Like most good actors,Andrew Garfieldis a cinephile and has recommended many movies over the years. Just last week, he made a trip downto the Criterion Closet, where he picked out a few more of his favorites.His recommendations are not only solid picks but offera glimpse into his diverse cinematic interests, as well as the influences thatshaped him as a performer. They’re an eclectic mix, including classic documentaries, dark comedies, British social dramas, and dystopian sci-fi.
In particular, Garfield’s picks reveal his love for narratives that challenge, inspire, and sometimes even disturb. They span multiple genres and eras, meaning that most readers should be able to find at least one gem to add to their watch list. Garfield’s selections are impressive, together serving as a mini film school syllabus, and these are the most intriguing and noteworthy.
10’Happiness' (1998)
Directed by Todd Solondz
“I just want to be happy.“Happinessisa darkly comic explorationof intertwined lives searching for contentment in a world that denies them simplicity. The film centers on three sisters—Joy (Jane Adams), Trish (Cynthia Stevenson), and Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle)—each facing unique and often disturbing challenges that unravel society’s hidden discomforts. The narrative weaves between characters, introducing themes of isolation, longing, and the extremes of human behavior, all with Solondz’s signature unapologetic style.
The film heads to some truly dark and disturbing places, meaning that it will certainly not be everyone’s cup of tea, but a certain subset of viewers will appreciate its no-holds-barred nature. Garfield is one of them. “I was like mouth agape,” he said of it. “It’s a heavy film with one of the greatest actors that has ever existed,Philip Seymour Hoffman. I just thought it was so funny and so weird and so, you know, what film can do.”
Happinessis not currently available to stream in the US.
9’The Game' (1997)
Directed by David Fincher
“Discovering the object of the game is the object of the game.” One ofDavid Fincher’s early movies,The Gamethrows Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) into a world where reality and illusion blur beyond recognition. He’s a wealthy investment banker who lives a meticulously controlled life until his estranged brother, Conrad (Sean Penn), gifts him a mysterious “game” for his birthday. The game promises a thrilling experience, but Nicholas soon finds his life turned upside down as events spiral into increasingly dangerous territory.
Fincher’s suspense mastery is very much on display here. Indeed,The Gameis a relentless rollercoaster, constantly hurling the audience in unpredictable directions. The dialogue and score heighten the tension, with eerie piano notes and deep strings growing in intensity. “It is so thrilling and so fun,” Garfield said. “I love this film. I’ll watch it like once a year. The filmmaking is so good. It’s so beautifully constructed.”
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8’Original Cast Album: Company' (1970)
Directed by D.A. Pennebaker
“Does anybody still wear a hat?” This documentary chronicles the grueling yet exhilarating process of recording the soundtrack forStephen Sondheim’s (Sweeney Todd,Into the Woods) iconic musicalCompany.Filmed throughout a single night, the film captures Broadway’s brightest talents of the day, including the lateElaine Stritch, as they work tirelessly to bring the ambitious music to life. Through Pennebaker’s unobtrusive lens,the audience experiences the highs and lows of the recording process, from jubilant harmony to moments of tension and exhaustion.
The project has been praised asa clever fusion of a workplace documentary and a hang-out movie, held together by Pennebaker’s considerable visual skills. It may not be quite as fun as watching this musical live, but it comes pretty close. “One of the great documentaries,” Garfield said of it. “One of the great films about the creative process, the agony and the ecstasy. It’s so wild, the access that you have. You feel like you’re there.”
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7’Tampopo' (1985)
Directed by Juzo Itami
“To master the art of ramen, you must follow the path of noodles.“Tampopoisa comedic love letter to Japanese ramen culture, blending genres to create an eccentric “ramen Western.” The story follows the titular character (Nobuko Miyamoto), a widowed ramen shop owner striving to perfect her noodle recipe with the help of Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki), a truck driver and self-proclaimed ramen expert. Together, they embark on a culinary journey to elevate her modest eatery to new heights.
Interwoven with this main plot arequirky vignettes that explore Japan’s relationship with food, from a gangster’s erotic obsession with cuisine to a comedic critique of food etiquette. This intricate narrative structure, along with the colorful cast of characters, makes for a fun viewing experience. Plus, Garfield said the movie contained “one of [his] favorite scenes in cinema history of an egg yolk being passed back and forth between two lovers.”
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6’Naked' (1993)
Directed by Mike Leigh
“I don’t have a problem with anger. I have a problem with idiots.“Nakedis an unflinching character study of Johnny (David Thewlis), a disaffected and abrasive drifter navigating the grimy streets of London. He embarks on a nihilistic journey, encountering individuals as broken as he is. Each interaction reveals layers of Johnny’s existential despair and disdain for society, painting a dark portrait of human vulnerability.
