Watching Thirty Movies in a Summer

At the beginning of the summer, I — as the average 16-year-old does — made it my goal to watch 50 movies in the span of three months. But, as I quickly realized, that’s crazy. So I cut it to 30.

And I didn’t set out to do this without a purpose — to immerse myself in the vast world of cinema, watching films of varying genres, mediums and countries to further my knowledge as an aspiring filmmaker. This wasn’t just for fun, of course.

Now, with 30 movies attentively watched and analyzed, I’m giving you the five that hit me the hardest, most directly shifted my outlook towards film and inspired my own direction.

5. Brick (2005)

“Brick” is the epitome of stylized filmmaking. Director Rian Johnson set out with the intention of telling a high school mystery story in the same style as the hardboiled detective pictures of the 1930s — and boy, does it deliver.

By taking the dialogue and atmosphere from detective films of the past and placing it in a modern setting, the film brings a level of novelty to a genre that’s normally absent in modern film. “Brick” also has a breakneck pace that’s constantly moving through new plot points every few minutes, which is exciting, but confusing.

The fast pace benefits the experience in a way, because when the clues finally come together, it makes it all the more impressive. Rian Johnson had a clear vision of the film he wanted to make, and completely dedicated himself to making the performances, script and cinematography embody this concept.

4. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is Quentin Tarantino’s best movie in over 10 years. Like the name implies, the film is pretty much a fairy tale set during the mystical dreamland of Los Angeles, 1969. Tarantino takes pride in recreating the fantastical, surreal culture of Hollywood in the 1960’s, paying tribute to the distinct period. But it’s more fiction than fact.

The film’s temporal structure is built around three main characters: Rick Dalton — washed up has-been of an actor, Cliff Booth — Rick’s stunt double and Sharon Tate — an actress who is achieving immense success in the industry. Tarantino creates an interesting dynamic between the three, and through that he weaves a story about stardom, redemption and friendship.

The result is a film that is both thematically rich and outright fun to watch. Few directors can harness the visceral power of film like Tarantino can, and craft cinema that is unforgettable.

3. Rain Man (1988)

“Rain Man” follows Charlie Babbitt — an uptight, impulsive car salesman who lacks empathy. After his father dies, he finds out about his autistic brother, Raymond, who inherited $3 million from his father. Charlie tracks down his brother, promptly kidnaps him from the East Coast institution he calls home, and embarks on a lengthy road trip to his home, where he hopes to find a legal loophole in which he can get the money from his brother.

Throughout this roadtrip Charlie learns to adapt to Raymond’s strict, unchanging schedule, his limited mental area and to understand what it means to be a brother. This is a film that’s propelled by its leads — Tom Cruise as Charlie, Dustin Hoffman as Raymond — who play their roles with adherence and dedication. Hoffman is the standout, nailing his character from the mannerisms of a middle-aged autistic genius to the realistic growth of his comfortability with his brother.

The cinematography isn’t flashy, the visual style isn’t groundbreaking, but the film naturally cultivates emotion through its performances without forcing it down the viewers throats. Seeing as it was released in the 80’s, it’s also admirable in how progressive it was in its portrayal of Autism. And most of all, it’s a great story. It makes you happy. As the credits roll, you find yourself tearing up in the best kind of way.

2. Suspiria (2018)

“Suspiria” is mesmeric. Without question, it’s the most beautiful film I watched this summer. “Suspiria” follows Susie Bannion, an American dancer who arrives in 1970’s Berlin to audition for a prestigious dance company, where a conspiracy unravels.

The film holds you and doesn’t let go with its surreal, disturbing imagery, and its slow, meticulously built-up story. It has so many layers and themes that it’s honestly a little overwhelming— but it would make repeat viewings even more enjoyable than the last.

The dancing is hypnotnotic and enthralling. The soundtrack is commanding and nerve-wracking. The imagery is skin crawling and frightening. All these elements lead to an intense climax that sends the viewer into a trance of fear and fascination. The film is certainly not for everyone, but if you’re tired of the saturated, formulaic horror films of the past decade — and looking for a little adventure — this one’s more than worth a try.

1. Platoon (1986)

“Platoon” is a different kind of film. It’s a film that transcends above the title of “movie” and lives as an experience — one of the tribulations and hardships and brutality of the Vietnam War.

The themes, characters, sequences, cinematography and performances give you the surreal experience of being on the battlefield. On the surface, “Platoon” is a war film following a group of soldiers cohesively surviving and fighting. But the storytelling sets it apart — it’s not focused on the enemies or battles of the war, but on the individual characters in the platoon.

Each character is an archetype of who you’d find in a war: deserters, war addicts, adrenalin junkies, stoners, cowards, etc. And with these, the film subtly inserts themes of political oppression, dehumanization, death, family and most importantly, humanity. “Platoon” doesn’t shy away from portraying these themes with brutally raw and realistic scenes that grab you by the heart and the throat.

It’s one of two films to make me cry this summer — and yes, the other one was “Toy Story 4.”