How Much Do You Think About the Movies You Love? 
The Commons Team

Have you ever wondered what the Commons staff team talk about after their Tuesday team meeting? Some of my (Bobbi) favourite conversations are about the stories and art that have impacted us. So, I asked the team three questions about movies they think about, and here are their responses. 

Ask the people you love these questions. The responses are revelatory. 

What’s your go-to, sick-day, feel-better movie? What’s comforting about it for you?

Bobbi: Before Sunset (2004) is a movie I love to rewatch. In it, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) walk around Paris, reconnecting after their first meeting in Vienna almost ten years earlier. It’s about the big questions in life, the chemistry that sticks over time, and wondering, “Is this love?” It’s just two people walking, talking, and hanging out. I love it.  

Jeremy: High Fidelity (2000) is one of my all-time favourites. Jack Black before he was famous (and he doesn't outstay his welcome). John Cusack being sad and confused about women. And it all takes place in a record store. A+

Kevin: Pixar's Luca (2021) celebrates the summer season and all its possibilities. It’s a reminder to be a kid again: slowing down to explore a new place and making a new friend. In that, you realize that you belong.

Patricia: My go-to, feel-good movie is Spirited Away (2001). I find it comforting for its nostalgia as a movie that I first enjoyed as a kid, as well as for its hand-drawn style of animations.

Scott: I will likely watch one/all the Jason Bourne (2002, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2016) movies. Action + intrigue + identity quest = comfort.

Yelena:Hunt for the Wilderpeople(2016). It's a story about how, no matter our differences, we can accept and welcome each other through shared life, love, and grief. I can watch this movie anytime for the humour, the sadness, and the gorgeous New Zealand landscapes.
 

What movie has most shaped or impacted you? Describe something about the power of this movie in your life.

Alexandra: Best in Show (2000) and other Christopher Guest movies introduced me to that dry, offbeat humour I hadn't seen before and connected with. At the same time, he's tender with his characters. It's a bit of a guide to look out at the world with humour, curiosity, and gentleness.

Ashley: Life is Beautiful (1997) with Roberto Benigni. It's heartbreaking and beautiful. I think this shaped me to use creativity and humour with my kids, even amid tragedy.

Bobbi: La Bamba (1987). As a kid, I was obsessed with this movie about Ritchie Valens before he died at age seventeen in a plane crash. It’s a bit morbid for a ten-year-old, and I’ve only recently started asking myself why I loved it so much. I think it has to do with the pursuit of one’s own life, that there is tragedy and unfairness everywhere, and the power of something new (rock music!) to bring people together. La Bamba is my plug for letting kids love what they love. 

Jeremy: Tree of Life (2011). This is the epitome of a self-indulgent art house film, but I loved it. The creation of our personal worlds set in contrast with the formation of the universe, the way childhood memories can irrevocably shape our view of this life and the next. Plus, it's just a beautifully shot film.

Kalie:The Lion King(1994) has always been a movie I've held close to my heart. It was the first movie I saw in a theatre as a kid. I can remember the excitement of driving to Calgary to pick up my cousins before heading to the theatre to see it together, spending quality time when we rewatched it (for a while, it was one of the only VHS tapes we owned), and dancing to the great soundtrack. 
 

If Jesus popped by your place for a movie night, what movie would you want to watch with the Lord? Why?

Alexandra: I can't think of a better movie to watch with the Lord Jesus Christ than Wayne's World (1992). I want to laugh and quote the genius of Myers and Carvey with him. "We're not worthy! We're not worthy!"

Bobbi: Past Lives (2023). This movie about old friends coming back together after so much has changed is worth all the attention it’s been getting. But I’d want to watch this movie with Jesus to explore how amazing it is to be devoted to one another and how much more Jesus would add to the conversation about love. 

Jeremy: I'd watch Tenet (2020) with Jesus and ask him to explain it to me. I loved this movie, but I'm still working it out in my head. Time travel is trippy.

Kevin: Godzilla Minus One (2023). This movie is set in post-WWII. The people of Japan face down Godzilla; however, maybe the effects of the war are even far worse than the monster. In response, they consider what a nonviolent defense against Godzilla would look like. I think Jesus would be all for this film.

Scott: Life of Brian (Monty Python) so that I could watch Jesus live tweet the historical inaccuracies.

Yelena: Forrest Gump (1994). I want to see Jesus laugh, cry, and tell me that we’re all going to be ok. 

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