Titles and the meaning of life
February 13th 2007 07:44
I saw Stranger than Fiction on Weds and a bizarre phenomenon has plagued and bothered me. It has taken me four days to retain the title.
It’s not that the film wasn’t good nor that it didn’t affect me. It did…..I haven’t forgotten the storyline and its theme, those have strongly stayed with me. But the title….where did it go?
I loved the film's concept of art enriching life and the role that it plays. It was well contrasted with Will Farrell's obsession with numbers, as we see with all the figures represented on the screen. It's a compelling and original idea for a film and Zach Helm’s clever screenplay makes the most of some very intriguing plotting created with wit and style.
Paradoxically, a film I discovered on World Movies earlier in the week was piqued by curiosity by its title, Harry he’s here to help. The unusual title led me to read the synopsis, followed by the film and then a post on Orble.
This leads me to the thought: how often are we handed information so easily that we hardly have to think for ourselves? With films, a common phrase is ‘I’ve heard that film is good’. So with that knowledge we trot off armed with an assurance that we are likely to see a 'good' film. If the film is nominated or wins an award, then that fact is heavily advertised and again seems to prove its worthiness. I’m not saying that opinions or awards are bad, but I don’t like to rely on them. Rather I prefer to have some information and then make the decision myself. After all, most experiences are subjective and its that subjectivity and uncertainness that attracts me.
So, it leads me back to my original thought: what’s in a title?
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Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Great post! I often read the titles of articles in Newspapers or on the Internet...even here on Orble and get sucked in by it..and that is where it ends. After I have finished reading it I think..what the??? Absolute confusion sets in.
My sister does that whole thing with songs and movies stars - she can only associate them by title and name. I, on the other hand, have no clue when it comes to these names, only to what the words are or what movie they have starred in. On doing a 'How to Study" course back in High School we were taught about how your brain learns and retains information. For some people it is easier to sit down and remember blocks of text while for others colours and images best trigger memory.
And sometimes it is just easier to believe everything that someone else tells us....I ask too many questions to fall into this category *lol*
btw 'Stranger than Fiction' was a bit of a bizarre one huh, it wasn`t brilliant but it wasn`t bad either. Good title they chose didn`t they?
ash
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
A good title is always a good inducement.
Well done, and I'm with Ash. But it always amazes me that truth is stranger than fiction. It is so true!
katyzzz
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
It may be also an extension of the fact that in the film industry your name and reputation are 90% of who you are.
I have seen several films on the strength of a director, actor, writer or editor - even when, without those names attached, I probably wouldn't have been interested.
Needless to say, not a recipe for success (take Michael Mann's Miami Vice - two-and-a-half hours I ain't getting back).
But in a world where we are bombarded with information, you don't have much time to grab a ticketpayers attention. Interesting and unusual titles, (or very familiar ones) are an effective way of doing that.
Trailers are often far more misleading than titles!!
Comment by David
There's always exceptions to the rule ... but more often than not? An uncreative title = uncreative film ...
Analogously? ... Betty's Hairdressing Salon? ... No way am I getting my hair cut in there ... regardless of what anyone with a basin cut tells me ... *** I've got a mate in Adelaide; Ralph. Frontman for a Door's cover band. His salon? BerZerk. Another mate; Marco. Actor. His salon? Hairmeshphere. Why are all my male friend's hairdressers? Do you know how much they charge for short-back-and-sides nowadays??? ... And how hairdressers can't usually do them properly anyway [you have to go to an old-fashioned barber to get the Gallipoli-cut done properly] ... May as well get a basin cut. Or just do it myself like I usually do? ... And go to a barber's every six months and have him say things like ... Who the stuff cut your hair last time? ... And tell him, Me. *
Recommendations from other people? I want to know their film viewing habits first, before I'll take their advice ...
Sorry I haven't commented for a while .. but I've read a few lately ... [not going into my OCMO as to why, okay??? ...
David ...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Aha, that's interesting about you being taught at school the various ways we retain information. I'm beginning to see that mine is through content, words, imagery and not necessarily titles (although they are words too). I must need a context to keep the info in my head.
