What do you consider the greatest film ever made, and why?

[farlaff]

Jumpin said:

farlaff said:

I'm very proud of the selection many of you guys presented, mainly on the first page. I was expecting more recent and mainstream entries (I place movies such as LotR and Dark Knight in such a category), so it was lovely to see Kurosawa, Kubrick, Hitchcock and so many other fantastic moviemakers being cited.

Good movies should work as a mirror into the human core. Interesting films are supposed to capture a wide range of human emotions, such as love, hate, joy, sadness, fear, and hope, exploring the internal and external conflicts that characters face, allowing the audience to identify with their struggles and triumphs. Additionally, they would often address universal themes like the search for identity, the fight for justice, the importance of family, and the inevitability of death, resonating with viewers as these are common issues for everyone. Many films also serve as a critique of society, tackling inequality, prejudice, war, and morality, provoking reflections on social behaviors and values, which can inspire change and promote important discussions. Narratives of overcoming challenges and resilience showcase the human capacity to face adversity, offering hope and highlighting the strength of the human spirit in the pursuit of purpose. Finally, the diversity of stories and characters might allow for a rich representation of the human experience, demonstrating that despite our differences, there are shared emotions and experiences that connect us. Thus, as stated, films serve as a mirror of human nature, reflecting the complexity of life.

I can discuss countless movies and directors, but for a long time, Bergman was my favorite, closely followed by Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. Nowadays, I find myself appreciating those who paved the way for cinema as a profound art form. In this regard, few have done it better than Fritz Lang, who showcased film as a reflection of human nature.

I will just mention 5 examples in chronological order:

Die Nibelungen (1924) - The "father" of cinema epics. This two-part silent journey is based on the Germanic legend of the Nibelungs. For the first part, Siegfried, follows the hero Siegfried as he slays a dragon and wins the treasure of the Nibelungs, as well as the love of Kriemhild. In the second part, Kriemhild's Revenge, depicts Kriemhild's quest for vengeance after Siegfried's murder, leading to a tragic and bloody conclusion. Timeless, if not as polished as his future work.

Metropolis (1927 - ?!?) - Groundbreaking science fiction film set in a dystopian future, exploring themes of class struggle and industrialization. It is relevant almost a full century later, and was basis for so, so many other things that came later.

M (1931) - A psychological thriller about the hunt for a child murderer in Berlin, notable for its exploration of morality and justice. This is the basis for understanding the western legal system and how we should be technical in evaluating justice.

Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler (1922) and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) - (Ok, I'm cheating here, as these are 2 movies; feel free to sue me XD). Films that go over the figure of Dr. Mabuse, a master criminal and manipulator who uses his intellect and charm to control others, primarily through gambling and deceit.

Man Hunt (1941) - already filmed in the US, the plot goes about the following: on July 29, 1939, renowned British big-game hunter Captain Alan Thorndike slips through the forest undetected near the Berghof, Adolf Hitler's residence near Berchtesgaden. With Hitler in his telescopic sight, he pulls the trigger on his unloaded rifle and gives a wave. He ponders a moment, then loads a live round, but is discovered at the last second by a guard, and the rifle goes off in their struggle. Watch the movie while thinking the War was still at large! Meaning, what if the Nazis had won, what would it be of Lang, a defector that did not want to serve the Nazis and fled the country? Absolutely incredible as a piece of history not only on the silver screen, but in real life.

I don't have a favourite (even though, M is the one that stroke me harder back in the day). But here you have a summary of what movies should be, in so many different genres, that Lang was capable of delivering. You cannot go wrong with any of these. If pressed, I would say any of his body of work could be the greatest ever made.

A man of taste!

Not to look down on the tastes of others, I have a mix of tastes myself... While I love the films that I consider to be greats: the Hitchcocks, the Kubricks, and the Kurosawas, I also enjoy a lot of directors who I know people on this forum consider distasteful. :D

Mostly, it's because I love the over-the-top films from the likes of Paul Verhoeven and Brian De Palma. I also quite like slapstick comedies from the Zuckers, and raunchy comedy sorts of films as well - which never do well with critics unless they end in some kind of weird moral lesson about stopping raunchy behaviours. My favourite genre is probably horror.

Warning-extreme violence - Paul Verhoeven ahead:

Verhoeven's Basic Instinct pays homage to Vertigo, aesthetically and thematically:

I also like animated films. And while I'm not an anime person, a lot of my favourite animated films come from Japan. And if you want a great homage to great directors. Millennium Actress by Satoshi Kon fits the bill. I think all four of his features are great: Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, and Paprika.

Millennium Actress, in short, is about two filmmakers who are documenting the life of a famous actress. It begins in the rise of authoritarianism in Japan leading up to World War 2, and during the actress's youngest years she falls in love with an anti-fascist artist. It goes through the history of the war and much of mid-20th century Japanese history. There is a lot of merging of the present day, the biographical portions of her life (through the 20th century), and the films she acts in. And, it's probably the most interpretive of Satoshi Kon's films.

Right back at you, my friend!

We might have very similar tastes, as Paul Verhoeven and Brian De Palma (Hitchcock's greatest heir) are among my favorite ones! I have said, even in this site a few times, that Robocop is one of the most perfect movies ever done (if I were to rank science fiction, it would probably be 1. Metropolis; 2. 2001; 3. Robocop, even if I think Robocop fits many different bills - how it punches privatization in the mouth is probably the most important important of its many facets). I have a hard time finding a movie that keeps getting better with time, and an even harder time finding one that has pretty much zero wasted frame (The Good The Bad and The Ugly comes to mind). Did you see Verhoeven saying in a doc that the Robocop design was a direct inspiration from the Droid in Metropolis? His explanation I think was in a DVD extra somewhere around here, but so worth watching! Also, if you haven't, check out his Zwartboek (Black Book) film about WWII. Amazing!

From De Palma, pretty much everything he does, but I have a soft spot for Dressed to Kill, Blow Out and Carrie (in this order), even though Untouchables is a masterpiece and Mission Impossible is absolute genius. what about that sequence in Snake Eyes? Man, so many good options!

I might take a look at a few of the suggestions at the end of your post! I'll probably enjoy those from your description. :)