Spotlight

Spotlight Date: 24-November-02
 

Things for Which Moviegoers Can Be Thankful

In the spirit of the season, I thought it appropriate to take a moment and feel thankful for what makes going to the movies such a good time. Sure, there are a lot of things moviegoers can gripe about, like absurd admission prices, even more ridiculous concession stand prices, an endless procession of crap coming out of Hollywood, ads before the previews, and cell phones going off during almost every show, but such things still haven't dampened the joy of the cinematic experience. And, in 2002, here's why.

Good Actors: I don't know how many of our current stars will be remembered in the way, say, Bogart and Hepburn (take your pick) are, but I really don't think our era is lacking in dazzling talent. Not only do we have a few bona fide icons (e.g., Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts, who are fine actors as well as career celebrities), we enjoy a large number of truly excellent performers regularly appearing in films as well. There's a British contingent of grand dames (Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith), a large troop of Aussies who suffuse good looks with intensity (Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett), and a solid American lineup of men and women who consistently excel in both mainstream and independent fare (Matt Damon, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Johnny Depp, Edward Norton, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep) — to name just a few. And the good stuff just keeps on coming: great promise has been shown by such rising talents as Kieran Culkin, Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, and Chloe Sevigny.

Good, Young Directors: It warms my heart to think that some of the best directors working today are young, with many more potentially fabulous films still to come. My favorite director of any age is, of course, 32-year-old Paul Thomas Anderson ("Boogie Nights," "Punch-Drunk Love") who has yet to make a bad film in four outings. Then there's Wes Anderson (no relation, same age), who has worked with pals Owen and Luke Wilson on such off-beat pictures as "Bottle Rocket" and "Rushmore." (Some critics loved his "The Royal Tennenbaums," too, but not I.) The fortysomethings include Steven Soderbergh, whose work varies wildly in content and quality but can obtain brilliance ("Out of Sight"), and Todd Haynes, who may well turn out to be this year's critical darling with the lovely "Far From Heaven." (He also made the fascinating "Safe" a few years back.) Not only does this blooming of youthful talent suggest that more good things are coming, it also bodes well for other up-and-coming directors — clearly, the possibility exists for talented young directors to get their voices heard. (Thanks, Robert Redford.)

Lots of Choices: Undoubtedly, Hollywood produces a lot of really bad movies, but the sheer quantity of films released each year means that there's usually something worth watching in theaters. In addition, the world of cinema seems to be moving toward greater internationalism (consider the recent boom in Hong Kong action films and their stars, the 1998 Oscar win by Italian Roberto Benigni, and the signing of Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron to helm the next Harry Potter movie), which will bring us even more movie options. Of course, movie lovers in smaller towns and cities don't have the same selection as those in big urban centers, but the availability and ever-falling prices of satellite dishes, home theater systems, videos, and DVDs mean that more and more people can see a huge assortment of films. (It's not the same as going to a theater, but it's better than watching TV!)

Technology and Animation: Not only have advancements in technology brought movies into our homes, they have allowed filmmakers to express their wildest fantasies and put their most creative visions on the big screen. For people like me who go to the theater to lose themselves in other worlds, this is a great thing. Putting aside notions of widespread spiritual crisis and the lack of modern heroes, the recent upsurge in fantasy films is due in part to the fact that they are now possible in a way that they weren't just a decade ago.

Combining the phenomena of a more international film culture and better technology is the broadening appeal of feature-length animated films (outside of the Disney stuff that has dominated the market for years). Japanese anime is finally getting its due in the US, and outfits like Pixar (who brought us the delightful "Toy Story" films and "Monsters, Inc.") and Will Vinton Studios ("Chicken Run") are making good entertainment and good money. You don't have to be a kid to love this stuff!

Miscellaneous: Some other things I really appreciate these days are: stadium seating, Hugh Jackman's old-time beauty, the promise of shorter Oscar award shows in the future, the longevity of Paul Newman's career, vintage theaters that manage to hang on, and the fact that Peter Jackson got it right.

During the Depression, everybody wanted to go to the movies to forget their troubles, and I think this was a perfectly natural impulse that does and should pertain to current times. Good films allow us to travel, in a way; they open our minds, make us feel, and give us things to think about and discuss with others. And movies are, simply, a unifying, defining part of American life (last week a total stranger asked me, "Did you do Harry Potter last night?" and though my answer was "No," I still felt and appreciated the power of the "event," as she called it). As national pastimes go, it could be a lot worse. For all of these reasons, I am truly thankful to live within walking distance of several theaters and to have some extra dollars in my pocket so I can visit them often.

Also, I am thankful to be able to share my experiences with you.

Copyright © 2002 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.