Sheldon Candis

Man sitting in directors chair on film set

The Baltimore-born, Austin-based writer and director shares his favorite films of all time

Baltimore native Sheldon Candis is a writer-director and a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His feature directorial debut Luv was an official selection in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Competition, and he directed the feature-length documentary Baltimore Boys for the prestigious ESPN 30 for 30 original films. 

Candis also directed When The Lights Are Brightest, the cinematic story within the video game series NBA 2K20 for SpringHill Entertainment and 2K Studios. Executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, it stars Idris Elba, Rosario Dawson, Thomas Middleditch, and Lamorne Morris.

Recently, Candis wrapped the Netflix and Array production of Colin In Black & White with executive producer Ava DuVernay. The Limited Series chronicles the early years of civil rights activist and NFL star, Colin Kaepernick, with Nick Offerman, Mary-Louise Parker, and Jaden Michael.

Here, Candis takes us through his top 15 films of all time.


Rocky
‘We all fall in love with not only Rocky and Adrian on screen, but the introduction of Garrett Brown’s cinematic gliding Steadicam – first used in Hal Ashby’s Bound For Glory.’
 

Do The Right Thing 
‘It’s just one of the most special films ever made in American cinema. Spike Muthaf***in’ Auteur Theory Lee. My filmic hero.’ 
 

Boogie Nights
‘If you aspire to be a writer-director, find the DVD. Listen and study PT Anderson’s director’s commentary. It’s in a film class all of its own.’
 

City Of God
‘As a film-maker, you dream and would die to make a movie anywhere close to the brilliance of this classic. Every single frame owns the audience’s full attention.’ 
 

Trainspotting
‘I’ve never looked at toilets the same since and I’ve never looked at film-making the same way since, either. Danny Boyle is in a rare, special class of auteurs. It’s always more than a movie with him; it’s an experience.’  


Run Lola Run
‘Everything they teach and tell you about traditional movie structure, throw it away. This film hits you like a ton of bricks. An instant classic.’ 
 

Goodfellas
‘If you’re a diehard fan of this movie like me and consider it basically a perfect film by Scorsese, read the script on the page. It’s an awesome experience to read the scenes and see the movie play in your head.’


Coming To America
‘One of the greatest comedies ever. It’s on my “if you were stranded on a deserted island and could only watch five films” list. The hilarity that just keeps on giving so many years later.’ 
 

The Shawshank Redemption
‘Every time it played on TV after the theatrical release, it would just draw you in. There are many great prison dramas, but there’s only one Shawshank.’
 

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
‘A master work of cinema. Ang Lee took us to a magical place that we’d never witnessed on screen. Beautiful. Deadly. Poetic. Art.’
 

The Lives Of Others
‘If you’ve never seen it, watch it ASAP.’  
 

Let The Right One In
‘An unlikely arthouse horror love story. The pool scene screen direction is like watching and rewatching Kobe pull off a brilliant trick shot in his prime.’
 

Oldboy
‘The hammer scene, oh my god. Chan-wook Park cinema! Be sure to double back for Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance to complete the trifecta.’
 

Mother
‘Before Parasite, there was this dark thriller murder mystery with a stunning ending visual. Bong Joon Ho makes a most fascinating movie each time indeed.’ 
 

Un Prophète
‘If you haven’t seen this French classic, stream it immediately. The film score is one of my favorites for a hands-down, kick-ass poetic gangster flick.’