Guest opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. Ed
Every now and then someone asks me for a list – e.g. – “So what are your six favourite films?”
Any request like this immediately causes two reactions to happen. The first is that my mind goes completely blank. The second is always an avalanche of questions. As soon as I wrote the first paragraph above, I registered the following:
- Why six?
- What do they mean by favourite?
- What about trilogies – do they count as one, or three?
- Supposing I only like two of the three?
- What about foreign language films?
- Which ones are my favourites?
- Why are they asking me this?
Supposing I miss something out?
Then I kick-start the blank state that occupies my mind. Can I remember even a fraction of the films I’ve ever watched? No, of course I can’t. Can I even remember all of my favourite films? Ditto. Supposing I make a list and it’s totally wrong? Supposing I miss something out? Will I ever forgive myself? It would be like Home Alone, leaving a loved child alone and unloved without even noticing you’d mislaid them.
Mercifully I don’t suffer from the social trauma that a lot of people might feel at this point. I don’t worry about the opinions of other people. I’ll do my best to select my actual six favourite films, and present them proudly. If the person who asked has never seen or even heard of them I won’t worry that they might think less of me, in the same way that I won’t be bothered if they can’t understand why I should prefer Wings of Desire to Dirty Dancing.
Some hidden gem that had passed me by
Once I had put together and ordered my favourite six, I’d want to know which six films were the favourites of my interlocutor, and then I’d want to discuss both our lists passionately. I’d hope to introduce them to some of mine if they hadn’t seen them, or even change their mind if they had missed the genius the first time. At the same time I’d hope that they would bring to my attention some hidden gem that had passed me by.
I’m so enjoying this that I rather wish someone had actually asked me the very question lately. I’m surprising myself by thinking about a lot of films that are different to the list I assembled last time I was asked.
Some films are so huge in my mind
It’s surprising to me that some films might go down my list because of familiarity, while others stay relatively constant. I have no idea, for instance, why Ronin should be one of my all-time favourites, no matter how many times I see it, when something more deserving, like Parenthood, slips down a bit. Amelie stays fairly constant, but Audrey Tautou’s next film, A Very Long Engagement, has crept up to join it.
Some films are so huge in my mind that I can’t see them ever losing ground though. I think it’s because they get tied in to a period of my life, or come to be associated with important events. Cast Away has to be one of these, and American Beauty, and If…, while huge films like Star Wars and the Tolkien Trilogy become too familiar in time and lose some of their edge.
Today’s List
OK, I’ll take a plunge and commit to today’s favourite six, with two provisos – that it’ll probably change tomorrow, and that I should be allowed to list some very close also-rans.
The Big Blue
Cinema Paradiso
Wings of Desire
When Harry Met Sally
Amelie
American Beauty
But I have to mention the following: Nikita, Ronin, Talk to Her, Lawrence of Arabia, Cast Away, Up, The Lives of Others, Gravity, Cloud Atlas, Saving Private Ryan, E.T., Stand By Me, Breakfast Club, While You Were Sleeping, I’ve Loved You So Long, Jean de Florette, Seven Samurai, The Leopard, and The Royal Tennenbaums.
Now I’m worrying, because I know I’ve missed out so many others.
The Isle of Wight Film Festival this week
You might wonder what’s brought all this on. I’ve been very lucky to have been asked to help judge the feature films at the Isle of Wight Film Festival this week.
I’ll be watching six films in three days, and I’m really looking forward to every one, so I’m dreading having to decide already. But it’ll be great to be immersed in film for a few days, and I can’t wait.
Who knows? Next week I might have another favourite or two to add to my list. Buy some tickets and come along. I’ll be the bloke at the back with the Hawaiian shirt and the silly grin. See you there.
Take a look at the programme.
Image: © Jonathan Dodd
