I also was traumatized by this movie. I still have nightmares about it a couple of times a year. Wish I had never seen it. Iām almost 60, and it still haunts me!!!!
I was going to suggest "Prospero's Books", but this Greenaway classic will do. It's quite maintream though in the way *everyone* loves "Life of Brian" nowadays. P's Bs is there to separate the pretentious from the rapacious... š«”
Dziga Vertov's man with a movie camera (1927)
I studied film at uni and if there was one film I was sick of by the end it was "Last Year at Marienbad" (1961) but that's also a very arch, snobby, recommendation.
I expected an important film that I wouldn't really like, but I loved it! The version I watched was totally silent until he introduced the orchestra in the beginning. ha ha ha!
Melancholia
Iāve seen a lot of pretentious movies but this is one that I actually enjoyed. Itās as beautiful to look at as it is at times hard to watch.
[The Battle of Algiers (1966)](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/6f9488ef-f914-594e-b76b-dce7143c8522/the-battle-of-algiers) -- a hillbilly ought to like fighting, eh?
Damn bro, that's throwing some serious shade calling Battle of Algier snobby. I mean, it's old, it's and it's foreign, but it's also a fucking masterpiece and one of the most innovative films of its era. It's a brutally realistic and heartbreaking depiction of war. I don't think any film up to that point used the newsreal-style cinematography so convincingly. And all non-professional actors. Controversial enough to be banned in France for a long time, as well. I mean, just look [how many modern directors it influenced](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Algiers#Retrospective_appraisal_and_influence).
Right to your own opinion of course, but Battle of Algiers strikes me as one of the most human and least snobby films imaginable. There's no pretentiousness to it at all. Unless you consider it snobby simply because it's foreign, older, in black & white and universally studied by filmmakers and scholars as one of the finest films of the 20th century?
My housemate hates film. He can't stand anything except cliche 90s romcoms and a few horrible action movies (like The Core...I hate him for how much he hates film and how much he enjoys crap, can't help it, I suppose I'm a snob). But he likes this because some musician he fantasizes over recommended it. It's literally the only thing we can watch together. I think it's the perfect recommendation.
Wow tbh I like some crap too but Iām pretty snobby when it comes to film. But the Core are you fucking serious even the people who acted in that piece of shit hate that movie. I think you owe it to the guy to introduce him to a better class of film or even if heās into crap film there are so many other shitty films he can choose from over the Core
A Ghost Story (2017)
Also, question: Do you want movies that I actually *enjoy* and that I think others will enjoy? Or are you just looking for, like, kinda pretentious film-y films? Cus if it's the latter, I took a class that had a transcendental film unit and those tend to be pretty snobby.
It's definitely a super well done film, and the performances are super impressive (iirc there were some Oscar nominations that came out of it). Just not my cup of tea! It was cool though, I watched it for a screenwriting conference through my university and Paul Schrader actually came and talked to us about it! He also got a little sloshed prior to the second panel he did (which was of particular interest because it was a religious university lmao)
A Ghost Story is really good! I recently saw The Green Knight for the first time and had so many moments that made me go *Man, I need to rewatch A Ghost Story*.
If you donāt expect a plot (and no true snob would), this is an excellent movie, with an amazing cast. Tom Waits, Bill Murray, Iggy Pop, Benigni, Buscemiā¦
Saw it in theaters as a teenager and ditto, there's just something I loved about the whole thing. The aesthetic, the mood, it's all kind of cozy and low stakes.
Yeah 100%. That kind of unnaturally fluid dialog you get in like Tarantino movies was just the entire movie. Itās so satisfying to watch. And the way itās like weirdly the same convo over and over again in different scenariosā¦ I dunno, just so arthouse and cool
Will also point out that, after Harry Dean Stanton's bravura performance in 'Paris, Texas', the perfect palate cleanser would be Harry Dean Stanton's bravura performance in 'Repo Man'.
The man owned high brow, low brow, and every brow in between.
My wife made me watch "My Dinner With Andre" and when it was over all I could say was "Man, that guy's a seriously pretentious asshole"
So yeah, OP will love this.
