It's Movie Time!
Maybe it’s because Oscar season is heating up. Perhaps it was Maribeth’s post from last week, which made references to “The Boiler Room” and “Glengarry Glen Ross.” Or, most likely, it’s just that talking about movies seems like a nice, easy-going way to start the work week.
But because this blog is about insurance, I can’t justify talking about the latest blockbuster or the Dakota Fanning controversy. (I’ll allow myself a quick aside: Check out “Pan’s Labyrinth” if it’s playing at a theater near you. A+)
So let’s talk about business movies, a sub-genre that, believe it or not, is composed of quite a few excellent titles. (I suppose it depends on how strict your definition of a ‘business movie’ is—mine, for example, is lenient enough to include “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.”)
A Google search of ‘best business movies’ yielded some excellent results. Askmen.com took top billing in the search results. I initially balked at the cheesy domain name, but the site immediately won my trust with their inclusion of “Clerks” in their top ten. Askmen.com had this to say about the low-budget cult classic: “Clerks really is the story of your average slacker working-class stiff. And this is why this is a great business movie: the majority of people in business that you will have to win over could care less about making it to the corner office; most are interested in their paycheck.” OK… Let’s just say it’s a great movie and leave it at that. (Let's also mourn the fact that Kevin Smith doesn’t make funny movies—let alone funny “business movies”—anymore.)
According to Askmen.com, the best movie about business is “Citizen Kane,” Orson Welles’ 1941 masterpiece. I never considered this a business movie, but I have to agree that it’s pretty great.
While their list included movies I hadn’t heard of and might now add to the Netflix queue, there was a glaring omission in their top ten. And it’s called “Office Space.” Come on Askmen.com! Did you get that memo?! “Office Space” is perhaps the best send up of the bleaker aspects of corporate culture in existence.
The second site I visited impressed me with its depth. The site—a blog actually—is called “Busfilm,” and it goes far beyond a list of ten business movies. Busfilm provides an eccentric yet entirely precise categorization of business films based on their theme or plotline or attitude toward business:
- The evil that business does
- The cold-hearted capitalist
- Employees and bosses
- The good business
- Shareholders vs. managers
- The bad artist (wherein the “films' view of artists depends on whether they are selling out to the capitalists.”)
- Wealth-creation vs. Zero-Sum
These are just the catergory headings. To see which films belong each category, head over to the site. If you’re cinematically inclined, you won’t be disappointed.
Of course, one can’t talk about business movies without talking about “Glengarry Glen Ross.” Alas, I need to see this movie again before I can say anything intelligent about it; the only thing I can remember is that Al Pacino swore a lot.
Another good list came from Forbes.com, but since my time has run out, I’ll just include a link to their list.
Happy viewing.
P.S. Tell us your favorite business movie by leaving a comment below.
Comments
Citizen Kane a business movie? I thought it was about sledding.
But, I love the movie because it so clearly reminds us to be aware of what is important, and what we hold dear.
Posted by: Lori Reed | January 30, 2007 09:05 AM
One of my favorite movies is: "It's A wonderful life". You see both sides to business. The money hungry, selfish Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) and the compassionate servant, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart)
I've worked for and called on business people like Mr. Potter. Give me Mr. Bailey any day.
Posted by: Jed Dart | January 30, 2007 11:08 AM
I love Sabrina...both the old one and the new version with Harrison Ford.
Posted by: maribeth | January 30, 2007 11:55 AM
Thanks for your picks!
I think my favorite business movie is "The Apartment," a comedy starring Jack Lemmon. There's a great scene in which he strains pasta with a tennis racket...
Posted by: Jeb | January 30, 2007 03:01 PM
Great topic! How about 'Death of a Salesman'? The story of the sales guy, Willy Lowman - you guys would know it! It was a bit depressing, sure, but I think it made for a pretty entertaining film and book for that matter. I can't remember what the guy was selling though, can you? I don't think it was insurance! Thankfully all the insurance agents I know are a lot more happy and positive than poor old Willy!
Posted by: Michaela Roberts | February 1, 2007 09:59 PM
I gotta go with "Wall Street" for the serious movie and "The Secret of My Success" for the comedy/hardly believable business movie.
Posted by: Chris | February 6, 2007 07:34 PM