Denis Villeneuve is one of the most provocative filmmakers working today. Whether it’s his shocking take on the war on drugs with Sicario or the sci-fi epic Blade Runner 2049, the director is always able to stun audiences both visually and narratively.
With the imminent release of Dune, the adaptation of the sci-fi novel of the same name, it’s worth taking a look at the movies that shaped Villeneuve’s style. The New York Times spoke to the director about his favorite films of the 21st century, and Villeneuve selected these nine classics.
Under The Skin (2014) – 6.3
The 2013 sci-fi movie Under The Skin very much seems to be a film for filmmakers, as it isn’t all that loved by general audiences. However, there are some very unique filming techniques that any moviemaker would admire.
Many of the scenes, including the ones in the shopping mall and nightclub, are completely unscripted and incorporate general passers-by in Scotland. On top of that, special cameras were built by the crew, and even the sets were built in extremely inventive ways to get the exact look that director Jonathan Glazer was going for. It was the unique way of filming that made Under the Skin one of the most obscure 2010s sci-fi movies.
Dogtooth (2010) – 7.2
Dogtooth is a Greek movie directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, and it follows a man who keeps his family locked from the outside world. The father plays cruel tricks on the children, such as making them think that cats are vicious monsters. In a way, Dogtooth is like a messed-up version of The Truman Show, as the children are told lies so they keep from fleeing and finding out about the real world.
The movie isn’t for everyone, as it’s slowly paced and features extremely sexually explicit scenes as well as moments of self-inflicted violence. But it is fascinating in the unique way it approaches the idea of captivity, and it ends on one of the most shocking cliffhangers ever. Lanthimos went on to direct more digestible movies like The Favorite and The Lobster, but it was Dogtooth that laid the groundwork for those surreal films.
A Prophet (2010) – 7.9
There are loads of gangster crime dramas to come out of Hollywood, but A Prophet feels and looks different from any other crime movie too. The French film follows a petty criminal who falls into a life of murder and drug trafficking in prison.
Just like a lot of European movies, they are grittier and more accurate depictions than their Hollywood counterparts. Villeneuve has never directed something as raw and emotional as A Prophet, but there are hints of that in Prisoners and Incendies.
Children Of Men (2006) – 7.9
Alfonso Cuarón had directed a Harry Potter movie and several genre films before 2006. However, Children of Men was the first sign that the filmmaker is one of the most boundary-pushing film directors of the 21st century. The movie is set in a dystopian future where women can no longer give birth.
Even 15 years later, after the release of Gravity and Roma, the latter of which Cuarón won the Academy Award for Best Director, Children of Men is still Cuarón’s best movie. Given the look of the film, it could very well have influenced the dystopian future found in Villeneuve’s Blader Runner 2049.
Dogville (2004) – 8.0
Dogville features an ensemble cast and follows a woman hiding from the mob in a small town in Colorado, but the big appeal of the movie is how avant-garde it is.
Even though they might be housed in the most depraved movies ever, director Lars Von Trier has become known for his fascinating visuals. However, Dogville is massively stripped back and is essentially a theatre performance. The entire movie takes place on a black stage with only white lines on the floor signifying different rooms and locations. Despite how it’s the complete opposite of what people visiting multiplexes would expect, general audiences still loved it.
No Country For Old Men (2007) – 8.1
It seemed close to impossible that, 23 years into their careers, the Coen brothers could release their best movie yet, but that’s seemingly what they did with No Country For Old Men. It’s easy to believe that the movie resonated with Villeneuve more than any other Coen brothers movie too, as the film is more tonally in sync with the Sicario director’s style of filmmaking.
The movie has the desert landscapes that Villeneuve loves to shoot so much, and it’s full of themes related to fate and conscience, just like Prisoners and Blade Runner 2049. It follows a hitman attempting to retrieve a case full of cash, and the character is scarier than those in horror movies. The character clearly left an impression on the filmmaker too, as there are hints of Anton in Alejandro in Sicario and Niander in 2049.
Amores Perros (2001) – 8.1
Amores Perros is one of the most beloved Mexican movies of all time. Its triptych-like narrative, where three separate stories are all connected, rivals Pulp Fiction for its unique storytelling. What the movie is most famous for is the fact that it had a major role in getting dogfighting banned in Mexico.
It seems as if Villeneuve has a thing for stories based around hitmen. Not only does No Country For Old Men follow a hitman, and not only is his very own Sicario literally translate to “hitman,” but a sizeable chunk of Amores Perros is dedicated to an assassin too. He could have also been influenced by its triptych narrative, as there are separate storylines in Sicario only for them to connect in the third act.
There Will Be Blood (2007) – 8.2
Director Paul Thomas Anderson has become known for his character studies and period pieces, and There Will Be Blood is a perfect example of both. The movie is about a feud between Daniel Plainview, a sociopathic oil prospector, and Paul Sunday, a smarter-than-he-looks preacher.
It’s clear that Daniel Plainview is an intense character study, as evil corrupts him when he sees the potential in the land of California. It makes perfect sense that it’s a favorite of Villeneuve’s, as it seemed to inspire his character-driven movies like Enemy. And Sicario essentially has the same premise, as it sees a powerless samaritan attempt to stop an unstoppable force.
Inception (2010) – 8.8
The reason why Inception is still so prevalent today and will be for decades to come is that it treats audiences with respect and like they’re smart. So many film studios think moviegoers just want non-stop action and loud noises while they shovel popcorn into their mouths, but the phenomenal success of Inception proved them wrong.
The movie grossed almost $900 million worldwide, which is almost unheard of for a completely original picture, showing that audiences do actually enjoy smart, self-contained stories. The way Inception creates huge action scenes in a dramatic and well-told narrative is a masterclass in filmmaking, and it’s even inspiring to already influential directors like Denis Villeneuve.