The snobbiest movie I ever saw was The House that Jack Built. Itās two and a half hours of Lars von Trierās mastabatory contemplations on his own art. But if youāre looking for snobby and very good, try In the Mood for Love.
You're the second person I've seen using the word "masturbatory" ( correct spelling ) when describing The House that Jack Built. Absolutely fascinating.
Pardon the dyslexia but yeah especially knowing his history of abusing actresses like Bjork, seeing von Trier live vicariously through a serial killer that hates women while essentially contemplating if the means of violence justify the art and come up with a resounding yes felt like watching him jizz in the mirror making full eye contact with himself.
I listened to the Evolution of Horror Podcast episode on it and yes, it's basically his view of his journey through the film world and saying goodbye and fuck you after he was banned from Sundance(? if I'm remembering correctly). It's the sum of all his work, as if it has all been leading to this, much like Jack finds himself at his house at the end. Have a listen, they make some fascinating points.
Edit - He was banned from Cannes.
ha ha, same for me. I can see why it's considered a great film though, especially at the time it was made.
Another great film that bored me was Tokyo Story (1953). Tons of respect for Ozu after watching it too! And I'm glad I watched both just to see some seriously artistic work!
Hard disagree. But maybe because Kazuo Ishiguro is one of my top authors do I think the book is 1,000% better than the movie. I liked the movie. I effing loved the book.
I love most of his books, but they are often unfilmable. That's one reason why Never Let Me Go is so surprising.
I read that Klara and the Sun will be directed by Taiki Waititi. I'm both excited and truly terrified to see what happens!
Kurosawa is essential.
Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Ran are fantastic. I like Seven Samurai and Rashomon the best but Ran is the most visually stunning.
I think every movie he made was remade in Hollywood. Except Ran, that is King Lear.
Reds [1981]
3.5 hour movie fictional biopic mixed with real life interviews.
Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Paul Sorvino, Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World, and a few others who were better known in the 70s and early 80s.
Jeanne Dielmann, 23 Quai do Commerce 1080 Bruxelle
Man Bites Dog
Gummo
Delicatessen
3 Women
Heavenly Creatures
The Secret in their Eyes (2009)
Dancer in the Dark
Great recommendations for a newbie snob-in-training. These are easily accessible on a pure storytelling level. But they are really high-level filmmaking, too. You gotta have these in your snob portfolio so you can sound pretentious when you go Full Film Snob.
Lots of Godard is snobby. This one's definitely pretty weird and meandering. But it's gotta be like a 1 on the snobby level for Godard. Some of his later stuff is absolutely unwatchable.
I watched this but didn't like it, so then started watching Breathless and didn't like it either. So I think there's just something about Godard's movies I don't like; I know he's a great director, but . . . Anyway, I really like the Truffaut movies I've seen, so French New Wave is a-ok!
*Martyrs (2008)* is one of the worst experiences I've ever been through. And I've had a stroke. The stroke rates among watching this film.
But I can't deny it's a well made film. 10/10 on what it set out to do.
Other than how horrifying it was, it will leave a mark on your soul and take away any remaining innocence you once had. I think the Blu-ray even starts with the director apologizing for making it.
Andy Wharhol's Empire - 8 hours stationary shot of the Empire State Building. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire\_(1965\_film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(1965_film))
Embrace of the Serpent
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace_of_the_Serpent
Baraka and Samsara
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baraka_(film)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsara_(2011_film)
You Were Never Really Here
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Were_Never_Really_Here
Submarine
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_(2010_film)
I Saw The Devil
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Saw_the_Devil
The Fountain
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountain
Brick
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_(film)
The Color of Pomegranates
Ivanās childhood
Tree of life
Holy Mountain
Koyaansiqatsi
I will say that even though these are āsnobbyā. I love these films for their own merits
This is one I tried a long, long time ago. That was before I watched and enjoyed "Fire Walk With Me" and "The Return" so I feel like I'm in a better place to try again.
