Lonely Director’s Club Sandwich

All day long I’ve looked forward to reblogging my answers to Lonely Sandwich’s director challenge, originally posted by bullshit.

And now my moment is here. As it is difficult to choose one favorite film from some of these directors, I made myself imagine the infamous desert island scenario where I could only take one DVD from each auteur’s oeuvre to watch from here to eternity. What scene would I not be able to live without revisiting? What lines do I want to hear again and again over the crashing of the surf and the seagulls' squawking calls?

Here is the set-up:

"It’s not strange to disagree about movies that are wildly different, and there are surely a few random movies that are very polarizing. What I find most interesting is which movie people consider the best movie from a particular director, as it is usually very telling and polarizing in a different way, so to this point I will propose a new personality test where you reblog your favorite movie from each of these directors:"

And here are my answers:

1. Joel Coen: The Hudsucker Proxy
First viewing: Sorely disappointed. Second viewing: Begrudging appreciation. Third viewing: OMFG, how did I not realize this was a comedy masterpiece?! "You know, for kids!"

2. Wes Anderson: The Royal Tennenbaums
I heartily heart all of Wes Anderson's films. If I could live in any director's made-up world, it would be his. But this film grows more sublime with every viewing. It's got all of WA's preciously wrought art direction along with a true, sweet heart. And the soundtrack, good grief.

3. Hal Ashby: Harold and Maude
One of the finest celebrations of oddity on celluloid.

4. Kevin Smith: Clerks
The kid had moxie.

5. Quentin Tarantino: Pulp Fiction
This is one of those movies that broke an ice shelf loose in my cinematic world.

6. Stanley Kubrick: Dr. Strangelove
Breathtakingly smart and mercilessly funny.

7. P.T. Anderson: Punch-Drunk Love
A beautiful tone poem of anxiety.

8. Errol Morris: The Thin Blue Line
Single-handedly changed my mind about the death penalty.