OT #1 - The Greatest Of Recent Time

Dandy

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I'll put in votes for The Martian and Revenant. Also Interstellar -- a great movie about relativity. Another great sci-fi movie is Arrival. It really makes you think.
We watched Arrival as my wife was like 7 months pregnant. That movie f***ed us up like would we go through this if we knew that outcome? (trying not to spoil the movie)
 

Sigmapolis

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This is a really high bar. I mean, The Godfather defines an entire genre of film. In the past five years I'd say none. And the last true classic released I can think of is probably all the way back to Pulp Fiction in '94.

I think all of your picks and everyone else's are great picks but I don't think Interstellar will hold up the way the aforementioned films do.

I just had an experience with this when I got my middle school aged son to watch The Outlaw Josey Wales with me. To my great surprise he watched the whole thing intently and loved it. Not sure what recent movies have that sort of gravitas?

I agree that is a high bar, but that is what I was going for here. Maybe it does not need to quite be The Godfather, but at least Bonnie and Clyde or something?

You would think there would be a handful of such films in the past five years, though, right?

I will defend Interstellar to the death. It would not be the first time a film got a "meh" on release yet its historical reputation grew by leaps and bounds over time.
 
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cyhiphopp

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This is a really high bar. I mean, The Godfather defines an entire genre of film. In the past five years I'd say none. And the last true classic released I can think of is probably all the way back to Pulp Fiction in '94.

I think all of your picks and everyone else's are great picks but I don't think Interstellar will hold up the way the aforementioned films do.

I just had an experience with this when I got my middle school aged son to watch The Outlaw Josey Wales with me. To my great surprise he watched the whole thing intently and loved it. Not sure what recent movies have that sort of gravitas?

I think Get Out really pushed the boundaries and went so far outside the box that it should stand out for quite some time.
 
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mdk2isu

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I was going to mention Inception but it came out in 2010 so it didn't fit the 5 year window from OP but oh well.

Inception was so good because it is a really good story that isn't another Hollywood re-write, re-boot or re-make. I love a good [fairly] original movie such as Get Out.

The OP said 5 or so. 5, 8 close enough. :p
 

weR138

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I agree that is a high bar, but that is what I was going for here. Maybe it does not need to quite be The Godfather, but at least Bonnie and Clyde or something?

You would think there would be a handful of such films in the past five years, though, right?

I will defend Interstellar to the death. It would not be the first time a film got a "meh" on release yet its historical reputation grew by leaps and bounds over time.

Lot's of outstanding movies have been mentioned, no doubt. I suppose I'm over-thinking it. I will say I think Get Out has the potential to be a future classic in the same way Fatal Attraction is sort of one? For me, personally, the OP really raises the question of what a classic movie is and is it possible to recognize it while it's young. Good OP!
 

srjclone

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For me:
Grand Budapest Hotel
Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
The Revenant
Mad Max: Fury Road
Arrival
honorable mentions: Moonlight and Sicario

For critics/hardcore movie fans:
Birdman
12 Years a Slave
Call Me By Your Name
Boyhood
Manchester by the Sea
 
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Cyclonepride

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Just went through the IMDB's top 200 over the last 5 years, and couldn't find any that just struck me as a "classic". Lots of decent movies, just no classics (in my mind). The older I get though, the harder I am to impress. That's probably not fair, as what I consider to be classics now didn't have as high a bar.
 
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ImJustKCClone

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I'm gonna keep putting this up until more people see it.:D

Beasts of No Nations

This may sound silly...but I'm not sure I can watch it. Some movies are just too disturbing. Then again, I made it through Schindler's list. But this is kids, man...CHILDREN...
 

srjclone

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This may sound silly...but I'm not sure I can watch it. Some movies are just too disturbing. Then again, I made it through Schindler's list. But this is kids, man...CHILDREN...
Totally understandable, and I was hesitant at first. The first major scene doesn't help calm any of those worries, either. But, I will say this. It is an amazing look into how a "dictator" of rebel children armies like that are able to manipulate them into feeling this is their purpose. The character arc of Abu, the main child in the movie, is one of the most intense/impressive I've watched, and tbh it is needed for you to truly understand the seriousness of these situations that are happening all over Africa right now.

It's a heavy watch, but I wasn't able to turn away once it got going which is what, i think, makes a great movie. Being able to make you interested in topics you wouldn't necessarily think about or want to think about. Much like why people love murder mystery documentaries, it brings to light just how insane some people can be, and most people can't truly understand/believe it in most cases. or don't want to.

But I digress.

I'm a sucker for a good show/film that has superb child acting, and this one takes the cake in recent memory. Also, Idris Alba is just awesome in anything he does.
 

ImJustKCClone

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Totally understandable, and I was hesitant at first. The first major scene doesn't help calm any of those worries, either. But, I will say this. It is an amazing look into how a "dictator" of rebel children armies like that are able to manipulate them into feeling this is their purpose. The character arc of Abu, the main child in the movie, is one of the most intense/impressive I've watched, and tbh it is needed for you to truly understand the seriousness of these situations that are happening all over Africa right now.

