As the holiday season is well upon us, so is the onslaught of movies with "Oscar buzz." I particularly enjoy this season in the movies, mostly because these movies tend to focus on good stories and amazing performances. I do enjoy the occasional mindless entertainment via action movie or comedy, but I don't enjoy those movies quite as much without the good story or acting. Skyfall was particularly enjoyable to me, not only as a life-long Bond fan, but as someone who appreciates a good story.
I am quite looking forward to Zero Dark Thirty and Django Unchained. The latter for more pure entertainment, as Quentin Tarantino is know to deliver. I don't love all his movies, but you can expect a fun ride with them, and some good performances. There is a bit of reversal of typecasting with Christoph Waltz in a "good guy" role and Leonardo DiCaprio in a "bad guy" role, though those absolute characterizations are not typical in Tarantino movies. Both DiCaprio and Waltz are talented actors, so I expect to be entertained. My sense is that Django Unchained's agenda is do to just that.
Zero Dark Thirty is already making headlines. Not only for it's value as a movie, but with accusations by some that it has an agenda. Full disclosure, I am a fan of Kathryn Bigelow and quite excited about her telling the story of the hunt for bin Laden. That aside, I understand that there is creative license with the story and it is meant to entertain. If a movie provokes thought (much like I think ZDT will) so much the better. I have read at least 2 articles discussing whether the movie argues that "enhanced interrogation" (i.e. torture) is effective. My thought is, so what if it does or doesn't? If someone is thoughtful enough to try and recognize when someone is trying to sell them something in a movie, that someone should be able to weigh the evidence, theories and philosophies for that argument. People with either be lemmings or they won't. When going to the movies, one can find an agenda in ANY film, if you are looking for it. Without knowing whether Bigelow has an agenda or not, I plan to view the movie and decide for myself thereafter.
Of course some movies do not try to hide that they have an agenda. I am a fan of documentaries and believe that good ones tell stories as objectively as possible. But it can never be completely objective. Just by choosing a particular topic, the documentary filmmaker has an agenda but working to bring that topic and its surrounding issues to the public eye. Fictional stories in movies can be hyperbolic and use half-truths to sell a point. However, the viewer knows that it is fiction and will presumably sort out their beliefs/feelings from that storyline. At least I hope they would. On a cynical day, I don't know that people are capable or willing to do that.
I had heard recently that Tom Hardy, Tobey Maguire and DiCaprio were working on a film about poaching. As an animal lover and wildlife advocate, that is a movie that I hope has an agenda. The potential for good acting and storytelling is there, which might draw me in otherwise. But an agenda that I agree with will draw me in just as quick.
I think that is the case with the majority of people. If they want to be entertained, or they agree with the agenda (intended or not) of a movie, they will buy tickets. Movies seem to be so targeted. Targeted to a demographic, to an award, or to a cause. But they are all targeted to make money. Money for the studio, for an actor, and/or director. That movie may not translate directly to money, but to opportunity or to fame. In that regard, ALL movies have an agenda.
