Tag Archives: William Wyler

Best Hollywood Classic Romantic Films (10+1list)

Best Hollywood Classic Romantic Films

written by Souranath Banerjee

Best Hollywood Classic Romantic Films: Love is in the air! When the blissful heart thumps too loud, the glowing smile doesn’t leave your face and your thoughts are always connected to someone special, don’t you dare deny it – you ARE in Love.

And if not, by the time you have finished watching all these films, i am sure you will be!

Well, here are some of the best Hollywood classic romantic films that are considered as the best love-stories ever told.

Let’s shower some love.

10. Gone with the Wind (1939)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dTsfsr6-X8

gone-with-the-wind-poster

Nearly four hours long but it’s totally worth it because of Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh and their brilliant on screen chemistry.

Directed by Victor Fleming (and also George Cukor uncredited), this was the first color film to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Considered to be one of fifteen films that changed American cinema (for the good).

9. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urQVzgEO_w8

breakfast-at-tiffanys-posterFashion icon and superstar Audrey Hepburn was the highest paid actress at the time, her salary for the film was a whooping $750,000!

George Peppard and her chemistry was remarkable in the film, supported by eternally beautiful songs like the ‘Moon River’.

Based on Truman Capote‘s novel and directed by Blake Edwards, a love story to remember.

8. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOiIGUg6yLI

singin-in-the-rain-posterGene KellyDonald O’ConnorDebbie Reynolds in one the most famous romantic musical ever!

Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, interestingly the script of the film was written after the songs, and so the writers had to generate a plot into which the songs would fit.

In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #5 Greatest Movie of All Time.

7. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewe4lg8zTYA

its-wonderful-life-posterDirector/writer Frank Capra at his best, a film that has the most uncommon script and yet so emotional and romantic.

James Stewart at his career best performance and Donna Reed is amazing as well. 

It was nominated for five academy awards and won none. But that doesn’t make the film any less classic value than it deserves. 

Other romantic films by the same director It Happened One Night (1934) and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936).

6. An American in Paris (1951)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2WAMZRCbpU

american-in-paris-posterThis is one such film that makes you nostalgic and long for everything that was once so pure and classic.

Along with Leslie Caron and Oscar Levant, it’s so musical, so romantic and so Gene Kelly

Directed by Vincente Minnelli, there is a 17-minute dance sequence at the end of the film that took a month to shoot. It cost half a million dollars!

Other romantic films by the same director Gigi (1958) and The Bad and the Beautiful (1952).

5. Casablanca (1942)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkL9l7qovsE

casablanca-poster1With songs as melodious as ‘As Time Goes By’, with hunky Humphrey Bogart and the ever beautiful Ingrid Bergman – a love story that can’t go wrong. 

Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film has many unique qualities – the ‘The Battle of the Anthems’ scene, the last airport sequence and of course the chemistry between Rick and Ilsa!  

My personal favorite in the list.

Other romantic films by the same director The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and White Christmas (1954). 

4. Roman Holiday (1953)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GzCG6lpFUw

roman-holiday-posterGregory Peck with Audrey Hepburn in one of the most famous love story ever shot.

The film not only made Audrey Hepburn world famous but also rocketed the sale of Vespa scooter!  

Directed by brilliant William Wylerwho still holds the record of more people nominated to the Oscar sweepstakes for his films than any other director.

Other romantic films by the same director The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and Funny Girl (1968).

3. An Affair to Remember (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWwFfRvClM

affair-to-remember-posterCary Grant and Deborah Kerr after falling for each other agrees to meet in six months at the Empire State Building. 

Well, lovers proposes and God disposes!

Great script, awesome acting and an emotional ending, director Leo McCarey‘s An Affair to Remember” is a film exclusively for the hard core romantics.  

2.  The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr3nsHRKZJA

The-Shop-Around-the-Corner-PosterMargaret Sullavan and James Stewart hate each other but then of course without realizing that they are falling in love after all.  

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, this one is a very next-door-kind-of love story, of two very common people with whom the audience can very easily relate to.

Sweet and romantic, with great script and brilliant acting all around.

Other romantic films by the same director Trouble in Paradise (1932) and Ninotchka (1939).

  1. My Fair Lady (1964)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mYPZ2C4sOE

my-fair-lady-poster

A movie that was advertised as ‘the most eagerly anticipated production since Gone with the Wind‘.

The film was based on the unique drama Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.

Directed by George Cukor, and starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison – one of the biggest grossing films of the time.

Other romantic films by the same director The Philadelphia Story (1940) and Adam’s Rib (1949).

and now, (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. Some Like It Hot (1959)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI_lUHOCcbc

some-like-it-hot-posterSuper hot Marilyn Monroe along with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, all together in this one; more of comedy than romance but again one of the all time favorite cinema.

Directed by Billy Wilder, in 2007, the American Film Institute ranked it #22 Greatest Movie of All Time. 

And it was also Voted #1 on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 Funniest Movies.

Other romantic films by the same director A Foreign Affair (1948) and The Apartment (1960).

