My Kind of Films
Our preferred themes and genres possibly mirror our interests more than we think.
Films pose as great forms of reflective art that discuss a broad range of themes and topics. They help us develop our emotional intelligence and understanding of the world.
More than being a cheap ticket to elsewhere, films have all kinds of intentions towards their viewers, such as to inspire, to inform, or merely to entertain. Simply, there is a film suitable for every emotion. Grace Jennings-Edquist said that “When we watch a film, we’re not just being entertained, we’re also admiring something beautiful, connecting with communities and contributing to positive social change.”
I recently took a Buzzfeed quiz called What Do Your Movie Choices Say About You? The result I got said: You’re the most logical person in the room. You think with your head. Your ability to separate fact from feeling is a rare gift. Funnily enough, I’ve had friends ask me for advice because they find me to be one of the most logical persons they know. At the same time, my brother who is well-knowledgeable on topics related to the army or history, has seen countless war films such as Fury (2014), American Sniper (2014), Goyo (2018), even Jojo Rabbit (2019), and many more. I have a friend who is very passionate about the Philosophy of Life and her film choices include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Requiem of A Dream (2000), The Matrix (1999) and The Truman Show (1998). These observations inspired me to reflect on my usual film choices and preferences and see if they happen to have anything in common, or if they are something I can relate to myself.
With that in mind, allow me to geek out and share with you some of my favorite films, in no particular order, of course, because choosing a few out of the many was enough headache already. Hopefully, I get to find out whether my favorite films say something about me.
Slow-burn romance
I always love a movie with a good slow-burn romance. One on top of my list is Christian Ditter’s Love, Rosie. It is a film adaptation of Cecilia Ahern’s 2004 bestselling novel Where Rainbows End. In case you have not read the book, it follows a very non-traditional way of storytelling through letters, e-mails and instant messaging — so it kind of feels like you’re reading a bunch of screenshots and invading someone’s privacy. Seeing it translate to film is interesting because it was able to personify the characters more; humanize them beyond the conversations presented in the book. It became easier to relate to them from careless teenagers to distracted adults trying to make life happen. What I like the most about this movie is how nostalgic it is — prom, having dumb crushes, the early days of e-mail, getting into college, listening to music, keeping up with friends through online platforms and such. It presents a very millennial or generation z love story, which serves as a good reflection of relationships created by the younger generation, making it very much relatable for me.
Love, Rosie tells the story of two best friends who fall in love and struggle to express how they truly feel. I noticed that I’ve taken interest in movies with a slightly similar plot, such as Yann Samuell’s Jeux D’enfants (2003), Warren Beatty’s Rules Don’t Apply (2016), Howard Zieff’s My Girl (1991) and Rob Reiner’s Flipped (2010). These movies, other than being about friendships with a budding romance, also perfectly capture the specific setting of the story through aesthetics and visualization, allowing them to represent not just two people, but an entire generation. In a way, they somehow serve as some sort of period piece from certain decades. Love, Rosie, for starters, represents a very tech-savvy 21st-century love story; Jeux D’enfants exudes a suburban, mid-’90s French vibe; My Girl takes place during one summer in the ’70s; Flipped perfectly encapsulates American teenage innocence during the early ’60s, and; Rules Don’t Apply is practically a window to Hollywood during the ’50s. These films are all nostalgic in their unique sense by exhibiting certain realities of shared experiences, like how people were heavily religious and prudent during the ’50s as presented in Rules Don’t Apply. Then after watching Love, Rosie, you’ll then realize how drastically social norms have changed as people appear to be more expressive and liberated in nature. Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961) would have been an interesting addition to the list, but I, unfortunately, find the film to be heavily distasteful as it has so much racist and sexist overtones, plus Holly Golightly is extremely annoying, I can’t stand her.
Eloquent male protagonists in a suit
“The suit is a modern gentleman’s armor,” Harry Hart said to Eggsy in Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014). Another film element that fascinates me most is an eloquent male protagonist in a suit (yes, I am serious). On top of my list are, of course, Eggsy from Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Jordan Belfort from The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Jared Vennett from The Big Short (2015), Joe Black from Meet Joe Black (1998), Frank Abagnale from Catch Me If You Can (2002), and Rudy Baylor from The Rainmaker (1997), although he struggled in the public speaking department during the first half of the film. I can go on and on as I’ve seen countless films with attractive men in slick suits. It is a very specific preference that sometimes, I’d decide to watch something just by seeing someone in the poster wearing a suit.
