This is a follow-up to yesterday’s entry, so please read that first.
Though one of my strongest beliefs is that any individual can make a profound difference in society, movies seem to be less entertaining all the time. I pulled the quote below because it had me shaking my head, but then nodding a little. I get what he means. There’s a right place for fun, and if the entertainment industry isn’t the right place, then what the hell is?
At one extreme, you have Hotel Rwanda, and at the other you have Nacho Libre. What do you watch when you’re too exhausted to delve into the social implications of genocide, but you’d still like to keep your brain switch set to “on?”
That’s been a real frustration for me. Not enough movies in the last few years have made me feel both happier and smarter. In fact, only Amelie and Junebug come to mind–and Junebug isn’t everyone’s idea of a feel-good flick.
So I guess I’m wondering if this is a real trend, or just my personal experience. What movies have left you feeling smarter and sunnier afterward?
Mighty Girl 
Little Miss Sunshine! Smart enough to talk about Proust, while still making me giggle. Other than that… not much.
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I agree with Tink! “Little Miss Sunshine” was the first recent film to come to mind that fits the bill. I agree with Amelie and Junebug as well, I’ll throw “Lost in Translation” into the mix.
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I second the motion for Little Miss, and I’d also suggest Everything is Illuminated. It’s odd and light enough in the beginning to get you hooked, contains a meaningful story, and ends in a heartwarming way.
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You’re right on this one. ‘Happy’ I could provide, but ‘smarter’ too? Um, no, not lately, not in English. Although “Goodbye Lenin” and “Herr Lehman” were good here, over the pond…
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I agree with Lost in Translation but also Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, oh and Garden State!
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My husband has been after me these past few weeks to go see “An Inconvenient Truth.” He is astounded I don’t want to see it, since I generally am interested in substantive issues and I love Al Gore so much that I want to put him in my pocket. I told him that I get that it’s an important movie, but I don’t want to leave work, rush home, get a babysitter, rush to a movie only to be reminded again about how pointless all this is because my son is going to be roasted alive by the 100+ temperatures we can expect to occur in the next 50 years.
A few movies that left me feeling happy and smarter:
(1) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
(2) Little Miss Sunshine.
(3) Lost in Translation.
As you said about Junebug, some of these are not per se happy movies, but I enjoyed them, learned something and they may me either think positively about the future or remember fondly something from my past.
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Off of the top of my head, here are a few movies that have inspired me, and made me think, while not leaving me an angst ridden mess aterwards. These films run the gamut from Canadian vignettes,to existentialist musing, with a little coming of age and New York Angst thrown in for good measure.
The Five Senses, I Heart Huckabees, Monsoon Wedding, Quinceanera,
The Squid and the Whale.
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smarter like I learned something about the human condition from them?
This year has been awful. Not one mainstream release has been good to me. The high school noir “Brick” was the most fun I’ve had at the movies this year, and that movie is certainly not sunny.
The last movie I saw that made me happy in all the ways a movie can make me happy was an 6 hour Italian film, “The Best of Youth.” (But who has 6 hours?)
I hold out hope for “Stranger than Fiction” and “The Science of Sleep.” We will see…
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I would have to Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. By far one of the best movies. I loved it for more reasons than I can explain. I don’t know that there are many other movies that resonate with me like that one has. It’s thought-provoking, smart, and so many things. Fantabulous!
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The only movies I’ve really, really enjoyed the past few years have been:
About a Boy
School of Rock
The Incredibles
The funny thing about this is that they’re all “family friendly” films, and I never thought myself to be a “family friendly” person. Aside from these really great, fun and joyful films, just about everything else on my “I love it” list is a gothic horror film or monster movie. Or something by Lars von Trier.
Oh: “Slither” is also quite good. And “Shaun of the Dead”. Two funny/smart horror films, also with a real sense of joy and purity that infused the filmmaking.
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P.S. Monsoon Wedding does rock. That film blew me away when I saw it. I second that vote!
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I’ve got to agree with the votes for Little Miss Sunshine.
Also, I saw Science of Sleep lately and loved it– it isn’t the moooost feel good, but it is sort of warm and fuzzy in its own way, and so pretty! 🙂
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I disagree about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It’s a great movie, a love story even, but it’s *work* to watch. That does not make me “happy.” The ones that immediately came to my mind were oldies (and I am SO dating myself here): St. Elmo’s Fire and With Honors. Which brings me to point two. Wait until the little one gets here and gets mobile, and you too will be remembering movies from decade(s) ago b/c that’s the last time you saw a movie!
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1. Thank-you for Smoking
2. Friends with Money (I know I know.. give
it a chance)
3. Secretary
4. The Squid and The Whale
5. Little Miss Sunshine ( seems to be a
favorite)
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I loved Junebug. I saw it at an outdoor theater this summer. Which was just a perfect setting see see the film.
