Let the Right One In
Låt den rätte komma in
Tomas Alfredson
2008
I’m not a big fan of vampire movies, but this one succeeds on several levels. The gore/supernatural bits help drive the plot, but are not the central focus. The story unfolds at a natural pace and the key dialog is almost languid. The setup is disarmingly [...]
A Christmas Story
Bob Clark
1983
My favorite holiday movie. Great portrayal of a the trials and tribulations of a young boy growing up in the Midwest. The main character’s obsession with getting a Red Rider BB Gun for Christmas is one of the best portrayals of what it’s like to be a child that I know of.
Breach
Billy Ray
2007
A real spy story, well told. Probably the biggest intelligence breach in US history. Acting is superb.
The Grid
Mikael Salomon
2004
This six part series is one of the best post-9/11 terrorism stories I’ve seen. Manages to include some subtle issues and humanize all sides.
The Bank Job
Roger Donaldson
2008
Apparently based on a true story, it would be hard to make-up all the twists and turns and interconnections. This is a near perfect thriller!
The Orphanage
Juan Antonio Bayona
2008
A different kind of horror story, one that is less about gore and more about instilling dread in the viewer’s mind. Very effective! Obvious connections with the 2001 Devil’s Backbone.
Red Beard
Akahige
Akira Kurosawa
1965
My all time favorite! Poignant, epic in scope—the best medical coming-of-age film I know of. The story of a medical intern working at a charity clinic in early nineteenth century Japan. The legendary Toshirô Mifune portrays his attending, the titular Red Beard. Also has a great “samurai doctor” scene. Not be be missed!
Philip K. Dick is less well known than other science fiction authors of his generation (Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein), but today he enjoys a growing reputation as his novels are adapted to the screen. Of these, A Scanner Darkly is the most recent, the most personal, and perhaps the most important. It is a semi-autobiographical story [...]
Brazil
Terry Gilliam
1998
The dystopian’s dystopia!
Brazil is one of my all time favorites. It is the blackest of black comedies, a “knight in shining armor” fantasy, an absurdist allegory, and an existential rant (with a bit of Monty Python thrown in for good measure). What’s not to like?! Set in a world of grey buildings and grey suits, [...]
Metropolis
Rintaro
2002
Based on the 1949 manga by Osamu Tezuka, which was in turn inspired by a poster for the 1927 movie by the same name. This time there are robots everywhere. Great anime, compelling story. I recently began reading other Tezuka novels and see borrowed characters everywhere. A real feast!