The only movies James Gunn considers “close to perfect”
James Gunn is maybe not the name some would associate with pure cinema, but for anyone who has seen Scooby Doo: Monsters Unleashed, then he’s perhaps the only person you associate with the highest calibre of filmmaking. However, to other audiences, he is also most celebrated for his involvement within the Marvel universe, helming behemoth projects like Guardians of the Galaxy as well as many niche indie movies that first sparked his name.
But the scene in Monsters Unleashed where Velma walks downstairs in an orange leather jumpsuit might just be his crowning achievement, as well as the sheer perfection of the casting, given just how iconic each character is. As a result, you can safely assume that Gunn has exquisite taste in cinema, and the director proved us all right by revealing some of his favourite films on Twitter.
Off the top of his head, he shared six films that he considers “as close to perfect” as humanly possible, with the first that sprang to mind being Kung Fu Hustle, directed by Stephen Chow in 2004. Starring Chow himself, the film follows two criminals who hope to join a ruthless axe gang in their quest to terrorise Shanghai. It is one of those films that completely commits to its concept and indulges in the pure madness of the story, crafting an effortlessly funny and goofy narrative that is leagues ahead of the many other comedies from the decade.
Next up, Gunn outlined his love for one of America’s rebel filmmakers, Robert Altman, and perhaps his most beloved film. The Long Goodbye is a satirical version of the Los Angeles film noir, following a laid-back detective who languidly uncovers a mystery and reveals himself to be a cat in a dog-eat-dog world. With a slick performance from Elliott Gould, it remains as one of the sexiest films of the decade and a timeless masterpiece about corruption, evil and someone so good that they don’t quite belong to the world they inhabit.
Perhaps Gunn was going through some romantic turmoil at the time because he also professed his love for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a film notorious for its reputation as the ultimate breakup watch. Starring Jim Carrey in a rare dramatic part and Kate Winslet, it is both bizarre, beautiful and deeply moving, charting each stage of grief while moving on from a lost love and the ways we find our way back to the heart.
Now, Bong Joon-ho is an inspiration to many, and Gunn picked his titular film Mother as his personal favourite. It is one of the most mind-blowing features within his filmography that also sparked an intense cult following, one that is almost on an equal footing to that of Francis Ford Coppola and his 1974 film The Godfather Part II, another top watch for Gunn.
Lastly, Gunn’s final choice was none other than Paul Mazursky’s 1969 film, Bob & Carole & Ted & Alice. Set at the turn of the decade and during an era of sexual enlightenment, the film is a playful, curious and thoughtful lens on what it means to question the structure of the world around us and carve out a new way of living. It follows two couples who challenge the idea of monogamy and explore the boundaries of their relationships. It is a truly perfect film, and one that highlights the true depth of Gunn’s love for the medium.
