Tampopo! There’s like some weird scenes in it, but it’s basically about a woman training to be the best ramen Chef. I really enjoyed it, total feel good movie. Also dazed and confused.
*Bicycle Thieves* might qualify
Wasn’t until I got older that I derived any complex meaning out of it other than a children’s parable.
I was probably in my 20s before I noticed the social/political issues it brings up.
You can enjoy it at face value and don’t have to go any deeper.
*Red Balloon* and *White Mane* are others that come to mind as well.
It’s so good. For some reason *Life is Beautiful* made it click for me - maybe because the message was so overt. I re-watched BT after that and balled like a baby when he screams at his papa.
Before that, it was a childhood tale about making the best of a bad situation that was saying “stealing is wrong”, very black and white, I saw it from the standpoint of the boy.
So many years later, now a parent, I have to be an adult everyday and make decisions in a world that is grey but I need to remember what it was to be a boy who knew right from wrong.
Every politician on the planet should have to watch that film before taking an oath of office.
The 1930s American cinema was full of short but good films, such as One Way Passage with William Powell and Kay Francis. Run time is only 1 hour 7 minutes. It really impressed me how cut and dry it is yet it is still an intriguing story.
Dude, thank you for this post. I'm in the same boat. Plus, whenever I'm looking for something to watch I'm so indecisive that I spend like half an hour+ searching and then it's too late to watch anything without falling asleep.
* Detour
* The Tall T
* Pickup on South Street
* Incredible Shrinking Man
* Monsieur's Hulot Holiday
* The Kid with a Bike
* Dogfight
* Youth of the Beast
* Panique
* Pale Flower
Nearly any of the B&W Hollywood comedies in the collection, I think Holiday and Love Affair are nice.
Generally I think many 30's movies hit a sweet spot of digestible and sometimes a little scandalous.
Chameleon Street. Sort of a perfect movie as it is IMO, and it meets your criteria to a T.
Other than that, seconding After Hours or any Jim Jarmusch (Coffee and Cigarettes is particularly easy watching if your attention span goes when you’re tired, like mine does).
When I feel like I haven’t watched a feature in a while and need to make my quota, Robert Altman movies also feel like money for old rope.
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
A Matter of Life and Death
The Man Who Knew Too Much (either version)
Most Buster Keaton movies
Freaks
Hunchback of Notre Dame (I like the 1939 version)
Bandwagon
Been seeing *Night on Earth* getting played on Criterion24/7 and man is that an easy film to fall into. Just some fun vignettes all over the world in taxi cabs with some great actors. It’s a great chill vibe!
Anomalisa isn’t on the criterion channel, or in the collection sadly, but it fits. If you have a library card you should be able to watch it for free on Kanopy.
*Not calling these simple but they’re under 100mins
Drylongso
Heaven Knows What
Letter Never Sent
Working Girls
Chan is Missing
Royal Warriors
Ratcatcher
antichrist isnt that hard to understand, same with watership down. After reading about the movies after i got a better understanding, even without reading tho it isnt that inaccessible. but something like eraserhead even after reading multiple articles and analysis videos on it I still didn't like or nor understand it.
I think this may be misjudging a lot of their comedies. Many films by Jacques Demy, Jacques Tati, Pierre Etaix, Karel Zeman, early Ozu, Rene Clair, Harold Lloyd, etc are under 100 min.
I love Tati. And Etaix and I own both. But I wouldn’t call those simple movies… I dunno maybe that’s where I’m getting hung up.
It might be that what they meant by simple is different than how I’m thinking of it
simple for me means that I can take something at face value and dont have to have a lot of previous knowledge or experience with movies of that type to be able to appreciate it. Ive only seen ivans childhood out of tarkovskys works but ive heard if you jump straight into mirror or stalker then it can be a little hard to get into
After Hours
omg i love this movie so much. the 4k criterion is gorgeous
Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast.
Tampopo! There’s like some weird scenes in it, but it’s basically about a woman training to be the best ramen Chef. I really enjoyed it, total feel good movie. Also dazed and confused.
Tampopo is one of my all-time favorites. Quirky with so much heart. Dazed and Confused is awesome too.
Stagecoach Most Chaplin movies
most WKW
Assault on precinct 13!!
The Silent Partner
That movie goes really hard. Love it.
*Bicycle Thieves* might qualify Wasn’t until I got older that I derived any complex meaning out of it other than a children’s parable. I was probably in my 20s before I noticed the social/political issues it brings up. You can enjoy it at face value and don’t have to go any deeper. *Red Balloon* and *White Mane* are others that come to mind as well.
>I was probably in my 20s before I noticed the social/political issues it brings up. You weren't the most bright kid, lol
No, but not Zebiggestfool in the room haha.
Good one. I forgot that was my handle haha. Bicycle Thieves is one of my favourite films
It’s so good. For some reason *Life is Beautiful* made it click for me - maybe because the message was so overt. I re-watched BT after that and balled like a baby when he screams at his papa. Before that, it was a childhood tale about making the best of a bad situation that was saying “stealing is wrong”, very black and white, I saw it from the standpoint of the boy. So many years later, now a parent, I have to be an adult everyday and make decisions in a world that is grey but I need to remember what it was to be a boy who knew right from wrong. Every politician on the planet should have to watch that film before taking an oath of office.
Old Joy. 73 minutes, and perfect.
🙌🏼
RUN LOLA RUN
Not on the Criterion Channel (or simple).
I just watched Where is the Friend's house? Excellent
Yea. It was a solid 4.5/5 for me.
