Flicks that make us tick

Anika NarayananStaff WriterIf a picture is worth a thousand words, a motion picture is worth a million.We are subconsciously being shaped by the culture of films. They provide an escape, tradition and a whole arsenal of references and jokes that have become incorporated into our daily vocabulary.  Whether it is an inspiration to be something different, or just a new perspective on daily life, movies have shaped Samo students’ lives. Here, some Samo cinephiles recommend their favorite films. Grab some popcorn, update your Netflix queue and enjoy.The GooniesThe Plot: “The Goonies” is childhood at its purest. It joins the likes of “The Sandlot,” “Stand By Me” and “My Girl” for its wry charm and naughty-meets-angelic actors. After finding a pirate treasure map, “The Goonies” — a group of adolescent boys living in a downmarket suburb of Oregon — enjoy one last, rather adventurous, hurrah, battling 17th century pirates while scheming to save their families’ homes from foreclosure. Laced with dry, yet sentimental humor and the occasional heart-stopping action film moment, “The Goonies” is a hilarious nod to childhood adventure at its most innocent and well-meaning.The Recommendation: “When I saw ‘The Goonies,’ I knew I wanted to become an actor,” Liam Holness (’13), a former member of Samo’s advanced acting class and a current member of the school’s drama department said. “I would see these kids going on these adventures, and I thought, ‘Hey, I could do that too.’ I was right.” CluelessThe Plot: Every generation has its defining group of cinematic “it girls,” with their cloying voices, semi-good intentions, matching skirts and ridiculously funny catch phrases that have found a home in our daily vocabulary. While the 1980s produced “Heathers” and the 2000s brought in the classic “Mean Girls,” the 1990s were “all that” with one of the greatest queen bee comedies: “Clueless.” Cher Horowitz, the lovably dumb yet strong-minded alpha female of Beverly Hills High School is out to save the world, whether it be through fixing her awkward teachers’ dwindling love lives, the new girl in school’s social standing or the problems in Haiti. However, Cher is constantly on her ultimate quest: to find true love for herself. Set above Sunset Blvd., we get a taste of the privileged Beverly Hills life, complete with “tripped out” cars, rotating closets and a whole slough of drama and comedy worthy of a reality show.The Recommendation: “I used to watch this movie with my sister all the time,” Danielle Dawson (’16) said. “People are so caught up in this whole ‘Mean Girls’ phase that they often forget movies like this, but ‘Clueless’ is what I grew up with, and it was my first real ‘chick flick’ I could watch with my older sister, so it will always be ‘Clueless,’ not ‘Mean Girls,’ for me.”Finding NeverlandThe Plot: “Peter Pan” was the pioneer for the “forever young” phenomenon. If you can battle pirates, fly to an island that has banned adults and recruit a group of helpful, doting minions to help you in your many tasks, why grow up? But despite its extremely cheery, happy-go-lucky facade, the creation behind “Peter Pan” was a different story. “Finding Neverland” documents author J.M. Barrie’s evolving relationship with the Llewelyn-Davies family in London, and the deaths and emotional struggles that prompted Barrie to write the story “Peter Pan, the Boy Who Would Never Grow Up.” Serving as a surrogate father and playmate for the four Lleweyln-Davies sons following their father’s death, Barrie develops emotional bonds with the boys that are only strengthened upon their mother’s death as he coaxes them out of their shy, introverted shells through an introduction to the world of theater. The movie is emotionally stirring and beautifully filmed — a solemn counterpart to the cheerful, animated “Peter Pan” it spawned.The Recommendation: “I grew up with ‘Peter Pan.’ That was always a go-to story,” Claire Rawson-Dannenbaum (’16) said. “Seeing this offered perspective. I never knew where any of my childhood stories came from, but seeing a fantasy coming from very real reality was really important to me.”anarayanan@thesamohi.com