If movies were drugs, what would you prescribe?
Fayard and Harold Nicholas do the Jumpin’ Jive, a guaranteed mood elevator
The takeaway from a film is crucial to the moviegoing experience. Takeaway is to cinema what aftertaste is to food. Many liken movies to drugs, describing a specific film as cinematic Viagra or film Zoloft or movie marijuana.
I’ve written about how certain movies stimulate positive emotions.
Roger Ebert has written about how some movies are like time-release pills triggering feelings of elevation.
When I’m down I take to youtube to watch this snippet: http://youtu.be/mxPgplMujzQ (Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing “Pick Yourself Up”) or this one: http://youtu.be/BF-8nMkPZqc (The Nicholas Brothers dancing “Jumpin’ Jive).
My husband likes stories of resistance and triumph, such as Gladiator, Spartacus and Braveheart.
Both daughters regularly default to Clueless. Lately, the younger one has self-prescribed Finding Nemo and Ratatouille.
For a mood change, which movie would you prescribe, and why?
This jumped out at me because I just watched Stormy Weather last night. And since the Nicholas Brothers were singular in their athletic artistry in dance, not to mention pointing to the future of hybrid tap- I’ll say only crystal meth could give the illusion of having the talent to dance like they can in this sequence.
Stop Making Sense
It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, I think. With such a range of comedians and comedy styles, a plot which covers all manner of human frailties, a sharp script, memorable characters and fine “star” acting, I think there’s something in the film to elevate anyone’s mood. Also, California and the beautiful shots of the Pacific Ocean look fabulous and never fail to elevate me. And I do get blue so I’m speaking from experience.
This also applies to music…when I’m down, I like to put on some Salsa…there’s no sitting still with it.
Nicholas brothers for the win. YES!
STOP MAKING SENSE is a good suggestion, as is THE LAST WALTZ. I’ve seen them both a number of times and always find them fun. … Woody Allen’s RADIO DAYS makes me nostalgic for a time I never experienced. The film LOCAL HERO makes me think better of humanity, so that would be a good one to mention here.
I would recommend the zippy, trippy SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD. First time I saw it, I wasn’t feeling well, but went anyway and the film was a tonic that made me absolutely ebullient. I can’t think of a more intoxicating film.
Day for Night.
This just in from producer Lindsay Doran:
Singin’ in the Rain
Airplane!
Searching for Sugar Man
Young Frankenstein
A Hard Day’s Night
Funny Face
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
The Jerk
Love and Death
His Girl Friday
Pitch Perfect
I have a friend who swears by You’ve Got Mail. I watch Clueless or Auntie Mame. But now I’ll watch whatever Lindsay Doran lists.
As Cosmo sang, “Make ‘Em Laugh” and I go for the entertainment such as Singin’ in the Rain or Airplane!. Other films that offer wall-to-wall laughter such as South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Flirting With Disaster, His Girl Friday, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Tootsie, Dr. Strangelove, Bananas, Sleeper, Love and Death, Annie Hall. Many more, but those leap to mind first.
Almost any Errol Flynn movie from his prime (Captain Blood through Objective: Burma!) always brightens my mood.
I love all the old musicals .I saw “Gypsy”and “Mame” the other afternoon.I found myself singing along, My list is extensive. But Clueless is one of them, Valentines Day, New Years Eve,Prom ( I must be the only one that like these cause I hear crickets), Funny Girl, Love Actually,Pretty Woman,Help!(love the romps).Anything that take away the funky blues,recent surgery,the winter weather.post Xmas let down and flu season I’m all for it !
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