[padjo]

That list has Avatar and La La Land on it. It’s definitely not elitist!

There’s some real gems on lists like this but some of the older stuff would definitely be a slog for most people and would probably need to be put into context to make sense.

Recently I’ve engaged in a practice of just hitting play on any old movie on Prime with at least an actor or director or even studio I’ve heard of. Essentially any film from the 40s to the 00s that had a budget and was remembered enough to make it to Prime. It’s been quite rewarding, all sorts of hidden gems out there even from the 70s through 90s. Even the mediocre stuff from then is often more nuanced and creative than a lot what you get today.

[JKCalhoun]

> would probably need to be put into context to make sense

You're right. The book ("1001 Movies to See Before You Die") gives that context. I was surprised though that, as I went through them — slogging even, as you say, at times — in time I started to develop perhaps a new way of looking at film. And then slowly I found I was "slogging" a lot less. I began even thinking a bit more fondly back on the films I had seen earlier on that had been more of struggle for me to watch.

[whilenot-dev]

> with at least an actor or director or even studio I’ve heard of

I think that's the gist: anything goes, and maybe start with 3 of anything!

...based on genre (Comedy): Tampopo (1985), Matchstick Men (2003), Force Majeure (2014)

...based on subgenre (Heist): The Killing (1956), Thief (1981), Sexy Beast (2001)

...based on director (Kelly Reichardt): Old Joy (2006), First Cow (2019), Showing Up (2022)

...based on production studio (Studio Ghibli): Only Yesterday (1991), Porco Rosso (1992), The Wind Rises (2013)

...based on location (Vienna, AT): The Third Man (1949), Bad Timing (1980), Before Sunrise (1995)

...based on interest (Desires): Deep End (1970), Exotica (1994), Ghost World (2001)

...based on language (French): L'Année dernière à Marienbad (1961), Un homme qui dort (1974), Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (2019)

...based on movement (Czech New Wave): The Sun in a Net (1963), Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970), Morgiana (1972)

etc.

[JKCalhoun]

> based on subgenre (Heist):

If you have not seen the OG "Topkapi (1964)" you missed a real gem.