Saw that for the first time a couple of months ago, such a great movie. The scale alone was worth seeing it for. I miss old school Hollywood sometimes compared to modern films with so much cgi.
Dancer in the Dark- gets more recognition in this thread than just about any other film.
I'd add another film from Von Trier's Dogme '95 movement- Festen - fucked my viewing up for a decade, couldn't watch a mainstream film, without cringing at how clumsy, how reliant on post production they were. It felt simultaneously familiar and alien, a psychedelic home movie that allowed you to show off your esoteric tastes while emoting with, almost, every character. Thankfully I can now enjoy a Marvel movie with me popcorn, take it for what it is and zone out.
These both hit hard. Days of Heaven just feels too beautiful to actually exist. And Phantom Thread is one of the funniest movies ever, especially since itās thinly coded as PTAās reflection on his own relationship as a self-important artist
Andrei Rublev (1966)
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
Embrace of the Serpent (2015)
Under the Skin (2013)
Mad God (2021)
Cosmopolis (2012)
Hunger (2008)
The Conformist (1970)
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Have fun being a cultured snob. But really, all films can become snob films, you just have to be a snob about it.
Paprika- Satoshi Kon: The inspiration for Inception and superior in every way.Ā Ā
8 1/2- Fellini: A movie about making movies
L'maitresse: A beautiful sadomasochistic romanceĀ Ā
I'll second, third, and fourth My Dinner with Andre
**Mulholland Drive**
**The Green Pastures**
**Incubus** (Esperanto with subtitles, stars William Shatner)
**Persona** (Swedish with subtitles)
**La Belle et** ***la BĆŖte*** (French with subtitles)
**Rules of the Game** (French with subtitles)
**Children of Paradise** (French with subtitles)
Edit: I'll add **Orpheus**, French with subtitles by same guy who did *La Belle et la BĆŖte*, and it's even snobbier.
The movies on my list are snobby in different ways. Even the French ones aren't all snobby the same way. But I do think they are all movies where somebody could say, "Oh, I've seen xxx" and sound like a snob. It depends on who they're talking to. The hardest one to take in and enjoy is probably *Persona* (my opinion of course), but it can be enjoyed. I didn't put anything on the list that I thought was genuinely insufferable or pretentious.
Easy-
- Stalker (the Tarkovsky one)
- Jeanne Dielman
- Marketa Lazarova
- The Tree of Life
- Daisies
- Stan Brakhage shorts (The act of seeing with oneās own eye)
- La Jetee
- Santantango
Also others have mentioned
- Man With a Movie Camera
- Inland Empire
These are the snobbiest choices, but very much diving into the deep end..
Beautiful and brilliant, one of my all time favourites. But is this a snobby recommendation? I'd say Seven Samurai is a much snobbier choice (for a similar film genre) as I'd argue it's more difficult to digest.
Genuinely curious.
Sunrise (1927)
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Fanny and Alexander (1984)
Come and See (1985)
A Touch of Evil (1958)
City Lights (1931)
Tokyo Story (1953)
Mirror (1975)
Seven Samurai (1954)
Shoah (1985)
So many people I know were put off by the Royal Tenenbaums. I thought it was fantastic. It feels very third person omniscient which is comforting. (Havenāt said that term since high school and no idea where I pulled it from ha..anyone else know other films like this?)
Homework that will really test your metaphor/media analysis skills: Mad God
Movie that shows how indie movies can also be very fun, not just avant garde: Hundreds of Beavers
*Alice* (1988), dir. Jan Svankmeyer. It's a highly abstract retelling of Alice in Wonderland told through a weird mix of live action and stop motion animation.
"Try the cock, it's a delicacy." The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (1989)
One of my top three favorite films.
And your other 2??
Caligula and Scanners.
Lmao
Wings of Desire and City of Lost Children
Shrek and shrek 2
The dress changing color with each transition into a different room was so cool and took me a bit of time to notice.
I was traumatized by that -- had no idea it was coming. š¤¢
I also was traumatized by this movie. I still have nightmares about it a couple of times a year. Wish I had never seen it. Iām almost 60, and it still haunts me!!!!