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I forgot to mention, that you might want to check out The Heartland Film Festival and Truly Moving Pictures if you’re interested in cool independent films with a message that won’t drag you down.
http://www.heartlandfilmfestival.org/2006/
http://www.trulymovingpictures.org/
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god – a few:
Little Miss Sunshine
Death in Gaza (ok, not so sunnier but somewhat lifted)
Monsoon Wedding
Supersize Me
Born into Brothels (again, not so sunny but certainly hopeful)
It is a hard combo, but i’ll take smarts over sun.
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I’d have to say my feel good sunny movie of all time would be “Amelie” as well. I grinned the whole movie. A movie that I just find amazing is “Dancer in the Dark,” although it is by no means a happy movie.
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Little Miss Sunshine, yes. Garden State, yes. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, YES! Almost Famous (obviously not recent) always makes me feel better and wiser. But, other than a handful of the ones that have all been mentioned, you’re right — movies are missing something that I think TV is nailing, lately. Just turn on The Office or Studio 60 and you laugh while wishing you were smart enough to think of the same lines.
This is my first comment — I’m becoming a fast fan of your site!
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s been taken with Little Miss Sunshine. And that I Heart Huckabees made it up here before I came round.
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i agree with some of these. also, babette’s feast is smart and sunny, and i admit i think some movies that others might put down are too. for example, those that are based on shakespeare plays (clueless, 10 things…) are smart and sunny, and i think that ghost world was too, in a junebug way. i also think the sweet heartafter ultimately was. this is good to think about!
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Very much in agreement.
Greenfingers (2003?)- A British Shawshank Redemption, Clive Owen proved himself as a leading man on this one.
Rumor Has It was fun, though not overly smart. Shirley Maclaine plays the character of Mrs. Robinson 20 years after “The Graduate”.
If the phrase “Existential Comedy” gets you excited, I Heart Huckabees is a winner.
Romantic Comedies that are a bit smart:
Just Like Heaven (Mark Ruffalo/Reese Witherspoon)
Get Well Soon (Vincent Gallo/Courtney Cox)
Dream for an Insomniac(Ione Sky/Jen Aniston)
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Thank you commenters! I now have a list of 13 films to see (although toddler + work + relationship = no time).
A great Icelandic film from about 10 years ago is “Cold Fever.” Since you’ve recently been to Iceland, you’ll probably enjoy it that much more.
Another smart/fun film that happens to have “Cold” in the title is the British film “Cold Comfort Farm” (also a decade old. Eeep).
Books continue to be good; that’s something to be happy about!
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The original Ghostbusters. Because, hey, thanks to that movie, I ain’t fraid of no ghost! Most filmmakers are not ambitious enough to compare New York to a twinkie. It was stunning.
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I second “Garden State” (a bit too precious but ultimately successful), “Lost In Translation” (ditto) and “Eternal Sunshine.”
I would throw in “Citizen Ruth,” “Election” and “Sideways.”
“Shattered Glass” (about ethically challenged New Republic writer Charles Glass) was surprisingly entertaining in all the ways I didn’t think it would be.
“You Can Count On Me” was wonderful in every respect. (Don’t be put off by the title; the movie is about whether that very nice sentiment is actually true with respect to the characters involved.)
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I am so glad somebody else suggested the original Ghostbusters. Real Sumerian history and Bill Murray. Hard to beat for substance/humor.
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I know exactly what you mean, here, and I am so excited about all these suggestions! It’s like looking for the movie equivalent of a Thumping Good Read – not too fluffy, but gripping enough to engage your heart, mind, and emotions.
Put me down for Monsoon Wedding and anything else by Mira Nair.
TV box sets sometimes do this for me: Sports Night complete series, and Newsradio.
Also, I’m a sucker for some BBC stuff: adaptations of Our Mutual Friend, North & South, Wives & Daughters, Bleak House, Love in a Cold Climate, and Daniel Deronda.
Some others that I’ve enjoyed: The Long Hot Summer, His Girl Friday, The Thin Man, Empire Records, The Dancer Upstairs, Jet Lag, The Cooler, Tampopo, Croupier, Run Lola Run, The Boondock Saints, Mostly Martha, High Fidelity, Bright Young Things, Tristram Shandy
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I’ve seen a lot of movies I would ditto, but another I would add is “The Royal Tennenbaums”
That movie is hilarious and lovely! (And a great soundtrack too)
Also, I really enjoyed the new “Pride and Prejudice” with Keira almost as much as the 6-hour BBC miniseries with Colin Firth. If Jane isn’t smart, I don’t know what is. And I was certainly entertained!
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I appreciate all the reminders/suggestions above. I will add:
Before Sunrise
Gross Pointe Blank
Almost Famous
Off The Map (little known and magical)
The Ref
In America
What About Bob?
