great fucking list. i am seriously looking forward to watching the two of these i haven't seen (i rather liked the kaurismaki i watched recently). i also really need to rewatch BLUE VELVET soon.
Thx. You didn't ask me to but I'm going to elaborate on these picks because I feel like reflecting on them;
Margaret - I feel like this movie was made for me, watching it was basically a religious experience. Thanks again for the rec
Blue Velvet - Peak Lynch to me in a lot of ways, what gets to me the most is the character of Frank, it's such an audacious portrayal of a truly pathological mind. Nothing else about it stands out to me right now so maybe I should rank it lower, but really any of the top 9 movies on this list could be my #1 on any given day.
Memories of Murder - Moreso than with any other movie I can't articulate why I loved this, by the end of it I was crying and I didn't know why.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me - I've heard this described as the most empathetic movie of all time, and that's kind of how I feel about it, but I also feel like I'm not entirely receptive to it because it's too much and my brain shuts it out. I mean it's literally a movie about the last days of a girl who was raped and murdered, and it dives headlong into the abject horror of that, how the fuck do you even process that?
Synecdoche, New York - Basically all my deepest anxieties committed to film. In the past this would've been an easy #1, and maybe it should be still, but I haven't seen it in a long time.
Lady Snowblood - Lurid and pulpy as any good exploitation movie should be but with the timeless, enchanting beauty of a fairytale. A very fascinating contrast that really works for me, plus I just love enka and Meiko Kaji in particular.
Dark Star - Some days I think this is the most profound movie ever made. The absurdist comedy, existential horror and no-budget aesthetic synergize perfectly.
Days of Heaven - Gets to me for the same reasons Legend of Galactic Heroes does, if that makes any sense.
The Man Without a Past - In stark contrast to everything else on this list, a feel-good movie. I've grown up in an area that is culturally more Finnish than Swedish and I find the portrayal of the Finnish mentality in this movie, although exaggerated for comic effect, very true to life.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - It didn't elicit much of an emotional reaction when I first saw it, but I think that's because it's so fucking cold it denies one. Since then it has been growing and growing in my mind. Aguirre might better deserve the #10 spot but I haven't seen it in a long time. EDIT: Only just noticed you were discussing this at the top of this page.
Probably what most will think of my entire list:
