| Title |
Director
/ Actors / Writer / Producer |
Description |
Buy
at Amazon USA or UK
|
Suggested
By
|
| Aguirre,
Wrath of God (1973) |
d.
Werner Hertzog
a. Klaus Kinski, Cecilia Rivera,
Helena Rojo
|
The search for Eldorado. A vivid and haunting masterwork where
silent, grotesque action is a glancing understatement through
Hertzog's freehand camera style. A perfectionist of historical
ambience and location... or has Hertzog discovered the secret
of time travel? |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Alice
(Neco z Alenky) (1988) |
d.
Jan Svankmajer
a.
Kristyna Kohoutová
|
The
closest a film maker could get to visualizing the impossible.
Looking-Glass and its offspring sites are specifically oriented
towards animal and environmental protection. Therefore inclusion
of this disturbing celluloid phenomena creates a dilemma... since,
on many occasions Svankmajer uses distressed body parts of animals.
Saying that, this ingenious interpretation of "wonderland"
is at opposite ends of the spectrum to the Disney offering. Watch
this and perhaps relate one step closer to the dimension of Dreambeat...(less
the animated dead animals) |
USA
UK
|
L-G
|
| Alice
in Wonderland (1966) |
d.
Jonathan Miller
a.
John Gielgud, Peter Cook
|
Like Svankmajer's
interpretation Jonathan Millier's Alice almost defies description.
This 1966 BBC television adaptation is arguably the best version
of the wonderland fantasy.
|
USA
UK
|
L-G
|
| aThe
American Friend (1977) |
d.
Wim Wenders
a.
Bruno Ganz, Dennis Hopper, Lisa Kreuzer
|
Wender's film noir approach is
well balanced with an uncomfortably sympathetic consideration
for the main character and his family... As morality is stretched
to non-retrievable limits the plot becomes secondary to the
films overall ambience. Highly commendable as a 1970's Wenders
classic.
Other Wim Wenders films listed:
Alice in
The Cities, Wings
of Desire
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
|
Betty Blue
(37°2 le matin) (1986)
|
d.
Jean-Jacques Beineix
a.
Beatrice Dalle, Jean-Hugues Anglade
|
Outstanding
cinematography plays a key role in the opening stages of this
film. Wonderful light, colour and impression. It can only be a
French movie which carries great visuals in hand with deeper substance...
sorrow, confusion and fear... all blending with bright touches
of humour and surrealistic undertones. |
USA
UK
|
L-G
|
| Blow
Out (La Grande Bouffe) (1973) |
d.
Marco
Ferreri
a.
Marcello Mastroianni, Michel Piccoli
|
One
of those films which, if seen when released lingers tastelessly
in your memory... and probably would if seen now for the first
time. Four middle-aged men decide to eat themselves to death.
The house - where the explicit action takes place - the food,
the cold room, and a Bugati are all essential props in this oddball
French tale. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Blow
Up (1966) |
d.
Michelangelo
Antonioni
a.
David Hemmings, Jane Birkin, Vanessa Redgrave
|
For someone starting a cultural
collection of British swinging 60's Arthouse movies this classic
combined with other titles such as The Prisoner, Up the Junction
and If, would be a good start.... The memorable atmosphere of
the eerie wind blown park scenes linger forever.
|
USA
UK
|
L-G
|
| Broken
Blossoms (1919) |
d.
D.W
Griffith
a.
Lillian Gish, Louis Gottschalk, Richard Barthelmess
|
The
graphically harsh life of East London's Limehouse is depicted
in this dark crafted D.W. Griffith silent classic. Carl Davies
reworked the beautiful music score in 1988. A landmark of such
poetical, contemporary movies during the Great War era.... and
of Lillian Gish's career. Heart rendering stuff. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
|
Buffy
The Vampire Slayer (TV series)
|
a.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony
Head |
From a rather disappointing and
average pilot a few years back, Buffy improved in huge leaps
and bounds (and bites). A well chosen cast delivered a brilliant
script laced with classic one liners ... blink and you'll miss
them.
All dialogue and editing is immaculately
paced, synchronous with pin sharp wit and outrageous deadpan
irony. The bouncy, fluffy lingo deserves entry into dictionaries
everywhere to brighten up all languages around the world.
