Three of My Favorite Thoughtful Movies
August 2nd, 2009 by Michael KwanThis list is, of course, far from exhaustive, but these three films are the first ones that came to mind when I stopped to think about thoughtful movies. It’s also no coincidence that Robin Williams stars in two of them, considering that he is one of my favorite actors. It’s somewhat ironic, really, that I enjoy watching Robin Williams in dramatic roles over comedic ones.
What movies make you think about life, its purpose, and your direction in it?
Dead Poets Society (1989)
As someone who writes for a living, I am immediately drawn to a lot of movies that are about the written word. I don’t produce any fictional work myself, but I also understand that it is so much more than just a diversion. The teacher played by Robin Williams reminds us that while medicine and law are certainly noble pursuits, poetry and beauty are what make life worth living. Don’t get too caught up in the mechanics of life. Express yourself freely and fully.
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Forrest Gump (1994)
Most movies can fall into one category or another. Bruno is clearly a comedy. Terminator is clearly an action movie. This categorization of genres isn’t quite so clear with a film like Forrest Gump and that’s partly why I love it so much. It truly is a complete movie, offering us pieces of drama, comedy, tragedy, action, romance, and so much more. Through the simple and child-like perspective of Forrest, we are humbled and learn that ignorance can be bliss. At the same time, this simplified view can lead to an extraordinary life with backs as crooked as question marks, bottles of Dr. Pepper at the White House, a highly decorated military career, and a loving son who is smart and not “like me.”
Good Will Hunting (1997)
In order for life to be worthwhile, you have to be challenged. A life that is too easy leads to stagnation, frustration, and delinquency. This, in a sense, is the quandary of elitism. We are creatures of our environments. Will Hunting (Matt Damon) had a genius intellect, but he worked as a janitor. All he needed, though, was a challenge and some direction from Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) to rise above his circumstances and get out of the “victim” role. Take control of your life. It’s in your hands.
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Tags: movie reviews, philosophy, robin williams
Filed under Arts and Entertainment.
I liked Forrest Gump. It’s vastly different from the novel, though.
Creator was an interesting one. Death of a Salesman was a good one too–the book and the Dustin Hoffmann film version.
Did you ever read Gump & Co.? It’s the sequel to Forrest Gump where he opens the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. The book wasn’t half-bad!
No, but I do have the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company recipe book. Or something like that. It’s pretty good too.
Haven’t read the book, but I’ve eaten at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in SF on Fisherman’s Wharf. Great food.
If the book wasn’t buried in a stack of other books, I’d get it out and tell you whether it had any connection to the restaurant.
i love the first movie and i watched it twice
Dead Poets Society is one of my favorites! (Well, they all are..) At the vet clinic I worked at, my favorite client was a mastiff named “Captain.” I called him, “Oh Captain, My Captain.” He was so precious, but sadly, had to be euthenized because of his hips. He was only a year old. Now, the movie and the mastiff go together in my mind. But, the lessons of the movie always have and will continue to stay with me.
These are all great movies. Robin Williams is underrated as an actor. He is one of the best all around actors of our time. He has a great range, from comedy to drama, he has shown that he can do anything well.
Tom Hanks also has incredible believability. Any role he plays you feel like he is the character and he pulls you right into the story.
I have to say that I like 2001 A Space Odyssey as one of my favorite movies for thought provoking story and lessons.
That reminds me… Silent Running was another reasonably thought-provoking film, though it was a bit weakened in that blowing up the domes didn’t make a lot of sense. Park them on a moon or something…
I love these 3 movies too.
They don’t make such thought-provoking movies anymore, nowadays movies have too much CG elements for their own good.
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