Considered as the compendium of all the arts, the cinema usually offers a broad view of life, of the world that surrounds us, of human beings as social entities, but also as personal individualities. They are movies to think about.
Starting many times from literature, but making use of the moving image to sometimes go further, the debates posed by the seventh art for reflection they are as varied as there are movies in the world.
Stanley Kubrick one of the most influential filmmakers in history, once said that every movie shot deserves to be seen for what it implies effort of realization and because it proposes a way of seeing the world.
Here is a list with some movies to think about. There is drama, comedy, romance, mystery. Because the cinema gives for everything.
Movies to think about
The unstoppable Will Hunting, by Gust Van Sant (1997)
It is the story of a young genius born in the wrong neighborhood, with the wrong parents. After overcoming all the obstacles that life imposes on him and his own fears, he evolves and become aware of your potential.
All the Will's (Matt Damon) sessions with his psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) they make anyone think. Beyond the film, the story of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck after writing the script and until they manage to produce it, is an example of perseverance and determination.
Taxi Driver by Martin Scorsese (1976)
For many, the iconic work within the prolific career of its director. Taxi Driver navigates between various turbulent topics of human society as a collective and personal values from each person.
The purpose of war, the traumas that remain in those who participate in armed conflicts, greed and unscrupulous thirst for money, desire for revenge. Will there be redemption for humanity? At least in this film, the protagonist does his part.
From by Christopher Nolan (2011)
Beyond its ingenious plot (the possibility of entering people's dreams to extract or plant ideas), it is another sample of films to think about, which immerses itself in the conflicts of the human mind to try to elucidate what is good and evil.
Subliminal messages aside, the open ending of the film it has generated all kinds of debate and conjecture.
Wall-E: cleaning battalion by Andrew Stanton (2008)
What future awaits our planet if we continue to generate so much garbage? With the freshness of a digitally animated Disney-Pixar film, this film raises this and other debates around loyalty, mass indoctrination and the role of artificial intelligences in the lives of men.
Interstellar by Christopher Nolan (2014)
Another sample to think about, by this British director, whose fame is due more than anything else to his three "minor works" (the trilogy of The Knight of the Night). "Interstellar" is full of details for reflection, such as what can happen when selfishness comes disguised as collective interest.
Open your eyes by Alejandro Amenábar (1997)
This Spanish film is introduced in the debate on what is reality and the role that dreams play. The eternal debate between good and evil is also present, as well as considerations around the power of money.
Matrixby the Wachowsky sisters (1999)
In this case, it is some machines (the fearsome Artificial Intelligence) that end up confining the whole of humanity to a false reality. Among the many philosophical considerations included in the trilogy of the most misunderstood sisters in Hollywood, there remains in the environment the doubt of if the human being would prefer the false reality, as long as it saves him suffering, rather than face this world of much pain.
The nutty professor by Tom Shadyac (1996)
It is a "commercial" comedy, starring a great Hollywood star like Eddie Murphy, who also takes advantage of the story to show his histrionic versatility. But beyond the easy jokes, there is a story that shyly talks about the complexes of many people, the underlying racism in American society, and the hypocrisy of a system that claims to be inclusive.
Birdman or the unexpected virtue of ignorance by Alejandro González Iñárritu (2014)
Another story that appeals to comedy (although in a much less naive and much more acidic way) to debate about what lives inside people's “CPUs”. Loaded with inexhaustible irony, this film could be considered as a great treatise on the ego.
Transcendence by Wally Pfister (2014)
Another treatise on the ego and the power of money. How far is the human mind capable of reaching its goals? It also offers an insight into the myth of man's self-destruction. Despite all the issues to think about this film raises, "Trasendence" did not get a good review.
The Skin I Live In by Pedro Almodovar (2011)
The Spanish director takes part in the discussion about How far is man capable of going to satisfy certain impulses, like the desire for revenge.
The Game by David Fincher (1997)
"Money does not make happiness" say some. "But how it helps," others respond. What can be done to surprise an eccentric and lonely millionaire? The concept of fun, in all its magnitude, is one of the aspects that come into consideration in this film.
The Truman Show: A Live Life by Peter Weir (1998)
El role of the media, especially television, could not escape the debate. Among the issues to think about that we are raised, is the lack of scruples, what is important to people or when did societies begin to live their lives reflecting on what they see on the television screen.
Avatar by James Cameron (2009)
Ambition and greed will make us run out of a planet, if we don't kill ourselves first, to satisfy our inexhaustible predisposition for war. Amid stunning special effects, Cameron has time to get philosophical at times and go from pessimism to optimism.
What was the last movie that left you "thinking"?
Image sources: El Pelicultista / cinefiliaparamelomanos / Boston Hassle