Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with film and cinema

movies that have become a part of pop culture?

colfax — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:45:21 -0800

I'm 30 years old and I just saw Casablanca for the first time. All of a sudden I understand why so many people joke about "always having Paris." And all of those references to gin joints. Can you recommend some other movies to me that are equally important for understanding American pop culture? This has happened to me before. I saw Karate Kid like ten years too late, but when I did, I suddenly realized why all of the kids on the playground kept playing, "Wax on, wax off; wax on, wax off." As a kid I'd always assumed they were actually talking about a car wax commercial that I'd never seen, because I didn't watch much television either. Since then I've become a bit more tv-literate, at least in the genres that interest me, but movies have always been a bit...intimidating to me.

So, can you recommend to me some more movies like Casablanca that have seeped into the general culture? I'm not looking for movies that are good but obscure; I'm looking for the movies that your average group of Americans would be appalled to hear I've never seen, and that are frequently referenced in pop culture. It makes me a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I'm really not interested in learning to appreciate film as an art form. I mostly just want to understand what everyone else is talking about. Assume no suggestion is too basic. All genres are welcome.

"What movie did I see?", episode 1374

kxr — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 04:45:39 -0800

My google-fu is failing me, and this is beginning to bug the shit out of me. Hivemind, you're my only hope. What was the Iranian (I think) film I saw, made around five-to-ten-years ago, about a community living aboard a derelict oil-tanker beached in the Arabian gulf..? If it's any help, the screening I attended at the Filmhouse cinema in Edinburgh was followed by a Q&A with the director (and was probably presented as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival).

Looking for awesome alternate theories about the plots of movies

Blasdelb — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 05:20:18 -0800

What are some of the most interesting theoretical models for understanding the plots and themes of movies that were not designed to generate them like Inception was? I am familiar with Cool Papa Bell's theory for the plot of Ferris Bueller's Day Off as well as the Totoro as the Angel of Death theory, what else is there that is fascinating in the same way?

Your favourite clever pop culture sites/podcasts/lectures

everydayanewday — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:41:29 -0800

I'm at home ill at the moment, watching lots of films and reading a lot (this week I've watched 14 films and read 2 books). I'd like to find sites (or podcasts/lectures/etc) that intelligently examine media and/or popular culture. I regularly read articles on Popmatters and sometimes the A.V. Club (but not so much). What are your favourite film/media crit resources? Podcasts? Lectures? Thank you in advance for any help!

Academy Award 2013 Shorts - show me them....

Mintyblonde — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:56:48 -0800

Does anyone have any links to watch the various shorts that have been nominated for this years Academy Awards? Does anyone have any links to watch the various shorts that have been nominated for this years Academy Awards?

I'm a on-line film critic and I like to check out these shorts where possible, however some cursory searching hasn't turned up much this year. As I'm based in the UK there also won't be any opportunities to see them ahead of any feature releases which I understand certain exhibition chains sometimes promote.

To be clear, I'm talking about these sectors;

Documentary Shorts;

Inocente – Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine
Kings Point – Sari Gilman and Jedd Wider
Mondays at Racine – Cynthia Wade and Robin Honan
Open Heart – Kief Davidson and Cori Shepherd Stern
Redemption – Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill

Live Action Shorts;

Asad – Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura
Buzkashi Boys – Sam French and Ariel Nasr
Curfew – Shawn Christensen
Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw) – Tom Van Avermaet and Ellen De Waele
Henry – Yan England

Animated Shorts;

Adam and Dog – Minkyu Lee
Fresh Guacamole – PES
Head Over Heels – Timothy Reckart and Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly
The Longest Daycare – David Silverman
Paperman – John Kahrs

Thanks in advance - and legitimate sources please, I don't particularly don an eyepatch and obtain a parrot.....

First steps for a community cinema

Jehan — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:43:07 -0800

Can you talk me through the issue of rights and royalties for a small community cinema? An informal group in my town is looking at the idea of setting up a small community cinema. Ideally, we would show films from new releases to classics, to audiences of 50-250 people. This would take place in a non-cinema type venue. There are no cinemas in our town, the nearest being at least 8 miles away.

My question is how does such a group deal with the rights and royalties for showing films? We want to do everything lawfully and above aboard, and I assume that means receiving official releases from, and then making payments to, the rightsholders. But we have no clue what this really means, how the system might work for a small group, or what kind of amounts we're talking about. We're really just starting out on this idea and looking to lay down some lines to work with, so feel free to speak to us like we're idiots. Pointers to resources elsewhere welcome too.

For information, we are in England. We're not worried at the moment about venue licensing.