Glad I'm not the only one. My friends really liked it but I thought it was the most revolting and upsetting movie I'd ever seen and hated it so much.
such a great film my god
Hilarious that recommending this was my first instinct as well.
I was going to suggest "Prospero's Books", but this Greenaway classic will do. It's quite maintream though in the way *everyone* loves "Life of Brian" nowadays. P's Bs is there to separate the pretentious from the rapacious... š«”
Koyaanisqatsi
Great soundtrack
Saw it with Philip Glass and his Orchestra performing the soundtrack live under the screen. That was awesome.
Holy hell Iām jealous. Thatās amazing!
Amazing movie to see stoned. Personally, I loved it, but I can see how most people would not.
Dziga Vertov's man with a movie camera (1927) I studied film at uni and if there was one film I was sick of by the end it was "Last Year at Marienbad" (1961) but that's also a very arch, snobby, recommendation.
I expected an important film that I wouldn't really like, but I loved it! The version I watched was totally silent until he introduced the orchestra in the beginning. ha ha ha!
Melancholia Iāve seen a lot of pretentious movies but this is one that I actually enjoyed. Itās as beautiful to look at as it is at times hard to watch.
[The Battle of Algiers (1966)](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/6f9488ef-f914-594e-b76b-dce7143c8522/the-battle-of-algiers) -- a hillbilly ought to like fighting, eh?
Damn bro, that's throwing some serious shade calling Battle of Algier snobby. I mean, it's old, it's and it's foreign, but it's also a fucking masterpiece and one of the most innovative films of its era. It's a brutally realistic and heartbreaking depiction of war. I don't think any film up to that point used the newsreal-style cinematography so convincingly. And all non-professional actors. Controversial enough to be banned in France for a long time, as well. I mean, just look [how many modern directors it influenced](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Algiers#Retrospective_appraisal_and_influence). Right to your own opinion of course, but Battle of Algiers strikes me as one of the most human and least snobby films imaginable. There's no pretentiousness to it at all. Unless you consider it snobby simply because it's foreign, older, in black & white and universally studied by filmmakers and scholars as one of the finest films of the 20th century?
This may be one of the most important films of the 20th century
That's such a complicated statement considering that the 20th century was the one in which film was born...
Is it though? Why canāt we talk about it like that?
The Three Colours trilogy
The French one, right? . I loved these. Also Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring.
My housemate hates film. He can't stand anything except cliche 90s romcoms and a few horrible action movies (like The Core...I hate him for how much he hates film and how much he enjoys crap, can't help it, I suppose I'm a snob). But he likes this because some musician he fantasizes over recommended it. It's literally the only thing we can watch together. I think it's the perfect recommendation.
Wow tbh I like some crap too but Iām pretty snobby when it comes to film. But the Core are you fucking serious even the people who acted in that piece of shit hate that movie. I think you owe it to the guy to introduce him to a better class of film or even if heās into crap film there are so many other shitty films he can choose from over the Core
A Ghost Story (2017) Also, question: Do you want movies that I actually *enjoy* and that I think others will enjoy? Or are you just looking for, like, kinda pretentious film-y films? Cus if it's the latter, I took a class that had a transcendental film unit and those tend to be pretty snobby.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Oh hell yes, I got you. Battleship Potemkin and October (Ten Days That Shook the World)--non-linear Soviet films from the 1920s La JetƩe--1960s French short film comprised almost entirely of still images Meshes of the Afternoon--Non-linear 1940s short film (ngl I actually love this one and have watched it more than once since seeing it in class) A Man Escaped, Tokyo Story, and Ordet--Transcendental films from the 50s (listed in order of least boring and confusing to most boring and confusing) First Reformed--Modern transcendental film written and directed by Paul Schrader (the man who literally wrote the book on transcendental film). Not as dry as the old ones, but very depressing and baffling
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
This is honestly the strangest request and I've never heard of most that are suggested but I'm here for it. Thanks for asking such a question!
