California Dreamin'

November 6, 2006 9:36 PM

I recently watched Garden State and I realized that all the movies I love are exactly the same. Can you recommend some more?

Like I said, all the movies I love are essentially the same. For example, here are some movies I love:

Amelie
Rushmore
In the Mood for Love/Chungking Express/Fallen Angels
Lost Highway
Garden State
Waking Life
Clockers
The first half of Fight Club

Basically, they all have a main character that is isolated, and alienated, at odds or tormented by their environment and spends a lot of time alone. Hmm why is that you love these movies? And more often than not the movie has sticky romantic overtones and a creative, if not great, soundtrack.

Can you recommend other movies I will love?

posted by milarepa to Media & Arts (80 answers total)

High Fidelity comes to mind. Also very music-elitist.
posted by Phire at 9:38 PM on November 6, 2006

As Good As It Gets
posted by Serial Killer Slumber Party at 9:39 PM on November 6, 2006

I Heart Huckabees.
posted by onepapertiger at 9:39 PM on November 6, 2006

Me and You and Everyone We Know
Days of Being Wild
posted by kcm at 9:40 PM on November 6, 2006

The Squid and the Whale
posted by Hildago at 9:40 PM on November 6, 2006

Also Grosse Point Blank
posted by Good Brain at 9:43 PM on November 6, 2006

I'm trying desperately not to say anything snarky about Zack Braff and "Garden State," but "Trainspotting" and "Royal Tennenbaums" have genuinely great soundtracks.
posted by drjimmy11 at 9:44 PM on November 6, 2006

Raising Arizona
posted by spork at 9:46 PM on November 6, 2006

Well, Lost Highway doesn't really fit with those other films, so in the spirit of that film I would recommend The Machinist, though it has no romance or soundtrack to speak of.
posted by Pastabagel at 9:47 PM on November 6, 2006

Have you seen The Science of Sleep yet? Because yeah, great soundtrack, isolation, alienation, weird twisted romance. Some people think it is a happy movie, but they are very very wrong.
posted by muddgirl at 9:48 PM on November 6, 2006

The Graduate
Igby Goes Down
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Harold & Maude
posted by carsonb at 9:48 PM on November 6, 2006

The Shawshank Redemption
posted by atmu at 9:50 PM on November 6, 2006

Donnie Darko
Sliding Doors
Almost Famous
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The Ice Storm
Next Stop Wonderland
posted by willnot at 9:51 PM on November 6, 2006

I'll add to the Wes Anderson films already mentioned with my favorite: Bottle Rocket
posted by peeedro at 9:52 PM on November 6, 2006

Ice Storm seconded.
Also, Groundhog Day -- the original and still the greatest Bill-Murray-is-alienated movie.
posted by escabeche at 9:56 PM on November 6, 2006

How about Hudsucker Proxy?
posted by ulotrichous at 9:57 PM on November 6, 2006

Sideways
The Life Aquatic
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Welcome to the Dollhouse
posted by Brian B. at 9:58 PM on November 6, 2006

Lost In Translation
Stupeur et Tremblements
Kicking and Screaming
posted by kcm at 10:00 PM on November 6, 2006

Things Change
posted by w_boodle at 10:07 PM on November 6, 2006

Cinema Paradiso.
posted by invisible ink at 10:11 PM on November 6, 2006

Punch-Drunk Love
Secretary
The Station Agent
Red (part of the Trois Couleurs trilogy)
posted by granted at 10:23 PM on November 6, 2006

Better Off Dead
posted by Zed_Lopez at 10:27 PM on November 6, 2006

About A Boy. Seriously.
posted by geekhorde at 10:31 PM on November 6, 2006

A Clockwork Orange.

VideoDrome.

Pi.

None of these has "sticky romantic overtones", but they're all really great films.

Then there are the classics:

Brazil

Blade Runner

Citizen Kane

And if you want the real thing, check Out:

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

Crumb

Theremin: an Electronic Odyssey
posted by dbiedny at 10:43 PM on November 6, 2006

Definitely: The Last Life in the Universe (Japanese / Thai film) - VERY much like Garden State
posted by zia at 11:02 PM on November 6, 2006

The big obvious answer is the Graduate, which, like, invented this kind of movie--alienated crypto-hipster loner rebels/learns how to love/participates in youth culture/listens to wussy-but-somehow-rebellious music.
posted by maxreax at 11:12 PM on November 6, 2006

Crack open a can of tuna and watch Zero Effect, with Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller.
posted by Darth Fedor at 11:28 PM on November 6, 2006

Pretty much anything by Tim Burton comes to mind. Specifically, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands, though that one's not so big on the sappy-love component. Poignant and tender unrequited love, sure. And scores by Danny Elfman? How much better can you get for fantastic?

