Courses

To paraphrase Tolstoy, bad movies tend to be alike, but great movies are great in their own way. Each one is a new discovery, a new combination of elements, original and heartfelt, usually a work of vision and passion. Yet they do have recurring characteristics: They tend to say something true about their time. They usually enunciate or embody a timeless truth about the human experience. They often contain a great performance. They usually have one or two unforgettable, emblematic moments. And they usually have a point of view, a personal signature that pulls all of the elements into sharp relief.

Mick LaSalle has spent years studying great movies and trying to recognize them “in the cradle,” before anyone takes them seriously. Through clips that illustrate each of the above criteria, and through watching full-length films that contain the elements of greatness, students will learn to separate the classic from the ephemeral and to spot which films will stand the test of time. Among the films studied will be Casablanca, Some Like It Hot, Elmer Gantry, Inglourious Basterds, The Lives of Others, and Like Crazy.