You have a valid comment. Good movies... that have a compelling story line for their entire duration are rare...
I cannot tell you how many movies I see where after about 10 or 15 minutes I can predict the ending (and some after just 5 minutes). Such movies are rarely engaging after that. Historical ones or certain drama's can be; and are rare.
An example of what I consider a good one: Recently I re-watched (several times) with my wife "All the Presidents Men" - about Watergate (which you might think is old history and boring - its not; and I'll argue that its very relevant today). I was a teenager during Watergate so I actually recall the news and the developing story - and know the ending.
I had also seen the movie when it came out (and read the book prior to that).
My wife is from Eastern Europe and this history and movie was new to her... and she was totally amazed that the people even talked to the reporters; and more amazed that the reporters were not quickly killed, or at least left severely crippled and unable to function.
Yet, it was still an engaging movie this past week... even the 2nd time through. There are so many details to be found.. and its all based on history and used the actual investigative reporters notes from the time and also used interviews and guidance of most of the actual reporters and supervisors (and from some of the people who were interviewed) - all to be sure they got it right.
If anything Roger Ebert criticizes the film for being too totally correct about how a newsroom and reporters function (it "is truer to the craft of journalism than to the art of storytelling, and that's its problem."). He also admits that its probably the best movie ever made about how journalism and newspapers actually worked (in its day) - and is better about that than anyone could expect.
So I feel your frustration with so many movies. The good news is that there are indeed some good ones out there...
Movies don't hold my attention
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You have a valid comment. Good movies... that have a compelling story line for their entire duration are rare...
I cannot tell you how many movies I see where after about 10 or 15 minutes I can predict the ending (and some after just 5 minutes). Such movies are rarely engaging after that. Historical ones or certain drama's can be; and are rare.
An example of what I consider a good one: Recently I re-watched (several times) with my wife "All the Presidents Men" - about Watergate (which you might think is old history and boring - its not; and I'll argue that its very relevant today). I was a teenager during Watergate so I actually recall the news and the developing story - and know the ending.
I had also seen the movie when it came out (and read the book prior to that).
My wife is from Eastern Europe and this history and movie was new to her... and she was totally amazed that the people even talked to the reporters; and more amazed that the reporters were not quickly killed, or at least left severely crippled and unable to function.
Yet, it was still an engaging movie this past week... even the 2nd time through. There are so many details to be found.. and its all based on history and used the actual investigative reporters notes from the time and also used interviews and guidance of most of the actual reporters and supervisors (and from some of the people who were interviewed) - all to be sure they got it right.
If anything Roger Ebert criticizes the film for being too totally correct about how a newsroom and reporters function (it "is truer to the craft of journalism than to the art of storytelling, and that's its problem."). He also admits that its probably the best movie ever made about how journalism and newspapers actually worked (in its day) - and is better about that than anyone could expect.
So I feel your frustration with so many movies. The good news is that there are indeed some good ones out there...
I wish you best with your movie search...