I know what you mean with Orble, there's so much info, often when I read a blog that's interesting, I still sometimes forget it later on, but maybe that's because there is such a massive amount of info. Maybe the confusion can happen depending on how the idea is written and explained....?
Yes, I really liked Stranger than Fiction...the blurring of art and reality.....
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Yes, I agree a title can be a good inducement or alternatively a disincentive.
And yes, definitely, life can often be stranger than fiction! Sometimes it would be nice if we could stop those pages turning or start a new chapter.....
Tracy
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Titillation.
....and truth? Stranger than fact sometimes...
Hope you're well Tracy.
Dusk
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Yes, I see what you mean about titles of other places, not just films. Trotting around Newtown and places like that is great example - in fact I think I remember someone last year doing a post on shop titles and there were quite a few original ones from Newtown...Holy Sheet, ThaiTanic.....OK, I can't remember any more at the moment....but you get my drift.
I listen to what other's might say about a film...aand love engaging in a chat but...and this might sound elitist, I only relate to an opinion if I know and like their viewing habits (like you said). That doesn't mean their opinion is useless, rather it might be different to mine and it is less likely to sway me to theirs. And differences are interesting to me, unless it's a Hollywood, predictable Blockbuster that doesn't need any more words spoken about it.
Hope that makes sense, my hands and brain aren't in synch yet...
Tracy
PS I have to ask....what's OCMO?
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
It's funny that you say that about trailers as that is something that I've become more aware of lately. I cannot stand that voice they usually use for each film...that really deep, dramatic one that usually puts me off the film! I saw the trailer for Perfume when I saw Pan's Labyrinth and that was spectacularly cheesy. Especially the last bit where the camera zooms up a nostril...viewers aren't fools, we know how a smell travels!!
Yes, that would be true that in the film world they would be trying to grab attention as quickly as possible and titles would be a strong way to do that. Fair enoughski...
I know what you mean about seeing a film for its director or writer, I've done that before for directors such as Hal Hartley and Almodovar. Conversely, if I don't like a director then I might pre-judge and not see the film, for example Smel Gibson's new film, Apocalypto. A friend was telling me how good it was and I quite honestly said I don't want to see it on the basis of it being directed by Gibson. I went with friends to his Christ film and as you said about Miami Vice, I'm never going to get those hours back (mind you I walked out half-way because of the unrelenting violence), but I'm in no hurry to do that again. I don't respect the man and it's doubtful he will surprise me and I'm not going to take the risk by spending money....
Thanks for your comments as usual
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I'm well thanks, how are you?
Yes, there can be tittilation in a title...and truth can be stranger than fact too.....I might ponder that one and come back.....
Byeee
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I had a seriously long think about this to see what draws me to a film. Titles, actors or directors?
I think a fair assumption is actors. Take Anthony Hopkins for example, I remember seeing a film he did 100 years ago *lol* (no, just before colour I think), anyway, he played this deranged fellow of two minds and I thought it brilliant. I have followed his career since then.
Same for Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Goldie Hawn, Nic Cage, Liam Neeson, Brad Pitt, Sean Bean, Kevin Costner, Angelina Jolie, Hale Berry, Nicole Kidman etc...
I will probably not see this film you feature here because I cannot stand this actor, Farrell nor his work, to me he was not funny in Elf, pathetic as Darren in Betwitched and I'm really reluctant to give him another hour ... (Probably will weaken in about six months, and rent it's a weekly, dollar DVD)...
However, having said that, it is strange to see Duchovny (X-files guy) playing against Julianne Moore again in (new upcoming movie) ??? (forgotten, sorry), anyway, I hate Julianne Moore on her own and wouldn't wathc her films, but enjoyed the film, 'Evolution' becuase she is better when paired with this Duchovny. It seems someone other thqan me also feels the same way.
So I thought, how do I discover new talents?
Well I've noticed that Hollywood producers have a way of introducing the new talent by using the old, in films like, Joe Black, Spy Games, Swordfish, Batman Begins and others ..
