About Cinema Thing
Movies, at their best, do not just reflect culture; they create it. From shaping societal norms to inspiring revolutionary movements, film has been the invisible hand guiding the pulse of generations for decades. In frame after projected frame, there is the potential for a story to unfold which could not only transform perspectives – it can ignite change.
From its infancy, cinema has acted as a mirror of its times at its most basic, and as a megaphone for its issues at its most powerful. Whether through profound artistic statements or groundbreaking blockbuster spectacles, film has the unique ability to transcend boundaries and connect us all as a people. It is the last great unifier – providing comfort, guidance, and commentary. Film culture is vital as it fosters provocative creativity, shapes collective identities and inspires artistic innovation. By engaging audiences emotionally and intellectually, it enhances empathy and understanding across communities and demographics.
Even the earliest films included signs of this artistry, but it was with the addition of sound, which coincided closely with the start of the Great Depression, that fueled a moviegoing public which craved escape. Many of these initial talkies provided just that, with song, dance and love stories purely for entertainment, but others deepened their cinematic themes. In the 1930s, movies like “The Grapes of Wrath” raised awareness and fostered sympathy for those struggling from the economic injustices of the depression. In the 1940s, wartime propaganda films such as “Casablanca” rallied public support and inspired nationalist sentiments during World War II. And in the 1950s, post-war releases like “On the Waterfront” raised issues of business corruption and moral integrity.
These are just a few examples of film driving the perception of the public, and unifying a nation on political or social issues which were under addressed or not widely understood. But it was in the 1960s that film would stake its irrefutable influence, as movie production gradually changed hands from a product fully controlled by the heads of the major studios to one that was created by independent minded artists supporting an agenda counter to the status quo.
Beginning in the late 1950s and heading into the early 1960s, auteurs such as Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick had begun to pull away from the studio system, creating films both personal and idiosyncratic, but they were the exception. Most filmmakers would continue to work squarely within the studio system, with controversial social messages subtly included but rarely overt. With the release of “Bonnie and Clyde” in 1967, this mold was broken, as its depiction of sex and violence signified the end of the old Hollywood model. The film was a cultural milestone, followed a few months later by the equally rebellious “Cool Hand Luke” and “The Graduate”, the latter soon to become the highest grossing film of the year. The verdict was swift and definitive – a new era had begun, driven by innovative filmmakers who embraced creative freedom, resulting in groundbreaking films that transformed cinematic storytelling and redefined industry standards.
The last year of the decade reinforced this transition, with anti-establishment movies such as “Midnight Cowboy” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (the first the Best Picture winner and the second the highest grossing film of the year) normalizing previously unseen levels of sex and violence, with our leads once again not surviving the end of their stories. The decade ended with “Easy Rider”, the definitive counter-culture statement, produced outside the studio system to huge profits and cultural influence. With the legacy system now in tatters, the major studios scrambled to regain relevancy in a suddenly uncharted territory. How they would do it would define the most influential period of filmmaking in history – a time when movies were received as expressions of art, discussed and dissected with an unprecedented passion.
Moviegoing offers the unique blend of individual escapism and communal experience. It transports you into a different world, evoking emotion and sparking imagination in a way that no other activity can adequately replicate. Taking this personal journey for those two hours, while sharing these moments with others in the theater, makes for a cherished social activity that binds us through shared stories and experiences. The anticipation before the lights dim, the collective reaction during the pivotal moments, and the lingering discussion after the credits roll all contribute to the magic. It’s a chance to celebrate the most sacred of human endeavors – the ritual of storytelling. And thusly making the theater, in its own way, a de-facto house of worship, a cultural hub where diverse perspectives converge, fostering not only a deeper appreciation for the art of filmmaking but ultimately for life itself.
As technology has advanced, so has the way films are viewed, reaching audiences in new and ever more unprecedented ways. Streaming platforms and digital media have democratized access, and widened the playing field a hundred-fold, allowing for a greater diversity of expression to flourish. Unfortunately, this ease of access has resulted in a significant hit to theater attendance. With these new economics, the studios have adapted by releasing only heavily budgeted franchise pictures and minimally funded indies to theaters, relegating the mid-budget film which drove ticket sales throughout history to at-home viewership only. In this ever-changing landscape, the influence of film continues to evolve as well. The result of this evolution is still to be seen.
It is with this in mind that I have launched this site. I hope to share my love of film and provoke the type of reconsideration with you that the best critics have inspired in me. By revisiting and reappraising the movies that have influenced my life, I expect to have reactions that may deepen my understanding, others that may confirm my recollection, and still others that may cause me to question my adoration. If in writing about these films I have encouraged you to rewatch, please enjoy. I look forward to engaging a critical discussion, contributing to the culture of film appreciation and connecting people across different backgrounds and experiences.