Best Existential Films?


There are some films that just make you glad to be alive, and live YOUR life, that seem to comment on something beyond simply the main character's situation. A lot of my favorite movies have this as their theme.

I wanted to start a thread where we list some movies along those lines for people who have already worn out their JVV tapes...

1. JVV--You already know.

2. The Big Lebowski--No transformation here, but The Dude is obviously just happy to be alive and not too concerned about the material world. Except for his rug, of course.

3. Blade Runner--In this one the machines with short life spans are more interesting than the humans with much more time to enjoy something that only the machines seem to truly appreciate. I felt like Roy Batty was _driven_ to madness and murder by the realization that he did not have "enough life". One of the great existential films I have ever seen...

4. Leaving Las Vegas--OK so this is an odd choice. But it just feels like life captured on celluloid. These two people in a dark place found a light in each other and just ran with it. The scene where she poured the vodka over her breasts to that "I'm Gonna Love You, Like Nobody's Loved You" song was perfect. Sad but still life afirming in a weird way.

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind--Yeah, relationships are far from perfect. But the good outweighs the bad...

These movies made me happy in a more thoughtful way than mere entertainment. I thought I could do with more of The Dude's contentment, the passion of the characters in Leaving Las Vegas, and I found myself sharing the epiphany of the characters in ESOSM. Blade Runner and JVV are the main two, though, movies that made me think: Life is truly a gift.

Anyone have any movies to add? I would love to unearth something I have not seen along these lines.

Can never have enough of these type of movies. Sadly, 99% of them go the other way....

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[deleted]

Lost in Translation and My Dinner With Andre are 2 of my favorites that are similar to what you're describing.

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eXistenz
i <3 huckabees
... more

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The Truman Show and The World According To Garp

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Groundhog Day

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it may sound wierd, but True Romance and Love The Hard Way are two movies that show the kinda of red hot passion that can make a relationship dangerously passionate.

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[deleted]

Good choices.
I'd add "Grosse Pointe Blank" to the list. The quotes below should explain a few things:

Blank: "Either I'm in love with your daughter or I've found a new respect for life"
Grocer: "Either he's in love with that man's daughter or he found a new respect for life"

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"Time Bandits" would be high on that list for me.

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I'm surprised no one has suggested:

PUNCH DRUNK LOVE

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American Beauty.
Am I the only one who saw similarities between Joe Banks and Lester Burnham?

Well I gotta go now Duane.....I'm due back on the planet Earth

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sort of yes, sort of no. there are definitely a lot of similarities, but I think they're fundamentally different.

both re-invigorated themselves after being pounded into the ground by the realities of middle age. However, I think Joe did it by assuming responsibility, abandoning his old life and moving forward. Lester on the other hand, foregoes all responsibility and regresses to the last time he was happy (high school, i'm guessing).

Joe evolves. Lester devolves.

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* Punch-Drunk Love
* About Schmidt
* American Beauty
* Wings of desire (Der himmel über Berlin)
* After Life (Wandâfuru raifu)

Also recomend:
* Interstate 60


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