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| English: Still image from ANOTHER EARTH (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The films that I'll be listing in my April postings will not necessarily be films that I'd call my favorite films, but they will be favorites in the genres I'll be naming. The A to Z genres are very specific micro genres as opposed to the broader genres like action, romance, or comedy.
When I refer to "Quiet Films", I'm not talking about silent films, but films with sound that don't have much dialog and have a tendency to be more introspective and deal with ideas. Often these films focus on just one person or people who communicate very little. Some of these might be films that could put you to sleep. The films that I have picked kept my attention and stuck in my mind (except for one).
Here are some of my favorite "Quiet Films" with a bonus that is not a favorite:
Repulsion (1965) -- High on my list of favorite films, this psychological horror film by Roman Polanski is the story of a troubled and withdrawn young woman who is left by herself while her sister is away on a vacation. Alone in her silent world she falls into a delusional state of fear and hallucinations with horrifying consequences. This is one freaky, creepy movie.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) --Almost ponderous with scenes of stark beauty, this film primarily deals with a man on a long mission to Jupiter. A lot of breathing sounds and people and computers talking verrrry slooooow. The beauty that cannot be expressed in words is replaced by ethereal music.
Silent Running (1972) --It's been a very long time since I've seen this film, but I seem to remember it fitting into the category of quiet films. After all, it takes place in space and it can get pretty quiet up there. And the film is called Silent Running. That does it for me.
Slingblade (1996)-- Billy Bob Thornton does an amazing job in the lead role of this movie. His character is a quiet and reserved mentally impaired man who has been in a mental hospital after committing a murder when he was 12. Some of the people around him are loud, but the over all tone of the film is fairly quiet.
The Tree of Life (2011)--This is one of those meaning of existence movies that deals with philosophy and spiritual issues. It's the kind of film upon which you need to focus and contemplate. You might fall asleep, or you might just sit quietly and take it all in.
Another Earth (2011) -- In this quiet film, a planet identical to Earth appears in the skies, capturing the imagination of the world. The story follows a teenage girl and a composer whose lives become intertwined. It's more of a philosophical film than a science fiction since there's no way this story could realistically happen. But it's an interesting film if you can stay awake through it.
Solaris (2002) --Okay so I intensely disliked this film. But it was quiet. And slow. I went to a theater to see this and my wife and I both slept through most of it. This seemed very odd. Maybe we only thought we were asleep. Whatever happened, the movie seemed extremely boring and quiet. This is not the quiet movie experience that I like to have.
What movies have you fallen asleep to? Do you enjoy idea movies that are more philosophical than action oriented? Can you recommend any films that might fit in the quiet category?
Solaris (2002) --Okay so I intensely disliked this film. But it was quiet. And slow. I went to a theater to see this and my wife and I both slept through most of it. This seemed very odd. Maybe we only thought we were asleep. Whatever happened, the movie seemed extremely boring and quiet. This is not the quiet movie experience that I like to have.
What movies have you fallen asleep to? Do you enjoy idea movies that are more philosophical than action oriented? Can you recommend any films that might fit in the quiet category?
Not having gone to the cinema in years I can't say I've fallen alseep watching a film. Now travelling is a different matter but that's another story.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
I didn't mind Solaris, although if you want a real snoozefest, watch the original - it's over three hours long!
ReplyDeleteLiked Silent Running, but otherwise there aren't too many slow, quiet movies I like. Closest I can think of are Life of Pi and 2010's Monsters, both of which I really liked.
I've never fallen asleep in the films, believe it or not. I think I'm way to ADHD for that.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed Life of Pi and The Piano
I have only watched a couple of quiet films. But the quiet part really bothers me. Let's just say, sometimes I can be pretty thick and need dialogue to figure out what the heck is going on.
ReplyDeleteI must not like Quiet films because this is the first time I haven't seen any on your list. I have been tempted to see Tree of Life.
ReplyDeleteLucy from Lucy's Reality
(p.s. finally figured out how to get my link to work, little slow on the uptake lol)
I loved Slingblade and 2001, but I also liked Solaris. I'll have to check out some of the others you mentioned :)
ReplyDeleteOther than 2001, I haven't seen any of the movies you recommend. I was supposed to watch Tree of Life last year (as one of my goals to watch all Oscar nominees) but didn't. The three movies I've fallen asleep during were Pokemon, the Tigger Movie, and, I'm ashamed to say, the new Lion, Witch and Wardrobe..
ReplyDeleteThe only quiet films I have watched are Charlie Chaplin ones and most recently The Artist, both are lovely!
ReplyDeleteYvonne -- My wife falls asleep on the couch if she's not interested in a movie we're watching.
ReplyDeleteAlex -- I'd heard the original Solaris was the best.
Daft -- I've rarely fallen asleep during a movie, but it has happened.
Dani -- Subtlety can be pretty amazing if done well.
Lucy -- I thought Tree of Life was very good.
Mshatch-- I probably need to give Solaris another chance.
Thea -- I can understand falling asleep in the films you mention.
Sunday-- Ah, but those are silent as opposed to quiet.
