Bedazzled
United Kingdom (1967)
Stanley is about to take his life when George Spiggott aka the Devil turns up and proposes that Stanley can have seven wishes in exchange for his soul. All Stanley wants is for the waitress he works with to fall in love with him. One after the other, the wishes go wrong. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore is one of the most hilarious comedy duos of all times, and this is without any doubt the the most hilarious film ever made. The costume design is gorgeous and the musical score by Dudley Moore is pure perfection.
Delicatessen
France (1991)
In this post-apocalyptic fantasy where food is rare, the landlord of an apartment building hires handymen only to kill them and serve them to his tenants. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The soundtrack is fantastic, but make sure you pay attention to fully appreciate it. Jean-Pierre Jeunet has such a distinctive colour palette and a wonderful feeling for quirky characters. If you love Amélie, you’ll love this surrealistic masterpiece.
Dogtooth (Kynodontas)
Greece (2009)
Locked up in an isolated country house, three teenagers are taught to fear the outside world by their father who believes that it will corrupt them. As part of their ‘education’, they listen to homemade tapes that teach them a vocabulary invented by their father. Adorably, ‘zombies’ are little yellow flowers. It’s compelling in a voyeuristic sort of way and it’s occasionally very disturbing. This cold satire is intelligent, and has lots to say about politics, religion, philosophy and psychology.
A Film with Me in It
Ireland (2008)
An unemployed actor lives with his disabled brother, and his girlfriend who wants to leave him. His neighbour and only friend is an unemployed screenwriter who he asks for help after an awful accident happens in the small flat. Soon another freak accident takes place, and everything that can go wrong, eventually goes wrong. Dylan Moran is charming as ever in his role as the neighbour. This gem is dark but oh so funny.
The Anniversary
United Kingdom (1968)
Mrs. Taggart hosts a celebration of her wedding anniversary every year, even though her husband has been dead for 10 years. She is the matriarch of the family, a manipulative bully who completely controls her three sons. The anniversary is simply an excuse for her to demonstrate the hold she has over them, and all their secrets come into light as the story unfolds. This is by no means Bette Davis’ greatest performance but she is definitely at her bitchy best. She is an utter joy to watch in this sublime Hammer Studios satire on what constitutes a family.
Chiaki L’Argent
Michele
February 17, 2015
Bedazzled is one of my favourite movies!