It is nothing new for a film to be released, find no audience, no critical favor, and disappear to be discovered by a new generation and raised to the level of masterpiece. In fact, this has been going on since the silents.
Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece “City Lights” was released four years after the advent of sound, and though popular at the time with both audiences and critics, it was some years later that it was finally hailed as Chaplin’s finest work. “The Wizard of Oz,” one of the most beloved films of all time that celebrates a 70th anniversary this month, was a dismal box office flop when released in 1939. It wasn’t terribly popular with the critics either, but years later it was finally championed as a work of art and, of course, now the film is considered one of the greatest films of all time and perhaps a more worthy Best Picture choice than the eventual winner that year, “Gone with the Wind.”
The “Citizen Kane” tale is so well documented I need not continue, and John Ford’s magnificent “The Searchers,” written off as just another John Wayne western, was discovered by film school professors who taught its brilliance to such young minds as Martin Scorsese, John Milius and Francis Coppola. Even Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” failed out of the gate with both audiences and critics, but within a year of its release, many of those same critics had changed their minds about the film. Within 10 years it was being declared as important a film as “Citizen Kane.”
When “Gandhi” won eight Academy Awards in 1982, no one was terribly surprised. Yet within a year there were rumblings within the Academy that a mistake had been made and the rightful winner should have been “E.T. : The Extra-Terrestrial,” now recognized as a sublime work of art. And that same year, “Blade Runner” began its life as a major flop, only to re-discovered on home video over the years and become a cult classic.
Looking back over the last decade or so, which films released since will be recognized 50 years from now? Which films that were passed over by audiences, critics and/or the Oscars will be hailed as masterpieces in the years to come? I took a stab as choosing a group of films I believe could fall under this label.
“There Will Be Blood” (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007)
No doubt about it. The film is already headed there, in fact. The LA Film Critics agreed and it won two Academy Awards, but does anyone really believe “No Country for Old Men” was a better film? Well, of course there are plenty who do, but not me. Paul Anderson channels the spirits of Stevens, Ford, Antonioni and Scorsese while making this film somehow entirely his own. They will be discussing it for generations.
“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (Andrew Dominik, 2007)
One of the greatest American westerns ever made. Brad Pitt gives a brilliant performance as the psychotic, paranoid and merciless Jesse James, tormented by his inner demons in this curious dance towards death with Bob Ford, played with genius by Casey Affleck. It is incredibly involving, often deeply poignant as James seems to know it is Ford’s destiny to murder him. Haunting.
“King Kong” (Peter Jackson, 2005)
Yes, it made millions, and yes, critics loved it. But in my opinion, not enough. This one was deserving of Best Picture and Best Director attention in my opinion, and in the years ahead will come to be regarded as an extraordinary work that blends visual effects with a heartbreaking story. Some bitched about the length, but I would have sat another hour. And Namoi Watts was robbed of a Best Actress nomination. Maybe others will agree in years to come.
“The Passion of the Christ” (Mel Gibson, 2004)
“Why should I see this,” I was asked by a minister five years ago. I answered without hesitation, “Because you need to know and understand just what this poor man went through that you’ve dedicated your life to.” I’ve talked at length about this already, but I think in the years to come, the unwarranted claims of anti-Semitism will fade away and the film will be recognized for the work of art that it is.
“Far From Heaven” (Todd Haynes, 2002)
Todd Haynes’s best work is an homage to the work of Douglas Sirk that caught the eye of the New York Film Critics Circle but not the Academy. This might have been the best film of its year. With superb performances from Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Patricia Clarkson and Dennis Haybert. Beautifully shot, the film explores taboo relationships in the 1950s. Masterful. It’s likely to be taught in film schools for decades.
“Minority Report” (Steven Spielberg, 2002)
A reasonably big hit at the box office, and Roger Ebert’s #1 movie of the year, the film never put up the numbers a Cruise-Spielberg film should and audiences never really adored it either. They should have, because Spielberg created one of his darkest films and a very nasty look at what the future might bring. A noir anchored by a strong performance, it has never been far out of my mind when discussing Spielberg’s best. Maybe others will agree in the future.
