Great movies, Objectivist movies

Recently I have started compiling little ideological reviews of the movies I am seeing (my wife is a movie fan). I haven't seen many movies yet (well, compared to her) and I thought you people could direct me to some good Objectivist movies out there that I haven't seen yet. And this could help others.
So far my list of favourite movies has :

American Beauty
Truman Show
2001 : A Space Odyssey
Princess Bride
O Brother Where are Thou
Pleasantville
Citizen Kane
About a Boy
Lord of the Rings

(all of them either have a high ideological score, or do not have one)

Post 1

Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 1:47pm

Francois, did you see the movies page in the Spirit section?

Post 2

Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 2:04pm

Hey, thanks. Anyone have other suggestions ?

Can other people add their little reviews on that page ? When I've seen more movies, I might want to make a list like that.

Post 3

Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 2:30pm

I am right now working on SoloHQ 2.0 which, among other things will include book reviews and ratings by users. I was also thinking of doing movies. If each person submitted his favorite movies and books, with others rating and commenting, we could get a very good and useful list going.

Also, in the mean time, a movie review might make a good daily article!

Post 4

Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 3:35pm

Well, my movie reviews are pretty short and terrible. I just like to review stuff, that's all. I try to get the ideas in movies (implicit or explicit) and evaluate them from an Objectivist standpoint. But I'm sure it's been done before.

Post 5

Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 10:12pm

Best dramas:

"American Beauty" - Story of a man who finds color in his life.

"Chocolat" - Beautiful people doing beautiful things, giving people a reason to live.

"Dead Poet's Society" - Individualism versus conservatism.

"Galaxies are Colliding" - A strange observation on human life with an interesting end. Very hard to find but well worth the search.

"Good Will Hunting" - The power of the human mind.

"Monster's Ball" - Overcoming stereotypes, great acting, Halle Berry is gorgeous, difficult to say everything about this movie in a quick synopsis.

"The Confession" - A man who truly believes that there is a right and a wrong. Ben Kingsley is an acting god and Alec Baldwin, though usually annoying, creates a good character.

"The Shawshank Redemption" - A man who truly believes there is a right and wrong.

"The Sound of Music" - A classic, and my favorite movie of all times. I have doubt as to whether a more joyous movie could possibly be produced.

Best comedies:

"Army of Darkness"
"Big Trouble"
"Cannibal: The Musical!"
"Death to Smoochie"
"Galaxies are Colliding"
"Monty Python: The Search for the Holy Grail"
"Office Space"
"Orgazmo"
"Top Secret"
"The Big Labowski"

Post 6

Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 10:53am

*Cracking Knuckles*

Guess a resident filmmaker should chime in. Here�s a few of my SOL films in no particular order:

Harold and Maude � Lots of liberal prattling but ultimately a good anti-nihilism film.

The Great Dictator � Chaplin�s finest (And most hated) hour.

Kane � Always on the list. Classic example of a man hiding from reality behind a wall of money. Michael Jackson should watch this a few thousand times.

Network � I would argue that no one has made a better commentary on modern media. The scary part is that it has lost most of its impact compared to what we actually see on television.

John Carpenter�s The Thing � Only for the strong stomached, but the most literal and terrifying portrayal of collectivism I�ve ever seen. (Seriously though, this one might put you off of food�)

Logan�s Run � A good (If extremely dated) anti nanny-state film.

Fearless � A great exploration of metaphysics with a pretty good �A is A� slant. The toolbox scene really makes the film.

The Seven Samurai � Toshir� Mifune fights (And wins) the class war of feudal Japan. Kurosawa�s entire career is populated with fantastic imagery combined with a bold streak of individualism. For that matter, pick up The Hidden Fortress (And see where R2D2 and C3PO came from.) and Yojimbo as well. Also, the Samurai fights in his films are *Really* cool.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers/IVOTBS 1979/Body Snatchers � The original film, or either of its remakes are classic anti-collectivist parables. (Again, a horror film warning, the sequels are not for the weak stomached.)

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension � The classic pulp character Doc Savage is reborn in modern (Well, the 80�s) times. Irreverent, silly fun, if a bit overwhelming. (You will have to watch it a few times to keep up with the barrage of jokes, visual cues, and for that matter, the plot.) Where else can you find a Rock Musician/Brain Surgeon/Quantum Physicist/Philosopher/Adventurer in these mediocre times? (And yes, I am a registered Blue Blaze Irregular of the Banzai Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Strategic Information.) Buy the DVD to find out just why there was a watermelon there.

Pleasantville � A cute anti-conformity fantasy set in Leave it to Beaverland.