What 60s movie set in Italy was this?

mygothlaundry — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:36:09 -0800

What is this old (60s?) movie that I saw about 20 minutes of a couple of weeks ago on TV? Set in Italy, there's a gigolo and a couple of movie stars and a Hedda Hopper like character and a scene in a grotto type restaurant. And that's more or less all I know. I went by my aunt's a few weeks ago - I cannot, for the life of me, remember when exactly - and she was watching this movie. I don't know what channel it was, either. I saw about 20 minutes, didn't recognize any of the cast (but then this is me, and I never, ever recognize anyone, so everyone in the movie could well be The Most Famous Movie Stars EVER.) I don't think it was an Italian movie; I think it was an American movie set in Rome.

The movie was in color and had that - difficult to define, but something about the clothes and just the look of everything - mid 60s look to it. It wasn't La Dolce Vita. When I walked in, a very handsome, kind of sulky young man and slightly older woman had just come out of a pool. He was lying around on a chaise smoking; there was a kind of pretentious conversation about love. Later, the woman took him to a tailor for a whole bunch of fancy suits. Then they went to a restaurant where all the tables were sort of set in little grottoes. At the restaurant was a young starlet type and there was a lot of tablehopping going on. There was also an older woman there who later called the young gigolo type guy on the phone; I got the impression that she was a gossip columnist of some sort.

And then I left but now I want to see the whole thing. And it was. . . ?

Examples of timelines in movies and other pop culture?

oulipian — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:13:01 -0800

I'm looking for examples of visual timelines in movies, video games, or fiction. Scenes where a span of time is represented metaphorically, preferably as a physical object, diagram, or action. A good example is this scene from Me and You and Everyone We Know in which two characters use a street as a visual metaphor for their potential relationship. My meager collection of examples:
- The scene in Vertigo where Madeleine uses the cut tree cross-section to show her past life (this scene is referenced in La Jette and 12 Monkeys, as shown here).
- Picnicface's Growing Boy skit.
- Jason Rohrer's game Passage (walking represents the passage of time).

Interpreting film and literature -- is it meant to be confusing?

archagon — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 01:43:41 -0800

In film and literature, how does one deal with the smorgasbord of themes and lack of a single, unifying meaning? OK, this is a little abstract, so bear with me. For the longest time, I've had trouble interpreting movies and books. When I listen to music or look at art, I usually "get it" right away, because works in these mediums tend to have very clear meanings. But when I watch a movie or read a novel, I'm often left confused by the end despite enjoying the plot.

For example, earlier today, I watched Blade Runner for the first time. It's clear that Ridley Scott and the other folks in the creative pipeline put a lot of thematic complexity into the work, but I just can't intuitively comprehend how it all fits together. Nothing in the film points me towards any given theme, and instead sort of exists in this stew of different ideas. For example, the burgeoning humanity of the replicants is a major theme in the film. So what's with all the other underlined ideas, such as the replicants' treatment of "god", the decrepit, multi-cultural stylings of the future, the references to mythology and religion, the main replicant's wild behavior towards the end, etc.? I can't help but see the film as a massive jumble of tangled thematic threads, none of which end up in the same place. I just don't get a sense of thematic closure. Am I supposed to feel this way? Doesn't it make the film seem incomplete?

My questions:
1. When you watch a movie or read a book, how do you come to grips with the themes? Do they generally make sense to you right away, or do you have to sit and think about them after the fact? In your favorite films and novels, do you find that they jumble together or stem from a single source?
2. How do creators conceive of these works? I'm sure that Ridley Scott didn't just want to make an action flick about a detective hunting robots, but at the same time I'm confident that he didn't consciously sit down one day and pen all the themes listed on the Wikipedia page. So how did this complicated work emerge, if not through a methodical process?

I know this is a fairly basic question, but I feel like the part of my brain that's supposed to just "get it" is missing. So please explain it to me like I'm 12!

Can you help me create a list of example of "Immersion Cinema"?

codybaldwin — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:44:09 -0800

Can you help me create a list of example of "Immersion Cinema"? I just read Chuck Klosterman's article on the film "Room 237" which introduces the term "Immersion Cinema". I'm trying to create a list of other examples of this type of cinema.

"It's based on the belief that symbolic, ancillary details inside a film are infinitely more important than the surface dialogue or the superficial narrative. And it's not just a matter of noticing things other people miss, because that can be done by anyone who's perceptive; it's a matter of noticing things that the director included to indicate his true, undisclosed intention. In other words, it's not an interpretive reading — it's an inflexible, clandestine reality that matters way more than anything else. And it's usually insane."

The first thing that came to mind was Jay-Z's "On to the next one".
Of that list I think the video that best fits the criterion is this video. But, I would prefer talking--I think hearing someone voice is pretty crucial to the process.

Any help is much obliged!

How to teach filmmaking to children

diabolik — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:22:05 -0800

Looking for help figuring out ways to teach a tween how to make films. I have an opportunity to teach filmmaking to a child for pay.