“Road to Perdition” (Sam Mendes, 2002)
Okay, some of this is “I hope,” but it comes from the heart. I loved Sam Mendes’ second film, believing it to be much better than the Oscar-winning “American Beauty.” Tom Hanks was outstanding as a gangster on the run from his own family, and Paul Newman quietly chilling as the leader of that mob. Mendes plunges us back in history with astonishing detail, but it is the performances and the superb cinematography that make the film the accomplishment that it is. How did Oscar miss this in a year that “Chicago” won best pic? No bother, maybe audiences will one day circle back around to it.
“Magnolia” (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999)
Perhaps the most audacious, daring work of the 1990s, writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson explores the lives of several LA residents in a day that will see their lives collide and change dramatically. It is Altman-esque, but still very much Anderson’s film as his firm hand guides these magnificent actors through some of the best work of their careers. Tom Cruise is scalding as a sex therapist training men to conquer woman, Julianne Moore heartbreaking as a drug addicted woman dealing with the guilt over her husband’s impending death, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Jason Robards, and the entire cast…this is why it will be studied.
“Happiness” (Todd Solondz, 1998)
Todd Solondz’s alarming study of three sisters and their very different lives is a tough film to watch, and even tougher to admit one admires. My God, the subject matter! One sister is married to a pedophile who has a conversation with his son about being as much (and liking it). Dylan Baker gives a courageous performance as the tormented pervert. Another sister is betrayed by seemingly everyone she encounters and yet another is stalked by her neighbor who will eventually strike up a friendship with a killer living next to him. Bizarre, but brilliant, and forever unsettling.
“The Truman Show” (Peter Weir, 1998)
Who would have thought this Peter Weir-directed, Jim Carrey film would predict the emergence of reality television several years before “Survivor?” Carrey is Truman, the unknowing star of the biggest show on TV, where his every action, movement and word is captured on a live broadcast around the globe. Living in a massive bubble, his entire world is controlled by a genius producer who sees himself as God. “I am the creator…of a television show…” Harris rules. This one will have an impact for its prescience.
What about you? Which films do you expect will get their due in the future? Have your say in the comments section below!
Comments
73 responses to “Which films will be remembered in 50 years?”
Requiem For A Dream
21 Grams
The Dark Knight.
If for no other reason, people will look back and see that it wasn’t nominated for BP in a year that saw Slumdog Millionaire win and say, “What happened there?”
Just thinking off the top of my head, but some of the Iraq-based war films might be remembered as symbolic of the times we lived in and the prevailing sentiment toward war, or at least, that particular war.
Forgot to add the 9/11 inspired films, too.
I’ll add “Revolutionary Road” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” to the mix.
Hopefully “United 93” will be remembered in 50 years. They did so much for us, so what have we done for them?
Barry Lyndon is my favorite film of all time. I’m a sucker for historical movies ( The New World and Gangs of New York for life!), but seriously, what is “The Assassination of Jesse James” about? What makes it haunting?
I agree with Joey.
21 Grams
Requiem for a Dream
And what about:
The Lives of Others
Pan’s Labyrinth
Amores Perros
Definitely agreeing with Manuel, Revolutionary Road and Eternal Sunshine should be on there.
And The Assassination of Jesse James is just phenomenal, the best cinematography of this decade, I think.
Glad to see Minority Report on that list.
And while I doubt it will ever get such recognition I’d love to see (don’t shoot me) The Village accepted by more people. There’s so much more going on in that movie than just an obvious twist. And Bryce Dallas Howard put everything she had into that performance.
The films I think that won’t be remembered as great achievements of cinema:
Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight
Rev Road
Benjamin Button etc. etc.
Films that I think will be remembered:
Totally agree on There Will Be Blood but its only slightly better than No Country. BOTH are 2 of the greatest films of the decade.
