"Chinatown"
Robert Towne, he wrote the Academy Award-winning original screenplay for Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974), which is widely considered one of the greatest screenplays.
Well whereas the original Back to the Future may have you asking a few questions after it’s over and you think about it, Endgame will have you scratching your head while you’re watching it, because a lot of stuff doesn’t make sense, and makes less sense when you think about it afterward. Definitely a film where time travel should not have been used as solution to the problem.
October is inventory time. So right now, Statler Toyota is making the best deals of the year on all 1985 model Toyotas. You won't find a better car with a better price with better service anywhere in Hill Valley...
Predator definitely after watching it again in cinema last month one of my first thoughts was about older movies like this, no pointless romances, no unnecessary backstory for the characters, just straight to it
Of for sure. I saw it in the theater when it released and was gripping my seat and never thought about how over the top it is. Just went for the ride. I still adore it though and recommend for anyone who wants kick ass action.
The intro (after the trunk scene) grabs you immediately: "Ever since I could remember, I wanted to be a gangster. To me, being a gangster was better than being president of the United states." you're hooked as soon it starts! And the contemporaneous soundtrack is just five stars.
In my opinion it drags a little toward the end, and doesn't end quite as strongly as it starts (however that's only because the intro is so good). The helicopter scenes are a little hard to watch for me. But that says more about my attention span than it does the movie 😂
I've always felt the opposite, the ending gets super hectic and flies by as things in his life start falling apart. It's fun to compare the one-take restaurant scene with the quick cutting of the helicopter scene. Like at the beginning, he has control with this long fluid scene, by the end he's completely out of control and things are jumping around
Such a great movie. I’ve seen it countless times, but if I ever come across it when I am channel hopping I have no choice but to sit and watch it until the end. There aren’t many movies that are able to do that.
I'm not a massive fan of Top Gun / Maverick, but I was blown away by the second in the cinema, and as the last frame played out I thought: "That's how you make cinema, nailed it".
So refreshing after lots of lacklustre reboots, not a frame wasted - every line was character or plot.
That movie goes *hard* right from the beginning, and it slows down just long enough to inform the audience what's going on and to also give them a chance to catch their breath before it goes fucking hard again.
There is so much packed into that movie. I just watched one of those "things you missed/explanation" YouTube videos on The Truman Show. I always knew it was a genius movie, but there was so much that went right over my head. Little hidden things.
Are you rushing or are you dragging?!
The best part of that scene is that most of the time, Nieman's tempo is perfect, and an analysis shows Fletcher is basically making up which he'd claim, with no regard to Nieman's speed.
This movie is so good but I have to be really careful with it because it drives my anxiety off the charts.
You beat me to it.
The Matrix doesn't waste a single frame.
It even manages to get away with a huge exposition dump in the construct and training scenes. It doesn't feel forced though, because the viewer and Neo are in the same position.
It's pretty much perfect.
The Green Mile. The Shawshank Redemption.
I think Frank Darabont is one of the best directors out there. It's a shame that AMC basically destroyed his career.
I think Green Mile and Shawshank are just about as perfect as movies can get. Green Mile is 3 hours, and you don't even feel a second of it, and Shawshank is infinitely rewatchable.
The Crow, if for no other reason than it starts with two dead people we now nothing about. Proved origin stories could be interesting and succinct. Also, Brandon Lee was a star in the making.
Pulp Fiction is an interesting contender because there is an awful lot of dialog that seems like mundane nonsense (arguing about what a Big Mac is called in Europe, etc) but it somehow still feels like integral dialog at the same time. Very well done.
There are a few movies that I personally think don’t have a single second that feels wasted.
1. The Thing (1982)
2. Blade Runner
3. The Shawshank Redemption
4. It’s a Wonderful Life
5. Mad Max: Fury Road
6. The Cabin in the Woods
Ghostbusters (1984).
There’s a reason of lot of editors love that film. It has absolutely zero chaff. The tightest film I’ve ever seen. If it made the film it was plot, character, or a gag.
I rewatched Raising Arizona..and realized the furious pace is what kept your eyes glued to it. It may be dated now, but I first saw it when it came out.
