How Well Do Your Friends Know Your Taste in Movies?
Who do you call for movie advice?
How well do your friends know your movie tastes? This question came to my mind over the weekend when I texted our box-office guru Laremy Legel asking him if he thought I would like the Coen brothers' film The Hudsucker Proxy. Little did he know I had just finished watching it and wanted to see if he his prediction would be spot on. His reply:
No, it's too zany and PG for you.
Considering it's an opinion relayed in a quick text it's a solid snapshot as anyone that read my most recent What I Watched column already knows, even though I would say I am more so-so on the film than to say I outright didn't like it. That said, I think Laremy understands my tastes to a point he could watch 10 films and most likely come away with at least 90% accuracy as to what my opinion on each film would be, at least to the point where he could determine whether I should see a specific movie in the theater, wait to rent it or skip it outright. Such a friend is invaluable considering the time and money investment movies have become nowadays.
Most of my other friends don't take movies as seriously as Laremy and I do, so predicting their tastes isn't an exact science. One of my friends could just eat up any dumb popcorn movie you throw in front of him. It was around the time he told me he like Confessions of a Shopaholic that I pretty much gave up on him. Another friend enjoys most any blockbuster, but is willing to admit when something is bad. He liked Transformers but was willing to admit Watchmen was a stinker. I could pretty much offer him anything I consider above average and he would be happy.
My family is pretty easy to read, although my sister is an enigma wrapped in a riddle — what she's going to love is almost an impossibility. Although, put on Clueless or a little "Seinfeld" and she's sold — I can respect that.
So what about you. Any friends you turn to for instant advice? Do you have friends or family that rely on you for the latest word on upcoming films?
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my friends all come to me on movie advice.
Same here, all my friends know me as the movie guy, so they will talk to me about any movie, good or bad from any genre, because they know I'm bound to know a thing or two about it, even if I haven't seen the movie.
Yeah, same here too :) I'm the guy who's known as a walking movie database, so everybody comes to me for an advice
People don't usually ask me if a particular movie is good or not, if they should see it or not…
However, if I mention anything about it, they tend to believe me. I suppose most friends of mine trust my taste, but don't consider it a necessary opinion.
It's funny though that, when my opinion about a particular movie is the opposite to someone else, sometimes that person nearly freaks out. 'What?!?! You didn't liked Mamma Mia? But I loved it!!'
Well me and my friends are at The University For The Creative Arts studying film production… so if one of us likes it we'll spread the word and generate a mass viewing of said awesome film… we got everyone to watch Barton Fink the other day as not many had seen it, and those who had insisted everyone watched it…. so if ya think there's a film that a friend will like then make the buggers watch it!
Like many of the previous posters, my friends come to me/know me as the movie guy. Most of them are more blockbuster people although I am slowly winning them over with some indies and foreign films. I have one friend I would go to on a film that I haven't seen to see if he has seen it. For a while we actually had a 90% likeness on Netflix, I think it is closer to the low 80s now.
I am very lucky to have a best friend that I can trust when it comes to movies. We've been going to the movies together for more than six years now, watching more than 100 movies together per year. Of course we have our differences (he loves Lucrecia Martel; I can't see the genius in her, for example), but I can rely on his opinion when I have doubts about seeing a movie. For example, he went to see "Passengers", with Anne Hathaway, a movie I wanted to see because of the director, Rodrigo Garcia – even though the trailer looked awful. He saw the movie and said: "There's an emotional resonance in the end that made me think of you". I went to see it and bang, he was damn right. The movie isn't great but the ending killed me.
As for my sister, I think I can relate to Brad. She's an enigma. She was telling her boyfriend that any movie I love is an awful movie (I told her to watch The Descent and she hated it). But at the same time we share a passion for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Bridges of Madison County.
I suppose my friends trust my opinion when it comes to movies. I used to love when I could manage to bring a crowd to see a certain movie – for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, for example, there were 8 or 10 friends, I think. It's a shame that most of them don't go to the movies anymore.
My family always asks me about upcoming films.
My friends ask me when they speak to me.
My friends come to see. Unfortunately, I have no friends who share my love for cinema, which explains why I watch most of my movies alone…dang I gotta get some friends
along with the other Nick who posted, I'm also a movie database. all my friends know me as the movie guy, and even my English teacher will direct questions about movies towards me. I definitely feel like i can be a little snotty when talking about them, and haven't really met anyone who I can talk to about movies without feeling awkward, if that makes sense. I usually report my movie watchings with my parents or my sister, we all have the same general taste. also, talking with my dad about movies (or anything) is always enlightening. I guess with his age comes his wisdom.
I don't trust one single person for all my movie advice. However, they can trust me. As my sister says:
"If JM says, 'I loved this film!" then be scared. But if he says, 'YOU will love this film,' pay attention!"
@Adriano: 8 to 10 friends for 4 Months? Man, how did they react to that one? I love that film, but it's definitely not for everyone.
Brad and Laremy — Is there a better movie duo out there right now? I think not.
Lots of my friends aren't really into film, but they'll ask me questions about upcoming films. One of my friends actually said, 'Jimmy, because of you, I actually hit the 'more info' button a lot of the time on Fandango and stuff. Thanks a lot."
@Brad Brevet: We went to a Mexican restaurant after the movie and we had a great conversation about "4 Months…". Everybody liked it, to a bigger or lesser degree. It was really nice to discuss how us, Brazilian people, felt while looking at a country we know almost nothing about, Romania. The discussion went beyond abortion – we talked about poverty, communism, if Brazil and Romania can be compared. Even though it (indeed) isn't a movie for everyone, all my friends seemed to like it.
@Adriano: I need to roll with your friends… they sound far more sophisticated than my Confessions of a Shopaholic-loving bunch…
My friends hate actually good movies and love the stupid, crappy movies and call them "the best movie or worst movie ever". He's not really a friend, but a kid in my class was convincing everybody not to see District 9 and called it the worst movie ever, but he called Pandorum the 'best movie ever' if you get what I mean.
@jakob: your friend is a sheeple, District 9 was revolutionary!
Unfortunately, most of my friends are flat out simpletons. They are serious when they say that a movie like Transformers should be nominated for Best Picture.
those are the only kind of movies they see also. I remember when they first saw The Dark Knight (on DVD, losers) and it was almost too much for them. They also butchered every awesome Joker quote there was, but if they saw something like Frost/Nixon, they'd turn it off immediately.
My family, friends & other half usually ask me since I've probably at least heard of whatever the movie is. I enjoy getting them to check out foreign films that didn't make it to our local picturehouse
But my ex has a real nose for less obvious movies that I might like and his opinion is usually pretty spot on. Picked up and saw REC when it came out for example. We still watch a lot of movies together which is cool
well, my friends always ask me what's good or not currently showing. they actually read some of my blog thoughts on the films i review that are currently showing & read my paper column before they even thought of watching it as well.
it's nice to have friends asking you for advice when they're bored on their upcoming weekend nights. but the thought drawn on me, do they only remember me when they're bored? hehehehe.