I’m not one of those film people who can tell you who the cinematographer was on On The Waterfront or who most influenced Truffaut. When it comes to knowledge of film history, I’m semi-rubbish (a friend of mine once left the dinner table when I admitted I had never seen one of the most famous and most well-regarded films of all time). I can do the whole rap at the end of The Revenge of the Nerds and all of Jeff Spicoli's dialogue, but sadly, my expertise ends there. I do, however, love film and whether it is an exceptional documentary, a classic or a Seth Rogan vehicle, I am always excited about seeing something that my friends love. The films I love best usually contain a breathtaking female performance (The Reader, Sophie’s Choice, Klute), as the genius of a creative woman inspires me in all areas of my life. This week, I asked five brilliant directors (four of whom I have worked with and one who I worship) to share their top five DVD rental picks. Their choices range from the serious to the whimsical to everything in between.
Love,
Steven’s Favorites:
(Steven Spielberg is a pretty good director, you might have heard of him. When I was seventeen he asked me to be in Hook [his film about Peter Pan] one night when we were all driving to a movie. They made me a custom wig and I only had one line! Filming that scene was one of the best, most memorable days of my life.)
Steven says: These are not necessarily my all-time favorite films....but good choices to rent and enjoy!
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The Best Years of Our Lives
Captain’s Courageous
The Godfather
The Searchers
Tootsie
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Wes’ Picks:
(Wes Anderson directed Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, etc. He is one of the most specific directors I have ever worked with. When I played Margot in The Royal Tenenbaums, he knew exactly how he wanted my hair, clothes and eye makeup. He is so inspiring to work with because you feel like you are the one crazy, important color he needs to create the whole picture. Also, he is a great dresser.)
Terror’s Advocate
Barbet Schroeder’s great documentary, Terror’s Advocate, also relates to another one I would highly recommend, which is Marcel Ophüls’ documentary Hôtel Terminus (except I think you can only get it on VHS). There is kind of a miniature version of Terror’s Advocate in the middle of it.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
This is a Japanese cartoon that is very difficult to describe and might not sound that great if I tried anyway. It is 24 episodes, and we watched them all in less than a week because you start to want to believe it’s real. This could spawn something like Scientology.
From the Life of Marionettes
I’d never heard of this until last month. It’s an Ingmar Bergman movie he made in Germany where I think he was a tax exile.
Life Lessons
The Martin Scorsese part of New York Stories. It’s about a painter.
More or less anything that says The Criterion Collection across the top it. The most recent one I had never seen before and loved was Costa-Gavras’ Missing.
Jon’s Picks:
(Jon Favreau and I met when we both had bit parts in Dorothy Parker and the Vicious Circle about 15 years ago. He then went on to write and star in Swingers and become an incredible filmmaker. We reconnected when he asked me to be in Iron Man. Jon is not only a confident filmmaker, he is deeply calm and funny. I can’t wait to start Iron Man 2 in two weeks and hang out with him every day.)
Seven Samurai
Kurosawa’s masterpiece. A real study in storytelling and cinematography. Remade into The Magnificent Seven and later Roger Corman’s The Last Starfighter. Three hours and you never check your watch.
Kung Fu Panda
My seven-year-old son said Iron Man was his second favorite film last year. This one was his first.
Top Chef Boxed Set
I downloaded the whole series, and the L.A.-to-Europe flight was over before I knew it.
Visions of Light
A wonderful overview of the history of cinematography with a who’s who of interviews and great clips in context. Perhaps my favorite documentary. I watch it every few years.
Westworld
Directed by Michael Crichton. Great concept. Great violence. Yul Brenner created the paradigm for Jason and the Terminator.
James’ Picks:
(James Gray is a beautiful, unique filmmaker. He DOES know everything about everything that ever happened in film. He loves actors so much that he bursts into laughter if he loves what you did in a take. I did Two Lovers with him and it was one of the best artistic experiences of my life. Also, he made his famous pasta sauce for me in my trailer on my last day.)
Rocco and His Brothers
This is a beautiful movie that takes its time but comes to a full boil and devastates. Luchino Visconti’s 1960 epic details the tragedies of an Italian family that migrates from Italy’s agrarian south to its industrialized north.
The 400 Blows
Francois Truffaut’s classic about the struggles and joys of youth. Tender and unforgettable.
Singin’ In The Rain
Pure joy. Film’s transition from the silents to sound with an acrobatic Gene Kelly leading the way.
The Godfather/The Godfather Part Two
Yes, two movies, not one - I’m not cheating. These two classics are impossible to separate, bound together by story, cast, theme, look and greatness.
Tokyo Story
Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu’s magnificent picture about how we disrespect our elders. So moving it becomes almost unbearable; a transcendent experience.
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