And I learn and laugh a lot with my kids:
Spirited Away
Finding Nemo
The Iron Giant
and I second The Incredibles
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Not a movie, but a TV show/DVD set: Arrested Development. Hands down the funniest show in a long time, and it rewards the viewer who is clever and pays attention.
Otherwise, definately Thank You For Smoking. Oh, and The Education of Shelby Knox is really good and encouraging, too.
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Serenity
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I have to chime in agreements on the Iron Giant and Shaun of the Dead (the only movie I’ve seen wherein I laughed out loud and was genuinely fearful!). I would add The Philidelphia Story if you like Hepburn, Grant, and Stewart and fast 1940s melodrama with lots of words. While not happy per se Hero is a smart fun (if you like wire-fu) film that is a feast for the eyes. Whale Rider is about Maori traditions in modern times (a little New Zealand flick not by Peter Jackson :^) that is very touching.
HTH!
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I have to second What About Bob? We quote that movie around here all the time. And I must add Whale Rider to the list. I thought it was magical!
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Gah, I forgot the Hudsucker Proxy; probably my favorite of the Cohen Brother’s films (O Brother Where Art Thou is second, and the rest, while interesting, are alot of hard work.)
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Easy. Easy easy easy.
Spirited Away and The Triplets of Belleville are INTENSLY wonderful.
Your brain, your soul, and the rest of your years will thank you.
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Forgive my OCD. It’s Rwanda. Love your site.
[[Ed note:]] Thank you!
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Before Sunrise, and the sequel, Before Sunset.
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Goodnight and Good Luck.
Syriana — the subject matter won’t necessarily make you feel sunnier. but the fact that films like it still get made surely will.
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I’m tempted to join in and just post favorite movies but I’ll only post the two that came to mind (though it’s already here): The Squid and The Whale and You, Me and Everyone We Know.
Now, neither one is particularly “cheery” and, come to think of it, I don’t know that either one actually made me feel “smarter”. I mean, I felt the high of being so very liberal and hip and indie immediately following the close of both films but that’s ’cause I’m a sucker. I did, however, think About the films for a good long while after watching them. Somethings I wanted to figure out, reconsider and reorder while other things concerned what I thought the director intended, what the writer was going for… I’d like to believe that coming away from a movie just thinking at all (versus only running through favorite scenes) is proof of a smarter film and something that could affect my overall perspective if even for only a short while. Of course, there are plenty of “thought-provoking” manipulative movies that get you thinking but not in any progressive way.
I’m really surprised, still, at the popularity of Northern State. After I got over the sloppy use of songs in the film I watched it again and couldn’t get at what was so spectacular about this film. I like everyone involved with it and thought it was okay – didn’t mind paying to see it in the theater (twice) – but I just don’t get the thrill others have for it. (I will, however, try and see some of the other faves mentioned here though.)
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eh, that is, “Garden State”. I do that all the time.
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Me and You and Everyone We Know, superior visual impact and intimate storytelling.
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The French seem to get it right with “Amelie” and “To Be and To Have”. The latter is sure to bring on baby lust in even the most surly man, except that he might want to have French children. What’s more enchanting than a one-room schoolhouse in the French countryside?
Also: Spellbound; Me, You, and Everyone We Know; Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind; Donnie Darko; V for Vendetta
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Garden State. As Good As It Gets. Primer (only because I feel slightly more intelligent knowing I understood more than 30% of the movie)
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Certain documentaries do the trick for me. Best Boy (from the early 80’s I think) was wonderful. Funny and sweet. The Sound and the Fury is not exactly happy but it is really really interesting. I think a sequel is coming out soon. Oh and the 7-Up series is great as well! Did anyone mention Mad Hot Ballroom?
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You’ll have to netflix it, but Chan is Missing is a really enjoyable, really thought-provoking movie.
Also, Lovely and Amazing, and Walking and Talking–Nicole Holofcener’s first two movies, also really good movies about female friendship–better than Friends with Money, I think.
I second Shattered Glass–I expected it it make me smarter, but I really enjoyed it to.
And Secretary! If anyone said that already, I missed it.
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Lately? The Illusionist.
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A Prairie Home Companion!
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Definitely Little Miss Sunshine!
And Lost in Translation as well.
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Definitely Eternal Sunshine for me. Though I am surprisedthat other people thought so. So many people found it depressing ( while I found it uplifting… that they had chosen that the pain was worth the experience… even if it was destined for failure)
American Splendor is another
High Fidelity ( maybe not quite as high brow.. but i think extremely well done)
the Before Sunrise and Before Sunset series (and maybe even Waking Life)
oh yeah
and Jackass: Number Two.
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No Maggie you are right. I only make it through about 50% of the movies I rent and I don’t even GO to the theatre anymore. I too am becoming progressivly disappointed with the entertainment ind. I also liked Junebug, the only person I know who did but still.
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