海角大神

With four young kids, I鈥檓 operating on a bit of a lag, like springtime in New England. Oscar season blew right by me this year. But finally, my wife and I eked out time for a couple of movie nights recently. 鈥淪entimental Value,鈥� a Norwegian film, floated to the top of our choices as it had won the Oscar for best international feature film and was nominated for eight others. 聽

Fantastic film.聽

Not a very good movie, though.聽

To me, there鈥檚 a not-so-subtle difference between a film and a movie, and I鈥檓 making it my self-appointed task to unpack that here. Let鈥檚 start by examining a particularly poignant scene from 鈥淪entimental Value.鈥澛�

Stellan Skarsg氓rd plays a famous director, Gustav Borg, estranged from his actor daughter, Nora, played with a fragile fortitude by Renate Reinsve. In the scene, Gustav offers Nora the role of a lifetime in a film he has written for her 鈥� and she wants nothing to do with it. Now, when this scene was not immediately followed by a car chase through downtown Oslo and an explosion in the Parliament building, I knew in all probability that I was watching a film.聽

That鈥檚 because, generally speaking, movies can be identified by the following: Tom Cruise, explosions every five minutes, Dwayne Johnson, elaborate chase scenes followed by hand-to-hand combat, easily identifiable 鈥渂ad guys鈥� with scars on their faces, Tom Cruise running.聽

Films on the other hand feature foreign languages and subtitles, moody, dimly lit rooms, and periods of sustained silence. Actors communicate via the subtle exchange of聽facial expressions instead of someone screaming, 鈥淭HIS PLACE IS GONNA BLOW UP!!!鈥� or 鈥淕ET DOWN,聽MR. PRESIDENT!!!鈥� or, more simply, 鈥淎AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH !!!鈥�

Films are driving loafers; movies are driving Crocs. Films are foie gras, movies Chipotle burritos. Films are family trips to the Amalfi coast, movies to the water park at Six Flags.聽

Like abstract art, films often have an air of impenetrability; seeing them with your own eyes brings you no closer to comprehension and, indeed, might even make you more confused and disoriented. A film will often end without you even realizing it; you might find yourself exchanging a quizzical glance with your spouse. (Was that it? OK, I鈥檒l go run the dishwasher.)

On the plus side, films feature beautifully rendered聽performances by artists at the peak of their powers, multifaceted explorations of the human condition with all its nuances, contradictions, and ambiguities. With stunning cinematography, they express a timelessness in the way they force us to hold up a mirror to ourselves and ask the big questions about faith, hope, love, and the meaning and purpose of our days. Personally, I prefer movies.聽

Applying this to some recent cinema ...聽

鈥淧erfect Days鈥�: One of the best films I鈥檝e seen in years. Not a movie I would ever watch, though.聽

鈥淭op Gun: Maverick鈥�: One of the best movies ever made, full stop. Subpar film at best.聽

鈥淧ast Lives鈥�: Deep, thought-provoking film. Yawn-provoking movie.聽

鈥淢ission Impossible鈥�: Sign me up for 10 more of these movies. Disgraceful filmmaking.聽

鈥淗appy Gilmore 2鈥�: Terrible film. Terrible movie.聽

鈥淧addington 2鈥�: Terrific movie. Terrific film.聽

It鈥檚 a complex topic, so let鈥檚 try one more thing. Would I recommend that you go see 鈥淪entimental Value鈥�? Yes, in a heartbeat. But also, not a chance.聽

If you regularly visit the Museum of Modern Art and listen to vinyl records, you鈥檙e gonna love this film. If your name is IHOP Hank or your favorite movie is 鈥淧aul Blart: Mall Cop 2,鈥� not so much.聽

Bottom line: If you like films, you鈥檙e gonna love this movie. If you like movies, you can avoid this film.

If you found this exposition helpful, in my next piece I鈥檒l unpack the difference between writing and literature. Hint: This is literature.