The Rise and Fall of The American Movie
Nah, who am I kidding? My inner-15-year old is still geeking out over super-hero movies and video games. Interestingly enough, I've managed to squeeze in some geek-tastic movie binging during my time away from the blogosphere. I finally took some time to mosey on down to the local cinema and treat myself to a few films touted as must-see. Needless to say... I think I'll stick to TV.
Don't get me wrong, there were definitely some fun flicks out there in the past few months. Toy Story 4 was a tear-jerking, if not a little unnecessary addition to the franchise, Angel Has Fallen proved a formula can still work, even if we already know the outcome, Avengers: Endgame was a satisfying conclusion to a ten year journey, and I'm still experiencing PTSD over Rambo: Last Blood. Sadly, though, about the biggest lasting impression I had walking away from the cinema was the great upgrade deal I got on my popcorn.
Maybe it's the Netflix binging, maybe it's the higher production value and superior storytelling, or maybe it's my just my hard-to-please self, but it almost seems as if filmmakers aren't even trying to compete with television anymore. Scanning the local marquees and "Coming Soon" tab on Flixster has led to bigger letdowns than Red Dead Redemption 2 updates (that's another blog entirely). Once upon a time, you could throw a dart at the entertainment section of a newspaper and hit at least one decent film. Now, you're lucky if you haven't seen a film that hasn't been remade... at least twice... in ten years.
Before anyone accuses me of being a movie snob, just check out my last few blogs. I've made it clear there's nothing wrong with action flicks, super hero spectaculars and GCI-laden adventure romps. Recently, though, a painfully obvious lack of compelling storytelling and all-around care has simplified movies down to their lowest common denominator. The fear of bold, new ideas has led to a virtual drought of talented and captivating cinematic creations. Up and coming filmmakers, writers, and actors are turning their talents to the ever-growing playing field of TV - and rightly so!
Any cursory scan of your Netflix queue will reveal an assortment of entertaining, enthralling, and thought-provoking series. A few of my personal favorites: The Haunting of Hill House, Colony, The Crown, Stranger Things, and The Umbrella Academy, just to name a (very) few. Chalk up this plethora of platinum television the creative freedom Netflix - and most streamers - gives show runners and creators. Another all-too-important ingredient for rich, quality entertainment: time. Television allows viewers months and years to get to know a character and their story, making for an emotional connection not felt in movies for some time.
In this day and age, where a 10-second soundbite pushes the limits of our attention, many film production companies are faced with the harrowing task of cramming more and more complex characters and information into a two-hour window. The results are often a confusing cacophony of images, unexplained character motivations, ambiguous plot holes. When the lights came up on character-driven films like Brittany Runs a Marathon and Hustlers, I was left sitting in the theater with a strangely unfulfilled impression, as though I had just seen a painfully anti-climactic magic trick.
It's almost as though studios are now in the business of accepting half-finished scripts, one-dimensional ideas, and just about anything in order to fill the void left by the mass exodus to television. It's a terrible catch-22: television audiences grow for want of better films, yet better films are scarce for lack of an audience.
When I was a kid, my parents took me to the movies often - it's what I credit with sparking my love of film and my desire to become an entertainer. These moments sitting in the dark, surrounded by total strangers all sharing in my emotional journey was like a drug I couldn't get enough of; an emotional high that lifted me out of those velvet seats and onto the screen right along with the larger-than-life characters. Sadly, the last decade has seen that emotional high replaced by disappointment and frustration. By the emptiness of many a darkened theater, and the ghost-town feel of the cinema lobby, I'm not alone.
Not that long ago, movies offered escape, adventure, and something new and exciting. They put the show in show-business. Filmmakers and studios would do well to take a page from television creators. Audiences want quality entertainment that is worth their time. Whether it's in a darkened theater with a hundred total strangers or at home sitting on the couch with their loved ones and a bowl full of popcorn, the journey needs to be one worth taking.
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