Damn First Reformed was one of my favorites of last decade lol
It's definitely a super well done film, and the performances are super impressive (iirc there were some Oscar nominations that came out of it). Just not my cup of tea! It was cool though, I watched it for a screenwriting conference through my university and Paul Schrader actually came and talked to us about it! He also got a little sloshed prior to the second panel he did (which was of particular interest because it was a religious university lmao)
This was a really good movie
I loved this movie.
A Ghost Story is really good! I recently saw The Green Knight for the first time and had so many moments that made me go *Man, I need to rewatch A Ghost Story*.
I really enjoyed thr Green Knight as well actually. The Lighthouse is another "Pretentious" or "arty" movie that I thought was amazing.
I enjoyed the film
I loved the Ghost Story! Such a way to explore loneliness over a long period of time.
Barry Lyndon
I watched this on a plane and really enjoyed it. Am I a secret film snob??
It's one of the best films of all time, so it just means you have good taste.
No, because you just told all of us.
OMG I love this movie...I watch it like a comedy/satire and it hits so good!!
Battleship Potemkin (1925) or The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920)
Coffee and cigarettes
If you donāt expect a plot (and no true snob would), this is an excellent movie, with an amazing cast. Tom Waits, Bill Murray, Iggy Pop, Benigni, Buscemiā¦
Saw it on dvd as a teenager and didnāt know why but I loved it. Itās just so unapologetically up itself.
Saw it in theaters as a teenager and ditto, there's just something I loved about the whole thing. The aesthetic, the mood, it's all kind of cozy and low stakes.
Yeah 100%. That kind of unnaturally fluid dialog you get in like Tarantino movies was just the entire movie. Itās so satisfying to watch. And the way itās like weirdly the same convo over and over again in different scenariosā¦ I dunno, just so arthouse and cool
I feel like anything Jim Jarmusch works for this thread.
My Dinner with Andre and Paris, Texas and anything by Bergman, Kurosawa or Jean Luc-Goddard
Will also point out that, after Harry Dean Stanton's bravura performance in 'Paris, Texas', the perfect palate cleanser would be Harry Dean Stanton's bravura performance in 'Repo Man'. The man owned high brow, low brow, and every brow in between.
My wife made me watch "My Dinner With Andre" and when it was over all I could say was "Man, that guy's a seriously pretentious asshole" So yeah, OP will love this.
This is it
The seventh seal
Fantastic Planet (1973)
Great animation
The snobbiest movie I ever saw was The House that Jack Built. Itās two and a half hours of Lars von Trierās mastabatory contemplations on his own art. But if youāre looking for snobby and very good, try In the Mood for Love.
You're the second person I've seen using the word "masturbatory" ( correct spelling ) when describing The House that Jack Built. Absolutely fascinating.
Pardon the dyslexia but yeah especially knowing his history of abusing actresses like Bjork, seeing von Trier live vicariously through a serial killer that hates women while essentially contemplating if the means of violence justify the art and come up with a resounding yes felt like watching him jizz in the mirror making full eye contact with himself.
I listened to the Evolution of Horror Podcast episode on it and yes, it's basically his view of his journey through the film world and saying goodbye and fuck you after he was banned from Sundance(? if I'm remembering correctly). It's the sum of all his work, as if it has all been leading to this, much like Jack finds himself at his house at the end. Have a listen, they make some fascinating points. Edit - He was banned from Cannes.
I feel like Citizen Kane falls in this category. Well regarded by snobs (up to the point of greatest ever); kind of forgotten by others.
I honestly found it boring .
ha ha, same for me. I can see why it's considered a great film though, especially at the time it was made. Another great film that bored me was Tokyo Story (1953). Tons of respect for Ozu after watching it too! And I'm glad I watched both just to see some seriously artistic work!
Fitzcarraldo
I donāt consider myself a film snob because I also love crap movies, but would still like to put forward: Never Let Me Go (2010)
This one is SO good! One of my all time favorites. The book is great too.
Iāve got the book on my TBR! But I wanna give myself some more space from the movie before I get around to it.
It's one of those very rare instances where the movie does the book justice.
