aLOUD:

Movie Magic

Hitchcock: Notorious
One of many great pieces. This one seems a pointedly composed visually, like a set of moving silver-dipped photos - though many other Hitchcock films work better storywise. I love him, in part, because of his masterful audience manipulation; believe this is one of his most important contributions to moviemaking, eh, baby Spielberg?
Krzysztof Kieslowski: Blue (Three Colors Trilogy)
A fav til I die; elemental economy yielding everything
John Sayles: Brother From Another Planet
Watched this one very young and was blown away by the metaphors, the silence(s), creative vision; John Sayles continues to astound & inspire!
Ridley Scott: Blade Runner (The Director's Cut)
Not too familiar with this cut directly. Enjoyed this far more than Star Wars, of which George Lucas may be my favorite piece... Anyhoo, this blew me away, and continues to, each time I screen it. Futuristic, dark, cerebral, moody & character-focused :-)
David Mamet: House of Games
Mamet brings Hitchcock to the street & I love it! Plays with the language in a way I'd not heard from Hollywood/ moviemaking before that still catches my ear particularly.
Paul Verhoeven: Total Recall
A smart, fun blockbuster Hooray! [Hmph, I didn't note clearly PV was the ringleader here, good to know]
Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing
Cinematic mural of characters dancing race & gender one hot New York summer day. Work it, my brother!
Peter Greenaway: The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover
Distinctly remember working on my (film) grant one hot Berkeley summer day, then sneaking off to see this racy movie only to be blown away by Smelling film (whoa!) and that kitchen, oh that kitchen...
Pedro Almodóvar: Talk to Her (Hable con Ella)
Perhaps my favorite film of his (yet). Though he's definitely one of my World Idols ;-) Colorific, poignant, far fetched yet accessible, familiar dramedies that move us with curious visuals, story shifts, and everyday people.
Steven Soderbergh: Traffic
Steve is one of those that keeps me excited and not so jaded about the possibilities of American, even Hollywood, filmmaking - bravo and thanks to him!!
Deathtrap
Talkin' twists! I believe we have four primary ones before the credits roll