While 8 1/2 might not be the best film ever created (although it certainly ranks up there), it serves as the best test I know of a true movie fan. Let me explain...
The public (non-true movie fans) wants movies that are formulaic, that are plot driven, and that are fun to watch. The critically minded (true movie fans) want movies that are artistic, insightful, and well directed. Symbolism is an added bonus, but not essential.
Now, the problem is that most great movies are both plot driven and artistic. So, the true movie fan and the casual viewer alike will like enjoy these films.
8 1/2, like no other film I know, stands as a pinnacle of art, insight, and symbolism. Plot is secondary and, indeed, insignificant. Plot alone could not, and does not attempt to, carry the film. For this reason, 8 1/2 will be rejected by casual viewers, but embraced by true movie fans. 8 1/2 is certainly not the only film that exhibits this ability - Bringing Out The Dead or Magnolia from last year, for example - but it is the best, thereby making it the best test.
8 1/2 is a drives deep into the human experience. It asks what is life, and answers with an absurdist view that life has no meaning; things happen but order does not exist. Yet, it doesn't stop there. It drives deeper and deeper, forever asking why. Events from our hero's life are recalled, but to what purpose? to what aim? Is there a logical connection or is it an illusion?
**Spoilers Ahead**
The movie begins with a preview of the movie's themes. A man is trapped in a car. All around him there are others, but no one seems to care about his plight. Eventually, he escapes and achieves apparent freedom floating away, but alas it was an allusion. He is pulled back down to earth.
Our hero has traveled to the spas to cleanse himself, to get away from it all, but he can't. The "cleansing" spas and "healing" mineral water offer no escape, as characters and memories keep coming back to haunt him. Indeed, he draws these people to him - his psyche will not let him escape; he must confront reality. He thinks he wants to escape the demands of others, but what he really wants to escape is his loneliness, for he seems incapable of relating to others on anything but a superficial level.
Thinks steadily get worse for our hero as he furthers his self-denial. He says he wants no lies, but speaks only lies. He envisions a world where all the women of his life live together in peace, serving his every need, but then there is a revolt. Down with the tyrant they shout. He attempts to whip them into obedience and the revolt ends with no apparent resolution. Our hero is deeply confused. In addition, he wants his movie to contain "everything" but he can supply it with nothing.
The inward probe comes to a close, as our hero is discovered for what he is - a has-been with no more ideas. He crawls under the press table to hide and its appears as if he is in a jail cell. Hands are grabbing for him from every direction. Finally, a gun shot is heard and the scene ends.
The movie ends with an absurd scene where nothing makes sense. The scene appears to contradict the themes of the movie. This is done purposefully, despite the views of many would-be critics. The movie has come full circle and ended where it began. That is, with the absurdist view of life, that there is no order or meaning, or random events.
The public (non-true movie fans) wants movies that are formulaic, that are plot driven, and that are fun to watch. The critically minded (true movie fans) want movies that are artistic, insightful, and well directed. Symbolism is an added bonus, but not essential.
Now, the problem is that most great movies are both plot driven and artistic. So, the true movie fan and the casual viewer alike will like enjoy these films.
8 1/2, like no other film I know, stands as a pinnacle of art, insight, and symbolism. Plot is secondary and, indeed, insignificant. Plot alone could not, and does not attempt to, carry the film. For this reason, 8 1/2 will be rejected by casual viewers, but embraced by true movie fans. 8 1/2 is certainly not the only film that exhibits this ability - Bringing Out The Dead or Magnolia from last year, for example - but it is the best, thereby making it the best test.
8 1/2 is a drives deep into the human experience. It asks what is life, and answers with an absurdist view that life has no meaning; things happen but order does not exist. Yet, it doesn't stop there. It drives deeper and deeper, forever asking why. Events from our hero's life are recalled, but to what purpose? to what aim? Is there a logical connection or is it an illusion?
**Spoilers Ahead**
The movie begins with a preview of the movie's themes. A man is trapped in a car. All around him there are others, but no one seems to care about his plight. Eventually, he escapes and achieves apparent freedom floating away, but alas it was an allusion. He is pulled back down to earth.
Our hero has traveled to the spas to cleanse himself, to get away from it all, but he can't. The "cleansing" spas and "healing" mineral water offer no escape, as characters and memories keep coming back to haunt him. Indeed, he draws these people to him - his psyche will not let him escape; he must confront reality. He thinks he wants to escape the demands of others, but what he really wants to escape is his loneliness, for he seems incapable of relating to others on anything but a superficial level.
Thinks steadily get worse for our hero as he furthers his self-denial. He says he wants no lies, but speaks only lies. He envisions a world where all the women of his life live together in peace, serving his every need, but then there is a revolt. Down with the tyrant they shout. He attempts to whip them into obedience and the revolt ends with no apparent resolution. Our hero is deeply confused. In addition, he wants his movie to contain "everything" but he can supply it with nothing.
The inward probe comes to a close, as our hero is discovered for what he is - a has-been with no more ideas. He crawls under the press table to hide and its appears as if he is in a jail cell. Hands are grabbing for him from every direction. Finally, a gun shot is heard and the scene ends.
The movie ends with an absurd scene where nothing makes sense. The scene appears to contradict the themes of the movie. This is done purposefully, despite the views of many would-be critics. The movie has come full circle and ended where it began. That is, with the absurdist view of life, that there is no order or meaning, or random events.