In Bruges.
I don’t think you can remove a single line of dialogue from that movie without devaluing the final product. Everything connects together. Also some of the best main character chemistry I’ve ever seen.
Back to the Future. It’s airtight.
Not a gram of fat on this movie. The pinnacle of editing.
2 and 3 as well for me. It’s hard to do an “after thought” trilogy and it rarely works out but they nailed it with those sequels IMO.
Widely considered to be the best script ever written, no?
"Chinatown" Robert Towne, he wrote the Academy Award-winning original screenplay for Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974), which is widely considered one of the greatest screenplays.
For sure. Such an entertaining movie but also really instructive for screenwriters, I imagine.
And time travelers.
Literally everything we know about time travel comes from this movie. Everything.
Well, this and terminator.
And now...Endgame. Confusing times
Well whereas the original Back to the Future may have you asking a few questions after it’s over and you think about it, Endgame will have you scratching your head while you’re watching it, because a lot of stuff doesn’t make sense, and makes less sense when you think about it afterward. Definitely a film where time travel should not have been used as solution to the problem.
Still waiting on my fucking hoverboard
I want the car that runs on trash, seen the price of petrol lately? Plutonium is probably cheaper 😂
You mean Mr. Fusion? 😆
You’re not wrong.
Don't forget your towel
Also the Matrix: used in film school to teach three act structure
October is inventory time. So right now, Statler Toyota is making the best deals of the year on all 1985 model Toyotas. You won't find a better car with a better price with better service anywhere in Hill Valley...
Anything by edgar wright. His shots + editing are perfection
Yes! Came here to suggest *Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.* (Some of his other films have already been mentioned.)
Yarp
Exactly. Baby Driver and Sean of the Dead waste literally not a single frame. Everything serves something in terms of plot or character development.
Lock stock and two smoking barrels
Snatch was my first thought and now I’m second guessing myself
Do ya like degs
Run Lola run (1998)
They are rereleasing it this summer! https://www.google.com/amp/s/deadline.com/2024/04/run-lola-run-re-release-25th-anniversary-1235890286/amp/
That’s awesome!
Hot Fuzz. Not a single second of it feels superfluous
I was here to say Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead.
Perfect movie!
I'd add Baby Driver, too
Baby Driver is so good.
I just saw this a few days ago and it was amazing
Any luck catching them swans yet?
Run Lola Run
John Carpenters "The thing" (1980)
Robocop Predator
Predator is the gold
Aliens
and T2
Robocop is a perfect satire movie. It's amazing how it gains more and more relevance as time goes on.
Predator definitely after watching it again in cinema last month one of my first thoughts was about older movies like this, no pointless romances, no unnecessary backstory for the characters, just straight to it
All killer no filler.
Dredd
Die Hard is a tight script.
Made even tighter.... http://www.angryalien.com/aa/diehardbuns.asp
They were still writing the script as they were filming, too.
Speed
Speed feels non-stop the first time you see it, although I've seen it so many times that the train bit seems a little extra.
Of for sure. I saw it in the theater when it released and was gripping my seat and never thought about how over the top it is. Just went for the ride. I still adore it though and recommend for anyone who wants kick ass action.
Speeding up the train and speeding up to jump the gap are two of the stupidest ideas of any movie. But i still love it.
The Mummy. Stand by me.
Agree but need to clarify - The Mummy with Brendan Frasier not the most recent one 😇
I don’t t think anyone thinks of the Tom cruse one when they say The Mummy.
The Tom cruise one was AWFUL. Doesn’t even take place in egypt
good concept, terrible execution.
I heard Tom Cruise was so ashamed of this movie.
He should be!
Fargo (1996) In Bruges (2008)
In Bruges was such a surprisingly good movie
It's not a surprise at all tbh
Yeah, Martin McDonagh is a genius
Fargo is such a great film
Robocop (1987). Not an ounce of fat on that bad boy
I'd buy that for a dollar!
I haven’t thought about that tag line in years! Thank you! I need to rewatch that movie.
