FIlm Essentials

Recommeded Viewing:

These first 5 are essentials, and you’ll learn a lot about film through these films.

Top Films About Film

1. State and Main (Mamet, 2000)

2. Ed Wood (Burton, 1994)

3. The Player (Altman, 1992)

4. Cinema Paradiso (Tornatore, 1988)

5. 8 1/2 (Fellini, 1963)

And here are some suggestions from favourite genres and groups:

Anything from my Top Directors:

Scorcese, Fincher, Nolan, Tarantino, Hitchcock, Burton, Pablo Trapero, Terry Gilliam, Coen Brothers, Alfronso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro,  Jacques Audiard,

One of My Top 5s

Notorious, Mulholland Drive, Wicker Man, Barry Lyndon, The Wonder Boys

And a few others:

Top Tarantino

Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, True Romance (writer), Sleep With Me (actor), From Dusk Till Dawn (Actor/Producer), Inglorious

Top Film Noir

Double Indemnity (1944), A Touch of Evil (1959),  Edward Scissorhands (1992), Se7en (1995), 

Top Hong Kong/China 

Infernal Affairs (2002), In The Mood for Love (2000), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), 2046 (2004)

Best 5 Blockbusters

Armageddon (1997), The Matrix (1999), Batman Returns (2005), Batman The  Dark Night (2008), Inception (2010) 

Best 5 French: Manon des Sources, Delicatessan, Amelie, A Prophet,  The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)

Top Sci-Fi: Metropolis (1927), Alien (1977), Blade Runner (1982), The Matrix (1999), District 9 (2009), 2001 (1969)

Top 5 Horror: The Exorcist (1973), Nightmare On Elm Streets (1988), The Shining (1990), Scream (1999), The Wicker Man

Top 5 Comedies: Some Like It Hot (1955), Trading Places (1983), The Philadelphia Story

2012 - Welcome Back to Markham Film

This is the year when the IB Film students complete their coursework: write an 8-10 page Independent Study on two films from different cultures, present a textual analysis of a five-minute segment from a prescribed film list chosen by the IB examiners, and produce a short 5 minute film with 1,200 word production journal portfolio and rationale. We also start a CLASSIC FILM SOCIETY to encourage students to watch great films from a range of cultures and historical periods (not just the same old action movies or romantic comedies). It's going to be a great year so let's get rolling. ACTION!