YTMT was my #1. Had Lost in America really high up too, so yay for those. Curious what the YTMT haters hate about it so much. The ending?
More on the arbitrary nature of what counts: I like Bonnie and Clyde, Stroszek and Walkabout about equally as movies, but only the former counted as a road movie for me.
I remember liking Easy Rider well enough when I finally saw it years ago, but its another one that needs a rewatch.
― some sad trombone Twilight Zone shit (cryptosicko), Friday, 19 May 2017 16:38 (seven years ago) link
This list has given me a bunch of movies to check out. I didn't vote, but suspect I would have put It Happened One Night at the top.
― jmm, Friday, 19 May 2017 16:40 (seven years ago) link
Shit missed the countdown! There wasn't a link in the voting thread so I completely forgot about it. Would have voted Stalker high up but it didn't feel like a road film. Glad Badlands will take it. Sightseers was my number one. It's the only Wheatley I like and I love it completely. Need to see Lost In America and Goin' Down the Road.
― gospodin simmel, Friday, 19 May 2017 16:44 (seven years ago) link
Stalker was my number one and I gave it the maximum points I could. It might not have much in the way of cars, but to me it is definitely a road movie. My criteria for "what is a road movie" went something like:
* Is a journey the main narrative device in the film? Is the end point of that journey either unknown, futile, or non-existent?* Is the landscape and its changing/unchanging nature a main feature of the film? Is it vast?* Do the characters have existential crises? Are they unsure or afraid of being-in-the-world?* Does the exterior echo/reflect/distort the interior? (aka the pathetic fallacy clause.) Does the movement through geographic location have an analogue in the instability of the self?
Things that don't meet all of those criteria may still be a road movie, but those things were the most important elements for me.
― emil.y, Friday, 19 May 2017 16:45 (seven years ago) link
I hated the contrivance of YTMT, the heavy-handed allegorical stuff, the treatment of sexuality, p much all of it
xp
― Οὖτις, Friday, 19 May 2017 16:47 (seven years ago) link
shit, just realized I should've voted for "Roadie"
― Οὖτις, Friday, 19 May 2017 16:48 (seven years ago) link
1. Badlands114 points/10 votes
http://phildellio.tripod.com/1-badlands.jpg
Didn't vote for it, but good #1. It overtook Stalker on the last couple of ballots. Which I was glad of--not that Stalker wouldn't be an interesting #1, but I always prefer many voters/modest vote-totals to few voters/major-points.
― clemenza, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:02 (seven years ago) link
forgot to vote for this but it's great
― Οὖτις, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:03 (seven years ago) link
a good winner, thanks for doing this clemenza!
― devvvine, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:05 (seven years ago) link
Fair enough. I figure that if YTMT's use of allegory and treatment of sexuality don't work for you, the whole thing is pretty much lost. I'm not even sure I could defend it much beyond saying that the things you didn't like about it are the things that I liked.
I have heard the film's treatment of queerness challenged as homophobic, which I don't agree with (a film that is about homophobia is different than a film that embraces homophobia) but it certainly isn't clear cut enough to be undebatable.
Mostly, I put it at #1 (over, say, The Grapes of Wrath or Lost in America or something) because its just the movie that hit all of my own personal road movie sweet spots the hardest.
― some sad trombone Twilight Zone shit (cryptosicko), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:06 (seven years ago) link
Watched Badlands long enough ago that I've retained very little memory of it, but I do remember it not doing much for me. Rinse and repeat for pretty much every other Malick I've seen, though (which is everything up until Tree of Life).
Great poll, though! Lots I need to watch. Thanks clem!
― some sad trombone Twilight Zone shit (cryptosicko), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:07 (seven years ago) link
Badlands probably woulda been my #1 if I voted.
Pretty much a perfect film. Beautiful, haunting, savage, hilarious, uniquely strange. Wish Malick could've given us more than two films in the 70s.
― circa1916, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:08 (seven years ago) link
Being "whatever" about Badlands is crazy to me.
― circa1916, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:09 (seven years ago) link
maybe Morbz has different objections to YTMT idk. I did find its treatment of the homoeroticism kind of offensive, the build up to this big moment of OMG TWO MEN ARE KISSING ONSCREEN was just ridiculous
― Οὖτις, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:09 (seven years ago) link
I made a Letterboxd list. I've seen 24/50.