I have some experience -- made three short films (the last one playing at festivals), directed a dozen plays, performed longform comedy improv, have written screenplays, and studied film editing in a well-respected program.

But, given a chance to make this anything I want it to be, I feel stumped. The particular issues related to teaching a child worry me. It has to be fun, give her plenty to do (and fail at), be paced in a way that works for kids and, I would think, should leave her with something to show for the experience (in addition to what has been learned). This doesn't even begin to get into the logistical issues -- equipment, actors, locations/sets, etc.

The child is 13 years old and has no filmmaking experience, as far as I know. This would probably be done as a kind of after-school enrichment program, approximately once a week, for a period ranging from 3 months to, possibly, 9 months.

I thought I'd throw it out to the hive mind.

I hope to get some practical advice on how to approach this and/or be pointed towards some resources that might help me. It occurs to me that there might even be ready-made curricula out there that I could play with and adapt.

What was produced at the "Red Desert" factory?

Egg Shen — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:08:08 -0800

What was produced at the factory at the beginning of Michelangelo Antonioni's Red Desert? The factory was located in Ravenna, apparently. Here are four frames.

90s japanese film about love in faceless corporate world

cmp4Meta — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:54:32 -0800

Looking for a Japanese film I saw prior to 2003. It was a dystopian picture of some people trying to have an office romance in the corporate office landscape of Tokyo - lots of shots of bleak urban concrete and highways and faceless office parks full of conformist white collar employees - in the final scene of the film one of the characters is stranded walking along the edge of a highway. It dealt with a complicated love triangle. I know this isn't the title, but it was something like "Kiss me twice, now hold me I love you" or something a little crazy like that- I believe this film was made in the 90s or the early 2000s. It was in Japanese language with subtitles. There is a slight chance it may have been Korean, but I'm pretty sure it was Japanese. This film may have been discussed by Fredric Jameson in one of his essays as it was screened in a graduate school class on Japanese cultural critique.

Well I gave it five stars David

deadwax — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 04:21:50 -0800

I've seen very few movies. Educate me about the classics of world cinema. When I say I've seen few movies I mean it. I can go entire years without watching anything, on TV or in the cinema. I have a vague idea of what I'm missing, for example it would probably be good to watch a film directed by Stanley Kubrick and as an Australian I am apparently obligated to watch The Castle. I'm not certain I've seen all of the original Star Wars trilogy. After the obvious I'm a bit lost though.

I'm about to be moving to a much quieter town for a year and a half. Opportunities for movie viewing will increase. The internet and a video library will be to hand. Where should I start?

I like pretty well anything, although action films rarely do anything for me and I'd rather not watch horror. Non English is fine. Arthouse is fine. Romantic comedy is fine (if it's a bit above average). Dark depressing drama is fine. Dystopian SF is fine. Film from yesterday is fine. Silent film from 100 years ago is fine. You get the picture.

So give me the high points of the history of film.

Early examples of GPS-type things in movies/TV?

theatro — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:42:18 -0800

A researcher at my workplace has asked for help finding examples of his topic, early examples of "GIS (Geographic Information Systems) or GPS (Global Positioning Systems) technologies in film and TV", "examples of early precursors to map related technologies". I found someone else's Ask from earlier this year that hits on some likely ones, but he's on the lookout for older and more diverse instances if you can think of any. More details and examples below the fold! I've already pointed him to this Ask from April, which has examples of War Rooms, Situation Rooms, and The Big Board (including a link to TV Tropes, reader beware).

He could use more examples, though, especially older ones, and going beyond The Big Board. For instance, he mentions that Goldfinger has a "back-lit, moving map in 007’s Aston Martin which is very similar to most in-car GPS devices."

I'll paste an exact quote of his wording below, in case it triggers any thoughts. But my short version would be: Can you think of instances where an early film or TV show uses a device or technique that resembles a primitive version of GIS or GPS tech we use today?

His wording, which he asked me to ask you: "I am working on a paper/presentation that deals with the historical evolution of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) or GPS (Global Positioning Systems)technologies in film and TV. Specifically, I am interested in examples of early precursors to map related technologies that are now common. For example, early police shows have crime locations marked as pins on a map, today there are electronic maps with a multitude of different information associated with each point. Another example would be the James Bond film Goldfinger which has a back-lit, moving map in 007’s Aston Martin which is very similar to most in-car GPS devices. I was wondering if the community had other examples from films/TV that they recall early examples of what are now standard modern mapping or GPS devices. Thank you in advance for any assistance."

Silent film books

garius — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:00:59 -0800

What are some good books about the silent film era? I know the basics about the early days of film and Hollywood, but I'd like to know more. What books about the era of Keaton, Pickford and Chaplin are considered good reads?

(Bonus points for there being a UK Kindle version - makes them easier to read on the train to work!)