It's a heavy watch, but I wasn't able to turn away once it got going which is what, i think, makes a great movie. Being able to make you interested in topics you wouldn't necessarily think about or want to think about. Much like why people love murder mystery documentaries, it brings to light just how insane some people can be, and most people can't truly understand/believe it in most cases. or don't want to.

But I digress.

I'm a sucker for a good show/film that has superb child acting, and this one takes the cake in recent memory. Also, Idris Alba is just awesome in anything he does.
I agree about Idris Elba. I will probably watch it eventually. I just have to psych myself up for some really dark themes. It will probably make my heart ache. And I will blame you. :)
 

srjclone

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I agree about Idris Elba. I will probably watch it eventually. I just have to psych myself up for some really dark themes. It will probably make my heart ache. And I will blame you. :)
Oh it'll make you hate the world we live in, in some situations. But it's not all death, doom and gloom I promise haha
 

Dandy

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The entire WWE films “Marine” series.
Will-Smith-Get-Out.gif
 

CyclonePigskin

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I liked many of the movies mentioned so far, but I wouldn’t think many have the lasting appeal of The Godfather, Casablanca or Josey Wales. The last five years may not have any that meet that standard.

I agree that La La Land might, because of what it is and because it is very good. But it would be in the musical, dance rom-com genere, not as one of the greatest movies of all time, all categories.

I agree with Mad Max: Fury Road because it’s good in and of itself and part of a cult series. But again, not an all-time, all-categories inclusion.

I think The Post might have some staying power in tandem with All the President’s Men, particularly because of its unique perspective, being about a woman business owner’s existential crisis. Very good movie, but not a seminal one.

I think BlacKkKlansman is a great movie, but very tough to watch or enjoy. It should survive as perhaps the greatest movie made by one of our era’s most insightful film makers, or as one of the greatest true story cop movies. But because of its focus on racism and institutionalized racism, it won’t reach a very big general audience. So it can’t make the all-time, all categories cut for most.
 

WhatchaGonnaDo

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Ditto on Revenant, Fury Road, Get Out, Martian

I will add Room. Such an incredibly well-made movie considering the limitations of filming a movie where the only real setting is a single, very small room. Also, Brie Larson was absolutely brilliant.
 

srjclone

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I liked many of the movies mentioned so far, but I wouldn’t think many have the lasting appeal of The Godfather, Casablanca or Josey Wales. The last five years may not have any that meet that standard.

I agree that La La Land might, because of what it is and because it is very good. But it would be in the musical, dance rom-com genere, not as one of the greatest movies of all time, all categories.

I agree with Mad Max: Fury Road because it’s good in and of itself and part of a cult series. But again, not an all-time, all-categories inclusion.

I think The Post might have some staying power in tandem with All the President’s Men, particularly because of its unique perspective, being about a woman business owner’s existential crisis. Very good movie, but not a seminal one.

I think BlacKkKlansman is a great movie, but very tough to watch or enjoy. It should survive as perhaps the greatest movie made by one of our era’s most insightful film makers, or as one of the greatest true story cop movies. But because of its focus on racism and institutionalized racism, it won’t reach a very big general audience. So it can’t make the all-time, all categories cut for most.
IMO Spotlight was better than The Post.
 

Sigmapolis

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Unpopular opinions on a few these of mine --

La La Land and its setting and themes (the two kids trying to make it in show biz in mean ole LA) is too navel-gazing and self-referential to the movie business to have a lasting appeal to a broad audience. Casablanca sticks because we have all loved and lost and sometimes had to sacrifice our feelings for others. The Godfather sticks because it is a familial drama, classic tragedy, and story of American capitalism that will always remain relevant.

I am not sure La La Land has those things that will bite forever and widely.

The musical died in the 1960s. Please stay dead.

I am about as big of a nerd you will ever find for high-concept, contemplative science fiction that does not rely on special effects (ST: TMP was good!), but Arrival just did not do anything for me. I love Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, I have enjoyed other Villeneuve films like Sicario and liked most parts of his Blade Runner sequel, but this one just did not land for me. You learn the aliens' language and... you can see the future? Umm, what?

That one did not compute in my little mammal brain.

Something else I am noticing --

Nobody is choosing animated films. In the recent past, I would have absolutely put stuff like The Incredibles, Up, Monsters Inc., the Toy Story series, and Finding Nemo on this list (wow, Pixar was really great back in the day), but not so much anymore.

If somebody says Frozen, they need to quit this game.
 

NWICY

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This is a really high bar. I mean, The Godfather defines an entire genre of film. In the past five years I'd say none. And the last true classic released I can think of is probably all the way back to Pulp Fiction in '94.

I think all of your picks and everyone else's are great picks but I don't think Interstellar will hold up the way the aforementioned films do.

I just had an experience with this when I got my middle school aged son to watch The Outlaw Josey Wales with me. To my great surprise he watched the whole thing intently and loved it. Not sure what recent movies have that sort of gravitas?

Another good movie similar to Josey Wales is the life and times of Tom Horn (I hope i'm remembering the title right) sad ending though.