# Recomend a movie for me to watch based on a list of some of my favoite films. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 3, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188 "2014-12-03T02:45:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/1 "2014-12-03T02:45:43Z")
1. **Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind** - Without a doubt my favorite movie of all time. I like it for a number of reasons. Though I can’t relate to the relationship Joel, (the main character), had with Clementine, (his love interest), I CAN relate to Joel’s character. I love the way his story is told, and I like the way Kaufman, (the screenplay writer), handled the means in which the story was told. I read the script before the movie came out and when I tried explaining the premise to my friend, it sounded awful. I like that the ‘procedure’ Joel went through wasn’t taken extremely seriously, and just used as a way to tell the story. The doctor’s office looked like it could be located in a strip-mall, and though it wasn’t part of the actual movie, the trailers presented us with what seemed to be a low budget commercial for the procedure. I loved that the story of the romance “started” at the rocky end, then worked it’s way towards the beautiful beginning. I could go on-and-on about what I loved about this movie. 1. **Punch-Drunk Love** - It’s not the most popular movie out there, but I loved it. Once again I could relate to the main character, (without the crying problem and fits of rage.) The way he acts around women, (and other people in general), is often the way I feel I act. I also think Sandler was actually amazing in this role. As Rodger Ebert said; Sandler can act, and quite possibly hit notes that other actors can’t. I love the subtle changes in Sandler’s character as he steps out of his comfort zone for love. It’s a romance movie that I can relate to. 1. **The Truman Show** - I love the premise of this movie. Aside from a made-for-TV movie, I believe this was Jim Carrey’s first REAL drama. He was perfect for the role. The movie touched on voyeurism, privacy, romantic love, parental relationships, the human condition, best friend relationships, and even God. Who DOESN’T feel trapped at some point of their lives? Who doesn’t wonder what would happen if they broke their routine? Who doesn’t feel like a product of their own environment? Like ‘Eternal Sunshine’, I see it as more of a ‘fantasy’ than a ‘Sci-Fi’. 1. **Adaptation** - Another Kaufman movie. The third act sucked, but it was supposed to suck. If you review the movie closely, you can tell exactly when the Kaufman, (the character), finishes the non-fiction book ‘The Orchid Thief’, and the story turns into full-blown fiction. A lot of people didn’t understand the ending. I had to explain to my brother what parts of the movie were based on reality and what was not real. Once again, I can relate to the main character, (Kaufman.) “She thinks I’m bald. I have t STOP sweating. She’s thinking, ‘I would never in a million years sleep with this guy’” …and the rest, in no particular order: **Wreck-It Ralph Moonrise Kingdom Little Miss Sunshine Toy Story 1,2,3 Best in Show 500 Days of Summer The Graduate 2001: A Space Odyssey Ghost World The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters Dr. Strangelove One Flew Over the Cucoo’s Nest High Fidelity Nosferatu Metropolis Dogma There Will Be Blood Garden State Fargo Bride of Frankenstein Office Space Harold & Maude To Kill a Mockingbird Citizen Kane Better Off Dead The Artist Network American Splendor Election Eraserhead WALL•E** ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/2 "2014-12-03T03:08:30Z")
I came in to this thread, noted our mutual love of weird films, said, ‘‘this is a guy who would appreciate my favorite movie of all time,’’ and deliver unto you [I Heart Huckabees](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k-N6ri95Xs). The gist: it’s a comedy about existentialism. The protagonist hires a pair of existential detectives (Lily Tomlin and Dustin Hoffman) to solve his life crisis. Phenomenal acting and writing. Really fucking weird movie. Fortunately, I am myself, really fucking weird. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/3 "2014-12-03T03:13:20Z")
I think you’d enjoy **Birdman**. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/4 "2014-12-03T03:20:47Z")
We have similar tastes in movies, though I didn’t care for _Adaptation_. You only asked for one movie, but I have four recommendations: [Stalag 17](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046359/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) [The Lives of Others](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) [Blue Ruin](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2359024/?ref_=nv_sr_1) [The Best of Times](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090713/?ref_=nv_sr_1) You might also like the episode [Steel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86PPGTIWCHs) from The Twilight Zone. ---
**Author:** ![sideshowkar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sideshowkar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sideshowkar)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/5 "2014-12-03T03:28:05Z")
I’m also one of similar taste. I offer up: Winter Kills (1979) Son of Rambow (2007) Birdy (1984) Over the Edge (1979) The In-Laws (1979) …I guess I really like films from 1979. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/6 "2014-12-03T03:39:32Z")
Being John Malkovich Tapeheads ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/7 "2014-12-03T05:57:11Z")
Locke I don’t know that I can defend it, but when I read your list, I thought “This is someone who might really appreciate Locke.” ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/8 "2014-12-03T08:01:39Z")
