THE DANMAN CAN

Cry-Baby   (1990) is one of my Top 3  John Waters  films. While not as subversive as his early work, it's got more bite than its predecessor, 1988's  Hairspray .  That film was a big success, while  C-B  was a box office failure which has gone on to become a cult classic. This  Elvis  musical/ Grease  parody is a blast and easily Waters' most fun film—perfectly cast and wonderfully performed, eminently quotable and rewatchable, full of beautiful costumes and production design, and very funny to boot. This movie's got it. It's got it raw! John Waters Feature Films Ranked

"The American people want somebody to articulate their rage for them." "He's saying that life is bullshit and it is!" "Music up with a swell; final commercial. And here are a few scenes from next week's show." Sidney Lumet Feature Films Ranked Top 20 Directors

Mel Brooks ' Spaceballs (1987) is easily one of the three films I can quote most, behind only my favorite, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) [ review ] and The Big Lebowski   (1998) [ review ]. It's not Brooks' best film, but it's a classic nonetheless. Mel Brooks Films Ranked

Ænigma (1987) is a solid latter era  Fulci  film mixing elements of Patrick  (1978) with  Suspiria  (1977) [ review ] and  Phenomena  [reviews  here ,  here ,  here , and  here ]. It's nothing exceptional, but it's well made, has some fun kills and amusing scenes, and is better than I expected. Lucio Fulci Feature Films Ranked

The best and one of multiple westerns that  Sergio Corbucci  directed,  The Great Silence  (1968) is also one of the bleakest and greatest  Italian Westerns .  Jean-Louis Trintignant  delivers a strong, completely mute performance and  Klaus Kinski  gives us one of his best—intense and nihilistic. Given that women's roles in Italian Westerns tended to be pretty thankless,  Vonetta McGee  has one of the better ones, where she emotes heavily with her striking eyes and takes a stand against tyranny. Though less iconic than his work with that other, more famous, Sergio ( Leone ),  Ennio Morricone  still composed a memorable and rousing score. And that ending is chill-inducing, no matter how many times you've seen the film. Sergio Corbucci Films Ranked

"Free will, it is a bitch."

"Mr. Funny Shoes." Guillermo del Toro Feature Films Ranked

🎶Mermaids got no gams🎶 Coen Bros. Feature Films Ranked Top 20 Directors

"Life is just so goddamn wonderful, you almost won't believe it." Coen Bros. Feature Films Ranked Top 20 Directors

"Some are born to sweet delight. Some are born to endless night." Dead Man  (1995) remains my favorite  Jim Jarmusch  film. To me it's the perfect blend of his style—road movie, existential trip, lyrical dialogue, sumptuous black and white visuals, dry and darkly tinged wit, ensemble cast—all wrapped up in the western genre. There is so much to appreciate about this film. Just to name a few things: 1.  Robby Müller 's gorgeous cinematography. This man shot some incredible films with some of the best directors:  Repo Man   (1984) [ review ],  Paris, Texas  (1984) [ review ],  To Live And Die In L.A.  (1985) [ review ],  Breaking The Waves  (1996), along with Jarmusch's  Down By Law  (1986) [ blogpost ],  Mystery Train  (1989) [ blogpost ], and  Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai   (1999) [ review ].  Dead Man  may just be the most impressive thing he ever filmed though. 2.  That  ...