Movies are something everyone in the world has seen, whether it is a 15-minute short film or a two hour long feature.
Thinking back to all the movies you have seen, are there any in particular that stand out? Perhaps it is the DC movie you watched with your dad, or the movie you viewed because it was trending on TikTok. All of these movies that stand out have something special, separating them from others that people watch.
A movie is made special by its director. Over the years, numerous directors have stood out for their work, such as Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee, Christopher Nolan, Jordan Peele, and David Fincher. These are some of the greatest directors of our generation, whether their speciality is psychological horror, action, or comedy. These directors have perfected the art in film making and directing. They have directed several masterpieces such as, “Kill Bill: Vol 1,” “Inglorious Bastards,” “Da 5 Bloods,” “Us,” “Get Out,” “Fight Club,” “Seven,” “The Dark Knight,” “Interstellar,” and other films that many fans deem as “timeless.”
Many elements that make these movies so great are the cinematography, sound, color palette, and style of editing. Many of these directors often take one or more elements and enhance it for the film they’re working on. By focusing on one or two elements of film, it can leave a long lasting memory and awe effect after the movies end.
An example of this is “The Dark Knight,” directed by Christopher Nolan. The film has an ominous tone by keeping the shading and color palette of the movie darker and deep. Overall, this film avoided loud and bright colors. This stylistic choice especially shows with the character The Joker, who’s trademark bright purple suit is replaced with a dark eggplant purple.
Another stellar example of a film element making a movie timeless is in “Interstellar.” Such a new film being considered “timeless” is no small feat, many things make this movie fantastic but the most recognizable element is the selected sound tracks for the movie. The classical and electronic mix made by Hans Zimmer can be heard throughout the film and it has made its way out of the movie by becoming a TikTok sound famous across all platforms on social media.
One specific part of a film that can make it feel timeless is the cast. Actors play the messengers of film and a good plot is nothing without a capable actor. With these actors playing out the characters of the film, movies are made to feel real and original.
There are many extraordinary actors and actresses on the scene, with some of the masters of their crafts being Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, and Scarlett Johansson. All of these actors are skilled at controlling every facial expression and micro-movement to completely change the energy of a featured film.
When actors give their all to their role, preparing for the scenes and the time period for months before filming, it shows through their work. Movies that are truly seen as timeless are ones with characters that are indeed mesmerizing and captivating.
Many films that are considered “good” are those packed with heavy story lines, plot, and a great cast. But, only a handful are truly considered the pinnacle of film. These select few movies not only entertain, but can make the watchers remember every detail, pondering if there’s anything that they missed on their 4th, 5th, or 6th watch. These are movies that are truly “timeless.”
