Intellectual, Profound Movies?

**shin** · 09-28-11 at 10:02 AM

Any suggestions for some smart, possibly deep introspective movies?
Even philosophical to a degree. Just any that make you think

Maybe even need to watch 2 or more times to truly grasp & understand.

To start off, i'll post one that easily comes to mind:

The Matrix (1999)
Probably one of the more popular movies that made people question Reality.
If what we perceive as reality is nothing but electrical signals in the brain,
how can we tell that this current reality not being faked for us?

any others?

**ndemars18** · 09-28-11 at 10:07 AM

there not really movie but you should check out something called Zeitgeist. I think there's 3 of them now. this'll definitely have you thinking

**mrsol** · 09-28-11 at 10:15 AM

I'd go for Fight Club & 2001:A Space Odyssey perhaps...

**FirtY** · 09-28-11 at 10:16 AM

Oh I've seen loads over the years and couldn't actually think of one after reading your post... Typical :(..
This is a pretty good one, a bit bleak though...

Code: Select All

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138704/

**mrsol** · 09-28-11 at 10:17 AM

yeah pretty much anything by Darren Aronofsky and occasionally David Fincher:L

**mis4nthropes** · 09-28-11 at 11:28 AM

It was an HBO movie, but "Sunset Limited" was fairly deep. It's based off a short 1 act play by cormac mccarthy and stars Tommy lee Jones as an atheist professor who tries to kill himself and Samuel L Jackson as a deeply religious man who rescues him. They pretty much argue in a kitchen for an hour about philosophy, religion, life, etc. It's extremely dark though, and Jones' character exponentially becomes more harsh through the film until the climax. So fair warning if you're sensitive about religion. I highly recommend it though.

Code: Select All

www.tehparadox.com/forum/f56/sunset-limited-2011-dvdrip-700mb-1link-3022598/

(i suppose coding links to this site is a little silly, but rules are rules :)

edit* I second doliprane's recommendation. The Man From Earth is amazing.

**bullinerfamily** · 09-28-11 at 12:16 PM

I would say Shutter Island, because it made me think one way through the whole movie and then surprised me at the end. The other one that was quite good was Inception.

FauxCat · 09-28-11 at 12:27 PM

I would also vote for the man from earth. Hands down one of the best movies I have ever seen. Totally draws you in, just watch it.

**wingomeza** · 09-28-11 at 12:30 PM

12 monkeys....

raguabros · 09-28-11 at 01:03 PM

Synecdoche, New York

Robbyh · 09-28-11 at 02:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by doliprane

the man from earth

Code: Select All

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756683/

One of the deepest.

If you download anything . this is first choice !

CrashOv3r · 09-28-11 at 04:43 PM

the 13th floor

**carlmc1** · 09-28-11 at 05:52 PM

Hmmm... 3 times The Man from Earth has now been mentioned. Downloading it now, it'd better good!

cinesimon · 09-28-11 at 06:06 PM

The latest English-speaking one is Tree Of Life by the genius Terrence Malick.
Also look for his older ones: every film he has ever made is beautiful and very much oriented toward philosophy of life, aided by simply genius cinematography which plays as much a role as plot & character.
Both Badlands and Days of Heaven, his first two features, have been lovingly restored and put to Bluray - now they're better than when they were first released in my opinion.

Also Sergio Leone made some very profound films. Though mostly seen as a master storyteller and cinematography genius, I think is films are way more than just stories.

If you're looking for deeply philosophical and cinematically profound films, with cinematography to blow your mind, look to Europe, and Russia. Russia is the homeland of life affecting films for me - their cinematography is uniformly brilliant, and their culture demands they question the meaning of life every day - so in general, their films are that way inclined.

A short list of European films that come to mind:

Andrei Tarchivsky - every cinephile's hero:
Solaris(NOT the remake), Nostalghia, Ivan's Childhood, The Mirror, Stalker, Andrei Rublev... and more

Aleksey Balabanov;
Brother(1991), Cargo 200, Morfiy... and more

Nikita Mikhalkov;
'12', Urga, Burnt by the Sun, Barber of Siberia... and more

Andrei Zvyagintsev
The Return, The Banishment

Italy has lots of greats - past and present, one contemporary director being Paolo Sorrentino - he has recently made two utterly mind blowing, hilarious, beautiful and profound films:
The Consequences of Love, and The Family Friend.

Denmark's Lars Von Truer - my favs being Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Antichrist, and his classic two season TV series The Kingdom - aka Riget.

Demonlover is totally mind-blowing - by French great Olivier Assayas.

TAXIDERMIA!
HUCKLE!
Wicked, twisted and brilliant little films.

The above is not a 'favorites list, they're just what came to mind.
As there are just too many films to list, I'l list a few directors whose films are worth checking out: Ingmar Bergman, Michael Haneke, Davids Lynch and Cronenberg, Jan Troell, Jean=Pierre Jeunet... there really are just too many - both directors and films.

There are so many amazing films out there - Europe, especially old Eastern Europe, is pumping out some of the most amazing films I've ever seen. Really to find these, you have to find a film you like, look at the director's other work, look for listings that show similar films(such as IMDB's lists along the bottom), search review sites such as Twitch - eventually you'll find them yourself.
Sorry if all that seems a little patronizing!
But I've spent many years searching for great films, and have found the search can be as addictive as the watching and collecting. So I encourage it.

Again - there are so many great films from the past and even more mind-blowing ones are being made now - so to list even a top 50 would be pointless.
Enjoy the hunt!
And if you don't have a decent projector: get one!

