Sunday, August 19, 2012

My Favorite Films

I am a huge movie buff. With my acting background, I love to watch films and analyze the characters. And now that I'm entrenched in writing, I have fun breaking down the film story structures and the screenplays. Here are some of my favorite movies, why I adored them, and why they haunted me long after I watched them.

To Kill a Mockingbird

I fell in love with this film first by its film score. My dad played the record when I was a little girl, and I ran around the family room acting out the story as he told it to me, in his own words. I pretended I was Scout and Jem sneaking around, finding treasures from Boo Radley, and being caught in tight corners by Bob Ewell. When I saw the film, it lived up to my imagination, and later the book did, as well. My favorite part of the movie is when Scout discovers Boo behind the bedroom door at the end. Robert Duvall plays Boo brilliantly, and I cry in that moment every time. To Kill a Mockingbird is an amazing story to me because it deals with racial prejudice, rape, incest, suicide, and a mob mentality all in an non-graphic yet unflinchingly honest manner, as it is told through the magical and innocent eyes of a child (and a stellar creator, Harper Lee).

Roman Holiday

This has got to be one of the most charming films ever made. Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck have perfect chemistry together. She is pure enchantment to watch, and he is one of the best actors ever. This movie begins rather lightheartedly and as a kind of wish-fulfillment, fairy tale type story--which makes the serious turn and bittersweet ending all the more poignant. Gregory Peck's facial expression as he's walking away at the end...WOW. Roman Holiday is my curl-up-in-a-blanket-on-a-rainy-day movie.

Edward Scissorhands

This film had a huge impact on me in my teen years. I haven't experienced anything quite like that feeling of sitting in the darkened theater afterward, just stunned and heartbroken and inspired all at once, and not understanding why. Now, looking back, I can see how strongly I identified with Edward at that time in my life. I was in the middle of my horrible junior high school days, when I didn't think I had a true friend in the world, and where I felt everyone acted insincerely and lived to play the popularity game. I retreated into myself, skipped a lot of school, and spent each lunch period by myself in the library. So this lonely, scarred, scissor-handed boy was me in so many ways. Watching this movie changed me, helped me recognize some things about myself and the world, and gave me the courage to step out of my shell and give myself and people a second chance.

The Fellowship of the Rings

I watched this film in the theater seven times. Seven! I hadn't read The Lord of the Rings, but I did right afterwards. This film struck me to the core and made me discover, with firm conviction, that fantasy is my element--it's the way I love to filter themes and relationships the most. For some reason, being removed from the real world at that level helps me explore close-to-my-heart life struggles in a safer and somehow clearer environment. I absolutely adore Frodo. His relationship with Gandalf is simple and impactful; and with Sam, it is beautiful and pure. This is a definite good versus evil story, and I love to see how someone so small and seemingly insignificant, with his little band of friends, triumphs in the end. The Fellowship of the Rings is my favorite film of the trilogy. It has more of the amazing world of the elves with Rivendell and Lothlorien, and the way the Black Riders are depicted is more frightening than any other scare-factor in the next two installments.

Bright Star

When asked what my favorite film is right now, I tell people, Bright Star. This is a true story about the poet, John Keats, and the love of his life, Fanny Brawne. It's a Romeo and Juliet story, an I-will-do-anything-to-be-with-you story. These lovers are desperate for each other, they suffer when they're apart, they punish themselves when they feel thwarted. They cry and throw fits and can't eat or sleep without each other. And somehow all this works for the story. Somehow these are strong characters, and not weak ones. I study this film, again and again, trying to figure out how this is so. I think it's because, in the beginning of the story, both characters are established as capable, unique, independent, and fearless. This makes their transition into becoming "slaves to love" heartwrenching and meaningful. Bright Star is a quiet and breathtaking film (and a fantastic tearjerker). I highly recommend it!

What are some of your favorite films, and why do they resonate with you?

14 comments:

  1. I think we need to have a girl's night when we watch Bright Start together. Because I want to see it. I am assuming you own it. :)

    My favorite movie of all time is Sabrina with Harrison Ford. And another is Miss Austen Regrets.

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    1. I love both of those shows! I haven't seen that version of Sabrina in a long time. I'd love to see it again. We'll have to have a double-feature girls' night!

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  2. Answering this question is intimidating for me. Katie, you are such a movie aficionado. I can say i loved Bright Star (thanks to your recommendation) and Sweetland (again, thanks to you). My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice, the Keira Knightly version. I could watch it over and over again.

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    1. Even though that's not my favorite P&P, I can still appreciate it. And I love that director. I'm glad you've enjoyed most of my recommendations (even if your husband didn't :-)).

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  3. I agree with you on the Fellowship of the Rings. By far my favorite movie of the three. It's SO GOOD!

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    1. A girl after my own heart! And aren't the special features the best? I could watch the one where the actors divulge into their nonsense over and over again. :-)

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  4. I remember you talking about To Kill a Mockingbird. I haven't watched that since they showed it in 6th grade. (I remember it kind of disturbed me-but that I loved reading the book) Now I'm itching to see it again.

    And Bright Star-so glad you recommended it to me. I love that one.

    The films that I love to watch over and over again are usually romantic comedies like Dan in Real Life and While You Were Sleeping. I love the pain, the awkwardness, and the "win" in the end. (Sabrina is one of them too, Michelle)

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    1. I love romantic comedies. Those are movies I watch to de-stress. Dan in Real Life is one of the best! Yes, you should definitely give To Kill a Mockingbird another go!

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  5. In college I loved HOWARD'S END. I was sort of on an E.M. Forster kick and thought Emma Thompsen and Helena Bonham Carter were AMAZING. Also Anthony Hopkins wasn't so bad either. I have much less patience for films now, which is sad. I feel like I'm turning into my mother...who never sat down and watched movies with us.

    But, I will watch with my kids, again and again, CONTACT with Jodie Foster, which satisfied the Sci Fi preference in me.

    Hm, looking on these two choices, I'm like a freaking conundrum. Classics vs. Sci Fi. But, check both of those out, you won't be disappointed.

    Also, both of them were books first :)

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    1. Those are great films! I've read Howard's End, as well, though my favorite E.M. Forster novel is A Room with a View (and that's also one of my favorite movies).

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  6. Yes! I LOVE Roman Holiday and am so glad to see it on your list! So sweet and fun and sad and poignant and just plain wonderful! Yet no one ever talks about it. They're all missing out.

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    1. Yay for another Roman Holiday fan! I truly think it's Audrey Hepburn's best film--and one of Gregory Peck's. The perfect combination of bitter and sweet.

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  7. I love Edward Scissorhands...it's just a classic. I haven't watched Edward Scissorhands in awhile though but I should watch it again soon. The film has very good messages and it's very creative.

    One of these days, I should watch To Kill a Mockingbird but first, I should read the book :)

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    1. Edward Scissorhands is really special, for sure. I'm glad you love it as well. And, YES!, you need to see To Kill a Mockingbird. And it's one of those films that's amazingly just as good as the book, so it won't spoil it if you watch it first. :-)

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