The Hudsucker Proxy � Another sweet fantasy set in the past. Notable for being an actual pro-capitalist, pro-entrepreneurial, pro-innovation film, as well as a repository for some classic funny lines. (�You know, for kids!�) The directors/writers of this film, Joel and Ethan Coen, and Sam Raimi, would be perfect to direct an updated version of The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged just for their visual style. When I read Atlas, it looked just like �Proxy� in my mind.

Post 7

Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 10:18am

Underground [a story of Yugoslavia from Tito to the Civil War or how you can live for decades ruled by a huge lie] / Citizen Kane / Songs of the Second Floor [sweeden movie about a society that is growing old] / Mullholand Drive [by David Lynch, on how can the system destroy your identity] / La Jett� [you can find it in Blockbuster, the saddest film in all history, and it only lasts 20 minutes! This movie inspired "12 Monkeys", but this one I do not like it] / The Seventh Seal [by Bergman, a monster of art] / Ran [Kurosawa, master of modern tragedy] / The Matrix / Tesis [a spanish, fantastic, dark thriller on snuff movies, also available in Blockbuster] / Welcome, Mister Marshall [a comedy on the image of the USA in Spain] / El sol del membrillo [only for die hart moviegoers: a movie about how a picture could not be painted, that's all] / Blue Velvet [Lynch, again, showing the dark side of modern society] / Rashomon [a classic by Kurosawa] / A clockwork orange / Persona [a strange thriller by Bergman] / Solaris [by Andrei Tarkowski, maybe the smartest science fiction movie] / Apocalypse now [Coppola adapting a terrific Conrad novel] / The Milky Way [Luis Bu�el destroys christian myths] / The Exterminator Angel [by Bu�uel again] / The Deer Hunter / The Cook, the Thief, His Woman and Her Lover / Delicatessen / The Wild Bunch / Secrets and Lies / The Dead / Magnolia / Mighty Aphrodite / Central Station / Open your eyes [Spanish movie that was remade as "Vanilla Sky"] / Crimes and Misdeamours / All about my Mother / Talk to Her / The Others / And The Ship Sails On / Andrei Rublev / Man on the Moon / etc.

Post 8

Sunday, May 18, 2003 - 10:56am

Taxi driver - Observe the self destruction of the human spirit. The main character sabotages his own physical and spiritual well being in subtle ways. Demoralized by his lack of close human companionship, himself, his life and the state of the world, he slowly declines into psychosis. "loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere! From bars and cars, side walks, stores, everywhere! There's no escape, I'm god's lonely man."

Shawshank redemption - The most inspiring movie I've ever watched. The main character endures an appauling prison sentence and life, but he finds ways to nuture his optimistic outlook on life, through literature, music and nevering giving up hope. "I guess it all comes down to one simple choice, either you get busy living or you get busy dieing."

On the waterfront - The main character - through the aid of a priest and a lady he falls in love with - sees what and who he is (a crook and a bum) and attempts to redeem himself. "I could've been somebody instead of a bum, which is what I am."

Apocalypse Now Redux - A portrait of the vietnam war. Basically the title says it all. Allegedly Marlon Brando's character was based on a real person. "the horror, the horror."

The Thing - The greatest horror of all time. Not wanting to give away the story; paranoia, suspense, human triumph and gives a new meaning to the quote 'give me liberty or give me death'. Don't eat whilst watching this movie. "AAAAAAAAH!"

The Usual Suspects - No ideology, just a brilliantly crafted mystery. Benicio Del Toro's character is brilliant. "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

Tremors - A funny and brilliant horror about human triumph over canivorous animals. "Broke into the wrong goddamn recroom didin't cha!?"

I give all these movies a 10 out of ten rating.

