MOVIES ABOUT MOVIES: They Speak for Themselves
Rarely have movies about movies been officially acknowledged as a cinematic subgenre. And yet, there have been hundreds of them from many different countries and time periods. When watching a movie whose narrative is in some way a reflection on the filmmaking process, most cinephiles can achieve instant orgasms without having to lift a finger. Does the very self-reflective nature of these films make them inherently vain?
Yes.
But so what? All art mediums must examine what makes them unique to other forms; if movies are to be used to express anything at all, we must first understand what movies are. A filmmaker interested in examining "movies" as a subject is about as vain as a person being interested in examining "humanity" as a subject. We must understand ourselves. You can label that vanity, or you can label that consciousness.
The quality of the pictures themselves ranges radically. Some, like Singin’ in the Rain, are expertly produced. Others, like Truffaut’s Day for Night, are underwhelming efforts. And yet, nearly all movies about movies are worth a look simply to hear what they have to say about the artist and the art form.
They speak for themselves.
TEN ESSENTIAL MOVIES ABOUT MOVIES
Sherlock, Jr. (Buster Keaton, 1923)
The Man with a Movie Camera (Dziga Vertov, 1928)
In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)
Singin’ in the Rain (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952)
Contempt (Jean-Luc Godard, 1963)
Targets (Peter Bogdonovich, 1968)
Close-Up (Abbas Kiarostami, 1990)
The Player (Robert Altman, 1992)
Forgotten Silver (Peter Jackson, 1995)
Irma Vep (Olivier Assayas, 1996)
TEN MORE (Some are more interpretive here…but trust me.)
Sullivan’s Travels (Preston Sturges, 1942)
Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder, 1950)
Rear Window (Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, 1954)
The Bad and the Beautiful (Vincente Minnelli, 1957)
8 1/2 (Federico Fellini, 1963)
Real Life (Albert Brooks, 1978)
Ed Wood (Tim Burton, 1994)
A Moment of Innocence (Mohsen Makmalbahf, 1995)
The Cat’s Meow (Peter Bogdanovich, 2001)
Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)
…AND CONSIDER THIS:
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (Peter Weir, 2003)
Got any movies about movies you’re dying to add to the series? Leave a comment or three…