What movies are great for artistic inspiration?

[Keith Russell]

Originally Posted by maleaco

Schindler's List

There are some movies, like the above, but also Sophie's Choice, American History X, Blindness that I've seen once, and don't ever need (or desire) to see again...

[RIpp3r]

Nothing too fancy but Tekkon Kinkreet is a pretty good one.

[karen m]

Two spring to mind immediately. They are visually stunning in very different ways.

'What Dreams May Come' (Robin Williams)
http://www.flixster.com/movie/what-dreams-may-come/#

and

'Raise the Red Lantern' http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000...yoffilm.china7

There are some video clips for both on YouTube if you'd like a small preview.

[RCharleston]

+1 on the David Lynch films with a special mention to "Eraserhead"...

[KrystalB333]

Artist 111,

I'm with you on the David Lynch movies! Also, I'd like to add the sweet, beautiful movie "Amelie"...I can't help it. I love that movie...seems kind of opposite from David Lynch's works, but hey, sometimes one needs a pick me up after watching Mulholland Drive.

[KrystalB333]

Karen M -

You're brilliant for posting "What Dreams May Come" - I forgot about that one! The book was amazing too!

[AshlandCreekArt]

"What Dreams May Come" was amazing. I get inspired everytime I see it.

[jemmett]

Simon Schama's Power of Art

Professionally acted Van Gogh, Rothko, Turner, etc.

[artyczar]

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo, 2005
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, 2007
The Science of Sleep, 2006
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams, 1990
In the Realms of the Unreal, 2004

[imFragrance]

Originally Posted by Use Her Name

I generally avoid movies about artists because they seem to dwell on mental illness, depression, alcoholism, suicide, drug addiction, abusive relationships and general stupidity. You just don't see any good examples of artists who are happy and productive, and not insane because that is not "Hollywood."

I tend to like "making-of" videos that you see on the menus of various DVDs. All zillion hours of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy were pretty inspiring to an artist. I liked seeing all the various "crafts" come together. I also had no idea that the filming of all 3 movies was done consecutively, and also that it took a full 5 years of planning before filming was started. This made me learn, and think a lot about my unrealistic assumptions about planning and the creation of large artwork.

This is probably not quite what you had in mind for this thread.

i totally agree with you ! also LOTR would be a very good choice

and my movie suggestion is "Le Renard Et L'enfant". It is a french movie about a fox and a little girl . It has amazing nature scenes.

[Packingrobot]

I like to watch movie and would suggest " Pollock " movie because it's great artistic inspiration movie.

Packing Robot

[darkwolf29]

I find lots of movies inspirational. African Cats and March of the Penguins, two Disney movies.

LOTR trilogy is always good, as has been mentioned.

Star Wars is good. They do have some fabulous settings in those movies.

Also, don't overlook video games either. I'm playing Diablo 3 right now and there is some beautiful backgrounds. The Myst games were fantastic for that also, if you can find them.

[it'sALLart]

Originally Posted by karen m

'Raise the Red Lantern' http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000...yoffilm.china7

The 2nd film you list is one of my all time favorites and extremely haunting and beautiful. Not sure if it inspires me art-wise, but it sure does make you think.

Also like The Last Emperor and this version of Pride and Prejudice if not for the acting, at least for the cinematography.

Yeah, I'm a romantic sap.

[ohjanet]

I find that it doesn't have to be a whole movie that inspires me, but small snippets from several movies. One I can think of right off the top of my head is a scene from American Beauty. There is a scene where the two kids are watching a video the one made of a plastic bag being caught in a breeze. It is such a simple thing, but in the movie it was so powerful. I cried when I saw it. Sorry, that probably sounds dumb.

I'm fascinated by images from space, the Hubble telescope to be more accurate. The images take my breath away, they are simply stunning. I love watching documentaries on the Science channel. There is a series called Wonders of the Universe with Professor Brian Cox that blows me away. The imagery is fantastic! The host looks like a punk little kid, but he's a physics professor in England and explains how the universe works in a way that I can understand it.

Pixar movies are another inspiration. One of my favorite movies of all time is Up! It is so visually interesting! I love the way they create the shadows and colors and textures. Plus the story is flat out amazing.

[yaldahma@gmail.com]

Avatar and Terminator: Salvation are the best movies for artistic inspiration.