"What's your name son?" "Murphy" *Smash cut to credits and theme song* Not a second wasted
The Fugitive
True Romance
Silence of the lambs
Goodfellas
Perfectly structured movie. Nearly everything either builds to or is fallout from the heist.
The intro (after the trunk scene) grabs you immediately: "Ever since I could remember, I wanted to be a gangster. To me, being a gangster was better than being president of the United states." you're hooked as soon it starts! And the contemporaneous soundtrack is just five stars. In my opinion it drags a little toward the end, and doesn't end quite as strongly as it starts (however that's only because the intro is so good). The helicopter scenes are a little hard to watch for me. But that says more about my attention span than it does the movie 😂
I've always felt the opposite, the ending gets super hectic and flies by as things in his life start falling apart. It's fun to compare the one-take restaurant scene with the quick cutting of the helicopter scene. Like at the beginning, he has control with this long fluid scene, by the end he's completely out of control and things are jumping around
That's the brilliance of Scorceses direction. The chaos at the end matches the chaos of his life
Damn that’s so true, great comment! The end always bothered me bc of how chaotic it was but that’s totally the point
That’s a great analysis I’ve never noticed before
Related/similar - Heat - The Departed
The Prestige You have to watch and rewatch every minute of this movie. Like 20 times and you will still find something new.
YOU DON'T KNOW!?
My cousin Vinny. A nearly perfect script
Flow is perfect
Tremors
Might be unpopular but for me it's Fight Club.
Edge of Tomorrow. An infinitely rewatchable movie
I always think Sicario (2015) for great pacing. I think Jaws (1975), Green Room (2015), and Victoria (2015) work too though.
Green Room definitely. One of those movies that isn’t long to begin with but feels like 45 minutes and it’s over. Tension just keeps building
Green Room is like a Ramones set. If you where 20 minutes late you missed the show.
Jaws is a classic!
Such a great movie. I’ve seen it countless times, but if I ever come across it when I am channel hopping I have no choice but to sit and watch it until the end. There aren’t many movies that are able to do that.
Goodfellas and Shawshank for me. Greenmile and Bronx Tale, too.
Sicario is the first movie that came to mind
I can't say enough good things about Sicario
The Raid 1&2
Came here to say this, but I have to admit, The Raid is my answer to most of these questions! 😂
I'm not a massive fan of Top Gun / Maverick, but I was blown away by the second in the cinema, and as the last frame played out I thought: "That's how you make cinema, nailed it". So refreshing after lots of lacklustre reboots, not a frame wasted - every line was character or plot.
I went to see it in a 4DX cinema it was basically like a roller coaster during the flight scenes.
Inglorious Basterds
Shawshank Redemption
*Raiders of the Lost Ark*
The Fugitive Hunt For Red October
The Fugitive was mostly ab-libbed and written as it went along. A really crazy filming experience honestly given how great the movie is.
Wow one of my favorite movies but I didn’t know that! Thanks.
Jurassic Park.
There's something about Jurassic Park, the audience is moving on a wild ride before we even realize it
Mad Max: Fury Road
Came here to say this. I didn’t catch my breath Im until 45 mins into the movie.
That movie goes *hard* right from the beginning, and it slows down just long enough to inform the audience what's going on and to also give them a chance to catch their breath before it goes fucking hard again.
Also Mad Max 2 from 1981. The final chase is still my personal GOAT.
This movie is so good that I still don’t think the cast fully understands how good it is.
Truman Show
There is so much packed into that movie. I just watched one of those "things you missed/explanation" YouTube videos on The Truman Show. I always knew it was a genius movie, but there was so much that went right over my head. Little hidden things.
Reservoir Dogs Airplane
Reservoir Dogs grabbed me right away. The climax happens all the way through the film.
Alien
Much as I love Alien, I feel the pace will be too slow for the ADHD crowd.
Aliens is much more packed
Whiplash
Are you rushing or are you dragging?! The best part of that scene is that most of the time, Nieman's tempo is perfect, and an analysis shows Fletcher is basically making up which he'd claim, with no regard to Nieman's speed. This movie is so good but I have to be really careful with it because it drives my anxiety off the charts.
