THE DANMAN CAN

"Now are you happy?" "Delirious." Neil Jordan 's The Crying Game (1992) is a complex, sensitive, and moving film concerning identity, conflict, and kindness, with wonderful performances, beautiful cinematography, and a moody score. Neil Jordan Feature Films Ranked

"You take the sinners away from the saints, you're lucky to end up with Abraham Lincoln." "Happens to everybody. Horses, dogs, men. Nobody gets out of life alive." Martin Ritt 's Hud (1963) is a beautiful and sad revisionist western about the struggle between generations and ideologies. It features a wonderful central performance by Paul Newman  as the self-centered, cynical titular character, along with strong, award-winning supporting performances by Melvyn Douglas and Patricia Neal , a sparse, elegiac score by the legendary  Elmer Bernstein , and gorgeous, stark cinematography by the versatile  James Wong Howe . Very much the antithesis of Shane   [ review ]—released a decade prior (and also starring Brandon De Wilde )—this unflinching, prophetic, humanist film remains a powerful portrait of unresolved familial conflict and the looming specter of capitalism and modernity. "You're just gonna have to make up your own mind one day about what's...

"Don't look back. You'll turn into a pillar of shit." "The whole state is shit." "Don't talk dirty, Tommy. How many times do I have to tell you?" An affecting, tragically funny, wonderfully acted, beautifully written and shot portrait of a struggling, widowed mother and her young, bored ("B-O-R-E-D... BORED!") son. "Well, now, would you mind turning around for me?" "Turn around for you? Why?" "I want to look at you." "Well, look at my face. I don't sing with my ass." Martin Scorsese Feature Films Ranked Top 20 Directors

"How about making me vice president in charge of cheering you up?" With its incredible cast, brilliant and playful dialogue, impeccable fashion by Givenchy , beautiful cinematography by Charles Lang , a mysterious and hip score by the legendary  Henry Mancini , and a mesmerizing title sequence by Maurice Binder , Stanley Donen 's  Hitchcock ian thrilling masterpiece Charade (1963) stands the test of time. Perfect entertainment. "I don't bite, you know, unless it's called for." Stanley Donen Films Ranked The Danman Top 100 Films (2024 Edition)

"Whoa now. The world's a pretty big place." "Made up of stupid little people." Much of what makes Gilda (1946) great (both the film and the character) and much of its legacy lives on the sex appeal of the bombshell-defined Rita Hayworth . The film is a very good noir as well—utilizing solid direction, lush cinematography, gorgeous gowns, and it's got the crime element, hard-biting humor, plus a ruthless love triangle—but it wouldn't be half of what it is without that particular "femme fatale" (though she isn't really). As well, there is an interesting (and uncommon, for the time) gay subtext running throughout this story of repressed desires, power dynamics, and the potent emotion that is hatred. To riff on the infamous introductory scene of the titular character, I don't know about "decent," but Gilda is definitely dazzling. Film Noir Feature Films Ranked

 "I sometimes hang awake at night dreaming of being spat at in the face." "How shall we fuck off, O Lord? "Out of the door, line on the left, one cross each." Terry Jones Films Ranked

"I love you. I loved you the moment I saw you. I'm mad about you. My little shoplifter. My sweet little pickpocket. My darling." Ernst Lubitsch Feature Films Ranked

"You look like Pinehaven." "How does Pinehaven look?" "Well-tended." Lawrence Kasdan 's 1981 debut  Body Heat  is a neo-noir chock full of seductive dialogue, gorgeous compositions, and excellent early performances by William Hurt , Kathleen Turner (in her feature debut), and Ted Danson (who has a few very amusing scenes). Kasdan's sweaty, horny version of  Double Indemnity   (1944) [ review ] is perfect viewing for a 95° summer day.

The 1960s really was one the best decades of film.  Lee Marvin  as Walker is easily one of the most badass characters in any film. The dreamy psychedelic sequences, the jazzy  Schifrin -like score by  Johnny Mandel , the great supporting roles ( Keenan Wynn ,  Carroll O'Connor ,  Michael Strong ,  John Vernon ), the style, the time shifts/jump cuts, the economy of  John Boorman 's filmmaking (only his sophomore film!)—there is so much to savor here.  Point Blank   (1967) was a huge influence on  Steven Soderbergh 's   The Limey   (1999) [ review ] (another favorite film) and was remade, as a lesser but still great film called  Payback   (1999), both based on  Donald E. Westlake 's (writing as Richard Stark) novel  The Hunter   (1962). John Boorman Feature Films Ranked

Akira Kurosawa 's ninth solo feature film and third collaboration with  Toshirō Mifune , Stray Dog (1949), is a solid noir police procedure. The film drags a bit in the first half (the pursuit in the second half is more exciting) and sits in the bottom quarter of my Kurosawa rankings, but it's got strong performances (the actors convey the sense of heat quite well) and striking camerawork Akira Kurosawa Films Ranked Top 20 Directors Film Noir Feature Films Ranked

Like the film's namesake dance show host,  John Waters ' Hairspray (1988) is (intentionally) corny as hell, but it also has a heartfelt, earnest message about being true to yourself and having pride in who you are. While I prefer my Waters filthy, there's enough oddball outsiders and amusing dialogue to give Hairspray his stamp, and I can't deny the fun, fashion, and killer tunes of his mainstream hit. John Waters Feature Films Ranked

I've lived to see  John Waters '  Desperate Living   (1977) restored in 4K (and it looks great!). I first paid a visit to Mortville when I bought a VHS tape of the film in the late '90s. DL is slightly less offensive than JW's opus, 1972's  Pink Flamingos  [ review ] but just as much fun.  Divine 's presence is sorely missed.  Mink Stole  almost makes up for his absence by stealing every scene she's in (including  one of the best line deliveries ever in any film , in a movie jam-packed with priceless dialogue), but  Edith Massey  gives her a run for her money. I love the  Dreamlanders  and I love this picture. A trashterpiece. John Waters Feature Films Ranked

"Well, she's...something a little strange."

"What are you doing?" "I'm looking at my wife." Jonathan Glazer Feature Films Ranked

"Snow is falling... Falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead." John Huston 's final film (screened less than a week after he died), 1987's The Dead —based on the final short story (technically a novella) in James Joyce 's first published book of fiction, the 1914 collection Dubliners —is a fittingly poetic bookend to an amazing filmography. It's a lyrical, melancholic, and nostalgic, beautifully lit, delicately scored, and wonderfully performed picture that reminded me a lot of  Ingmar Bergman 's masterful  Fanny And Alexander (1983) [ review ]. John Huston Feature Films Ranked

I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) is my least favorite  Powell  and  Pressburger  film so far, but I still have many to see. I did greatly enjoy IKWIG , particularly the beautiful Scottish locations and the expressive black and white cinematography, but I found the romance a bit lacking. This might be a film that I appreciate more on a rewatch. Powell & Pressburger 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

"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  ...

 "This is what I call a timely interruption! Though what'll come of it, the devil himself only knows!" Michael Curtiz Feature Films Ranked