Here are five movies Professor Matthew Fisher can watch anytime
Prof. Matthew Fisher working on a film set.
Courtesy of Matthew Fisher
Lee Clarion sat down with associate professor of communication Matthew Fisher to discuss some of his favorite movies. As a filmmaker, he has some interesting takes on some noteworthy or overlooked movies to watch in your free time.
The Masterpiece – “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) Dir. Stanley Kubrick
Distinctly cinematic and strangely spiritual, “2001” deserves my recognition because it paved the way for every good science fiction movie to come after it. From “Star Wars” all the way up to “Interstellar” and “Arrival,” these movies are taking their cues from “2001.” Also, with “2001,” Kubrick set out to make a distinctly cinematic experience. Instead of relying on dialogue to convey meaning, the movie is almost purely audio-visual.
The Rule Breaker – “The 400 Blows” (1959) Dir. Francois Truffaut
I choose this movie because it's a celebration of things that cinema does especially well: memory, childhood and subjective experience. It was director Francois Truffaut's first movie, and he had no training other than watching and loving films. My list wouldn't be complete without a movie that compellingly breaks the storytelling “rules.” The hero has no real goal; he's just a confused kid wandering the streets of Paris, getting into varying degrees of trouble. But somehow, it's fresh and interesting the whole time. To call Jean-Pierre Leaud, the young lead actor, authentic is an understatement. Overall, it defies convention but still works beautifully.
The Rule Follower – “The Verdict” (1982) Dir. Sidney Lumet
If I chose Truffaut’s film because it breaks the rules well, I choose this film because it follows them just as brilliantly. It doesn’t feel at all stale, formulaic or predictable. It feels fresh and intense. I normally don’t like courtroom dramas, but this movie is riveting from start to finish. David Mamet’s script follows the traditions of dramatic structure to a T but never feels predictable. I also love the lofty, Caravaggio-esque cinematography by Andrejz Bartkowiak.
The Emotional Agitator – “No Country for Old Men” (2007) Dir. Coen Brothers
My favorite movies tend to be regionally specific, textural and emotional. That describes almost every Coen brothers movie, but this one does it best for me (“Fargo” is the closest competitor). I like it because it’s very thematically complex. It’s authentically Southern, thematically complex and deeply terrifying.
The Serious Comedy – “Hot Fuzz” (2007) Dir. Edgar Wright
I choose this movie because I enjoy it but also because I didn’t want to just include art films or really serious fare. Funny movies are artistic, or should be, and this one certainly is. I’m always staggered by the craftsmanship that went into this movie, and it makes me laugh.
