Monday Morning Poll: Finding Inspiration in Film
Filed under: Classics, Critical Thought, DIY/Filmmaking, Lists
Last week on The Poll (calling it The Poll makes it sound as if it's more important than it really is and, since I like to feel special, I may do that from time to time), we talked about controversial films. Entertainment Weekly came up with a list of those they considered most controversial,and we debated which ingredients belong in such a film -- and some of us even mocked EW for coming up with yet another crappy list.
For this week's (Episode? Edition? Version?) of The Poll, we will focus on a different list: AFI's 100 most inspirational films of all time. And yes, I'm curious -- what makes a film inspirational? Not surprisingly, they chose It's a Wonderful Life as its top pick. Ya know, some guy learns the meaning of life after an angel shows him what things would be like if he never existed. There's not a Christmas film that exists in which this one isn't on a television somewhere in the background. Has it ever inspired me to be a better person? No. Has it made me feel good? I suppose. And I guess feeling real good after watching a film is a form of inspiration.
Some other films ranked high on the list include Rocky, To Kill a Mockingbird, Schindler's List and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. One of my personal favorite feel-good flicks is Rudy, and I was somewhat peeved to see it all the way down at number 54. I mean, how does one film make you feel better than another? How do you rank inspiration? Honestly, at the end of the day, if there's anything this list inspires me to do, it's to never read another one of these lists.
So, I ask you: In your mind, what makes a film inspirational? And, after taking a look at AFI's list, do you feel some films should have been ranked higher than others or is it impossible to rank such a thing in the first place?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-19-2006 @ 9:50AM
Lisa said...
Hey Erik,
Point well taken about the subjectivity of finding inspiration in films. I looked at the list similarly, thinking that Rocky shouldn't have been nearly as high and impressed the a film as new as Hotel Rwanda made it at all.
I also watched in amazement as AFI recognized many of the films on another list, that of Truly Moving Pictures. I work for Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis, and it's our mission "to recognize filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." The best part of our list? Unlike AFI's, the films aren't ranked, they're just recognized for being inspiring. So go ahead, put Rudy (which is a Truly Moving Picture) at the top of your list!
A quick sidenote: we're always recognizing new films, and we're in the middle of some big changes. If Cinematical would ever be interested in knowing what we're up to, please let me know and we'll keep in touch.
Cinematically,
Lisa Trifone
Web Administrator
Heartland Film Festival
www.TrulyMovingPictures.org
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6-19-2006 @ 10:36AM
jmchez said...
One thing that is certain is that any and all of AFI's lists enrage and frustrate a whole lot of people. I have disagreed at their ranking of "greatest film heroes", "best science fiction films", "best romantic films", etc. Heck, I've disagreed at their ranking of every list they've ever done! This one's no different.
This time you could also tell that, on the rare ocatssion that a religious themed film got in there, they glossed over that part real quick. Ben Hur, "inspiring because of the great chariot race". Heh? No mention about unjust imprisonment, survival, thirst for revenge, wounded family members and miraculous healing at the foot of the cross?
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6-19-2006 @ 1:32PM
Cath said...
"Uplifting" is a very personal decision, though it seems people fighting against the odds is a staple of the AFI list. No offense to Frank Capra, one of the most decent men in Hollywood, but I find "It's a Wonderful Life" to be depressing rather than uplifting.
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6-19-2006 @ 4:42PM
Gilbert Davis said...
A tricky catagory here. "Inspirational" means imparting a divine influence on the mind and soul. And even if the influence they seek to impart is actually divine or not, it's somebody's agenda and somebody's ideas of what is good for us. It's a lot of social commentary and a lot of movies nobody sees more than one time. I see a list here that has an agenda on it's mind. It should be called the "NPR List of Movies approved for their content and social message that you should believe in with a few 'inspirational' movies thrown in."
To Kill a Mockingbird is a movie they made us watch in school, Schindler's List is probably a movie they make you watch in school now as well. The Grapes of Wrath is social commentary, Saving Private Ryan, Bridge Over the River Kwai, The Best Years of Our Lives are antiwar movies. The business is bad, government is bad and people are noble movies include, Norma Rae, Silkwood, Erin Brockovich, Grapes of Wrath, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Meet John Doe. Prisoners are noble and prisons are bad - Cool Hand Luke, Birdman of Alcatraz, Shawshank Redemption. Glory, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, Color Purple, To Kill a Mockingbird and Raisin in the Sun teach me that rascism is bad. Dead Poet's Society and Philadephia teach me that gay people are people and homophobia is bad. I don't find any of those movies particularly inspirational. Preachy maybe with their own agendas and some of them were effective when I was younger and didn't know that I was being fed a point of view. Bah, I hate lists.
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6-19-2006 @ 5:05PM
Cath said...
I do take exception to the idea that finding sympathy in the plight of others is of necessity didactic. The point of art is to throw light on the human condition, to look at the world through another's eyes. Preachy happens when a particular moral or point of view takes precedence over storytelling.
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