Autoganz t1_ix6m69c wrote
To be fair, 8 1/2 is a very particular film with some high concepts and isn’t really a film with mainstream appeal. It’s also black and white AND in Italian, so you might have to work your way up to something like that.
For black and white films to start with, here are some which might be easier to watch because of their near-universal appeal:
Citizen Kane (1941)
Night of the Hunter (1955)
12 Angry Men (1957)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Psycho (1960)
Repulsion (1965)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
The Elephant Man (1980)
or my all-time favorite: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
As for me: no movie is too old. That includes stuff like the 1902 classic “A Trip to the Moon.” Old IS gold. I’m 38, btw.
mikeyfreshh t1_ix6mnyr wrote
Great list. I'll add a few
Dr Strangelove
High and Low
The Third Man
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Autoganz t1_ix6njex wrote
See, most of those I thought about, but I feel those are slightly tougher for people new to black and white films because of their pacing. I kinda think Night of the Hunter straddles the line slightly, and was iffy about including it. These are all great.
High and Low is actually my second fave. Such an intense film. The way Kurosawa blocks the characters into frame is incredible.
mikeyfreshh t1_ix6o9r4 wrote
High and Low is probably my favorite Kurosawa movie (Throne of Blood is a pretty close second) and I think it's also probably his most accessible movie for modern audiences. I think it was influential enough that it should feel familiar to anyone who likes Fincher or Bong Joon Ho. Plus OP mentioned trying to get into 8 1/2 so I felt like I should include a foreign language pic.
BEE_REAL_ t1_ix6vknj wrote
> I kinda think Night of the Hunter straddles the line slightly
Night of the Hunter in my experience provokes reactions split 50/50 between "wow that was incredible I loved everything" and "that was really weird but it was neat I guess"
tinoynk t1_ix6mpw5 wrote
Repulsion might be a bit much for someone just starting to casually getting into movies but the rest are great choices.
I’d also throw in Touch of Evil.
BEE_REAL_ t1_ix6vl8m wrote
> That includes stuff like the 1902 classic “A Trip to the Moon.”
Which ironically is available in color!
Autoganz t1_ix6y809 wrote
True!
And it’s also a short watch.
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