Dark movies like Winters Bone or Eastern Promises?
March 24, 2011 10:13 PM Subscribe
Movies with a certain atmosphere really hit the spot when life gets me down. The top three movies that match this mood are Winters Bone, Eastern Promises, and Mystic River. Can you think of others I might like?
It's more than just being dark, gritty, and miserable, because for instance, Biutiful did not exactly hit the spot, if that helps at all. I'll watch this thread, in case this is too little to go on. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.
It's more than just being dark, gritty, and miserable, because for instance, Biutiful did not exactly hit the spot, if that helps at all. I'll watch this thread, in case this is too little to go on. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.
Gone Baby Gone.
posted by fshgrl at 10:34 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 10:34 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: This thread is off to an excellent start. I'm off to watch The Return on Netflix streaming right now. Thank you for these good suggestions.
posted by slidell at 10:57 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by slidell at 10:57 PM on March 24, 2011
McCabe & Mrs. Miller.
posted by Victorvacendak at 11:09 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by Victorvacendak at 11:09 PM on March 24, 2011
THE AMERICAN FRIEND
INSOMNIA (the original)
STROSZEK
SCUM
LE TROU
AU HASARD BALTHAZAR (Anything by Robert Bresson - especially BALTHAZAR as well as PICKPOCKET and A MAN ESCAPED)
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA
posted by cinemafiend at 11:51 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
INSOMNIA (the original)
STROSZEK
SCUM
LE TROU
AU HASARD BALTHAZAR (Anything by Robert Bresson - especially BALTHAZAR as well as PICKPOCKET and A MAN ESCAPED)
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA
posted by cinemafiend at 11:51 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you need anything darker and filled with more melancholy than the films I've listed above - I can go deeper... I've seen some soulcrushers.
posted by cinemafiend at 11:55 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by cinemafiend at 11:55 PM on March 24, 2011
This is the first thing that I thought of, an unfairly under recognized Jeff Bridges film from the early 80s, Cutter's Way and from the 70s another Bridges film, Winter Kills.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 12:16 AM on March 25, 2011
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 12:16 AM on March 25, 2011
I have watched Winter's Bone 4 times, so I can relate. Other films that give me similar feelings:
The Sweet Hereafter
Breaking the Waves
All the Real Girls
Stuff from this thread
posted by analog at 12:18 AM on March 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
The Sweet Hereafter
Breaking the Waves
All the Real Girls
Stuff from this thread
posted by analog at 12:18 AM on March 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
I think I get where you're coming from... for me, these 4 give me that feeling of "man, the world sure is a heap of trouble":
Children of Men
Drugstore Cowboy
Michael Clayton
Clean & Sober
posted by artlung at 12:25 AM on March 25, 2011
Children of Men
Drugstore Cowboy
Michael Clayton
Clean & Sober
posted by artlung at 12:25 AM on March 25, 2011
Lone Star, for sure. Soul-crushing bordertown stuff.
I'm thinking Eve's Bayou, too, although it's been a while since I've seen it.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 12:26 AM on March 25, 2011
I'm thinking Eve's Bayou, too, although it's been a while since I've seen it.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 12:26 AM on March 25, 2011
A History of Violence
This Is Not a Love Song
posted by jon1270 at 2:00 AM on March 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
This Is Not a Love Song
posted by jon1270 at 2:00 AM on March 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Winter's Bone felt in the same mood as Frozen River to me.
You might also try Ratcatcher, Revanche, and Terribly Happy.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 3:40 AM on March 25, 2011
You might also try Ratcatcher, Revanche, and Terribly Happy.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 3:40 AM on March 25, 2011
"The House of Sand and Fog" has the same kind of gloomy, drifty thing going on. You may also want to look into "Mumblecore" movies which can be sort of precious, but are also very character-centric, lazily paced mood pieces.
posted by GilloD at 4:29 AM on March 25, 2011
posted by GilloD at 4:29 AM on March 25, 2011
Ratcatcher
Fish Tank
O homen do ano/The Man of the Year
Ciudad de m/City of M
Lila Says
posted by Forktine at 5:21 AM on March 25, 2011
Fish Tank
O homen do ano/The Man of the Year
Ciudad de m/City of M
Lila Says
posted by Forktine at 5:21 AM on March 25, 2011
posted by Karlos the Jackal
Which reminds me: the miniseries Carlos is available on streaming on Netflix, and has a lot of the elements that this question is looking for.
posted by Forktine at 5:23 AM on March 25, 2011
Which reminds me: the miniseries Carlos is available on streaming on Netflix, and has a lot of the elements that this question is looking for.
posted by Forktine at 5:23 AM on March 25, 2011
Strongly 2nding McCabe & Mrs. Miller.
