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The Elephant Man (1980)
An artistic film but one that requires the right mindset
The films of David Lynch are abstract and off beat. One needs the correct frame of mind to enjoy them. The Elephant Man is one of the more mainstream, straightforward narrative films by the auteur but even a mainstream Lynch film is abstract and The Elephant Man- based on the true story of John Merrick is filled with imagery and allegories that might bore the watcher. Make no mistake- this is a good movie and the performance of John Hurt as the titular character is so good it is a shame that he did not win an academy award for it. Hauntingly photographed and well-acted by everyone from Anthony Hopkins to Anne Bankcroft this is an artistic film and needs a certain mindset to be viewed.
Risky Business (1983)
A must watch for 80s enthusiasts
Risky Business is known today as the movie that launched Tom Cruise into stardom but the film is really quite good on its own merit. The film is about an 18-year-old kid whose parents leave him for the weekend and he ends up doing some crazy things. Its strange to see Tom Cruise so young, especially dancing in his undies to "old time rock and roll". The film has an amazing collection of songs and the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream is out of this world. You have to see this film just to see where it all began for a guy who is quite possibly the biggest movie star on Earth for the past few decades.
Manhunter (1986)
Great mid 80s psychological thriller
Michael Mann is a stylish filmmaker and his take on the Hannibal Lector saga has his stamp of authority. It is a pity that in the deluge of praise for Silence of the Lambs(which is a great film indeed) this film is almost forgotten. Because it contains some great qualities. The acting is uniformly excellent- Brian Cox infuses Lectar with a different approach than what Hopkins brought later and Will Graham is expertly played by William Peterson. The scenes between the two are really good. Pacing is excellent and the soundtrack is one of the finest mixtures of sound and visuals in all cinema. Is this as good or better than Silence of the Lambs? Some think so. You be the judge.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
A masterpiece is the right word to sum up There will be blood
Paul Thomas Anderson is considered one of the premier auteur of our ages and this film shows why-It is a brilliant bit of filmmaking and of course the ever-magnificent Daniel Day Lewis is so good as the misanthrope Daniel Plainview. Much like every other film of Anderson this one will be analyzed and dissected for years to come but for now you owe it to yourself to go and see this magnus opus on the oil fields of America. There isn't much to say that hasn't been said already but this is one of the standout films of the 00s and will be long cherished by cinephiles and art enthusiasts alike.
Day of the Fight (1951)
short Kubrick film; good watch for film students
This is an early short film made by the legendary Stanley Kubrick and you can already see the talent here. Its entire duration is devoted to a boxer as he prepares for the big day- his boxing match. Featuring some camera angles and techniques that became a staple in his later films Day of the fight should be a great film for students to watch as they understand one of the greatest filmmakers of the 21st century try his hands at a movie camera at the very beginning of a glorious career.