Monday, March 18, 2013

Why I Love Film

My obsession with movies existed long before I was entirely conscious of it. Virtually everyone on Earth enjoys a good movie, so I didn't see anything special in obsessing in fourth grade over the Spider-Man DVD release date, or going to see Casino Royale five times in the theater, or listening to DVD commentary tracks of virtually every film I owned.

Still, for most of my childhood I only saw movies through the prism of entertainment; I was exposed to few classics during that time, and would typically roll my eyes and leave the room if I found my mom watching an old black-and-white film on TCM. My obsession was only with individual films, not with the art form as a whole. This lack of knowledge led to a few misfires in my chosen films to obsess over; I shudder to think of the hours my 10-year-old self devoted to a used DVD copy of Dumb and Dumberer.

There came a point in 2008, however, when the door in my mind finally burst open and I realized just how much I loved the artistic possibility of film. The foot that kicked in that door was Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8a/Dark_Knight.jpg
Looking back, The Dark Knight was really a perfect vehicle for this sort of realization:
  • It was a film that both critics and audiences loved. 
  • It was proudly mainstream (and thus accessible), but made with such virtuosic skill that one could enjoy it on multiple levels. 
  • Perhaps even more importantly, The Dark Knight is a gigantic film, crammed with enormous set-pieces and towering performances (okay, maybe just one); its lack of subtlety made it extremely easy for a young, budding film nerd to appreciate.
I was extremely excited to see it, having loved Batman Begins, and seeing the rave reviews it received pre-release ensured that I would be in line on opening night.


And WOW did that first viewing meet my expectations. I was in awe of this movie from its first frame to its last. Christopher Nolan had found a way to mix the kick-ass action inherent in the superhero genre with the complex-ish story of a genuine crime drama; the result was enough to blow my adolescent mind.

I made a post afterward on Roosterteeth, an online community I was part of at the time, that I think pretty succinctly summed up my reaction:
Perfection.

I'm very hesitant to use this word in reference to any film. But I can't, for the life of me, think of one single flaw in The Dark Knight's entire 2 1/2 hour running time.

I'm not saying it's the greatest film ever made, but Christopher Nolan has created an absolutely flawless superhero epic.
I honestly hope there isn't a sequel to this film. No one will ever surpass Ledger as the Joker, and I wouldn't want to see them try. I just don't see any possible way they can top this. I have to admit, though, that if any team could do it it's these guys.

I'm blown away right now. I'll probably see it again tomorrow.
Ultimately, my enthusiasm cooled a bit upon further study of the film. I found the writing too on-the-nose at times, and the silliness inherent in comic book adaptations (i.e. Two Face, over-the-top mobsters, etc.) never quite gels with the more serious and dire action occurring in the Joker/Batman storylines. By the time I had decided all this, however, it was too late; I was hooked.

I slowly became more and more immersed in film news and criticism, following new and upcoming releases as closely as I could. I made my first trips to the one theater in Knoxville that showed small independent films and other art-house fare, and found myself blown away by these films that I had never even considered seeking out before.

I'm not quite sure why I fell in love with movies in the way that I did. As I've learned more about the art-form, I think my fascination with film may come from the way in which it integrates all other art-forms.

Film can be anything and everything, combining writing, photography, production design, performances, and music in an infinite number of ways to impart any sort of meaning imaginable. The artistic possibilities are enough to make an aspiring film buff's head spin.

Worth noting is the amazing quality of films that came out in 2008. Aside from mainstream giants like The Dark Knight, Iron Man, and WALL-E, the Oscar race was packed with films like Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt, The Class, and many more. I count myself lucky to have had these amazing films available in theaters during my initial exploration of non-mainstream films.

I remember a specific moment, after leaving a showing of Doubt with my mother, that something clicked in my mind. The film had completely enthralled me with its masterful performances and even its cleverly ambiguous conclusion; I had never felt that sort of artistic fulfillment from any movie before. As my mother drove away from the theater, I turned to her and said, "I think that's what I want to do." From then on, I wanted to be a filmmaker.

This goal kicked my obsession into a higher gear; I knew that if I was ever to realize my dream, I would have to know everything there is to know about the craft of movie-making. I took up photography, finding through high school art classes a love for the still camera that I still cherish today. I explored the art of screenwriting, learning the basics of how a script is styled and organized. And all the while, I continued watching and reading about film history.

That education is ongoing. While my college doesn't offer a formal film studies degree, I have tried to create a curriculum that would immerse in both the technical and creative aspects of film production. Thanks to a few great professors, I have been able to take extremely helpful courses on film and screenwriting that have broadened my understanding of these subjects immeasurably. I'm more sure now than ever that this is where my future lies.

As far as actual filmmaking experience, however, I still have pathetically little to show for it. Outside of a few class projects in high school, I have done very little to exercise my creative muscle. Still, I have never felt more capable or full of ideas; I know that there exists within me the potential to create something worthwhile. It's still up to me, however, to realize that potential.

I still go to the theater whenever I can to see new releases; I work at the biggest movie theater in Knoxville, so it has never been easier to see what I want, when I want. I still obsessively read reviews for new films, and am slowly working my way through an immense and intimidating Netflix Instant queue. There's no question that film remains my greatest hobby. As my knowledge and love continues to grow, I only hope that I'll be able to one day turn this hobby into something more.

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