My Top Ten: Roman Polanski Films

Its that time of the month where I give my Top Ten on ANYTHING!

This time, we'll be looking at the filmmaker who recently got back into the searchlight, raising back up the issue that was 30 years ago. That guy is Roman Polanski. While I'm not a total fan, I really appreciate his line of works and has the mark to be a master filmmaker. Recently he was finally arrested by the Americans in Switzerland, due to a crime of pedophilia 30 years ago. He wasn't caught as at the end of the investigation, he fled to Europe. This speculates whether he was indeed guilty or not. How I viewed this, I looked at many factors such as the victim giving a false age and the time between that time and now. Its been pretty long for the police to get him, he may even get let off. Not gonna tell you what I think, but lets indeed "celebrate" his works.

Lets get on it shall we?

10.
OLIVER TWIST

As much I like the classic Charles Dicken tale and love the brilliant musical-adaptation, I was interested to checked this adaptation out. Turns out it was pretty faithful to the original novel and a pretty handful good performances from actors.

9.
PIRATES



Watched this one late night and I gotta say it was pretty funny to watch. Pretty different from other Polanski movies.

8.

THE NINTH GATE

The concept is great and anything with Johnny Depp, you know you're in for something good. Though the scares are just few and it was a tad bit boring, it was still enjoyable to watch.

7.
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

I once watched this for an English Literature class and it was very faithful to the popular Shakespeare's play. Interesting fact though: it is a superstition that anyone adapts Macbeth or puts Macbeth in any title will be cursed. Hopefully Polanski won't be cast by this terrible curse.... oh..

6.

REPLUSION

One of the earliest Polanski films and it is a freaky and thrilling little thing. One of those few gems that you'll never look a woman the same way.

5.
FRANTIC

Hell, anything that has Harrison Ford kicking ass, I'm there to watch. Had a close observation and it is reminiscent of Liam Neeson's Taken: main protagonist's loved one is kidnapped in Paris and main protagonist tears up through Paris to find her. Though Frantic had an advantage. While Taken had the daughter obviously kidnapped, Frantic made Ford's wife disappeared. Thus adding an extra mystery and tension to the narrative.

4.
CHINATOWN

There is nothing I love more than film-noir (thats why I'll defend Sin City anything anywhere) and this really pays homage to that cool badass genre. Plus you have Jack Nicholson in such a great performance.

3.
THE TENANT

This is one great example of a one man's show. It shows that Polanski is a really good storyteller, only to cast only himself and make such a thrilling and intense atmosphere and narrative. Only setting in one location adds the isolation and claustrophobia.

2.
THE PIANIST

This film was pretty hard to watch. Duh, its a Holocaust movie, but the great thing about it is that the film doesn't set in a camp. At the time where the world has gone crazy, its heartbreaking to see a talented highly-respected musician reduced to something of an animal, surviving in the desolated city and evading the Nazi army. Will I guarantee you a happy ending?

1.
ROSEMARY'S BABY

This movie FREAK THE HELL OUT OF ME! I could say the tension and scares is just superb, not only the horror is not spiritually, but psychologically. Having nearly everyone against you while you're probably carrying the spawn of Satan, that is FREAKY SH*T! Undoubtedly one of the horror classics.



So thats my Top 10. What's your opinion?