Notes on a Theme: Movies About Making Movies

Sullivan's Travels, King Kong and Singin' in the Rain are all example of Movies About Making Movies. This was an interesting theme to explore, because it's in a lot of movies once you sit down and think about it.

Sullivan's Travels focuses on the Director/Writers journey as they try to discover their next big hit. In King Kong, adventure finds the adventurous nature director who is out to appease his fans. And in Singin' in the Rain, we see the drama behind the camera as the actors "disagree."

If you're interested in watching more movies about movies check out these:

Tropic Thunder (2008)



























This movie is comedy about actors getting dropped into actual combat during their attempts to film a war movie. However, it is in no way safe for the kids. Screen that junk!


Holiday Inn (1942)





























This features a couple scenes involving one of the main girls getting "stolen" in a non-shady way off a movie set. This happens late in the movie, but the whole plot builds to it.


Be Kind Rewind (2008)



























When a video store finds out that all the video tapes in his store have accidentally been erased, he and a friend take a home video camera and re-film the movies themselves. This movie is rated PG-13. I don't remember what for, but take their advice.

Next Sunday(tomorrow) marks the beginning of a new theme, and it's my pick. Which I am super excited about. I know what i'm bringing and I know which movie I want the group to pick. It would be perfect!

The Great Movie Review: Sullivan's Travels

A lot of people love this movie: Producers, Directors, Movie Buffs. With news of influences into "Rodger Rabbit" and "O Brother Where Art Thou?," we quickly picked up this AFI loved classic.

Sullivan's Travels is a movie about a comedic movie maker, Sullivan, and his quest to make his first drama. He deems that he has not "suffered enough" to make his deeply tragic film about poverty, "O Brother Where Art Thou," and sets out to live the life of a tramp, hopping on trains and depending on the kindness of strangers. How "method" of him.

Sullivan searches for hardship and seemingly fails until his failure ultimately leads him into actual hardship. In the end, he discovers the benefit of his whimsical comedies all along by watching a Disney movie in a small town church with the less than fortunate.

There are some good thoughts about escapism and the value of laughter here, but my real question: Did people really laugh that hard at slapstick Disney movies? I mean these people are gasping for air and falling on each other like they are in a Mathew McConaughey movie poster.

Overall, my main thoughts and the thoughts of the group were, "meh." I'd much rather watch a whimsical comedy. Though, in light of the message of this movie, I'm not sure what that says about my economic situation.

Thus opens our new theme, Movies about Making Movies.

Cheers.

Sullivan's Travels

Group Rating (out of 5):

Stevox: 2
Val: 3
Kyle: 3
Jenny: 2

Averages to 2.5 Hobos out of 5.

Shares this rating with: Mystic River.

Thankfully the only child in this movie is 13 and drives a tank.