― some sad trombone Twilight Zone shit (cryptosicko), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:10 (seven years ago) link
Emil.y, I was the other #1 for Stalker for exactly the reasons you laid out. Hi 5!
― 20-lol pileup (WilliamC), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:10 (seven years ago) link
Never change ilx, this is a really great list
Didn't get around to voting, wonder if my vote would've been enough to get a dumb & dumber or pt&a sitting next to these films where they belong
― in a soylent whey (wins), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:11 (seven years ago) link
still want to know who the other Into the Night voter was lol
― Οὖτις, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:11 (seven years ago) link
Clemenza, thanks for running this poll -- fun to ponder, fun to vote, fun to watch the results.
― 20-lol pileup (WilliamC), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:11 (seven years ago) link
I should mention re: Badlands that I was like 17 when I saw it, ditto Days of Heaven. The two 70s Malicks are the only two of his I feel at all compelled to give another shot, so I'll get to them. Maybe they'll open up the rest of his filmography to me?
wins: I had PT&A pretty high on my ballot!
― some sad trombone Twilight Zone shit (cryptosicko), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:13 (seven years ago) link
Definitely give those two another shot. Even though you see the roots of latter day Malick in them (well, mostly in DoH), they're different animals.
― circa1916, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:14 (seven years ago) link
High five back atcha, WmC!
― emil.y, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:22 (seven years ago) link
Also I have pretty much the same thing as cryptosicko wrt Badlands - saw it when I was around 17, don't recall it having a major impression on me, have disliked all other Malick films I've seen so I didn't prioritise giving it a rewatch.
― emil.y, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:26 (seven years ago) link
I know PT&A will be something obvious but all I can read right now is "Paul Thomas & Anderson".
― emil.y, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:27 (seven years ago) link
OH DUH, Planes, Trains... - I didn't vote for it but I do have a soft spot.
― emil.y, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:28 (seven years ago) link
Badlands is interesting, but not one I really treasure. I've always felt a detachment from its fantasy.
― jmm, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:29 (seven years ago) link
i guess i will admit when i first saw Badlands in my late teens i thought it was just decent, but really fell in love with it on rewatch a few years later. has grown in stature with each successive viewing.
― circa1916, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:35 (seven years ago) link
basically saying if you saw this at 17 and thought "whatever" you are missing out
― circa1916, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:36 (seven years ago) link
parents teachers and association
― in a soylent whey (wins), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:36 (seven years ago) link
My first allegiance was to the platonic ideal of the road movie rather than great film, period, so there are a few that couldn't show up on any other list (Leningrad Cowboys), but here's my ballot and points.
Stalker - 30Walkabout - 25Easy Rider - 25The Straight Story - 20O Brother, Where Art Thou? - 15 Dead Man - 8Paris, Texas - 8 Stagecoach 8Two-Lane Blacktop - 8 Wild Strawberries - 7Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure - 6The Brave Little Toaster - 5Badlands - 4 Leningrad Cowboys Go America - 4Planes, Trains and Automobiles - 3 Lost in America - 3 Alice in the Cities - 3The Sugarland Express - 3Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 3 Down by Law - 2Rain Man - 2Taste of Cherry - 2Smokey and the Bandit - 2The Wages of Fear - 2Slow West -2
― 20-lol pileup (WilliamC), Friday, 19 May 2017 17:40 (seven years ago) link
Thanks for voting, everyone. Really enjoyed looking around for the images (sizing them and whatnot is a lot of work, for sure). I'll put the full list and a few extra stats up later...And my own ballot, which I don't have here.
― clemenza, Friday, 19 May 2017 17:53 (seven years ago) link
still want to know who the other Into the Night voter was lol― Οὖτις
The other person had it in his/her Top 5, each film getting 20 points. I'll leave it up to whomever to post if he/she wants to.
― clemenza, Friday, 19 May 2017 18:06 (seven years ago) link
Thanks for the Letterboxd list, cryptosicko. I've seen 44, although again, a handful so long ago they may as well not even count.