[Being John Malkovich](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120601/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1) - the premise is bizarre. This movie raises some interesting questions about identity and art. [Brazil](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/?ref_=nv_sr_1) - an over-the-top satire about a society that’s dominated by an incompetent bureaucracy. [This Is Spinal Tap](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1) - Based on your appreciation of **Best in Show**. This is Christopher Guest’s first mockumentary. [No Country for Old Men](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477348/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_9) - a Coen Brothers movie (like Fargo). Very dark. A masterpiece, in my opinion. [The Big Lebowski](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_17) - another Coen Brothers movie. This one is close to a straight comedy. [District 9](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1) - first-rate science fiction with a serious theme ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/9 "2014-12-03T08:41:19Z")
[Joe vs The Volcano](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099892/) [The Invention of Lying](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1058017/) Lars And The Real Girl [Shakes The Clown](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102898/) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/10 "2014-12-03T08:58:38Z")
You like: Quirky indy films, with low budgets, that spotlight either a comedian trying to act or a bigger star slumming. I like those too. You also like staged-looking poses with lots of profile and face-on shots (i.e everything by Wes Anderson and the Coen Bros), which are hit or miss with me. How about: **Napoleon Dynamite Saved Almost Famous Heathers Funnybones Crimes and Misdemeanors Boys Don’t Cry** ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/11 "2014-12-03T10:32:53Z")
I’ll mention a couple of Aussie movies: [Lantana](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259393/combined) and [Animal Kingdom](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1313092/combined) only because you have probably never heard of them but I like every movie mentioned so far in this thread, so offering something mainstream won’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/12 "2014-12-03T14:21:25Z")
As I’ve only seen 10 of the movies on your list, I’d say my list is your anti-list. So, don’t see superhero movies, spy movies, romantic comedies, or science fiction. Avoid movies with lots of explosions and pratfalls. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/13 "2014-12-03T14:52:46Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > As I’ve only seen 10 of the movies on your list, I’d say my list is your anti-list. So, don’t see superhero movies, spy movies, romantic comedies, or science fiction. Avoid movies with lots of explosions and pratfalls. What’s wrong with well-done Sci-Fi??? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/14 "2014-12-03T15:31:38Z")
If you don’t mind a real oldie, try **Blue Angel** , with Marlene Dietrich. Also, **Freaks** (1932), one of the oddest horror films ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/15 "2014-12-03T15:41:50Z")
Go old school for a bit **Casablanca It Happened One Night The Thin Man Arsenic and Old Lace** ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/16 "2014-12-03T16:13:50Z")
Here are a few trippy ones that you won’t find too many people talking about: [_ **Dark City** _](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_City_(1998_film)) [_ **The Adjuster.** _](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adjuster) And to add in a true classic: \*\*\* Stage Coach\*\*\*. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/17 "2014-12-03T17:05:25Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > And to add in a true classic: \*\*\* Stage Coach\*\*\*. The John Wayne version, of course, or even the 1966 version with Ann-Margaret. Forget the later version with Willy Nelson. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/18 "2014-12-03T17:09:28Z")
**Moon** ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/19 "2014-12-03T17:23:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Here are a few trippy ones that you won’t find too many people talking about: > > [_ **Dark City** _](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_City_(1998_film)) Dark City is great, but I always give the same advice: plug your ears and sing “La la la!” until you see a naked lightbulb swinging on a wire. For some god knows why reason, the movie begins with some dude facing the camera and explaining the movie’s plot in small words. Without that introduction, it’s a wonderful mindtrip of a movie. With it, it’s just infuriating. If you want two more weird fairy-tale-ish SF movies, I strongly recommend \*\*Delicatessen \*\*and extra-specially **City of Lost Children** , which is probably my all-time favorite movie. It’s a bit difficult to follow, but it’s visually spectacular, at various turns creepy and hilarious and tender, and just a fantastic movie. And you mentioned some other Coen Brothers movies. Have you see **True Grit**? It is, for my money, the best pure movie experience I’ve ever had. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188/20 "2014-12-03T17:41:54Z")
Some great movies on your list and some great recommendations. I’ll add **Raising Arizona** Coen brothers funniest movie, one of the funniest ever. A hard to find British movie called Comfort and Joy. Man gets swept in the underworld of rival ice cream truck companies. (trust me) \*\*Fearless \*\*Jeff Bridges, directed by Peter Weir. (fantastic film) Other Peter Weir movies to see besides The Truman show would be **Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Year of Living Dangerously, Witness, The Mosquito Cost and Master and Commander The Far Side of the World.** (I’m the only person on earth the hate Dead Poets Society) One more, **Strictly Ballroom** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recomend-a-movie-for-me-to-watch-based-on-a-list-of-some-of-my-favoite-films/706188.md?page=2)