I know it's been a long time since I've posted on here, and I apologize for that. I'll be posting more frequently now, I assure you. A fellow film buff asked me to write about the movies that have moved and inspired me not only as a film buff, but as a writer as well. I thought this was an interesting assignment, so I took her up on it and this is the end result.
"AMERICAN BEAUTY" (1999)
Even after over 12 years, this movie still moves me. Among many of the films on this list, it's impossible to label this movie. A comedy that moves you. A drama that makes you laugh. A movie that makes you "Look Closer" at your own lives to examine the inner-comedy, the inner-tragedy, and the utter beauty in all of our lives we often miss because we're too distracted by the surface. This movie changed my life forever.
"THE USUAL SUSPECTS" (1996)
1996 was a great year for movies to begin with, like "Fargo" that put a great spotlight on the Coen Brothers. At this time, I was already starting to study film. But it was "The Usual Suspects" that really grabbed my attention. The brilliant dialogue and engaging storyline made me thrilled and surprised. It was this movie that inspired me to become a writer. This movie made me want to make a script that would eventually inspire a future writer in the generations to come.
"INCEPTION" (2010)
Christopher Nolan is an amazing filmmaker. Period. Even from his debut film "Following", Nolan manages to thrill with a minimal effort. "Inception" is a different beast all together. On the surface, it's a beautifully crafted action film that rivals all CGI-laden blockbusters as a dominant beast. Under the action, you have a bizarre and unique exploration of the human mind and what happens when you can no longer tell the difference between dreams and reality. Even after the movie is over, you can't help but ponder over your own existence.
"SUCKER PUNCH" (2011)
This is a prime example critics don't always know what they're talking about. Saying this movie is only about big-breasted girls in tight clothing fighting monsters is like saying "Citizen Kane" is about a guy and a sled. Zack Snyder's period opus combines Tim Burton's "Alice In Wonderland" with "Kill Bill" and delivers not only eye-popping visuals and pulse-pounding action sequences, but heart-wrenching emotion while telling you, the viewer, the tools you need to survive are within you. The message, on most auidences, was lost. What a tragedy.
"10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU" (1999)
Perhaps a strange choice for this list, "10 Things I Hate About You" manages to be relevant even 12 years after its debut. Perhaps it's the performances from Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordan-Leavitt and Julia Stiles. Perhaps it's the brilliant writing. Or perhaps it's Shakespeare's timeless "Taming of the Shrew" that made this movie a masterpiece that spans generations like "The Breakfast Club". More than a decade later, we still have no equal to this film, and we probably never will.
"GET HIM TO THE GREEK" (2010)
Now I can imagine this enrty seems silly, perhaps awkward, to be on this list. All together now! "One of these things is not like the other! One of these things just doesn't belong!" That was fun. First off, I love musicals. Fucked up musicals. And this one fits that bill to a tee. However, like its predecessor "Forgetting Sarah Marhall", "Greek" has a bizarre poignance that it almost had no right to have. While on the surface, it's a tale of sex, drugs, and (most importantly) rock and roll, "Greek", deep down, is about the love of the music dedication to your passion, and being loyal to yourself and those who love you.
"FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL" (2008)
You can't have a sequel on this list without the original. And "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" definitely deserves to be on this list. Yes, the several cock shots were disconcerting. But the brutal honesty of this film more than makes up for it. When we're with the wrong person, we lose sight of who we are and our passions in life and for life, and sometimes a broken heart is the best remedy for that. Makes this film unforgettable.
"L.A. CONFIDENTIAL" (1997)
It's hard to mention "The Usual Suspects" without mentioning "L.A. Confidential". At least for me. Not only was it a gorgeous neo-noir exposing the gritty underbelly of 1930s Los Angeles, but the intense storyline and nail-biting drama are enough to marvel over. Add in the wonderful combination of Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey and Russell Crowe, along with Brian Helgaland's wonderfully crafted script and you have a film that is glitz, glamour, and substance. Another film that inspired me to be a writer.
"VANILLA SKY" (2001)
The final movie on this list is no other than the critical and audience flop "Vanilla Sky". Why is this on the list? Because sometimes neither critics nor audience know what is good. Surreal and beautiful, revealing and bleak, this movie explored the fragility of dreams long before "Inception", proved Tom Cruise still has it after all these years, and made Cameron Diaz into a legitimate actress. Also it was the film that led me to write my first screenplay (second if you count my collaborative effort four months prior, so it's my first solo effort), so I still hold this film in high regards. "Open your eyes."
