| [BACK]
MY TOP FIVE FAVORITE FILMS - AND WHY - FILM #5
Inevitably the question gets asked. Either by a student in my class or by a friend or co-worker: What's your favorite movie? I, personally, think that what your favorite movie is shows a lot about who you are as a person. But, often times, the movies fall into the "Classic" category. Who doesn't love "The Godfather" or "Casablanca" or "E. T."? But I'm looking for those other films. Films that had an impact that don't fall into those categories. Films that others may hate with a passion but you watch over and over again and somehow "touch" you. Those are the favorites I'm talking about.
Avoiding any films that fall under the "Best Picture" or "Classic" category here is my list of films and why.
I had a hard time coming up with a number five. The first four are "no-brainers" for me and I had to scramble for this one. For many this would fall under the "Classic" moniker but I'm going to let it slide as, again, it was difficult for me to come up with this one. Maybe I'll come up with a better one later...maybe I won't.
5. "THE BLACK STALLION" - "The Black Stallion" hits this list because it's a film that is very hard to define. A film basically spread out over four acts. The first Act shows the wonderment of a boy and his relationship with a horse tied up on a ship. His father a gambler and story teller. The first act ends with a harrowing ship-wreck that is both scary and well done.
The second Act, which lasts for some 30 minutes or so, is the quiet relationship between the boy, the horse and the island. Who cares that the horse looks more brown than black and the relationship seems a bit forced - but we know where it's headed and, thus, we join in. This quiet (very few words are spoken) part of the film is majestic, awe inspiring, funny and emotional.
The third Act brings us back home with the boy and his mother and horse. Who knows how the horse got home, who knows what his mother said when it arrived - but like a kid who brings home a kitten I assume she was so happy to see her boy alive that she was willing to let him keep the horse in the confines of their backyard.
The third Act also plays up the missing father with the now father figure Mickey Rooney as the old grizzled (is there any other way to describe Mickey Rooney?) and his relationship with the boy. This, too, grows naturally. There is no "forced" relationship here. Just a natural give and take (much like with the horse).
The fourth Act, of course, is the decision to race and the inevitable race at the end. It's emotional, it's powerful, and it kicks ass. The inter-cutting between the race and the time on the island, is brilliant. The race is heart-pounding and our hero wins in the end.
The reason I say this film is hard to define is because it doesn't necessarily play up as a "Kid's Movie" (my kids have a hard time sitting through the first half of the film) - though it would have been easy to make it a "Kid's Movie." By basing it on a famous Children's book (I don't know if it's faithful to the story - I've never read the book) it's got a built in audience of children (and adults who read the book as children).
The pacing of the film also is hard to define. From the quiet solitude to a powerful, loud, race - there is no way, in my opinion, that you could create a film like this today. What would the "Preview Audience" say: "First half is boring. Get to the race!" In fact, I truly believe if this film were re-made today it would cut out 80% of the island, place the horse on this man's farm, he'd meet the boy - they would race. A two-hour film would be reduced to 80 minutes. Cookie Cutter. Bleah.
Is it a kid's movie? Is it an animal movie? A nature film? A love story? An adventure film? Really, it's all of the above.
A great film also at a great price. I've seen it as cheap as $5 on DVD. Buy it, watch it, enjoy it.
Directed by Carroll Ballard
Starring: Kelly Reno, Hoyt Axton, Terri Garr and Mickey Rooney
Time: 118 minutes
|
