Two days from now will be the Independence Day of my second native country, the United States of America. If you're looking to celebrate with a movie, here are ten recommendations on what to watch, each representing a piece of American culture that I find to be important to my identity in relation to my American heritage. I hope you enjoy!
Side note: If you happen to be an American with access to the streaming service Disney Plus (I'm cursing that it's not available in Finland yet), the Broadway musical Hamilton will be released there tomorrow. I didn't include it on my list due to it being a filmed theater performance and not a feature film, yet I recommend watching that more than any of the films on this list if you have a chance. I saw Hamilton live in London (and have listened to the cast recording more times than is healthy), and I can assure that nothing embodies the spirit of July 4th more than that absolute masterpiece.
Honorable mentions: Hidden Figures (2016), Miracle (2004), National Treasure (2004), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Top Gun (1986)
10. Do The Right Thing (1989)
This might not be the most obvious pick - Do The Right Thing is an often gripping film that criticizes certain aspects of American society. Still, it represents and even celebrates one of the most important aspects of American culture: diversity. The diversity that has always made the United States unique and strong is on full display in this film, as we follow a neighborhood with a strong presence of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Italian-Americans, Latinos and others, each with their own fascinating subculture explored in the film.
Of course, as you may expect from a Spike Lee movie, everything doesn't go great between the different factions as the film delves into racial tensions in a realistic and grim manner (all in the name of a positive and important message). Still, I consider Do The Right Thing to be a very appropriate pick for July 4th, as a sobering look at what still needs fixing in the U.S., as well as what makes the country strong and gives it hope during hard times.
9. Citizen Kane (1941)
Ah, Citizen Kane - truly the Citizen Kane of movies, if you ask me. This American classic is not only one of the most important films in cinematic history, but it makes it onto this specific list due to the way it reflects on the idea of "the American Dream". The ideal of the self-made man, who rises from rags to riches in the land of opportunity, has always been a big part of the American mindset, and is on full display here - in addition to writing and directing the film, Orson Welles stars as Charles Foster Kane, a business tycoon whose life is followed in detail through flashbacks.
Of course, the film looks at the American Dream -ideal somewhat cynically, questioning what truly matters in life and what goals are worth fulfilling. Still, the story of Citizen Kane is a very American one, and along with the film's historical impact on American cinema, that makes it a very worthy watching choice for July 4th.
Of course, the film looks at the American Dream -ideal somewhat cynically, questioning what truly matters in life and what goals are worth fulfilling. Still, the story of Citizen Kane is a very American one, and along with the film's historical impact on American cinema, that makes it a very worthy watching choice for July 4th.
8. Thirteen Days (2000)
If the previous two films sounded too cynical or too centered on imperfections for your taste, then here's a much more straight-forward choice about great people doing great things. Thirteen Days follows the true story of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, from the point of view of the Kennedy administration. Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp and Kevin Costner star as President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Special Assistant Kenny O'Donnell, respectively. No matter what your political beliefs and party alignments, the actions these people took to prevent a war in a dire situation is a vastly respectable moment in American history, and definitely one worth celebrating.
Praised for its historical accuracy, Thirteen Days is a tense and fascinating movie about leadership in the White House during a crisis. The difficult path to a diplomatic solution that resolved the crisis is one of the major turning points in the Cold War, and this movie captures its importance in a powerful manner. Watching it on July 4th would definitely make for a reflection on what we have, how close we came to losing it, and how these people prevented that from happening.
7. Rocky (1976)
I obviously had to have one sports film on this list. American sports films are awesome. I chose Rocky even though it isn't a true story or about the US triumphing over an other country on the world stage, like many of the great American sports movies. I chose Rocky because it's an underdog story. It's about the American everyman, a down-on-his-luck working guy who may not have the brightest mind but has a massive heart. It is an ode to the unsung heroes of the world, a film where every viewer can see themselves or someone they know (and like) in Sylvester Stallone's lovable protagonist Rocky Balboa. The movie is more realistic and subtle than many stereotypical sports movies, yet ends up being just as glorious.
Also, if you feel like watching this movie but wish that it was even more of an obvious 4th of July choice, swapping its subtle complexity for vast amounts of pure and campy patriotism, I have good news for you: that movie exists. It's called Rocky IV (1985), and it's a classic in its own right.
Also, if you feel like watching this movie but wish that it was even more of an obvious 4th of July choice, swapping its subtle complexity for vast amounts of pure and campy patriotism, I have good news for you: that movie exists. It's called Rocky IV (1985), and it's a classic in its own right.
6. The Straight Story (1999)
One of the greatest films by David Lynch, The Straight Story tells the true story of Alvin Straight, a man who drove a lawnmower from Iowa to Wisconsin in a many-week journey in order to reconnect with his estranged brother at the age of 73 years. On his journey, he encounters a lot of different characters, as Lynch uses the story to create an in-depth exploration of rural America.
Much of the film's runtime is dedicated to the protagonist (played by Richard Farnsworth in a tour-de-force performance) talking with a bunch of different people who he comes across on his journey. The dialogue is absolute gold, as these various characters each tell their own stories in a fascinating manner - there's a pregnant woman who ran away from home, a war veteran haunted by his past, a priest who has a profound conversation with Straight and so on. The film explores and celebrates the everyday folks of Midwestern America with a fascinating look at the culture they live in and the lives they lead, and therefore I see it as a very appropriate 4th of July pick.
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Quite an obvious choice, wouldn't you say? Besides the obvious fact that the Marvel superhero leading the movie is literally dressed in the stars and stripes while carrying the moniker Captain America, there are a bunch of additional elements that make this early MCU film into quite a quintessential all-American blockbuster. It's pure fun and pure heart, as the complex morals of the later Captain America films hadn't yet entered the picture - this one takes place during World War II, and consists largely of Captain America (Chris Evans) punching a bunch of Nazis. Hell yes.
