Sunday, November 13, 2011

10 Movies I Wish I Had Made

As some of you may know, in the future I wish to become a director. But we all know that that's never going to happen, because basically everyone I've talked to about it has told me that I can't do it (well not everyone, but everyone has frowned upon my career choice). However, I am one of those people who will always "chase my dreams" because I don't want to end up being something boring like an English teacher (which is where I am headed, believe you me). Anyway, here's a taste of the films I wish I had made. Not because I think I could do a better job - because I don't think anyone could - but I just wish I'd thought of these ideas and be the woman behind these films. Basically, it's a taste of the kinds of films I'd like to make in the future if I continue to chase my dreams and avoid being an English teacher...

10. (500) Days of Summer


I'm quite an old-fashioned person. I like old ideas. But what I like even more is when they have a fresh spin on them, just like (500) Days of Summer does with the already worn-out romantic comedy. Also, something else I particularly like in films are non-linear story-lines, which you will see pop up quite a few times in this list. The way that (500) Days of Summer zips and zaps back and forth, whilst giving us all a lesson about love and avoiding clichés, is something which I find simply genius. I wish that I had thought of the expectations/reality scene, too.

9. The Disappearance of Alice Creed


While this movie isn't by any means perfect, it represents two particular things I about cinema: the power of minimal sets/characters and being as low-budget as they come. I love it when movies are deceivingly simple, but they have a few twists and turns which can't be expected. And when movies have extremely simple budgets, then I like them even more. I'd never want to be the one making movies for $200 million.

8. Revolutionary Road


One thing that has always interested me is 50's suburbia, and how people seemed so suffocated by it. The best example of that is Revolutionary Road, which also happens to be a movie about a disintegrating marriage - yet another thing I'd love to make a movie about. Yes, I'm a sick person. And another reason why I would have loved to have made this movie that has nothing to do with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet? Having Michael Shannon steal the show.

7. The Double Life of Veronique


I just watched this movie yesterday, as I am becoming quite the Krzysztof Kieslowski fan. The Double Life of Veronique is an extremely clever movie which raises a lot of questions - most of those being existential questions. If there's one thing I love seeing in movies, it's existentialism. Oh, and it's beautiful to look at...not that I could ever emulate the beauty that Kieslowski was so good at creating.

6. An Education


An Education is a personal favourite of mine, which I probably love a lot more than anyone else. This is probably because this movie speaks to me on so many different levels - particularly when Jenny has her little speech about how education is boring and everybody is telling her to be bored. I don't know, it's a film which I find a lot of comfort and beauty in, and also a film which always makes me feel like studying and doing well at school...so obviously, I need to watch this movie again.

5. A Single Man


Okay, so I'm not as fashionable as Tom Ford, but I love style in movies. The more stylish, the better. Also, the more depressing, the better. Call me weird, but I quite like movies about suicide, and movies that make me feel extremely depressed. I am a happy person, though.

4. Blue Valentine


Again, here's a film with a non-linear storyline and a love story that's been given a different take. Oh, and it's another disintegrating marriage story. As I said in my review, this movie is "ingeniously depressing". Which is something that I'd love to try and do in the future.

3. Memento


Yes, this is my favourite film. I rewatched it the other day and all I can remember thinking is how much I wish I could have made this film. Obviously because of the non-linear narrative...that is bloody genius. Alas, I'm not as smart as Christopher Nolan and I'd probably end up getting confused with what I was trying to do. I could never make a film noir as smart as this one.

2. The Social Network


There is something about the internet that interests me so much, and if I can ever get around to writing this excellent screenplay I have lingering in my brain (it's not excellent) then it will have a lot to do with the way people use the internet. The Social Network has been described as the 'movie of our generation', and that's another thing that I'd love to try and do, because I'm all for our generation. Plus, I'd have lots of talking...I love listening to people talk.

1. The Virgin Suicides


While a lot of people may disagree, Sofia Coppola is one of my most favourite film-makers. She makes everything look romantic, while being perfectly simple at the same time. The Virgin Suicides is a very simple story of some teenage sisters who are suffocated by their parent's rules and simply being a teenager. There's something about being a teenager that fascinates me, and it's something which I'd love to make a film about. Or I would just love to be Sofia Coppola.

What are some movies that you wish that you had made? 

15 comments:

  1. Great idea for a list. I could never write a list like this, cos it would just be my ten favourite films and no others - those are the ones I really wish I'd made, but I might keep this in mind for a similar list.

    Glad to see THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE here. Kieslowski was a magical director, and there are so many who pale in comparison to his brilliance when capturing the simple lives of society disrupted by the drama of existential issues prodding at them and preventing them from letting things be - this was a feeling he captured especially well in his DECALOGUE, probably moreso than in VERONIQUE.

    Anyway, great list and awesome picks!

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  2. Great post. First of all, all the best in your dream and may it come true real soon. Great list with some offbeat choices and some classic ones.

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  3. Oh wow...great list. I am on the way of becoming an Indian housewife/ alcoholic failure with a desk job. I mean both of these occupations have their charms, but yes, I would love to write and make films.

