The Elements Of A Great Film

Is there one thing that all movies must have in order to be considered great or even just good? My short answer to this question is kind of. First off, I think there must be some elements of realism and believably in the characters that inhabit the films. i say SOME elements because i think there can be a wide range of realism to characters. On the one hand are characters in traditional Hollywood films such as Casablanca and Do the right thing that exhibit normal human characteristics. Many may remind you of actually people that you may know. On the other hand you have eccentric, abnormal characters, often in unrealistic settings such as the photojournalist in Apocalypse Now and many of the characters in your typical sci-fi action film. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, every character has something about them that makes them human, even if they're not. I think the important part is that every movie should have a character that you can identify with. In fact i think thats probably the most important part of any story. I think this is the main reason why I had trouble enjoying Scorsese' Raging Bull and yet may also be why other people liked it so much. Personally, i had so much trouble identifying with any of the characters in the film while others may find certain redeeming qualities in them.

That being said, i think there are two extremely important things that can make a film great. A good film doesn't have to have both but i think it needs to have on or the other. The first one draws from what I said above in that a great film often has actors that portray their characters as realistically as possible, interacting with each other in a strong linear plot. This sort of film must have a interesting dynamic plot. Classic examples of this include The Godfather, Casablanca, Gone Baby Gone, The Departed and many others both old an new.

In an effort to not leave out many good films, a film may also achieve greatness without having an especially linear evident plot. A film like this must then rely more on the actual images shown on the screen and the way the music creates certain moods than on what the characters are trying to achieve. An extreme example of this is Daughters of the Dust. There isn't to much more to the plot of the film than simply waiting with the family until they move to the mainland. Instead, the beautiful images of the island and the men and women that live on it make it literally like a moving piece of art. I have often said that music is also more important to a film than many people realize. If done well it creates strong moods and feelings to supplement the emotions of the characters and even of the images themselves. Admittedly, I am some what partial to films that follow this "path to greatness" than the former. While movies with good plots and interesting characters are often great I'm more inclined to consider a film the best when it plays out like a complex piece of art than simply a good story. Naturally, the best sort of film will emulate both of theses characteristics.
Irregardless it is extremely important that the Characters and the actors that portray them join together in a special way. In other words, the actors must make you believe that they are their characters and that they make sense to at least a minimal extent.

I think some of the best examples of all this are There Will Be Blood and Apocalypse Now. There Will Be Blood has many great shots of the California landscape while Apocalypse now has wonderfully chilling shots of the dark of the jungle supplemented by good editing effects. In addition, the acting is very good in both films, especially Daniel Day-lewis as Daniel Plainview. These films, among many others, are what i consider to be cinema at its finest. I think my passion for movies comes from the fact that I see film as such a complete form of art, combining beautiful images, dramatic music, and intriguing story's. Any film that combines these elements eloquently and entertainingly is what I call a great film.