My life has always revolved around cinema.
My older brother was constantly in and out of the house with his camera, awaiting the day he was accepted into college to finally grasp his film-making dream. The summers in our neighborhood were spent reviewing childish scripts to film for our end-of-summer recap—always presented on a bedsheet hung from the gutters in our backyard. Some of our current neighbors have been labeled as “Hollywooders” due to the simple fact that they are always out of town, on the set of another big-time production.
Although I admire the work that goes into the expensive, high-demand blockbuster flicks, a special place in my heart is dedicated to smaller, often overlooked productions: the ones that don’t focus on a flamboyant plot but instead on the development of the characters. That being said, here are some of my essential, minimal-plot movies.
Arthur Newman – I guess I’ve always been Arthur Newman. Life just forced another individual on me.
This film has become a recent favorite, and I honestly thought I was going to regret watching it after the strange beginning. However, the ending elicited some pretty strong emotions that just wouldn’t leave me alone. It follows the adventures of Wallace Avery (Colin Firth) who, after becoming bored of the person he’s become, looks for a way out of his FedEx job and the humdrum of his life. Faking his own death seems the only plausible solution to generate his new personality of Arthur Newman—the golfing legend. When he meets Mike (Emily Blunt), a younger woman who is also reinventing herself, their time together makes them both understand the responsibilities they must return to back home. After getting used to Firth’s American accent, this movie deeply touched the part of me that longs for a voyage of self-discovery, as I enjoyed watching the two characters evolve.
On Golden Pond – Life marches by. I suggest you get on with it.
From being one of my parents’ favorite movies to mine, I believe that it perfectly represents my mother and father’s marriage. Retirees Norman (Henry Fonda) and Ethel (Katharine Hepburn) return to their summer home on Golden Pond where their amusing banter is interrupted by their intense planning for Norman’s 80th birthday. When their daughter, Chelsea (Jane Fonda), makes an appearance for the first time in years, her son becomes reluctant to spend the summer alone with his grandparents. Throughout the months they spend together, they form a better relationship through a love of fishing; now Norman just has to repair his relationship with his mother. This film gives off such a comforting feeling for me; from the beautiful scenery of their cabin to the quick wit of the entire family, I find something so appealing in the normality of the characters. It covers every single aspect of human emotion regarding tough relationships.
A River Runs Through It – In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing.
Fly fishing is one of my most treasured bonding experiences with my dad, and this movie features an abundance of it. In the early 1900s, brothers Norman (Craig Sheffer) and Paul (Brad Pitt) Maclean spend the majority of their stress-free teenage years on a river in the Montana wilderness. When they both go their separate ways for college and work, their reunion initiates a rocky new beginning with their differing opinions on how they should go about the rest of their careers. I hold this film very close to my heart. Not only is it visibly stunning with the never-ending nature cinematography, but the director, Robert Redford, used this production as an effort to preserve the plot of land where they filmed. The effortless beauty of this countryside is perfectly mirrored in the brotherly devotion Norman and Paul continue to share, even if they are destined to grow apart.
Out of Africa – Perhaps he knew, as I did not, that the Earth was made round so that we would not see too far down the road.
If it isn’t already clear, one of the biggest things I look for in a film is the cinematography, and this is a beautiful movie all around. It’s based on the true story of Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep), a plantation owner in 20th-century Kenya. Her unhappy marriage with her husband causes a newfound interest in Denys (Robert Redford), a big-game hunter who saves her life. Even though this is an almost painful slow-burn romance, that is what makes the big moments in this movie worthwhile. An important concept is the significance of storytelling, which is proven by the emotions it pulled from me at the end. Despite the main focus being on the developing relationship between Karen and Denys, it also brings forward the largely unknown troubles African inhabitants went through at the time.
Rain Man – What you have to understand is, four days ago he was only my brother in name. And this morning we had pancakes.
This wasn’t a particularly emotional movie, but it did showcase the immense acting range of the leading stars. As selfish automobile dealer Charlie (Tom Cruise) learns that his father left a whole inheritance to his unknown brother, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), they both begin a cross-country trek due to the limitations of Raymond’s autism. What I find so captivating about this film is the change from how much I disliked Charlie’s short-tempered and borderline-abusive antics towards everyone in his life. As he gains a bit of patience, he and Raymond learn how to coexist; they even end up missing each other. This movie perfectly captures the resilience of the human spirit.
Thelma and Louise – Louise, no matter what happens, I’m glad I came with you.
Apparently, I have a tendency for my favorite films to be ones I’m not crazy about to begin with, but in the end, I am in tears. After best friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) break out of their normal routine and hit the road with no destination in mind, they unintentionally occupy their time with a new schedule of murder and crime—eventually running from the law and America’s wanted list. I admire how this movie portrays the unconditional friendship among women; it’s something I’ve searched for in recent years, and although I don’t take the actions of Thelma and Louise to heart, their intentions are pure. This is a work of art that wouldn’t leave me alone for days after my first viewing.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – You just keep thinking, Butch. That’s what you’re good at.
Speaking of friendships, this true story displays that in the style of arguably one of the greatest Western films in history. Following two gang leaders by the title names (Paul Newman and Robert Redford), their untimely robberies leave them on the run across the world, closely followed by a posse that is on their heels at all times. Newman and Redford’s iconic friendship is reflected—though not as severe—in the connection between Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. In an almost Bonnie-and-Clyde-reminiscent style, this film presents a connection that forms through hardships with an unparalleled sense of humor.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – I just want to be a good person.
It took me two months to get through this whole movie, not because it is ridiculously long, but because I simply didn’t realize that I had to be in a certain, healthy mindset to immerse myself in the experience. It follows Gilbert (Johnny Depp) as he maneuvers his life in a dying midwestern town. By taking on the responsibilities of his large family—especially the struggles of his mentally challenged brother, Arnie (Leonardo Dicaprio), and his physically challenged mother (Darlene Cates)—his own happiness is put low on his list of priorities; however, the new girl in town, accomplished traveler Becky (Juliette Lewis), shows him the life he could be living. Dicaprio deserved to win the Oscar he was nominated for after playing this character. Being such a deeply heartfelt film, it is an extremely hard watch for me simply because of how realistic it is; the problems each of the characters face and the development seen at the end, especially from Gilbert, really touched me as this production dove into the aspects of life that many people don’t notice sometimes.
In general, it’s pretty easy for me to find an understanding and significance in most cinematic works, but for whatever reason, I’m continually drawn to character development over anything else.
