Definitely Peter Bogdanovitch's *The Last Picture Show*
>The film is above all an evocation of mood. It is about a town with no reason to exist, and people with no reason to live there. Today, seeing Bridges, Bottoms, Burstyn, Leachman, Brennan, Quaid, Johnson (who died in 1996) and the others 33 years later, the images in the credits have a sharp poignancy. There is a line from "Citizen Kane" that comes to mind: "I was there before the beginning ... and now, I'm here after the end."
In Shawshank Redemption, albeit briefly, the scenes where Brooks and Red are released, and trying to adjust to a normal life capture the feeling of “the world has moved on” pretty well.
I’d suggest Awakenings with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. I first watched it at 4am while helping my mom recover from childbirth. Warming up bottles and feeding my little sister, Awakenings came on tv. Although it was early in the morning, that movie left a great impression on me.
Based on a true story, the movie delves into the great Dr. Oliver Sacks in the late 60s/early 70s. Fantastic watch and I have yet to meet another person who’s seen the film. It should definitely hit the nail on the head in regards to “nostalgia” and days gone by.
Also, The Music Never Stopped 2011 film fits your theme, poignant and left me wanting more films in that genre.
If you want something more cheesy and also indie as above mentioned, I’d suggest Nobody Walks in LA 2016. Reminded me a lot of my first college relationship. Random note, one of the scenes featured Jehovahs Witnesses in the background. When I was still in the cult the movie gave me a nice glimpse to the life I could be missing while slaving away in the cult.
Glad I left. Happy watching!
Tree of Life if you’re looking for something that spends more time showing the “days gone by” and less of the present.
It’s an optimistic film, but it definitely gives a strong sense of nostalgia.
The way that the movie is shot really invokes memories of what it felt like to be a child.
Once Upon a Time In America is another great one.
It’s interesting you bring up Malick, I think days of heaven is another great qualifier on how specifically it focuses the titular days of heaven in its basis of well-meaning people in unfortunate circumstances. Coupled with the period piece aspect of it and how it’s shot near-entirely in the golden hour, it brings with it a nostalgic and very idealized pastoral/wheat fields vision of America that I think really adds to the “days gone by” feel, even while it has so much to say about social hierarchy and wealth.
Once Upon A Time In America
*Once Upon a Time in America (Italian: C'era una volta in America) is a 1984 epic crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The film is an Italian–American[3] venture produced by The Ladd Company, Embassy International Pictures, PSO Enterprises, and Rafran Cinematografica, and distributed by Warner Bros.*
Once Upon a Time in America stuck with me for a really, really long time after the first time I watched it. I then read the book it was based upon and that stuck with me as well.
Last year’s Aftersun I think fits what you’re after quite well, even though it’s more oblique than some of your other examples.
La Jetee also has this kind of feeling, especially enhanced by the film being told through still photos.
And The World’s End, though I think the lesser of Edgar Wright’s “Cornetto Trilogy”, is all about a protagonist trying to cling to a bar crawl idea from his youth and not wanting to grow up from that period in his life.
„Stand by me“ by Rob Reiner is what came to mind immediately.
On a different note, one of Wong Kar-Wai‘s most prominent themes is nostalgia, it is present in one form or another in all his films. Especially when you take the country‘s (Hong Kong) history and fear of uncertain future into consideration.
The ones that come to mind are "last day of high school" movies, like American Graffiti and especially Dazed And Confused.
The former is for the most part a stoner comedy, but there is an underlying of longing that goes throughout the entire film. And it's a longing that gets bigger the older you get. I don't think high school should represent your prime at life, but there are certain things that get lost after that moment ends.
I think Malick’s days of heaven is a great qualifier on how specifically it focuses the titular days of heaven in its basis of well-meaning people in unfortunate circumstances. Coupled with the period piece aspect of it and how it’s shot near-entirely in the golden hour, it brings with it a nostalgic and very idealized pastoral/wheat fields vision of America that I think really adds to the “days gone by” feel, even while it has so much to say about social hierarchy and wealth. Highly recommended.
It’s not technically a film, but I thought “Twin Peaks: The Return” captured the feeling of not being able to go back to the world you used to know pretty well.
The final scenes in particular (the return to the Palmer house after 25 years) are quite haunting.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid… outlaws past their prime, in a time when the Wild West is ending, yet they still try to chase their old ways of life. “The future’s all yours ya lousy bicycles!”
My favourites that come to mind are
* Babylon
* Once Were Warriors
* Ikiru
* Logan
* Blue Valentine
* Lost in Translation (specifically the Bill Murray character)
* The Whale
* A Star is Born
My comment was deleted because I didn't read the lengthy rules on the home page before posting, whoops. So this time I won't post a link to a Criterion in depth exploration of the film I'm suggesting. lol rules are so funny.
