..."Have you seen [insert obscure, straight to video, indie offering that only the person asking you the question has ever heard of]?"
Especially when immediately followed by "Call yourself a film student?!" when you invariably reply no.
And the question that comes a close second is:
"So, what is your favourite film?"
How you answer this question relies entirely on what characteristics you find most valuable in a film, and one of the most frowned upon is the most simple of all of these: "Was it entertaining?" Some people, pretentious film students in particular, have come to believe that entertainment is a cheaper form of satisfaction to get from a film, falling behind such things as a political/social message, breaking new ground in style or technique, or even employing literary devices such as a complex plot or a big twist at the end (M. Night Shyamalan take note).
Now these things are great, and if you like these things then they can all add to the entertainment factor of a film, but we are talking FAVOURITE film here! Everyone has found things in even the naffest films that have stuck a personal chord and I think that you should ignore these at your peril. Sure, a film might be great on paper, be extremely well reviewed, have a fantastic director and so on but films are a bit like food. For example, I know Rick Stein is an excellent cook, he makes shed-loads of money and is reviewed extremely well but it doesn't matter how great his meals are is in theory, there is one fundamental reason why I would never include one of his personally cooked dishes in a list of my favourite meals.....I hate seafood.
Personal preference is by far the most important aspect of any choice, discussion or argument regarding film and more often than not it is the first one abandoned in favour of the opinions of others who are more 'reputable'. At the end of the day, you watched the same film they did, they don't have a pair of fancy glasses that allow them to see a better version of the film than you (as cool as that would be) and your opinion is therefore just as valid.
So, back to my favourite films: it is physically impossible to pick just one.
Especially when immediately followed by "Call yourself a film student?!" when you invariably reply no.
And the question that comes a close second is:
"So, what is your favourite film?"
How you answer this question relies entirely on what characteristics you find most valuable in a film, and one of the most frowned upon is the most simple of all of these: "Was it entertaining?" Some people, pretentious film students in particular, have come to believe that entertainment is a cheaper form of satisfaction to get from a film, falling behind such things as a political/social message, breaking new ground in style or technique, or even employing literary devices such as a complex plot or a big twist at the end (M. Night Shyamalan take note).
Now these things are great, and if you like these things then they can all add to the entertainment factor of a film, but we are talking FAVOURITE film here! Everyone has found things in even the naffest films that have stuck a personal chord and I think that you should ignore these at your peril. Sure, a film might be great on paper, be extremely well reviewed, have a fantastic director and so on but films are a bit like food. For example, I know Rick Stein is an excellent cook, he makes shed-loads of money and is reviewed extremely well but it doesn't matter how great his meals are is in theory, there is one fundamental reason why I would never include one of his personally cooked dishes in a list of my favourite meals.....I hate seafood.
Personal preference is by far the most important aspect of any choice, discussion or argument regarding film and more often than not it is the first one abandoned in favour of the opinions of others who are more 'reputable'. At the end of the day, you watched the same film they did, they don't have a pair of fancy glasses that allow them to see a better version of the film than you (as cool as that would be) and your opinion is therefore just as valid.
So, back to my favourite films: it is physically impossible to pick just one.
FACT.
One film cannot possibly satisfy all your needs (which is fortunate for the film industry) and for times when you want to be scared silly, watching The Jungle Book just isn't going to cut it, no matter now much you love it. I just so happen to be a big fan of 'Top 10...' lists so that's exactly whats coming next. It's important to note that this list is a work in progress, not only because new films are constantly being released but also extenuating circumstances frequently cloud judgement. The recentness of the film makes a big difference, as does your experience when viewing it for the first time (good films watched on bad dates automatically drop down in my estimation).
I personally like films that have brought something new to my understanding of films, cinema and maybe even life. Whether it was the first film to do it or not is irrelevant, if it was the first one I saw do it, then that was the one that changed my view. On top of that, I love dialogue that's fresh and unexpected, and naturally that 'je ne sais qua' that seems to make fantastic films sizzle off the screen. Of course there are a couple of classics on my list, but I hope there are also some that make you think about whats important to you, and not to be ashamed of your choices.
In my opinion, if you don't find a film entertaining, no-matter how many of these other elements it has, including said film in a list of your favourites, quite frankly, makes you a fraud trying to look cool in front of your friends.
