Submitted by InfiniteWar t3_11dwj7g in movies

I’m really getting into these kinds of slow, subtle, character studies. Aftersun was incredible and First Reformed left me thinking about it for weeks after I watched it. Obviously, Taxi Driver and First Reformed were both written by Paul Schrader, but I’m not familiar with his other works. Would this be a good place to start?

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KenseiJournal t1_jab85sc wrote

The Card Counter, The Last Temptation of Christ, American Gigolo, Mishima, Raging Bull, Light Sleeper.

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BEE_REAL_ t1_jaba7sx wrote

First Reformed is basically a combo of Winter Light, Diary of a Country Priest, and Ordet. The first half is a straight remake of Winter Light (although I like First Reformed better)

> but I’m not familiar with his other works

Schrader has written/directed quite a few other great movies, most notably Raging Bull and Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters. Definitely recommend

Basically any Ingmar Bergman movie (Winter Light included). Wild Strawberries and Hour of the Wolf are good places to start

Ozu movies, particularly Tokyo Story, Late Spring, and An Autumn Afternoon

Andrei Rublev

In a Lonely Place

The Deer Hunter

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ThePhonyKing t1_jabek1o wrote

Great list. I'll add:

Serpico

8 1/2

Le Samourai

Bad Lieutenant

Thief

Carlitos Way

There Will Be Blood

Punch Drunk Love

A History of Violence

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CroweMorningstar t1_jabdl7t wrote

Good list. I’d throw in Bresson since Schrader was influenced by him too (particularly Pickpocket and L’Argent).

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emielaen77 t1_jab9902 wrote

Cronenberg's Dead Ringers or Schrader's Light Sleeper

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Jean_Lucs_Front_Yard t1_jac4ypa wrote

Light Sleeper is so good.

Brilliant work from Defoe. I love how they never resort to ex-junkie suffering a relapse for cheap drama. Defoe's character is clean and stays clean. The drama is about him wanting out of his environment without a plan to do so.

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reedzkee t1_jad1zbj wrote

interesting. it's been a while since I saw it but I never made the connection between dead ringers and taxi driver.

both are contenders for biggest "hitting me like a freight train" movies.

after dead ringers I sat and stared at the blank screen for 30 minutes, in shock.

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TripleSingleHOF t1_jab9ql1 wrote

Bringing out the Dead is Taxi Driver for the 90's except for substituting paramedics for cabbies.

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FreeLook93 t1_jabfodo wrote

>slow, subtle, character studies.

Ozu.

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girlg8766 t1_jabngp4 wrote

The Florida Project

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Menspookie t1_jabshkk wrote

If you liked those, I would highly recommend Phantom Thread, and Days of Being Wild.

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profound_whatever t1_jabzt4z wrote

This is basically the only kind of movie that Paul Schrader writes, so along those lines: THE CARD COUNTER, MASTER GARDENER, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, AMERICAN GIGOLO.

Schrader was hugely inspired by the Robert Bresson movie PICKPOCKET:

> “The movie that was most important to me was Pickpocket because when I saw that in 1969 it made me realise that there was a connection between a religious upbringing and my profane presence. […] It almost made me realise that there was actually a place for me in filmmaking, I was a critic, and I didn’t think there was, but then I saw this movie about a guy who writes in a journal and goes out and steals stuff, and I thought, I can make something like that. Then three years later, I wrote Taxi Driver.”

He wrote about it here: http://www.paulschrader.org/articles/pdf/1969-PickPocket.pdf

Off the top of my head, movies that might fit the bill: CALVARY, IN BRUGES, THE FLORIDA PROJECT, A SERIOUS MAN, THE MASTER, BAD LIEUTENANT, THE WRESTLER, LE SAMOURAI, A SINGLE MAN, SHAME.

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dawnoog t1_jabp0w5 wrote

The Gambler (1974)

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NightsOfFellini t1_jac1ron wrote

BEE_REAL_ is on point.

I'd add Mike Leigh's naked, as well as Schrader's Card Counter (follow up to First Reformed). Otherwise you're det with Dryer, Bergman, Ozu.

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Judyhagan t1_jac7j9u wrote

"First Reformed," "Aftersun," and "Taxi Driver" are all intense, thought-provoking movies with complex characters and themes. Here are some similar movies that you may enjoy:

"The Master" (2012) - This movie is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and stars Joaquin Phoenix as a troubled World War II veteran who becomes involved with a charismatic cult leader played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.

"There Will Be Blood" (2007) - Also directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, this movie tells the story of an ambitious oil prospector in early 20th century California.

"Requiem for a Dream" (2000) - This movie, directed by Darren Aronofsky, follows the lives of four individuals as they spiral into addiction and despair.

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LauraPalmersMom430 t1_jad29xm wrote

  • C’mon C’mon
  • Bones and All
  • Memoria
  • Promising Young Woman
  • After Yang
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AlanMorlock t1_jadjmb5 wrote

Paul Schrader has written the same type of character repeatedly for years and and consciously thinks of them as variations ofnthr same character and increasingly thr films are intentional companion pieces.

Most recently with the Card Counter. Earlier films you might enjoy include Light Sleeper, Walker, and American Giggolo. He also has an upcoming film called thr Master Gsrdener which premiered but hasn't been distributed yet.

For some other recent riffs on this kind of thing, you might want to check out You Were Never Really Here and Saint Maude.

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