Movie Time

Are you a movie fan like me? Here's a list to consider...

“The Big Chill” (1983)
“Forrest Gump” (1994)
“Finding Nemo” (2003)
“Crash” (2004)
“Little Miss Sunshine” (2006)
“Juno” (2007)

Movie watching is the only thing I had as a real hobby for many, many years until this blog occurred to me and took off. I have seen a tremendous number of movies – foreign, indie, animated, you name it. The six movies grouped above rank between high and very high for me in terms of ones I have experienced as both enjoyable and meaningful. Some you may like, some you may not. I heartily recommend you see any on the list that you’ve missed.

I clearly like or love many more movies, so why have I gathered these particular ones here? It’s not something I can sum up in one word or one sentence, much as that would be a neat trick. They were all well received by the Academy. “Gump” and “Nemo” were hugely popular. “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Juno” were surprises which grew on people. However, it is neither that nor the high quality of casting in all of these which compels my writing this morning.

Collectively these movies feature characters which face handicaps and emergencies. There are ones who experience or witness unexpected births or deaths. They all fight with their situations and emotions. They stumble and fall. They hide one moment and come out seeking the next. They break through barriers, of both attitude (theirs and others) and circumstance.

Mainly, the key people or fish in these movies persevere. Some emerge happier, more confident, more alive to their feelings and to the world they inhabit. They all are wiser, and none the worse for this wisdom, however roughly it arrived. They change, they grow and in that process affect others close to them – sometimes a little, sometimes quite a bit. Remember Forrest Gump overcoming his physical handicap to eventually run across the United States, how his humble, earnest perspectives won hearts of others and changed some who needed hope…how Nemo transformed his circumstance of being lost and frightened into a coming-of-age adventure providing the opportunity for others to wake up and make choices of their own…how Olive’s determination to be a beauty contestant, her sometimes fragile/ mostly strong belief in herself, was the catalyst bringing her dysfunctional family together for a journey of spirit more than they possibly could have imagined. There is much more to those three movies than my snapshot lines can capture, and great gems from the three other films on the list.

It’s fair to say that “Life is life and movies are movies.” However, feelings of inspiration are to be treasured and fed. Whatever moves us in that direction is so nourishing for our spirits that it is well worth revisiting those experiences where we can. It’s best when we get these in our own lives, of course. Overcoming difficulties needn’t be our sole source of inspiration. Some people inspire us as they take natural gifts and fortunate circumstances, adding tremendous effort to do wondrous things. Helping or working with others, sometimes just being a good witness can be like bathing in an inspirational pool. Certain movies can remind us of those real life possibilities. I like the term "cinematherapy" to describe the broad capacity some movies have to heal and inspire.

I'm sure you have movies which you value for similar reasons. It would be great if you send comments with titles of those movies along with something which touched you from them.