My Top 10 Films
I personally like films that have brought something new to my understanding of films, cinema and maybe even life. Whether it was the first film to do it or not is irrelevant, if it was the first one I saw do it, then that was the one that changed my view. On top of that, I love dialogue that's fresh and unexpected, and naturally that 'je ne sais qua' that seems to make fantastic films sizzle off the screen. Of course there are a couple of classics on my list, but I hope there are also some that make you think about whats important to you, and not to be ashamed of your choices.
In my opinion, if you don't find a film entertaining, no-matter how many of these other elements it has, including said film in a list of your favourites, quite frankly, makes you a fraud trying to look cool in front of your friends.
My Top 10 Films
- Jurassic Park - 1993 - Steven Spielberg
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - 2001 - Peter Jackson
- Shallow Grave - 1994 - Danny Boyle
- One Fine Day - 1996 - Michael Hoffman
- Adaptation - 2002 - Spike Jonze
- Singing in the Rain - 1958 - Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly
- Cloverfield - 2008 - Matt Reeves
- If... - 1968 - Lindsay Anderson
- The Breakfast Club - 1985 - John Hughes
- Alfie - 1966 - Lewis Gilbert
All questions, comments and personal lists welcome!
Coxy
6 comments:
OK, so what are the examples of "obscure" films that people ask if you've seen then? When I was at uni doing film, most people were dunses - they hadnt even heard of Evil Dead trilogy or knew that "Maybe not today, maybe not tomoororw" came from Casablanca. Obviously these layabouts were there just foir the sake of being at university and not really interested in film.
um, unfortunately they are usually foreign films, which i know i need to watch more of. recently it was les poupees russes by cedric klapisch. ive since been trying to track it down, cos i know that the girl who asked was only trying to give me a recommendation, but it is impossible to see every film and some people love to point out those you havent seen!
those people at uni really annoy me too, but fortunately they are the ones who soon realise just how much passion and work you have to put in to get good marks in film where i am and so they are the ones who drop out/fail. i hate the bad rep film gets as a mickey mouse degree, and people take it on a whim.
Yes, you should watch foreign films, but not just cos someone tells you to - just read more about them and watch ones that interest you that havce directors and cast you heard of. Lar Von Triers' films are worth watching and Paul Verhoeven's Dutch films espcially Black Book and The Fourth Man. Things like Il Postino, Cinema Paradiso and Life Is Beautiful are Italian films which are my favourite European cinema and probably seen as complusive viewing.
Yeah, I cant see why people see it a as mickey mouse degree either, even people who havent even got a degree themselves. Fucking idiots. The film indusrty is still an industry that employs people where work is done only art and creativity are involved - what's mickey mouse about that??!!
i do watch quite a few foreign films, dont get me wrong, but not as many as i should. have you seen the death of mr lazarescue? it really moved me, and it was really interesting.
No, I havent.
Anyway to quote your blog, "Have you seen [xxx]?" immediately followed by "Call yourself a film student?!" when you invariably reply no.
- That's the same as what I think about people on the Showmasters forum, not film students of course but I'm thinking, "Call yourself a convention go-er?!".
The forum is full of philistine wet-behind the ears kids who's only interests are Buffy, Lost, Smallville, Stargate SG1 (NEVER the film), Heroes and all that gay-time TV shit. Just look at the Guest Suggestions section - it's full of suggestions for gay TV actors who's 15 mins of fame will be over once their TV series finishes. All these shows are hot-right-now/flavor-of-the-month shit. TV shows just dont have the immortality and classic-ness of movies, once a TV series is finished no one talks about it anymore unless its successful like Star Trek (cos it HAS had movies made). You get famous quotes and scenes from films but not TV cos TV shows are small-time.
Most people on that forum need to aim higher and watch a higher class of art. Can you believe some guys in their 20s havent even seen Indiana Jones or Pulp Fiction??!!! Did you see how many people hadnt even heard of The Evil Dead or Bruce Campbell?!! Its retarded and gay and so is their whole PC attitude.
Films are classic media, TV is not and will never be seen in the same high reagard - people care about the Oscars but no ones gives a toss about TV awards. You get famous film directors but not famous TV directors.
Re: Your top ten list--I'm with you on Alfie and The Breakfast Club--not in my top ten but certainly would get honorable mention.
Check out my top ten of all time on my film blog, Timmy's Noodle.
I Enjoy your writing.
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