Identity In Film
Written By Ryan Lewis
October 1, 2019
Forrest Gump
Watch Forrest Gump
I first saw this movie at about the age of 10 and every year since I watch it at least twice. It is my sick day go-to and I can almost guarantee it will be yours too. This story is so dense with tales from our hero’s life that trying to describe the plot in a single article is a fool’s errand. If it is any indicator of how interesting and how many twists and turns this story takes you through, it is based on a book of the same name that contains a story of Forrest getting trapped on a deserted island full of cannibals. The only way he didn’t get eaten was beating the leader in chess every day. That’s what didn’t make it into the movie.
“Forrest Gump is a complex movie that attacks many aspects of life involving identity like bullying, figuring out yourself and relationships. People who watch this movie can develop a better understanding of how identity develops differently throughout people and how it can be found within.” -Elis L
The Lion King
“The Lion King” by Khoa Ho is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
This anthropomorphic classic from the Disney renaissance is a Shakespearean tale of a young prince whose (spoiler alert for a movie that came out before you were born) uncle killed his father in an attempt to overthrow and install his own regime of hyenas. The prince, exiled from Pride Rock, is found and raised by two stragglers practicing inner peace and a carefree lifestyle. His long-forgotten past then creeps back into his life years later when he is reunited with his childhood love. Inspired to return to his home by a vision of his father, he takes his rightful place as a leader back and all is returned to peace. While I am sure most have already seen this film, it is absolutely worth the re-watch.
Dinner For Schmucks
Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, taxidermied rats used to recreate famous paintings. This movie has fun for the whole family. My first experience with this film was an excerpt being acted out at a speech team competition during the 2018-2019 season. Anyone there can tell you I just about stopped breathing because of how hard I laughed. Thoroughly impressed, I had no idea until my good friend Dion Lopez told me that this was an adaptation of a movie he saw. I then started hyperventilating. I immediately found a copy and to my absolute surprise, this movie wasn’t just hilarious. It was extremely heartfelt and genuinely had an incredible story. This hidden gem is severely underrated. Please, check this one out if you haven’t already seen it.
It can show how people handle tragic events in their life or find a way to find meaning in it.
-Deon L
Walk The Line
“Johnny Cash Posters” by Lorenzo Belmonte is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
One would be hard-pressed to find a Johnny Cash fan from our generation. If you have any interest in the history of a musical legend, or just like Joaquin Phoenix, then this is absolutely the story for you. The opening scene is his infamous Folsom Prison performance. He is seen sitting in a woodshop right behind a cafeteria of prisoners chanting his name. The Tennessee Three play a chugging heavy vamp confused as to where their frontman could be. A voice then calls for the distracted Cash and we are taken back to his childhood home. The man in black is someone, through this story, you will grow to hate, but grow to love much more. His story is one of great pain caused by a world that for better or worse couldn’t let him be himself.
Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse
Watch Spider-Man:Into The Spider-Verse
Many spider-men have graced the silver screen. Dancing emo Spider-Man, young Spider-Man, old spider-man, old trying to be young spider-man, great Spider-Man, and just okay Spider-Men. But never until now has there been a spider-man movie that has John Mulaney as a pig. Not just for this reason, but not, not for this reason, “Into the Spider-Verse” Is one of the best superhero origin movies of all time. Miles Morales is one of those characters that you can more than relate to. We can all see so much of Miles in ourselves. He feels trapped by his life and is struggling to stay afloat in the schooling system, he has a romantic interest that he struggles to talk to, and can only find solace in his friendships. It has a great soundtrack and an even better story.
Miles really struggles with his own identity. His dad wants him to act one way but he knows that’s not who he is. -Tristan M
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