The movie isas much a social commentary as it is a brutal psychological portrait, anchored by Thewlis’s raw, unsettling performance. Viewers who only know him as the likable Professor Lupin inHarry Potterneed to see this film. “My favoriteMike Leighfilm,” Garfield said of it. “One of my favorite films of all time with one of the great performances of all time by David Thewlis. And Mike Leigh is one I need to just bow to quickly because he’s defined British filmmaking for the last however many decades […] No one’s doing it like Mike Leigh.”
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5’Brazil' (1985)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
“Don’t fight it, son. Confess quickly! If you hold out too long, you could jeopardize your credit rating.“Terry Gilliam’sBrazilis a dystopian, bureaucratic satire; his riff onGeorge Orwell’s1984. The protagonist, Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce), is a low-level government employee whose humdrum existence is upended by recurring dreams of a mysterious woman (Kim Greist). When he stumbles upon her in real life, Sam embarks on a quest that pits him against the very system he serves.
Here,Gilliam fuses biting social commentary with visual boldness, conjuring up a world of bizarre, bureaucratic landscapes, complete with labyrinthine ducts and haunting dream sequences. “This is one of his all-time great films [and] I adore it,” Garfield said. “It’s so inventive. It’s1984-esque. It’s dystopian, it’s anti-capitalist, it’s anti-commercialism. It is a masterpiece of rebellion and of insanity, and Jonathan Pryce has never been so incredible, and Terry has never been so let off the leash.”
Brazil (1985)
4’Salesman' (1969)
Directed by Albert and David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
“I’m not going to beat you down with a Bible. But just hear me out.“Salesmanis a groundbreaking documentary by theMaysles brothersandCharlotte Zwerin, following four door-to-door Bible salesmen in 1960s America. Among them isPaul “The Badger” Brennan, who faces a crisis of faith in his profession as he struggles to make a sale. Indeed, the relentless pressure to meet sales quotas often overshadows any genuine spiritual mission.
Salesmanexposes the challenges of capitalism, the American Dream, and the relentless pursuit of success.
The film was quickly canonized as a classic thanks to the cinema verité styleand the directors' capturing of intimate and unscripted moments. “I watched [this]on the advice ofMike Nichols,” Garfield said. “This was one of the things that Mike said that we must watch just to develop our souls and as well as prepare us to make that play [Death of a Salesman].” Through the lens of these weary peddlers,Salesmanexposes the challenges of capitalism, the American Dream, and the relentless pursuit of success.
3’Kes' (1969)
Directed by Ken Loach
“It were like a bird of prey… but somehow tame.“Kesis the story of a boy finding solace in the midst of a bleak existence. Billy (Dai Bradley), a young boy from a working-class family, struggles with bullying, disinterest in school, and lack of support at home. When he finds and trains a kestrel, Billy discovers a new sense of purpose and freedom. DirectorKen Loach’s realistic style captures the hardships of life in a Yorkshire mining town, turning Billy’s story into a broader social statement.
The finished product isa poignant slice-of-life drama and coming-of-age story.It’s all about rediscovering one’s essence and connection to nature. Praised for its honesty and simplicity,Kesis now widely regarded as a classic of British cinema. “Another one of our great British filmmakers,” Garfield said. “It’s a humanist story, and it’s tragic, and it’s beautiful […] Ken Loach is someone who fights for people, particularly the people who have been deemed unworthy.”
Rent on AppleTV
2’Hoop Dreams' (1994)
Directed by Steve James
“People always say to me, ‘When you get to the NBA, don’t forget about me.'” Among the most acclaimed documentaries ever made,Hoop Dreamsfollows two inner-city Chicago boys,Arthur AgeeandWilliam Gates, over several years as they pursue their dreams of becoming professional basketball players. Through highs and lows, from family struggles to academic challenges and financial hardships, filmmakerSteve Jamescaptures the boys’ journey with unfiltered honesty.
In addition to the character study,Hoop Dreamsis also terrific simply in the way it captures the sport, showcasing moments like jump shots and slam dunks as expressions of physicality and triumph. “One of the great documentaries of all time about one of the great sports,” Garfield said of it. “Basketball is more important to me than most things in my life, and I think that what this film does so purely is it gets in touch with our collective human longing to make something meaningful out of this life.”
Hoop Dreams
1’The Red Shoes’ (1948)
Directed by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
“Why do you want to dance?” “Why do you want to live?” This masterpiece by directing duoThe Archerscenters on ballerina Victoria Page (Moira Shearer), who is torn between her love for composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring) and her dedication to her demanding mentor, Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook). After Victoria is cast in a ballet based on theHans Christian Andersenstory of the cursed red shoes, her life begins to mirror the tragic tale.
PowellandPressburgerwere considered pioneering filmmakers of their day, and this is one of their defining works. In particular,The Red Shoesdazzles with its exquisite Technicolor and breathtaking dance sequences. In addition to the sumptuous cinematography, the movie serves up a sophisticated study of the sacrifices an individual must make to excel at their art. “It was [Martin Scorsese] that told me to see it for the first time and I did. So there’s a story,” Garfield said, selecting it as one of his all-time favorites.