It's an immensely entertaining tale of good vs. bad, with Evans being pitch perfect as the comic book embodiment of American ideals of heroism while Hugo Weaving (known for his fantastic roles in every fantasy and science fiction movie ever made) is delightfully hammy as the nasty villain Red Skull. Filled to the brim with chase sequences, explosions, glorious soundtrack pieces and lessons about heroism, Captain America: The First Avenger is a July 4th choice you can't go wrong with - unless you prefer a more serious look at World War II, in which case...
4. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
...This might be the movie for you. I chose Hacksaw Ridge to represent a whole bunch of American war movies for this list - if you like, you can substitute it for Saving Private Ryan (1998), Patton (1970) or others of the like. For some viewers, it might seem like a strange choice to watch such a gripping film on a day of celebration, but for others it makes perfect sense - celebrating independence by remembering those who fought for their country's freedom. After all, my other native country Finland airs its most iconic war film Tuntematon Sotilas (1955) every year on the Finnish independence day.
The reason that I chose Hacksaw Ridge is that out of all the great American war films I've seen, it's the one I'd be most likely to want to watch on July 4th. It's based on a true story, and it manages to celebrate heroic actions without glorifying or romanticizing war - even a passionate pacifist like myself can get fully behind rooting for Desmond Doss, the first man in American history to win the Medal Of Honor without firing a single shot. Doss (played in this movie by the ever-talented Andrew Garfield) was a pacifist himself, yet he felt compelled to join the troops after Pearl Harbor - so he became a medic, and one who never carried arms. As much as he faced criticism at first for his choice not to participate in combat, he became a hero on the battlefield after saving countless lives on the Pacific front. The grim nature of war isn't shied away from, yet Doss's actions of real-life heroism are celebrated with just the right tone.
3. Forrest Gump (1994)
If The Straight Story is a subtle and norm-subverting look at the lesser-known aspects of American culture, then Forrest Gump is the exact opposite: well-known events in U.S. history and classic elements of American culture are jammed down the viewer's throat at light speed - and I mean that in the best way possible. This winner of six Academy Awards takes the viewer on a journey of all things American, viewed through the lens of mentally challenged and absolutely lovable protagonist Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks). He hilariously winds up being a part of every major event in American history from the late 50's to the early 80's, making this very much the We Didn't Start The Fire of movies.
So, if you can't decide whether you want to spend July 4th watching a football movie, an Elvis movie, a Kennedy movie, a Vietnam War movie, a Civil Rights movie, a Watergate movie or an entrepreneur movie - why not watch all of them rolled into one? And it's just fitting that the film stars Tom Hanks, perhaps America's most beloved and likable actor.
2. Independence Day (1996)
What better way is there to celebrate July 4th than with a film that literally revolves around said day, along with the most Hollywood elements imaginable, such as American icons from Will Smith to Randy Quaid teaming up to fight aliens? Independence Day may not be a cinematic masterpiece like Forrest Gump or Hacksaw Ridge, but it's a hellishly entertaining and thoroughly American story about a bunch of badasses standing up to evil. Various explosions, one-liners and "Hell yeah!" moments ensue.
And then there's President Thomas J. Whitmore's (played by Bill Pullman in a performance so awesome that this fictional president may have done more for the country than some real-life presidents) legendary speech. Think what you will about the movie otherwise, that speech is something that I'd imagine would make every single American's heart pump with excitement and national pride. If you don't feel like watching the film this Independence Day, at least watch that scene.
Thank you for reading - I wish a happy 4th of July to all! Next week's post will be a significantly different entry from my usual praise-filled lists - I'll be releasing my list of the top 10 worst films of all time. Stay tuned!
And then there's President Thomas J. Whitmore's (played by Bill Pullman in a performance so awesome that this fictional president may have done more for the country than some real-life presidents) legendary speech. Think what you will about the movie otherwise, that speech is something that I'd imagine would make every single American's heart pump with excitement and national pride. If you don't feel like watching the film this Independence Day, at least watch that scene.
1. Selma (2014)
There are several reasons why Selma is sitting here at first place. For starters, the film's central theme is one of the most important pillars in the American mindset: standing up to injustice. From George Washington and the revolutionary war, through Rosa Parks and Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement, all the way to the protests against police brutality and systemic racism that are going on right now, the act of standing up against oppression is a thing most Americans take pride in and consider to be a pillar of their culture. A whole lot of bad things have happened and are happening in the U.S., but it is important to remember that there are always those who stand up to it and fight to make things better.
An embodiment of this phenomenon in its most universally respected form (peaceful protesting) is Dr. Martin Luther King. Selma tells the story of the march that he lead from Selma, Alabama to the state capital of Montgomery, in protest of voter suppression based on race. It is an absolutely beautiful true story about standing up to injustice with solidarity, being the bigger person, and choosing unification over division. Dr. King is an American hero whose life deserves celebration, and watching this film is one of many ways to reflect on his accomplishments and what he stood for. The Common ft. John Legend song Glory in the soundtrack is an emotionally powerful ode to the Civil Rights movement, and it rightfully won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Selma would've made it to this list of mine anyways, but it is even more topical and worth watching right now, as its themes coincide with what is going on in the U.S. at the moment in a sobering manner.
Thank you for reading - I wish a happy 4th of July to all! Next week's post will be a significantly different entry from my usual praise-filled lists - I'll be releasing my list of the top 10 worst films of all time. Stay tuned!
No comments:
Post a Comment