What I am looking for are recent popular films (made within the past 10 years) that I can use as examples of theme. What are your suggestions?
- Bill
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- Bill
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12 comments:
The Social Network, ftw.
The Verdict
Or Shawshank, which they probably all seen.
*Recent* - There are probably people reading this who were not born when SHAWSHANK was made!
One of the films I have is THE MATRIX - which is getting a little long in the tooth. So how about movies within the past 10 years?
A recent movie that illustrates theme well is Hurt Locker, but with a caveat. It fails to illustrate it in ways that are good from a structural viewpoint. That is, our heroes value that war is a drug is only confirmed; the movie doesn't challenge us or the hero too much. He starts out a gonzo nutzoid high on risk taking and nothing that happens dissuades him from being that in the end. Not a tragedy or comedy but rather a slice of life, and death. This is different from say, the Wrestler, where the problem is understood by the hero and he attempts to change his life and fails. The Wrestler is a standard tragedy and is the better movie.
Inception
How about a documentary?
For someone such as I, a doc would be a simple and clear-cut example of a 'theme' movie (Theme 101, so to speak).
INSIDE JOB - ("the systemic corruption of the United States").
Not sure how many people saw it, but Book of Eli is all about faith.
Up In The Air was a brilliant movie. The Reitman script is excellent (haven't read the other one).
I'd say the theme is: what's important in your life and what will you sacrifice to get it?
Another good movie on the same theme: The Pursuit Of Happyness. (Haven't read the script of this.)
The Dark Knight
Maybe Taken, if you count as theme that Bryan is all about personal involvement, in his effort to be a real father to his daughter.
How about Red, some folks quibbled re how adapted, and the movie, I thought script was a whole lot of fun, and can't wait to see (arrived today!), themes were roses require precise care, love is grand, and retirement sucks. Re retirement theme, Toy Story 3 also possibility.
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