Art is subjective.
Therefore it’s impossible to categorically state what a great or terrible piece of art
is.
Nonetheless certain movies are held in high regard by a consensus of viewers and reviewers
alike.
So what exactly is it that makes certain films ‘great’?
What is the magic formula that I can use to make my movie a part of cinema’s canon?
It’s hard to pin down exactly but in this video I’ll break down some factors which
I feel contribute to movies being regarded as ‘great’.
One trademark that connects almost all great films is their story.
Not only must the story be engaging but it must also connect with an audience en mass.
In the novel East Of Eden, one of John Steinbeck’s characters says, “No story has power, nor
will it last, unless we feel in ourselves that it is true and true of us.”
I’d argue that part of what creates that magical spark that makes humans identify with
a story is the tale’s ability to, consciously or unconsciously, reveal an insight about
the world or the human experience.
From the beginnings of consciousness, humans have used stories as a way to communicate
deep truths, messages or ideas - rather than just stating these ideas outright.
Perhaps because a story is a more nuanced form of communication.
Different people can take away different things from the same story.
As humans, our lives are also just one big story, so drawing theories, ideas, emotions,
truths and themes out of narrative events is something which our brains are accustomed
to doing.
Many great films have the impact and longevity that they do by taking simple concepts and
conveying them through story - almost like a fable.
District 9 uses a story about aliens to create a commentary on social segregation, xenophobia
and South African history.
Rather than using a complex wordy argument, the story itself conveys those ideas.
Or in Citizen Kane, which uses story to show a man who has to come to terms with the fact
that people are not just the sum of their achievements and that money and power doesn’t
buy happiness.
Kane reveals a truth about life that we can identify in ourselves.
Most great films therefore have a story which is both engaging and which functions in presenting
an insight, or truth, about the human experience.
Great films are a product of their time.
They often represent a moment or period in a particular place in history and have a definite
cultural impact.
For example, Taxi Driver visually represents the tone and feeling of the bleak, dark state
that New York was in during the 1970s.
Even if movies do not feature contemporary stories (are period or sci fi films) they
often still carry traits which indicate or represent the feelings of the time in which
they were conceived.
For example, Classic Hollywood cinema from the 1950s often displayed a more idealistic,
romanticised optimism that was prevalent during the post World War Two economic boom.
This tone starkly contrasts many New Hollywood films from the 1970s which felt far more uneasy,
realist and discomforting - a tone which reflected the economic recession, rising protests and
growing disillusionment and fear about the Cold War.
The pieces that make up these films may age over time, the dialogue may become cliche,
the costumes out of style and the performances over the top.
However, as great films have a solid thematic idea at the core of their story, these themes
will stand the test of time.
Like movements in art - with famous works from expressionists and post modernists - in
film great movies are often selected and remembered which represent the time and style of the
period - whether that be French New Wave, New Hollywood or Italian Neorealism.
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Now, back to the video.
This leads to another important aspect which contributes to a film’s greatness: it’s
level of technical and artistic innovation.
Many great films are remembered for using cinematic devices in inventive ways which
pushed storytelling forward and experimented with artistic conventions.
This could be through the cinematography, editing, music or any other expression of
technical creative decisions.
This could be the dark lighting that set the tone in The Godfather, or the match on action
cut that transported the story 1000s of years in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
When watching a great film, more often than not, nothing feels out of place or awkward.
The audience just gets sucked into the story.
We don’t question anything from a tonal point of view or point out technical flaws.
This is the sign of a polished technical style.
Not only do great films often innovate technically, but there is a high level of synergy between
what is in front of the camera and the technical aspects that capture it.
Things such as the lighting, camera movement and pacing in the edit are used to elevate
and add to the story.
I’d attribute this synergy to a director who is able to create a singular artistic
vision.
One where the technical side is in sync with the artistic side which is in sync with the
story.
That’s why some of the most well regarded directors often have a good degree of technical
knowledge which they use to execute their artistic ideas.
In a world where we as an audience have become acclimated to having tons of information available
at the click of a button we are more familiar than ever with how things are constructed.
The same applies to film.
When people are more analytical and critical it becomes challenging to awe the audience.
Back in the day all it took was a clip of a train coming towards the camera to terrify
and amaze folks.
Today’s audiences are more demanding.
Whether a musical, a horror, a comedy, or a drama, great films are able to entangle
the viewer.
Getting them caught up in experiencing emotions because they buy into the world of the movie
- suspending disbelief.
Great films therefore create a cinematic landscape which is both believable and sucks you in.
Any time there’s a shaky performance, a bit of odd pacing or an unbelievable twist
in the story, filmmakers run the risk of alienating the audience.
Speaking of shaky performances, the final factor which I feel largely impacts a film’s
legacy and impact is casting.
Coming back to my first point about the story, a great screenplay is meaningless if the on
screen talent aren’t cast correctly and have the capacity to tell that story.
Star power can help in this regard.
Famous actors that are well cast in a great film, will retain that role as part of their
legacy and solidify their character in the minds of the masses.
Whether through film criticism, popular culture or memes, a character that enters the canon
of mainstream culture will increase the impact of the film.
Stradom isn’t a prerequisite though.
Many great films have been made without stars, by lesser known actors giving stellar performances.
The duty of holding up a story will always partially fall to the actors, so casting should
never be underestimated.
The magic ingredients for greatness boil down to story, cultural impact, technical innovation,
creative synergy, suspending disbelief and casting.
But there’s also a mystery surrounding greatness, a spark which sticks in the minds of viewers
and places a film in the history books.
Maybe it’s everything I’ve mentioned, maybe it’s luck, or maybe something else.
But what we do know is that it requires masterful filmmaking skills and a creative spark to
ignite the fire of greatness.
What do you think makes movies great?
I’d like to hear your thoughts down in the comment section.
Otherwise I’d like to say a special thanks to all the supporters of the channel on Patreon.
Until next time, thanks for watching and goodbye.