Are Movies Back?
Up until recently I could not tell you a movie that really made me sit and say “That was worth watching”. Sure there have been good movies but the quality and passion that I think the best movies possess has been lacking more recently. Films did not seem as genuine and actors seemed like they were just there for a paycheck.
On July 14th, 2023 that all changed. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strike began demanding better wages and environments for actors and workers in the industry. The people that made the movies possible saw this coming from miles away. The only people that did not see this coming however, were the production companies and studios. Since the Netflix boom, corporations knew that they had to compete and the easiest way to do that would be to pump out as many projects as possible. No thought or artistic value went into these films, it was purely about speed and promotion to get people into the theater.
Since the end of the 118 day strike I have noticed a huge shift in the quality of films produced as well as the interpersonal competition with actors and actresses that has been missing. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s you saw this rivalry in Hollywood with actors such as Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp and the list goes on. The level of talent and artistic interest was unmatched during this era and it was clear to anyone that was watching the films being made.
We have been missing that type of rivalry for years but in the recent months I believe I have seen a resurgence. Actors such as Glen Powell, Tom Holland, Timothee Chalamet, and Jacob Elordi have been making a name for themselves in Hollywood not only through the movies they make but also how they handle themselves outside of work. They are charismatic, captivating, and all people you want to keep your girlfriends or wives far away from.
To say that movies and the entertainment industry will be back to what it once was is a lie. Stories will always be changing and more people will keep pushing boundaries creatively no matter what change happens. The one thing that will not change is the audience's opinion of what the entertainment industry is. Is it a bunch of rich, perverted, sloppy old men sitting in their high rise offices in Hollywood or is it the young person with a small idea that could end up changing a culture or even an entire generation? Despite not knowing for sure, I see the industry progressing positively. Regardless of all this, just go watch some movies. They are usually pretty fun.
