15 Most Confusing Films

[Darren Dirt]

This week I watched* "Synecdoche, New York" ... and wow, I agree it should be in this "top 3" of confusing films (most of which I have actually seen. And enjoyed!)

http://www.popcrunch.com/most-confusing-films/

15. Vanilla Sky
14. Pi
13. eXistenZ
12. Solaris
11. Adaptation
10. Akira
9. 2001: A Space Odyssey
8. Naked Lunch
7. Jacob?s Ladder
6. Mulholland Drive
5. Holy Mountain
4. Donnie Darko
3. Eraserhead
2. Synecdoche, New York
1. Primer


I think there's a few missing from this list, like "The Jacket" maybe. And (apparently) Southland Tales.






*(only once so far -- but I can imagine a 2nd viewing "helps")

[Mr. Analog]

I often wonder how intentional the "depth" of some of these films is, a great example of a lot of iconic imagry mounting to nothing whatsoever can be found in the anime Evangelion. A good majority of people who've watched it all the way through impart special meaning based on iconography used however much of it is just random spiritual / ideological symbolism (mixed in with a heapin' helpin' of Freudian subtext).

Is "2001" or "Eraserhead" really deep? Or are they just so baffling that we create depth? OR is that creation of depth required by the viewer the REAL depth?

... I think I broke my brain

[Darren Dirt]

I often wonder how intentional the "depth" of some of these films is, a great example of a lot of iconic imagry mounting to nothing whatsoever can be found in the anime Evangelion. A good majority of people who've watched it all the way through impart special meaning based on iconography used however much of it is just random spiritual / ideological symbolism (mixed in with a heapin' helpin' of Freudian subtext).

Is "2001" or "Eraserhead" really deep? Or are they just so baffling that we create depth? OR is that creation of depth required by the viewer the REAL depth?

... I think I broke my brain

imo 2001 was amazingly advanced for its time (not just in its visuals, but in the way it told a relatively simple story), but now I think it's less "deep" unless you also read the book (which ACC was writing at the same time as Kubrick was pre-producing, ah you know the story from that page I linked to many months ago...)


Synecdoche, NY is definitely intentional re. its heaviness and depth, there is certain imagery intended to communicate a subtle message throughout, so upon a second viewing you notice the recurrence of it, and you start to identify why those metaphors were chosen. I have only seen it once (Library return, cuz it had other holds) but I read a handful of IMDB threads and some blogs/articles linked from Wikipedia that gave a variety of interpretations. An exhausting movie though, if you choose to engage in the escape of Kaufman's world, and don't just watch as an observer, but rather almost as a participant.

Haven't seen Eraserhead yet. Been meaning to watch Mulholland Drive with my brother (we enjoy chatting after a mind@%&# movie).

[Mr. Analog]

Don't get me wrong I love all the films I've seen on this list and I respect them greatly, I just wonder how much is intentional depth and how much is accidental.

The best works of art are the ones open for interpretation.

[Mr. Analog]

Actually y'know I'd swap out Mulholland Drive with Lost Highway, now that was a baffling film, it has an extremely high HPM rating (huhs per minute)

I've watched Mulholland Drive a number of times now and it forms a a few interesting stories depending on what you take for truths or lies.

[Darren Dirt]

Actually y'know I'd swap out Mulholland Drive with Lost Highway, now that was a baffling film, it has an extremely high HPM rating (huhs per minute)

I've watched Mulholland Drive a number of times now and it forms a a few interesting stories depending on what you take for truths or lies.

I've heard that said about LH as well -- that it is not more "get-able" after multiple viewings, unlike MD.

I have yet to watch either of them, though (I own MD on DVD, not a big Lynch fan normally but I heard it's a good mindf--k kinda flick, at least the first time around).

[Mr. Analog]

MD is a great film to rewatch, you get different things from it each viewing.

Lost Highway is just... a mess. It makes the 1960s Casino Royale look somewhat coherent (not a compliment)