My Movie Watchlist
There’s nothing more fulfilling that stumbling upon a great film and dwelling into the story as if it was our own
However, finding that particular cinematic experience can de quite cumbersome, so here’s a small list of movies that may not be grandiose but at least aren’t forgettable.
Modern Gems of Cinema
This group of films represent some of the masterpieces of the last decade and may very well be subject to discussion and acclaim for many more years in the future
Raw (2016)
Julia Ducornau
An astounding debut for Julia Ducornau, in which an innocent veterinary school freshman turns into the most visceral being there is, a coming-of-age flick that employs violence and sex to denote one of the most vulnerable transitions in life. It’s gory and messed up, but a bloody masterpiece nonetheless.
The Neon Demon (2016)
Nicolas Winding Refn
Hands-down my favorite film, a tour-de-force for Nicolas Winding Refn that follows Jesse a young model entering the monstrous fashion industry and the unnerving realities that conform it. This is a discussion around beauty and its’ value to humanity, with a mesmerizing soundtrack and sublime cinematography.
The Tree of Life (2012)
Terrence Malick
Easily the most beautiful film I’ve ever seen that explores from the farthest reaches of the universe to the most intimate part of our soul; apparently focusing the viewer into the life of suburban family in the 50s after a tragedy explores the spirituality and reality of our human condition and our place in nature. Terrence Malick gave birth to a new kind of cinema, in which the plot isn’t intertwined by a story arch but the trascendende of emotion. Simply described as what a dying man would see just before the eternal sleep.
Good Time (2017)
Benny Safdie & Josh Safdie
The Safdie Brothers are mental, this film is unbelievable, shot in NYC; everything is so visceral and improvised; a relentless ride to the thumping sound of an analog synth in the constant tension the film embodies. My favorite movie on the year of its’ release, Robert Pattinson should get a monument.
Youth (2015)
Paolo Sorrentino
The story of a renowned composer in his seventies while on vacation in a swiss hotel that’s packed with other influential characters, focusing on life after the spotlight and how everything fades as time goes by; the potential of youth and the inevitability of old. Humanity in light of our own mortality, death, loneliness, heartbreak and ultimately…hope. Also it has one of the most beautiful original songs and performances ever.
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Derek Cianfrance
Seemingly predictable, this film starts with an absent parent that tries to get back to his son and his fight to provide for him at any cost and a policeman following his every step; however, the plot takes an unexpected direction that totally pays off. This discourse about legacy and the burden that’s inherent to life itself
Classic Films
Some features have remained as impecable as when they released, their message, through time and culture has always been relevant, an undying legacy from their creators and the inspiration for many films, even the ones in this very list
In the Mood for Love (2000)
Wong Kar-wai
A Japanese masterpiece, everything about it screams classic, the sublime soundtrack by Shigeru Umebayashi adorns an intimate and believable love story set in the 1960s, that at times gets too real.
Persona (1966)
Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman’s quintessential film, psychological drama that’s still being analyzed today, a short but substantial interaction between two women, the healer and the ill, light and dark. These 85 minutes will surely be in your mind for weeks, as it’s been in cinema for the better part of a century.
Seven Samurai (1954)
Akira Kurosawa
Japanese Masterclass, an inspiration for an unending series of adaptations, a village recruits seven retired samurai to solve the problems caused by and opposing force, sounds familiar?. A fundamental building block for modern cinema. Also Kurosawa was mentor of George Lucas, so if you like Star Wars thank him.
Mirror (1975)
Andrei Tarkovsky
Tarkovsky’s most abstract and personal film, beauty in composition, storytelling and symbolism. The life story of a dying man that, truly, was the director’s own. Unexplainable and sublime.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick
One of the most iconic sci-fi films ever made, the first instance of the rise of the machines against humanity. With perfect cinematography and practical special effects that look better than some current CGI. Watch as some of cinema’s most iconic scenes develop a gradual journey through space and the unknown.
Stalker (1979)
Andrei Tarkovsky
The director’s last picture, a slow burning exploration of humankind in face of the unknown. A masterful approach to plot construction with the sole use of the camera’s motion. Video games and other media try to imitate Tarkovsky’s atmosphere but fail. Perfection in all respects.
Comedies
A great laugh is always welcomed, and these films may not be your cup of tea; but the humor goes from the dark aspects of life to the most absurd, maybe the idea “what am I watching?!” will cause a weird smile on your face
Snatch (2000)
Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie at the top of his game allied with an all-star cast, took the british crime movie and tore it apart, making it funnier and crude; insanely good, and a quotable script. Pigs, Illegal Boxing and Sarcasm to spare, Brad Pitt is sort of a gypsy; I’ve seen it dozens of times, still cracks me up.
