Movies Spout Needs to Watch

So, every week at Spout we watch a movie and discuss it. Sounds fun, no? Well, it is. However, selecting the movie every week is not without it's challenges and as the lucky person who fills up our queue, I feel a lot of pressure to meet several requirements that often seem conflicting.

1) The movie needs to be one which we would not normally watch. The point is to be stretched outside of our movie comfort zone.

2) If you pick a really tough movie that ends in a really uncomfortable way every week, people will stop coming to watch.

3) There is a wide spectrum of movie preferences/tolerances present at Spout. We aren't all the movie freaks that you would expect. Many of us consider ourselves to be fairly average in our movie knowledge and preferences. Often, watching something with subtitles can seem like a challenge. 

4) It needs to be short. We can't spend more then 2 hours on a movie out of our work day.

So yeah, we are looking for short/normal length movies that will stretch us,  but won't make the average movie goer want to run and hide every week at movie time. I greatly anticipate your suggestions.

the unpopular movie-picker,

Christi

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

csprague:

So, every week at Spout we watch a movie and discuss it. Sounds fun, no? Well, it is. However, selecting the movie every week is not without it's challenges and as the lucky person who fills up our queue, I feel a lot of pressure to meet several requirements that often seem conflicting.

1) The movie needs to be one which we would not normally watch. The point is to be stretched outside of our movie comfort zone.

2) If you pick a really tough movie that ends in a really uncomfortable way every week, people will stop coming to watch.

3) There is a wide spectrum of movie preferences/tolerances present at Spout. We aren't all the movie freaks that you would expect. Many of us consider ourselves to be fairly average in our movie knowledge and preferences. Often, watching something with subtitles can seem like a challenge. 

4) It needs to be short. We can't spend more then 2 hours on a movie out of our work day.

So yeah, we are looking for short/normal length movies that will stretch us,  but won't make the average movie goer want to run and hide every week at movie time. I greatly anticipate your suggestions.

the unpopular movie-picker,

Christi

Do you have a list of everything you've watched so far?

And even better, to go along with the list, which selections seemed to be the most successful?

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

Risselada:

csprague:

So, every week at Spout we watch a movie and discuss it. Sounds fun, no? Well, it is. However, selecting the movie every week is not without it's challenges and as the lucky person who fills up our queue, I feel a lot of pressure to meet several requirements that often seem conflicting.

1) The movie needs to be one which we would not normally watch. The point is to be stretched outside of our movie comfort zone.

2) If you pick a really tough movie that ends in a really uncomfortable way every week, people will stop coming to watch.

3) There is a wide spectrum of movie preferences/tolerances present at Spout. We aren't all the movie freaks that you would expect. Many of us consider ourselves to be fairly average in our movie knowledge and preferences. Often, watching something with subtitles can seem like a challenge. 

4) It needs to be short. We can't spend more then 2 hours on a movie out of our work day.

So yeah, we are looking for short/normal length movies that will stretch us,  but won't make the average movie goer want to run and hide every week at movie time. I greatly anticipate your suggestions.

the unpopular movie-picker,

Christi

Do you have a list of everything you've watched so far?

And even better, to go along with the list, which selections seemed to be the most successful?

Here's a list of all the movies we have watched so far: http://www.spout.com/films/1287614/ViewFilmList.aspx

The popular stuff was either the fun documentaries like Just for Kicks or Wordplay, or classics like It's a Wonderful Life. The Unpopular stuff was I'm Not There, Being There, and The Rules of the Game.

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

csprague:

Risselada:

csprague:

So, every week at Spout we watch a movie and discuss it. Sounds fun, no? Well, it is. However, selecting the movie every week is not without it's challenges and as the lucky person who fills up our queue, I feel a lot of pressure to meet several requirements that often seem conflicting.

1) The movie needs to be one which we would not normally watch. The point is to be stretched outside of our movie comfort zone.

2) If you pick a really tough movie that ends in a really uncomfortable way every week, people will stop coming to watch.

3) There is a wide spectrum of movie preferences/tolerances present at Spout. We aren't all the movie freaks that you would expect. Many of us consider ourselves to be fairly average in our movie knowledge and preferences. Often, watching something with subtitles can seem like a challenge. 

4) It needs to be short. We can't spend more then 2 hours on a movie out of our work day.

So yeah, we are looking for short/normal length movies that will stretch us,  but won't make the average movie goer want to run and hide every week at movie time. I greatly anticipate your suggestions.

the unpopular movie-picker,

Christi

Do you have a list of everything you've watched so far?

And even better, to go along with the list, which selections seemed to be the most successful?

Here's a list of all the movies we have watched so far: http://www.spout.com/films/1287614/ViewFilmList.aspx

The popular stuff was either the fun documentaries like Just for Kicks or Wordplay, or classics like It's a Wonderful Life. The Unpopular stuff was I'm Not There, Being There, and The Rules of the Game.