Lee
I can't think of any movies at this time, other than the one big snoozer I was bored to tears with and fell asleep and that was The English Patient. My wife "made" me watch that one with her. I'll never get that time back.
ReplyDeleteI dislike philosophical movies. I want mystery, action, excitement, and even drama.
No, I can't recommend any film, because if I even suspect them of "being in the category" I avoid them.
I don't think I've actually ever watched a quiet film. Definitely none of the ones you've listed.
ReplyDeleteI know for sure that I have fallen asleep during a film in a movie theater. Obviously, they were forgettable, I can't think which ones they were.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen any of the movies that were on your list. One or two of them seem very interesting and I will check them out.
Thanks.
With both Silent Running and Space Odyssey, the undercurrent of danger made for remarkably tense films.
ReplyDeleteKaren -- I can't recall if I've seen Reflections....
ReplyDeleteGregg-- I intensely disliked The English Patient. I guess you read so much philosophical stuff you need the action break in film.
Mama J -- Quiet films are not everybody's cuppa.
Lynda -- I'd feel kind of strange falling asleep in a theater, but I've done it a few times at home.
C.Lee -- Quiet films do not necessarily equivocate boring.
Lee
I felt that "Castaway" was a very quiet film. I kept waiting for something loud and shocking to happen. It was kind of eerie.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for highlighting my blog today!
Other than what you've named, I can't think of a quiet movie. Not that I liked.
ReplyDeleteGregg's comment is funny. I've never seen the English Patient, but my husband has, and he HATED it with a passion.
"Silent Running" is one of my favorite films.
ReplyDeleteI always loved the scene where Bruce Dern talks about throwing the message in a bottle into the sea just before sending the pod off.
Great film....
Haven't seen any of these, but I'm not into movies the way I was as a child.
ReplyDeleteHey lee, I tried to watch the tree of life but gave up...not really for me. I like films with a little more happening!
ReplyDeleteI had a similar problem with Solaris... not sure what it was, but I just could not stay awake.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Tree of Life. I just added it to my Netflix queue, though.
Lyre @ Lyre's Musings #atozchallenge
Always kept planning to watch Another Earth. Nice movie choices today.
ReplyDeleteApart from Solaris, which I intend on Googling to read about after commenting here, all these films sound awesome, so many good concepts here buddy!
ReplyDeleteI have to share my son's experience with movies to fall asleep to. He has rented the documentary 'Earth', I think it's Disney, 3 or 4 times. It's narrated by either James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman. My son says something about the narrator's voice knocks him out in the first 5 minutes every time. He has yet to see this movie all the way through. He's considering purchasing it for nights when he has insomnia
ReplyDeleteThanks Arlee for the follow and for the blogger tip. I didn't know how that worked.
Gloria - Cre8tiv Glory
A to Z Blog Challenge
Can't think of any film right now. But "Masterpiece: Wallender" w/Kenneth Branagh has a stillness that connects to the artistry of the filming. The desolation of a Swedish landscape, the tortured persona in Wallender, etc. I like the quiet aspect of excellent filming.
ReplyDeleteYour take on Solaris cracked me up.
ReplyDeleteYou should check out 'Run, Lola, Run'. Had to watch it in film class, thought i'd die before it ended but found myself wanting to watching again a few years later because i had this nagging feeling i had missed something in my senioritis haze of college. Turned out to not be too bad at all.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying the comments. It's interesting how we can have different takes on films. Sometimes it also probably has a lot to do with our moods or how tired we are to begin with. I'll agree that sometimes the narration can drone on enough to become hypnotic.
ReplyDeleteSome fun comments here.
Lee
Nope not seen any of those, not even sure I remember seeing any other quiet movies either.
ReplyDeleteJO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
For some reason my husband fell asleep (in the theatre) during A Nightmare Before Christmas, but I really have no idea why.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of those movies. I never thought of 'quiet' for movies.
ReplyDeleteI have a terrible memory for titles and names, generally, so I can't recall quiet movies to list. I can say that I like quiet, contemplative, make you think movies occasionally. I have to be in the right frame of mind, though. 2001--great film.
ReplyDeleteJagoda
I've been meaning to watch "Another Earth" I'll be sure to drink some coffee beforehand:) Another film that could be on your list is "Womb" from 2010, very controversial, about cloning - have you seen it?
ReplyDeleteWriterlySam
Jo-- You've probably seen at least of few. You just don't remember them because they were so quiet.
ReplyDeleteMelanie -- My ex-wife fell asleep at a Violent Femmes concert. Now that was weird.
Susan -- There are many slow moving quiet movies.
Jagoda -- Frame of mind is very important to get through one these kinds of films.
Sam -- Have not seen nor heard of Womb but I'll have to check into it.
Lee
I've only seen sling blade of those you've listed. I think I would fall asleep at the rest and that would not technically be "watching" a movie, right?
ReplyDeleteYou missed my favorite quiet movie: The Sixth Sense! I like most of those on the list though. I've never seen Solaris, so maybe that's a good thing. I really like quiet movies, but I also have to be in the mood to watch one. I tend to enjoy any movie that thrives on the *feel* of the situation, especially if it's a creepy feeling. :)
ReplyDelete#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com