Movies II: Let's talk some good movies.

So, after my last post, it seemed like one way to pursue the "list-making" question was to start talking about movies we think are good.

Me: So name a really good movie.

Eli: Eternal Sunshine.

Me: (nods) That's an awesome one to start with. You know one thing that amazes me about that movie is how many people seem to get how good it is, even if they can't verbalize in what way. So what makes it a good movie?

Eli: The reality of the message hits you at a gut level. It rings so true. The filming is exquisite. The blurr between dream and reality is so fluid.

Me: The scenes always cut at the right time or just feel like the right length. It constantly keeps your interest. The first time I saw it, it was so unpredictable, but so logical in progression. But the thing is, even watching it for the fourth or fifth time, it still feels unpredictable. That is amazing.

Eli: The more you get into the film, the more involved you get. You don't want to leave.

Me: It has a quality of diving in and just sinking in deeper and deeper. And the content is such prime emotional stuff. It's love and insecurity and lust and shyness. It's got spite and jealousy and resentment. It has idealized love and shattered dreams.

Eli: But also, it has renewal and recognition of the beauty and ugliness of relationships. And acceptance of it all.

Me: I have to get back to the editing. It's so visually in tune with the experience of the characters. Even the music is following the character's experience. It's like the movie is what the characters are going through.

That's some good raw material.

What's another really good movie?

Eli: Annie Hall.

Me: Forget about it. That is film school + relationship school. Not to mention funny as hell. But people get so upset about the whole "immoral filmmaker" thing, they won't see it. Annie Hall is so good, I have to stop this blog. Besides, I'm tired. Lets finish up for now naming some great films without justifying. We can explain it all later.

Eli: Life is Beautiful
Before Sunrise
You, Me, and Everyone You Know

Me: Dummy
Stranger Than Fiction
Apocalypse Now
The Matrix

Eli: Adaptation
Batman Begins
Blue
Out of Africa

Me: Barton Fink
Blue
Trust
Ironman
The Pianist

Alright, we'll keep thinking about how to make a top movie list.

Movies I: What makes a good movie?

Ok, so my wife and I were talking about lists of good movies and I started thinking about making one myself. But the thing is, where do you start? So I decided to talk to Elizabeth about the criteria for making a top 10 list. Here's the talk:

Me: How do you pick a "good" movie for a list?

Eli: What are the movies that aren't phony?

Me: Good call. Alright, no phonies. What else?

Eli: Interesting moments. Space. The cinematography. A collection of these things...characters.

Me: I'd add: plot predictability, pacing, awareness of "how movies have been done in the past", believability. what else?

Eli: Lack of awareness of the camera - unless it's on purpose.

Me: Right! invisibility of the camera.

Eli: No, I meant when the characters don't seem to know there's a camera.

Me: Oh, yeah - the acting. Funny that didn't come up right away.

Eli: What do we need to complete the list?

Me: I think we either need a set of rating criteria to apply to all movies, or else a list that includes rationales for each movie. It can't just be a list. I wouldn't feel good about it.

Alright, that's at least part I of what makes a good movie.