Eraserhead (1977)

A remarkable exercise in discomfort, not just in its ooze (see opening the diaper to a shitload–been there, man), nightmares (see the titular one), and depressing settings (is that a pile of dirt on his bedside table?), but in the way it unfLynchingly amplifies the awkward gaps (walks home, elevator doors, and conversations are all terribly slow) and back-breaking straws (see Mary getting her suitcase) of life. The bizarre symbolism, meanwhile, like the head of a pencil, leaves lots to chew on.

8

Analyze This (1999)

A comedy about a psychiatrist whose number one-patient is an insecure mob boss. (IMDb)

The mob boss vs. average Joe therapist, brawn vs. brains quirky dynamic generates lots of laughs (see the wedding crash[es], the endless hug at the funeral), with the Italian gangster trope being milked for all its worth (Crystal’s impression near the end is a riot). Elsewhere, Kudrow is forgettable, Viterelli is fun, and the basic plot just serves as a framework for the central odd couple and its culture clash situational comedy. It’s not particularly brilliant but it’s consistently funny.

6.5/10 (Alright)