A Potpourri of Vestiges Feature
Note: This post is a part of our Best of the Best Blogathon
Cinema is a way of life: for some it is a mere means of indulgence, while for others it is a profound medium to satiate the intellect. Cinema’s omnipresence gives it the enormous potential to entertain and educate, simultaneously. In fact, cinema is the most effective means of communication ever devised as the message reaches everywhere and to everyone. Cinema that is primarily light-hearted and humorous can help punctuate the monotony associated with mundane lifestyles, while cinema that is thought-provoking and insightful can have cathartic effects on the viewers. Cinema can also become a medium to portray the deepest of the human emotions and thoughts that are otherwise inexpressible.
The commercialization of cinema has taken it a long way in becoming a ubiquitous medium of entertainment. While the technical advancements have transformed cinema into an exact science the attributes of art that make it insightful have inexplicably taken a back seat. And cinema is increasingly becoming an instrument to generate revenue. This unfortunate transformation has made people forget the true purpose and meaning of cinema.
A Potpourri of Vestiges was started with the aim of acquainting the masses with the realm of cinema, especially as the ultimate medium of human expression. 2K12 has been a very special year for "A Potpourri of Vestiges". During the course of the year the blog accomplished several feats. It not only hit the 100K and 200K counters but also bagged the "Blogger of the Fortnight" award from Winchimes. Indian top blogs showcased it in its eclectically chosen list of Top 50 Indian blogs. As 2K12 draws to an end, I present to you my very last post of the year. The month of December has been a very busy one for me. I have not managed to contribute as much as I would have liked. Actually, I have been occupied with the task of exploring different films from the world of cinema. My main focus has been on covering the 2012 Sight & Sound list of all time best films. Alas, I have miserably fell short of the target! After all, there is only so much that one can imbibe (in any given limited period of time) when it comes to high quality cinema. However, the overall experience has been quite rewarding Here, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Iain Stott of 100 Evenings Illuminated for giving me the opportunity to participate in his esteemed Film Poll. For the poll's result, click here
I would also like to thank Mr. Jugu Abraham of Movies that make you think for recommending me for the same.
So, my last post of 2K12 is basically a compilation of my favorite films that I have chosen from the films watched over the past few years. And while I have watched hundreds of them I believe that I have just reached the tip of the iceberg, for I have been introduced to the real good ones only recently (not to mention the new ones that get added every year). And so, if you find one or more of your favorite films missing from the list then it's highly likely that I may not have watched them yet.
Note: For the latest list by the author, click here
Lo and Behold!
— Murtaza Ali
The commercialization of cinema has taken it a long way in becoming a ubiquitous medium of entertainment. While the technical advancements have transformed cinema into an exact science the attributes of art that make it insightful have inexplicably taken a back seat. And cinema is increasingly becoming an instrument to generate revenue. This unfortunate transformation has made people forget the true purpose and meaning of cinema.
A Potpourri of Vestiges was started with the aim of acquainting the masses with the realm of cinema, especially as the ultimate medium of human expression. 2K12 has been a very special year for "A Potpourri of Vestiges". During the course of the year the blog accomplished several feats. It not only hit the 100K and 200K counters but also bagged the "Blogger of the Fortnight" award from Winchimes. Indian top blogs showcased it in its eclectically chosen list of Top 50 Indian blogs. As 2K12 draws to an end, I present to you my very last post of the year. The month of December has been a very busy one for me. I have not managed to contribute as much as I would have liked. Actually, I have been occupied with the task of exploring different films from the world of cinema. My main focus has been on covering the 2012 Sight & Sound list of all time best films. Alas, I have miserably fell short of the target! After all, there is only so much that one can imbibe (in any given limited period of time) when it comes to high quality cinema. However, the overall experience has been quite rewarding Here, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Iain Stott of 100 Evenings Illuminated for giving me the opportunity to participate in his esteemed Film Poll. For the poll's result, click here
I would also like to thank Mr. Jugu Abraham of Movies that make you think for recommending me for the same.
So, my last post of 2K12 is basically a compilation of my favorite films that I have chosen from the films watched over the past few years. And while I have watched hundreds of them I believe that I have just reached the tip of the iceberg, for I have been introduced to the real good ones only recently (not to mention the new ones that get added every year). And so, if you find one or more of your favorite films missing from the list then it's highly likely that I may not have watched them yet.
Note: For the latest list by the author, click here
Lo and Behold!
