Re: David Cronenberg
 

Dead Ringers but there are a lot of great films on that poll.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Hard to choose. Haven't seen a few of them, and haven't seen several in years, but for now I choose The Fly.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Voted Dead Ringers. Surprised to see no love for Naked Lunch -- which comes in as a close second for me.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Jason X

Re: David Cronenberg
 

The Fly - I think it's a flawless horror film and one of the best remakes ever.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Just the opposite for me... Naked Lunch followed very closely by Dead Ringers.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Tough choice for me, as I like a lot of his films but don't really love any of them. It came down to Spider and A History of Violence, and I went with the latter.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Videodrome. This movie terrified me as a kid, and I barely understood it really. When I saw it again 20 years later on DVD, having not seen it for a long time, not only was I still terrified, I *got* it, and it terrified me even more. Unearthly brilliant movie.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

I went with Videodrome, though I was leaning toward Naked Lunch. I haven't found one I don't love yet. I need to rewatch Spider, though. It didn't grow on me the first time.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

From a basic, storytelling perspective, of course you're right; that was the main purpose the son served: to provide additional motivation for the primary character. Same with the wife, really. The changes in the family (for the most part) I thought felt organic and natural.

But then, as I've indicated countless times throughout my life, I'm woefully behind seeing the "great" films and while I fancy myself a critical thinker in general, I'm fairly easily satisfied with movies. My taste isn't terribly eclectic or evolved. Maybe I just haven't seen enough of the "good stuff."

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Dead Ringers, followed closely by The Fly

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Videodrome

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Love Videodrome and Scanners, but The Fly would be my favorite.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

It's not his best movie, but I love Scanners, so that's my vote.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

The Brood. I still get creeped out when I see toddlers with the hoods on their jackets pulled up.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Rabid Awesome movie.

"One minute you're normal, the next RABID!"

Re: David Cronenberg
 

^ What do you mean by "getting it"? I saw it for the first time last year and found it genuinely creepy, but I don't know what there was to "get." The movie intrigued me though, so I would love to learn more.


I voted for The Fly, but I love all of his stuff. Naked Lunch is pretty good when you consider how fucked up the source material was, and The Dead Zone is quite underrated IMO.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Way too many great films here for me to pick a clear favorite. Cronenberg is one of the most unique and creative directors working today.

Edit: Also, he's not a bad actor either. :up:

Re: David Cronenberg
 

I've seen History of Violence, Spider (fell asleep), Dead Ringers, The Fly, and Eastern Promises. Violence is my favorite.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

I love bizarre movies...:thumbsup: -kd5-

Re: David Cronenberg
 

What, no Fast Company?! For SHAME! rotfl
Actually, I really considered Dead Ringers and The Fly, but had to finally go with Videodrome. It's the movie that really says everything there needs to be said about Cronenberg's vision and style, and it's as creepy as sci-fi gets.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Re: David Cronenberg
 

The Fly
The Dead Zone
eXistenZ

These are the only films of his I like, in that order.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

eXistenZ is a masterpiece. This list is tough, it's hard to pick one, but I picked eXistenZ so that more people will check it out. With all the hype about Inception right now, I highly recomend existenz. Great film

Re: David Cronenberg
 

A History Violence

also love Naked Lunch, Eastern Promises, Videodrome, the Fly, Dead Ringers...... most of his films. I even liked Crash.

David Cronenberg is one of my most watched directors from my collection.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Slight Spoiler for another movie...



... I remember seeing To Die For opening night and realizing Nicole Kidman's character's fate was sealed when he was the man who stopped her car at the end. That was probably the best wink to film buffs I've ever seen. :)

Re: David Cronenberg
 

It's definitely an underappreciated film. While not his best, I'm surprised that it doesn't have a bigger following.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Re: David Cronenberg
 

was easily my favorite of the scifi / "computer world" movies to come out that year.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Oh, I love eXistenZ! It's a great movie that I think should have been more popular, as mentioned.

The thing about Cronenberg more than any other director is his movies get under your skin. They can be creepy, but it's more than that. Like Dead Ringers, for example. If it was on cable I had to watch it, I couldn't turn it off and I thought about long after my first viewing. It was disturbing and twisted like most of his movies, but still accessible...unlike Kubrick (for me).