    We have Virgin Suicides in common... I don't particularly think I would be able to make Marie Antoinette except if it were maybe about an Indian princess. I wish I had made Atonement, because it is so beautiful to look at and right up my alley of devastating romance films. Um, I really want to be Quentin Tarantino period. Children of Men was all kinds of brilliance. I saw Sex, Lies, and Videotape and thought that that's such a smart film to make. My ultimate film maker who I want to be like is Woody Allen, so I guess I'll say Hannah and her Sisters from him. Scott Pilgrim!! I saw Submarine recently, and it's Richard Ayoade's directorial debut but that was such a sweet and simple film.

    I think this is a never-ending list. Oh oh...the new film Weekend, I had the almost exactly same idea for a plot like a couple of years back except it was about a guy and a girl. And for One Day too. Another reason why I will become an Indian housewife/ alcoholic failure with a desk job is because by the time I am ready to make films, all my ideas would have occurred to other people and they would have made much better films out of them. FML.

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  4. Great list, some really stylish films here. Strongly agree with you about 'the power of minimal sets/characters'. I guess when thinking of becoming a director, you're always thinking of a way to keep the first film smaller and manageable. Films like Tape, Buried, Cube, Saw that keep the sets and cast minimal can so often be extremely interesting character focussed films.

    Good luck, if these are the films that inspire you, your films should be very interesting! And it's not so bad being a teacher, I gave up my filmmaking dreams a long time ago to settle on being a media teacher!

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  5. Great post stevee, excellent films you have here. It seems based on the list you will have a very interesting directing style!

    Btw, I am doing a little tournament on my blog where people vote and decide the greatest actors and actresses. If you want to participate just drop by and let me know!

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  6. Well, I'm nearly finished with a screenplay I've been working for some months. Really, I just want to make my own films right now. If I was to choose. Wow, that would be hard as I would just for directors like Sofia Coppola, Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant (his great films), and many others.

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  7. An excellent list Stevee, I wish I was capable of making some of these too, especially The Double Life of Veronique. I'll probably have to settle for walking around with yellow colored glasses instead.

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  8. Great list! I look forward to your first big movie. And then when the remake comes out I can say "The original was much better..."

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  9. Tyler - As much as I love my top 10, I don't think I'd ever want to make movies like Inception or Schindler's List. Sure, I'd love to make big blockbusters, but I don't think I could ever pull it off. And Schindler's List, well...as much as I am interested (in a non-strange way) in the Holocaust, I could never make a movie about it. Ever.
    I knew you'd be happy to see some Kieslowski in here. That was a good film!

    Raghav - Thanks!

    Nikhat - Oh Nikhat, you won't become a housewife/alcoholic with a desk job! Well, I hope you don't. Unless that's what you really want to do. IDK, I'll probably become a drug dealer or something.
    I haven't even seen Submarine, but I wish I made that film. There's something about coming-of-age flicks that I just love.
    Don't you hate that? I actually had ideas similar to Weekend and One Day, too. Jeez, Nikhat, when will we ever stop being so alike?!

    Pete - Yes, I love minimalist films. I think they're so creative.
    Oooh, a media teacher?! I'm taking media studies next year...they had to make up a class specially for me to take via video conferencing. I just don't think that I could ever be a teacher...I don't have any authority over anything!

    Matt - Thanks! Yes, I aim to have an interesting directing style.

    Steven - That's awesome! I can't wait to see it come to life ;) I love all of those directors, too!

    Bonjour Tristesse - Ha, there's nothing wrong with that.

    Robert - Thanks! I hope I don't disappoint!

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  10. Some really great choices. I, for one, don't like thinking of existing films that I wish I had made. However, if I had to answer that question, I would definitely choose Inception. It is just so great.

    I don't remember you saying so straightforwardly that you want to be a director. Good for you to share this. I understood that I want to make films too late, that's why I'm glad that you figured it when you're so young. I don't know you in person (apparently), but from what I saw in your writings, I see that you're extremely talented and you'd make a great direcror. I truly believe in it. Just don't let go that dream.

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  11. I had to laugh at your write up on AN EDUCATION because when I first reviewed I said something quite similar. I mean, I'm not a teenage girl, or British (or living in the sixties) but I related - a bit too much - to Jenny and her doubts about education and what not. AND, I adore that movie. We should have a duel to see it loves it more. hahaha.

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  12. I reckon that if you're as good as directing movies as you are at writing about them, you'd make a great director! Don't let anybody tell you otherwise - sometimes it's best to do what you love.

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  13. Lesya - I would have love to have made Inception, but I don't think I could ever make a movie as complex or as large scale as that. It would get too much for me!
    Awwwww, thanks, Lesya! It's people like you who keep me pushing for my dream :)

    Andrew - Haha, let's duel! I bet you I love it more!

    Mayday - Thanks! I hope to make a great director, one day :)

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  14. These are some interesting choices. I, too, want to be a director/writer, and although he's not my favourite director, I would say that Martin Scorsese is my main inspiration.
    Whenever I tell non British people this they seem surprised because it is so British, but I really didn't like An Education. I don't know why. I watched it quite a while ago and should probably watch it again :)
    I think the reason people have mixed opinions about Sofia Coppola is because they had such high expectations because of her dad. Admittedly, Francis Ford Coppola only made 3 or 4 good films, the last being made in 1979, but he peaked better than most directors ever do.

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  15. I have not watched all these movies, gotta add all of them to my list. Thank you for sharing.
    imgrum

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You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.

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