty — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:20:54 -0800

Looking for movies with similar monologues like the one Sigourney Weaver gives in Prayers for Bobby. Just watched Prayers for Bobby and Sigourney Weaver's character [SPOILERS!] gives this tear-jerking monologue. Are there any other movies with similar monologues like this one?

Specifically where a character realizes he or she forced _____ onto a loved one (or a group of people) which caused _____. Religion-related monologues preferred; but I suppose if one were to fill in the blanks, politics/other ideologies could work as well. The more tear-jerking the better.

Where can I find the Polish film "Requiem dla 500,000"?

ovesh — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:47:23 -0800

My father, a holocaust survivor, is interested in a Polish film called "Requiem dla 500,000" (Requiem for 500,000, directed by Waclaw Kazimierczak and Jerzy Bossak). I was entrusted with the task of getting a hold of it (purchase/download etc). Where should I start? I couldn't find it on Amazon, Google Video, etc.

What are the notebooks seen in "The Life Aquatic"?

punchdrunkhistory — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:59:36 -0800

What brands are, and/or where can I find the notebooks used by Cate Blanchett's and Bill Murray's characters in The Life Aquatic? I can only find screencaps of the insides of the notebooks, sadly. Blanchett's is a small, spiralbound notebook with what looks like a recycled type of cover and cream-colored pages; inside seen here. Murray's is a thin black Moleskineish notebook, inside seen here.

This blog informs me that Blanchett's notebook is similar to the notebooks Wes Anderson himself uses, but that has also turned up few results. Thank you for your help!

What are some film scenes involving clapping?

emflr — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:22:18 -0800

What are some films with scenes involving clapping/applause? Can you think of films with scenes in which clapping or applause is prominent and integral to the plot? I am helping compile a montage of scenes involving clapping (like Orson Welles at the performance in Citizen Kane or the "slow clap" in Not Another Teen Movie) and your help would be greatly appreciated. I asked a few weeks ago for scenes with locks/handcuffs and got a great response here.

Best WWII air battle movie scenes

keith0718 — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:25:39 -0800

What's the best WWII movies for air battle scenes (domestic or foreign)? Documentaries are fine, but I'm really looking for dramas.

What are some films with scenes involving locks?

emflr — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:06:03 -0800

Can you think of films with scenes in which a lock (or locker, safe, handcuffs, etc.) is prominent and integral to the plot? I am helping compile a montage of scenes involving locks (like Dial M for Murder key hiding, or Gaslight desk lock opening). Heist films, people getting out of handcuffs, locks being picked -- these things would all be helpful.

Need films in which someone knows something important but no one believes them.

mammalian — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:04:38 -0800

I'm looking for films in which someone knows something important but no one will listen to them. Sarah Conner in Terminator 2, Rosemary in Rosemary's Baby, Horton in Horton Hears a Who. Others? Obscure or famous; either is good.

Give us a clue?

Beardman — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:09:58 -0800

Can you think of any films that include a scene where the characters play Charades, or a similar party game? I've been tasked with writing a screenplay for, and possibly shooting, a short film about a rowdy game of Charades at a party. I'd like to see how other movies have done this kind of thing, as much to avoid repetition as for inspiration. Examples from theatre or TV shows (though no game shows, please) would also be helpful. Thanks!

Licensing Question

octomato — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:45:59 -0800

Licensing foreign films for commercial use follow up... Following up on this question:
How can I go about licensing foreign films (1940-1960s) for a web based commercial?
I have contacted various production companies but keep hitting a wall. Some of the films that are "rights free" are licensed in Europe, but not in the States. We have a few films in mind, how can we proceed?

Thanks!

Not Tinkerbell again...

Artw — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:09:02 -0800

What animated movies star awesome female characters? Bonus points if it's appropriate for a younger children (a 3 year old and a 6 year old), extra special bonus points if it's not utterly irritating to adults. Scary bits may need a certain amount of skipping over.

Search for foreign films about everyday people

crapmatic — Sun, 31 May 2009 02:58:09 -0800

What foreign film titles are there that involve remarkably realistic characters -and- settings as part of the plot and use a contemporary setting? I watched the recent Italian film The Son's Room, and plot aside I found an angle here that I really liked -- the drama of everyday people in another country, with both characters and setting presented with stark realism and minimal music scoring. This made it a surprisingly immersive movie. So I'm wondering what else might fit this theme to show bits of what ordinary life is like in other cultures and countries, short of going down the road of documentaries or reality programs (which is really a totally different genre).

In other words, rather than what foreign films typically offer: lush stylized settings (Amelie), epic events (Journey from the Fall), suspense and crime (The Lives of Others), or older family sagas (Heimat); I'm interested in believable 2000s-era characters in realistic settings faced with whatever problems the plot brings their way. The Finnish The Man Without A Past might be an example, though with that the story probably leans a bit toward the fanciful side.

Examples of US and other English-language films are perfectly fine if they stand out in some way, but I'm a bit more interested in other cultures.

I do concede that this is a hard question for me to frame and I'm a little short on sleep; hopefully I'm making sense.

Desperately seeking Representation

Anonymous — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:47:22 -0800

I'm an aspiring screenwriter and I need help finding an agent or manager. Askme, please help! So I've been writing scripts for several years. I've written ten scripts, seven of which I would show people. I've won some honors (a Gold award in one contest, semifinalist in several others), have had producers interested in one script (They actually met with me, had me do a rewrite, on spec of course, but didn't want to proceed because I didn't have an agent) but I've yet to find an agent. I've also yet to do the big push to find someone (i.e. sending out 300 query letters)

What are your suggestions for finding one? Should I just get the Hollywood Representation Directory and e-mail everyone? Should I mention one script? A few? All of them? I actually put together a "writing resume" which lists the scripts, with a logline, the honors I've won and my screenwriting education. Should I send this out to agents?

There are also many "services" that claim to do this for you, such as Scriptblaster, for example. Are they worthwhile?

Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.