Welcome to the first instalment of ‘3 films you need to see before you die!’ As you can probably guess, these lists will be unbelievably subjective and probably controversial. With each small collection, I hope to shed light on the films that have captivated me in my own life and at the same time, try to sell them to you!
So, without waffling any further, here are 3 Films you need to see before you die! In my humble and biased opinion.
1. Moonlight (2016) Dir. Barry Jenkins
Barry Jenkins burst onto the scene in 2016 with only his second ever feature film, and with little to any knowledge of what to expect from such an unknown director, I don’t think anybody was ready for what Moonlight would eventually bring to the table for such a wide range of movie-going audiences. Jenkins orchestrated the ground-breaking coming of age tale surrounding Chiron, a young Black American male in three different stages of his life. Jenkins developed Moonlight from Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play In Moonlight Black Boys look blue McCraney wrote the play inspired by his own struggles in coming to terms with his own sexuality, along with the inner battles of being gay and black in ‘the hood’.
Most people like myself may be reading this thinking that their own situation resembles nothing to the situation of a young Gay American in the hood and that’s totally fine. However, Barry Jenkins excels in making an issue that may be a million miles away from your own life become so easy to relate to, allowing yourself to become immersed in it. The film is one of the first of its kind to take the art-house style of cinema to the hood. Not only is James Laxton’s cinematography a genuine masterpiece in colour, but the score by Nicholas Brittell is quite frankly breath-taking.
Brittell uses a ‘chop and screw’ method of cutting and shaping the soundtrack to drive the evolution of Chiron’s own life in the films three chapters. Along with an innovative use of cello and piano melodies, Jenkins hand picks popular music in various scenes adding another layer of emotion to each scene. Most notably ‘Hello Stranger’ by Barbara Lewis to reunite Chiron with Kevin, his estranged best friend in the final act of the piece.
Taking the essence and simplicity of cinema, and excelling in every facet of filmmaking. Truly establishing a new auteur in Barry Jenkins. It’s a million miles away from anything you’ve ever seen before. If you haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, do it! Hopefully you’ll enjoy half as much as I did!
2. Philadelphia (1993) Dir. Jonathan Demme.
The 80’s and 90’s were a pretty decent time for Tom Hanks, weren’t they? Most people remember Hanks for his fantastic role in Forrest Gump in 1994. However, for me the standout film of not only 1993 but Tom Hanks’ career is undeniably Philadelphia. Hanks established himself as a fine and respected actor in the 80’s and 90’s with roles spanning from Big (1988) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and Genuinely became considered as a safe pair of hands. Philadelphia reinvented Tom Hanks’ potential and the perception of the HIV/AIDS crisis that had plagued the 1980’s and the subsequent years to follow.
The casting of Tom Hanks as Andrew Beckett was a masterstroke. Tom Hanks was at the heart a ‘real’ American, someone that audiences liked and trusted. Therefore, seeing Tom Hanks as an intelligent, likeable individual sadly afflicted with HIV surged the HIV/AIDS crisis out into the open for the everyday people to digest. A crisis that large portions of the population and presidencies failed to acknowledge it’s severity until far too late.
As brilliant as Hanks was in Philadelphia, it surely would never have been the film it became without the charisma of Denzel Washington’s performance as Joe Miller (Andy’s Lawyer) A man brought up on traditional values, who’s own character development throughout the film is truly touching. Washington portrays a man largely ignorant of the struggles that Hanks’ character experiences until he realises the similarities that the HIV stricken Andrew Beckett has with himself.
Joe Miller aligns himself with Beckett as he understands the essence of discrimination, something that he has experienced his whole life as a black man in America. Washington perfectly depicts a man who goes on a journey of acceptance and openness to find empathy in a person who he at first, finds no motivation to become involved in.
The main message is that of justice and doing the right thing even when it isn’t the easiest route. Andrew Beckett sums up this message in a crucial sequence of the film on why he loves the ‘law’ – “It's that every now and again - not often, but occasionally - you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens.”
Philadelphia is a must watch.
3. Drive (2011) Dir. Nicholas Winding Refn
Yes, that film where Ryan Gosling barely speaks, at all. However, it’s what he doesn’t say in Drive which makes it a film you absolutely have to see before you die. The complex story and smooth flow of Drive leaves you intensely watching, trying to understand what is really going on. Nicholas Winding Refn is renowned for his art-house compositions and his partnerships with Ryan Gosling, however this film is his most prominent achievement so far.
Ryan Gosling plays the driver. complex and decisive, yet incredibly talented at what he does – He drives. Drive excels in making a conventional idea become a completely unconventional narrative. Firstly, in the director’s use of the Quadrant System telling two stories in one frame of a scene without the actor’s even having to utter an inch of dialogue. Along with the lack of clues that you receive throughout the film to understand who the driver actually is. This leaves you immersed in the story, desperately trying to comprehend who really holds the power.
It takes you into a new world. Not a world completely removed from your current life, A world that is maybe somewhat relatable to your current life. This is the essence of cinema. A neo-noir classic in the modern era of film that in my opinion you need to see before you die!
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