La promesse.
Le temps du loup.
River's Edge.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:50 AM on March 25, 2011
La promesse.
Le temps du loup.
River's Edge.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:50 AM on March 25, 2011
Nthing The Sweet Hereafter. It's so so so good.
posted by nushustu at 10:08 AM on March 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by nushustu at 10:08 AM on March 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
seconding The Sweet Hereafter. Also The Last Emperor, Until the End of the World, and A Home at the End of the World.
Definitely marking this thread for future reference!
posted by dawkins_7 at 10:12 AM on March 25, 2011
Definitely marking this thread for future reference!
posted by dawkins_7 at 10:12 AM on March 25, 2011
Came in to recommend the The Proposition, Return and A Simple Plan. (I would also recommend practically every other movie mentioned above - people here have excellent taste.)
Below I've listed a few films that haven't been mentioned yet, with what I would describe as a quiet, dark intensity (regardless of content matter, time period or setting).
L'enfant
There Will Be Blood
Birth
Practically anything and everything Kieslowski directed.
Snow Falling on Cedars
The Weight of Water
Frozen Land (aka Paha Maa) which is the Finnish evil twin of Pay It Forward.
I'll have more of a think (and a look at my film collection) and possibly recommend a few more films.
posted by slimepuppy at 10:21 AM on March 25, 2011
Below I've listed a few films that haven't been mentioned yet, with what I would describe as a quiet, dark intensity (regardless of content matter, time period or setting).
L'enfant
There Will Be Blood
Birth
Practically anything and everything Kieslowski directed.
Snow Falling on Cedars
The Weight of Water
Frozen Land (aka Paha Maa) which is the Finnish evil twin of Pay It Forward.
I'll have more of a think (and a look at my film collection) and possibly recommend a few more films.
posted by slimepuppy at 10:21 AM on March 25, 2011
You might also like Candy with Heath Ledger and Abbie Someone. It's pretty gritty and a fantastic movie.
posted by fshgrl at 10:22 AM on March 25, 2011
posted by fshgrl at 10:22 AM on March 25, 2011
Oh, yeah, definitely Transsiberian.
Also, maybe True Grit?
posted by misha at 10:46 AM on March 25, 2011
Also, maybe True Grit?
posted by misha at 10:46 AM on March 25, 2011
Recently seen, these may be more viscerally gritty, but both have a real misanthropic feel:
Lilja 4 Ever
A Prophet
I'm not sure it's quite in the zone of tone you want, but a movie I like very much is
Heavenly Creatures
You may also like
The Long Good Friday
posted by dhartung at 11:01 AM on March 25, 2011
Lilja 4 Ever
A Prophet
I'm not sure it's quite in the zone of tone you want, but a movie I like very much is
Heavenly Creatures
You may also like
The Long Good Friday
posted by dhartung at 11:01 AM on March 25, 2011
Came in with Frozen River on my mind, so ditto that.
Try Swimmers, too. It's simply great.
posted by dpcoffin at 12:46 PM on March 25, 2011
Try Swimmers, too. It's simply great.
posted by dpcoffin at 12:46 PM on March 25, 2011
In The Bedroom
posted by Neiltupper at 2:55 PM on March 25, 2011
posted by Neiltupper at 2:55 PM on March 25, 2011
38 answers and no Requiem for a Dream??
It doesn't really fit the mood, I'd say. Too MTV. Christiane F (basically the same movie, but more brooding and German) would be a much better fit. And it has David Bowie!
posted by Sys Rq at 3:53 PM on March 25, 2011
It doesn't really fit the mood, I'd say. Too MTV. Christiane F (basically the same movie, but more brooding and German) would be a much better fit. And it has David Bowie!
posted by Sys Rq at 3:53 PM on March 25, 2011
What Doesn't Kill You
posted by PaulBGoode at 11:15 PM on March 25, 2011
posted by PaulBGoode at 11:15 PM on March 25, 2011
Response by poster: The Return was exactly what I was looking for. I'm really looking forward to watching more of these. Thank you all again for the good suggestions.
posted by slidell at 1:27 AM on March 27, 2011
posted by slidell at 1:27 AM on March 27, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by invisible ink at 10:24 PM on March 24, 2011