Rick

Rick's Film Picks

This is a list of films. I don't know why, it's just a list. They get some bananas.

		Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1980; dir Richard Elfman) Starring Hervé Villechaize, with music by Danny Elfman.
		Eraserhead (1977; dir David Lynch) Absolutely the worst film I've ever seen three times. Deserves no bananas, but I'll give it one anyway.
		The Happiness of the Katakuris. [片栗家の幸福] (2001; dir Takashi Miike) Starring Kenji Sawada. The plot: city family opens a bed-and-breakfast in the country. They are baffled and sing their hearts out while the corpses begin to pile up...
		Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989; dir Aki Kaurismäki) Finnish rock band tours the US of A.
		The Hebrew Hammer (2003; dir Jonathan Kesselman) Will Mordechai Jefferson Carver and his girlfriend Esther save Hannukah from the depredations of the new, more evil, Santa Claus? Find out in this hysterical fast-paced kosher detective thriller.
		Orchestra Rehearsal (1978; dir Federico Fellini) Just what it sounds like... a rehearsal that gets out of hand.
		Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001; dir John Cameron Mitchell). A serious hard rock musical, not for the squeamish or faint of heart. My favorite tune in the film is, of course, Wig in a Box.
		Silk Stockings (1957; dir Rouben Mamoulian). Maybe it gets too many bananas for this list, but it's my favorite musical. Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Peter Lorre, and Jules Munshin. Not only my favorite musical, but may be my favorite film of all time.
		Stranger than Paradise (1983; dir Jim Jarmusch) A slice of American immigrant low-life.
		Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise (2001; dir Danny Boyle). Maybe I'm on a Paradise kick but. This film features a fabulously seedy performance by Timothy Spall (one of my favorite under-rated actors).
		Superstarlet A.D. (2000; dir John Michael McCarthy). This surrealistic romp has a script full of non-sequiturs punctuated by occasionally brilliant gems. Reminded me of Un chien andalou, but has more talking and some sections in color.
		Destination Mars! (2004; dir Joseph McDonald) Wow, this sci-fi serial spoof takes me right back to the '30s -- move over Buck Rogers!
		Sukiyaki Western Django (2008; dir Takashi Miike) This strange film could have told its story in 1/3 of the time, but I guess Miike needed to make use of the cool scenery & costumes, and add lots of shoot-em-up violence. I watched this on DVD and highly recommend the "making of" featurette, which actually serves to render the film comprehensible. I.e., even though it's in English, it could use some explanation and justification. Watch the featurette, then watch the film.

[Click me home again Kathleen]