Must-See Non-Drama Films

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ADBilodeau

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There are hundreds of lists out there of films every filmmaker must see, and most of them list the exact same films. Yes, we've all seen Citizen Kane, The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. Yes, Fellini, Bergman and Kurasawa did amazing things with a camera. I get it. But frankly, with this kind of curriculum I'm beginning to think it's no wonder film schools have such a high suicide rate.

Surely the moving image, as an art form, has a wider range of emotion than just pain, anticipation, more pain and despair.

So where are these films? Where are the comedies that make brilliant use of visuals to make a funny film hilarious? Where are the action films that redefined the genre? Rom Coms? Musicals? Horror films where the hero lives?

On that note, a caveat: If it's billed as a comedy, and everyone dies at the end, it's not a comedy.

So what's on your list?
 
Highly recommend Jacques Tati's social satire " Playtime" for one. Visual story telling and cinematography as fine art. Also hilarious. The Criterion Blu-ray is stunning.
 
I've asked a similar question. But I don't think you'll be getting a list. The thing is, people are intrigued by pain and despair. Why? Because nobody fully understands it. So when you have a film that portrays it in a new or vivid way, society in it's innocence proclaims it as a great film simply because it isn't understood.
 
Some like it hot, Singing in the rain, The apartment, Dr. Strangelove, Tootsie, What's up doc?,
Father of the bride, Jerry Maquire, What women want, Hitch, You've got mail, Shakespeare in love,
While you were sleeping, Moonstruck, just to name a few.
 
Koyaanisqatsi is a must see non-narrative. It has its intentions, but it is highly interpretable. This year Exit Through the Gift Shop is the must see documentary. +1 on Dr. Strangelove.
 
I tend to watch the Coen Brothers' films for cinematgraphy. Watch Raising Arizona (Sonnenfeld), Miller's Crossing (Sonnenfeld) or O Brother Where Art Thou (Deakins) or any of their films and you will see great cinematography...especially for comedies. Deakins has shot most of their films since Barton Fink...but his and Sonnenfeld's work is as good as it gets.
 
I watched Army of Darkness a while ago and was pretty amazed with what Bill Pope did in that movie. You should check it out.
 
Amelie from Montmartre (as comedy), Batman Begins (as action), The Matrix (redefined vfx in action), Blade Runner (amazing cinematography).
 
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