Ryan McNeil
Now and then I’ve seen a film that I found disagreeable, but come back to it for a second go. Other times, I’ve seen a film that puzzled me, and decided to return to it to put a few of those missing pieces into place.
The question that’s been looming over me lately is “why”?
Why would I take a spoonful of something, found it too bitter (or too sweet, or too bland), and not only swallowed it down…but actually served myself up a second helping on my plate?
Sometimes, it’s just as simple as wanting to be sure.
Seeing a film for the first time is like a first date: everybody’s nervous, the stakes are high, and all involved are so worried about that first impression. We might sit down to see a movie and think we know what we’re getting into, but sometime in the first act it’s clear that we were misled. But, ever the polite people that we are, we let the date play out and try to make the best of it. We might know by the end of the salad that we aren’t going to bed with it, or worse that there will never be another date…but our mind is made up.
But what if that film turns out to be the one that got away? We hear others talking about it with such reverence, with such joy…it’s like seeing the girl you never called on a date with a friend, a friend who brings out the very best in her. Suddenly you see what they see, and you wonder what dulled the chemistry on that first date.
Other times, its stubborn fascination. I get hung up on something, unable to forget about it – like a song that’s stuck in my head. I might not fall in love with it at first blush, but I can’t shake it either. It becomes something of a challenge, like one of those 4-D puzzles that would look like a mess of dots until you relaxed your eyes and finally saw the sailboat. These are the films I usually call “interesting”. I might not love them at first – hell I might not even like them. deep down though, I know that they won’t be easily forgotten. These are the films I believe are worth the effort, the ones that strive to be more than a disposable franchise entry. They are cold, dense, divisive, and ambivalent…but like so many things in life they are worth the chase.
Do I expect everybody to approach film like this? Certainly not. Some people like what they like. They will go to the familiar restaurants and order the usual selections off the menu. They will be satisfied when the bill comes and go home happy. Others don’t have the time. Life seems to be getting crazier everyday, especially for those with job and family responsibilities. Watching a film is a luxury, and not something that can be wasted to studiously retrace one’s steps. And still others want to keep the line moving. They have stepped off the train in a town that hasn’t offered them much. Sure they could hang around a few more days and see if they’ve truly soaked up everything the place has to offer, but the greater truth is that there is so very much else in the world to see.
For better and for worse I will continue to revisit the films that left me wanting. As much as I love spending an afternoon with a dear favourite that gives me everything I want, I also love coming back to the unfamiliar, and seeing what time and a fresh perspective bring to the situation.
Even if I didn’t go home with her after that first date…
Really liked the way you described this and it’s a feeling I thanks a lot of movie fans struggle with sometimes, wondering if you missed something when others put so much praise onto something. In general I don’t rewatch much (which also means that collecting movies isn’t that interesting anymmore) unless I really like something. I’ve tried rewatching movies I didn’t like in the past, but it never changed my opinion of them.
The funny thing is that changing opinions on rewatch works both ways too. Lots of times, I’ve revisited a film I love and realized “Hey, this is actually kinda crappy”.
Try it sometime.
Well, occasionally that does happen, but those are rare occasions. For example I really enjoyed watching Little Nicky when I was younger. Now I don’t know what I saw in that movie. Now I really only enjoyed the Tarantino cameo.
Interesting article. I do like to revisit films which didn’t gel as much with me the first time. My reason for doing so is my age. I am very different now than I was even at 16-17, even though that’s like only a few years ago. And I react to things differently now because I know more or less or something. Sometimes it is a total turnaround for me and sometimes nothing changes. Also my biggest turnaround to date- from despising American Beauty at 14 to completely falling head over heels in love with it at 17 keeps reminding me that some films need a second chance.
I actually remember talking to a younger blogger about a romantic comedy that I loved. He didn’t think it was much to be excited over, and I told him that I really liked the way it approached the subject of marriage.
When he still didn’t get it, I felt bad, but had to say the old line “You’ll understand when you’re older”.
You already seem to have it figured out: We go through so much from year to year, that our outlook on life and art is in constant flux. Why not let those changes in outlook trickle down on to the art we consume?
Spot on, Ryan!
The way you compared re-watching to dating reminded me of Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters, in which Woody and one of Hannah’s sisters have one date and hate each other – and then later on end up married, after they’ve met again after several years.
Something else that I watched lately (actually, two days ago), and that relates to your article, is The Tree of Life. The ultimate confused movie experience, that left me (and many others) thoroughly puzzled after the first watch. Was this cinematic perfection? Or just a snobby try of mixing arthaus with commercialism?
Well, now after my second watch, I appreciate this film so much more. I have come to realize that it’s not perfect at all, but just as close to perfection as I guessed it was after my first watch. It’s a favourite of mine, that’s what I can say now for sure.
Well, anyhow, I really loved your article!
Thanks Mette!
