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Sight and Sound asked two directors we are currently working with to vote for the best films ever made. Take a look at the full Sight and Sound list here
From “Woman Under the Influence” to “Once Upon a Time in the West”, Anton and Justin’s selections are nothing if not eclectic, with only one film on both lists. See if you agree…
ANTON CORBIJN
Currently in pre-production with The Ink Factory on “A Most Wanted Man”
Breathless – 1960 – Jean-Luc Godard
Kes – 1969 – Ken Loach
Mon Oncle – 1958 – Jacques Tati
Once Upon a Time in the West – 1968 – Sergio Leone
Raging Bull – 1980 – Martin Scorsese
Rear Window – 1954 – Alfred Hitchcock
Seven Samurai – 1954 – Akira Kurosawa
Stalker – 1979 – Andrei Tarkovsky
Strada, La – 1954 – Federico Fellini
Touch of Evil – 1958 – Orson Welles
Anton Corbijn: These are ten films that had an impact on how I look at moving images and on the way I make films. I have not seen nearly enough films to make a ‘best of’ list, hence this frame of reference
JUSTIN KURZEL
Currently casting his adaptation of John le Carré’s “Our Kind of Traitor” for The Ink Factory
Fargo – 1995 – Joel & Ethan Coen
Gallipoli – 1981 – Peter Weir
Godfather: Part I, The – 1972 – Francis Ford Coppola
Jaws – 1975 – Steven Spielberg
Raging Bull – 1980 – Martin Scorsese
Step Brothers – 2008 – Adam McKay
Wake in Fright – 1971 – Ted Kotcheff
Withnail & I – 1986 – Bruce Robinson
Woman Under the Influence, A – 1974 – John Cassavetes
Justin Kurzel: Jaws is still the reason I rarely go swimming. It put the absolute fear in me, especially living in Australia. I must have seen this 100 times, but I will always stop and watch it when it’s on. It’s a master lesson in how to create suspense on screen, even with a robotic shark
I saw Wake in Fright only recently after completing my first film, and suddenly everything really clicked for me in terms of where the tough, muscular, Aussie film came from. It’s a masterpiece, still as shocking and relevant today as it was back in the 1970s.
Gallipoli is a beautifully composed piece of filmmaking. One of the most emotionally engaging films I have ever experienced about what it is to be a man. Sophisticated, intelligent and as scary as hell, Hidden is directed by the one of the bravest and greatest living directors today.
The Godfather is a classic, but I never tire of it. The screenplay is just so watertight, and Michael’s journey is one of the best protagonist arc’s ever created.
Raging Bull is such a gutsy and muscular film, but also so beautiful and delicate. The editing is extraordinarily bold. I love how the camera is used to express point of view in the fight sequences. The film is just pure cinema.
Withnail and I is just the coolest film I have ever seen.
Marge in Fargo is such an original character, and I love that she doesn’t come into the story until 20 minutes into the film. Again, it’s one I must have watched a hundred times and will watch a hundred more.
I can still be walking down the street and think of moments and scenes in Step Brothers and burst out laughing. The improvisation is incredible, and Will Ferrell is a genius.
A Woman Under the Influence just has the most beautiful performances. Gena Rowlands is exquisite, the scenes with her kids are heartbreaking, but despite its toughness the film is so tender and hopeful”