what makes a good movie?

this is a question that has plagued me recently. the last few movies i've seen (unfortunately in the company of my man) have left me feeling as if i've been beat down. i'm being serious - i have actually felt physical reprecussions as the result of certain movies. most notably was the one i saw last night moonlight. i'll save my review for later.

anyway, what i feel makes a good movie:

1. i leave feeling as if i've learned something. now this doesn't work with absolutely every movie that i consider good but it's a key feature for me. i also don't mean that i've learned something in a scholarly sense but i enjoy learning about little human details. example: "happiness". many people are (and i understand) disturbed by this movie. i was too but i love the little icky details of these peoples lives. i loved watching jane addams attempt to teach an ESL class. learning how others handle the emotions/situations is always fun for me. i realize it's just a movie but again: art imitates life. that's my view anyway.

2. it's just plain watchable. my favorite example of this NOT being true is "blair witch project". while i consider it just a good idea gone bad in general, it was absolutely torturous to view. sure, that was part of their point but shaking a camera for an hour does not a good movie or point make. come on! an opposite is "il postino" - not a great movie but it was full of gorgeous cinematography.

3. "...and the oscar for best actor goes to...". of course the acting must be convincing. and if you watch movies at all you know that the best acting jobs are often the most subtle. if you know what i mean. one of my favorite examples is patricia clarkson . i'll watch anything with her in it because she is an acting goddess. disagree if you must but at least watch: "station agent", "far from heaven" and "all the real girls" and you'll know what i mean. well, i would also say she was alright in "high art" but i do NOT consider that a great movie.

so, there are many other factors, in my opinion, that make a movie great but i think those are the three most important for me. for now anyway. ha. moving on...

moonlight. people on IMDb state that the movie making is amazing. i disagree 100%. people also say that the story was lacking and unbelievable and i agree 100%. the 'story' revolves around a girl (maybe 12?) who discovers a bleeding boy in the shed on the land of her very nice home. the boy, we learn in the first disturbing scene (and it only gets worse), is a drug mule from a middle eastern country. he's shot when the deal goes bad and takes shelter in her shed. the girl, we learn has just gotten her first period (one of those disturbing scenes i referenced earlier), was adopted by her wealthy hands-off parents and is generally unhappy. they run off to 'the big city' to avoid the guys who are seeking the boy. they go through all kinds of trials trying to survive on their own, rob, lie, cheat and become alcoholic coke heads. oh and of course, they fall in love. do you sense my bitterness? of course, they are acting out the loss of their innocense and sense of abandonments. it's very drawn out. i have a hard time watching children acting as adults. "me and you and everyone that we know" made me feel the same way although not as disturbed as after i watched this. essentially, the movie is really heavy. i don't think that most will enjoy it. i saw it at the hollywood theatre and they billed it as 'a dark comedy'. i'm considering suing the hollywood theatre for this false description. ok, not really. f.