Along With
Wall-E/The Incredibles
Zodiac
Million Dollar Baby/Letters From Iwo Jima
4 months/I’m Not There/Wendy And Lucy
Synecdoche NY(the single greatest screenplay written this decade)
Yes, some people, like me, do believe NCFOM is better than TWWB. They are not even close, IMO. But, to each his own.
i’ll just agree with you on all counts, minus maybe King Kong. it didn’t work for me.
but The Truman Show is my favorite film of all time, and the rest of your list is in my top 20.
Happiness is disturbing but so bold. Dylan Baker is incredible.
wait, is this thread going to devolve into “here’s my list of what i think is overrated/underrated”? because i can get that at imdb for half the price.
I too am glad to see minority report on here, but I also want to possibly wager that Munich will make also be remembered in the next few years. It was critically lauded in some instances but many panned it for being too preachy. I for one think that it is an extraordinary film anchored by a brilliant performance by Eric Bana
Others:
Pan’s Labyrinth
Children of Men
The Dark Knight
The New World
MOULIN ROUGE
Revolutionary Road
The Thing Red Line
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Cold Mountain
A History of Violence
I think as more people see it a consensus will form that Master and Commander is a near perfect film.
Also, over the years The Iron Giant will slide comfortably alongside such Family classics as Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, and The Wizard of Oz.
Question:
Does Wonder Boys need to be rediscovered or does everyone already appreciate what a pitch perfect comedy that is?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
There Will Be Blood
Wall-E/Up
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Dark Knight
Almost every film you mentioned deserves to be talked about half a century later. I attend film school now, so in 50 years, I will be in my early 70s, when my age group will be deciding what are the greatest films of this decade.
I can guarantee that There Will Be Blood will not be forgotten, and it’s most likely to be touted as the finest film of this decade.
These are the films I hear most about:
The Dark Knight
The Wrestler
Wall-E
There Will Be Blood
No Country for Old Men
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Children of Men
Pan’s Labyrinth
Brokeback Mountain
A History of Violence
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Lost in Translation
City of God
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Adaptation
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Lord of the Rings
Amelie
Requiem for a Dream
Magnolia
Being John Malkovich
Fight Club
Say what you will about the list. Some of these films I only respect, and some of them I don’t like at all. But these are the ones that I keep hearing.
I’m thrilled to see Minority Report (one of my top 3 this decade), King Kong, and Far from Heaven on your list, but in film schools, nobody is talking about Far from Heaven, and most people didn’t show much love towards the other films. I think Minority Report is a masterpiece, but the dissenters on that film are far too many.
yes, most definitely the Dark Knight; though it made millions and stayed in theaters for quite a while, i believe it still hasnt earned all that it deserved. definitely top of the list. also, i would have to say benjamin button. the storyline is phenomenal, but after discussing it with many people, they claimed they ‘just didnt get it.’ the next, id have to say would be perfect stranger. again, an amazing storyline, another of halle berry’s smashing performances. last but certainly not least, i would have to include across the universe. maybe its because im a huge beatles fan, but Jim Sturgess and Joe Anderson’s voices are astonishing when it comes to singing anything by the Beatles. and the passion of Christ will always be a legend.
‘There Will Be Blood’ is certainly an appropriate picture for this article.
Magnolia
Requiem For A Dream
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Children of Men
There Will Be Blood
aaron: piss off, then!
I think you are dead on with There Will Be Blood, even though I prefer NCFOM.
But for me personally, even if everyone else forgets about it. I will alsways remember Spielbergs Hook, my favorite movie of all time
I feel the only true locks to be remembered are There Will Be Blood and The Dark Knight. They have everything going for them. True immortals in the cine-world.
Some of the others mentioned, while I believe them to be masterpieces (Jesse James, Fight Club), just won’t stand the test of time.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is what I believe to be the finest film of the decade, with only There Will Be Blood coming close. Having said that, Jesse James just wasn’t seen by enough people. Sure, it’s found a cult indie following, but truthfully, how many people in the mainstream have a clue about it? I can’t see a movie that found such a small audience lasting, despite its quality. I mean, for God’s sake, the Blu-Ray sucks. The DVD is of almost identical quality. They couldn’t even release a decent Blu-Ray for it and I’m supposed to believe that it’s going to be remembered in 50 years outside of a small sect of the population? Not a chance.