Among these films, the most recent one I have seen is Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can. It is based on the life of a young genius named Frank Abagnale, Jr. who eventually became America’s most successful con artist, forging bank checks worth millions of dollars. He was able to pose as a pilot, doctor and lawyer, all before he turned 19. What I liked the most about his character was how he was presented as this misguided intellectual. His perfectly visible eminence and mastery in what he does sugarcoats the bad things he’s doing. In addition to that, he was also profusely confident and charming, making him easily likable. It’s a no-brainer for the audience to root for him despite his wrongdoings, as for all we care, what he does is simply a response to a terrible past. Same thing goes with Jordan Belfort from The Wolf of Wall Street, he is undeniably a terrible person, but somehow we want to be on his side because he’s cool, he’s smart, he knows what he’s doing and is extremely beguiling, therefore, we can trust him. On the contrary, Jared Vennet from The Big Short was merely a Wall Street banker trying to win the bag. He’s a cocky, charismatic, opportunist who cares about nothing else but millions of Dollars. He set a meeting with Mark Baum and his team, convincing them to bet on the total misfortune of millions of Americans. Now, he wasn’t exactly a saint, but like the first two characters mentioned, his confidence, style and brilliance made him easily likable.
Speaking of good-looking guys taking advantage of other people, I recently learned from this Netflix series called 100 Humans, that it’s innate for us to give attractive people a free pass, and it is called the “beauty bias.” People get preoccupied with their preferences for physically attractive people, so they often attribute positive personality traits to them due to the “halo effect.”
With that information, I, therefore conclude that, I forgive fictional characters for their mistakes when I find them physically attractive.
Journey to life
Films are like a whole new universe observed through a window, and it’s always exciting when they show me a great adventure — like how Amelie (2001) is like living in France for a while, or; how Django Unchained (2012) felt like a hot Texan trip. More than characters traveling places, I also enjoy seeing them grow and prosper on their journeys to life. Toto from Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988) spent most of his younger years collecting film strips and working at a local cinema house. Eventually, his passion and determination led him to live his dream. Forrest Gump (1994) was once a crippled low IQ boy from Alabama. Despite his consistent unpleasant experiences, he remained a kind and genuine person. In the end, he became a recognized veteran, philanthropist and celebrity across America, and even the father of a very smart boy. The film covers about 20 years of Forrest’s life, yet it didn’t feel boring or rushed; it’s merely a young man’s soliloquy you’d miss a bus ride for. What I like the most about films is its ability to tell stories of a lifetime in just two hours. Tim Burton’s visual playground, Big Fish (2003), was able to artistically narrate the adventures of Edward Bloom, from when he was a baby, until he was an old man on his death-bed. David Fincher’s The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008), on the other hand, totally changed the game by, quite literally, doing it the opposite way. Dexter Fletcher’s biographical musical Rocketman (2019) and Richard Linklater’s coming of age film, Boyhood (2014), also serve as great examples of amazing life stories told through film.
Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber’s The Butterfly Effect (2004) is one of my all-time favorite films. It isn’t a popular choice, but it has a very interesting way of sending the message that even the smallest events in our lives can lead to enormous effects in the future. In mathematics, there is a branch called the chaos theory, which says that within apparent randomness, there is this underlying interconnectedness and patters. The butterfly effect is a principle used to describe how small changes in one state can result in large differences in a later state; and this is what the entire film is all about. The main character, Evan Treborn, gets sudden blackouts since he was a young boy. These blackouts were often associated with violence, so he kept track of his actions through a daily journal. Evan later realized he can go back in time, make changes and improve his present by altering his past. It reminded me a lot about a quote my mom keeps telling my siblings and I, “do something today that your future self will thank you for.” I suppose Evan did not follow that philosophy much as he ended up going back in time in his adult years, but similar to Benjamin Button, he also led a very unusual life. His story is not told in a very linear manner due to all the time-traveling, but The Butterfly Effect sure does take its viewers to an equally interesting journey to life.
However extraordinary a storyline may be, they are always rooted from reality, one way or another. I find stories that are centered on a character’s journey to life to be very reflective, like how Big Fish showed how consistent sincerity and kindness can serve well; or how Boyhood expressed how important a good, hands-on parenting is to a growing child.
Challenge the status quo
Peeta Mellark is, hands down, my favorite fictional character of all time. I would willfully go through seven annual Hunger Games consecutively, if it meant saving his life. While he may be my imaginary husband, it doesn’t change the fact that he is a Robin while Katniss played Batman against The Capitol. The Hunger Games series (2012–2015) was story about questioning the status quo. Katniss, being the people’s Mockingjay, served as a driving force that influenced districts to stand up against their oppressors. The series expressed how strong the masses can be to influence radical changes in society. The same goes with Day from Liway (2018) who led a resistance against the dictatorship. I find films centered on rebels to be very empowering and challenging at the same time. Phillip Noyce’s The Giver (2014) exhibited a dystopian world of conformity a young boy tried to escape from. Tris Prior from the Divergent series (2014–2016) was another character who fought her way out of a place where uniqueness is seen as a threat that will eventually cause the disorder. Peter Weirs’ Dead Poets Society (1989) highlighted the importance of literature and how they shape humanity. English teacher John Keating defied the traditions of the strict educational system and inspired his students to achieve greatness in their terms. Another inspiring educator was Katherine Watson from Mona Lisa Smile (2003). She was a non-conformist teacher who encouraged her students to pursue their dreams and question social norms. Women’s roles in society were rigidly defined in the ’50s, with their success only measured through how well they marry. Watson’s class consisted of very powerful, smart and highly opinionated women that pushed her to challenge the administration by encouraging these young girls to be more than what society expects them to be.
