PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A "FAREWELL ARTICLE" WRITTEN TO MY NEWSPAPER THANKING THEM FOR SUPPORT AND LEAVING THEM WITH WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF FILM. I WILL STILL BE UPDATING THE BLOG AFTER THIS TIME.
Just over five years ago, I was on a bus headed home from a mission's trip to Belize. On that bus I was speaking with a man about my favorite subject...movies. And at some point in this conversation the man said to me, "Well you really know your stuff, have you ever though about making a website or a blog and writing about film on it?"
I never had thought of it, but it seemed like a fun idea. So when I arrived home the first thing I did was go to the computer and look up how to make a website. Within twenty minutes I had designed a blog using google and was looking for a name for it. My mind first thought of my oldest middle/high school nickname, Cashmoney, and so I named the blog "Cashmoney Movies" (it seemed to have a nice ring).
I then went on to write my first movie critique on a movie that I had just seen. The film was "The Dark Knight," one of my favorite films of all time. The whole review was a single paragraph and, looking back, pretty embarrassing. But I eventually picked up on more things to think on in these reviews: character development, pacing, predictability. And not long after that my dad came home and told me that he was talking to Mr. Mulligan about my site and that he wanted me to send a review of mine to The Chronicle for possible publication. I was thrilled of course, and I sent in what I believed was my best review up to that point. Then a few more months down the road, on March 20th, 2009, I published my first review with The Chronicle.
That was about four and a half years ago, and since then I have written numerous reviews for the paper on some of the greatest cinematic achievements of the past couple of decades: "Avatar," "Harry Potter," "The Artist," "Les Miserables," and many more. But now, as I am preparing to leave for college a few weeks from now, and I am very sad that my time with The Chronicle has come to an end. My last review will be on "The Wolverine," a good film to end with in my critical opinion, being that he is my favorite super-hero (and the film was great). The opportunity to write for this paper has not only allowed me to share my passions with others on a weekly basis, but it has given me an incredible experience that will help me immensely throughout the rest of my life.
I would like to thank Mr. Mulligan for giving me the chance to write for the Citrus County Chronicle. Without his generosity and encouragement, I would have never been able express my love for journalism and cinema like I have been doing. I would like to thank Cheri Harris (who no longer works at the Chronicle) for guiding me in the beginning of my time with the Chronicle, and giving me friendly advice and tips for my writing. And finally, I wish to thank the readers of the Chronicle, who over the years have offered numerous accounts of encouragement, compliments, and even debate (which is the fun part).
But before I sign off, I want to give a final word on what I believe to be the greatest thing the world of the silver screen has given us. I have always tried to stress in my reviews that the key aspect of film that will make it or break it, is the story. No matter how much action, or suspense, or laughs there are in a film, it will never amount to anything if there is not a good story. A good story has the power to reach the farthest corners of our imaginations, as we smile in awe at the story of a girl with ruby slippers, trying to find her way back to Kansas. A good story has the power to tug on our heartstrings and make us cringe and sigh at the tragic story of a man who wants nothing more than to escape from being pulled in to the family business, but through unfortunate events is forced to be a ruthless Godfather. A good story has the power to make us cheer and rejoice at the triumph of good, as two little hobbits, against all odds, finish the task they set out to accomplish.
A good story stands the test of time, and when you look inside the story, when you dig just a little bit deeper, you find something even greater. This is not something you can find without looking, it's not something that just presents itself on screen, and when and if you find it then you will see the true greatness of a film...it's heart. It's message. It's truth. The greatest of films act as parables of of our time. They are stories with messages that teach us, inspire us, and challenge us. There have been countless super hero films over the last thirteen years but when you break them down they are all about the same thing: they are about one person who has been called to stand up and pursue goodness, to defy the darkness around them. Isn't that what we all want? To pursue goodness, to make a difference, to be a light in a dark world? No wonder these films are so popular.
It is the message of a film that makes it stand out. These films teach us things. They show us that there is a difference between what is right and what is easy, that with great power comes great responsibility, and that there is still some good in this world that is worth fighting for. Lessons like these can shape an individual.
So I leave you with a challenge: the next time you walk into a movie theater and watch a great story, try to dig a little deeper. Find something that is really worth talking about, worth remembering, worth believing in. Because when you find the heart of a film and the truth it tells, then you will be able to appreciate it's greatness even more.
