Some movies for when your hope for humanity has started to slip

It's rough out there and I think we all could use 90-120 minutes of something wonderful once in a while

I want to start this off by saying, I’m not trying to be ignorant or toxically positive here. That would never be my bag. But I’ve recently had a few beautiful people in my life say some version of “I don’t know what the point is anymore” and I’ve honestly, felt the same.

And then last night, after a long day of dealing with some of my own shit and finding myself frozen in front of the tv watching the news play out, I went to go see The Wizard of Oz. And it was the most joyous experience I’ve had in a while.

For 102 minutes, an almost packed theater of people of all ages sat together in the middle of a heat wave, in the middle of what sometimes feels like the end of the world, and laughed. And I think we might have all needed it.

Shout out to The Paris Theater and their ‘The Wonders of Technicolor’ series

So if you’re feeling hopeless and let down and there doesn’t seem to be point anywhere nearby, I understand. Watching a movie isn’t going to fix any of this. But in order to keep going, we sometimes need the reminder that there’s still some good out there. Something that we can fight for.

So I’ve made a list of movies that to me, feel like a point. They’re not all sad. They’re not all happy. Some are heavier than others. But there’s something in each one that makes them special to me and I hope you find one of them special too.

Big Fish: Tim Burton at his least spooky and perhaps most hopeful. It’s sweet and tugs and your heart strings with a banner cast.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010): The original animated movie is sublime, I cry every time.

A Good Year: My French teacher in high school showed this to our class once and told us not to become boring people who forget life’s joys.

The Muppet Movie: Jim Henson didn’t fold himself into an underwater diving bell for the Rainbow Connection to not move you in some way.

About Time: A wonderful story about the significance of a single moment and the importance of moving forward.

We Were Dangerous: An inspiring story about the resilience and rebellion of young queer and indigenous women fighting for their freedom to exist as they are.

Sorry, Baby: A brilliant debut film from director/writer/star Eva Victor. Quiet and fierce, as heartbreaking as it is funny.

A League of Their Own: There’s no crying in baseball but there’s definitely crying coming from me in the corner while I watch this movie.

Jojo Rabbit: Taika Waititi truly succeeds at telling stories through the point of view of a child and this is one of his best. The final moment always gets me good.

Tick, Tick…Boom: The touching story of Jonathan Larson, a career best by Andrew Garfield.

The Wild Robot: Get the tissues out. It’s so gorgeous and I don’t know a single person who left this movie with dry eyes.

Little Women (2019): This is just a really solid adaptation and feels like a mug of hot apple cider in fall.

Brian & Charles: No one ever knows this movie and more people should! It’s like if Frankenstein was a hopeful mockumentary about loneliness, friendship and the aspiration for adventure.

A Bug’s Life: My first understanding of the proletariat seizing the means of production to eliminate exploitation from the bourgeoisie, but also Richard Kind is there?

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: He is tiny. His skis are toe nails from a man. He is the moment. He is having a hard time and trying his best.

Frybread Face and Me: A warm coming of age film about a boy with a Fleetwood Mac obsession (same) connecting with his roots and family.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: It’s a bit silly, but the soundtrack slaps and by the end I always want to book a flight to longboard in Iceland.

Good Will Hunting: A classic for a reason.

Robots: An anti-capitalist masterpiece with an iconic voice cast.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996): The most beautiful and important movie of the Disney renaissance era. They don’t make background paintings or songs about your Christian values being rattled by lust like they used to.

Happy watching! Drink enough water! Put on your sunscreen! Call your representatives! Make art!

Slán,

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