My type of movie

The movies I've watched and enjoyed have ranged in many genres. Every film I've enjoyed has had in my opinion, a unique content and form, visual striking images, interesting stories and characters. I often think about how the image was composed more than anything during my film watching experience. It has to do with my interest in cinematography. I observe the position of light, composition, depth of field/focus, camera movement/angles, and what the director decides to capture in the frame. The content and form plays a big part of what movies I enjoy and find interesting. What the movie is about would have to interest me and how the filmmaker delivers it should move and inspire me. Characters are a very important to what I think makes a great film. The actor/actress must make me believe that the character they portray is sincerely he/she and they have the emotional connection with the story and with other characters in the film. Having solid characters helps the story to be interesting and make the view believe what they are watching.

The movie "Gummo" directed by Harmon Korin has a nightmare-like take on what reality for a small town in Ohio can be like. The film has no real plot or direction, it shows scenes of individuals through the town that are visually disturbing as it follows the main character ride his bike around his neighborhood. I decided to talk about this film because I think it’s an unusual taste of cinema that I have and it a great example of what I mean by visual striking and interesting content and form. The movies content is already unusual but the way Korin forces you to see them (the form) is uncomfortably entertaining. It’s the set design, wardrobe, actors and lighting that compose these disturbing images which make the movie visual striking. The next movie I choose to write about has the qualities of why I think “Gummo” is a great film plus a great story and amazing characters. Luc Besson’s “Léon: The Professional” has everything I think makes a great movie. The characters of this movie are played so well by the cast, I actually believed this story. The relationship between the two main characters, create conflict and do a great job of laying out the story. Jean Reno’s character Léon is a very skilled assassin with a naive and child like personality finds himself in a position were he takes care and develops feelings for a 12-year-old girl with an edgy and curious personality played by Natalie Portman. The contrast and irony of the characters make the story interesting and entertaining.

Scene's from "Gummo"

Behind the scenes and a scene from "Léon: The Professional"