Hola,
I just re-watched the first Transformers movie and now find myself completely overwhelmed and kind of craving something with a bit more of a soft touch. I know that my question is something of a corollary of Films to Study for Excellence in Sound Design, but either I've seen them, or they look to have a bit too much of a WOW factor for what I'm interested in focusing on for the time being.
I've recently started a self-directed course of study in sound design where I'm actually stopping, taking notes, and re-watching sections until I figure out what's happening in the sound; of which Transformers was the first. It was quite the job too. It's one of those hypnotic flicks where you tend to drift off into space somewhere in the middle and get jolted back in for the final epic fight-battle-save-the-world. Very difficult to keep track of what's going on.
Anyway, I have put together something of a list for myself, but I thought I'd solicit some recommendations from you fine folks.
What I'm looking for are kind of 'anti-sound' movies, if you take my meaning. Very much along the lines of a No Country for Old Men or There Will be Blood. Basically, no guns, no explosions, no car chases, no laser weapons or force shields. Nothing big and nothing BLAOW!
Please don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore that stuff and always find myself amazed at the innate ability that some guys/gals have for making amazing sounding things. But I currently have a desire for fragility, subtlety, and quiet. I'm finding myself more and more fascinated with texture and composition and the subtext that a well-placed gust of wind can carry into a scene.
That's the stuff that I want to learn how to do. Motion without moving, push without shove, air without wind, and various other poetical sounding near-clichés.
Any non-North American and non-English movies you can think of would be most welcome as well. Reading subtitles is to me the perfect marriage of my three favourite things in the world, words, pictures, and sounds. I saw an amazing flick from Thailand a couple of years ago and am saddened by the fact that I can't remember its title, I'd love to see more.
Here are a few from my list.
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Solaris (The Soderbergh version, though I do intend to see the original)
- Three Colours Trilogy and the Decalogue (two series by the same director)
- Amelie
- Delicatessen
I suppose if I wanted to be terribly pretentious I could say that I'm looking for Films not movies, but I won't even get into that one, : ).
Thanks Kindly
EDIT:
You guys are awesome, keep 'em comin'. More = merrier.