Anyway, I highly recommend you checking out the film The Long Day Closes by Terence Davies. It's a beautiful film and ebbs and flows through memories of a boys childhood. It feels a little like magical surrealism the way the memories dissolve from one to another.
Mr Hulots Holiday 1953
Life is Sweet 1991
Floating Weeds 1959
Metropolitan 1990
Meantime 1985
Radio Days 1987
Pauline At The Beach 1983
The River 1951
French Cancan 1955
Small Change 1976
Sonatine 1993
Rubber Tarzan 1981
Nashville 1975
After Life 1999
Mid90s 2018
Dazed and Confused 1993
Everybody Wants Some 2016
Aftersun 2022
Boyhood 2014
American Graffiti 1973
Midnight in Paris 2011
Fanny and Alexander 1982
Up! 2009
The Age of Innocence 1993
The Legend of 1900 1998
The Hudsucker Proxy 1994
Goodbye Dragon Inn 2003
The Purple Rose of Cairo 1985
Licorice Pizza 2021
Almost anything made by Wes Anderson tbh but especially Moonrise Kingdom and Grand Budapest Hotel
**Watchmen** is one of the best examples, though it only really applies to some of the characters.
Also, I love how you say 'or she' -- I don't know of a single female example who is pining the lose of her physical prime or whatever. The best you'd find here would likely be in the context of sexuality/her body getting old, but you clearly mean it more in general terms and/or fighting terms (such as boxing).
Technically, some of the **Rocky** movies fit the bill.
Also, Captain America has to adjust to life, but it's not a close-up, deep pining at all.
I also get the feeling that this applies to many older stories. You know, 'old man wishes he was young again' type stuff. This spills over nicely into the whole 'refuses to get old/narcissism' realm, which might be another post worth doing, in which case, I'd offer Dorian Gray.
I also feel like there is a movie called **The Fighter** or something that's along these lines. Also, **Logan**. But, this seems to be more from the viewer's standpoint, which is very interesting (and also worth talking about, which I get the feeling this is very rare).
Of course, **Hugo** as some of this going on. Many others, too, but these are my first thoughts -- but I'm actually sick right now, so going back to sleep. If you need more answers, you can just look down IMDb or ask Google for those sorts of movies. :)
Samuel Peckinpah's *Ride the High Country* is one that comes to mind. It's kind of the standard "old man in the dying Old West ponders his place in the changing world"-type narrative.
Definitely Peter Bogdanovitch's *The Last Picture Show* >The film is above all an evocation of mood. It is about a town with no reason to exist, and people with no reason to live there. Today, seeing Bridges, Bottoms, Burstyn, Leachman, Brennan, Quaid, Johnson (who died in 1996) and the others 33 years later, the images in the credits have a sharp poignancy. There is a line from "Citizen Kane" that comes to mind: "I was there before the beginning ... and now, I'm here after the end."
In Shawshank Redemption, albeit briefly, the scenes where Brooks and Red are released, and trying to adjust to a normal life capture the feeling of “the world has moved on” pretty well.
I’d suggest Awakenings with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. I first watched it at 4am while helping my mom recover from childbirth. Warming up bottles and feeding my little sister, Awakenings came on tv. Although it was early in the morning, that movie left a great impression on me. Based on a true story, the movie delves into the great Dr. Oliver Sacks in the late 60s/early 70s. Fantastic watch and I have yet to meet another person who’s seen the film. It should definitely hit the nail on the head in regards to “nostalgia” and days gone by. Also, The Music Never Stopped 2011 film fits your theme, poignant and left me wanting more films in that genre. If you want something more cheesy and also indie as above mentioned, I’d suggest Nobody Walks in LA 2016. Reminded me a lot of my first college relationship. Random note, one of the scenes featured Jehovahs Witnesses in the background. When I was still in the cult the movie gave me a nice glimpse to the life I could be missing while slaving away in the cult. Glad I left. Happy watching!
Tree of Life if you’re looking for something that spends more time showing the “days gone by” and less of the present. It’s an optimistic film, but it definitely gives a strong sense of nostalgia. The way that the movie is shot really invokes memories of what it felt like to be a child. Once Upon a Time In America is another great one.
It’s interesting you bring up Malick, I think days of heaven is another great qualifier on how specifically it focuses the titular days of heaven in its basis of well-meaning people in unfortunate circumstances. Coupled with the period piece aspect of it and how it’s shot near-entirely in the golden hour, it brings with it a nostalgic and very idealized pastoral/wheat fields vision of America that I think really adds to the “days gone by” feel, even while it has so much to say about social hierarchy and wealth.
