My Philosophy...caught on film
 

I love films for many different reasons. They can entertain, inform and inspire me. But every once in while there comes along a film that strikes a unique chord with me and makes me feel an overwhelming sense of YES. That seems to speak directly of my own ideals and perceptions about life, relationships, art, existence, love, society, family, politics...what have you. But, maybe that's just me, lol.

I started thinking about this the day before yesterday and since then I've been surprised at how few films, when I really start to think about it, I've been able to claim as having this quality. I thought there would be many. Here are the ones I narrowed it down to:

Being There

Bulworth

The New World

The Thin Red Line (and the other Malick films, but these two in particular)

Amelie

The Best Years of Our Lives

The Crowd (this is a silent film but very progressive in theme and film technique, I recommend it highly to film buffs)

The Graduate

So I'm interested in seeing if anyone else has film favorites they feel the same way about. There are no limits. The films don't have to be obviously philosophical or heavy - they can be dramas, comedies, action flicks or even documentaries (although I think narrative choices are more interesting :) ).

I realize that four (I think) of my choices are based on novels, but I haven't read any of them...a similar thread for books is not a bad idea...

The Best Years of our Life is an interesting choice. What was it about that film in particular that mirrors your personal philosophy?


I am having trouble thinking of some film titles that do this for me. Nothing really jumping out except maybe Casablanca and It's a Wonderful Life

Both have men of action (just in different ways) who are either hiding their value or unaware of the same but do the right thing when it is called for.

The Constant Gardner - This was amazing on many levels, including bringing justice in the name of one who sacrificed for justice, seeking out the truth at any cost, self sacrifice, and more.

Good Night and Good Luck - Fighting the good fight no matter the odds or personal loss is very, very important.

The Matrix - Again, seeking out the truth. There's something liberating about waking from a daze to really see what's going on around you.

Spy Game - Loyalty to one's country, up until it becomes destructive is something deeply significant in my life. As a liberal from a strong military family, I often find myself at odds with others about where the line is between patriotic loyalty and blind dedication.

Well, I suppose I have a very old-fashioned and sentimental streak, but I love the way people love each other in this film. The goodness that is portrayed in people. The scene where Homer tries to shock his fiancee Wilma into leaving him by showing him his arms without the hooks, and she takes the hooks and hangs them where they belong and helps him to undress. Showing him that she still wants HIM even though he's been permanently disfigured by the war. How Peggy saves Fred from his selfish and judgemental wife who will only ever love him for the medals on his uniform or the kind of job he has or the things he can buy her or the nightclubs he takes her to. When the character played by Fredric March (can't remember his character's name at the moment), newly promoted, gives that veteran farmer a loan even though he knew the bank he works for won't like it and stands by his choice even under pressure from the number crunchers.

Goodness and higher qualities in mankind just ooze from this film. I love the characters and the journeys they go through. The women are luminous and smart and strong.

This movie personifies my philosophy of love and family.

Good call. It really is a powerful film and I recommend it to anyone.

hmm.
i am a geek.
i like films that are kinda like reading a book in 2 hours.


so films that catch something of my worldview(s):

andrei tarkovsky: solaris
......................: stalker [[everything. except the cosmic speeches. you know, the Important Thematic Statements. every time a character in a tarkovky film starts telling me what the Point is, i cringe. but these films are not so much plagued with that. both are amazing...]]

for the reversal of sound/visual priorities:
György Pálfi: hukkle


for the exploration of the effects of showing a single image for a hour or more and gradually altering it and then following that with a great film:
alexandr sokurov: spiritual voices


on why most genre rules are stupid and should be broken and are only legitimate insofar as they exist so they can be broken:
godard: alphaville (more than you could possibly know)


self image now:
the big lebowski

self image then:
napoleon dynamite

the adventures of the reverse image of my present self:
Henning Carlsen: hunger (sult)

looking and looking until everything stops moving:
resnais: last year at marienbad

cheap collage paranoia:
craig baldwin: spectres of the spectrum

what history should look like:
peter delpeut: lyrical nitrate
as a sailor story: forbidden quest

to a slightly lesser extent: bill morrison, decasia

Mine would be Good Will Hunting.
This movie just tugs at my heart. Now, I don't claim to be a genius or anything even close, but I have friends just like Chuckie in this movie. They look to me and see potential I don't see. They honestly wish the best for me and sometimes even seem to feel they drag me down, which is flattering, and hurts at the same time. This quote is what gets me each time:

Chuckie: "Every day I come by your house and I pick you up. And we go out. We have a few drinks, and a few laughs, and it's great. But you know what the best part of my day is? For about ten seconds, from when I pull up to the curb and when I get to your door, cause I think, maybe I'll get up there and I'll knock on the door and you won't be there. No goodbye. No see you later. No nothing. You just left. I don't know much, but I know that. "

I'd like to add another film to my list that just popped into my head and said "what the fuck, woman, how could you not mention me?" :shakehead:

Pleasantville...this films defines my outlook on just about everything. I love this film. I love the feeling I have watching it. I love the feeling I have after watching it.

roachboy, I like to consider myself a film buff, but you put me to shame...a few of those films I haven't even heard of, let alone seen. :shy:
But I've already put those on my netflix queue. Something tells me to take your word on them.

And I'm curious...what about The Big Lebowski speaks to you personally?

and hambone, I saw Good Will Hunting for the first time just last year...it is a great film and very moving. :)

Didn't like the Cloony version?
I would have figured your self image to somehow more like that of a teacher — like Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society or Morgan Freeman in Lean on me.

Or Yoda from Starwars. Awesome, that would be.

I didn't care for either of them, personally. I just don't get it...

solaris?
not the soderberg one....no no no.

in addition to its other virtues, the tarkovsky has the driving sequence. the driving sequence--which involves the guy who comes to talk kelvin into taking on the mission returning to wherever he came from--is the finest mixing of sound and visuals i know of.
and the voyage is great---to a planet that apparently fulfils your desires, such that you only (ever) find what you are looking for (whether you know what that is or not)...
and the sets are most excellent.
i am a hopeless fan.
and stalker is better. just amazing.


ms. media:

on the big lebowski:
i look a bit like the dude.
and i have always already had a rough night and really hate the eagles.

will:
a messageboard effect, that.
i think of myself mostly as a pianist who does academic stuff as a day gig.
see, thinking about stuff that way makes everything as difficult as possible.
that must be why i do it. otherwise, it'd make no sense.
there's actually a long backstory to this. maybe i'll tell it sometime in journal-land, as i seem to be in a retrospective mode of late.

Right on. :)

I should have figured that you were a fellow pianist. There's a unique comfortability with confidence that often comes with being a pianist. Usually I can tell if someone's a pianist; like if someone is black, he or she can usually tell if someone else is black.

Can I still think of you in similar light to Yoda?