(... who says a film has to be angsty and Royal-Tenenbaums-y to be in this category?)
posted by po at 11:32 PM on November 6, 2006

Until The End Of The World, by Wim Wenders
I Heart Huckabees, with the existential Isabelle Huppert
posted by blink_left at 11:40 PM on November 6, 2006

I am not an Adam Sandler fan, but I have to second Punch-Drunk Love. Seems like it's exactly what you're looking for, plus it features Shelley Duvall's wonderful He Needs Me from Robert Altman's Popeye, which, come to think of it, might also meet your criterion.
posted by trip and a half at 12:13 AM on November 7, 2006

I have to add my voice to the chorus recommending I Heart Huckabees. I couldn't stand it, for reasons broadly similar to my reasons for loathing Garden State.

Also, Napoleon Dynamite (which I didn't hate).
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 12:37 AM on November 7, 2006

You should go watch most of Hal Hartley's movies, specifically the Unbelievable Truth and Simple Men. You will most likely love them.
posted by jessamyn at 12:44 AM on November 7, 2006

The Life Aquatic definitely!

I didn't quiet 'get' The Royal Tennenbaums, but something just clicked with TLA for me. Perhaps it was Seu Jorge's acoustic, Portuguese renditions of Bowie, but it just felt like a great film to me.
posted by pivotal at 1:30 AM on November 7, 2006

Seconds/thirds on:

I Heart Huckabees
Grosse Point Blank
The Royal Tennenbaums
Lost in Translation

and add:

Magnolia (for a whole host of alienated characters)
Ghost World (not a personal fave, but fits this list)
American Beauty (won't debate the merits, but alienation is key)

And if you're more into the romance aspects of Amelie/Chunking Express and that kind of listless feel and beautiful cinematography (and you obviously don't mind foreign films), I wonder if you wouldn't like Hero and House of Flying Daggers, and while we're at it, Ghost in the Shell. Nothing like what you've got listed, but we seem to have very similar tastes, and there's something compatible between the moods in the movies you listed and these. I think you also *might* enjoy Lola Rennt/Run Lola Run.

but my turn to say I didn't 'get' The Life Aquatic.
posted by dreamsign at 2:14 AM on November 7, 2006

Definitely seconding Harold and Maude. You might also like The Virgin Suicides and Being John Malkovitch.
posted by featherboa at 2:14 AM on November 7, 2006

Everything is Illuminated.
posted by RoseovSharon at 2:20 AM on November 7, 2006

Remains of the Day (I like similiar movies, and this is my favorite ever)
Adaptation
Far From Heaven
Billy Elliott (not romantic but definitely sticky)
Howards End (if you like your alienation in period costume)

For big-cast movies, see Magnolia, Nashville, and Gosford Park. (I refuse to recommend Short Cuts, although it has alienation a-plenty.)

Seconding: Red, Punch-Drunk Love, Harold and Maude.
posted by quarked at 3:10 AM on November 7, 2006

Two Korean and three Japanese films come to mind: This Charming Girl, Take Care Of My Cat, Vibrator, Tokyo Sora and All About Lily Chou-Chou (these are all great).
posted by milov at 3:11 AM on November 7, 2006

A mixure of isolation/feel bad movies, American indie, and some foreign titles that deal with similar ideas (plus some fantastic soundtracks,) since I'm not sure exactly which aspects of the film you list that you enjoy most -

The beat that my heart skipped
Desert Blue
Matchstick Men
Roger Dodger
Milwaukee, Minnesota
Napolean Dynamite
Factotum
Thumbsucker
Me you and everyone we know
Read my lips
13 (Tzameti)
The consequences of love
Me without you
Buffalo 66
Cold Fever
Cement Garden
Fucking Amal
posted by fire&wings at 3:23 AM on November 7, 2006

Blue (from the Trois Coleurs trilogy, to go with Red above)
Andrei Rublev
Spirited Away
posted by A dead Quaker at 3:47 AM on November 7, 2006

Wonder Boys, American Beauty, Magnolia.
posted by EarBucket at 4:18 AM on November 7, 2006

I read a review of Braff's latest film, The Last Kiss, which said that the two films had similar themes.

trailer
posted by catburger at 4:53 AM on November 7, 2006

Seconding (or thirding at this point) Red, Magnolia, Wonder Boys, Donnie Darko.