Just thinking of some that I've enjoyed recently:

The Killing (1953) - American noir/heist from Stanley Kubrick. 89 minutes

Sisters (1973) - Earlier Brian De Palma - Good example of 70's Horror. 92 minutes

Le Samouraï (1967) - This is a French movie with very minimum dialogue. Very hip 105 minutes

Freaks (1932) - This one should get you comfortably out of your comfort zone 62 minutes

The 39 Steps (1935)  - Just thought I should throw in an old Hitchcock. 86 minutes

Romance & Cigarettes (2005) 106 minutes/ Illuminata (1998) 120 minutes- A couple of quircky films directed by John Turturro. Beware: Romance & Cigarretes is a musical staring Tony Soprano.

Abel Raises Cain (2005) - This is the best doc I've seen this year (which includes Man on Wire). 82 minutes

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

Here's one that I really enjoyed but that no one else that I know has seen, probably because of the title. After a hundred misses, National Lampoon finally got one right.

The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell (2006)

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

csprague:

Risselada:

csprague:

So, every week at Spout we watch a movie and discuss it. Sounds fun, no? Well, it is. However, selecting the movie every week is not without it's challenges and as the lucky person who fills up our queue, I feel a lot of pressure to meet several requirements that often seem conflicting.

1) The movie needs to be one which we would not normally watch. The point is to be stretched outside of our movie comfort zone.

2) If you pick a really tough movie that ends in a really uncomfortable way every week, people will stop coming to watch.

3) There is a wide spectrum of movie preferences/tolerances present at Spout. We aren't all the movie freaks that you would expect. Many of us consider ourselves to be fairly average in our movie knowledge and preferences. Often, watching something with subtitles can seem like a challenge. 

4) It needs to be short. We can't spend more then 2 hours on a movie out of our work day.

So yeah, we are looking for short/normal length movies that will stretch us,  but won't make the average movie goer want to run and hide every week at movie time. I greatly anticipate your suggestions.

the unpopular movie-picker,

Christi

Do you have a list of everything you've watched so far?

And even better, to go along with the list, which selections seemed to be the most successful?

Here's a list of all the movies we have watched so far: http://www.spout.com/films/1287614/ViewFilmList.aspx

The popular stuff was either the fun documentaries like Just for Kicks or Wordplay, or classics like It's a Wonderful Life. The Unpopular stuff was I'm Not There, Being There, and The Rules of the Game.

Thanks.  Here are the first two movies that popped into my head with those qualifications

The Devil and Daniel Webster - a classic
1)  I doubt many people have seen it.  I would consider it a "classic" but even many people who watch a lot of older movies or classics may not have seen it.
2)  There's nothing that will make people too uncomfortable.  But it does certainly allow for a lot of reflection.
3)  No subtitles
4)  Runtime: 107 minutes
Like It's a Wonderful Life it has supernatural elements and lessons learned.

Off the Charts: The Song-Poem Story - a fun documentary
1)  Not many people have even heard of this one
2)  There's a lot of fun quirky people in this.  Nothing that will keep people from coming back.
3)  No subtitles, except for a few fun sing-a-longs
4)  Only 58 minutes long!
I just watched this one recently.  It's quite fun!

I actually love The Rules of the Game, but I didn't as much the first time I watched it.  I would recommend to anyone not sold on it to listen to the commentary and watch all of the special features on the Criterion Collection DVD set.  You will get a better understanding why this is often called the greatest movie ever made.

I also liked Being There, but it wasn't necessarily my absolute favorite.  I think it takes a certain kind of appreciation.

I'll give some more suggestions later if you'd like

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

I've added most of your suggestions, minus the 70s horror.  Keep 'em coming! I've got a blockbuster queue to keep full.

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

Am I allowed to make a suggestion?  One I saw a year or two ago that really stuck with me as a very overlooked gem was The Committments.  It was a minor release in 1991, from Ireland, and didn't get the attention it deserved.  Its funny, dramatic, heartwarming, and meaningful.  One of the all-around best films I've seen.  I'd like to think Once drew a lot of its inspiration from this film.

csprague:

I've added most of your suggestions, minus the 70s horror.  Keep 'em coming! I've got a blockbuster queue to keep full.

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

seely:

Am I allowed to make a suggestion?  One I saw a year or two ago that really stuck with me as a very overlooked gem was The Committments.  It was a minor release in 1991, from Ireland, and didn't get the attention it deserved.  Its funny, dramatic, heartwarming, and meaningful.  One of the all-around best films I've seen.  I'd like to think Once drew a lot of its inspiration from this film.

csprague:

I've added most of your suggestions, minus the 70s horror.  Keep 'em coming! I've got a blockbuster queue to keep full.

Good call, I second that recommendation.

Re:Movies Spout Needs to Watch

I third The Commitments and second The Killing (1953).

One way to stretch is to see movies from other countries so that the cultural element becomes a factor--and maybe you'll be more sensitive to the cultural component in American movies. So . . .

Muriel's Wedding--Australia--excellent coming-of-age theme with a strong taste of Queensland

Black Book -- Netherlands--action, action, action, but it builds a serious picture of what it might have been like in the WWII Dutch resistance

Seven Up--England--documentary look, initially, at class differences (watch part of the series)

Turtles Can Fly--Iran--an entertaining and powerful look at the effect war can have on kids

Good-bye, Lenin--Germany--slightly humorous but thoughtful examination of the major change in eastern Europe

I'd say all of these should stretch the viewers but not so far that they instantly dislike them. They may be foreign but they are quite accessible.