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movies to watch to look like a smart cinephile

classic and groundbreaking movies that will expand your film knowledge and appreciation (and to show off..)

Citizen Kane – Orson Welles, 1941

DRAMA / MYSTERY, 1h59

with Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Everett Sloane

synopsis

Following the death of billionaire Charles Foster Kane, a newspaper magnate, reporter Thompson investigates his life. His conversations with those close to him reveal a larger-than-life figure who was megalomaniacal, selfish, and solitary.

Psycho – Alfred Hitchcock, 1960

MYSTERY / THRILLER / HORROR, 1h49

with Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, John Gavin

synopsis

When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.

American Psycho – Mary Harron, 2000

CRIME / THRILLER / HORROR, 1h41

with Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Reese Witherspoon

synopsis

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.

12 Angry Men – Sidney Lumet, 1957

DRAMA, 1h36

with Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley

synopsis

Twelve jurors must decide the fate of a young man accused of murder. Henry Fonda leads the lone dissenting juror, forcing a re-examination of the evidence and raising questions about prejudice and the justice system. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, the jurors grapple with the weight of their decision.

Parasite – Bong Joon-ho, 2019

COMEDY / THRILLER / DRAMA, 2h12

with Song Kang-ho, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam

synopsis

The impoverished Kim family schemes their way into working for the wealthy Park family. Ki-woo, the son, lands a tutoring job for the Parks’ daughter, then cleverly orchestrates positions for the rest of his family within the household. As they become entrenched in the Parks’ lives, tensions simmer beneath the surface. The web of deceit the Kims have woven grows more intricate, eventually leading to a shocking and violent turn of events that exposes the deep chasm between the wealthy and the poor.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Sergio Leone, 1966

WESTERN, ⋍ 3h (depending on the version)

Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef

Synopsis


In the chaos of the American Civil War, three gunslingers with questionable morals – a cynical bounty hunter, a ruthless bandit, and a cold-blooded mercenary – find themselves chasing rumors of a hidden fortune in Confederate gold. Uneasy alliances and ruthless betrayals become their dance as they follow clues and eliminate anyone standing in their way, all for a chance to claim the buried treasure. The dusty landscapes of the war-torn Southwest become the backdrop for a thrilling race where the lines between good, bad, and ugly blur.