Other suggestions:
- The Barbarian Invasions
- Children of Paradise (French and old, but I swear, one of the best movies you'll ever see)
- Before Sunrise and its sequel, Before Sunset
- Brick
- L.A. Confidential
posted by hazelshade at 5:07 AM on November 7, 2006

Passion Fish
posted by JanetLand at 5:23 AM on November 7, 2006

Happiness
posted by blue mustard at 5:29 AM on November 7, 2006

My Life As A Dog
-dubbed or subtitled, each version has its merits.
posted by Flashman at 5:30 AM on November 7, 2006

Moonlight Mile.

Dustin Hoffman is in many of the films on this page.

I find it hard to believe you don't like Butch Cassidy or The Princess Bride though...
posted by ewkpates at 5:50 AM on November 7, 2006

Five Easy Pieces
Who's That Knocking on My Door
Carnal Knowledge
Zigrail
The Dreamlife of Angels
The 400 Blows
Welcome to the Dollhouse
2nd Trust and The Unbelievable Truth
Keane and Clean Shaven and Claire Dolan
2nd Brick, Punch-Drunk Love, Roger Dodger
Rebel Without a Cause
Heavy
I, You, He, She
Ring Finger (forget french title)
Stranger Than Paradise
Royal Tenenbaums. And I'll anti-recommend Life Aquatic. It blows and isn't worth your time.
Taxi Driver
The second half of Fight Club

maxreax, I love The Graduate... but how does he participate in Youth Culture?
posted by dobbs at 5:53 AM on November 7, 2006

I can't believe that no one mentioned "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" with a young Johnny Depp. Great movie.

I don't know that this fits the "genre" the original poster defined, but Forest Gump does fall into the alone character at odds with his environment and is kind of a love story. Contrived yes, but still excellent.

Thirding(?) Harold and Maude.
posted by fox_terrier_guy at 5:58 AM on November 7, 2006

Zardoz
posted by cellphone at 6:12 AM on November 7, 2006

Jesus Son. Better yet, read the book by Denis Jonson.
posted by theinsectsarewaiting at 6:12 AM on November 7, 2006

That's Denis *Johnson*.
posted by theinsectsarewaiting at 6:15 AM on November 7, 2006

City Lights (Charlie Chaplin)
Juliet of the Spirits (Federico Fellini)
Odd Man Out (Carol Reed)
Turtle Diary (John Irvin / Harold Pinter screenplay)
posted by grumblebee at 6:36 AM on November 7, 2006

I'd recommend ditto/sky of love.
posted by subtle-t at 6:36 AM on November 7, 2006

You will love "Trust" by Hal Hartley, or your money cheerfully refunded...
posted by clever sheep at 6:42 AM on November 7, 2006

Floundering, with James Le Gros and The Low Life with Kyra Sedgewick and Rory Cochrane. Both are kind of depressing, guy-alone-in-LA kind of things but man, they hit the spot for me.
posted by Atom12 at 6:56 AM on November 7, 2006

Muriel's Wedding
posted by smich at 7:32 AM on November 7, 2006

Once you watch The Graduate & Harold and Maude you may feel a little disappointed in how much Wes Anderson ripped off from previous generations of film makers. (I kid because I love)

You might like the French film L'Auberge Espagnole, which is about a gaggle of international students sharing an apartment in Barcelona (Audrey Tautou is in it, although not in a very large part), or its sequel, Russian Dolls, which is about the main character travelling around Europe while writing a novel and a screenplay.

And if your thing is gamine gals with guys-who-are-trouble, you could try Bonnie & Clyde or Breathless (the original French version, natch).
posted by bcwinters at 7:35 AM on November 7, 2006

I'll second Brazil, which is my personal favorite movie.
Also, Welcome to the Dollhouse
posted by dagnyscott at 7:37 AM on November 7, 2006

If you can get your hands on it "Taste of Tea" (Cha No Aji) is a great Japanese film that fits into this catagory. Still no US release though.
posted by Lazlo Hollyfeld at 8:07 AM on November 7, 2006

fire&wings mentioned Roger Dodger and that reminded me of how incredibly talented Craig Wedren is; that cat can do soundtracks like nobody's business. I've loved every soundtrack he's done (even when the actual movie itself wasn't that hot). You should check out:

