1. The Conformist (1970) - This is perhaps the most beautifully shot film I have ever seen. There are countless images that stick in my head, all of which have the wispy texture of a vivid dream. I've actually only seen it once, which shows you how powerful it is, and I'm almost afraid to see it again, for fear of ruining the perfect image I have of it.
2. Brazil (1985) - Gotta love the Gilliam. I have a soft spot for dystopian visions (crosses fingers) and this one has the lovably quirky bite of a very long snake. A little comedy goes a long way with me, and this is as funny a vision of a crumbling future as you'll get. And on an somewhat unrelated note, I seriously wish they'd make a respectable adaptation of Brave New World, as that's one of my favorite books and I really enjoy turning it sideways.
3. Blue Velvet (1986) - I don't always warm to David Lynch films (I fell asleep during Inland Empire) but I always have respect for what he does. I think a little too often he drifts off into masturbatory weirdom, but when he manages to stay on the narrative track I am genuinely amazed by what he can do. Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive are two sides of the same coin to me, and I think both are masterpieces.
