2005 Best Picture Winner: CRASH |
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If you are in my age group and like movies, I'm sure you have heard it many times from the older folks of your household: "How can you go to the movies?" "How can you watch that crap?" "They don't make em, like they use to!" "All the movies today are about sex, violence, and special effects." "You should have seen real movies, like they had in my day."
If you are an older member of your household and love your movies in black and white, I'm sure you have heard this many times from the younger generation: "Old movies are boring!" "How can you watch this crap?" "Where is the color?" "Turn the channel!" "Wow, movies were boring in your day."
It is rather safe to say that the movies our parents and grandparents like are not the movies of today. It is also safe to say the movies of old are not the kids cup of tea.
Older movies were more upbeat, happy, and whimsical then a lot of the films you see today. A lot of older movies had one purpose and one purpose only, for everyone on screen to look good, dance, and have fun. You had your share of serious films such as ON THE WATERFRONT, TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE and others. But the films that most people still talk about and remember from that era, are the fun films and light hearted fare. Such as The Marx Brothers. Never-mind if there was enough cheese in those films to feed a room full of mice.
But who am I to judge? Those films are held near and dear to many people. Their first drive in movie with a date in their 56' Chevy. The car, the girl, and the movie. What a wonderful time. When they look back on these films, they smile and think of happier times. Freedom, having a full set of hair, no nagging children like us who watch crap films, no pains and aches, no wrinkles, just teenage fun to the fullest! Now they have to pay bills, worry about what that rash might be, and make sure you are staying out of trouble.
Let's fast forward to the movies of now ...
Kevin Bacon playing a pedophile whose trying to get his 
Marlon Brando in ON THE WATERFRONT |
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life together in the WOODSMAN. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal dealing with homosexual love in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. CRASH in which we see how racism can blind even the best of people into being evil monsters. Felicity Huffman playing a man wanting to be a woman in TRANS AMERICA. IMELDA STANTION as a woman who helps other women terminate unwanted pregnancies in VERA DRAKE.
It's a far cry from Jimmy Stewart in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, or The Marx Brothers trying to perform an opera now isn't it?
I think the big misconception by many people is that movies today are depressing, dark, cynical, and not the good "fun" that they had when they were younger. But I don't think there is anything depressing about dealing with tough subject matter in a way that is thought provoking and intelligent. Movies today deal with subjects and issues that were taboo or never talked about back in the day. They bring them to the forefront. The world is not all sugar cones, candy canes, and good times. There is problems that need to be solved. There is issues that must be discussed.
What better way to get children interested in a lot of matters of the world then the movies? I have seen films like GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK and MUNICH, and have been interested to find out more information about those events. It creates an interest that might not have been there, if not for the movies. Movies today more then ever are a great learning tool, and important. But parents try to hide a lot of issues from their kids and sugar coat it. Then when they get out there in the real world, they are completely lost due to the sheltered life-style from their parents.
Is there crappy movies out there currently that are trashy? Of course. But just like anything in life, you have to look for the good movies. Same with music. Same with TV. The news is full of bad events, are you going to tell us we can't view the news now?
On the same token, the reason we have films the way they are today, is because of the ground 
Freeman/Redford in AN UNFINISHED LIFE |
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work that was layed from early movie legends. Such as Orson Welles, Marlon Brando and Humphrey Bogart. A lot of early film techniques that we take for granted today were used back in 1941 such as in CITIZEN KANE. Camera angles, camera shots, film making skills that we see so much today, were brought to the forefront, thanks to the early film makers and actors. All of this would not have been possible if not for our forefathers of film.
For them taking them out to help a young Al Pacino. Or a young Robert Deniro. Teach them the ropes. Show them how to act. Passing the skill and talent of acting down to them. Passing the torch. A lot of the current films we see today were either inspired by, or directly taken from earlier films. Back before there was million dollar budgets and Sc Fi action that clutters up every cinema. They did it the hard way. With blood, sweat, and tears. They made a little out of nothing. Because of them, we can watch and enjoy films today. Thanks to their legacy.
But children see anything their parents liked and enjoyed as boring and un-hip. That was for the dinosaurs! Those old folks don't know what good movies are! If there is not a CGI Garfield, or a babe with cleavage, they have no time for it. They want Jessica Alba, X-Men, and as little talking as humanly possible. They don't want no stinking black and white crap. They are smart, hip, and fresh with the latest trends. The parents are still stuck in the late 50's with their fossil films.
Can't we all just get along?
Can't we all be more open minded?
Next time your parents say there are no good movies out there today, tell them about films like MUNICH, GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, AN UNFINISHED LIFE, IN HER SHOES, and NORTH COUNTRY. Show them there is good films out there, despite popular belief.
Next time your parents say to watch an old movie with them, give it a shot. It might not be as bad as you thought it was. You might actually enjoy it. You might learn to appreciate it.
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| Single and Loving Flicks |
Every other Tuesday
Expect the unexpected from Tony as he'll give you his columns on the way movies used to be, the way movies are, and the way they should be.
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| Tony Farinella |
Tony is an Oak Lawn, IL based film reviewer and columnist looking to have fun and share his unique views on film with everyone. Tony also has an unhealthy obsession with Vanessa Lengies, but that is neither here nor there.
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