― clemenza, Friday, 19 May 2017 18:19 (seven years ago) link
My 15:
Y Tu Mamá TambiénThe Grapes of WrathLost in AmericaPaper MoonPlanes, Trains and AutomobilesO Brother, Where Art Thou?Wild StrawberriesThe Wizard of OzThe Last DetailFive Easy PiecesThe Wages of FearBonnie and ClydeNational Lampoon's VacationThelma and LouiseSideways
― some sad trombone Twilight Zone shit (cryptosicko), Friday, 19 May 2017 18:21 (seven years ago) link
Funny that After Hours didn't place but Into The Night did after the discussion at the top. I like AH but it doesn't qualify enough for me and I haven't seen ITN.
― nickn, Friday, 19 May 2017 18:31 (seven years ago) link
Here's mine
StroszekStalkerThe passengerAguirre the wrath of godWeekendMidnight runFive easy piecesTwo-lane blacktopBadlandsTaste of cherryL'avventura WalkaboutKill list Gallivant Radio onNo country for old menThe wages of fearAmerican honeyDuelSightseersCertified copy WandaParis, Texas Planes trains and automobiles Twentynine palms
Didn't contribute anything beyond a ballot but looking forward to checking out some of the list, Goin Down the Road is on Youtube I notice
Sad Midnight Run didn't make it. That being an 18 is v lol 80s
― i know kore-eda (or something), Friday, 19 May 2017 18:41 (seven years ago) link
Stroszek - 20American Honey - 20Paris, Texas - 20Wild Strawberries - 15Wendy & Lucy - 15Stalker - 15Five Easy Pieces - 15Inside Llewyn Davis - 15L’Avventura - 15Badlands - 15Messidor - 5Stranger than Paradise - 5Children of Men - 5Aguirre, The Wrath of God - 5No Country for Old Men - 5La Strada - 5Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia - 1Embrace of the Serpent - 1Branded to Kill - 1Mad Max: Fury Road - 1Fitzcarraldo - 1
― devvvine, Friday, 19 May 2017 18:46 (seven years ago) link
Mine:
Stalker - 40The Milky Way - 20Walkabout - 20Wanda - 20Weekend - 20Aguirre, the Wrath of God - 5El Topo - 5Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! - 5Breathless (À bout de souffle) - 5Easy Rider - 5Midnight Cowboy - 5Nebraska - 5Carnival of Souls - 5Sightseers - 5Bonnie and Clyde - 5Vanishing Point - 5The Straight Story - 5Y Tu Mamá También - 5 <---- not actually the right film b/c I am an idiotZabriskie Point - 5The Hitch-Hiker - 5Stroszek - 1Paper Moon - 1O Brother, Where Art Thou? - 1Stand by Me - 1Kill List - 1
I would've like to have more of an arc to my points distribution but my maths is bad so I just went with one of clemenza's suggestions of blocks of the same points for a load of them.
― emil.y, Friday, 19 May 2017 18:54 (seven years ago) link
*liked
Stranger Than ParadiseBreathless (1960)La StradaL’AvventuraWithnail and ISomething WildCorridor of FacesThe Trip (2010)BadlandsParis, TexasSullivan's TravelsThe Milky WayAlice Doesn’t Live Here AnymoreDrugstore CowboySidewaysEasy RiderLost in AmericaKings of the RoadStagecoachPierrot le FouLeningrad Cowboys Go AmericaFlirting with DisasterThe Wages of FearHarry and TontoBonnie and Clyde
Also thought about voting for: Stalker, La Nuit de Varennes, Palm Beach Story, Buffalo ‘66 (but, ugh, gallo), Wild Strawberries, Scarecrow, Aguirre, Ride the High Country, It Happened One Night.
Didn't think about Walkabout, but that likely would have bumped its way in.
