Broadway Danny Rose (Woody Allen, 1984)
This is probably the most cohesive Allen movie, and one of the funniest. Nice to see him playing a character that isn't entirely based on himself. Mia Farrow also plays slightly against type and it's a joy. The idea of framing the voiceover around a group of guys sharing stories and laughing is genius, and actually makes one of my biggest filmmaking pet peeves bearable. One of his best for sure!
Bigger Than Life (Nicholas Ray, 1956)
This is a masterpiece. A melodrama centred around a man's adverse reaction to his medication, it goes in gloriously dark directions. Nicholas Ray is an extremely underrated director and there are great performances all around from a cast full of stars.