As a media arts student, I am constantly surrounded by new media. One of my favorite types of media is Movies. I love to watch news, movies and see the techniques and style that make up the film. Each movie is so different, yet they all have things in common. So, here are my top 5 movies of all time, in no particular order.
Mid 90’s (Comedy/Drama) Directed by Jonah Hill
Anyone who knows me knows that I adore this movie. I absolutely love movies about people and their relationships. This movie to me is perfect, it shows family in a real, raw way. I love how the main character, Stevie, is depicted, and how all the hardships he goes through add to the story, and I think Jonah Hill did a perfect job writing this film. From the gentle music to the slow, intimate camerawork, this movie is beautiful from start to finish.
I love the family aspect of this movie, and how it hammers home the point that found family is real family. Throughout the movie, it’s clear that the main character has a troubled home life, but throughout the movie, he finds a group of boys at a nearby skate shop that became his new solace. The group makes a lot of bad decisions together, and Stevie ends up in the hospital during the movie. After this scene we see how Stevie’s new friends truly care for him, and how even though he’s a lot younger, they still care for him the same.
A main plot point in Mid 90’s is Stevie’s lack of a father figure. He lacks guidance in his life, until he meets the group of boys. This entire film beautifully depicts how Stevie’s life is going astray until he meets the group of boys, who take him in and include him in all their shenanigans. I love the relationships that the characters have with one another, and it’s so well written that it never gets boring. Overall, Mid 90’s is a gorgeous movie, and I would recommend it.
Mermaids (Comedy/Romance) Directed by Richard Benjamin
Even though this movie is from a while ago, it’s still one of my favorites. I love the way that this movie portrays mother-daughter relationships. I love Winona Ryder in this movie, and I think this is one of my favorite movies that she stars in. This movie also explores identity and societal expectations that are placed on the family. Although this type of film has been done before, this specific one holds a special place in my heart.
Even though the concept and themes of this movie are very common, the characters set it apart. The main character, Charlotte Flax, is a teenager who is finding herself through religion, the opposite of her mother, Rachel Flax. The way the mother and her daughter interact perfectly showcases a real relationship, not a picture perfect movie relationship. Mermaids centers around the family as they settle into their new town, and how the family overcomes their problems with one another.
By the end, both mother and daughter find a degree of resolution and self-acceptance, though not without challenges, with the family becoming more whole. The story highlights the complex, evolving relationship between Rachel and Charlotte, showing both growing and changing together. I love the imperfect family in this movie, and how they have to grow and learn together throughout the film. Even though this movie is a bit older, it’s still one of my favorites.
Moonrise Kingdom (Comedy/Romance) Directed by Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson is probably one of the most known directors, and even though his films are well praised, I just had to include this one. The depiction of young love in this film is just adorable, and it’s so well done. I will admit, at first I was a little bored, but as I watched I just had to finish it. This movie was recommended to me by a friend, and I definitely need to ask for more recommendations from them.
This film stars Sam, a Khaki Scout, who runs away with his girlfriend. The movie centers around a group of bizarre adults, and children, who are trying to stop them from running away. Moonrise Kingdom is a beautiful coming-of-age story, both story wise and visually. It’s such a bittersweet story of young love, with lots of twists and turns along the way. The entire movie looks like it’s straight from a child’s mind, which is why I think it’s so beautiful.
I love the depiction of young love in this movie, it shows how you’re never too young to be in love. The story is fun, quirky, and adventurous. The cinematography is uniquely Wes Anderson and the dialogue is superb. This film is very warmhearted and enjoyable overall, and it’s definitely top 3 for me.
The Iron Claw (Sport/Drama) Directed by Sean Durkin
Honestly I don’t even know how to go about describing this movie. The Iron Claw is a gorgeous movie, despite its sad story. It’s based on a true story about the Von Erich family, specifically centering around Kevin Von Erich. Sport movies are not typically something I would watch on my own time, but after hearing such good things about The Iron Claw, I just had to watch it. I love the family dynamics in this movie, and how they stick together as a family as they make their way through tragedy, and the wrestling world.
This movie is a longer one, and not all of the story is shown. The Von Erich family had 6 children, while only 5 of them are shown in the film. The Iron Claw highlights their rise to fame and the devastating “Von Erich curse,” which saw most of the brothers die young, leaving Kevin as the sole survivor. This film is truly devastating, but it’s beautiful at the same time. The Iron Claw is largely accurate in capturing the tragic essence and key events of the Von Erich family’s wrestling dynasty, but it also shows the real family aspect. While capturing the family’s suffering and the wrestling world’s feel, it’s a dramatized version, not a perfect historical recreation. Despite the film not being perfectly accurate, it’s still amazing, and I think that changing the story made me even more curious to find out more about the family.
By the end of this film, you will definitely have shed some tears. The ending of this film is beautiful, and the ending lines are just amazing. Though it’s a very tragic and emotionally heavy film that some find difficult to rewatch, it’s written beautifully and is a great film overall. I love all of the emotions that you feel when you watch this movie, and how you really feel those emotions. The Iron Claw is definitely one of my all time favorites, and even though it’s sad, it’s a beautifully done film.
