How did you get into *worshipping* films, anyway?
I used to watch Ebert & Roeper pretty frequently as a young kid back when it aired on Sunday mornings. It was my first real exposure to film criticism, and I found their rapport fascinating to watch. When AFI broadcasted their Top 100 Movies special, I made a challenge to myself that year to try to watch as many as I could over a summer as I was beginning to understand basic filmmaking concepts from years of E&R, clips of Siskel & Ebert, and reviews Roger Ebert had posted on his website.
Long story short, I didn't make it too far into the list, but I did find Stanley Kubrick's work from attempting it (Clockwork Orange, 2001, Dr. Strangelove). His work, and the few pieces I tried to read about them whenever I got confused, were extremely formative for me. While I was still too fresh to the scene to think about them critically, his films got me thinking creatively. It was exhilarating in ways that I couldn't really get out of other hobbies back then.
Over time I tried searching for Academy Award Best Picture winners and other films that were well received on said shows. I went to Blockbuster every weekend. I was watching things that were encapsulating a wide breath of emotions in me at the time that only kept me coming back for more.
Seven years later, I still feel there's so much for me to learn about the medium and even more to see. I am fortunate enough to not only have theaters near me that show independent and foreign stuff, but also friends with which to talk about them and share our experiences. Ever year I find at least one film, new or old, that reminds me why I "worship" film.
Long story short, I didn't make it too far into the list, but I did find Stanley Kubrick's work from attempting it (Clockwork Orange, 2001, Dr. Strangelove). His work, and the few pieces I tried to read about them whenever I got confused, were extremely formative for me. While I was still too fresh to the scene to think about them critically, his films got me thinking creatively. It was exhilarating in ways that I couldn't really get out of other hobbies back then.
Over time I tried searching for Academy Award Best Picture winners and other films that were well received on said shows. I went to Blockbuster every weekend. I was watching things that were encapsulating a wide breath of emotions in me at the time that only kept me coming back for more.
Seven years later, I still feel there's so much for me to learn about the medium and even more to see. I am fortunate enough to not only have theaters near me that show independent and foreign stuff, but also friends with which to talk about them and share our experiences. Ever year I find at least one film, new or old, that reminds me why I "worship" film.