My favorite movie of his though is The Fly. Seriously, what a messed up ending to a perfect gross out movie. I stll get chills when Jeff Goldblum arm wrestles that dude at the diner!

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Went with 'Spider'. Thought this was terrific. I do love most of his work, but think 'Spider' is more succinct than some of his other films.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

I really loved A Dangerous Method. Cronenberg just keeps delivering. He is incredibly consistent and continues to improve on his craft. A very deft filmmaker indeed.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

I don't see all of the his film except for one film I saw in A History of Violence and so I like it :thumbsup:

Re: David Cronenberg
 

Re: David Cronenberg
 

I own all of his films and he is one of my favorite directors.
This is a tough one but I will have to go with Dead Ringers.

Re: David Cronenberg
 

I can't pick a favorite from that list. I love nearly all of them. His films, even if they don't totally work at times, are never less than utterly fascinating. And immensly well made. So here's my 5 favorite from that list:


The Fly
Dead Ringers
Videodrome
eXistenZ
A History of Violence

And I agree...eXistenZ is magnificent and works on every level. Jennifer Jason Leigh has also never been prettier and rarely better.

Honorable mention to Scanners which Cronenberg has said was a super bitch to make.

Best Cronenberg Movies Ranked
 

Hi All,

David Cronenberg. Some of his movies I love. Some of his movies I hate. Here's rankings for the ones that I have viewed...

1. The Brood - My hands down favorite. The opening scene is especially powerful, as the villains or antagonists aren't whom you would expect. I also love the setting. It was filmed in Canada and the school always reminds me of the one I went to as a kid...A little nostalgic...And the snowsuits and whatnot are very much of the period that the film was made...Very twisted movie, with some great effects...And you can read into this movie all sorts of ways...I've read various analyses of the movie and they're all rather interesting...

2. The Fly - Took a little bit of time for this movie to grow on me, but I always loved Goldblum's performance (and Geena Davis's, for that matter). Very grotesque at times, but a really great adaptation of the original, that really takes the whole transformation several steps further, with the help of more modern day special effects (many of which still hold up quite well today)...Again, I also loved the Toronto setting...Geena Davis's apartment is so '80s and it feels like you're in a time warp seeing it...

3. Scanners - He was on a roll when he did this and The Brood in the span of two years. Featuring one of the greatest, most disgusting character deaths ever...A little cheesy at times, but Cronenberg really gives it his all and makes you buy into the plot...I really enjoy watching this every couple of years (always as a double-feature with The Brood)...

4. The Dead Zone - Christopher Walked has done many, many great things (The Deer Hunter, King of New York, etc.), and this is one of those. Great work...And Martin Sheen is great as the villain...A really sad movie at times, and Walken does a lot of his best acting just with his eyes...A great Stephen King adaptation that I hope is never ever remade (as a movie, at least; I know they had that TV show for a while...)....

5. Eastern Promises - Was shocked at how good this was, as I absolutely hated his previous movie, A History of Violence (I don't hate it as much now, but it still has way too many plot holes for me to ever truly enjoy it)...Viggo was great and scary as the Russian gangster...And Naomi Watts was (as usual) at top-form...Also loved Vincent Cassel as one of the villains...Really great location shooting in London...Lots of violence...And the dialogue the main villain gives (can't quite remember his name...Armin-Mueller Stahl??? Or something like that) in one certain scene with Naomi Watts is just mind-blowing...One of Cronenberg's most mature movies...

6. Videodrome - Another Cronenberg movie that took probably three viewings before I actually started to really like it. Love Deborah Harry (I'm a huge Blondie fan) and James Woods is usually great (think Cop, Vampires, Indictment: The McMartin Trial, and Casino)...Really bizarre, messed up movie that I've grown enormously fond of, over time...Like most of Cronenberg's movies, this one really makes you think, and there have been all sorts of interpretations as per what Cronenberg was trying to get across...That's one of the main reasons I'm a giant Cronenberg fan...Even when I watch a movie of his I don't like, it still usually makes me think, and triggers discussions with friends afterwards...For each of the movies listed here, I'm sure I have a friend that feels the complete opposite of how I feel...So it's nice that his movies generate those sorts of discussions...

