These films show in-class movies don’t have to be boring

Courtesy of UCLA Newsroom

"Twelve Years a Slave" (2013).

It’s hard not to love watching films shown in classes; if nothing else, they’re a good change of pace from the usual curriculum and often highly educational as well. Here is my guide to the best in-class movies I have seen so far mid way through my junior year.

6. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”: 2013

The short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber is the quintessential story of a man whose outlandish daydreams drag him from the fabric of reality and pull him deeply into wild, implausible daydreams. The movie, starring Ben Stiller in the lead role, takes the plot a step further by portraying Walter Mitty as photographer department assets manager in the last days of the dying Life Magazine as it prepares to shut its doors permanently. In seeking a perfect cover photo, Walter embarks on a multiple continent-spanning journey in an effort to find a lost negative from a famed photographer. The creative cinematic spin to an already-splendid story is why “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” deserves a spot on this list.

5. “McFarland, USA”: 2015

In the midst of spring English 10, a fortuitous but warm family movie brought joy to many 10th-grade classrooms. “McFarland” details the exhilarating story of a cross country team in Bakersfield, California, who, under the guidance of their coach played by Kevin Costner, undergoes grueling training as student-athletes and advance to the State Championship. 

By interweaving motifs of financial hardship, perseverance, and community, “McFarland, USA” leaves a lasting positive impression upon eager viewers. The movie intertwines very well with the rest of the English 10 curriculum, especially with the “Bean Trees” multicultural unit by showcasing success in sports from a diverse lens. 

4. “Cyrano de Bergerac” various adaptations

“Cyrano de Bergerac” is one of the least appreciated but most impeccable works in the English 9 curriculum. While its format diverges from more standard novels, the play nevertheless conveys not only the complex socioeconomic dynamics of the France at a time of upheaval but also the universal themes of love and sacrifice. The various film adaptations of Cyrano de Bergerac add depth to the already-humorous story and occasionally add a contemporary twist to the classic.

Some notable recent adaptations include “The Half of It,” a contemporary adaptation involving high schoolers, and “Cyrano,” a 2021 musical version featuring a hilariously played protagonist by Peter Dinklage.

3. “Thirteen Days”: 2000

The Cuban Missile Crisis of the early 1960s was one of the most intense diplomatic conflicts in world history, and no single film can truly do the incident justice. However, “Thirteen Days,” also starring Kevin Costner as White House adviser Kenneth P. O’Donnell, comes as close as it gets to portraying the precise decision making, critical thinking and crucial luck involved in the ordeal. It is shown in World History classes.

Although it contains certain inaccuracies for the benefit of film interpretation, including the fictitious and slightly awkward pep talk with UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson, the movie nonetheless captures the perspective a White House aide working fervently to prevent the world from devolving into nuclear catastrophe.

The film, viewed in the middle of the Cold War unit, subtly encapsulates the broader overarching themes of tension and misunderstanding present during the past century.

2. “Of Mice and Men”: 1992

Surprisingly, John Steinbeck’s third-best novel (after Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden) is still regarded as one of the best American literary works ever written. Its 1992 film adaptation starring Gary Sinise as George Milton and John Malkovich as Lennie Small. It is shown in English 9 and lives up to the lofty expectations of the novel. 

In a manner which inexplicably engenders sympathy for the cutthroat lives of Great Depression-era farm workers, the film not only portrays the roaming farmer theme prevalent in many other Steinbeck novels, but also adds depth to the characters through scenes depicting their labor-intensive, downtrodden lives.

1. “Twelve Years a Slave”:2013

Few films touch upon the harsh realities of slavery as well as “Twelve Years a Slave.” The movie details the story of a free African American man named Solomon Northrup, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who was forced into slavery in the south. Throughout the roller coaster of heartfelt and gruesome scenes, viewers are educated about the true severity to which the enslaved were treated, the extreme degree of racism many plantation-owning plutocrats believed in, the culture of the African diaspora, the family values they cherish, and the hardship each victim of the institution faced. Despite the rich learning value the film offers, some of the scenes were understandably disturbing and a trigger warning is advised. Some students(myself included) may need to step out for a few scenes which involve violence or other restricted content. Nevertheless, this film is a perfect introduction to Beloved by Toni Morrison read in English 11 Honors classes. Because of its scope and power, it deserves the Oscar for best film shown in SHS classes each year.