The Lobster (2015)
Yorgos Lanthimos
A absurdist dark comedy about human companionship in which single people are forced to enter an institution to find a mate in 45 days or turned into an animal of their choice. Crazy is an understatement bit in the end it shows one of the most sincere love stories in modern cinema. Another instance of Lanthimos questioning the fragility of society and individual existence.
Swiss Army Man (2016)
Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
Harry Potter is a corpse, a machine gun, a rocket and a fart-propelled speedboat. Weird and funnily questions the subtle absurdities that make-up the modern man and the soundtrack is brilliant, also it’s almost a musical.
The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
Noah Baumbach
An unconventional film about family, has the beautifully scripted dialogue by Noah Baumbach and the comforting grain of Super 16 film; follows a small family in which each member is as broken as the next one and their efforts to mask their shortcomings with apparent success.
The Nice Guys (2016)
Shane Black
The revival of the buddy cop comedy, by the experienced Shane Black, set in the 80s, revolves around a controversy of the Los Angeles Auto Show and the porn industry. Crowe and Gosling have great chemistry and no chill. So, how do you like the film, big boy?
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Edgar Wright
My favorite entry to the Cornetto Trilogy, a genius collaboration between Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, as a police officer gets relocated due to him being so great and making the rest of the force look bad. A british parody of cop movies that will make you laugh out loud.
Romance
The most powerful emotion of all and the many explorations we can offer to the world, from the funniest to the most visceral
The Before Trilogy (1995–2013)
Richard Linklater
Composed by three films,Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight, it’s maybe cinema’s best approximation to what the realization of love is for a couple at the different stages it develops. Unfiltered and rough, but heartfelt, just like the real thing.
Her (2013)
Spike Jonze
A film that may soon be categorized to non-fiction, in which a man falls in love with an artificial intelligence, only the sweet voice of Scarlett Johansson and the relatable performance of Joaquin Phoenix power the plot of an interesting future reality. A reaffirmation, that at times, love is blind.
Amour (2012)
Michael Haneke
Be prepared, it’s a heart wrenching film. About an elder couple of musicians, of the many ways that loves takes place on a relationship intended for eternity, and struggles that old age and illness may oppose the union of two human beings.
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Wes Anderson
A childish take on romance, sometimes crude and unrestricted but always pure; follows a boy scout and a girl on their journey through a small island, in which a bit of time may connect two people forever. It will leave you with a weird satisfaction, as any Andersonian film.
Rust and Bone (2012)
Jacques Audiard
When two broken human beings find each other, a connection that can survive any loss is formed, however, this is the story if how it could happen at its worst.
Crazy Stupid Love (2011)
Glenn Ficarra & John Requa
A lighthearted approach to one of mankind’s biggest struggle and the unpredictability of love at any age.
Dramas
The legend of man, how convoluted everyday can get; for many of this fictional stories men and women prove how beautifully messed up we all are and we still thrive despite it
Phantom Thread (2018)
Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day Lewis collaborate once again.
Need I say more?.
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Tom Ford
Directed by Tom Ford (yeah, the fashion designer), comes a revenge film in an unexpected way, masterfully shot and composed, employ symbolisms tirelessly to show that sometimes, reality is stranger than fiction.
First Reformed (2018)
Paul Schrader
Questioning faith and the place that humanity takes in this beautiful disaster we call home, embodied by Ethan Hawke as the pastor of a mostly touristic church, the film debates about the authenticity of goodness in the world and some extreme measures to enforce it.
Goodfellas (1990)
Martin Scorsese
A classic crime film, and a certified fun watch; a visual and auditory crude exploration of life inside the italian mafia. One of Scorsese’s best films and with a trio of legendary actors; the only issue that may arise is that you haven’t seen it.
First Man (2018)
Damien Chazelle
Next year humanity will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing; despite my conflicts with this film, the truth of the matter, is that it captured perfectly the human struggle and technological achievements needed to fulfill that task, making astronauts seem more like superheroes than ever before. Also be on the lookout for Richard Linklater’s film about the moon landing in the coming months.
Gone Girl (2014)
David Fincher
The signature suspense and thorough manipulation of the viewer, is revisited by Fincher; with the mystery of missing woman…or the husband killed her, I’m not sure; watch the film and find out.
Science Fiction
The beauty of Sci-fi lies in its ability to highlight humanity’s biggest strenghts and weaknesses by changing a term in the simple rulebook we all call life
Arrival (2016)
Dennis Villeneuve
In order to appreciate the true nature of humanity it’s necessary to see it from outside the spotlight; after the arrival of extraterrestrial beings to earth, mankind will show its true colors as they try to establish the first link between the two civilizations. Your mind will be blown to the sound of Max Richter’s beautiful neo-classic pieces and Johansson’s amorphous soundtrack.