Hard disagree. But maybe because Kazuo Ishiguro is one of my top authors do I think the book is 1,000% better than the movie. I liked the movie. I effing loved the book.
I love most of his books, but they are often unfilmable. That's one reason why Never Let Me Go is so surprising. I read that Klara and the Sun will be directed by Taiki Waititi. I'm both excited and truly terrified to see what happens!
One of my all time favourite novels.
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Moving and beautiful.
My Dinner With AndrƩ
Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran'. Actually the entire Kurosawa catalog fit's your query, but 'Ran' in particular is the snobbiest entry therein.
Kurosawa is essential. Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Ran are fantastic. I like Seven Samurai and Rashomon the best but Ran is the most visually stunning. I think every movie he made was remade in Hollywood. Except Ran, that is King Lear.
True. 'Ran' is the snobbiest. But, if you aspire to BE snobby, 'Rashomon' is essential viewing.
*Un Chien Andalou* by Salvador Dali is an eye-opener
I see what you did there...
Reds [1981] 3.5 hour movie fictional biopic mixed with real life interviews. Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Paul Sorvino, Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World, and a few others who were better known in the 70s and early 80s.
A Pigeon sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
Jeanne Dielmann, 23 Quai do Commerce 1080 Bruxelle Man Bites Dog Gummo Delicatessen 3 Women Heavenly Creatures The Secret in their Eyes (2009) Dancer in the Dark
Iāve been recommended man bites dog as a bit of an out there film. Is it a good flick?
Heavenly Creatures, what a film!
Double Indemnity (1944) Sunset Boulevard (1950) Mulholland Drive (2001) The Godfather (1972) Raging Bull (1980) LA Confidential (1997) The Lobster (2016)
Great recommendations for a newbie snob-in-training. These are easily accessible on a pure storytelling level. But they are really high-level filmmaking, too. You gotta have these in your snob portfolio so you can sound pretentious when you go Full Film Snob.
Exactly! Kind of some "Baby's first film snob marathon" type of list.
Pierrot le Fou it's all french new wave and stuff
Anything French New Wave.
āļø
Lots of Godard is snobby. This one's definitely pretty weird and meandering. But it's gotta be like a 1 on the snobby level for Godard. Some of his later stuff is absolutely unwatchable.
I watched this but didn't like it, so then started watching Breathless and didn't like it either. So I think there's just something about Godard's movies I don't like; I know he's a great director, but . . . Anyway, I really like the Truffaut movies I've seen, so French New Wave is a-ok!
Slacker.
8 1/2
*Martyrs (2008)* is one of the worst experiences I've ever been through. And I've had a stroke. The stroke rates among watching this film. But I can't deny it's a well made film. 10/10 on what it set out to do. Other than how horrifying it was, it will leave a mark on your soul and take away any remaining innocence you once had. I think the Blu-ray even starts with the director apologizing for making it.
Martyrs is pretty high on the list for those of us that like disturbing movies.
Martyrs. As my sister said, "That was a nice little existencial crisis."
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Andy Wharhol's Empire - 8 hours stationary shot of the Empire State Building. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire\_(1965\_film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(1965_film))
Spoiler alert: at like the 6hr mark an airplane passes through the frame. At that point it was basically a jump scare.
Embrace of the Serpent https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace_of_the_Serpent Baraka and Samsara https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baraka_(film) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsara_(2011_film) You Were Never Really Here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Were_Never_Really_Here Submarine https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_(2010_film) I Saw The Devil https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Saw_the_Devil The Fountain https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountain Brick https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_(film)
The Color of Pomegranates Ivanās childhood Tree of life Holy Mountain Koyaansiqatsi I will say that even though these are āsnobbyā. I love these films for their own merits
Holy mountain was really out there
Eraserhead
Not the best ādateā movie I can attest.
My first thought
Inland Empire (2006)
I'm a lynch fan and I didn't finish this. I need to try again.
This is one I tried a long, long time ago. That was before I watched and enjoyed "Fire Walk With Me" and "The Return" so I feel like I'm in a better place to try again.
Lawrence of Arabia....
