No, I’m not a big celebrity. (Not yet anyway.) But I’ve been watching the Criterion Closet pick videos and I have to chime in, as someone who’s seen a lot of movies, I went through the Criterion Collection list and selected my own Criterion picks. Here they are!
Seven Samurai
This is definitely on my list as a movie everyone has to see at least once. I’m a huge Kurosawa fan, and I love so many of his movies that I could have included so many of them on this list, but to be fair I only chose this one. If you only see one of his movies, this is it!
About a group of samurai who agree to help defend a village of farmers who keep getting attacked by bandits. Toshiro Mifune is brilliant as the odd duck of the group.
Withnail and I
I’ve seen a lot of movies about drugs and drug addicts, and the principle problem with a lot of them is that they principally concentrate just on the drugs and the drug taking. If you want to see the best movie ever made about people who are steeped in drugs and alcohol, it’s this one. A unique and engaging story about a couple of out of work actors looking to hustle. A great movie about the bohemian life!
M
Called the first serial killer movie, Fritz Lang’s film about a psychotic killer was made shortly after they just started adding sound to movies. It’s a brilliant film that will seem strange to modern audiences, because they only just started adding sound to movies and were not very good at it yet. You’ll see cops trudging down stairs without the sound of footsteps, and trucks driving by without the sound of motors, but despite all of that, sound plays a critical role in this movie about a citywide manhunt for a killer. A must-see for anyone claiming to be a cinephile!
Down by Law
I’m a big Jim Jarmusch fan, but this is this apex movie. Once of the best movies I’ve ever seen. The style, the acting, the cinematography, everything. A must see!
About guys on the ground of New Orleans, individuals who live in the underground, dealing with rough trade and finding themselves imprisoned for their associations. My favorite prison movie, starring the American debut of Roberto Benigni who learned to speak English on the set!
Harold and Maude
If you watch one and only one movie off of this list, make it this one. A timeless movie about an estranged young man becoming friends with an older free spirit. The soundtrack by Cat Stevens is just an extra added bonus!
This is also a required movies for Goths. If you haven’t seen this film, turn in your street cred!
Repo Man
“I blame society. Society made me what I am.”
I’ve called this movie the best punk movie ever made! (I started one of the worst online brawls I’ve ever seen when I made that comment in an online punk forum!) Part punk movie, part working class tale and also a Sci-Fi flick, this tale of a young suburban punk who happens, by chance, to become a repo man is a must-see if you ever want to consider yourself down with the street!
