For the purposes of this particular list I am eliminating Holiday films.
10. Let the Right One In
This film would have been good set in Sacramento, but it was so much better that it was set in a Swedish housing development in deep winter.
9. A Simple Plan
Lots of bleak snowy landscapes in this tale of greed and murder.
8. The Thing
Set at a research base in the Antarctica, the snow lends a great sense of isolation and dread.
7. Where Eagles Dare 
Allied soldiers infiltrate a Nazi alpine stronghold. The best scenes take place on the aerial Gondola.
6. The Shining
Creepiest scene in the snow ever.
5. Groundhog Day
Forced to relive the same snowstorm day after day after day.
4. Fargo
The snow and cold are like extra characters in this. Probably the best winter thriller that will ever be made.
3. Nobody's Fool
The month of December in a bleak upstate New York town. Perfectly captures gray winter days.
2. The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Beautiful and bleak images of winter throughout this unbelievable film.
1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Some of the best alpine imagery ever put on film. Great ski sequences, toboggan sequences, ice skating. A very Christmassy Bond film and my personal favorite.
"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is amazing. I always felt sort of bad (not too bad I am sure he is fine) that Lazenby seemed to get some bad advice in not moving forward with the Bond franchise. Because his Bond really gets put through the ringer: not only does his wife die on their wedding day. But instead of having a romp in the hay with someone like Pussy Galore at the end of the action-after his epic ski chase down the mountain, instead of one of Savalas' babes-he gets a St. Bernard.
ReplyDeleteI am super nervous to admit this, but I have not seen any of these movies. Only "the shining" in little parts because I was too scared to watch the whole thing. Looks like I'm a wintry film loser. Waa waa.
ReplyDeleteAmy. Out of this bunch of films, the one I'd suggest you see right now is Groundhog Day. A very funny comedy that's surprisingly moving and deep.
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