With the frenetic pace of everyday life, many people end up choosing to watch short films during their free time. After work or studies, when the desire to see a film arises, many are likely to look for a job that does not consume too much of their precious time in their scarce free hours.
However, this choice for shorter films may result in missed opportunities to enjoy high-quality, longer feature films.
Considering this scenario, we have listed 8 noteworthy movies with a running time of 3 hours or more. We invite you to think again and spend more free time enjoying them.
Good movies that are 3 hours or more long
Available to Netflix subscribers
Despite receiving critical praise, there has been debate over the long run of this epic crime and biographical drama directed by Martin Scorsese. Counting on long, this Netflix original is an adaptation of the book “I Heard You Paint Houses” by Charles Brandt.
In the plot, the old Frank Sheeran (De Niro) reflects on his life as a mafia hitman in the service of Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and his friendship with Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), a union leader linked to organized crime. The narrative takes place through flashbacks, and the film uses digital de-aging technology to present younger versions of the main characters throughout the years.
Available for rental and purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, and Apple TV.
Released in 1983, “The Elect” is a historical drama based on the book “The Right Stuff” (also the original title of the film) written by Tom Wolfe. With the film recounts the events that led to the beginning of the United States space program, from the pilot selection tests to the historic flight of John Glenn, the first North American to orbit the Earth.
Despite receiving critical acclaim, this film was a huge failure at the box office. The production is directed by Philip Kaufman and has a strong cast: Sam Shepard, Fred Ward, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Dennis Quaid, Barbara Hershey, among others.
Available for Filmicca subscribers.
In 2022, Sight and Sound (famous film magazine published by the British Film Institute which every ten years conducts research with critics from all over the world to list the 100 best films of all time since 1952) chose this Belgian film as the best in history of the cinema. Additionally, this was the first time a film directed by a woman appeared in the top 10.
Directed by Chantal Akerman, “Jeanne Dielman” is an experimental work with long, characterized by long and static shots, as well as a slow pace. The plot follows Jeanne Dielman (Delphine Seyrig), a single mother living with her teenage son, over the course of three days in her daily life.
Most of the narrative is devoted to depicting the seemingly mundane household tasks she performs, such as cooking, cleaning, and other daily tasks. However, over the course of the film, this routine holds surprises and is interrupted in surprising ways.
Available for Telecinema and Looke subscribers. It is also available for free on Netmovies.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, “Spartacus” is an epic film starring Kirk Douglas and based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast. The cast also includes Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin and Tony Curtis.
The work tells the story of the slave Spartacus, who leads a slave revolt against the Roman Republic during the final period of the Third Servile War. The original version of the film has a duration of approximately which were restored in 1991.
Available for Telecinema subscribers.
This war film, released in 1978, received acclaim from both audiences and critics. Additionally, it won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Michael Cimino, and Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken. The stellar cast also includes Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, John Cazale and John Savage.
The plot revolves around three working-class friends from a small industrial town in Pennsylvania who decide to join the army to fight in Vietnam. With a running time of 183 minutes, the film takes an in-depth look at the characters, exploring their pre-war relationships and the effects the Vietnam experience had on their lives.
Available to HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Star+ and Mubi subscribers.
Directed by Sergio Leone, this crime epic marks the end of his career and is considered one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces. The narrative spans decades, exploring the story of a group of friends involved in organized crime in New York. The film stars Robert De Niro and James Woods.
The available version of the film has . However, the original version lasts 269 minutes. When the film was released theatrically in the United States, the distributors reduced the running time even further, leaving it at 139 minutes. This change resulted in critical and commercial failure.
Available to Belas Artes À LA CARTE subscribers
The influential French director and critic Jacques Rivette is famous for his feature films. The most iconic of his filmography is “Céline and Julie Vão de Barco”, which he presents .
In the premise, the lives of Céline (Juliet Berto) and Julie (Dominique Labourier) are fantastically intertwined. The two begin to share an intriguing and magical relationship that takes them to a parallel, hallucinatory reality in a mysterious house.
Closing the list with another film widely considered one of the greatest and most influential masterpieces of the seventh art, “The Seven Samurai” is a Japanese epic film directed by the famous Akira Kurosawa.
With , the plot takes place in feudal Japan, where a village of farmers decides to hire seven samurai to protect them from bandits who routinely plunder their crops. The production features great Japanese actors such as Toshirō Mifune, Takashi Shimura and Yoshio Inaba.
The post Long and beautiful films: the 8 best with a duration of 3 hours or more appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