Moon (2009)
Duncan Jones
Sam Rockwell’s best role, of a man that’s in charge of a moon station that sends power to Earth, and how after an accident reveals more truths than expected. Directed by Duncan Jones, David Bowie’s son.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Doug Liman
Tom Cruise enters the battlefield with some insanely powerful aliens a-la Groundhog Day.
Children of Men (2006)
Alfonso Cuarón
Picture a dystopian future in which there are no more newborns and humanity only awaits its demise. A masterclass in cinematography and, in my opinion, Cuaron’s best film; we enter a world in which hope went away with the fertility of women.
Blade Runner (1982)
Ridley Scott
Go into a cyberpunk world of humanity and replicants, human-like robots, with the astounding polyphonic sounds of Vangelis’ CS-80 synth that bring life to Ridley Scott’s most discussed films, released in multiple versions; this film, is nothing short of iconic.
Looper (2012)
Rian Johnson
The invention of time travel will surely bring unfathomable applications of it, even to handle assassinations. What better place to hide a crime that in the past?
Action
When other genre’s seem too mellow, you can always count on this one to amaze you and glue you to your seat, don’t blink or you might miss it
You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Lynne Ramsay
Appropriately called this generation’s Taxi Driver, we find a war veteran that renowned by his savagery is searching for the missing daughter of an important political figure. A film that embraces death as destruction and creation.
Drive (2011)
Nicolas Winding Refn
Refn’s most popular film, it’s a beautiful cinematic experience, with Gosling’s portrayal of a thorough and relentless tough guy trying to help the family that show him love for the first time.
Casino Royale (2006)
Martin Campbell
Arguably James Bond’s best movie and the clear example of a remake done right. Thrilling to the very end and with some of the most authentic and detailed portrayal of an already cartoonish character.
Sicario (2015)
Dennis Villeneuve
The War on Drugs differs from any other in the far that it’s way too big and personal, and after a foreign force tries to handle it professionally, only unexpected twists are destined to occur
John Wick (2014)
Chad Stahelski & David Leitch
What if a reckless boy stole the car and killed the dog of a recently widowed man that happens to be the best assassin in the world; watch as the embodiment of death takes revenge on the Russian mafia,
Dunkirk (2017)
Christopher Nolan
You haven’t heard gunshots as pounding as in this film, watch as a nation unites to achieve a miraculous rescue of the men that were supposed to protect it, in Nolan’s fashion, a moving cinematic experience
Family Movies
Some of the movies are intended to be watched with kids and other relatives, but a family film should also elevate the value of family and make us reflect on the adversity of life and how our loved ones help us overcome it
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Wes Anderson
Centered in a fictional country of Europe, the story follows the concierge and lobby boy from a popular ski resort, their quirky but elegant relationship; an adventure like no other, caused by the concierge’s love for older women, in which only the purest of heart will succeed
Sing Street (2016)
John Carney
A group of kids decide to create a band in the era of punk in Ireland. Such a feel-good movie filled with some great tunes
20th Century Women (2016)
Mike Mills
As the director said, this films, a love letter to his mum, focuses the efforts of a single mother trying to make her love transcend through other women in order raise her son to be a good man in the era of punk
Boyhood (2014)
Richard Linklater
Technical masterpiece, a film shot along 12 summers, follows the life of Mason from childhood to college, an intimate portrayal of the life of the average Joe, stating that, in fact, everybody is just winging it and we should live on
Jingle All the Way (1996)
Brian Levant
Mr. Olympia turns into Iron Man and gets Anakin Skywalker a gift.
Christmas kino.
Animated Films
As much flexibility as actors, production design and CGI can offer; there’s not a better medium for the expression of imagination quite like an animated feature.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Hayao Miyazaki
An intimate exploration of the dream-like experience of childhood, this beautiful hand-drawn animation never stops being joyful and imaginative; even in the grimmest moment fantasy manages to overcome it and thrill the viewer as much as the characters interacting with the cute creatures of the forest.
Spirited Away (2001)
Hayao Miyazaki
Regarded as Hayao Miyazaki’s most notable film, forgets the intimacy that tainted Mt Neighbor Totoro and takes imagination to a whole new level, in a much more diverse spirit world and a hotel dedicated to get some souls and other entities a much needed rest.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Wes Anderson
Mr. Fox voiced by George Clooney experiences mid-life crisis while married to Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), puts his family and community in a dangerous place after his youth tries to live once again. Every bit as Wes-Andersonian as any of his films, a masterpiece in stop-motion animation, it’s quirky, funny and an emotional experience.