― by the light of the burning Citroën, Friday, 19 May 2017 18:57 (seven years ago) link
Oh, I didn't vote, but Stalker is possibly the best movie ever so
― ban violent jinks (imago), Friday, 19 May 2017 19:06 (seven years ago) link
I did not vote but had I voted stranger than paradise and Wendy & Lucy would've got some big bumps up the ladder
― Clay, Friday, 19 May 2017 19:11 (seven years ago) link
My ballot:
Vagabond / 30Sullivan's Travels / 16Two Lane Blacktop / 11Pierrot le Fou / 11Paris, Texas / 10La Strada / 10It Happened One Night / 10Je Tu Il Elle / 6Stranger than Paradise / 6Withnail & I / 6The Straight Story / 6Alice in the Cities / 6Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert / 6The Wizard of Oz / 6My Own Private Idaho / 6Repo Man / 6Stroszek / 6The Last Detail / 6Weekend / 6Five Easy Pieces / 6Dead Man / 6 Les rendez-vous d'Anna / 6 Wanda / 6Y Tu Mama Tambien / 3Easy Rider / 3
― one way street, Friday, 19 May 2017 19:15 (seven years ago) link
I bashed this out in five minutes just before the deadline on a day where I'd lived a mini-road movie in rural Texas
20 Point Films:
Two-Lane BlacktopSomething WildI Travel Because I Have To, I Come Back Because I Love You*Travels With AnnaPierrot le fou
5 Point Films:
Easy RiderVanishing PointPaper MoonWrong MoveAlice In The CitiesParis, TexasThe Last DetailLa stradaFive Easy PiecesStranger Than ParadiseY tu mama tambienBring Me The Head of Alfredo GarciaThe Straight StoryPlanes, Trains, and AutomobilesHarry and TontoLost In AmericaJe Tu Il ElleThe Sugarland ExpressTwo For The RoadWeekend
*My go for broke passion vote. A Brazilian movie from 2009 that I saw (twice!) at a festival, on paper this looks like a boilerplate quirky road pic: a recently divorced geologist is sent out for an environmental impact research study Re:the building of a canal, which he semi-derails by going on a lengthy bender. What sets it apart is the execution. The whole thing is presented as a collage of home movies, faux-found footage, and POV shots, with most of the dialog being log entries read in voiceover by the unseen protagonist, a mixed bag of travelog descriptions of what's happening, memories of his wife, and fragments of the study he's supposed to be conducting. One of the best films I've ever seen on the function of memory, and a refreshingly successful genre de/reconstruction.
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 19 May 2017 19:19 (seven years ago) link
Oh, nice that you were the #1 for Vagabond, ows - I'd love to see it, partly because as of now I've only watched one Agnes Varda film, but also I usually trust your taste in things.
― emil.y, Friday, 19 May 2017 19:22 (seven years ago) link
didn't vote, but would probly have included this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXGXOeBw8ZQ
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Friday, 19 May 2017 19:32 (seven years ago) link
Thanks, emil.y: for the same reason, yr ballot reminds me how much I need to finally see Walkabout.
Xp
― one way street, Friday, 19 May 2017 19:36 (seven years ago) link
Also, thanks for running this poll, clemenza! Since you mentioned being interested in reading more about Wanda, it might be worth looking at Nathalie Léger's Suite for Barbara Loden, an excerpt from which is available here:
https://www.theparisreview.org/letters-essays/6820/barbara-wanda-nathalie-leger
I Travel Because I Have To, I Come Back Because I Love You**My go for broke passion vote. A Brazilian movie from 2009 that I saw (twice!) at a festival, on paper this looks like a boilerplate quirky road pic: a recently divorced geologist is sent out for an environmental impact research study Re:the building of a canal, which he semi-derails by going on a lengthy bender. What sets it apart is the execution. The whole thing is presented as a collage of home movies, faux-found footage, and POV shots, with most of the dialog being log entries read in voiceover by the unseen protagonist, a mixed bag of travelog descriptions of what's happening, memories of his wife, and fragments of the study he's supposed to be conducting. One of the best films I've ever seen on the function of memory, and a refreshingly successful genre de/reconstruction.
This sounds brilliant, btw.
― emil.y, Friday, 19 May 2017 19:47 (seven years ago) link
Sad Midnight Run didn't make it.
I really wanted to rewatch it for the poll, but couldn't find it anywhere. Haven't seen it since it whenever it was last in regular rotation on cable.
― some sad trombone Twilight Zone shit (cryptosicko), Friday, 19 May 2017 19:47 (seven years ago) link