Quiet Films ( #atozchallenge )

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-- High on my list of favorite films, this psychological horror film by Roman Polanski is the story of a troubled and withdrawn young woman who is left by herself while her sister is away on a vacation.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?

Related articles

• "2001: A Space Odyssey" is in many respects a silent film. There are few conversations that could not..."
• Poll Results: Favorite Film from Roger Ebert's Top 10 List
• Knowledge: The Key to the Story
• A Silent Film Diary

Open Ended Movies

The Star-Child into which Dr. Bowman is transformed, looking at 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.

        Another one of my favorite film sub-genres is the open ended movie.  This is the head scratcher "what-was-that?" film that either leaves the viewer frustrated or gets them discussing and pondering the film long after they've seen it.  The ending may be considered to be ambiguous, confusing, or not an ending at all.  Many people don't like this movie genre because they want a clear cut and dried ending.  If a movie sticks in my head and makes me start wondering what it all meant then I'm kind of pleased.

        Here are some of my favorites in the Open-ended genre:

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) -- With one of the trippiest endings of any movie, this film is greatness throughout.   Breathtaking visuals culminate in a spaced-out enigma.  Whoa, heavy man!  That was far out!

The Tenant  (1976) --This psychological thriller by Roman Polanski is not all that difficult to figure out, but it's a bit of a mind-bender.  Very weird and creepy.

Limbo (1999) -- I saw this one in a theater and at the end I heard people cursing they were so angry about the ending.  I, on the other hand, thought about it for days.  How did it end?  Eventually I realized the brilliance of the ending in what my interpretation was.  It's a well-acted ensemble piece by talented writer-director John Sayles.  I think this is an excellent work of film art with one of my favorite movie endings.

A Serious Man (2009) -- This Oscar nominated film by the Coen Brothers is a thoughtful excursion into weirdness.  There are some contemplative issues addressed in the film.  It has one of those "okay" endings, and by that I mean you stroke your chin and say "Ooo-kaaay, now what does this mean?".   I like the image at the end of the movie.

Take Shelter (2011) -- This is one of those films that taken as a whole could have more than one interpretation.   The question of the film is was the story what we thought it was during the movie or does the ending make it a different story?   I suppose the interpretation is what you want it to be so you'll have to watch it to make your own decision.

Life of Pi (2012)-- This is a film of breath-taking beauty.  Most of you have probably seen this already.  If you haven't, you should.  Like the previously mentioned film there is more than one way to interpret this film and that is the crux of the meaning of the story itself.  In the end, the viewer is left to decide.  This is a very fine film.

         Which of these have you seen?    Can you think of some open-ended films that are your favorites?  Do you like a film with a puzzling ending or do you prefer a clear ending?

Related articles

• John Sayles - An American Classic
• Review: The Tenant ('76)
• Exploring Horror Movies
• Most Shocking On-Screen Movie Star Deaths

Lights, Camera, Focus

            This weekend marks the release of The Ghost Writer, the latest film from director Roman Polanski.  Reviews for the film so far have been very positive, but considering Polanski's controversies will the reception by the filmgoers be equally so?

           If you aren't familiar with Roman Polanski and the scandel which has followed him for over thiry years, there is certainly plenty of information to be found on the story. The point is that many find Polanski to be abhorrent.  He has been in the news--again--for the last several months.  Now with his new movie coming out in theaters around the world many cries of condemnation of the man will continue to be shouted along with calls to boycott his film.  This leads me to the question for today:

Considering the charges against Roman Polanski, do you think his new film should be boycotted?

           Roman Polanski is a talented director who has directed some great fillms.  In my own Blogger profile you will find Repulsion in my list of favorite films.  I am also a big fan of other Polanski films like Chinatown, Bitter Moon, The Pianist, and Death and the Maiden.  The Tenant (French: Le Locataire) and Repulsion are two of the greatest psychological horror films ever made in my opinion.  I will not be going to the theater to see his new film, but only because I just don't go to the movies anymore.  I'm sure I will put The Ghost Writer in my Netflix queue when it comes out on DVD.  Roman Polanski stands as one of my favorite film makers

          However, as far as Polanski the person I am in no postion to make a judgement about him.  I know something about the story but I have not followed it intensely, do not dwell upon it, and am not particularly interested in it.  I don't know Roman Polanski and I am not going to judge him solely upon media reports.

         He has an incredible life story that would be scoffed as unrealistic if it were put into a book.  He lost his mother at the Auschwitz concentration camp, lost a wife to the Charles Manson family murderers, and went on to become an award winning movie director including the Oscar for Best Picture for The Pianist.  He is excoriated by many, while championed and defended by much of Hollywood and the arts community throughout the world.  Which leads to another question:

Is too much effort and money being put into extraditing Polanski?

      Society seems to delight in scandal and digging up all of the sordid details of a celebrity's life until that person is ripped from their pedestal and dragged through the mud.  Lately it's been Tiger Woods, once it was Michael Jackson. There have been politicians, actors, and authors who have had lives scrutinized and dissected and even destroyed.  For many it's so great to see the "big" people brought down to size.

         But aren't there more serious issues that we and our legal system should be focusing upon.  Low life criminal scum who contribute nothing positive to society infest our communities as they are released by overcrowded court systems.  Prisons are overcrowded with a criminal class that has adapted to being a criminal class until this prison system overflows its unredeemed population into the streets to prey on more victims. Rehabilitation is an ideal which is often talked about but rarely achieved.

          By no means am I a champion of Roman Polanski the man-- it's just not something that is in the range of my concern.  I just think that we should put his crime in perspective.  For one thing the case was settled in civil courts from what I understand.  I would say that Polanski has learned his lesson.  He is probably not going to stop being an unproductive person and head out into the streets continuing a life of crime. 

           There have been other great creative individuals who have done bad things and were less than good people.  Richard Wagner was rather a scoundrel who was loved by the Nazis, but his art is still highly  regarded.  Can you think of anyone whose work is respected but was really a nasty human and had a bad reputation put aside?   Do you plan to see Polanski's The Ghost Writer?  What do you think should happen to Roman Polanski?