Two Films that Leaving Me Thinking
Dec 21st, 2009 by Alex
Differentiating movies from films is difficult. It isn’t as simple as the quality or content of what’s on the screen. I think it’s more of what you’re getting out of it. If the goal is sheer entertainment, it’s a movie. If I want more out of it, it’s a film. I’ll rave to friends about the special effects or action sequences of movies, but discuss themes and tone of films. There’s definitely crossover, since what I get out of it depends entirely how I approach a viewing.
Trapped in the house by a recent snowfall, I found myself perusing the shelf full of DVDs. Perhaps I’ve been listening to too much of The Postal Service lately, but I wasn’t in the mood for comedy or dramatic action. I wanted to be affected.
If you mention Vanilla Sky, many people dismiss it due to the casting. Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz cast pretty large shadows and tend to invoke reactions in people, so I recommend listening to director Cameron Crowe as he narrates “Prelude to a Dream” on the DVD. His words offer insight into the making of what I think is one of my favorite films. It is incredibly versatile, venturing into the world of aspiration, friendship, dreams, and reality. Every time I see it I take something new away, always worth the discussion. It also features one of the finest selected and richly integrated soundtracks I’ve ever heard; the music fits perfectly and can move you even after you’re done watching. Even if you’ve seen it, watch it again.
Guillermo Arriaga excels at writing stories. Stories with intertwined characters. Stories that pull at your heartstrings, plucking at your emotions in subtle yet potent ways. Three years before Babel was released, there was 21 Grams. A phenomenal film, I can only stand to watch it once every few years; in the five years that I’ve owned it I’ve only seen it three times. I have to be in a very particular mood and be able to devote myself to it without distractions. It’s definitely not a happy ending sort of story, but it’s definitely worth taking in.
Vanilla Sky loses any credence as a good movie when you discover that it is literally a shot-for-shot remake of Abre los Ojos. No bullshit! Penelope Cruz even plays the same character! Watch Abre los Ojos and see for yourself: Vanilla Sky was basically a tool to leverage the film into the english-speaking market and to add Tom Cruise.
Mark: I disagree. I don’t have a problem with remakes. Often I enjoy them more, benefiting from better equipment and talent (both in front of an behind the lens). It isn’t just about the script, but the whole process. In many cases, the original lacked the billing to get out in front of a larger audience; in many cases, the remakes bring the original to light. I know that I hadn’t heard of Abre los Ojos until seeing Vanilla Sky.