Humour and brilliantly understated
horror cross seamlessly with intelligent character study. Powerful
emotional turmoil, teen angst and cool-cute persona flourishes
throughout its cast, supported by a fine music score, great
featured bands, kicking special FX's and quality production
design - including some very creepy moments. (Watch out for
"The Gentlemen" (Hush) episode...ooohhh)
The natural, cool, quirky drama
makes Buffy a show of unique, class quality... with a few stakes,
potions and demons thrown in for good measure.
The purchase links here point
to:
Buffy
UK and USA at Cult Digital
|
Buffy
UK and USA
|
|
| cA
Clockwork Orange (1971) |
d.
Stanley Kubrick
a.
Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee
|
Banned
from re-release in the UK until Kubricks death, this is arguably
the movie which he will be mostly remembered for... as will writer
Anthony Burgess. Shocking, disturbing, eerie, provoking... but
that was 1971. Even so, the films age doesn't dilute the effect
36 years on. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| cThe
Cement Garden (1993) |
d.
Andrew Birkin
a.
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Andrew Robertson
|
Disturbing, darkly atmospheric
film. Unpleasant, troublesome subject but performed with eerie
simplicity by Charlotte Gainsburg and cast. Again one of those
offbeat rarities where the actors react to each other and not
to the camera....
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Dead
Like Me (2003-4) |
a.
Ellen Muth, Laura Harris, Rebecca Gayheart, Callum Blue, Mandy
Patinkin, Cynthia Stevenson, Jasmine Guy, Britt McKillip, Callum
Blue
|
Finally, a TV series that was
set to cheer up the millions who had still been suffering cold-turkey
since the end of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer". "Dead Like Me"
oozes subtle deadpan humour, great character profiles and a
consistently strong script. With flavours of "Buffy", "Six Feet
Under", "Donnie Darko" and even elements of modern British comedy
thrown in for good measure, this truly unusual series has it
all. The lead character 'George' is played by the gifted Ellen
Muth, who as well as projecting a rather extraordinarily offbeat
acting talent is also a member of Mensa. In fact, Muth's father
has an entire museum named after him. Supported by a music score
courtesy of Stewart Copeland, "Dead Like Me" is destined to
become a high-pedigree cult classic...
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Demon
Seed (1977) |
d.
Donald Cammell
a.
Julie Christie b.Fritz Weaver
w.
Dean R. Koontz
|
A
quality sci-fi / horror which was way ahead of its time. The frightening
concept of computer domination as it eats its way into the organics
of humanity itself...and, 25 years on not far from scientific
possibility since the advent of nanotechnology and A.I. !! ooer |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
|
Doctor Strangelove
(1963)
|
d.
Stanley Kubrick
a.
Peter Sellers, George C. Scott
w.Peter
George
|
Starring Peter Sellers in three
completely contrasting rolls. This father of all black comedies
parodies the nuclear arms race to insane, epic proportions.
As usual Kubrick's directorial technique is far ahead of it's
time. Hilariously dark masterpiece.
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Donnie
Darko (2001) |
d.
Richard Kelly
a. Jake Gyllenhaal
|
A gem of profound twists, illusion
and thought provocation. Beautifully directed. Choose the original
cinematic release DVD rather than the "Directors Cut"
version. A surreal cult classic.
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Don't
Look Now (1973) |
d.
Nicholas Roeg
a.
Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland
|
Although
a predictable list topper for arties and trendies alike, this
is still an incredibly powerful mind meld of a movie. There is
little of it's 105 eerie minutes one can really ever forget, including,
of course the shlocking ending. Still a source of "creative"
inspiration (and parodied) in media circles nearly 30 years on.
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Dream
Life of Angels (1998) |
d.
Erick Zonca
a.
Elodie Bouchez, Natascha Regnier
|
Bleak Cannes award winner about two young vulnerable girls, both
misfits, searching for wonderlands within the margins of a dead
end existence. Depressing circumstances therefore transpire. Haunting
end title music... (who was it by, anyone? l-g ed) |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Eraserhead
(1977) |
d.
David Lynch
a.
Jack Nance
|
The
original arthouse classic which has since inspired many a Lynchesque
movie maker. This tops them all... every surreal, dark, disturbing
element you can imagine against the ambience of industrial drone...
but also emotionally absorbing...as was Lynche's Elephant
Man. Again, I am sure Lynch was also inspired by Vigo Essential
viewing... even in reverse... |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Eternal
Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004) |
d.
Michel Gondry
a. Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet
|
Michel Gondry's second directorial
gem from 2004 (and a break from making his outstanding pop promos).
