Holiday Films
By Babak Eskandari
Film is perhaps the greatest and most influential art form of the past 100 years. Its inspiration is the theater, but its effect and mass appeal is far greater. Films can tell us stories in ways that no other art form can. Films can take us far into the past and future. It can show us the darkest side of humanity and at the same time be uplifting and inspirational. I have always enjoyed watching movies and it’s one of my favorite pastimes. Since the holidays are approaching, I would like to share some of the films that I have enjoyed and have influenced me. Maybe you will have the time to watch them for the first time or watch them again. I broke them down into categories of my own making in no special order:
Comedy:
The hardest of all forms of acting.
Young Frankenstein: Mel Brooks pays homage, in a wacky way, to the 1930s horror films. A must see.
To Be or Not to Be: Another Mel Brooks comedy dealing with World War II.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Steven Martin and John Candy shine in this film that is full of humor and humanity. Who can forget the scene in the motel room!!!
Birdcage: Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are fantastic in this comedy.
Marmulak: The acting is great and the film has tons of social commentary.
Blame it on Fidel: This French film has a humorous look at the life of a little girl growing up in a leftist family in France in the early 1970s.
Drama:
Othello: Laurence Fishburne is the first black actor in American film history playing the title role in this 1995 version.
The Constant Gardner: A moving film about the exploitation of the developing world by the big corporations. How can you not like Rachel Weisz?
Safare Sang: Said Raad is great in this film about the struggle of Iranian peasantry against the landowners.
Blood Diamond: The story of behind the bloody diamond trade.
Motorcycle Diaries: This film shows the early years of a man who became the icon of the world revolution: Ernesto “Che” Guevara. It has a beautiful soundtrack as well.
Shawshank Redemption: Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are great in this inspirational prison drama.
Tangsir: In this Iranian film from the 1970’s Behruz Vusoghi plays a common man taking revenge on the rich people of the town who have exploited him.
Greystoke, The legend of Tarzan: This 1984 film is possibly the best adaptation of the famous novel.
Mystic River: A tragedy brilliantly directed by Clint Eastwood and acted by Sean Penn and Tim Robbins.
Pan’s Labyrinth: What is more violent: the fairytales of a young girl’s imagination or the Fascist take over of Spain? The imagery is magnificent.
Training Day: Denzel Washington is brilliant as a corrupt cop in this Oscar winning role.
Monsters’ Ball: Halle Berry’s performance is heart wrenching.
Science Fiction/ Horror: I am not much of horror movie fan.
Contact: Based on a novel by Carl Sagan, this film explores what happens when humanity comes into contact with another civilization and its impact on our view of ourselves as a species and our view of the universe. A very intelligent film.
All the Star Trek movies: If you are a Trekkie then you will enjoy them all.
2010: In this film, based on a novel by Arthur C. Clarke, Soviet and American astronauts continue the journey to Jupiter and the mysteries surrounding the planet.
Alien: I was 14 when I saw it and I left the lights on throughout that night!!!
The Dark Knight: What can I say -- I always liked Batman’s character.
Gattaca: A very smart film about the dangers of genetic engineering.
I am Legend: Will Smith’s performance is great. This film has the underlying themes of loneliness and the deep human need for friendship and belonging.
King Kong: All three films, from 1930s, 1970s and 2000s, are great.
Historical Dramas/ Action:
Spartacus: This film brought to life the story of one the most famous slave rebellions in history and it broke the Hollywood blacklist.
Braveheart: I have seen it eight times and I will see it again. In this multilayered film, class and national conflicts are explored through the story of William Wallace, the leader of a Scottish rebellion in the 13th century.
Glory: The story of the first black regiment in the American Civil War. When Denzel Washington’s character is whipped for allegedly deserting his unit, you can see the pain and suffering of 400 years of slavery in his face.
Land and Freedom: The noted British director Ken Loach brings to life the story of International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War of 1930s.
Saving Private Ryan: It clearly shows the reality and brutality of war.
Ran: Akira Kurosawa’s masterful adaptation of King Lear and setting it in the context of Japanese history is a pageantry of colors and images.
Battle of Berlin: A Soviet film depicting the fall of Berlin and the final defeat of Nazi Germany by the mighty Red Army -- the other side of World War II.
Stalingrad: A German film about the plight of regular German soldiers in that epic battle and their disillusionment with the war.
3:10 to Yuma: It’s a remake of an old Western with a great cast.
And last but not least:
Romance:
Chocolat: a beautiful story with great acting.
Somewhere in Time: In this 1980 film the late Christopher Reeve travels back in time and falls in love -- a beautiful love story.
Romeo & Juliet: This 1968 version is perhaps the sweetest and best adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy of innocence and forbidden love.
Heaven Can Wait: Warren Beatty directs and stars in this romance.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 version is not a horror movie, but a tale of undying love. The imagery is simply stunning.
This is just a partial list of some of my favorite films. Good films are like good books if it is possible one should have a library of them at home. But, nothing compares to sitting in a dark theater and experiencing the beauty of watching a great film for the first time. Enjoy.