And while I love Fight Club, it’s a generational story that will likely be lost to time.
We’ll have to see how the rest of them settle into the history books, but the only true locks, at this point, are Blood and Knight.
25th Hour
Children Of Men
City Of God
Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind
Lost In Translation
Magnolia
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
The Thin Red Line
There Will Be Blood
Truman Show
Eternal Sunshine
Wall-E
Brokeback
Lord of the Rings, as only one other franchise has had 3 of its films nommed…Has any had just 2? Hmm.
The Reader, if Winslet continues to rack up the nominations
Shakespeare in Love, for bibliophiles
Benjamin Button, if the special effects it uses are popularized
Saving Private Ryan, for war buffs
Crouching Tiger, the only foreign language film to break 100 mil and the beginning of Lee’s hopefully long & illustrious career
Passion of the Christ, mostly for Christians
Prisoner of Azkaban, mostly because Potter will still be selling big
Milk, depending on what gay rights are like in 50 years
Wow, I must’ve completely missed the qualifications for John’s selections. My apologies.
Michael C: Totally agree on M&C.
Minority Report? I can’t recall any scene other than when Colin Farrell meets his end. I thought it was terribly boring, but I haven’t seen it since it was in theaters, so maybe it deserves another shot.
As for Road to Perdition and King Kong, I am not sure on those. For them to succeed in fifty years, wouldn’t they have had to become more acclaimed the years after their creation? The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is only two years old, and even that has picked up fans significantly.
I think Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind will grow, especially if Kaufman goes on to have a successful directorial career.
Pan’s Labyrinth
City of god
Wall-E
Million Dollar Baby
Mystic River
Changeling
Gran Torino
The lord of the rings
Harry Potter
Moulin Rouge
Passion of the Christ
All will be remembered
Definitely Synecdoche, New York.
@ John:
I agree wholeheartedly on The Truman Show; I entirely skipped over your listing of Minority Report. Just thinking of a world like that gives me the creeps, though the court of public opinion and the whole perception-is-reality thing our society has going on right now tells me we’re closer than we think.
@ Michael C:
Good call on The Iron Giant. Classic.
I know I’m slipping a bit beyond the last decade, but being a Redford fan, Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It get better with age for me. Both have a distinct American flavor and both films seek a deeper meaning of truth.
Films released since 2000 that figure to remain popular (or increase in popularity) for decades to come:
There Will Be Blood
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The Pianist
Pan’s Labyrinth
Amelie
Into the Wild
The Motorcycle Diaries
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
City of God
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Departed
Gangs of New York
The Fountain
“…unwarranted claims of anti-Semitism…”
Yeah, Mel Gibson yelling in a drunken stupor that the “fucking Jews caused all the wars in the world” was all just imaginary, wasn’t it?
Excellent choices, Guy… I also love some of the responses above – especially for Eternal Sunshine, United 93, WALL*E and The Dark Knight.
Bryan, although I don’t agree that it will be hailed as a masterpiece in 50 years, I do agree that “The Village” is underrated, and I also absolutely loved Bryce Dallas Howard’s heartbreaking performance in that film.
May I add a quartet from 1999 (a very strong year, in my opinion):
The Straight Story
The Insider
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Sixth Sense
The latter was obviously a phenomenon, but I think it will be recognized more and more as a masterful piece of art the further we get away from it.
From the early 00’s, I also think the following will be fondly remembered in years to come:
The Royal Tennenbaums’s
Cold Mountain
Pride & Prejudice
I actually don’t see The Sixth Sense gaining more of a reputation as time goes on. Every time I see it the film loses…something, and I feel like it was Haley Joel Osment that kept us believing it was a masterpiece for so long.
I do agree with a-mad on Tenenbaums, however, especially since every indie comedy seems to rip-off it these days.