This is a truly unusual movie romance, penned by Charlie Kaufman
("Being John Malkovich") which might leave you in a similar
philosophical quandary as "Lost in Translation". However, "Eternal
Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" also works in a similar way that
"Sliding Doors" played out a unique, fantastical experience,
without over-emphasing on the science fantasy - and so retaining
a warm attachment to the characters and therefore the emotional
turmoil that ensues..
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| eThe
Elephant Man (1980) |
d.
David Lynch
a.
John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins
|
David
Lynches first major release, built on the success of his earlier
arthouse classic Eraserhead.
The style is unmistakable, the story is both captivating but extremely
upsetting even to the point of leaving the film only half watched...
you have to be in the mood to take on the heavy emotional burden
of this brilliant, true story. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Fail
Safe (1964) |
d.
Sydney Lumet
a.
Henry Fonda, Dan O'Herlihy
w.Walter
Bernstein
|
An
utterly disturbing cold war theme inspired by worldwide fear of
nuclear threats during that period. Even in today's climate, the
films scenario, based on human / mechanical misjudgment could
easily be considered a potential reality. Edge of your seat viewing
enhanced by some eerily polarized shots... and add to this the
"sound" of an unforgettable ending. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
|
Funny Games
(1997)
|
d.
Michael Haneke
a.
Susanne Lothar
|
This
film has to be mentioned because it, unfortunately, exists....It
invokes an emotionally uncomfortable viewpoint and invites a simple
question, why was this movie ever made?
Abusing (or questioning) the creative
arts to the extent this film does, opens discussion for the
delectation of movie and "life" critics alike. Read
or listen to those philosophically contrived views if you wish,
but here we point out the simple cause and effect of Michael
Haneke's cruel and overly clever joke. Funny games is painfully
real... OK, it may succeed in putting Tarantino's pumping blood
designer movies into shameful perspective. But Funny Games travels
precariously along a shocking, sticky path of controversy...
being either too philosophically clever for it's own good or
downright dangerously sick minded.
Funny Games is not at all entertaining....
it does however have magnetic qualities and so plays on viewers
compelling needs to watch and watch until some right is made
from all the horrific wrongs....you may hope.
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
|
gThe
Golem (1914)
|
d.w.
Henrik Galeen
a.
Paul Wegener,Rudolf Blmner, Lyda Salmonova
|
Even though this silent was made
by Gothic visionary Henrik Galeen in 1914 it is not available
on video or DVD, So instead make all efforts to catch the theater
screening scored live by Captain Beefheart guitarist Gary Lucas.
An innovative, ethereal wall of sonic musicality and haunting
swirls using arrays of guitars, pedals and amps.... Modern sound
technology over an ancient movie artifact may seem an odd marriage...
but experience it and you'll see it works wonderfully. Timelessly
organic... it blends perfectly with Galeens visuals and all
in seamless, real time performance by the master of digital
delays, Lucas. To read more about this visit the Gary
Lucas site, linked to Looking-glass. One other observation
regarding the Golem... check out the incredible asymmetrical
building architecture... surreal... wonderful...
|
GL
USA
|
L-G
|
| If.... |
d.
Lyndsay Anderson
a.
Malcolm McDowell, Arthur Lowe
|
The
prequel to Oh
Lucky Man. An authentic public school setting is the backdrop
to fantasy, farce and a bizarre, violent climax. Directly inspired
by Jean Vigo's 1923 fantasy Zero
De Conduit |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
|
mA
Matter of Life and Death (1946)
aka Stairway
To Heaven (USA)
|
d.
Michael Powel, Emeric Pressburger
a.
David Niven, Kim Hunter, Marius Goring
|
Perhaps
inspired by the cinematic trickery of Jean Vigo 25 years previous,
Powell and Pressburger's memorable journey from reality into contemporary
fantasy marked the introduction of such film making into mainstream
cinema. David Niven and all supporting actors are perfectly cast.
The memory of this film remains with you always, and perhaps strikes
a chord similar to the 1997 What Dreams May Come. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Midnight
Cowboy (1969) |
d.
John Schlesinger
a.
Dustin Hoffman, John Voight
|
Hoffman's
brilliant free-fall performance of a terminally ill down-and-out
New Yorker could be considered a precursor to De Niro's concept
of method acting 11 years later. John Voight was also outstanding
in this movie. Midnight Cowboy was the first X rated movie to
receive a best picture Oscar. Music supervision by
John Barry. Un-missable. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Night
of The Hunter (1955) |
d.
