In every single person's life, no matter if you consider yourself a movie lover or not, there are one or two movies that have made an impact however big it may be. For some that list of movies may be long and detailed and for others it may be hard to compose a list but after time, a title is bound to come to mind.
Today, I had the chance to sit down with the chief film critic of The Plain Dealer, Clint O'Connor. We sat in the conference room next to the newsroom for about an hour while drinking Coke and talking about various movies, journalism, criticism, film sets, and where we like to sit in theaters. One thing that did come up was how even he, being at a professional level, must form a relationship with his readers and how it is a great idea to let them know just who you are. I added my idea of writing what you are currently reading right now; a list of movies that have changed my life (for the better) will not only give more insight to my taste in film but also my interests as a writer.
NOTE: The follow list is in no particular order and will contain some (a couple, maybe) spoilers. They are pretty well-known titles for the most part but this is not a list of my favorite movies, per se. I love them, that's why they're on the list, but the reasons listed is what really matters here. I came up with this list because these are movies that I have watched and taken something away I could significantly relate to and I hope you enjoy it and go watch the ones listed that you have not seen yet!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
This was the first time I had ever seen a film that I had already read the book for. I was about eight or nine years old when I began reading J.K. Rowling's masterpieces and the books themselves are something I will cherish forever. When this movie came out it was very highly anticipated not only because of how popular the books were but also everyone wanted to see who was going to play the three main characters: Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Not only was I the same age as Harry Potter when this movie came out but I also had shaggy hair and wore glasses (which I took great pride in). Looking like the title character not only made this my favorite movie at the time but helped me connect with the mesmerizing phenomenon I was watching. I couldn't get enough and this movie united my two loves for the first time: reading books and watching movies.
The Shawshank Redemption
This is a classic among classics and reviled as one of the greatest films ever made. On IMDb.com, Shawshank has the highest rating of 9.3/10 with over a million people having rated it. I am a huge lover of gaining information and using my imagination so, naturally, Andy Dufresne was someone I paid attention to while watching. His love for literature and his cultured state of mind made me want to go out just read more books. One thing about this film that I am ashamed to admit is that I did not take the time to sit down and watch it until I was twenty years old. Better late than never, I guess. Friendship and hope are the two power players here and Tim Robbins along with Morgan Freeman embody both of these qualities harmoniously. Movies like this just don't come around as often as we would like which is why The Shawshank Redemption has found a spot on this list.
Halloween (1978)
This movie is a prime example of a "love at first sight" for me. The love I'm talking about is directed toward the film in its entirety. Everything. Michael Myers' blank mask, his suspenseful walk, the cheesy 70s teen dialogue, Jamie Lee Curtis' exaggerated and ear-piercing scream along with the shag-carpet that she always manages to gracefully fall on top of. Halloween is credited as the beginning of the "slasher" era of film and is one of the most successful independent movies ever made. John Carpenter made his directing debut and a nineteen year old Jamie Lee Curtis made her acting debut (having to use much of her own clothes due to a tiny budget). This movie is a lot of fun and an absolute must for the month of October.
The Departed
When I was a freshman at Kent State, I sat on my next door neighbor's bed huddled in a small single-person dorm with five other guys and we watched Martin Scorsese's The Departed. My eyes widened at the unforgiving nature of Jack Nicholson and my hands flew up to my face as I watched the last 10 minutes in utter shock that still gives me goosebumps. I've never followed a character through a movie the way I did with Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and this is one of the few times have I been speechless after watching a film.
The King's Speech
A common term for people who are interested in French culture is to call them a francophile. Well I am an anglophile. I have always had a deep interest in the British royal family and Prince William was even a role model of mine at an early age. This is way before the time of William or even his parents. After I watched the magic of a reluctant king learning how to correct a speech impediment just so he could better lead his nations, I was hooked. This was the first time I ever saw a movie first then went out and read the book that it was based off of. I had to learn more and the story of King George VI and Lionel Logue was something that entranced me.
Frankenstein (1931)
When I first checked out this movie from the library when I was in 7th grade it was because I wanted to be able to say that I had seen it. I had no idea that movies this old could be anywhere near the quality films I had already seen. As funny or naive as that sounds it is totally true. The 1930s culture that is incorporated onscreen made me watch this three nights in a row. One of the most beloved horror stories ever told was even better in black and white and I was drawn in from the very first scene where Dr. Frankenstein steals a body directly after a funeral. This is true horror classic cinema at its finest.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino is a genius and possibly my favorite writer in Hollywood. Whatever he touches turns to gold and his cult following is something that will never die. This is his finest hour. Watching John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson cooly talk about "royales with cheese" and downplay the act of murder while sitting in a car full of splattered blood, is what makes me think about this movie all the time. I will never do "the twist" the same again, and whenever I leave a diner I find myself bobbing my head and being "cool like Fonzie." This is a cinematic leap that has over shot the stars and remains timeless with every generation.
The Master
There's not much to say about this film because there's not much that went into this film. But, I can honestly say it opened the door to they way I perceive movies that come off as abstract as this does. A lot of Paul Thomas Anderson's movies have the feel The Master does and the reason many people will stray away from this film is because it forces the viewer to fill in some details for his or herself. Movies do not have to answer every question and sometimes the ambiguous style is exactly what's needed.
Drive
There is major intensity and very little dialogue. Ryan Gosling steals the heart of Carey Mulligan and every other girl who happens to be watching. This is another good example of filling in your own details but executed in a completely different way. I walked out of the theater quite unsure as to what I just watched but I knew I had to see it again (similar to The Master in this sense). The cinematography is what sets this apart and the acting from everyone is of A-list quality. This was the movie that proved Gosling was the real deal and the song that recurs in this film puts the viewer in a trance that continues to suck you in. Very 1980s and there are parts that left me awestruck from the very beginning and all throughout.
Jaws
Back in 1975 nobody was going into the ocean let alone the local swimming pool because Steven Spielberg scarred them for life with his first ever feature film. That's right, a 27 year old Eagle Scout director is the reason you're scared of the water on vacation. The impact this had on me was how much I have always been afraid of the ocean even before I saw this and now, I guess you could say it's just been reinforced. Being an Eagle Scout myself, it is very cool and inspiring to see one of Hollywood's most dominant figures in history to be making moves at such a young age. All the greats have to start somewhere and the fact that this is where Spielberg started just makes me want to watch this movie 10 more times.
Zodiac
I pondered for a second and asked myself if this movie deserved a spot in this list. It did not have as big an impact as some of the other films but it sure clued me in on an unsolved mystery that has stumped some of America's finest. As I mentioned earlier, I love the history of the British royals, but another strong interest of mine is infamous serial killers. Zodiac embodies the best of the worst. The chilling nature that David Fincher does so well transforms this movie into an experience and a journey for truth with the protagonist (Jake Gyllenhaal).
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Ironically, this is the most recent film I have watched for the first time. This is the first documentary that kind of stopped me in my tracks. Revolving around the street art of Banksy, currently the most famous graffiti artist around, this is not an ordinary documentation of a movement; this is a story of expressing one's self anonymously and also how one can even be betrayed when no one knows who you are. This has left me having a different view what just looks like spray paint and scribbles. Of course, it is vandalism on paper but, to others, it's a revolution.
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