Looking for films that have a bit more to offer than standard Hollywood fare? Try one of these little known classics
Four films that aren’t a waste of time
“Time is precious, these are worth yours” (The Monk, circa 2018)
Stalker (1979) - Andrie Tarkowski
It’s difficult to explain how much this means to me. It's a simple premise, you could almost call it sci-fi a la Philip K Dick, yet it has a Lovecraftian centre that is never explained. It somehow uses the end of the Soviet regime as a background to, not explain, but make bare that there are no answers, just...humanity. I was tempted to do all Tarkowski films, but I'll save some for my Bergman lecture for the next installment.
Sweet Smell of Success (1957) - Alexandar Mackendrick
To lighten things up, this offering scarily resonates to our culture. I'll call it a horror, not because of Burt Lancaster being his most cold, and sadistic, but because Tony Curtis represents all our dark ego's.
Winter Light (1965) - Ingmar Bergman
My favourite of the 'so-called' trilogy. Bergmam was questioning God, but also questioning man, in this
some forget, religion and man can both lose. The antagonist is weak, confused, depressed and full of anxiety for his dead wife whilst stone cold towards his lover. There's no redemption.
Sorcerer (1977) - William Friedkin
Yeah he was responsible for The Exorcist, but he made great films before and after, this is the only film I've ever seen where the word 'tense' could be appropriately used. Like the best, you get involved with the characters, it takes time, but it's worth it. It put me on edge is all, no neo-realism, it just made me be with them. That's rare.
Forget Flubber 3D, treat your time with some respect and put the year in.
The Monk is a musician, film critic, philosopher and social commentator. After being churned through the music industry he had a moment of deep introspection, the light streamed through the monastery window and he took his seat. From here he dispenses knowledge and insight into the things you didn’t know you didn’t know.