Monday, July 03, 2006

Inspiring?

The American Film Institute's "Top 100" lists are always good for a chuckle, but their latest may be their silliest: "100 Years, 100 Cheers: The 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time."

What's notable here is how many of these 100 films are just out-and-out depressing. Man spends half the movie trying to off himself, villain never punished for stealing money (It's a Wonderful Life). Sheriff loses faith in the people, throws down his badge and leaves (High Noon). Life sucks for absolutely everyone except rich people (The Grapes of Wrath). Life sucks for everyone except really stupid people (Forrest Gump). The government is hopelessly corrupt and the only thing that can save it is if an old corrupt Senator tries to shoot himself (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington). If you're going to make a list of inspiring movies that make you feel life is worth living, maybe you should include something a little less bleak than most of the movies on this list.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

How in god's name SCHINDLER'S LIST made it ? Only the Nazi main characters live at the end. As matter of fcat I heard Jewish people protested against this film because they felt the film protrayed Oscar Schindler as too much of a hero, not a nazi who exploited the jews for cheap labor.Schindler only felt really bad about what he did,concidently, as WWII came to a close and all the nazis had to escape prosuction. The film is great due to it's great directing and acting, but is it inspiring ? Not by a long shot.

Anonymous said...

I taped it and have yet to see it. I'll comment after I see it, but I haven't seen half these movies so it'll be kind of pointless. And hey, Forrest Gump was very inspiring!