Movies as pretty on the inside and outside as Call Me By Your Name?
March 1, 2020 10:15 PM Subscribe
I recently saw Call me By Your Name for the first time and was instantly taken with its beauty. Visually, cinematographically, sentimentally, directorially, the performances, the physicality of the acting and the way the characters interact with a sensual backdrop and each other. What are more movies like this?
The soundtrack, the colors, the story, the look, feel, the film as a whole and in pieces. Beautiful. What else is like this? The LGBTQ aspect is neither a positive nor negative though definitely makes it an even more stellar piece of filmmaking.
The soundtrack, the colors, the story, the look, feel, the film as a whole and in pieces. Beautiful. What else is like this? The LGBTQ aspect is neither a positive nor negative though definitely makes it an even more stellar piece of filmmaking.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Showing in select cinemas right now, incredibly worth seeing in a cinema for the lighting, sound, etc
posted by J.R. Hartley at 10:52 PM on March 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 10:52 PM on March 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
The Fall, by Tarsem Singh. Part of the movie is a story within a story, so it’s pretty fantastical. But absolutely gorgeous and emotional.
posted by sprezzy at 12:56 AM on March 2, 2020 [14 favorites]
posted by sprezzy at 12:56 AM on March 2, 2020 [14 favorites]
I have no idea if it holds up because I haven't seen it in a while, but this was one of my favourite yearning-inspiring movies as a teenager: In July (2000), a German-Turkish road movie by Faith Akin with Moritz Bleibtreu und Christiane Paul. I remember it as somewhat corny, but it definitely inspired that sort of "Ach wer da mitreisen könnte, in der prächtigen Sommernacht"-feeling for me. There's a scene where the young not-yet lovers are drifting down the Danube as blind passagers on a barge, smoking and singing "Blue Moon" under the stars, which to this day is for me the epitome of romance and adventure.
posted by sohalt at 1:50 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sohalt at 1:50 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
In The Mood For Love, maybe? It’s a long time since I saw it and I haven’t seen CMBYN, but it seems like it might work.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:05 AM on March 2, 2020 [14 favorites]
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:05 AM on March 2, 2020 [14 favorites]
Also, any Studio Ghibli movie!
posted by sohalt at 2:58 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sohalt at 2:58 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Don't miss "8 Femmes" from François Ozon in 2002!
Good acting, great fashion, beautiful cinematography, decent singing...
(YES, a musical murder-mystery!)
Watch it!
posted by mdrew at 3:04 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Good acting, great fashion, beautiful cinematography, decent singing...
(YES, a musical murder-mystery!)
Watch it!
posted by mdrew at 3:04 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Another road trip movie, this time through Mexico "Y Tu Mamá También".
posted by sohalt at 3:08 AM on March 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by sohalt at 3:08 AM on March 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
Seconding Portrait of a Lady on Fire. It was stunningly beautiful.
posted by shb at 3:33 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by shb at 3:33 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Wings of Desire is in black and white, so it obviously won't have the same use of color -- but Wim Wenders uses black and white as lushly as Call Me By Your Name used color.
posted by yankeefog at 3:44 AM on March 2, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by yankeefog at 3:44 AM on March 2, 2020 [8 favorites]
The Talented Mr Ripley!
posted by orrnyereg at 3:55 AM on March 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by orrnyereg at 3:55 AM on March 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
Call Me By Your Name was ostensibly the third film in a thematic trilogy by director Luca Guadagnino; the previous two were I Am Love and A Bigger Splash. I've not seen either, but the fact that they're by the same director may mean they're similarly lush.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:03 AM on March 2, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:03 AM on March 2, 2020 [4 favorites]
this made me think of a film I first saw a long time ago and haven't screened recently, but with that caveat: Antonia's Line
posted by elgee at 4:16 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by elgee at 4:16 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Last Black Man in San Francisco was visually and emotionally lyrical, and with a real sense of place. Moments of real power and emotion and gentleness and beauty. A lot of Merchant/Ivory films will fit the bill. A Room with a View comes to mind. Happy as Lazzaro is recent and hits many of your notes. On tv, Paolo Sorrentino's The Young Pope and The New Pope are incredibly visually riveting, and delivered with irreverent music, and a lot of winks. As a Catholic apostate, the content can be infuriating at times, but I was emotionally 'called to something more' in many moments.
posted by cocoagirl at 5:10 AM on March 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by cocoagirl at 5:10 AM on March 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
Millennium Actress, if animated movies are fair game
posted by brook horse at 6:10 AM on March 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by brook horse at 6:10 AM on March 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
In the Mood for Love
posted by gemutlichkeit at 6:59 AM on March 2, 2020
posted by gemutlichkeit at 6:59 AM on March 2, 2020
Seconding In the Mood for Love and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Adding the Before trilogy and Boyhood by Linklater.
posted by sallybrown at 7:03 AM on March 2, 2020
Adding the Before trilogy and Boyhood by Linklater.
posted by sallybrown at 7:03 AM on March 2, 2020
I haven't seen Call Me By Your Name, but maybe Orlando with Tilda Swinton?
posted by pinochiette at 7:38 AM on March 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by pinochiette at 7:38 AM on March 2, 2020 [5 favorites]
Call Me By Your Name was ostensibly the third film in a thematic trilogy by director Luca Guadagnino; the previous two were I Am Love and A Bigger Splash. I've not seen either, but the fact that they're by the same director may mean they're similarly lush.
