Ok this one is near and dear to my heart. I watch movies avidly, as well as some TV. I want my entertainment to mean something and to be excellent.
Unfortunately AFI in looking for movies that were inspiring decided to take a few inspiring movies and mix them in with other movies that fit in with some other agenda. It was very clear that the AFI was choosing this venue to honor Ben Kingsley, Sindney Poitier and Steven Spielberg. Its also very clear that they wanted to select movies that were good filmmaking, but clearly not inspirational for their star quality. And finally, feeling that tragedy is always inspiring, they chose several of the blackest and most depressing movies to “Inspire” us all.
To think that ET inspires children to cope with divorce, as Mr. Spielberg testifies on screen, to think that 2001 does anything other than provide a breathtaking view of science fiction— To pretend that the Right Stuff is not one of the most poorly edited movies that cannot entertain long enough to inspire is ludicrous. These are all good movies in their own genre, but inspiring? Who wants to become an astronaut because of the psychidelic encouters with the monolith?
Apparently you have to be a complete loser, like Rudy, or have Mickey Rooney teach you how to ride a horse to be inspiring as well.
Lets take a look at some movies that didn’t take the cut, and see how they can be inspiring:
Private Benjamin: A woman, a real rich bitch discoveres how to be free, and even free herself from the shackles of money, of power, and of being manipulated by bad men. I want to be free screams from this movie.
Revenge of the Nerds: This campy ‘anti-frat’ movie inspires everyone who has ever felt picked on to rise up and be counted.
The Outsiders: Against social injustice, (which really does not have to involve color as much as the AFI would be appalled to discover), we can stand. In poverty we have the riches of each other.
Parenthood: Ok, so I get the idiot factor I rail against with Rudy and Mr. Gump with Keanu. But truely Diane Wiest shows us those things that Spielberg pretends to care about enough to present, that children can survive divorce and life goes on and can be good. He then shows us that it’s OK to be normal people, and to love each other. And Rick Moranis shows us how evil those parents are who push their children so far that there is no joy.
Bringing Down the House: That there can be justice, that color need not be a barrier anymore. That you can be larger and beautiful. That tough can be sexy. That we can live out our dreams, but we have to fight for them. Queen Latifa— You inspire me more than Steven and Ben..
Mystery Men, The Replacements and Any Given Sunday (among others): I have to group these together, because these are the team building movies out there. They deserve to sit there with Hoosiers (which I agree with the AFI does belong on the list and nice and high), as showing us how strong we can be when we are together, when we are united. When we believe in one another and help one another. And how the difference between winning and losing is simply a matter of when you are willing to give up. How we can rise together. If it was up to me right now these would be mandatory films to watch at work everytime we have a conference to build morale and team unity.
