The Power of Film

A large proportion of the most commercially successful American films are quickly forgotten; a tiny fraction are truly memorable, lasting from one generation to another; Howard Suber asks why this small minority continues to have such power.

Nearly all memorable stories, whether told in movies or in real life, are about traps; the most memorable are generally about the loss, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph the central character must engage in to escape their trap.

There is no such thing as an interesting character, there are only interesting character relationship; the structure of most memorable dramatic plots centers on a single individual.

Film drama frequently treats central characters as if they were heroes or villains, but often the two are very much alike.

In almost every memorable film, things are not what they seem, and learning the truth about characters and situations creates much of the tension in the film. Often, the truth of the film is quite paradoxical, which is what makes us want to keep watching.

Many of cinema's most memorable love stories end with the separation or death of one or both lovers; the paradox underlying the film helps explains why they stick in viewers' memories.