Over a year ago, I wrote a post on the Top Ten Populist movies (as a response to a number of sites I’d come across that listed libertarian films). That post has steadily become one of the most read posts on this blog. Since I love movies, I wanted to post a sort of sequel: this time on the top communitarian films of all time.
1. After making a rough list yesterday, I spent a few minutes googling around, and found I had been beaten to the punch. It’s a good list (and a good blog overall), but I still wanted to add my own take. Besides, there are only a couple of overlaps between the lists.
2. I didn’t want this list to veer toward the in-your-face communitarian message; no Crash, no Grand Canyon, no Pay it Forward, nothing that has as an overt theme that one person’s actions impact everything in their environment.
3. What I DID want, was the opposite of the “one-day-I’m-gonna-get-outta-this-town” message. The anti-Rudy, anti-All the Right Moves, anti-Truman Show. I’m interested in movies that celebrate hometowns, extended families, and lack of mobility.
4. There is some crossover between populist films and communitarian films, just as there is crossover between populism and communitarianism. Some movies, like “It’s a Wonderful Life” force their way onto both lists. Most times, I tried to exclude movies from the first list – even if they easily could’ve fit here as well.
5. The movies are in no particular order.
To the list first, thoughts on the selections later…
1. Doc Hollywood
2. It’s a Wonderful Life
3. Groundhog Day
4. Last Hurrah (this might’ve been more appropriate for the Populist films list given the qualifications I listed there, but I hadn’t seen the movie then, and it fits comfortably here too).
5. Phenomenon
6. Witness
7. In and Out
8. Moonstruck
9. Waking Ned Devine
10. Sweet Home Alabama
One very big honorable mention:
In the Heights. If/when this musical is made into a movie, it will very easily make this list.
[UPDATE JUNE 3, 2010: This list is going to have to go beyond 10. No way I can leave out “Avalon,” “Circle of Friends,” “The Majestic,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and “Once Upon a Time, When We Were Colored.”]
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