Gilliam. There’s no way he’s on here ahead of many deserving auteurs if I didn’t think Brazil was much closer to the 50th best film of all-time than the 183rd best where TSPDT consensus has it. Man, I wish he made both more overall films and more archiveable films-  and without an archiveable film since 1998 I fear it may be over for Gilliam. Unmistakably, his case is hurt by having only 6 archiveable films but although there may be some misses along the way in his career there is no compromise in Gilliam. I adore his individual creative signature.

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production design bliss in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Best film:  Brazil. It’s not only a massive “M” masterpiece and a top 10 film of the 1980’s (I’ve got it at #8) but an unbelievably ‘Gilliamesque’ film.  It’s simultaneously one of the greatest fantasy films, sci-fi films, and comedy films of all-time.

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Brazil blends surrealism fantasy, sci-fi dystopia, and savage comedy through a layered and transcendent production design effort
one of the most beautiful images in the 1985 masterpiece

total archiveable films: 6

top 100 films: 1 (Brazil)

top 500 films: 2 (Brazil, 12 Monkeys)

top 100 films of the decade: 4 (Brazil, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Fisher King)

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so much of Gilliam’s work is shot at canted angles or manipulated lenses– check out the tilt here in The Fisher King

most overrated: none- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus has decent enough reviews for a Gilliam film (he, like Lynch and von Trier have really poor metacritic average scores for their level of genius) but I have it out of the archives— I still need to give it another look.

most underrated: 12 Monkeys. It’s been long enough and there’s no good reason this fantastic film hasn’t emerged on the top 1000 of all-time. Definitely underrated.

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another dutch angle here in 12 Monkeys– effective and consistent– both in the film and Gilliam’s oeuvre
meticulously designed decor– a sort of retro-fitted, garbage-art clutter — here in 12 Monkeys

gem I want to spotlight:  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – speaking of underrated- somehow this is still “rotten” on RT. It’s one of Depp and Del Toro’s best performances and the drug use as surrealism is really a perfect marriage of Gilliam and Hunter S. Thompson.

wall-art gorgeous, married to the narrative (and Thompson’s material), and wholly in Gilliam’s custom worldview– here in Fear and Loathing

stylistic innovations/traits:  Gilliam is both gothic and romantic. His films are directed with eccentric fervor and clearly a cartoonish fantasy. Typically his stories revolve around outsiders repelling against a rigid organization.  There is surrealism and insanity in all of his films. These are showcased by brilliant editing, unconventional acting, costume, and a busy and deliciously hyperbolic mise-en-scene. He uses canted angles, wide fisheye lens, and a sort of retro-fitted, garbage-art clutter for his production design. Gilliam is a unique maverick.

fisheye lens manipulation to great effect here in Brazil

top 10

  1. Brazil
  2. 12 Monkeys
  3. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
  4. The Fisher King
  5. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
  6. Time Bandits
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fantasy and surrealism through style and decor in Baron Munchausen

By year and grades

1981- Time Bandits R
1985- Brazil MP
1988- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen HR
1991- The Fisher King HR
1995- Twelve Monkeys MS
1998- Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas HR

*MP is Masterpiece- top 1-3 quality of the year film

MS is Must-see- top 5-6 quality of the year film

HR is Highly Recommend- top 10 quality of the year film

R is Recommend- outside the top 10 of the year quality film but still in the archives