'Doin' It' Director Sara Zandieh Shares Her Watchlist
The director of 'Doin' It' shares some of her most beloved films, including her favorite onscreen depictions of romance, family, and high school.
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- DirectorJohn HughesStarsEmilio EstevezJudd NelsonMolly RingwaldFive high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a great deal more in common than they thought.Well, I made a high school movie so I'm going to start out with a couple of my favorite high school movies. I am a big John Hughes fan. 'The Breakfast Club' is one of my favorite high school movies. It’s so warm and insightful, and it’s just one of the funniest movies about the inner lives of teenagers. That’s something I always keep in mind when making a high school movie.
- DirectorJohn HughesStarsMatthew BroderickAlan RuckMia SaraA brash, cocky high school senior, tired of skipping school to spend a boring day at home, is determined to enjoy an epic day roaring around his favorite Chicago sites, enlisting his best friend and girlfriend to join him on the adventure.Just such a fun, iconic movie that’s been ingrained in my brain from growing up.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsWoody AllenDiane KeatonTony RobertsAlvy Singer, a divorced Jewish comedian, reflects on his relationship with ex-lover Annie Hall, an aspiring nightclub singer, which ended abruptly just like his previous marriages.I make a lot of comedies, different kinds of comedies, but I love me a good rom-com. 'Annie Hall' is one of my favorite romcoms. I love really autobiographical filmmaking. It’s such a specific movie. I love that it has tragedy and there’s a messiness to it. The performances are just so memorable. It’s not totally linear, but you remember the scenes and you remember the performance beats. And it’s just so romantic and I love that it doesn’t have a happy ending.
- DirectorNorman JewisonStarsCherNicolas CageOlympia DukakisLoretta Castorini, a bookkeeper from Brooklyn, New York, finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she has agreed to marry.Absolutely iconic. There’s a little bit of a cultural component. I grew up in an Iranian family and I remember seeing her Italian family and feeling very similar. I just loved that it was about a woman breaking with tradition and kind of pushing herself past her own limits. And the chemistry is so fantastic between Cher and Nicolas Cage and her family. I really remember them and love the culture clash in it.
- DirectorPreston SturgesStarsBarbara StanwyckHenry FondaCharles CoburnA trio of classy card sharks targets a socially awkward brewery heir, until one of them falls in love with him.'The Lady Eve' is one of my favorite older screwball comedies. I think Barbara Stanwyck is such a comedic genius.
- DirectorJacques DemyStarsCatherine DeneuveNino CastelnuovoAnne VernonA young woman separated from her lover by war faces a life-altering decision.'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' is my favorite musical ever made. What I love about it is not just that it’s a tragedy, but I like that they sing throughout the movie. They don’t break into dialogue, and then break into song. The entire movie is sung. The music is so good, and the performances … Catherine Denueve is so iconic.
- DirectorsJonathan DaytonValerie FarisStarsSteve CarellToni ColletteGreg KinnearA family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.It’s such a great family dramedy. I love stories about family and I just remember all of those characters so vividly even though it’s been years since I’ve seen it.
- DirectorAbbas KiarostamiStarsHossain SabzianMohsen MakhmalbafAbolfazl AhankhahThe true story of Hossain Sabzian, a cinephile who impersonated the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf to convince a family they would star in his so-called new film.My parents are from Iran so I’m gonna mention my favorite Iranian film. That movie renders the Iranian sensibility. It’s very sad and tragic, but also very funny. I think tonally it’s such an incredible film in how it mixes documentary and narrative. It’s totally genius. The story behind the making of that film is so incredible.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsAnthony QuinnGiulietta MasinaRichard BasehartA care-free girl is sold to a traveling entertainer, consequently enduring physical and emotional pain along the way.I love Giulietta Masina. I love movies with comedic female leads, like the one I just made! Lilly Singh is so funny and I love seeing comedic performances from really strong female leads.
- DirectorPaul FeigStarsKristen WiigMaya RudolphRose ByrneCompetition between the maid of honor and a bridesmaid, over who is the bride's best friend, threatens to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef.One of the funniest comedic gems in recent memory! Hilarious through and through. The scenes at the bridal shop and on the airplane are unforgettable. The female ensemble delivers comedy performances that are simply incredible.