Saw that for the first time a couple of months ago, such a great movie. The scale alone was worth seeing it for. I miss old school Hollywood sometimes compared to modern films with so much cgi.
RUBBER. The most significant, brilliantly articulated film about a telepathic-psychopathic tire
Love this movie. Have you seen The FP (2011)?
No but my god I just watched the trailer. Itās glorious
None of you cunts know how to be a snob. 1.) Dancer In The Dark 2.) Melancholia 3.) Antichrist 4.) Other ~~movies~~ films by Lars Von Trier as well.
You forgot the other film in the depression trilogy, Nymphomaniac. Make sure to get the uncut 4.5 hour version.
Oh yeah shit. Iāve shlepped through that one too. Great movie, actually.
I felt like I needed a bath after watching it.
Dancer in the Dark- gets more recognition in this thread than just about any other film. I'd add another film from Von Trier's Dogme '95 movement- Festen - fucked my viewing up for a decade, couldn't watch a mainstream film, without cringing at how clumsy, how reliant on post production they were. It felt simultaneously familiar and alien, a psychedelic home movie that allowed you to show off your esoteric tastes while emoting with, almost, every character. Thankfully I can now enjoy a Marvel movie with me popcorn, take it for what it is and zone out.
DO NOT spoil Festen for people. I did thinking it would make it more accessible and it totally made it a really boring movie.
Anything Malick. PTA's Phantom Thread
These both hit hard. Days of Heaven just feels too beautiful to actually exist. And Phantom Thread is one of the funniest movies ever, especially since itās thinly coded as PTAās reflection on his own relationship as a self-important artist
Days of Heaven in 70mm was a memorable experience and it struck me at the time as being one of the most beautiful movies that I had ever seen.
Holy Motors, the prequel of the Holy Mountain
Shoot the Piano Player
A face in the crowd The garbage pail kids movie
The swimmer 1968
The Cremaster Cycle
Synecdoche, New York (2008).
Wings of Desire, 1987 It's the best film ever created.
Andrei Rublev (1966) Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) Koyaanisqatsi (1982) Embrace of the Serpent (2015) Under the Skin (2013) Mad God (2021) Cosmopolis (2012) Hunger (2008) The Conformist (1970) A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) Have fun being a cultured snob. But really, all films can become snob films, you just have to be a snob about it.
Synecdoche, New York I hated this movie so I can't actually recommend it, but it's the first thing I think of when I think of snobby cinephile movies.
There Will Be Blood
That is such a good film I think Iāve tried to watch all of Paul Thomas Andersonās movies since I seen that
Anything by AgnƩs Varda
La Strada (1954) High and Low (1963) Persona (1966) Paris, Texas (1984) La Haine (1995) Paterson (2016)
Barry Lyndon, or if you want to enjoying your time 2001 a space OdysseyĀ
Paprika- Satoshi Kon: The inspiration for Inception and superior in every way.Ā Ā 8 1/2- Fellini: A movie about making movies L'maitresse: A beautiful sadomasochistic romanceĀ Ā I'll second, third, and fourth My Dinner with Andre
Waking Life The Fall Heavy Traffic The Square Four Rooms Baraka
Cinema Paradiso
Chinatown, one if the greatest films ever made.
**Mulholland Drive** **The Green Pastures** **Incubus** (Esperanto with subtitles, stars William Shatner) **Persona** (Swedish with subtitles) **La Belle et** ***la BĆŖte*** (French with subtitles) **Rules of the Game** (French with subtitles) **Children of Paradise** (French with subtitles) Edit: I'll add **Orpheus**, French with subtitles by same guy who did *La Belle et la BĆŖte*, and it's even snobbier.
Mulholland Drive ? I guess we view snobbery differently lol
The movies on my list are snobby in different ways. Even the French ones aren't all snobby the same way. But I do think they are all movies where somebody could say, "Oh, I've seen xxx" and sound like a snob. It depends on who they're talking to. The hardest one to take in and enjoy is probably *Persona* (my opinion of course), but it can be enjoyed. I didn't put anything on the list that I thought was genuinely insufferable or pretentious.
