The Decalogue by Krzysztof Kieslowski (1989)

An amazing series of 1 hour films originally made for Polish TV.  Each film is about one of the 10 Commandments.  You have to see this series to believe it.  A cinematic masterpiece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOucaDYKRDA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH6EbHriUbc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tV5diB5ME8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNYwzpEA8rU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIzw88K2Uac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmmuiimSjLs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35D_FRGpdNc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecUMbLyQGEk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGH-glg1LdQ

Le Roi de Coeur (The King of Hearts) Directed by Philippe de Broca, starring Alan Bates (1966)

If there were a list of 'the coolest' films ever made, this would be toward the top.  Phil Jackson, ex-coach of the Chicago Bulls, once showed this 1966 film to the Bulls to inspire them for a game (but I'm not sure how this was supposed to inspire them - I think Jackson just liked this movie and wanted to share it).

Basically it's an 'anti-war' film and much more.  Before leaving a French town (toward the end of WW I) a German General maliciously plants a giant bomb in the town square which is supposed to destroy the town and the English soldiers coming in to occupy the town.  A Frenchman learns of this and contacts the English. He informs them of the bomb, but cannot determine where the bomb is located.

Private Plumpick (played by Alan Bates) is chosen to go into the town and diffuse the bomb.  In the town he finds that there are still people there - inmates from an insane asylum have left their facility and have, in fact, occupied the town. They have shed their asylum clothing and are now dressed as the various town leaders. Plumpick becomes the King of their community as he desperately tries to determine where the bomb has been placed.

Everybody who has seen this film has fallen in love with this film.

Please enjoy it!  I think you have to click on 'closed caption' to turn on the English subtitles for this French film.  Click on the cc box under the movie screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGEqDF6ZMyY

"M" Directed by Fritz Lang, Starring Peter Lorre (1931)

In this amazing film from 1931, a German city hunts down a serial child murderer.

But this is more than a crime/suspense film. Indeed, to some extent, it reminds me of Tolstoy's novel "Resurrection."  The theme of that novel is that we are all, basically, criminals and that we do not have the moral right to judge other criminals.  If judgement occurs, it is for practical and economic reasons, not moral reasons.

In this film we see that, basically, lower-level criminals are the prime 'hunters' of this child murderer.  They hunt this murderer down not because they are appalled by the murders, but because their underground illegal economy is being harmed by the murders.  The police are everywhere and it is impossible for this informal syndicate of criminals to function while the murderer is loose.

At the end of the film the syndicate captures the murderer and puts him on trial.  So you literally have criminals judging a criminal.  (Actually this scene of criminals judging another criminal reminded me a lot of the Illinois Legislature judging Governor Rod Blagojevich a few years ago :P).

We also have the impassioned monologue by the child murderer who claims that he is helpless against the inner demons that drive him.  This is an amazing job of acting by Peter Lorre.

Fritz Lang created some masterpieces while in Germany - Dr. Mabuse, Metropolis, M...

He fled Nazi Germany when he was approached by Josef Goebbels about possibly doing propaganda films for the Nazis.  The story goes that immediately after Goebbels spoke to him he got on a plane and escaped to England.  In Hollywood Lang helped develop film noir.

Kudos must go to Thea von Harbou for writing this amazing screenplay. She has never received full credit for the great and thoughtful work she did. 

Please enjoy "M"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM0w1dTNAH0