Anomalisa (2015)
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson
Another stop-motion feature, but graced with the signature existential debates that Charlie Kaufmann always puts in his films. Of the shallowness of the modern man that tries to replace his true desires and how it affects personal sanity
The Red Turtle (2016)
Michaël Dudok de Wit
The story of a man lost on a deserted island and a red turtle that constantly stop his efforts to escape; maybe to know the way one must first find himself. There’s no dialogue, only meaning
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Mamoru Oshii
A seemingly shallow anime, questions the authenticity of life and if machines may be considered alive despite their absence in nature. A great example of cyberpunk and transhumanism debate.
Horror/Thriller
Let us delve into the void, the fears of old and new; a certain proof of our fragility in face of the unknown. Maybe this genre won’t cause the greatest feelings but as necessary as the rest.
Hereditary (2018)
Ari Aster
One of modern horror marvels, a debit for the director introduces the viewer to a formulaic setup; to a grieving family with a mystery to uncover, a creepy daughter and a protective mother, nonetheless, you’ll quickly notice the unexpected turns that make it a chilling experience.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Yorgos Lanthimos
Consider Lanthimos’ previous dark comedies, remove the funny bit and turn the creepiness to eleven, you’ll get one of the most unsettling storied of contemporary cinema; The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a beautifully crafted adaptation a classic greek myth, in which the actions of an ordinary man
The Invitation (2015)
Karyn Kusama
A group of friends reunite after years and although the chemistry is great between the characters there’s something off about the nature of the event, as events unfold you can clearly see why the writer of American Psycho loved the film
The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick
It’s unbelievable how an adaptation can be even better than the source material, with top-notch performances, Stanley Kubrick creates a deep relationship between the insane and the paranormal, while also being a technical masterpiece, properly introducing the steadicam to the world
Nightcrawler (2014)
Dan Gilroy
Given a very dedicated person and take all of the emotions that make him humane, and you have the protagonist for this movie; Gilroy’s debut is as brilliant as Gyllenhaals’ performance.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Roman Polanski
Pregnancy is already a concerning matter, now imagine the feeling of expecting a child that is not from this world
Documentaries
These works of art are not intended to factually check reality only employ it as a useful resource to convince and move us to a better understanding of the reality we all share
Encounters at the End of the World (2007)
Werner Herzog
If you ever taught that a penguin walking in the snow couldn’t make you have an existencial crisis, think again. Welcome to Werner Herzog.
Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016)
Werner Herzog
Herzog always stated that cinema is about humanity and how everything revolves about people, as technology advances it constantly shapes society, this is a glimpse of the Internet and its consequences; a question for us all, when will the definition of human be revised?
Icarus (2017)
Bryan Fogel
Remember Lance Armstrong? How he almost got away with humorous victories in the biggest event in professional cycling while design constantly, thanks to this documentary you’ll get to know the mastermind behind it all and how he does it again
Jodorowsky’s Dune (2013)
Frank Pavich
A film about cinema’s biggest and most influential movie that never got made. Immerse yourself in the most complete picture of the unrestricted mind of an artist, the way that dreams also shape reality.
My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (2014)
Liv Corfixen
An artist knows that loving and hating his work is essential to its realization, and that the imperfections and difficulties of the process finally augment authenticity. A beautiful poem about creative work
Woodstock (1970)
Michael Wadleigh
Imagine a music festival with half a million attendees, the administration of the event was told to let everybody in; a legendary series of rock concerts that redefined culture for decades to come; legends reunited and new ones emerged, i.e. Carlos Santana was tripping balls and played one of the most insane guitar solos ever.
Mexican cinema
Here’s a little extra, a couple of films that shaped Mexico’s place in world cinema
Cronos (1993)
Guillermo del Toro
Del Toro’s debut and the film that pretty much started it all; with his signature world building, an old man get ahold of an object that grants eternal life
Amores Perros (2000)
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Iñárritu used to center his films around the lives of different people linked by a single life-changing event; this is based in Mexico City where a homeless man, a celebrity and a dog fighter that only wants to help his loved one.
Y tu Mamá También (2001)
Alfonso Cuarón
An early collaboration between Cuarón and Lubezki, a road trip movie about friendship and sexual awakening.
La Dictadura Perfecta (2014)
Luis Estrada
Comedic portrait of the modern Mexican political scene, that gets too real at times. Funny but ultimately a bleak portrait of reality.
El Padrecito (1964)
Miguel M. Delgado
Mario Moreno “Cantinflas” is one of Mexico’s most iconic characters during the country’s golden age of cinema. His humor was always innocent and light-hearted that shaped culture for many years and still does.
Nosotros los Pobres (1948)
Ismael Rodríguez
Pedro Infante is the ultimate Mexican man, a singer and all-around macho; also one of Mexico’s golden age most important actors in one of his most iconic roles.
