3 comedies with a special philosophy that you should watch
It is said that the practice of comedy in the seventh art is one of the most difficult practices and applications. This was evident in classic films, especially in the first half of the twentieth century. Mixing comedy with some philosophy can often be a blatant challenge to the viewer's mindset, but then pays off to make the work a standout icon if other elements of success are available.
Today we show you 3 films that you may not know, but despite their comedic rhythm and sometimes fast drama, they formed important ideas to present a philosophy of life that is often absent from us.
Free Guy
A 2021 film about a movie hero who likes to break out of the ordinary, often blatantly presenting. This time, Ryan Reynolds is showing off an idea that is absent from our world's accelerating and unprecedented world.
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Free Guy talks about the main protagonist of the story (Ryan Reynolds), and a very ordinary person, a bank teller who lives a boring routine life. He discovers that he is an unplayable character in an open-world video game called "Free City". When he meets Molly (Jodie Comer), a real player character, he decides to become the protagonist of his story and change his fate and the fate of the virtual world in which he lives.
The film may be thought of by many as a scathing critique of open-world gaming games, but it discusses ideas beyond that.
The film is a severe projection of the modern era, the life of the individual in the cycle of large corporations and institutions.
The most important philosophical ideas in the film:
Freedom and Will: Free Guy asks questions about what freedom and will are. Does the hero, as an NPC, have the same freedom and will as real players? Are his actions predetermined by the programming of the game, or is he able to make his own choices?
Reality and fiction: The film also explores the boundaries between reality and fiction. Is the virtual world of "Free City" as real as ours? Can actions in the game world affect the real world?
Meaning and purpose: Our hero searches for meaning and purpose in his life. What is his purpose in a world he does not control? How can it make a difference?
Love: Love plays an important role in the film. The hero's love for Molly inspires him to break his chains and realize his full potential.
Creativity: The film encourages creativity and innovation. The main protagonist shows great creativity in his quest to make "Free City" a better place.
In addition to these philosophical ideas, Free Guy also offers a powerful message about the importance of accepting oneself and others. The film reminds us that we are all capable of being heroes in our own stories.
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
The film stars Simon Page – British actor – who is considered one of the most important comedians of modern times. He has starred in many important films with meaningful messages.
The film talks about Sidney Young (Simon Page), an aspiring writer who moves from London to New York City to work for a large and well-known magazine covering events about Hollywood and other worlds, Sydney soon discovers that the world of journalism in New York is cruel and competitive, and that he must abandon his principles and values in order to succeed.
The most important philosophical ideas in the film:
Ambition and happiness: Sydney is looking for success and happiness, but soon realizes that the pursuit of fame and money does not bring him true happiness.
Honesty and integrity: Sydney is under pressure to give up his honesty and integrity in order to advance in his career. He eventually learns that the most important thing is to be honest with himself and others.
Love and relationships: Sydney has difficulty forming meaningful relationships due to his arrogant demeanor. Through this, he discovers the importance of love and friendship.
Appearances vs. Reality: The world of journalism in New York is more concerned with appearances than substance. Sydney learns that the most important thing is to be a kind and compassionate person, no matter what others think.
Self-identity: Sydney struggles to find his identity in a rapidly changing world. Then he discovers that the path of reconciliation with oneself is to be his nature.
The film did not achieve the great success initially expected its makers, despite its constellation of stars, perhaps because it is blatantly exposed to the world of filmmakers and journalism. But it is still considered one of the most important films that dealt with this world. The film shaped there are situations and projections on the world of fame that were very scathing in their cinematic presentation.
It is worth noting that the film is based mainly on the memoir of the same name by British writer Toby Young.
The Truman Show
The film stars the naughty Jim Carrey, who, despite his very satirical style, features very complex ideas in some of his works. This movie is from her ...
The Truman Show tells the story of Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey), a man who believes he lives an ordinary life in a small coastal town. In fact, Truman lives without his knowledge on a round-the-clock reality TV show, where every moment of his life is broadcast live to millions of viewers around the world. Truman begins to doubt the truth of his reality and sets out to seek the truth.
The most important ideas presented by the film:
Reality and Illusion: The film explores the nature of reality and illusion. Is Truman's life real, or is it just an illusion created for television?
Control and manipulation: The film shows how the media can be used to control and manipulate people. Truman does not realize that his life is controlled by producers and directors in his TV show.
Freedom and Will: The film asks questions about freedom and will. Is Truman free in his choices, or is he controlled by his pre-programmed destiny?
Meaning and purpose: Truman searches for meaning and purpose in his life. What is his purpose in a world he does not control?
Happiness: In the end, The Truman Show is about happiness. Truman understands that true happiness comes from living a real life, even if it's full of challenges and risks.