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Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comhttps://en.wikipedia.org

Best Japanese weird films (10+1list)

Best Japanese weird films

written by Souranath Banerjee

Best Japanese weird films: It’s interesting to notice that the word ‘weird’ actually doesn’t have any specific definition. Even the dictionary tries to explain it by using other synonymic words like uncanny, eerie, unnatural, bizarre, strange, abnormal, surreal, supernatural e.t.c

According to me if you really want to learn the true meaning of ‘weird’, you should watch some of these Japanese films!

Yes. Every country has their share of peculiar films but Japan totally dominates the weird-cinema category. Comedy, violence, Sci Fi, erotica – you name it and Japan has the weirdest film for each and every genre.

Just remember, none of these films are made to please the so-called general audience – so better watch them at your own risk!

And the list begins.

10. Funky Forest: The First Contact (2005)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3wQio3fbqE

Japanese-weird-filmsA comedy to start with but this is no ordinary laugh riot.

Directed by Katsuhito IshiiHajime Ishimine and Shunichiro Miki the film is insanely surreal – probably a satire of Japanese pop-culture.

With no actual plot as such but trust me, if you ever dare to watch this film – storyline will be the last thing on your mind.

9. Battle Royale (2000)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0p1t-dC7Ko

Japanese-weird-filmsDirected by Kinji Fukasaku, this is probably the most innovative film in this list. 

A film that first introduced the dystopian arena concept where you have to kill to survive and eventually win. The never ending series of Hunger Games is the most successful american rip off till date.  

Extreme violence, school children killing each other in every possible way (if) you can imagine.

8. Branded to Kill (1967)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oou1UmrDlyg

Japanese-weird-filmsA crazy, stylish Japanese film noir!

Directed by Seijun Suzuki, the film is about this hired killer who wants to be No 1 in his profession.

Well, i won’t give away any visual insanity of the film but just to stress the fact – the film was so unconventional and weird that the director’s contract was terminated by the studio after the final edit came out!

7.  A Lonely Cow Weeps at Dawn (2003)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wskcQ_ETr6Q

Japanese-weird-filmsThe most psychologically creepy concept ever.

After the death of his favorite cow an old man believes his daughter-in-law to be that cow and yes – he attempts to milk her on a regular basis.

Directed by Daisuke Gotô, the film contains extreme nudity and sex, often disturbingly spooky and of course weird.

6. Rampo Noir (2005)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYtN_m1V_BE

Japanese-weird-filmsAn anthology film that adapts four short stories by Japan’s foremost mystery writer Edogawa Rampo (the so-called “Japanese Edgar Allen Poe”).

Four films by individual directors Akio JissôjiAtsushi KanekoHisayasu Satô and Suguru Takeuchi – each more horrifying and peculiar than the other.  

Beautiful visuals but extremely weird and gory concepts.

5. Survive Style 5+ (2004)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEH7nDkiPEk

Japanese-weird-filmsDirected by Gen Sekiguchi, the film involves five stories each competing for the most-weird award; they apparently doesn’t connect with each other but again, may be they does in some eccentric manner.

Considered as a black comedy, the film is a potent mixture of violence, laughs and colorful visuals.

Very stylish and super cool acting but again odd and quirky as hell.

4. Blind Beast (1969)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG34PFaQJgE

Japanese-weird-filmsOften refereed to as a Japanese art-house classic directed by Yasuzô Masumura

A psychotic blind man, a sculpter by profession becomes obsessed with a model whom he kidnaps and falls in love with.

Such a concept is later used in many other films (even in William Wyler‘s film The Collector) but never with such violent and raw fashion.

3. Suicide Club (2001)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Rhrp_b5bM

Japanese-weird-filmsGraphic, eerie and spooky as hell.

A number of people are committing suicide all across Japan. A detective is desperate to find out why/what/who/how is this mass suicide is being triggered?

Directed by Shion Sono, the film is not only weird but damn scary, specially the train-sequences (do watch the film to know why).  

Also check out Cold Fish (2010) and Love Exposure (2008) from the same director.

2. Tetsuo, the Iron Man (1989)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uROMTzJsfOI

Japanese-weird-filmsA black and white nightmare of technology (or rather the fear of it). It’s the story of the strange rebirth of a ‘metal fetishist’ who was supposed to be dead.

Wacky, nerve wrecking, crazy visuals that will be burned into your head for ever.

Directed by Shin’ya Tsukamoto, the film has stretched the limits of being weird to a new level.

  1. Visitor Q (2001)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRc6dN7s1w4

Japanese-weird-filmsAnd now it’s time for the celebrated director Takashi Miike.

Most of his films are so weird that he probably deserves a separate list all together!

This film though takes the cake for being super-disturbing and for it’s total madcap visuals.

Highly sexual in content and often considered as sick and disgusting.

Also check out Gozu (2003), Ichi the Killer (2001) from the same director.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most unique and bizarre one. A must watch).

+1. Cat Soup (2001) 

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZOvNuvS1hg

Japanese-weird-filmsConsidered as a masterpiece, this one is a short animated film (duration 34 mins) but more importantly it’s also the weirdest animation film that ever exists.

Directed by Tatsuo Satô, the film is about two cat siblings on a psychedelic journey. And they are in search of a soul.

If you find Hayao Miyazaki‘s films a little weird, please try this one!

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Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comwww.imdb.com.