09-28-11 at 10:16 AM	#4
FirtY Elder Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eire Posts: 2,972	Oh I've seen loads over the years and couldn't actually think of one after reading your post... Typical :(.. This is a pretty good one, a bit bleak though... Code: Select All http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138704/

09-28-11 at 11:28 AM	#6
mis4nthropes Expert Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 556	It was an HBO movie, but "Sunset Limited" was fairly deep. It's based off a short 1 act play by cormac mccarthy and stars Tommy lee Jones as an atheist professor who tries to kill himself and Samuel L Jackson as a deeply religious man who rescues him. They pretty much argue in a kitchen for an hour about philosophy, religion, life, etc. It's extremely dark though, and Jones' character exponentially becomes more harsh through the film until the climax. So fair warning if you're sensitive about religion. I highly recommend it though. Code: Select All www.tehparadox.com/forum/f56/sunset-limited-2011-dvdrip-700mb-1link-3022598/ (i suppose coding links to this site is a little silly, but rules are rules :) edit* I second doliprane's recommendation. The Man From Earth is amazing. Last edited by mis4nthropes; 09-28-11 at 12:02 PM.

09-28-11 at 02:04 PM	#11
Robbyh Novice Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 135	Quote: Originally Posted by doliprane the man from earth Code: Select All http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756683/ One of the deepest. If you download anything . this is first choice !

09-28-11 at 06:06 PM	#14
cinesimon Novice Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 97	The latest English-speaking one is Tree Of Life by the genius Terrence Malick. Also look for his older ones: every film he has ever made is beautiful and very much oriented toward philosophy of life, aided by simply genius cinematography which plays as much a role as plot & character. Both Badlands and Days of Heaven, his first two features, have been lovingly restored and put to Bluray - now they're better than when they were first released in my opinion. Also Sergio Leone made some very profound films. Though mostly seen as a master storyteller and cinematography genius, I think is films are way more than just stories. If you're looking for deeply philosophical and cinematically profound films, with cinematography to blow your mind, look to Europe, and Russia. Russia is the homeland of life affecting films for me - their cinematography is uniformly brilliant, and their culture demands they question the meaning of life every day - so in general, their films are that way inclined. A short list of European films that come to mind: Andrei Tarchivsky - every cinephile's hero: Solaris(NOT the remake), Nostalghia, Ivan's Childhood, The Mirror, Stalker, Andrei Rublev... and more Aleksey Balabanov; Brother(1991), Cargo 200, Morfiy... and more Nikita Mikhalkov; '12', Urga, Burnt by the Sun, Barber of Siberia... and more Andrei Zvyagintsev The Return, The Banishment Italy has lots of greats - past and present, one contemporary director being Paolo Sorrentino - he has recently made two utterly mind blowing, hilarious, beautiful and profound films: The Consequences of Love, and The Family Friend. Denmark's Lars Von Truer - my favs being Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Antichrist, and his classic two season TV series The Kingdom - aka Riget. Demonlover is totally mind-blowing - by French great Olivier Assayas. TAXIDERMIA! HUCKLE! Wicked, twisted and brilliant little films. The above is not a 'favorites list, they're just what came to mind. As there are just too many films to list, I'l list a few directors whose films are worth checking out: Ingmar Bergman, Michael Haneke, Davids Lynch and Cronenberg, Jan Troell, Jean=Pierre Jeunet... there really are just too many - both directors and films. There are so many amazing films out there - Europe, especially old Eastern Europe, is pumping out some of the most amazing films I've ever seen. Really to find these, you have to find a film you like, look at the director's other work, look for listings that show similar films(such as IMDB's lists along the bottom), search review sites such as Twitch - eventually you'll find them yourself. Sorry if all that seems a little patronizing! But I've spent many years searching for great films, and have found the search can be as addictive as the watching and collecting. So I encourage it. Again - there are so many great films from the past and even more mind-blowing ones are being made now - so to list even a top 50 would be pointless. Enjoy the hunt! And if you don't have a decent projector: get one! Last edited by cinesimon; 09-28-11 at 07:20 PM.

09-28-11 at 10:07 AM	#2
ndemars18 d(-_-)b Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: d(-_-)b Posts: 1,609	there not really movie but you should check out something called Zeitgeist. I think there's 3 of them now. this'll definitely have you thinking

09-28-11 at 10:15 AM	#3
mrsol SϰιηϞϵλϠ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Britainia Posts: 343	I'd go for Fight Club & 2001:A Space Odyssey perhaps...

09-28-11 at 10:17 AM	#5
mrsol SϰιηϞϵλϠ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Britainia Posts: 343	yeah pretty much anything by Darren Aronofsky and occasionally David Fincher:L

09-28-11 at 12:16 PM	#7
bullinerfamily Apprentice Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 416	I would say Shutter Island, because it made me think one way through the whole movie and then surprised me at the end. The other one that was quite good was Inception.

09-28-11 at 12:27 PM	#8
FauxCat Newcomer Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 20	I would also vote for the man from earth. Hands down one of the best movies I have ever seen. Totally draws you in, just watch it.

09-28-11 at 12:30 PM	#9
wingomeza Expert Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dodger Town Posts: 961	12 monkeys....

09-28-11 at 01:03 PM	#10
raguabros Newcomer Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 7	Synecdoche, New York

09-28-11 at 04:43 PM	#12
CrashOv3r Newcomer Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 40	the 13th floor

09-28-11 at 05:52 PM	#13
carlmc1 Not Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England Posts: 2,029	Hmmm... 3 times The Man from Earth has now been mentioned. Downloading it now, it'd better good!