OurMovieNights
Challenges · 10 directors · 20 actors

Five films. One way of seeing.

Each challenge is five films from one director or actor, in a good order, with one thing to watch for. Tick what you’ve seen. Films shared by several people move several bars at once.

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How they connect

A line means two people share a film in their five. The coloured ring is your progress. Tap anyone to jump to their five.

InceptionInceptionThe PrestigeInception, OppenheimerPrivate RyanRaiders of the Lost ArkInglourious Basterds, Once Upon a Time in HollywoodOnce Upon a Time in HollywoodThe DepartedThe Wolf of Wall StreetTaxi Driver, Raging Bull, GoodfellasBlade Runner 2049Dune: Part TwoSe7en, Fight ClubSe7enInceptionInceptionLittle WomenSe7enOnce Upon a Time in HollywoodHerLa La LandInception, DunkirkThe Big ShortBatman BeginsNolanSpielbergTarantinoScorseseKubrickVilleneuveFincherMiyazakiAndersonHitchcockHanksDiCaprioStreepPittReevesFreemanJohanssonPortmanStoneHardyWashingtonBlanchettPhoenixBaleRobbieGoslingFordNiroChalametMurphy
Power picks: one film, several bars
director

Christopher Nolan

“Bend time”

0/5
  1. MementoMemento (2000)
  2. The PrestigeThe Prestige (2006)
  3. The Dark KnightThe Dark Knight (2008)
  4. InceptionInception (2010)
  5. OppenheimerOppenheimer (2023)

How to watch · Editing lensKeep a timeline in your head. Every time the film jumps in time, ask what the cut is hiding from you.

Start with: Memento →
director

Steven Spielberg

“Look up in wonder”

0/5
  1. JawsJaws (1975)
  2. Raiders of the Lost ArkRaiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
  3. E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  4. Jurassic ParkJurassic Park (1993)
  5. Private RyanPrivate Ryan (1998)

How to watch · Camera lensWatch for the face first: the camera pushes in on someone looking up in awe before it shows you what they see.

Start with: Jaws →
director

Quentin Tarantino

“Out of order”

0/5
  1. Reservoir DogsReservoir Dogs (1992)
  2. Pulp FictionPulp Fiction (1994)
  3. Inglourious BasterdsInglourious Basterds (2009)
  4. Django UnchainedDjango Unchained (2012)
  5. Once Upon a Time in HollywoodOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

How to watch · Editing lensThe story is told in chapters, often out of sequence. Afterwards, put the scenes back in real order together.

Start with: Reservoir Dogs →
director

Martin Scorsese

“Needle drops”

0/5
  1. Taxi DriverTaxi Driver (1976)
  2. Raging BullRaging Bull (1980)
  3. GoodfellasGoodfellas (1990)
  4. The DepartedThe Departed (2006)
  5. The Wolf of Wall StreetThe Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

How to watch · Score lensListen to the records. Scorsese picks a song for a scene the way others pick a location. Ask: why that song, there?

Start with: Taxi Driver →
director

Stanley Kubrick

“Dead centre”

0/5
  1. Dr. StrangeloveDr. Strangelove (1964)
  2. 2001: A Space Odyssey2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
  3. A Clockwork OrangeA Clockwork Orange (1971)
  4. The ShiningThe Shining (1980)
  5. Full Metal JacketFull Metal Jacket (1987)

How to watch · Camera lensLook for one-point perspective: a corridor or road running straight into the middle of the frame. Count them.

Start with: Dr. Strangelove →
director

Denis Villeneuve

“Feel the rumble”

0/5
  1. PrisonersPrisoners (2013)
  2. SicarioSicario (2015)
  3. ArrivalArrival (2016)
  4. Blade Runner 2049Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
  5. Dune: Part TwoDune: Part Two (2024)

How to watch · Sound lensTurn the sound up. The low drones and long silences carry the dread more than any line of dialogue.

Start with: Prisoners →
director

David Fincher

“Nothing by accident”

0/5
  1. Se7enSe7en (1995)
  2. Fight ClubFight Club (1999)
  3. ZodiacZodiac (2007)
  4. The Social NetworkThe Social Network (2010)
  5. Gone GirlGone Girl (2014)

How to watch · Light & colour lensNotice the colour: sickly greens and yellows, and a camera that never shakes. Every move is planned.

Start with: Se7en →
director

Hayao Miyazaki

“The quiet moments”

0/5
  1. The Castle of CagliostroThe Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
  2. My Neighbor TotoroMy Neighbor Totoro (1988)
  3. Kiki's Delivery ServiceKiki's Delivery Service (1989)
  4. Princess MononokePrincess Mononoke (1997)
  5. PonyoPonyo (2008)

How to watch · Ideas lensLook for the pauses: a character just sits, breathes, looks at the rain. The film stops on purpose. Why there?

Start with: The Castle of Cagliostro →
director

Wes Anderson

“Perfect symmetry”

0/5
  1. The Royal TenenbaumsThe Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
  2. Fantastic Mr. FoxFantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
  3. Moonrise KingdomMoonrise Kingdom (2012)
  4. The Grand Budapest HotelThe Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
  5. Asteroid CityAsteroid City (2023)

How to watch · Light & colour lensPause any frame: it is symmetrical and every film has its own palette. Name its three main colours.

Start with: The Royal Tenenbaums →
director

Alfred Hitchcock

“The bomb under the table”

0/5
  1. Rear WindowRear Window (1954)
  2. VertigoVertigo (1958)
  3. North by NorthwestNorth by Northwest (1959)
  4. PsychoPsycho (1960)
  5. The BirdsThe Birds (1963)

How to watch · Ideas lensNotice what you know that the characters do not. That gap is where the suspense lives.

Start with: Rear Window →