The Dark Knight
Batman Begins
Memento
LOTR Trilogy
Sin City
Pan’s Labyrinth
Spirited Away
NCFOM
The Departed
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2
Adaptation
The Hurt Locker
Requiem for a Dream
My list:
Oldboy
The Dark Knight
The Assassination of Jesse James
The Lord Of The Rings – Trilogy
The Matrix (maybe not the trilogy, but at least part 1)
Into The Wild
Passion Of The Christ
Children Of Men
There Will Be Blood
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Brokeback Mountain
The City Of God
Master And Commander
Amelie
The Truman Show
American History X
@Bryan: I sure feel your pain with The Village. It totally love that film to the death. It’s a beautiful love story, truly haunting, yet so simple.
Master and Commander is one of my favorites as well. Truly brilliant and riveting film, with some amazing performances from Crowe and Bettany. Also one of the best soundtracks of the decade.
As for the rest: ZO-DI-AC!!!!
Not enough time for me to post my own personal thoughts, but certainly to agree with some:
Assassination of Jesse James was a haunting western, but above all it was an examination of near-homosexual obsession. Casey Affleck was perfect in that film.
King Kong is one of the finest adventure films of all time.
Minority Report is still the best film of the decade.
Magnolia is haunting and still one of the best directorial efforts ever given by any director. Astonishing movie.
I do have one question: Where the hell is Fight Club???
Filsm of this decade that I think deserved to be remembered (and loved) in 50 years’ time include:
Le Fils
Mulholland Drive
Match Point
Quantum of Solace
Peter Pan
Wonder Boys
Dancer in the Dark
The House of Mirth
Dark Water (the Japanese original)
Our Lady of the Assassins
The Pianist
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly
Not surprised there’s no WALL-E from you, but it’s easily this decades E.T., so for sure it will be.
Quantum of Solace is an interesting one, I sure believe it was a great film. Very thoughtful. Interesting to see what’ll happen to it.
United 93 and The Bourne Ultimatum anyone? Certainly if Greengrass starts winning some more big awards in the (near) future.
It was a pleasant surprise to see Minority Report on this list. A lot of people roll their eyes at the movie just because the names “Tom Cruise” and “Stephen Spielberg” are attached to it. The truth is that it’s one of the most hauntingly real and surreal pieces of cinema ever. Great plot, great action, great writing, and it deserved a lot more than a dinky Sound Editing nod.
As far as guaranteed classics go, I would say the following (ones you didn’t mention, Kris, mind you):
The Thin Red Line
Pan’s Labyrinth
Before Sunset
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Zodiac
Eyes Wide Shut
Wall-E
Amelie
In the Mood For Love/2046
Ones that were high in stature upon release, but will not hold up well over the years:
Traffic
Little Miss Sunshine (with exception of Superfreak sequence)
Chicago
Lost in Translation
American Beauty
Oddly enough, there are surprisingly few comedies that are built to last over the past decade or so. Perhaps Office Space is this generation’s Airplane. Or maybe Best in Show or Rushmore are the closest things. Great comedy seems hard to come by these days.
I would disagree with you, Kris, on Road to Perdition and Minority Report, though I fully understand your reasoning in placing them on your list. Overall, I would agree with most of your picks.
Jonathan Spuij: Glad someone else likes Quantum of Solace!
Maybe the Greengrass films will hold up as well – though for me the first halves of both The Bourne Ultimatum and United 93 were a lot better than the second halves. But yes, these films have made their mark.
I’m surprised to see that people actually liked Quantum Of Solace. I love Bond and loved Casino Royale but found Quantum unbearable. Like difficult to sit through the entire movie.
I have nothing to add to the titles everybody already mentioned here. Interesting topic.
The question is not which movies you liked or not.
Quantum of Solace to be remembered in 50 years? Never, not even in 5 years.
I like your list John. For me Brokeback Mountain is an absolute certainty as is There Will Be Blood. I also think The Assassination of Jesse James and Magnolia will have good chances.
Even though I don’t adore the film I think Titanic will definitely be remembered in 50 years if only because it won so many Oscars and made so much money and is about a topic people will remain interested in.