7. Maps to the Stars - One of his most recent. Julianne Moore was on the top of her game in this one...Really great movie that I need to watch a few more times...

8. Rabid - I enjoy this, don't get me wrong. The scene in the mall with Santa Claus is hilarious and horrifying all at the same time...Movie feels sooooo '70s...People smoking in the mall and whatnot...Very much of its era...Marilyn Chambers is good...Not one of my favorite Cronenbergs, but it's pretty good...

9. A Dangerous Method - Was surprised he did this movie; figured it would've suited another type of director. That said, I was pleasantly surprised...Best part was the acting by Viggo and Fassbender...As Freud and Jung, they were phenomenal...Felt like a James Ivory movie...only good and not melodramatic and boring...I think a lot of people probably avoided this and really need to give it a chance...It was very well done...

10. A History of Violence - Okay, her's where things change. I don't like this movie. I think it's okay, but I don't like it. The plot just feels extremely, extremely contrived (especially the parallel plot with the son...that plot line just makes me want to throw up when I think of how stupid and cliche it is)...I was really surprised this was so acclaimed when it came out, as I saw it in the theatres and again, was pretty pissed off with it the entire time...I'll admit the performances are pretty good, but the plot makes absolutely no sense when you actually think about it...The only, only saving graces, in my mind, are (A) the love scene between Viggo and Maria Bello...was very passionate and seemed very real, and (B) William Hurt's return to the screen...I know he never really left, but it had been a while since he had a big role like this...He did a great job, even though, as I said, the movie just really didn't work for me...Maybe it worked as the Graphic Novel it was based on, but as a movie it was stupid...(I have to admit that Ed Harris was also pretty decent)...

11. eXistenZ - I see what he was trying to do, and maybe this would've been better had he made it several years later, when special effects probably could've done this movie a better service...That said, there's very little in this movie that keeps me involved...

12. Naked Lunch - Yes, I've read the book. I applaud Cronenberg for at least attempting to adapt it to film, but it really didn't work for me...I'd compare this to Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which I felt was a stronger theatrical adaptation for such bizarre source material...Again, I like that Cronenberg tried, and I don't know how you'd improve on his version, but this movie left me cold...And I'm pretty sure if you never read the book, you'd just be staring at the screen muttering "What the F***K?" for the entire duration...

13. Dead Ringers - Another movie that really splits audiences. I'm on the side that did not like it. I can appreciate Jeremy Irons' dual performance, but the movie left me cold. Didn't care for the plot...Not sure what the point of it was...But again, it's the type of movie I want to watch again because I want to figure exactly why I didn't like it...And why others really do like it...

14. Cosmopolis - Oh my god. Just bad. Horrible. Robert Pattinson at his worst. I know he's actually done some good stuff, like The Rover and Good Time, but when he's bad, he's bad. And I totally get why he wanted to work with Cronenberg, as a lot of actors do (he was actually really good in Cronenberg's Maps to the Stars), but I wished he had read the script for this one before signing up. Nonsensical plot twists abound...No real characters to relate to or like...Just nothing interesting in this movie, aside from complaining about how bad it is...

15. Spider - Worst Cronenberg film I've ever seen. The only...slightly positive...thing I can say about this movie is Ralph Fiennes was pretty good as a schizophrenic...I can't argue with his performance...But if you want to see an actual good movie about schizophrenia, watch Clean, Shaven...Now that's a good movie...

Anyway, that's all I got...One of the more notable Cronenberg movies I didn't rank is Shivers, as it still hasn't received a proper Region A release...I still look forward to that one...I also didn't rank Stereo or Crimes of the Future, as I still haven't watched those, even though they are extras on some Blu-Ray releases...I also still need to watch Fast Company, which is a movie I've owned for like a decade, but from what I've heard it doesn't even feel like a Cronenberg movie...It's more of a movie he just made because apparently he is slightly obsessed with race cars and wanted to make a movie about them...

Anyway, feel free to reply with your thoughts...