I’m a big believer in THE TREE OF LIFE, so I’m happy to hear you came back to it. One of the things I like most about it is the way it’s so many different things to so many different viewers. For instance, I wonder what you might take away from it in twenty years or so, when you have more in common with the adults than you do with the boys?
Sorry for the late response, and thanks again for the kind words!
I personally felt bad when I watched 2001 and it didn’t hit me the way it has others. I’ve rewatched three times since, I can appreciate the technical marvel it was the scope of it, but I just don’t see the masterpiece.
Black Swan was another recent example of trying to see the critical acclaim that I didn’t catch when I saw it in theatres.
I don’t think you should ever feel bad for not “being hit”.
Film is completely subjective, and what rocks your world might not necessarily rock mine. The trick is just to be open to it, and allow it to wash over you.
“Interesting” point! There is so little time in the world though, I feel that reading about films after a viewing often can adjust your perspective or psych you up to watch it again. For me, a second viewing, is all about mood – what I feel like because I think you can get a huge amount of satisfcation from reading as to WHY something has a cult status or why it is held up in such reverence. The key to film criticism, I hope, is effectively that element of ‘research’, no?
I’d like to think that I don’t solely rely on my mood to judge the quality of the film…
Definitely agree with reading reviews/write-ups after having watched the film. Sometimes I just don’t understand the praise given and try to read into it and see what didn’t click (No Country For Old Men). Other times I just want to be sure I wasn’t wrong in trashing something (Dark Shadows).
I love the use of quotation marks around the word interesting.
For me the second viewing is always a way to dig deeper. I know the story, know every beat that’s coming. It’s a way for better or for worse to judge intricacies, technique, philosophy, and graft my own theories and ideas on to all of it.
I’d like to say that my mood doesn’t affect my reaction to a film, but the truth is shit happens sometimes. I try at least to be honest about it.
This really depends on the person. My first impression is pretty spot on, unless I am completely fried. The only time I would rewatch something I don’t like the first time, is that the film has some kind of ‘hook’ that’s worthy a second watch. Sadly a lot of films don’t warrant a second watch.
I will give some examples: Brick. Didn’t like it the first time, but I do appreciate the style and idea that goes with it, so I watched it again (much later on) to see if I can get over the problems I have with the film (nope, still not liking it). True Romance is a little too absurd the first rime around, the dialogue and the Walken/Hopper scene is so good that I decided to watch it again, and I love it more and more in subsequent viewings.
My first impression is usually pretty good too, except that holding tightly to that doesn’t allow for a greater perspective to creep in. In coming back to a film, I can consider other titles I’ve seen since the first glimpse – perhaps movies influenced by it – not to mention where my own outlook on life stands.
As I said over twitter, this is a beautiful post!
I’m definitely not the kind of film consumer who only goes to “familiar restaurants” choosing the same sort of dish. I’m in the camp of the restless travellers. I just can’t spend the time revisiting films when there are so many new places to go to.
But I realize that I probably miss out a lot. It’s just the way I am.
I hear you where wanting to go new places is concerned.
Every week when I post about the amount of films I’ve watched in a given week, I make a silent dare to myself to spend 2013 re-watching less and watching new titles for the first time more.
So much on the menu to sample, how can I possibly advocate going back to the ones I’ve tried for a second taste!
Alas…
Perfect timing on this post, I was stuck in my hometown this week with nothing but old DVDs ha. I worked through quite a few films that I had mixed feelings on. I’ll post them on Days of the Week.
“Seeing a film for the first time is like a first date.” I have to say, I respectfully disagree. Well, not entirely. I think some films are like first dates.
But many of the great ones, or perhaps I should say the ones that are most special to us, are full fledged, fleshed out relationships in 90-120 (or so) minutes.
Or maybe torrid love affair is a better term…
A torrid love affair, perhaps. But even the most torrid love affair is never more intense or terrifying as it is in those first few dates, when we’re trying to size a person up and make a call on how much of our own vulnerabilities we should show.
Oh wow, I love this. As you might guess, I’m a huge fan of this approach. It’s only natural that people change, attitudes change, viewing environments change… There are so many variables that make up whether or not a film is enjoyable to each person. Change one or several of those variables and it takes on a completely different flavor.
And yes, sometimes it’s the film that disagrees with the person viewing it on a deeper level. But if someone is genuinely open to it, they can find SOMETHING to enjoy about movies they’ve disliked in the past. Or vice versa- they may find that films they enjoyed at a different time and place are irritating now. It’s a testament to the subjectivity of the art form.
Riddle me this: Ever seen a film on the big screen that you’d only ever seen before on dvd?
How much does THAT change the outlook on the film?
I had the same experience with Rickard’s Red last week. It’s been years since I choked down a pint, thought I’d see if my widened palate could understand what I missed before. Was surprised that I didn’t hate it anymore. Not sure I like it, but I won’t say no if it’s offered.
Much the same, I’ve started taking my coffee without sugar. The first few cups were brutal but now I’m taking to it and wondering why I never drank it this way before.