Recent Korean Films Worth Watching

Carius — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 19:22:52 -0800

What are some recent (last ten year or so) Korean film that's worth watching? I have seen classics such as:
Old Boy and the trilogy
Taegukgi
Silmido
Joint Security Area
My Sassy Girl

I have stopped watching Korean films for last few years and don't know what's worth watching.

How often do the major film studios release classic movies on blu-ray?

dr handsome — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:35:38 -0800

How often do the major film studios release classic movies on blu-ray? Do any of them (Warner, 20th Century, Paramount, etc.) have a releasing schedules or even just noticeable patterns that would help know when my favorites (film noir, golden era Hollywood classics, etc.) might be available in HD?

What films feature scenes with shots of war and situation rooms with characters examining maps?

serial_consign — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:28:26 -0800

What films feature scenes with shots of war and situation rooms with characters examining maps? I'm working on an article on situation/war rooms and am looking for scenes in films with characters gathered around maps (on tables or displays). Some prominent examples include "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb", "Cleopatra", etc. What else is out there? We're trying to get clearances for publication so any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Given this is being prepared for a design publication, film suggestions with better production design = more useful. Thanks in advance film and/or military nerds!

Dorsky & avant-garde cinema

victory_laser — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:29:21 -0800

A recent NYTimes article on Nathanial Dorsky has whet my appetite for some avant-garde cinema. Help point me in the right direction. ^{"He makes short, silent experimental films that feature brightly colored flowers, bursts of sunlight and shifting pools of shadow instead of characters, plots and stories."

"Explores the disconnection between humanity and the natural world"

"A gesture towards a cinema of pure being"}

Yeah, that sounds nice. Where can I find some films like this? I'm open to suggestions of directors/works that I might be able to get my hands on.

I was originally going to ask about Dorsky specifically, but I struck out with the usual web searches, local university/public libraries and video stores. I decided his stuff is going to probably be impossible to find unless you want to pay $100 and rent a 16mm reel, which I don't have the money/equipment/skills to do. I'd like to stick to stick to digital if possible. I live in Seattle, so I have a pretty extensive/niche video store at my disposal.

^{"Again and again, in images of trees and plants glimpsed through windows and in shadow, there’s a strong sense in Mr. Dorsky’s work that nature is just out of grasp, intoxicatingly near and unreachable. And then abruptly he will plunge deep into a thicket of branches or a tangle of flowering plants that looks like a Jackson Pollock drip painting, the camera moving through the foliage like a bushwhacker or holding steady on the gently bobbing blossoms."}

^ Something like that :)

I'm an artist whose knowledge of experimental film doesn't extend much deeper than Stan Brakhage. More and more I find myself wanting to work with video, though. I want to get educated! Thanks.

Realistic Jobs In Movies?

The Whelk — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:43:07 -0800

What are some movies that portray a career or job or professional really well and accurately? Movies that made you sit up and go " Yep that's what being a lawyer/doctor/actor/food additive executive" is like.

Treasure + history + adventure + action = awesome

slimepuppy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:07:30 -0800

Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone, National Treasure, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec and even Tomb Raider and Sahara. I love all these movies. Recommend me more of the same, please!

What movie did I watch?

powerbumpkin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:46:57 -0800

What movie did I watch? Okay several years ago I watched a movie that featured a social researcher doing an ethnography of one couple's marriage. I think he was maybe employed by the government. He stationed himself on top of a ladder in the corner of the room and would take notes with a bird's eye view of everything. It was awesome, great satire.

It was subtitled in English, but I can't remember, was it Swedish, Norwegian, Polish? Something like that. Wish I had a better memory. Googling has failed and I'd love to see it again.

Thanks in advance.

I'm going to allow this.

Navelgazer — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:48:28 -0800

Looking for movies with accurate depictions of legal proceedings. I'm re-taking the bar at the end of February, doing things right this time after a tough year. I'm trying to get excited about the field again. Last night, I watched The People vs. Larry Flynt, which I hadn't seen since it was first out, and was loving the fact that, due to much of the courtroom dialog being taken from actual steno notes, and the biographical nature of it, that the movie was actually pretty accurate about the practice of law, as opposed to falling into the usual cliched mistakes.

I'm looking for other movies which can get me back into the game over the next few weeks, as my Barbri classes don't begin until January 3.

Thanks!

Setting up a film club - please help!

heartofglass — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:35:39 -0800

I want to put a film club together. Looking for ideas and advice on things I should prepare for. I want to put together a few projects to celebrate British culture in my country and one of these possibilities include setting up a film club.

It would be great if I could learn a bit from people who have been there and done that - such as logistics, contacting film distribution companies, marketing of the project, social media, sponsorship deals, any risks to bear in mind and anything else you could share.

Ideas from indie film club fans on things they like/dislike and cool experiences they've had also appreciated.

Many thanks for reading this!