- Ran (1985), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
- Stalker (1979), Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
- Citizen Kane (1941), Directed by Orson Welles
- Solyaris (1972), Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
- Dersu Uzala (1975), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
- 8½ (1963), Directed by Federico Fellini
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
- Rashomon (1950), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
- Belle de Jour (1967), Directed by Luis Buñuel
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Directed by David Lean
- The Three Colors Trilogy (1993, 1994, 1994), Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski
- Dekalog (Ten-Episode TV Series, 1988), Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski
- Andrei Rublev (1966), Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
- The Seventh Seal (1957), Ingmar Bergman
- Aguirre, Wrath of God (1972), Werner Herzog
- Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Directed by Sergio Leone
- Fellini’s Satyricon (1969), Directed by Federico Fellini
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), Directed by John Huston
- The Conversation (1974), Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
- Le Samouraï (1967), Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
- Once upon a Time in the West (1968), Directed by Sergio Leone
- Bicycle Thieves (1948), Directed by Vittorio De Sica
- The Apu Trilogy (1955, 1956 and 1959), Directed by Satyajit Ray
- Touch of Evil (1958), Directed by Orson Welles
- Apocalypse Now (1979), Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
- The Godfather Trilogy (1972, 1974 and 1990), Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
- Metropolis (1927), Directed by Fritz Lang
- Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011), Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
- The Return (2003), Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
- El Aura (2005), Directed by Fabián Bielinsky
- The Maltese Falcon (1941), Directed by John Huston
- Night Moves (1975), Directed by Arthur Penn
- Last Tango in Paris (1972), Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
- Le cercle rouge (1970), Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
- Heat (1995), Directed by Michael Mann
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), Directed by Sergio Leone
- Harakiri (1962), Directed by Masaki Kobayashi
- A Clockwork Orange (1971), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
- Gone With the Wind (1939), Directed by Victor Fleming
- Yojimbo (1961), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
- North By Northwest (1959), Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
- The Kid (1921), Directed by Charles Chaplin
- Pyaasa (1957), Directed by Guru Dutt
- The Europe Trilogy (1984, 1987 and 1991), Directed by Lars von Trier
- The Turin Horse (2011), Directed by Béla Tarr
- The Tree of Life (2011), Directed by Terrence Malick
- Paths of Glory (1957), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
- Full Metal Jacket (1987), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
- Dr. Strangelove (1964), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
- Queimada (1969), Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo
- Viridiana (1961), Directed by Luis Buñuel
- La Strada (1954), Directed by Federico Fellini.
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Directed by Ang Lee
- Scarface (1983), Directed by Brian De Palma
- Hannibal (2001), Directed by Ridley Scott
- Star Wars Hexalogy (1977, 1980, 1983, 1999, 2002, 2005), Directed by George Lucas
- Amadeus (1984), Directed by Milos Forman
- Crash (1996), Directed by David Cronenberg
- Mr. Klein (1976), Directed by Joseph Losey
- Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Directed by Guru Dutt
- Jewel Thief (1967), Directed by Vijay Anand
- Guide (1965), Directed by Vijay Anand
- F for Fake (1973), Directed by Orson Welles
- Korol Lir (1971), Directed by Grigori Kozintsev,
- Vertigo (1958), Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
- Barry Lyndon (1975), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
- City Lights (1931), Directed by Charles Chaplin
- La Jetée (1962), Directed by Chris Marker
- Chinatown (1974), Directed by Roman Polanski
- Sunset Blvd. (1950), Directed by Billy Wilder
- Persona (1966), Directed by Ingmar Bergman
- Mulholland Dr. (2001), Directed by David Lynch
- Partie de Campagne (1936), Directed by Jean Renoir
- L'Eclisse (1962), Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
- Blade Runner (1982), Directed by Ridley Scott
- Blue Velvet (1986), Directed by David Lynch
- Close-Up (1990), Directed by Abbas Kiarostami
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Directed by Steven Spielberg
- The Prestige (2006), Directed by Christopher Nolan
- 12 Angry Man (1957), Directed by Sidney Lumet
- There Will Be Blood (2007), Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
- Th Silence of the Lambs (1991), Directed by Jonathan Demme
- Casino (1995), Directed by Martin Scorsese
- The Secret in Their Eyes (2009), Directed by Juan José Campanella
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Directed by Andrew Dominik
- Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Directed by Mike Figgis
- High and Low (1963), Directed by Akira Kurosawa
- The Legend of 1900 (1998), Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
- Midnight in Paris (2011), Directed by Woody Allen
- The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Directed by Martin Scorsese
- The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), Directed by Tommy Lee Jones
- Eastern Promises (2007), Directed by David Cronenberg
- Minority Report (2002), Directed by Steven Spielberg
- Purple Noon (1960), Directed by René Clément
- Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Directed by Kundan Shah
- In the Heat of the Night (1967), Norman Jewison
- Duck, You Sucker! (1971), Directed by Sergio Leone
- Gulaal (2009), Directed by Anurag Kashyap
- Mithya (2008), Directed by Rajat Kapoor
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your feedback is highly appreciated!
— Murtaza Ali
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Interesting, you've got quite a bit of French film here. I've been looking to get into French film but don't really know where to start. I'm a fan of suspense and noir.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew... it was only a year back that I chose to make a foray into French Cinema. And, I wasn't disappointed. Some of the French New Wave filmmakers have been quite prolific but never at the expense of quality. For example, take the case of TRUFFAUT, GODARD, RESNAIS, & RIVETTE. I thing among themselves they have made enough good films to keep anyone occupied for the rest of his/her lives. If you are really keen on exploring French cinema, I reckon you start with Melville (try checking out Le Samourai, le cercle rouge, etc.). After that, you must check out Godard, Truffaut.
ReplyDeleteInteresting movies to watch. Thank you for sharing this one.
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Omg! Finally someone who appreciates Kieslowski and his outstanding Dekalog! Between that and Once Upon a Time in the West for best film of all time! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Callum! I am great admirer of Kieslowski. His "Dekalog" and "Three Colors" have a special place in my heart. The same goes to Leone. IMO, every film that he made is a masterpiece. Once Upon a Time in the West is indeed special, but so are his other works.
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