"One of the struggles of
art, in dealing with the holocaust is that the reality exceeds the capacity of
the imagination. Had it not really happened, no novelist, writer, thinker could
have ever touched this experience without somehow exceeding any bounds of the
capacity for art."—Alan J. Pakula, Director
51. Valkyrie (2008, USA/Germany)
Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Carice
van Houten, Terence Stamp, Christian Berkel, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin McNally
This captivating film of historical intentions celebrates the story of hero
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and his high-ranking co-conspirators in their hugely
perilous, selfless and sacrificial attempt to bring down the most diabolical
monster in modern (if not all of) history. Political and financial barriers
hampered the effort to produce this film as did Germany’s heightened mistrust
of star Tom Cruise’s religious ties. Nevertheless, privileged filming locations
were achieved and the quality of this film, and certainly Cruise’s performance,
emerged top-notch in every aspect.
It’s a thrilling, tense, suspenseful ride, in some ways despite, and in
some ways, because of, our foreknowledge of how it didn’t all work out.
It’s a comfort to be reminded that there were plenty of German good guys in all
of that tragedy; including some of mankind’s bravest heroes.
Writers: Nathan Alexander, Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible –
Rogue Nation)
Director: Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects)
Budget: $75,000,000
IMDB rating: 7.1
52. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006, Spain/Mexico/USA)
Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi
López
A young girl must navigate the creepy unnatural circumstances at a
remote mill-come-military outpost in Nazi-occupied Spain in addition to the
landscape of a creepy unnatural fantasy world. A sinister presence pervades.
Danger lurks at every turn. Where will she find safety? This film drags you
into her harrowing journey with deep-chilling button-pushing intimacy. I only
saw this intense, visually enchanting film once; nine years ago, but I will
never ever forget it.
“Beautiful and exhilarating;” says Ebert, “a fairy tale for grownups.”
Writer/Director: Guillermo del Toro (Pacific Rim)
Budget: €13,500,000
IMDB rating: 8.2
53. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, USA)
Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul
Freeman
Here the Nazis are little more than caricatures, as perhaps the whole
cast is. I consider this one of the earliest and most influential flicks that
turned the B-film tradition into a mainstream big-budget industry. Did a
sinking sophistication of the average movie-goer demand this innovation or did
the innovation drive the evolution of mind?
Most unfortunately, the multi-film Indiana
Jones enterprise then went on to embrace the celebration of civilization-wide
ADHD, dumping loads of subtlety faster than a Boston Tea Party in order to
craft a succession of 2-hour action scenes where the climaxes are
indistinguishable from any other stage of the so-called-story; the hallmark of
the shallow frenetic modern action movies which now clog theatres with lemmings
but which put me to sleep.
Raiders remains magic for sheer
fun and for occupying that historical sweet-spot!
Writer: George Lucas (American Graffiti), Lawrence Kasden (The Big
Chill), Phil Kaufman (The Right Stuff)
Director: Steven Spielberg (Jaws)
Budget: $18,000,000
IMDB rating: 8.5
54. Sophie’s Choice (1982, UK/USA)
Meryl Streep, Peter MacNicol,
Kevin Kline
Sweet, unsettling and finally harrowing. This lead role, among all
roles conceived, must be among the most challenging ever to portray. This
character has baggage coming out her
ying-yang. But along comes Meryl Streep who delivers the most moving and
convincing performance I have ever personally acknowledged. Stunning and unforgettable.
The film’s title is a double-blind pit trap. The obvious choice in terms of present circumstance
pales in comparison to the real choice, an existential one. But finally
revealed is the choice from the past; that which lies at the root of everything;
that which can never be recovered from; that which is distressing to ponder:
that any human could have imagined it.
Writers: Alan J. Pakula (The Pelican Brief), William Styron (Shadrach)
Director: Alan J. Pakula (All the President’s Men)
Budget: $12,000,000
IMDB rating: 7.7
Short List:
Fateless (2005,
Hungary/Germany/UK/Israel/France) Marcell Nagy, Béla Dóra, Bálint Péntek
Lore (2012, Germany/Australia/UK)
Saskia Rosendahl, Kai-Peter Malina, Nele Trebs
Island on Bird Street (1997,
Denmark/Germany/UK/France) Patrick Bergon, Jordan Kiziuk, Jack Warden
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1 comment:
Thanks for the film recommendations. Of these, I've only seen Indiana Jones. I'll look for a copy of Pan's Labyrinth at my library.
@RhondaGilmour from
Late Blooming Rose
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