Post 9

Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 7:42am

Here is my list of movies with an Objectivist Sense of Life:
"This Land Is Mine"--- Charles Laughton discovers freedom, courage and moral character in a WW II town under Nazi rule.
"High Noon"--- Gary Cooper sticks by his principles even when all others in the town
are cowards in the face of the bad guys.
"Brave Heart"--- Mel Gibson as freedom fighter William Wallace.
"The Friendly Persuasion"--- Quaker Gary Cooper sticks by his principles during the Civil War.
"The Miracle Worker"--- Ann Bancroft and Patty Duke portray Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller in Keller's discovery of language. A truly psycho-epistemological movie, which is rare.
"Chocolate"---- A woman sticks by her principles
and makes chocolates in a French town where the mayor wants the people to avoid chocolates during Lent. A sensual movie with regard to
the chocolates and how much people enjoy them.
"The Fountainhead"--- Gary Cooper as Howard Roark
in a movie of Ayn Rand's novel.
"Spartacus"--- Kurt Douglas plays Spartacus with Jean Simmons. Portrays Spartacus' fight for freedom against the Romans.
"To Sir With Love"--- Sidney Poitier teaches
high school hooligans in London.
"The Big Country"---- Gregory Peck sticks by his principles and stops a range war.
"Gone With The Wind"--- One has to admire Scarlett O'Hara's courage and strong will even if
she wrecked her own life and other's with regard to her misplaced love.
"An Enemy of The People"--- A movie based on Ibsen's play in which a physician discovers the water in his town's health spas are polluted. He stands alone against the people in the town who are more interested in keeping the spa's open for economic reasons.
"Amadeus"--- The movie about Mozart.
"Dead Poets' Society"--- Robin Williams portrays a teacher who loves to inspire his students. I dislike the ending ofthis movie, however.

Post 10

Sunday, December 7, 2003 - 8:38am

Okay:

Shawshank redeption (all-time favorite movie!)
Pretty much anything with John Wayne (Hellfighters, McClintock, etc. etc.) -- you just gotta respect the Duke.
"The postman": I don't see why this film got panned. It has everything:
A racist/collectivist tyranny (the Holmists)
Lone Individual who goes from just trying to get a place to sleep, to starting a 'revolution of the mind and heart" by inspiring others to STAND UP for themselves, and cherish their own lives.

It also shows (with startling frankness for our times) how humanity reduced to a 'state of nature" would be REALLY unpleasant. In short, it shows that technology and a free populace are GOOD.

This film got panned because some people said it's optimistic, benevolent-universe, free Individual premise was "too naive". Go figure. It's really sad that skepticism/confusion/nihilism/anti-humanism etc etc, are the buzzwords. But then again (and I gotta mention it), with people like "Steve M." out there, we're in for a long fight.

Post 11

Sunday, December 7, 2003 - 12:51pm

Thanks everyone. I just discovered this old thread and as it turns out, I did start my own Objectivist review site ( http://www.objectivethought.com/articles/movies.html ). How ironic.
Keep posting your favourite Objectivist movies here and I'll add your choices to my site.

Jorge Luis : I agree with many of your choices. Solyaris and Talk to Her are amongst my favourite movies.

John Shaw : Are you really a filmmaker ? I'd be interested to link to your web site and post some of your articles or editorials about Objectivism and movies on my site, if you have any of both. I could also put up any titles you made.

Post 12

Monday, December 8, 2003 - 1:28pm

Okay, I'll take the bait and go by genre.

Western: "Unforgiven"

Sci Fi: "Dune"

Animated: "The Iron Giant", or "Ghost in the
Shell"...hard to choose :)

Drama: "American Beauty"

Action: "Braveheart"

Miniseries: "Band of Brothers" (HBO)

Comedy: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

Scary: "Seven"...though I wouldn't call it "scary"....just great.

Monster Flick: "King Kong". (Why'd the natives build that huge door in the Wall, so Kong could get through??? That's bugged me for years...)

Caper: "The Usual Suspects" (Christ...that's three Kevin Spacey flicks...)

Best Movie of All Time, Until the Rapture and Unto the End of Time?
"Godfather" pt. I

And I know, Linz. There's no hope for me! :P

J

Post 13

Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 9:22pm

Noted.

Name added to list of pending denouncees.

Heh, heh, heh!

Post 14

Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 6:18am

Ha!

Sunday, December 21, 2003 - 9:59pm

Has anyone seen The Hulk ? Wow. What a truly heroic movie - an Objectivist hero. The Hulk is truly an Objectivist hero. What an incredible movie in all aspects. I will review it on my site in a few days. I encourage all Objectivists to see this movie !

I wouldn't recommend buying the 2-disc DVD though... it has non-skippable ads at the beginning. Maybe the 1-disc DVD doesn't.

Post 16

Monday, December 22, 2003 - 9:38pm

Another thing. As I wrote on my site, I'd also be interested if you have any articles to submit (that you wrote, or found on other sites). I already have an articles section but it doesn't really have anything specifically Objectivist or libertarian.

I'm getting tired of Marxist theory and post-modernist theory monopolizing cinema analysis. Let's make our own !

Post 17

Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 4:20am

Well, last time I watch one of your recommended films Francois.
I thought the Hulk was abysmal!

Post 18

Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 12:58pm

Why ?! It's an incredible movie !

Post 19

Thursday, December 25, 2003 - 6:12am