Ben Cash from Captain Fantastic (2016) is my favorite rebel of all time. He turned his back on society and raised his children in the middle of the forest and away from civilization. A lot of people may find him barbaric, but I actually think he did a fine job raising his kids. However, I find Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (2017) to be the most relatable. Lady Bird, played by Saoirse Ronan, was a nonconformist, fierce, young rebel. She has a strong will to achieve greatness, which later caused her multiple arguments with her friends and family. Lady Bird, personally, inspired me to be more determined of my personal goals and reminded me that defying certain circumstances isn’t always bad, it’s just life; like a hill you got to get through. Most of all, Lady Bird’s complex relationship with her mother is one that hits too close to home; one moment they’re fighting and the next thing you know, they’re gushing over a cute dress. It’s quite similar to the relationship I have with my mom, especially when I was younger. We fought a lot about matters she couldn’t see from my point of view and vice versa, we’d forget it for a while, then a few minutes later, we’d fight all over again and it’s just an endless teenage drama cycle. Once Lady Bird got to New York and was able to live a very independent routine perfectly mirrors how I was when I first got to college and it’s just amusing and also inspiring how a film about a powerful and deeply opinionated character mimics my own life.
Films help us make sense of the world we are living in. They have the power to encourage social change by teaching and helping viewers process intricate life lessons. More than appreciating art, they provide their audience the opportunity to recognize themselves in a character, and I think that’s very beautiful.
Psychological, mysterious and cerebral
Films that play mind games are great, especially if you’re watching them with friends or family and place bets on who killed who. I am not necessarily a big fan of horror and violence, but I do enjoy a good mix of thrill and mystery, with a bit of action on the side. Some films that always flip my mind over are, Christopher Nolan’s Memento (2000), which is about a man who tried to find his wife’s murderer; David Fincher’s Seven (1995) where detectives tracked a killer who used the seven deadly sins in his murders, and; Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners (2003) that dealt with the abduction of two young girls. What I like most about investigative thriller films is that they make you speculative and curious. They plant questions in your brain and water it with evidences, subtle hints and even some distractions that all contribute to the impact of the revelation. When I first saw Prisoners, I found myself scrolling through Reddit and review articles for a proper closure — I didn’t find any and to this day, I still randomly think about that ending.
Knives Out (2019) by Rian Johnson is the most recent murder mystery film I’ve seen. I found it to be mysterious and thrilling, but at the same time fun and visually appealing. It starts with everyone as a suspect to Harlan Thrombey’s death. Investigators hired for the case gather information and ravel them in a very interesting way that I would not have thought at all. Fractured (2019) by Brad Anderson also has a good mix of thrill and mystery. If I had to compare it side by side with Knives Out, I think Fractured provided a stronger impact as it makes you root for the wrong person, like Joe Berlinger did with Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019). I don’t want to share too much about Fractured (2019) as I find it too good to be spoiled, but I would put it next to Orphan (2009) in terms of the level of betrayal.
Other crime films I like include Gregory Hoblit’s Fracture (2007), which by the way, also has Ryan Gosling in a suit; Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River (2003), and; David Fincher’s Gone Girl (2014), which doesn’t include a single character I can root for. I often see people, especially women, preaching Amy Dunne and justifying her actions, but honestly, though, she’s got some strong psycho vibes. She’s just as equally problematic as her husband.
Most, if not all, of these films, end in ways that you will keep thinking about them for weeks. After watching Gone Girl, I had questions in my head, like, what now happens to Nick? To Amy? A lot of people hate cliffhangers, I know my mom does, but sometimes it’s what makes a good ending. Sometimes a closure is unnecessary, especially when the idea of not knowing gives us something to take outside; it works for film and even real life too. As Sean Penn once said, “When everything gets answered, it’s fake,” simply because in real life, we barely even get a single answer, so a cliffhanger serves as a good imitation to life.
With all the films I’ve shared and talked about, I’d like to think I figured myself a little more from my usual film choices. I have concluded that I like a slow-burn romance; I am attracted to smart guys in slick suits; fictional rebels are my role models, and; I like mystery films because they are like brain massages. Well, there’s probably more to that, but I’ll just leave it up to your imagination.
What about you, what are your favorite films? Do you think they say something about you? If you have time to spare, draw investigative and research inspiration from Ichabod Crane from Sleepy Hollow (1999) or Sherlock Holmes (2009) and list down all films you like and try to identify at least one thing you like about it. Who knows, you just might discover an interest you never knew you had.
On top of my favorite films I mentioned, I am going to leave you with a final film recommendation: I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007) by Amy Heckerling
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