10 Must-See Films from The Movie Book

Each book in the Big Ideas series is a great read, but none have enchanted me quite so much as The Movie Book, which introduced me to countless films I somehow missed over the years.

 The Movie Book is filled with a number of must-see films, which, ashamedly, I had never seen—and this helpful history of film made it easy for me to correct this oversight in my cinematic education. I’ve made a list of 10 films that stand out as some of the greatest discoveries I’ve made using The Movie Book as my guide.

This brilliant, dramatic thriller stars Gene Hackman (and Harrison Ford in a supporting role as a baddie) as a surveillance expert obsessed with his own privacy. He finds himself caught up in a series of events, all spinning from a wonderfully orchestrated opening sequence, that threaten his work and possibly his sanity, as he knows how easy it is to listen in and spy on someone. It's a smart and engaging thriller, which could be paired perfectly with Brian De Palma's Blow Out. This film suggestion was tucked into one of The Movie Book's What Else to Watch sidebars in support of the film The Lives of Others.

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate." It's an iconic line, and who knows how many times I've heard it referenced in television shows, movies, and countless award programs. But I'd never seen the Paul Newman film from which it had sprung—at least not until I dug into the What Else to Watch list appended to the always-enjoyable The Shawshank Redemption. Newman is perfectly cast in this film and plays the role with an ease that belies the talent behind it. Luke is in prison and becomes idolized by his peers even though he is a broken man. He's a non-conformist, and with the prison serving as a microcosm of reality, one is left to wonder where the modern man fits into the modern world.

Gong Li truly captivates as Songlian, the newly acquired fourth mistress in a household. She has to fend for herself as she learns the ins and outs of the house, the politics at work, and the rivalry between the other women. Gorgeous imagery and a fascinating tale wrap us up in Songlian's world as she transitions from a young, inexperienced woman to a woman in control. It's so beautifully shot and acted that I couldn't believe how long it took me to watch this one, having seen it years ago on the rental shelves but never choosing to take it home. 

I am one of those people who believes there’s no such thing as a bad submarine movie (though there are a couple of exceptions to the rule), and yet until I read The Movie Book I had not watched this one. Included on the What Else to Watch list in support of the superlative Das Boot, this sub film features Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens as duelling Navy captains. Set during World War II, the USS Haynes is caught up in a cat and mouse game with a Nazi sub, and the two commanders test each other's mettle brilliantly. This one could pair up wonderfully with one of my all-time favourite submarine movies, The Hunt for Red October.

I won't lie—Hugo is probably my favourite Scorsese film because it's a love letter to cinema, but King of Comedy (tucked into the What Else to Watch list for Taxi Driver) is a close second. Forget Joker, De Niro's Rupert walks the edge of being completely horrifying in his pursuit of a stand-up comedy career and a chance to appear on Jerry Langford's (Jerry Lewis) talk show. He never quite gets to terrifying, but it's scarier seeing the possibility restrained just under the surface, wondering how long it will take to break free. 

This recommendation from The Movie Book is based on a novel of the same name. The story is hauntingly beautiful, and so resonated with those who read the book and saw the film that they believed it was based on an actual event. A day trip to Hanging Rock by a girls' school in 1900 ends in mystery and heartache when some of the girls disappear and are never seen again. It tears the school and the local town apart as they attempt to figure out what happened, and the mystery is there for viewers to puzzle over and draw their own conclusions. Beautiful and beguiling, it would make a great double feature with Heavenly Creatures (also featured in The Movie Book).

I've never been a Shirley MacLaine fan, but pair her with Jack Lemmon and director Billy Wilder and the resulting romantic comedy (found in the What Else to Watch list for Some Like It Hot) is a joy to behold. MacLaine plays a prostitute, and Lemmon is a naive police officer who falls in love with her and tries to find a way to get her out of the Red District once and for all. Wilder is a master, directing some fantastic films, but this is one that I hadn't seen—and honestly, it was MacLaine that was holding me back. It was so good, and Lemmon is comedy gold.

Perspective and personal truths are on display in this brilliant Kurosawa film that tells the same story from three different views. As the images and narrative unfold, it's easy to see why Kurosawa was a master. It's an engaging story, one layered in symbolism and featuring fantastic performances. I've always been a fan of Toshiro Mifune, and this film introduced me to one of his most iconic roles. There was a time when I shied away from foreign films, but I should have discovered this fantastic film decades ago.

From the What Else to Watch list in support of His Girl Friday, Roman Holiday stars Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in a delightful, fairy tale–like story. Hepburn plays the sheltered Princess Ann, who is worn out by her royal duties, overscheduled life, and the paparazzi. During a state visit to Rome, she slips out of the embassy to explore the city and bumps into Peck's newspaperman, Joe Bradley. They spend the day together, and while Joe is faced with the moral dilemma of letting Ann have some privacy or publishing her story, they begin to fall for one another. Gorgeously shot on location, this rom-com is head and shoulders above countless other films in the genre, and there's a reason why it endures. Honestly, a big softie like me should have seen this one long ago. Share it with someone you love.

In this film Jimmy Stewart shows us how wonderful the American political system could be if people weren't corrupted by greed and owned by lobby groups. There is a purity and honesty to his character that is inspiring and encourages us to strive to be better than we are. Capra's films tend to do that—to show us what we can and should be, the just man standing against corruption and the evils we do to one another. Coming off of this one, I rewatched the entire series of The West Wing. 

The list wouldn't be complete without at least one science fiction title, considering how much I enjoy them. First Men in the Moon (1964, Nathan Juran) was a fantastic discovery on my part, as it gave me H.G. Wells, aliens, and hidden moon bases all in one. And who doesn't love a good film noir? Kiss Me Deadly (1955, Robert Aldrich) brings hard-boiled detective Mike Hammer a strange case that dabbles in both noir and sci-fi!

 It just goes to show you, not only is there something for everyone in The Movie Book, but there are also dozens of films that you'll fall in love with and can't believe you've never watched before. Check it out, and dive into the world of popcorn and must-see cinema. 

Since first encountering Bruce the Shark in 1975 at the impressionable age of 4, TD Rideout has had a love of film. Coming up through the training ground of video stores, and augmented by courses, reading and countless discussions, he's discovered a multitude of movies (more every day) that he is eager to share and talk about via his blog, The Mind Reels. Be it escapist fare or arthouse cinema, TD delights in it all.