(Modern) Film Influences
A selection of films that I deem "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant"... according to my own preferences. We're keeping this list fairly modern.
THE BIG SHORT (2015)
Officially listed as a biographical comedy-drama but really a horror movie, this might be my most re-watchable film on the list. It takes the 2007/08 housing market crash and puts it into a fairly easy to understand package for all, and the performances in it are just fun to watch. They threw in Brad Pitt for good measure.
NIGHTCRAWLER (2014)
There have been plenty of notable creepy performances over the years; Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter and Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, but Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler takes the cake for me. The slicked-back hair, eyes that look like their about to escape from their sockets, and quick mouth makes him so unnatural and yet... so alluring to watch. Also, it's kind of about freelance journalism so I feel like I have a natural bias to it anyway. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
LA LA LAND (2016)
It almost won Best Picture for a reason. Harkening back to Golden Age musicals as well as European influences, this is when I first truly took notice of filmmaking techniques and appreciated the work put into each scene. This'll be evident in the linked scene below — as you watch, count how many total cuts there are. I've always been partial to musicals, and La La Land takes this enjoyment to new heights. It's also the second film on this list that features Ryan Gosling, because who doesn't love a Good Canadian Boy (as Don Cherry would say).
INTERSTELLAR (2014)
Call this one my film awakening. Objectively, it isn't even the best film from Christopher Nolan, but when I sat down in the theatre in November of 2014 not having a clue what it was about, I genuinely left with a whole new thought process about the film industry, and seriously considered further exploring it in the technical field for a career. I landed nearby, in communications, and I may have this film to thank for it. The linked scene is referred to as "No Time for Caution", and it has everything I love about the film: great tension, Matthew McConaughey, and one of Hans Zimmer's best contributions to film scores.
BLADE RUNNER (1982) AND BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017)
I'm double-dipping here, mainly because I originally tried to choose just one of these films but couldn't. I watch the original Ridley Scott Neo-noire and can't wrap my head around how they made a movie from 1982 look this good and not feel that dated. As for 2049, it's rare that a modern Hollywood return to a classic film or series works out, but boy oh boy does it work here.
STEVE JOBS (2015)
Sorry Ashton Kutcher, but this is the 2015 movie starring Michael Fassbender (who I like to call "the best part of bad movies"; seriously man get a better agent). Not to say this one in particular is bad. Steve Jobs, much like Elon Musk today, is a polarizing figure, known just as much for his outbursts as his electronics. Still, there was always a fascination there for me, and after reading Walter Isaacson's biography on the infamous CEO that fascination grew into genuine curiosity. I'll never like how he treated others, but I'll always respect the end results he achieved not only at Apple, but other companies such as Pixar as well.