Why speak in parables?

We are always searching for movies with good stories, and well-told stories.  A great movie does both: has a good story and tells it well.  What I really look for in films is Truth, capital “T.”  Sometimes it’s buried pretty deep, but if it’s there, it deserves a mention.  When you find a gem, you just want to shine it up for all the world to see.  I am a firm believer that a Christian has the power of line item veto.  I can watch a film and heartily affirm the good parts and denounce the bad parts.  I have seen a lot of movies I didn’t like, but very few truly all-bad films.

This list of movies will be added to as we get to it.  Please leave your favorites in the comments section along with the truth you see in it.

The List

Sweet Land

This movie is another one that is just beautiful to watch. The farming scenes are especially delightful. One of the inspiring truths in this film is its portrayal of a man who gives up all that he has in order to save a friend’s farm even though he staunchly disagrees with how his friend has conducted his farming and spent his money. (Filmed in Montevideo, MN.)

Hustle and Flow

This movie was written and directed by Craig Brewer, who also did Black Snake Moan (see below.) Before you choose to watch this movie, you should know that it is very raw. The language and some of the subject matter – pimping – will make you cringe. But, it is not sensationalistic; it simply does what it has to do to accurately portray the life of the main character. And his life is your life.  I’m a pansy, soft white guy and yet my heart knows his.  His life is one of just doing his job…trying to get by.  He’s a hard bitten pimp, he does what he does only because he doesn’t think he can do anything else.  Then he encounters beauty.  I cry ( just as D Jay, the main character does) when we hear the music in the church.  He realizes that he is not living, just existing.  He hates his existence.  He gets advice from an old friend and you either “Walk the walk or talk the talk.  Now the folks who walkin’ don’t do much talkin’, cause they walkin’.  So it’s best you stop talkin’.”  He wants to create; to make something and he puts his blood into his music (his words).

One of my favorite scenes happens when he goes to get a good microphone.  He can’t afford it and he trades one of his women for the goods.  She walks out of the store and is furious that he would do something like that.  Now that D Jay is finally working on something noble how dare he use base means to get what he wants.  She hates being a prostitute.  Everybody around her is getting the chance to chase their dream and she wants to run too.  Her old life is no more to her, she wants a new one; she needs a new one.

I can’t recommend this movie enough.  It’s harsh and hard to watch most of the time, but you will see yourself in D Jay, a pimp from Memphis.  And I don’t even like rap.

Some good quotes from the movie:

Key: “Just because you got the bacon, lettuce and tomato don’t mean I’m gonna give you my toast.”

Key: “There are two types of people: those that talk the talk and those that walk the walk. People who walk the walk sometimes talk the talk but most times they don’t talk at all, ’cause they walkin’.”

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

If you had a choice to be a Delysia Lafosse or a Sarah Grubb which would you choose? Do you deny who you are in order to secure your ambitions, or just be yourself and enjoy that which comes to you? This film is so beautifully done. The photography is stunning and the writing keeps you on your toes. Some favorite quotes from it:

Miss Pettigrew: “I’m afraid I walked in on your guest in his state of nature. I fear that I have outraged his sense of propriety.”
Delysia: “Oh no, Phil doesn’t have one of those.”

Miss Pettigrew: “Once I too had ambitions. Not your grand ones, simple ambitions. Marriage, children and a house of our own. He died, in the mud in France. A good, solid man. You would call him dull, no doubt, but he smiled whenever he saw me and we could’ve built a life on that.”

Michael: “Pure and simple, I want you to marry me, and it’s a one word conversation Delysia.”

The Lives of Others

Shows how a man can be changed, and sacrifice himself for people who don’t even know him – people who don’t know the sacrifices he is making for them. Do they ever find out? Watch the film and see.

Pride and Prejudice (2005, Directed by Joe Wright)

Every shot in this movie is beautiful. Should have more to say about it – its my favorite movie ever (Katie) – but don’t have enough time right not to put the beauty of it into words. Will come back to it. A favorite quote from it:

Mr. Darcy: “What endearments am I allowed?”

Elizabeth: “Well let me think…”Lizzie” for every day, “My Pearl” for Sundays, and…”Goddess Divine”… but only on very special occasions.”

Black Snake Moan

Not for the faint-hearted, be aware that this movie contains sexual themes that are not comfortable to think about. But it handles them beautifully – it’s not sensationalistic. It really shows the raw edge of life. Anyway, the great theme of this movie is that, it is binding, that sets one free. Freedom is found in binding yourself to something/someOne of worth (This film was written and directed by Craig Brewer who also did Hustle and Flow – see above.)

A quote:

Lazarus: “I ain’t gonn’ be moved on this. Right or wrong, you gonn’ mind me. Like Jesus Christ said, “Imma suffa’ you. IMMA SUFFA’ YOU!”

The Incredibles

(Peter: Write what you love so much about this movie here – love, Katie). Great quotes:

Lucius: “You tell me where my suit is, woman! We are talking about the greater good!”
Honey: ” ‘Greater good?’ I am your wife! I’m the greatest good you are ever gonna get!”

Violet: “Mom and Dad’s lives could be in jeopardy, or worse – their marriage.”

Lars and the Real Girl

Don’t read the synopsis; it will turn you off. The bottom line is this movie is about love. An entire community loves a man by coming around him in his weirdness, rather than running away from him.

King Kong (2005, directed by Peter Jackson)

(Description to come)

Lord of the Rings trilogy

Oh, too many good things to say about this movie. I’ll just put in a word for my favorite scene: All hope is lost at Helm’s Deep. Everyone is going to die at the hands of ugly, frightful monsters, and all of Middle Earth will be overtaken by evil. Then, as promised three days before, Gandalf comes riding over the top of the hill. Sunshine streams into the dark valley. His hair and his robe and his horse are white, and flowing, and he comes with vengence and an army to demolish all that is evil in the valley. That’s what I call hope. – Katie

3:10 to Yuma

Would you die for a bad man?  Really, would you? This movie literally points to Christ in the end. Watch it and see if you notice. It only lasts a second.

The King of Kong

It is amazing to me that this is a documentary (as opposed to fiction).  It is an extremely well told story that had me and Kate enthralled with the people and their lives. This is a great real-life story of an underdog going up against a big bully with all the resources and cloat to make things go his way. Is justic done? Does the underdog win? You’ll have to watch and see. Quotes:

Walter Day: “I wanted to be a hero. I wanted to be the center of attention. I wanted the glory, I wanted the fame. I wanted the pretty girls to come up and say, ‘Hi, I see that you’re good at Centipede.’ “

Jillian Wiebe: “Work is for people who can’t play video games.”