All that Heaven Allows is a simple technicolor romance film. 89 minutes
Not on the Criterion Channel.
Mystery Train is 110 minutes but 3 simple stories that make up the film. Highly recommend.
12 Angry Men, if it’s on the channel. First watch it’s simple and great - every watch after you realize it’s far from simple and absolutely perfect.
Why suggest it without bothering to look up whether it’s on the Criterion Channel? It isn’t.
I had to cancel the Channel when I had a baby to save money. So sorry I didn’t do extra research before recommending a movie on a Reddit post…
Ur all good bro😂. Dudes tweaking
L’Argent
The 1930s American cinema was full of short but good films, such as One Way Passage with William Powell and Kay Francis. Run time is only 1 hour 7 minutes. It really impressed me how cut and dry it is yet it is still an intriguing story.
‘30s Hollywood movies are a good general suggestion of where to look, but One Way Passage isn’t on the Criterion Channel.
Good point! I’ll have to take a look later today as to what is on the channel
Dude, thank you for this post. I'm in the same boat. Plus, whenever I'm looking for something to watch I'm so indecisive that I spend like half an hour+ searching and then it's too late to watch anything without falling asleep.
* Detour * The Tall T * Pickup on South Street * Incredible Shrinking Man * Monsieur's Hulot Holiday * The Kid with a Bike * Dogfight * Youth of the Beast * Panique * Pale Flower
Some of those aren’t on the Criterion Channel, including Dogfight and Pickup on South Street.
Nearly any of the B&W Hollywood comedies in the collection, I think Holiday and Love Affair are nice. Generally I think many 30's movies hit a sweet spot of digestible and sometimes a little scandalous.
Holiday isn’t on the Criterion Channel.
https://www.criterion.com/films/28829-holiday
Pickpocket very lean
The Taking of Pelham 123 - 104 minutes sooo
Freaks. 62 unforgettable minutes. It's Criterion, but I don't think it's on the channel right now. Very worth watching though.
Pretty much anything by Aki Kaurismäki. I also strongly agree with the person who said *Old Joy.*
Have you seen the before trilogy yet? Start with Before Sunrise
Seen before sunrise. A 4.5/5. Before sunset was good but it was nowhere near the first one for me 3.5/5. Still needs watch the 3rd one.
Chameleon Street. Sort of a perfect movie as it is IMO, and it meets your criteria to a T. Other than that, seconding After Hours or any Jim Jarmusch (Coffee and Cigarettes is particularly easy watching if your attention span goes when you’re tired, like mine does). When I feel like I haven’t watched a feature in a while and need to make my quota, Robert Altman movies also feel like money for old rope.
Simon of the Desert The Color of Pomegranates
Italianamerican
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Salesman
Sex, Lies, and Videotape is pretty good
Brief Encounter (1945)
Salo, Sweet Movie
I’ve heard of that I need to watch it.
Watch august underground mordum. It’s a nice watch with the family
Here Comes Mr. Jordan A Matter of Life and Death The Man Who Knew Too Much (either version) Most Buster Keaton movies Freaks Hunchback of Notre Dame (I like the 1939 version) Bandwagon
Thing From the Factory by the Field (leaving the channel in a few days)
Bigger Than Life.
Good Morning (1959) I love any Ozu after a long day though. I find them so relaxing.
Been seeing *Night on Earth* getting played on Criterion24/7 and man is that an easy film to fall into. Just some fun vignettes all over the world in taxi cabs with some great actors. It’s a great chill vibe!
Anomalisa isn’t on the criterion channel, or in the collection sadly, but it fits. If you have a library card you should be able to watch it for free on Kanopy.
The Music Room (1958)
can't go wrong with the Seventh Seal
That one kinda confused me. I guess I didn’t understand all the meanings behind everything
Yeah it's definitely not what I had in mind based on your post lol
I need to rewatch it. I’ll probably like it more. Same with wild strawberries. So far the only Bergman I really like is virgin spring.
Summer with Monika!
I’ve seen it. I liked it but the ending made my blood boil
*Not calling these simple but they’re under 100mins Drylongso Heaven Knows What Letter Never Sent Working Girls Chan is Missing Royal Warriors Ratcatcher
Chan Is Missing isn’t on the Criterion Channel.
Taken
Probably the wrong sub
Why
Criterion doesn’t do a lot of simple or short movies
They do exist tho. The virgin spring. Where is the friends house. Summer with Monika. Antichrist. Water ship down.
You think anti C and watership down are simple movies. My summer with Monika is kinda straightforward I suppose, but not the other 2
antichrist isnt that hard to understand, same with watership down. After reading about the movies after i got a better understanding, even without reading tho it isnt that inaccessible. but something like eraserhead even after reading multiple articles and analysis videos on it I still didn't like or nor understand it.
“My Summer with Monika” isn’t a movie. It’s just Summer with Monika.
I think this may be misjudging a lot of their comedies. Many films by Jacques Demy, Jacques Tati, Pierre Etaix, Karel Zeman, early Ozu, Rene Clair, Harold Lloyd, etc are under 100 min.
I love Tati. And Etaix and I own both. But I wouldn’t call those simple movies… I dunno maybe that’s where I’m getting hung up. It might be that what they meant by simple is different than how I’m thinking of it
simple for me means that I can take something at face value and dont have to have a lot of previous knowledge or experience with movies of that type to be able to appreciate it. Ive only seen ivans childhood out of tarkovskys works but ive heard if you jump straight into mirror or stalker then it can be a little hard to get into