Recommend a movie

La Notte, Antonioni

One of my favorite movies, Jeanne Moreau is very compelling, and Mastroianni is great as usual. A famous writer and his wife struggle with ennui, and go to a dinner party.

Les quatre cent coups, Truffaut

Also a new favorite, an adolescent boy passes by the people in his life, just barely missing them, unable to avoid trouble, and not sure about any future.

Jules et Jim, Truffaut

I like and recommend, but my least favorite Truffaut so far. Very interesting plot structure and pacing. The film progresses through a couple decades as two good friends live life, both wrestling with a crazy woman.

Stalker, Tarkovsky

Highly recommend, was pleasantly surprised myself. The stalker is a man who can lead people to a special place in the forbidden Zone, the Room, where wishes come true. He leads two men there. Fantastic looking movie, reminded me at times of Herzog style wise, although it's thematically it's own (and much deeper).

Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen

Pretentious garbage, don't recommend it. Ironically the spirit and style of the film (self indulgence, self importance, phony self deprecation) conflicts with the message grudgingly revealed at the end of the movie.

The Life of Pi, Ang Lee

Hesitantly recommend, if only for the very good looking CGI. An Indian hippy child simultaneously believes in Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, showing how open he is, and how ready to believe. Blah blah blah, he's trapped on a boat with a tiger. The film's themes are really only glossed over, which is unfortunate, because it could have been very interesting. Ironically my new age friend glowingly recommended it, no doubt impressed by how 'spiritual' and open the main character is, and how freeing and satisfying the conclusion of "believe whatever feels good" is, but I think it was actually pretty dark, with the main character being basically broken into a sort of agnosticism by his experience.

Wild Strawberries, Bergman

Sorry, not much to say, it's a good movie, watch it. If I remember something relevant I'll come back and add it.

The Double Life of Veronique, Krzysztof Kieslowski

This secures Irene Jacobs place as one of my favorite actresses, and my love for Kieslowskis sort of magical realism. This is a very mysterious movie, I'm sure there are layers I didn't even reach, but it's very good. Two women, both named Veronica, are mysteriously connected, feeling each other's presence, or absence, deep within their being. This is a movie that deserves to be rewatched.