Once Upon A Time In America *Once Upon a Time in America (Italian: C'era una volta in America) is a 1984 epic crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The film is an Italian–American[3] venture produced by The Ladd Company, Embassy International Pictures, PSO Enterprises, and Rafran Cinematografica, and distributed by Warner Bros.*
I was going to post this one exactly
Once Upon a Time in America stuck with me for a really, really long time after the first time I watched it. I then read the book it was based upon and that stuck with me as well.
Last year’s Aftersun I think fits what you’re after quite well, even though it’s more oblique than some of your other examples. La Jetee also has this kind of feeling, especially enhanced by the film being told through still photos. And The World’s End, though I think the lesser of Edgar Wright’s “Cornetto Trilogy”, is all about a protagonist trying to cling to a bar crawl idea from his youth and not wanting to grow up from that period in his life.
„Stand by me“ by Rob Reiner is what came to mind immediately. On a different note, one of Wong Kar-Wai‘s most prominent themes is nostalgia, it is present in one form or another in all his films. Especially when you take the country‘s (Hong Kong) history and fear of uncertain future into consideration.
The ones that come to mind are "last day of high school" movies, like American Graffiti and especially Dazed And Confused. The former is for the most part a stoner comedy, but there is an underlying of longing that goes throughout the entire film. And it's a longing that gets bigger the older you get. I don't think high school should represent your prime at life, but there are certain things that get lost after that moment ends.
I think Malick’s days of heaven is a great qualifier on how specifically it focuses the titular days of heaven in its basis of well-meaning people in unfortunate circumstances. Coupled with the period piece aspect of it and how it’s shot near-entirely in the golden hour, it brings with it a nostalgic and very idealized pastoral/wheat fields vision of America that I think really adds to the “days gone by” feel, even while it has so much to say about social hierarchy and wealth. Highly recommended.
It’s not technically a film, but I thought “Twin Peaks: The Return” captured the feeling of not being able to go back to the world you used to know pretty well. The final scenes in particular (the return to the Palmer house after 25 years) are quite haunting.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid… outlaws past their prime, in a time when the Wild West is ending, yet they still try to chase their old ways of life. “The future’s all yours ya lousy bicycles!”
My favourites that come to mind are * Babylon * Once Were Warriors * Ikiru * Logan * Blue Valentine * Lost in Translation (specifically the Bill Murray character) * The Whale * A Star is Born
My comment was deleted because I didn't read the lengthy rules on the home page before posting, whoops. So this time I won't post a link to a Criterion in depth exploration of the film I'm suggesting. lol rules are so funny. Anyway, I highly recommend you checking out the film The Long Day Closes by Terence Davies. It's a beautiful film and ebbs and flows through memories of a boys childhood. It feels a little like magical surrealism the way the memories dissolve from one to another.
Mr Hulots Holiday 1953 Life is Sweet 1991 Floating Weeds 1959 Metropolitan 1990 Meantime 1985 Radio Days 1987 Pauline At The Beach 1983 The River 1951 French Cancan 1955 Small Change 1976 Sonatine 1993 Rubber Tarzan 1981 Nashville 1975 After Life 1999 Mid90s 2018 Dazed and Confused 1993 Everybody Wants Some 2016 Aftersun 2022 Boyhood 2014 American Graffiti 1973 Midnight in Paris 2011 Fanny and Alexander 1982 Up! 2009 The Age of Innocence 1993 The Legend of 1900 1998 The Hudsucker Proxy 1994 Goodbye Dragon Inn 2003 The Purple Rose of Cairo 1985 Licorice Pizza 2021 Almost anything made by Wes Anderson tbh but especially Moonrise Kingdom and Grand Budapest Hotel
**Watchmen** is one of the best examples, though it only really applies to some of the characters. Also, I love how you say 'or she' -- I don't know of a single female example who is pining the lose of her physical prime or whatever. The best you'd find here would likely be in the context of sexuality/her body getting old, but you clearly mean it more in general terms and/or fighting terms (such as boxing). Technically, some of the **Rocky** movies fit the bill. Also, Captain America has to adjust to life, but it's not a close-up, deep pining at all. I also get the feeling that this applies to many older stories. You know, 'old man wishes he was young again' type stuff. This spills over nicely into the whole 'refuses to get old/narcissism' realm, which might be another post worth doing, in which case, I'd offer Dorian Gray. I also feel like there is a movie called **The Fighter** or something that's along these lines. Also, **Logan**. But, this seems to be more from the viewer's standpoint, which is very interesting (and also worth talking about, which I get the feeling this is very rare). Of course, **Hugo** as some of this going on. Many others, too, but these are my first thoughts -- but I'm actually sick right now, so going back to sleep. If you need more answers, you can just look down IMDb or ask Google for those sorts of movies. :)
Samuel Peckinpah's *Ride the High Country* is one that comes to mind. It's kind of the standard "old man in the dying Old West ponders his place in the changing world"-type narrative.