7. Trainspotting (1996)

        Danny Boyle’s adaptation of the eponymous novel is a real head-trip – literally. Featuring Ewan McGregor’s star-making turn as Renton, the film depicts the life of a bunch of working class heroin addicts, getting through life one hit at a time. Morally depraved? Of course, but it’s also funny as hell.

        Memorable Scene: Ever seen this picture?

 6. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

        The newest film on the list is also the most personal. Homophobic critics completely missed the point: Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal truly excel in this story of a love that never could be. Also worth watching for the Brokeback scenery.

        Memorable Scene: Can I say the gay sex scene without sounding like a gay voyeur?

5. Do The Right Thing (1989)

        Spike Lee’s breakthrough film was, and remains, a milestone for African-American cinema. On a scorching summer’s day in a Black neighbourhood, racial tensions slowly spiral out of control. Believe me, you have NEVER seen a movie like this before.

        Memorable Scene: Fight the Power! Racial riots on the streets!

4. Chinatown (1974)

        Part mystery and part psychological drama, this film by Roman Polanski is fuelled by a great script, terrific pacing, and wonderful acting, not least by Jack Nicholson. You’d never have guessed that this is the same shouting geezer from Batman, A Few Good Men and Anger Management.

        Memorable Scene: The final 20 minutes when the mystery is unraveled (I’m not spoiling it!).

3. Raging Bull (1980)

        It seems criminal to put just one Martin Scorcese film on the list, but I’m trying to be fair here. The director of Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and Goodfellas surpassed himself with this black-and-white story of boxer Jack LaMotta, played by an obsessed Robert De Niro. How obsessed? He put on 50 pounds in between the movie. 50 pounds!

        Memorable Scene: “You never got me down Ray” – beaten to a pulp, LaMotta still can’t resist one last dig at his opponent.

2. Ikiru (1952)

        Akira Kurosawa's movies are all a work of art, but none cut to the bone like Ikiru (literally "To Live"). The story is relatively simple – with only a few months to live, Kanji Watanabe attempts to find meaning in life. However, it is lead actor Takashi Shimura who elevates the movie to a higher plane.

        Memorable Scene: In a lively nightclub, Watanabe silences everyone by singing a melancholic Japanese song. Get the tissues!

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)

        It may be the least serious and most commercially successful movie on the list, but Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece makes a very good case for Film as Art-form. A milestone for indie cinema, it won the Golden Palm at Cannes, revived the careers of John Travolta, showed that Bruce Willis could act, and invented the prototypical Samuel L. Jackson character in Jules “Bad Motherf*****” Winnfield.

        Oh, and it redefined cool.

        Memorable Scene: Jules’ Ezekiel speech. HOOKED 

Any films we left out? Feel free to post them here! 

Video and Pictures courtesy...
Ikiru - http://www.cinematrix.hu/fajlok/hirek/kepek/ikiru.gif
Trainspotting - http://adorocinema.cidadeinternet.com.br/filmes/trainspotting/trainspotting03.jpg
A Clockwork Orange - http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie_gallery_pic.php?id=179
Pulp Fiction (youtube) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=czb4jn5y94g&mode=related&search=  

Comments

Top 10 Art House Films You Must Watch Be Written by Bongiovi on 2007-07-19 21:54:38 You have missed out The Seven Samurai by Akira Kurosawa, The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola and also City of God or Cidade de Deus by Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles.

Art-house Written by Guest on 2008-08-17 06:24:42 Some of the films that you have mentioned are not art-house. True, they are all good films, but not all at art-house...

what about the french films? Written by Guest on 2008-11-12 09:57:08 try The 400 Blows by Francois Truffaut.

Written by Guest on 2008-11-19 11:11:17 i reallu disagree with your top 10 list.  what's with broke back mountain, just saw it last week and must admit it's a downer. Not worth the hype, not nasty but not good enough as top 10. By the way, where's fellini, ozon, polanski...

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