‘I really like that movie, I just don’t care about it’

Greg Ferrara writes:

Ever had that happen? Ever had a movie become a favorite not because of the plot but because of the feel? The locations? The actors? The music? That’s Hopscotch for me. Everything about it makes me feel good when I watch it, from the beautiful locales to the operatic pieces that fill the soundtrack to the general relaxed feel it has. It’s a spy movie in which no one gets killed and there is no bloodshed. And there are no real stakes for the audience. It may as well be a PBS travelogue for all the emotional investment the movie builds up in its characters. It’s not that the movie doesn’t care for its characters or the audience doesn’t like them enough to care what happens, it’s just that the audience is aware from the start that nothing will happen to Matthau or Jackson so it’s an invitation to just sit back and enjoy the ride. (…)

All of this sounds a bit strange, loving a movie for which I have no emotional investment whatsoever. But who said favorite movies have to be powerful emotional experiences, or thrilling adventures, or nail biting suspense, or rollicking comedy? Can’t a favorite movie be something that just kind of makes you feel good when it’s on, even if you don’t really care what part of the movie is playing? Well, that’s Hopscotch. I recommend it fully as a good movie and satisfying entertainment. But, honestly, for me, it’s just about the feeling I get from it and I’m not sure that will translate to anyone else.

I’ve actually never seen this — the pairing just seemed too weird…

And anyway, I have a bunch of movies and TV shows like that, and I believe others do, too; bingewatching is particularly comforting when you’re sick in bed, for instance.

I find the lighting design in The X-Files, Criminal Minds, the original CSI and even old Oprah episodes very relaxing.