A Few Early Oscar Contenders
My "movies to watch" list keeps growing by the second, and I'm not really sure I'll be able to blog about them all. However, in the past week or so, I've seen four movies that have made me want to pace around my house holding a pillow to my chest. I guess I've reached one of those periods in my life when I just crave emotionally intense thought provoking movies. And these film all have one thing in common: they are beautifully human. In this short amount of time, these four films together have made me completely rethink my philosophy on life so even if I can't devote a full blog post to each, I felt that I should at least write a little something.
Gone Girl
Originally a novel and adapted for the screen by the same said novelist (Gillian Flynn), Gone Girl tells the story of Nick and Amy's marriage, how it came together and how it fell a part. It's a disturbingly engrossing look into married life: who we become as part of a couple and how far we're willing to push each other to bring out the best (or worst) of ourselves. With actors cast against type, a subtly prickly soundtrack underlying the whole film, and brilliant direction by David Fincher, Gone Girl is a must see for those interested in the deepest and darkest parts of what makes us human, and a must not see for anyone who wants to get married.
Interstellar
What can I say about a Nolan flick, except that I may be more confused by Interstellar than I was by Inception? However, despite Nolan's love of one word long titles that begin with "I", Interstellar does have something Inception seemed to lack: heart. It's a movie about human connection disguised as a space saga. But if you can look past all the physical anomalies, suspend your disbelief at all the things that go unexplained, and focus past the visually stunning space CGI, you might just find yourself caught up in a truly moving story about a father's love for his daughter.
Fury
The first thing to note is that Fury is not for the feint of heart. It is, in all its guts and glory, a true war movie, and a good one at that. It captures the heightened emotions, conscience conflicts, and outright brutally of war through a moving, horrifying, fascinating snapshot of the lives of a few caught in something much bigger than themselves. It is story of a(n extremely diverse) tank crew deep in the heart of German territory towards the end of World War II. And while it may have been nice to know a little bit more about the histories of each of the characters, the fact that we don't seems fitting for soldiers in a war they were forced to fight. It doesn't matter who you were before or where you came from. It's all about surviving the next mission. In that moment, under fire, it's all about the person you become on the front. Our protagonists are not heroes. But they are tragically human, because amidst a war, they can still care so deeply about each other and about others. In an act of group hatred, they go to prove that there can still be individual kindness. And if that doesn't tug at your heartstrings, the five-man bromance most certainly should.
The Theory of Everything
If Eddie Redmayne (and Felicity Jones for that matter) doesn't get an Oscar nod for his performance, I will flip a table. To put it bluntly, this movie has "all the feels". From remarkably joyous moments to tear-jerking scenes, The Theory of Everything is a biopic you don't want to miss. With vividly colored images and an oh so British touch, it's a feel good movie that deserves every award nomination it gets. And it follows the theme I've been building up here. This film is not about physics, and it's not even completely about Professor Hawking. It's about life and enjoying every moment of it we have. Jane and Stephen's story shows just how extraordinary humans can be if we put our minds to work. Humorous, jarring, and heartfelt, I left this film with a smile on my face and a little more hope in humanity. It's ironic. Stephen Hawking was told that he wouldn't have much time to live but against all odds, he has found a way to become timeless.
Each of these movies is something extraordinary in its own right. But together, these films provide the audience with views on life that could not be achieved alone. And the overarching message is clear. The meaning is all the same. What is most important in this world are the connections we make with each other. Life is all about human connections. Without them, we would not achieve all that we have. Without them, we could not survive. Without them, everything else is trivial.
Gone Girl
Originally a novel and adapted for the screen by the same said novelist (Gillian Flynn), Gone Girl tells the story of Nick and Amy's marriage, how it came together and how it fell a part. It's a disturbingly engrossing look into married life: who we become as part of a couple and how far we're willing to push each other to bring out the best (or worst) of ourselves. With actors cast against type, a subtly prickly soundtrack underlying the whole film, and brilliant direction by David Fincher, Gone Girl is a must see for those interested in the deepest and darkest parts of what makes us human, and a must not see for anyone who wants to get married.
Interstellar
What can I say about a Nolan flick, except that I may be more confused by Interstellar than I was by Inception? However, despite Nolan's love of one word long titles that begin with "I", Interstellar does have something Inception seemed to lack: heart. It's a movie about human connection disguised as a space saga. But if you can look past all the physical anomalies, suspend your disbelief at all the things that go unexplained, and focus past the visually stunning space CGI, you might just find yourself caught up in a truly moving story about a father's love for his daughter.
Fury
The first thing to note is that Fury is not for the feint of heart. It is, in all its guts and glory, a true war movie, and a good one at that. It captures the heightened emotions, conscience conflicts, and outright brutally of war through a moving, horrifying, fascinating snapshot of the lives of a few caught in something much bigger than themselves. It is story of a(n extremely diverse) tank crew deep in the heart of German territory towards the end of World War II. And while it may have been nice to know a little bit more about the histories of each of the characters, the fact that we don't seems fitting for soldiers in a war they were forced to fight. It doesn't matter who you were before or where you came from. It's all about surviving the next mission. In that moment, under fire, it's all about the person you become on the front. Our protagonists are not heroes. But they are tragically human, because amidst a war, they can still care so deeply about each other and about others. In an act of group hatred, they go to prove that there can still be individual kindness. And if that doesn't tug at your heartstrings, the five-man bromance most certainly should.The Theory of Everything
Each of these movies is something extraordinary in its own right. But together, these films provide the audience with views on life that could not be achieved alone. And the overarching message is clear. The meaning is all the same. What is most important in this world are the connections we make with each other. Life is all about human connections. Without them, we would not achieve all that we have. Without them, we could not survive. Without them, everything else is trivial.
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