I’ve talked a lot lately about a few movies that have spoiled me for most other movies. That is, I find them so meaningful that other movies might entertain but don’t compare in value they bring to my life. After seeing them, if any other movies resemble them, I can’t help but try to compare them and the other ones don’t measure up.

The movies that spoil me for other movies that I’ve seen lately include Yi Yi, A Brighter Summer Day, and Tokyo Story. Older ones include Fanny and Alexander and The Best Intentions. I have to watch The Grand Illusion again to see if it qualifies. Maybe Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Annie Hall.

What I love about these movies is that they possess no artifice, no special effects, nothing beyond ordinary life, yet aren’t dull, so speak universally about humanity and life. They could seem boring if I didn’t pay attention, but when I do pay attention, they shine with simplicity, understanding, and universality.

I still love The Godfather, Casablanca, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Fistful of Dollars, and other classics, but my life doesn’t contain gunfights and suspensions of disbelief.

The distraction of special effects and other unworldly things that may make movies more appealing but less universal moves them more to entertainment than to art. I like being entertained, but it’s not being transformed.

I’m posting this idea now from watching Die Welle (The Wave) last week. I liked the movie, but it portrayed one of the most interesting real-life stories I’ve heard of. It needed no artifice. It could have just portrayed what happened. Instead, the stylization made it seem like the producers and directors didn’t think it would stand on its own. By contrast, Tokyo Story just showed people doing things we all do.

What more do we need?

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