Do you have a 'benchmark' movie?

conorhal

Or benchmark movies. What I mean is, are there certain films by which you judge an individuals potential compatibility with you (either as a friend or even perhaps as a potential partner)?
What are those movies that you ‘just have to show’ somebody, and that yes, they WILL be harshly judged by their reaction to, God help them!

Whenever I was trying to gage a new flat-mate I would often use the same films as the yard stick by which I would judge out compatibility. Each one I tend to expect a specific reaction from and a favorable one is a good indicator that this person and I share a certain sense of humor or outlook that I can relate to.

Before Sunrise
Headwig and the Angry Inch
The Royal Tenenbaums
24 Hour Party People
Braindead
Brick
Office Space

Anybody else do something similar?

frag420

yeah I do the same........

Withnail & I

The Big Lebowskie

A Requime for a Dream

PI

Fifth Element

Cube

Chinatown

The Devils Rejects



I know its a motley crew of movies but all have something different in them for me.........

frAg

ClayDavis

Happiness.

L31mr0d

think this has been done before, but anyway, my benchmarks are:

The Shawshank Redemption: I'd need to know the person isn't such a film snob as to not accept this film as being good, even though it is wildly liked by the masses. I'd need to know that their personal taste goes above and beyond not wanting to appear clichéd.

Martyrs: If they can stomach this horror and enjoy it then every other horror I'd choose to watch they'd be up for also.

Rushmore: This kind of quirky comedy perfectly tickles my funny bone, if the person laughs at the same times as me watching this then I'd know our tastes in humour are similar

The Marine: Good bar to see how much cheese from an action movie they can handle before getting a coronary.

pwd

no
i don't look for friends who are replicas of myself.
When I really want to show someone a movie it is because I think they themselves will really like it.
I do take the piss out of guys who watch lots of chick flicks though.

Anakin.S

My wife and I have very different movie tastes, which has lead to both of us watching movies that we would never of watched before. I don’t think we ever would have gone out on our first date if we had started the conversation by asking what films do you like.

I don’t think you really can't tell compatibility from people’s movies tastes, a lot of people like the actors acting in the movie rather than the content of the actual film.

krudler

If they dont like Jaws I dont want to know them

bonerm

Couldn't care less. But if they did like some of the same stuff as me then it'd be a bonus.

TBH I work the opposite way. If people like certain movies that I *hate* then that won't put them on the fasttrack to success.

eg anything by Guillermo Del Toro and/or horror movies (generally).

johnny_ultimate

Since most of my friends and acquaintances have radically different tastes in films (some of my closest friends would have some similarities) I would say no. If I could discuss some of my favourite directors or films with someone, then perhaps I would be willing to spend more time with them. But seriously wouldn't judge most people based on their taste, think it would be slightly insulting to them to do so! For now though I'm fairly resigned in knowing there are only a few people I've met who I'll be able to discuss film with in great detail, and that doesn't really bother me. I can relate to people on other levels that simply sharing a taste in cinema.

In direct contradiction to the above, however, I'd raise an eyebrow if someone didn't like Toy Story or My Neighbour Totoro, as I'd consider those people as having no soul

bnt

I call them "Litmus Test Movies", and posted a couple previously (here). A couple or recent additions to that list might be Moon and A Serious Man, two films of the last year that made me feel privileged to see them.

Zipp101

There are movies I really like that I can understand other people not liking at all (Usually Comedy)

Napoleon Dynamite
Knocked Up
Raising Arizona
Walk Hard
Old School

All very tasteless/full depending on what your into

Several movies I cannot understand people not liking (usually sci-fi! ):

Back to the Future
Beverly Hills Cop
Ghostbusters

speedboatchase

I have a benchmark everything at this stage, been with my gf nearly 3 years so if we ever broke up and I wouldn't even talk to a girl who plays farmville/listens to the coronas! My benchmark movies are prob A History of Violence and Apocalypto

podgemonster

The Die Hard Trilogy

If you don't appreciate this, then I don't wana know you!:cool:

gandalf

People have different tastes and I appreciate that. If I used this method to choose friends or partners I wouldn't have married my wife. She can't stand certain films that I love and likewise I don't like some of her favourites. But its good to be different.

conorhal

mia2010 wrote: »

Hi all,

We are a Dublin based film production company looking for extras for an arts film due to be shot over two nights in early March in Dublin City Centre. You would be required from around 10.30pm to 1am. Unfortunately this is a non pay position but some light food will be offered and it will give you the opportunity to be involved in an exciting and high profile film for RTE due to be screened in May. If anyone is interested please PM me..Thanks!!"

Damnit. The last time I replied to one of these posts I ended up in some dingy Rathmines flat, sobbing and naked while an obese man in a gimp mask tried to reassure me that my scenes ‘definitely had a strong artistic merit’ ...... soooo not worth the Mars Bar.....

uncleoswald

Not at all, when you get to the higher end films it really becomes subjective. However there are movies that are soooo bad that they are a good measure of a persons interest of all things cultural, but not of them as people. One of my best friends favourite movies is Scary Movie 2, so we never talk about films, ever.

Aurora Borealis

Benchmark films for compatible taste in films would be The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Withnail and I. Can't say I'd use films as a litmus test for any other kind of compatibility though it is nice when you get the same things.

Giselle

I suppose if someone liked The Hours, Shiri, Run Lola Run, Das Boot and most of the works of Pedro Almodovar I'd know we had something in common...
but I don't think I'd judge anyone too much on their taste in movies.

Unless they thought White Chicks was hilarious.

Valmont

I might become wary if someone told me they loved Spiderman 3 but no, I don't have a benchmark film. It's quite a ridiculous system for judging people to be honest.

Duggy747

Instead of using quality films as benchmarks I use the crap ones to determine compatibility, though I've never put it to force as it's a bit stupid in itself, I suppose. Everyone's got their tastes.....*sigh*.....even if they are horrible

You don't know action if you enjoyed both the AVP films but thought the Die Hard films are "boring"

I don't want to you know you if you hate the old spoof films like Airplane! / Naked Gun - Yea, I've met people who thought these films were shìt. :eek:

No appreciation of Arnie = no time from me :pac:

You hate the most of the classic films from the 70's, I've found that the majority of people I know don't seem to understand the buzz with the films from that decade. I don't think any of my mates thought Taxi Driver was good.

KungPao

For me to like you, you must like the following;

The Terminator and T2, Die Hard 1,2 and 3, Jaws, Commando, Fargo, Predator, Robocop, Dirty Harry, and Fletch. You must adore Fletch.

Ouijaboard

Baise-Moi
Irreversible
Bully
Sweet Movie
9 Songs


Only Joking...

ziedth

Not in films but i must pick one. But if someone doesn't like south park then imo they don't get a they on comedy! I guess they'd have to more not like the films i didn't like.