Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with recommendations and movie

INT. Study - Night

the NATURAL — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:14:41 -0800

ScreenplayFilter: What are the best screenplays that you've ever read? What are the best screenplays you've ever read, produced or unproduced? (And, if they're unproduced, where could I secure a copy to read?)

You know what I mean -- the ones that you pick up and suck you in, entirely, wholeheartedly, until you are seeing the movie through your own eyes. Those which are so well-written, well-thought out, and clever, that you can't help but be impressed by the screenwriter's talent and artistry.

For me and my marginal experience, it's The Shawshank Redemption, Michael Clayton, Stranger Than Fiction, and Syriana. But what are yours?

Movie Recommendation

jschu — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:44:08 -0800

What are some movies my mom might enjoy? I'd love to hear your suggestions for dvds I can get for my mom. I'm looking for romantic comedy-esque films that we can watch together. She doesn't enjoy science fiction, violence, anything over PG-13, or anything "weird." I'm looking for pleasant girlie movies like Sweet Home Alabama, PS I Love You, You've Got Mail, and The Nanny Diaries, which was her favorite so far. She was okay with Enchanted, but I think that was as far as her "weirdness" tolerance goes.

We also like Grey's Anatomy and House, and she likes to read murder mystery novels, so if there is any chick flick out there that entails any element from those things, I'd love to hear about it! Thanks.

Please recommend movies about making movies.

clockwork — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:59:06 -0800

I watched Incident at Loch Ness recently and it reminded me how much I enjoy watching actors pretending to be actors and directors, so now I'm looking for more. The Film within a film tag on IMDB gave me a pretty good start, but it doesn't totally correspond with what I'm looking for. I'm interested primarily in highbrow, dramatic movies like Opening Night and 8½ that explore the craft and the conflicts involved in producing a movie or a play. I'm also interested in half-serious comedies like The Stunt Man, Shadow of the Vampire, and A Cock and Bull Story that play around with the fourth wall or with the actors perceptions of reality.

I'm least interested in light comedies like State and Main, Waiting for Guffman, UHF, The Producers, and the TV series Studio 60 where the bulk of the action happens to take place in the context of a production; however, in the interest of completeness, I encourage you to submit them anyway.

I'm sure I've forgotten some obvious ones, so fire away.

What do you get the guy whose seen everything?

Gucky — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:27:52 -0800

What do I put in a cult/horror/art/indie film care package for my (really non-traditional) dad that he hasn't seen? My dad's going through a set of really grisly surgeries and needs entertainment to get his mind off of it, so I want to send him some DVDs. (He can't read, due to an issue with his eyes, as well as the pain killers.)

The problem? He's got awesome taste in movies already and I've sent him everything I think would be just his thing -- and then some.

This is a guy who took me to see LIQUID SKY and THE SHINING when I was a kid. His favorite films tend to be weird-awesome-cult -- FORBIDDEN ZONE, PINK FLAMINGOS, MAN BITES DOG, KILLING ZOE, THEY LIVE. He was very involved in film in the '80s so he's seen most of the "important" cult works from then and before.

He takes great pleasure in exposing the small town biker folks around him to stuff that "blows their mind" -- whether that's MEET THE FEEBLES or Gwar concerts on tape. He thinks Rob Zombie is the coolest ever (he fancies himself an evil hillbilly).

I've sent him BATTLE ROYALE, SKIDOO, OLD BOY, FORGOTTEN SILVER, SERIES 7: THE CONTENDERS to positive reviews. He enjoys things like JACKASS TWO as well as ERASERHEAD. He hated HOSTEL, thinking it was too stupid and exploitive -- not enough plot.

He moved to the middle of nowhere a little over 10 years ago, so anything recent has a better shot of wowing him. He's tended towards American cult, so foreign might have a better shot. He will have seen anything that gets run on standard cable.

He's requested DEATH PROOF and PLANET TERROR. I'm throwing in HOLY MOUNTAIN and MISTER FREEDOM for good measure. What else can I send his way? (I buy media, so things that are available DVD are best, but I'll scrounge up a bootleg if it's perfect.)

Trippy movie recommendations

marsha56 — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 01:41:34 -0800

What are your favorite 'trippy' movies? Please, no science fiction or horror, since these genres are trippy by definition and because I'm not really a fan of either.

What makes for a 'trippy' movie? Weird enough to induce a 'trip' or trance-like state, ie, something other than straight forward story telling.

Examples of what I'm looking for: McCabe and Mrs Miller, Apocolyse Now (especially Redux version), Big Lebowski, Night of the Hunter, Moulin Rouge, Baghdad Cafe, Harold and Maude.