High Art
The Secret Lives of Dentists
First Love, Last Rites
Velvet Goldmine
posted by LuckySeven~ at 8:16 AM on November 7, 2006

In Good Company
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 8:37 AM on November 7, 2006

Footloose!
posted by snofoam at 10:06 AM on November 7, 2006

I'm not good at noticing sound tracks, so I can't vouch for those, but otherwise these movies meet your requirements:

The Good Girl
Monster's Ball
Lantana
posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:22 AM on November 7, 2006

I second Kicking and Screaming--NOT the Will Ferrell soccer one, but the one about college students by Noah Baumbach, the guy who did The Squid and the Whale (which I didn't like as much)
posted by exceptinsects at 11:37 AM on November 7, 2006

And oh my god, they FINALLY released it on DVD--Criterion Collection no less!
posted by exceptinsects at 11:38 AM on November 7, 2006

igby goes down (of the type you mentioned i find this one to be the most essential i haven't seen anyone suggest yet)
pump up the volume

i also heartily second/third-- eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, high fidelity, before sunrise/sunset

other movies that don't necessarily directly link with the ones you cited but that i love for (i believe) very similar reasons--

shakespeare in love
moulin rouge
reality bites
posted by haveanicesummer at 11:42 AM on November 7, 2006

Oldboy!
posted by delladlux at 11:44 AM on November 7, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks for the great recommendations, everybody.

Oh and koeselitz, wow, you must be a blast at the parties!
posted by milarepa at 12:00 PM on November 7, 2006

Pecker
posted by inging at 12:07 PM on November 7, 2006

Stongly thirding Lost in Translation
posted by lorimer at 1:34 PM on November 7, 2006

Seconding/thirding, etc:

Donnie Darko
Eternal Sunshine
About a Boy
Punch Drunk Love
The Zero Effect

and also, under your specs, Mostly Martha (solitary obsessive cook finds love)

and also suggesting you not see
You, Me, and Everyone We Know (everyone is estranged from everyone in this film)
As Good as It Gets (what is so great about a smart, pretty but poor woman settling for a weird, often mean, but rich mentally challenged guy? Is this all women can hope for? Really?), or
Harold and Maude (this movie is constantly oversold and to me has not really aged well).
posted by onlyconnect at 1:39 PM on November 7, 2006

Elizabethtown has alot of similarities to Garden State - though its not as good really (imo)
posted by philsi at 3:17 PM on November 7, 2006

if you don't mind the alienated but passionate lead being female rather than male, you might really enjoy the new Marie Antoinette movie. definitely a killer soundtrack.
posted by macinchik at 11:35 PM on November 7, 2006

igby goes down (of the type you mentioned i find this one to be the most essential i haven't seen anyone suggest yet)

yeah, it was mentioned.
posted by carsonb at 7:12 AM on November 8, 2006

Ahh, my mistake carsonb, I actually feel better now. I run into a ton of people who don't like the film and I'm always thinking they must have seen a different movie with the same title. A bad porn perhaps?
posted by haveanicesummer at 5:38 AM on November 9, 2006

Breakfast at Tiffany's actually fits these guidelines pretty well, no?
posted by MaudB at 12:39 AM on November 13, 2006

Ed Wood
Requiem for a Dream
Hoop Dreams
On The Waterfront
My Own Private Idaho
Heathers
posted by fullfathomfaive at 5:19 AM on November 25, 2006

Second Requiem on that..but later half is very graphic..so be aware of that
posted by radsqd at 7:24 AM on November 25, 2006

A Clockwork Orange.
VideoDrome.
Pi.
Brazil
Blade Runner
Citizen Kane
...
Ed Wood
Requiem for a Dream
...


These may be great movies (I sure liked Pi), but I have large doubts that they are like Garden State in the way the poster is looking for movies like Garden state.

You might as well recommend Eraserhead, since, like Garden State and High Fidelity and About a Boy and Better of Dead, its character is "isolated, and alienated, at odds or tormented by their environment and spends a lot of time alone." Heck, you could even argue that the soundtrack is pretty good, if you dig the lady in the radiator.

But this would all sortof ignore the basic fact that Eraserhead is going to be a very, very different experience from those other movies. Because it has, in addition to a woman in the radiator, hideously deformed not-babies, exploding heads, turkeys animated at odd times, strange worm things, a very difficult narrative, and an overall sense of despair.
posted by weston at 5:45 PM on December 1, 2006