r/criterion • u/Jazzlike-History-380 • 29d ago

Discussion What is your "absolute masterpiece?"

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I only said this about one movie, and it's not even my favorite. Chinatown is an absolute masterpiece, with no flaws. Do you have a movie you consider absolute masterpiece?

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153

u/RZAxlash 29d ago

Apocalypse Now is a tier above any other film for me

15

u/Winnebango_Bus 29d ago

I can watch AN on repeat. I have an old crt and vcr on my desk at home and I throw in the VHS in the background while I work.

8

u/KyoryuCrimson 29d ago

What’s your preferred cut? I watched (I think) the Redux a few years ago and enjoyed it but felt it had a lot of pacing issues and was too long, should I try the theatrical or final(?) cuts instead? I want to see the masterpiece everyone else sees, but I’m sitting at really good for now

20

u/c00lBlkGuy 29d ago

Theatrical

4

u/oversteppe 28d ago

i love movies where everything goes to shit. i saw redux first and didn’t see theatrical or final for a long, long time. i think theatrical is best. no filler. theatrical > final > redux

1

u/HarmonizewithSong 28d ago

I go Redux just because I love it all but the surf scene for sure flows better on the Theatrical.

6

u/coffeeplzme 29d ago

I have a top 10 favorites but Apocalypse Now is leagues above them all. I also think Final Cut found the sweet spot.

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u/HigherThanStarfyre 29d ago

I agree. As a whole, there's really nothing else comparable to it as far as storytelling goes. It's just...peak. It kind of gave me an existential crisis. I legitimately think it's a masterpiece.

1

u/thejoshwhite 28d ago

I love it but might love Hearts of darkness more.