I Am Love (aka Io sono l'amore) is the very definition of "lush" (and stars Tilda Swinton, for extra points). Highly recommended. However I didn't particularly like A Bigger Splash, and it has a slightly harsher, starker vibe imo.
Another film in this mould is The Great Beauty (2013) by Paolo Sorrentino, which is basically La Dolce Vita updated for the Berlusconi era.
posted by matthewr at 7:58 AM on March 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
I Am Love (aka Io sono l'amore) is the very definition of "lush" (and stars Tilda Swinton, for extra points). Highly recommended. However I didn't particularly like A Bigger Splash, and it has a slightly harsher, starker vibe imo.
Another film in this mould is The Great Beauty (2013) by Paolo Sorrentino, which is basically La Dolce Vita updated for the Berlusconi era.
posted by matthewr at 7:58 AM on March 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
Éric Rohmer's comedies might scratch that itch, and that's why I'll also recommend Linklater's Before trilogy, which was strongly influenced by Rohmer. Also in that vein would be Goodbye First Love (Un amour de jeunesse) by Mia Hansen-Løve.
I think Wild Reeds (Les Roseaux sauvages) by André Téchiné definitely has what you're looking for. The Great Beauty (La grande bellezza) by Paolo Sorrentino could also fit the bill.
EmpressCallipygos is on the mark when she recommends other Guadagnino films, especially A Bigger Splash.
Bertolucci's The Dreamers has many of the same qualities, as does Stealing Beauty, but I wouldn't recommend the latter.
Moonlight is another that I'll second for its beauty, humanism, and empathy for its characters.
posted by theory at 7:59 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
I think Wild Reeds (Les Roseaux sauvages) by André Téchiné definitely has what you're looking for. The Great Beauty (La grande bellezza) by Paolo Sorrentino could also fit the bill.
EmpressCallipygos is on the mark when she recommends other Guadagnino films, especially A Bigger Splash.
Bertolucci's The Dreamers has many of the same qualities, as does Stealing Beauty, but I wouldn't recommend the latter.
Moonlight is another that I'll second for its beauty, humanism, and empathy for its characters.
posted by theory at 7:59 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Black and white but gorgeously beautiful, La Belle et la Bête, Cocteau.
Extraordinarily tragic but beautiful and sensual, Bad Education, Almodóvar. Also by Almodóvar and less sad (though sad enough) Talk to Her.
posted by glasseyes at 9:09 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Extraordinarily tragic but beautiful and sensual, Bad Education, Almodóvar. Also by Almodóvar and less sad (though sad enough) Talk to Her.
posted by glasseyes at 9:09 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
I think of Amelie and Pan’s Labyrinth as being beautiful though the latter may have a different emotional feel than what you’re looking for.
posted by azalea_chant at 9:25 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by azalea_chant at 9:25 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Days of Heaven.
posted by less of course at 9:27 AM on March 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by less of course at 9:27 AM on March 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
The English Patient.
posted by praemunire at 10:19 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 10:19 AM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Mediterraneo.
Anything by Makoto Shinkai (he even has one called "Your Name").
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 10:27 AM on March 2, 2020
Anything by Makoto Shinkai (he even has one called "Your Name").
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 10:27 AM on March 2, 2020
Check out the rest of the gorgeous Merchant/Ivory films!
posted by moons in june at 1:37 PM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by moons in june at 1:37 PM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Scent of Green Papaya is basically 104 minutes of appreciating beauty. It's a visual feast.
Orlando (mentioned above) has the best use of colour that I've seen in a live action film.
For sensuality and beauty, When Night is Falling is pretty profound as well (online trailer).
posted by jb at 2:41 PM on March 2, 2020
Orlando (mentioned above) has the best use of colour that I've seen in a live action film.
For sensuality and beauty, When Night is Falling is pretty profound as well (online trailer).
posted by jb at 2:41 PM on March 2, 2020
Oh, colonialist as heck, but Indochine.
posted by praemunire at 3:17 PM on March 2, 2020
posted by praemunire at 3:17 PM on March 2, 2020
Tous les Matins du Monde, both visually and aurally.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:52 PM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:52 PM on March 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Couple of Korean films:
The Handmaiden inspired by Sarah Waters “Fingersmith”
A Tale of Two Sisters is one of the most visually captivating movies I’ve ever seen.
posted by ortoLANparty at 7:08 PM on March 2, 2020
The Handmaiden inspired by Sarah Waters “Fingersmith”
A Tale of Two Sisters is one of the most visually captivating movies I’ve ever seen.
posted by ortoLANparty at 7:08 PM on March 2, 2020
Seconding Amelie.
posted by brushtailedphascogale at 1:29 AM on March 3, 2020
posted by brushtailedphascogale at 1:29 AM on March 3, 2020
Tom Ford's A Single Man starring Colin Firth immediately comes to mind.
posted by strivesc at 4:44 AM on March 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by strivesc at 4:44 AM on March 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Maybe a reach but Three Colors trilogy by Krzysztof Kieslowski. Bleu Blanc and Rouge
posted by zerobyproxy at 9:17 AM on March 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by zerobyproxy at 9:17 AM on March 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better specimen than Amelie.
(on preview: Yeah! What they said!)
posted by D.Billy at 9:53 AM on March 3, 2020
(on preview: Yeah! What they said!)
posted by D.Billy at 9:53 AM on March 3, 2020
Maurice
posted by jmmpangaea at 7:53 PM on March 5, 2020
posted by jmmpangaea at 7:53 PM on March 5, 2020
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posted by Harvey Kilobit at 10:25 PM on March 1, 2020 [7 favorites]