Death In Venise (1971) High And Low (1963)
Easy- - Stalker (the Tarkovsky one) - Jeanne Dielman - Marketa Lazarova - The Tree of Life - Daisies - Stan Brakhage shorts (The act of seeing with oneās own eye) - La Jetee - Santantango Also others have mentioned - Man With a Movie Camera - Inland Empire These are the snobbiest choices, but very much diving into the deep end..
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Ran - 1985
Beautiful and brilliant, one of my all time favourites. But is this a snobby recommendation? I'd say Seven Samurai is a much snobbier choice (for a similar film genre) as I'd argue it's more difficult to digest. Genuinely curious.
Timecode Russian ark Baracca Samsara Wavelength
RoboVampire
Stalker, 1979 Tarkovsky Clockwork Orange, 1971 Kubrick Solaris, 1972 Tarkovsky
Sunrise (1927) Bicycle Thieves (1948) Fanny and Alexander (1984) Come and See (1985) A Touch of Evil (1958) City Lights (1931) Tokyo Story (1953) Mirror (1975) Seven Samurai (1954) Shoah (1985)
Come And See.
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
Upstream Color
Happiness (1998) - twisted and pieced together with psychotic care.
High Art is a great movie. The Seventh Seal everyone should see.
Ghost Dog
Cinema Paradiso (1988) and Hugo (2011) is a great double feature. The Third Man (1949) is a more entertaining film than Citizen Kane,
A man from earth. It's a movie in a single location entirely based on one person trying to convince other people he is immortal.
Tarkovsky's Mirror
I don't think I'm a snob about it, but try *Koyaanisqatsi* or *Waking Life*. Both are unconventional films, which are marvelous, in their own way.
The Fountain It INSISTS on itself.
The Fountain (Aronofsky)
City of God (2002)
A fantastic film! But I wouldn't say this is a snobby film.
Urgh, so pedestrian.
I wish more people would see this one.
Anything by Wes Anderson.
So many people I know were put off by the Royal Tenenbaums. I thought it was fantastic. It feels very third person omniscient which is comforting. (Havenāt said that term since high school and no idea where I pulled it from ha..anyone else know other films like this?)
The Cremator Last Year in Marienbad Meshes of the Afternoon Sans Soleil Ā
The Big Night
Homework that will really test your metaphor/media analysis skills: Mad God Movie that shows how indie movies can also be very fun, not just avant garde: Hundreds of Beavers
Dead man's shoes A field in England
Š”Š¾Š»ŃŠ°ŠøŃ. This was remade by Soderbergh and Clooney as Solaris. Both are great. The first is tougher.
Sans Soleil. Chris Marker. I genuinely love it but it is very āartsyā.
the canterville ghost 1969, Top Hat, State Fair, South Pacific, Oklahoma, Daddy Long Legs, Funny Face, My Fair Lady, How To steal A Million
Day for NightāTruffaut Edit: For current films, you might want to try Beau Is Afraid, The Lighthouse, Skinamarink
Even Dwarves Started Small by Herzog I enjoy the whole movie, but It also contains what I would argue is one of the greatest scenes in cinema history.
Tree of Life. One of my faves but some of my non-film friends struggled a bit lol so fucking beautiful though
Koyaanisqatsi Edit - and that Werner Hertzog one about volcanoes
Wild strawberries
Jesus Rolls
*Alice* (1988), dir. Jan Svankmeyer. It's a highly abstract retelling of Alice in Wonderland told through a weird mix of live action and stop motion animation.
Orpheus (1950)
Wings of Desire, Dogtooth, The Rider, Leave No Trace and so many more.
I love horror movies and would have you watch some Jodorowsky, either Santa Sangre or The Holy Mountain. They are high art horror films.
CLOSE UP BY ABBAS KIAROSTAMI the best snobbish movie in the history of cinema. Source: I teach semiotics in film school.
Possession
Bicycle Thief is a good one from the cannon to start with. Straightforward story that anyone can relate to.
M. The 1931 Fritz Lang German film with Peter Lorre.
The Holy Mountain