The Matrix. Without the sequels, it might be considered the greatest movie of all time. By me.
You beat me to it. The Matrix doesn't waste a single frame. It even manages to get away with a huge exposition dump in the construct and training scenes. It doesn't feel forced though, because the viewer and Neo are in the same position. It's pretty much perfect.
Are you saying that.... I'm Neo?
Sorry kid. You got the gift, but it looks like you're waiting for something.
The Big Short
Shaun of the dead
Oh my God .. she's... Sooo wasted!
Heat 1995
Crank
Crank 2 also picks up the second the first one ends, makes a great double feature.
Blues Brothers
Use of unnecessary violence in apprehension of the Blues Brothers has been approved.
HUTHUTHUTHUTHUT
Boogie Nights
The Green Mile. The Shawshank Redemption. I think Frank Darabont is one of the best directors out there. It's a shame that AMC basically destroyed his career. I think Green Mile and Shawshank are just about as perfect as movies can get. Green Mile is 3 hours, and you don't even feel a second of it, and Shawshank is infinitely rewatchable.
Thanks to Mr King who imagine those stories... rare moments where movies equals the book !
Pulp fiction, baby driver
1917 - strap your seatbelt on!
John Carpenters "The thing" (1980)
The dark Knight
Zodiac is like three hours but the pace is go go go go.
Door. To door. That is less than 50 yards. Is that true? I've walked it.
Running Scared
The Crow, if for no other reason than it starts with two dead people we now nothing about. Proved origin stories could be interesting and succinct. Also, Brandon Lee was a star in the making.
Christmas Vacation
**Fight Club.** ^(But we can't talk about it.)
Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction is an interesting contender because there is an awful lot of dialog that seems like mundane nonsense (arguing about what a Big Mac is called in Europe, etc) but it somehow still feels like integral dialog at the same time. Very well done.
The Devil Wears Prada
Bullet Train
The Dark Knight.
Locke and Uncut Gems
Training day. Right inot action from start to finish
Miller's Crossing
Snowpiercer (2013)
Sneakers. I consider it a perfect film.
Terminator 2
If you are into paranormal. I can recommend: Deliver us from evil
The Great Escape 1963
Run Lola Run
Jurassic Park.
Se7en
Traumatic watch as a kid
There are a few movies that I personally think don’t have a single second that feels wasted. 1. The Thing (1982) 2. Blade Runner 3. The Shawshank Redemption 4. It’s a Wonderful Life 5. Mad Max: Fury Road 6. The Cabin in the Woods
Parasite
Bullet Train
Train to Busan
Ghostbusters (1984). There’s a reason of lot of editors love that film. It has absolutely zero chaff. The tightest film I’ve ever seen. If it made the film it was plot, character, or a gag.
easily the truman show for me
Memento.
I Saw the Devil (2010) Confession of a Murder (2012) Both are Korean Action/Thrillers.
The Fly, the one w Jeff Goldblum
Such a wild movie. That nightmare scene is amazing
No country for old men
Last of the Mohicans Speed The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (the one from the 70s, not the recent one)
Grandma’s Boy
Big Trouble in Little China
Run Lola Run.
12 Angry Men.
Tenet
Interstellar The Prestige Terminator 2
YMMV I'd say Birdman. It's shot to feel like the whole movie is a single continuous shot.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Mary & max
Yea. I just saw Dune part 2 and it takes like an hour for anything to really happen.
Snatch.
Good Time
Hard Boiled (1992)
Mad Max: Fury Road
Promising Young Woman
Shawshank Redemption
Catch me if you can
Groundhog Day Butterfly Effect Saving Private Ryan Gone Girl
Big Trouble in Little China is the truest answer. You will not be disappointed.
Argyle
I rewatched Raising Arizona..and realized the furious pace is what kept your eyes glued to it. It may be dated now, but I first saw it when it came out.
Whiplash
O' Brother Where Art Thou?
12 Angry Men is the only film I can confidently say is perfect.
In Bruges. I don’t think you can remove a single line of dialogue from that movie without devaluing the final product. Everything connects together. Also some of the best main character chemistry I’ve ever seen.