Confusing films?
 

Hi, I know this has proably been covered at least briefly before but I wanna start it up. I have recently been watching some art films for a film class I am taking, and while I enjoyed them, I found them somewhat confusing and in need of repeat viewings. Also, I recently remeber abuddy of mine saying he thought Donnie Darko was really confusing, however when I saw it I dont recall finding it that confusing.

SO, Im wondering what you guys think are some of the most confusing, ambiguous, in need of repeat viewing, mindscrew films. Actually I dont want to limit this to just films, tv shows are good too. Some Anime comes to mind such as Lain. Anyways, lemmie know what you think, thanks

Mulholland Drive was a bit of a challange.

Momento

*insert sarcastic know-it-all spelling correction*

*insert sarcastic know-it-all spelling correction*

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “Art” movies, but some movies that reveal additional meaning on multiple viewings…

Eraserhead
2001 A Space Odyssey
Images
3 Women
Picnic At Hanging Rock
Magnolia
Solaris
Persona
The Passenger

It might help if you posted some of the titles you've discussed in class.

Bravo! Thank you, sarcastic know-it-all spelling police, for showing me the error of my ways. :lol:

Just kidding. Sorry about the typo.

Just don't let it happen again! I'll be watching.

Yeah,Moementoe was pretty confusing. :)

I still can't figure out Polp Factian!

I had even more trouble with <b>Pope Friction</b>.

Almost all of David Lynch's films, but especially Lost Highway.
Bonus: Accused murderer Robert Blake in white pancake makeup!

I haven't seen it in years, but I was always confused by the ending of Cruising

well, in terms of art films I mean some terms we looked at for a definition are that it relies upon pyscological causation, less concerned with action than reaction, and they consider ambiguity a dominant principle of intelligability. Some art films we've looked at are wild strawberries, shoot the piano player, and 8 1/2. Im not saying that these are all very confusing, but they are very different for sure than the classic hollywood narrative.

I think once you get past movies that are produced solely for entertainment purposes, so called <i>pop corn</i> flicks, you enter the realm of film as art. These are movies that in some way attempt to explore the various facets of the human condition; they encourage reflection, analysis, and interpretation.

Some of these employ conventional narrative techniques but burry meaning, symbolism, or metaphor beneath the surface. I would put 8 ½, The Passenger, and 2001 in this category. The stories are easy enough to follow; most people agree on the major plot points, but how one interprets the sub-text varies.

Other movies, like Eraserhead, stray from conventional story telling in terms of narrative, images, sound, editing, or use other abstract techniques to disorient the viewer. Like a Rorschach test, people often disagree even on the most basic elements.

Regardless of the path the filmmaker chooses I think the common element that differentiates film as art from movies as entertainment is intent—is the director striving to tell us something about ourselves or content to spin a good yarn?

BLOOD OF A POET
THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE
EYES WIDE SHUT
THE TRIAL
NAKED LUNCH
BEGOTTEN
HOLY MOUNTAIN
VIDEODROME
DEMENTIA / DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS

momentum?


fallowing
reckweeum for a dream
in the mouth of madness

and

THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH

Dude, Where's My Car completely rocked my face, yo. The Continuum Transfunctioner bit was tough to deal with. I'm hoping the sequel will help flesh out the plot for the original.

damn. i love dude, where's my car?

off to watch.

anyone else?

Lost Highaway
Mullholand Dr.

:confused:

pi doesn't make much sense to me.

Some people can't understand Donnie Darko and Fight Club.

Or, as all of you in this thread would say,

Donny Darko
Fite Club

I never been done confused by any movie. (oh yeah. Spelling is the joke, not grammar.)

(Seriously, though. They're movies. If we don't get 'em, then we don't.)

Was that the one with Curly or Shemp?