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The Movie That Changed My Life: 120 Celebrities Pick the Films that Made a Difference Robert Hofler
Robert Hofler
By
Published: Apr 14, 2009
Category:
Non Fiction
Ask a public figure of a certain age about the most significant film he ever saw — note: “a public figure of a certain age” is overwhelmingly likely to be male — and if he doesn’t name “It’s a Wonderful Life” he’ll tell you about “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
“How interesting,” you think. “You admire Atticus Finch?”
Oh, very much. A safe answer: Gregory Peck’s character in the film is, in fact, the most admired man in American film.
“You do recall that Atticus Finch took the case knowing he’d lose, yes?”
Slight confusion here on the part of the public figure.
“Can you tell me, sir,” you ask, “when you took on a cause knowing it was the right thing to do — and knowing you couldn’t prevail?”
The public figure suddenly remembers he must make an urgent call.
For that reason alone, I much prefer the format of the feature that “Variety” invented: 20 celebrated Americans chatting at some length about their favorites. These public figures are divided into 15 categories — romantics, comedians, fashionistas, doctors and lawyers, Wall Streeters, athletes, historians, and more. There are only a few politicians on the list, and one of them, John McCain, happily turns out to be a real film buff. And there is only one language-challenged respondent, who is, not surprisingly, Donald Trump.
The value of The Movie That Changed My Life: 120 Celebrities Pick the Films that Made a Difference is not just anecdotal, though it’s immensely enjoyable to read Isaac Mizrahi rave about the dresses in “Imitation of Life” and Steve Carell rhapsodize about seeing his first naked female breast in “Ryan’s Daughter”. It’s far more useful as a field guide to old movies that you ought to be renting or buying — unless, that is, your weekend is made joyous by “The Fast and the Furious 10” or “Terminator 12”.
Dave Barry reminded me of the great depth in “Animal House”. Kurt Vonnegut had a unique appreciation of “Bridge Over the River Kwai”. I had no idea Valerie Plame Wilson’s brother fought in Vietnam — which explains her special interest in “Born on the Fourth of July”. Tim Gunn reminds me I want to see “Blowup” again. Veronica Webb sends me back to “Two for the Road”. And Nicole Kidman makes me want to revisit “Breaking the Waves,” the movie that broke my heart in 1996.
I loved that John Waters makes a strong case for Margaret Hamilton in “Wizard of Oz”. Of course Jack Nicholson talks about “On the Waterfront”. Dominick Dunne’s interest in “Compulsion” and “Now, Voyager” is as personal as you might expect — and he shares all, of course. Paul Krugman sees “Chinatown” as a business movie. But Perez Hilton and “Willie Wonka”? Surprise: his reasons make sense.
Serious people have surprising choices. A noted art curator, now at Sotheby’s, praises Andy Warhol’s “Trash”. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Haydn Planetarium, votes for “All That Jazz”. In each case, the background is as fascinating as the choice.
We’re talking here about films these people saw when they were young and impressionable. So if you’re a parent and your kids are gaga over Hannah Montana and her ilk, this book may be especially helpful. Rent one of these classics, show it on Family Movie Night and don’t ask anything deeper than “buttered or plain”. As you reconnect with greatness, you might just be bending the twig.
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