Charles Laughton
a.
Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish
|
If
you are becoming familiar with the concept of the Dreambeat, you
will no doubt conclude also that this is one of the most affecting
films ever made. The scene which hits that harmonic is when the
sickening "demonic" con-man character played by Mitchum
chases the two children towards the river who luckily escape in
a rowing boat. The atmosphere, as they float away, is one of the
most haunting sound and visual moments in movie history. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
|
Nosferatu
the Vampyre (1979)
|
d.
Werner Hertzog
a.
Klaus Kinski
|
Remake
of Murnau's
1922 gothic nightmare (also
listed). As with many of Hertzog's films, a disturbing undercurrent
of anxiety and dark melancholy agitates viewers emotions... much
enhanced by the music of Popol
Vuh. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Nosferatu
(1922) b/w silent |
d.
F.W Murnau
a.
Max Schreck
w.
Henrik Galeen
|
Darkest
German fantasy horror with an atmosphere only matched again in
Hertzog's
1979 remake. All other films featuring Bram Stoker's Dracula
character have failed to capture the shocking and disparate nightmare
which Murnau's masterwork.. Henrik Galeen also scripted the 1914
gothic milestone The Golem . |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| O
Lucky Man (1973) |
d.
Lindsay Anderson
a.
Malcolm McDowell
w.
David Sherwin
p.
Michael Medwin and Lindsay Anderson
|
The
unconnected sequel to IF...
(1968). A surreal and disturbing abstraction of early 70's
England dominates this tale of Michael Travis' (McDowell) bizarre
journey through early manhood. Hardly ever shown on TV due to
its 3 hour 20 min length, it has therefore fallen to dusty corners
of forgotten classic 70's weirdness. See
"IF"... then this. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Performance
(1970) |
d.
Nicholas Roeg
a.
Mick Jagger, James Fox
|
A
Roeg creation which, along with Easy Rider is a must for arty
40 and 50 something's gauging their own increasingly exaggerated
reminiscences of that patchouli drenched period.... Alternatively
it's a prime reference movie for '60's / '70's culture historians.
Jagger at his prettiest..... Pass the joint.... and the lipstick. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Picnic
at Hanging Rock (1975) |
d.
Peter Weir
a.
Rachel Roberts, Helen Morse, Anne-Louise Lambert
|
An
essence of Dreambeat, in style, surreality, music, eerieness and
soft focus melancholy. A classic. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| pThe
Prisoner (1967) |
d.
Robert Asher, Don Chaffey
a.
Patrick McGoohan
|
All
episodes of this classic cult 60's TV drama are available in the
UK. In two volumes at a very reasonable price. It would be a pointless
and confusing exercise to describe the surreal and bizarre plot
here in a couple of paragraphs. Therefore all we can say is...
"Strongly recommended". |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Rosemary's
Baby (1968) |
d.
Roman Polanski
a.
Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes
|
Scary,
tense, aggravating, brilliant. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Silent
Running (1971) |
d.
Douglas Trumbull
a.
Bruce Dern
w.
Steven Bochco, Michael Cimino
|
A
sensitive sci-fi space movie with an environmental theme which
seems even more poignant in todays ecological climate than it
did when released in 1971. It also includes two little robots
with more endearing personality than c3po, r2d2 and the rest put
together. Sad and moving. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| sThe
Seventh Seal (1957) |
d.
Ingmar Bergman
a.
Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe, Max von Sydow
|
The
prolific Ingmar Bergman's most famous offering which has been
parodied into cliché oblivion... but still worth experiencing
if you've never seen it. His films cannot really be described
without falling into critical pretentiousness. You just have to
slow down... immerse yourself, allow to soak and let Bergman's
expression of melancholy tap into your own personal level of sensitivity.
L-G will be listing more of his films as time goes on... trouble
is, although the visuals, atmosphere and profoundness are prevalent
in ones memories I just can't remember the titles... there are
so many! (at least we're being honest here and are not listing
any old rubbish just to fill a web site for purely lucrative reasons!)
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| sThe
Singing Ringing Tree (1957) |
d.
Francesco Stefani |
In
60's UK this film was split into episodes for children's TV with
an English narrative. The Singing Ringing Tree and some of the
other East European DEFA productions of that period are pure,
eerie, Dreambeat fantasy. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Suspiria
(1977) |
d.