Thanks

Re: Best Cronenberg Movies Ranked
 

I'm a huge Cronenberg fan, and though I don't feel I can rank his films fairly (since I like most of them, in some cases equally), here's my brief review of many of them:

Shivers: Fantastic film, and very creepy. Definitely up there as one of my favorite Cronenberg movie even though the effects were crude - due to this being a low-budget '70's movie. Unfortunately, Shivers is unavailable these days on home video. The DVD has been OOP for years. I ended up streaming this a while back, and the print wasn't that great - but it was better than nothing.

The Brood (1979): Great film about our unconcious fears/issues taking physical shape(s) - the little baby?! creatures were well-done for a low-budget film.'

Rabid (1977): Truly horrific film that really plays into the fears many of us have of a plague/virus running rampant in society. Extremely well-done.

Scanners (1981): Hard film for me to watch, but very well done. The Exploding head imagery was something I knew about re: this film years before I actually saw this.

Videodrome (1983): Bizzarre movie; the organic gun/arm was disturbing & grotesque.

The Dead Zone (1983): Wow, what an incredible film - Christopher Walken was excellent in this, and the script was very true to the novel; like De Palma's Carrie, this is another example of a film that truly does the original Stephen King book justice.

Side-note: After re-watching several of the above films back to back, I noted that The Brood, Rabid, and The Dead Zone were all filmed & set during the dead of winter - whether or not this was coincidental or intentional, IMHO this aspect (snow, ice, cold, etc.) added to the starkness of the films.

The Fly (1986): Stomach-turning & brilliant, and quite possibly Jeff Goldblum's best film; IMHO this film is a great example of a re-make out-shining the original. That being said, the fly transformation is probably one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen in a movie.

Dead Ringers (1988): One of the most disturbing of Cronenberg's film. Jeremy Irons is to be commended for making me believe he was two different people - brilliant.

Naked Lunch (1991): Very messed-up (in a good way) film. I can't imagine any filmmaker other than DC even attempting to make this.

M. Butterfly (1993): Well-done film, and I didn't see the ending coming at all.

Crash (1996): Truly horrific; prior to seeing this, I never thought that celebrating?! car crashes & injuries would ever be the subject of a film, but leave it to Cronenberg to make this! I only saw once & will probably never see again. That being said, Holly Hunter & James Spader were great in this.

eXistenz (1999): The first time I saw this, I hadn't seen many of Cronenberg's films at that point and I was dissapointed; because of the video-game/virtual reality angle, I was expecting a CGI-heavy effects-laden film, and this wasn't like that at all. The second time I saw this, I had by then seen more of Cronenberg's earlier films, and really appreciated eXistenz - it was very clever & well-done, and had some obvious?! homages to Videodrome.

Spider (2002): Excellent film that really created an uneasy/unnerving atmosphere; the ending was shocking for me (the first time I saw this).

A History of Violence (2005): Very flawed film. I wish I hadn't read the graphic novel this film was based on before seeing the movie; Viggo M. was great in this, but I felt that Bill Hurt was mis-cast as the vicious gangster; the graphic novel went a lot more into the past of the Viggo character and why he had to leave the city (Chicago?!) and start over again in a small town.

Eastern Promises (2007): Extremely violent gangster drama with a different twist; I liked the England setting & the Russian mafia angle, which set this apart from other gangster films. IMHO possibly Viggo M.'s best role.

A Dangerous Method (2011) - simply amazing. Both brilliant & extremely disturbing at the same time, this was classic Cronenberg. I especially liked the last 5 or so minutes when Jung & Sabina had that brief conversation by the river, and then the film closed with the last shot of Jung just sitting there staring off into space.....very well-done. The final text/blurbs explaining what happened to everyone were also disturbing, especially the final fates of Otto Gross & Sabina.

Cosmpolis (2012?!): Cosmopolis is easily Cronenberg's worst film - I just wasn't that interested in seeing a rich guy travel around in a limo for most of the film. Somewhat dull, IMHO.

Maps to the Stars: Brilliant movie - very well-done condemnation of Hollywood & how it can really corrupt people - especially the young. And, extremely disturbing/sickening at times as well - i.e., classic Cronenberg.

Side-note: Also enjoyed DC's role in Clive Barker's Nightbreed (1990), which was another great, underrated horror movie.

Re: Best Cronenberg Movies Ranked
 

1. The Dead Zone (still waiting on BD release)


not a fan of anything else