I wonder if my narrow minded approach means I miss good films? No, because I also look for new films by reading the story plots and oggling the pictures on the covers too, like everyone else, I suspect? *giggle* Therefore, titles probably only register for about 10-15% of my 'draw value.'
Interesting post Tracy,
thanks,
Lilla ...
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
Like Lilla, I can't stand Will Farrell and want to slap him on sight, and Stranger Than Fiction didn't interest me at all. Until I found out what it was about.
Now I'll likely give it a shot IN SPITE OF the star. Interesting reversal!
Having said all that, I saw 'Smokin Aces' (average title) last night on the strength of the trailer and the awesome cast (Joel Edgerton, Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Ryan Reynolds, Jeremy Piven, Alicia Keys - the list goes on), and it was pretty good!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I love a good title and sometimes with films I like the title is like iccing on the cake (EG: Apocalypse Now). But title alone does not get me into a theatre, there is never anything random about what I decide to spend my cash on seeing. The name may be a starting point but there needs to be much more..
Great post
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for your comments as usual.
Yes, I agree, it's not a title alone that gets me into the cinema or to choose a DVD or a CD for that matter. It's a mixture of elements, the storyline, the director, the genre.
As I've said before when a film stays with me after seeing it, then it is effective in some capacity (some stay with me because they're crappy, but you can't have everything). I particularly relish films that stay with me for a long time, I'm thinking of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest that you just reviewed. What a film. And it reminds me of the song by Fun Boy Three, The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum). I Love it when film and music blend together...sublime perfection...
Byee
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Hello Lilla
Sorry I've taken so long to reply to your comments. I know what you mean about actors being a factor of whether we see a film or not. I've realised that it's not always a conscious decision, that we can assume a film's genre according to the actor/s in it. For example Jim Carrey was famous and synonymous for playing comedic roles. When he moved from comedy to more serious films, people were sceptical that it would work and to me it did, he's been in a few fine films such as The Truman Show, Man on the Moon, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
I haven't seen Farrell in any of his films, so I only had a general idea that he was known for SNL and films such as Bewitched, not known for its quality. Therefore I was able to see the film with an open, curios mind. I can't do that with all actors though, for example, unless someone tied me down and forced my eyeballs open, I would never see a Sylvester Stallone film.
I don't think you're narrow-minded in choosing your films at all. After all, it's subjective and meant to be fun at the same time. And we see different genres of films at different pints in our life, I know I do. Sometimes I like a bit of crap!
The point you said about noticing that Hollywood producers have a way of introducing the new talent by using the old, in films like, Joe Black, Batman Begins and others is really interesting...I'd never noticed that....now I'm pondering, and in order to ponder, I must wander so I'll speak to you later....
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Good to see you as usual. I wrote a mini-essay about Mel on your site so I won't repeat myself
I think that would be a great reversal, to see Stranger than Fiction because you can't stand Will Farrell. That's almost a self-dare! Maybe I should do that with Apocalypto, my curiosity has definitely been piqued.
I chose to see Stranger than Fiction because of its interesting storyline and as I said to Lilla, I didn't have any personal objections to Farrell. It was after the film that I began questioning the role of titles...hence this post and my frustration at not being able to remember the title, I just typed Stricter than Fiction in the last paragraph, what's wrong with me! Do I have a strong sub-conscious wish for them to change the title...?!
Having said that about Farrell, I don't think I'll see ant of his earlier films, they sound pretty rubbish!
I haven't see Smokin' Aces.....so many films, such tired eyes....
Byeee
Comment by Wendi
We went to see The Bridge to Terabithia yesterday (which, by the way, I called "The Road to Terabithia). I HATED it! I should have read the book first.
Haven't seen Stranger than Fiction yet. I'm waiting for convenient postal delivery. I'm not a huge fan of movie theaters and yesterday's catastrophe drove that point home!
W
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
I read 'Terabithia' when I was in high school and loved it, and was very excited when I heard of a film version.
You've just burst my bubble
Comment by Wendi
I hate to be the buster of bubbles. Hey, if you need new bubbles, I hear Katyzzz has plenty! *GRINS*