Dario Argento
a.
Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini
|
A
masterful, dreamlike horror which you might imagine could haunt
you forever after seeing it. At least It might if you ignore the
last few cheesy minutes. That being said, the film oozes "eerie"
which carries it high above the Elm Street type shlock that followed
in later years |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Sweet
Hereafter (1997) |
d.
Atom Egoyan
a.
Sarah Polley Harper, Ian Holm,
|
A
sensitive and compelling drama set in a small British Columbian
town in Canada supported by a beautiful soundtrack mainly sung
by the key actor Sarah Polley. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| t2001
A Space Odyssey (1968) |
d.
Stanley Kubrick
a.
Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood
w.Arthur C. Clarke
|
When
released, summarizing its meaning was purely subjective. But over
the years film guide descriptions have carved a specific scenario
for this pioneering forerunner of modern space fiction. The point
is, you can make whatever you like of 2001. That was always the
fantastical charm of the movie. It is ingeniously enigmatic...
and should always leave one wondering.... And that's how it should
be when us mere earthlings make science fiction films portraying
"things" far beyond our present knowledge! An outstanding
sci-fi period piece. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Tess
(1979) |
d.
Roman Polanski
a.
Nastassja Kinski
|
Still the most memorable and enigmatic version of Thomas Hardy's classic... |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Triple
Echo (1973) |
d.
Michael Apted
a.
Oliver Reed Glenda Jackson
|
A
gritty and somewhat bizarre time piece. Giving that same obscure
celluloid eerieness of similar British films of the period such
as Straw Dogs and O Lucky
Man. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Untamed
Heart (1993) |
d.
Tony Bill
a.
Christian Slater, Marisa Tomei
|
This
really is heart felt (no pun intended) tear jerker, and a very
special film. The story becomes increasingly deeper in both substance
and emotion finally drawing to perhaps an expected conclusion
but with such delicate sensitivity. This is a must. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Up
The Junction (1967) |
d.
Peter Collinson
a.
Suzy Kendall, Susan George, Dennis Waterman
|
We found the following excellent
review for this film on the web. It speaks volumes... thus we
hope the author does not object to its inclusion in these listings...:
"This movie had a profound
effect on me when I first craned my neck to see it from the
front row of the Haymarket cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne. I
was sixteen years old and on date with a guy that had a rich
father, a Triumph spitfire and the personality of deadwood.
I fell deeply in love with Suzy Kendall knowing that it should
have been Dennis Waterman. I saw this movie every night for
two weeks. It captures those times exquisitely, almost painfully.
I just need to hear the opening theme to be transported back.
The clash of cultures, the poverty on both sides of the class
divide. Polly had money but was surrounded by shallowness and
snobbery. Her friends up the junction had loyalty, camaraderie
and fun, but struggled to survive, scamming their way from pay
day to pub, who was the poorer? Manfred Mann's excellent score
insinuates it's way into the fabric of the movie, haunting and
evocative. Give this one a chance, you won't regret it."
|
USA
UK
|
L-G
|
| Vertigo
(1958) |
d.
Alfred Hitchcock
a.
James Stewart, Kim Novak
|
Paced
to unexpecting perfection whereby the most unexpected twists seems
to happen... at the most... unexpected times!... feeling giddy?! |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Westworld
(1973) |
d.
Michael Crichton
a.
Yul Brynner, James Brolin
|
Michael
Crichton classic. So... is your memory of Yule Bryner here in
this film, faceless with a few fizzing wires protruding..., or
pantaloon clad in The King and I? |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Wings
of Desire (1987) |
d.
Wim Wenders
a.
Bruno Ganz, Peter Falk
|
Angels listening by the shoulders
of Berliners continues Wim Wenders celluloid exploration of
individuality in the modern world. Melancholic in his unique
approach towards life at street level paralleled by black and
white fantasy.
Other Wenders films listed: Alice
in The Cities, The
American Friend
|
USA
UK
|
L-G |
| Zero
De Conduite (1923) b/w |
d.
Jean Vigo |
Surreal
cinematic trickery is subtly scattered throughout this early French
masterpiece. Lovely dreamlike touches and an equally ingenious
soundtrack composed by Maurice Jaubert. Check out the procession
scene following the dorm pillow fight.... a true Dreambeat moment. |
USA
UK
|
L-G |
Dreambeat
Listings
