u/Eladir

There's a lot of talk about specific films, artists etc. but what about the overall approach to cinema? There are thousands of films so how do you make your picks and what's your advice for others? We all follow our own unique path in experiencing art but I think that sharing our approaches can be useful to others.

Personally, I work on two "directions". The first and easier one, is to watch the best new films. Depending on free time, how much you enjoy them, whether it's a good film year etc. this can be 30 films or 100 per year but I think that's a good range. I prioritise new films firstly because I think the mastery on most technical aspects (like visual effects, sound) is at its peak now compared to the past and secondly, because the best time to experience a film is the closest to its release. The creators are humans living like everyone else so they are influenced by the present, watching their creations as soon as possible is ideal. I pick the best films of the year by various criteria like imdb ratings, googling best films of the year lists, awards, artists I trust etc.

The second direction is older films and it's more complex. I started as a kid by watching films on TV which usually meant going back max 30 years, in genres I enjoyed the most like actions films. When internet bandwidth increased, I found the imdb top 250 film list. Then I found the theyshootpictures 1000 greatest films list that I went though. Now I make mini projects of my own, like the silent era, I made a list of the best silent films and watched them chronologically. Other projects have been music films or specific arists like Renoir and Mads Mikkelsen.

My approach for past films started kind of random then more structured and that's what I would advise. Start by watching past films from recent decades/directors/genres you most enjoy so as to build a strong base. When you feel ready for it, go even further in the past, explore directors that are famous but you don't know so much, genres that aren't your favourites but not your worst either. Finally, go for very old films up to eventually the silent era, directors recognised for their artistry but also difficulty (like Angelopoulos), genres that you dislike.

Random tips:

• I try giving all films my full attention, putting the mobile phone away is ideal.
• Never consume trailers or any material regarding a film you might watch. The less you know, the better. Even the film's duration and actors can be spoilers in a sense. It requires a lot of self-discipline but there are so many positive surprises this way.
• I rarely ever watch films a second time. That's not because I remember them perfectly or that I find no value in rewatching films. It's just that I want to experience as many new films as possible. When I get older however, I plan to rewatch the ones I enjoyed the most.
• The more self-imposed restrictions you get rid of, the better. Genres and artists you dislike, taboo or triggering subjects etc.
• Don't get discouraged when you find yourself in a phase where you don't want to watch films! The desire will probably come back after a while, especially if you mix up things with reading books, listening to music, playing games etc.
• Once fully committed to a subject, chronological order, whilst monotonous, is more rewarding.
• Be your own curator, avoid the algorithms.