Puzzle Films - a list by jbenz

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About this list:

I feel that a new genre of filmmaking has emerged over the past few years and I call it the Puzzle Film. These are movies with extremely intricate plots that leave the viewer thinking "Wow, what a great movie. I don't get it." Because of the internet, audiences can endlessly debate what actually happened in a film. In some cases, they can work out a plot that may have otherwise never been adequately revealed. While filmmakers should include all of the necessary info, it needn't be presented clearly.

Qualifications:

Good films that require several viewings to fully appreciate

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Viewing 1-8 of 8 Items

12 Monkeys

First to recommend

2 people recommended this item

Description

I can't believe this hasn't been added to ThisNext before now. Maybe I missed it my search, but if not, I'll be glad to add it.

Another excellent Puzzle Film. I suppose that on a certain level, all of Terry Gilliam's films could qualify as Puzzle Films, but this one here is the greatest example. Plus, it has Bruce Willis.

There are some brilliant intricacies to Twelve Monkeys that will be lost with only one viewing. Watch it again and again to achieve full richness.

Updated Jun 21, 2007

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Back to the Future, Part II

First to recommend

Description

First of all the BTTF films just might be the greatest trilogy of all time. Will we ever see three geniuses like Robert Zemeckis, Michael J Fox, and Christopher Lloyd, converge again? Doubtful. (Bob Gale (screenwriter), you were good too).

Secondly I wanted to add this to my "Puzzle Film" list to help demonstrate what I mean by Puzzle Film, for this movie is the anti-Puzzle Film (side note: this makes BTTF2 no less valid).

It is the anit-Puzzle Film for one specific reason. Do you remember when Old Biff steals the Delorean, takes it back to 1955 and the returns to the Future? Originally there was a scene where Old Biff gets out of the car (breaking his cane) stumbles a bit, and then disappears. The reason he disappears is because the future that Marty and Doc were in no longer exists because of what Old Biff did in the past (at least it does not exist for Old Biff who was then coming from new 1955, but it still exists for Marty and Doc because they came from the appropriate 1985... Plus, once Biff got all that money he probably would have killed himself with excess and never lived to be old).

When they screened the movie for test audiences, nobody understood why he disappeared, and this supposedly lessened their movie going experience. Subsequently, the scene was cut.

THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN A TRUE PUZZLE MOVIE! Scenes like that one are exactly what makes a good puzzle movie great. The audience should think, "why did that happen? I want to know more..." and then be inspired to do the proper amount of research either on the web or by listening to commentary tracks on the DVD.

Thus, I add this film to my list as an example of the anti-Puzzle Film.

Updated Nov 11, 2006

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The Big Lebowski

12 people recommended this item

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I couldn't agree more - another Cohen Brothers classic. "It ties the room together man".

and PS - John Goodman should have one an award for his role - he's one of our greatest American character actors. (via johnpolinsky)

Updated Oct 17, 2006

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Memento (2000)

15 people recommended this item

Description

I love how the filmmakers force the viewer to encounter the same problems as the main character. He cannot remember what happened ten minutes ago and the audience has no idea what happened ten minutes ago (timeline-wise). Plus the audience is forced to remember what happened at the beginning of a scene in order to put it together with the end of the next scene they are about to watch.

It creates an effect of serious time confusion, which I guess is what Guy Pearce was dealing with.

Updated Dec 15, 2006

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The Usual Suspects

First to recommend

13 people recommended this item

Description

Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. I had never seen a movie of this kind back when it came out. The twists and turns were so well done as was the acting. This movie turned me into a huge Kevin Spacey fan. I adore movies that make you think and reflect. My friends and I debated this one for days after seeing it. I've seen it at least eight times by now. If you know someone who hasn't seen this- make them watch it! (via Amazon)

Updated Sep 26, 2006

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Syriana

3 people recommended this item

Description

I didn't get it the first time I saw it either. You have to want to understand it. I think thats what makes a great film, making you want to study / understand it.

Matt Damon is totally underrated. There, I said it. I don't care who knows.

Updated Nov 11, 2006

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Donnie Darko

5 people recommended this item

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You might not totally understand this movie the first time you watch it, but I promise all the information necessary to understand it is in there (you just have to watch it a couple more times).

Jake Gyllenhaal, Noah Wylie, Drew Barrymore in a flick by Richard Kelly. Plus, it has an awesome 80s soundtrack. Listen to the commentary (especially on the directors cut version) and you'll think Richard Kelly is a very smart person.

Updated Nov 11, 2006

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Primer (2003)

7 people recommended this item

Description

You've never heard of this movie, but please hear it now.

Primer won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and has drawn repeat viewers eager to crack writer-director-star Shane Carruth's puzzler of a time-travel drama. Carruth, an engineer by training, plays inventor Aaron, whose entrepreneurial partnership with fellow brainiac Abe (David Sullivan) unexpectedly results in a process for traveling back several hours in time. The men initially use these rewind sessions to succeed in the stock market. But a dark consequence of their daily journeys eventually complicates matters. If this sounds like a very commercial, science fiction thriller, Primer is anything but that. Shot on 16mm for $7,000, the film has a tantalizing, sealed-in logic, akin to Memento, that forces viewers to see the fantastic with a certain dispassion. One may be tempted to sit through Primer again to more fully understand its paradoxes and ethical quandaries.

You have to want to understand this movie. Watch it once, and you'll never get it. Watch it twice, and you'll like it even more, but won't understand it. Watch it three times, once with the commentary on and then read about it for 6 hours on the internet and you'll begin to understand. It takes dedication, but its worth it.

Updated Nov 11, 2006

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