Thinking films: Everyone ponders here

Five films to think about - sometimes mysterious, sometimes philosophical. Stories can inspire us and let us see the world through different eyes. Here you will find five extraordinary film classics that stimulate your thoughts.

Between Psychology and Fog: Shutter Island (2010)

With "Shutter Island" director Martin Scorsese created a true masterpiece for reflection and brooding. From several perspectives, the viewer follows the investigation of a US marshall in a psychiatric hospital located on an island in the ocean. The Marshall (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) becomes increasingly paranoid in the course of his investigations, while the boundaries between reality and delusion become increasingly blurred for the viewer.

• Above all, the excellent cast ensures the mysterious atmosphere. In addition to DiCaprio, characters such as Marc Ruffalo and Max von Sydow use their gestures and dialogues to create a mood that invites brooding. You are never sure who to trust.
• The ingeniously tricky plot from Shutter Island carries the viewer rapidly and unpredictably through the fog of the island and the inner abysses of the performers. The film has numerous surprising twists and turns.
• The film also has a historical component that flows into the viewer in a socially critical and sometimes disturbing manner and that goes back to the horrors of Nazi terror.
• If you really want to start brooding, this film is ideal for you to think about. Shutter Island is available on Amazon Prime.

Moral: True Story - Game for Power (2015)

"True Story" by director Rupert Goold asks the viewer the question of the truth of reporting and its influence on reality. The atmospheric thriller is based on Michael Finkel's autobiographical novel of the same name, which reflects his straying as a reporter.

• A reporter (Jonah Hill) meets a convict (James Franco) and tries to find out the truth by closely examining his person. At the same time, he hopes to restore his reputation as a journalist - a difficult undertaking.
• The landscape shots in wintry Montana and the atmosphere in Micheal Finkel's wooden house in the snow invite the audience to think about truth, morality and ethics, accompanied by orchestral music.
• The main actors Jonah Hill and James Franco discuss the philosophical question before our eyes in intensive dialogues: "How much truth do we need to live?" True Story is also available on Amazon Prime.

Snappy and entertaining: Match Point (2005)

Match Point is one of Woody Allen's most thoughtful films about guilt, morality and chance. A very wealthy English family welcomes two newcomers (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Scarlett Johansson) and - without realizing it - becomes the scene of a crime. Intrigue and fraud are just as much a part of the intelligent melodrama as opera and tennis.

• Here, a star lineup (including Scarlett Johansson and Brian Cox) provides a playfully flawless representation. Your own naivety is doomed, the driven narcissism prevails in the end.
• The film delivers a bittersweet social criticism without pointing a finger at anyone. The British high society and its customs and spleens are a big focus here.
• Can a tennis trainer become a son-in-law of very heavy people and keep his integrated? You can ponder these and other questions with pleasure in Match Point.

Critical: The Art of Winning - Moneyball (2011)

A baseball manager (Brad Pitt) has to put together a team with tight budgets to win the Major League. To do this, he uses an analyst (Jonah Hill) and turns baseball into a math competition. By calculating odds and probabilities, the two succeed after the other. But at what price?

• Another film with Jonah Hill. In this drama, Brad Pitt almost steals the show, because his portrayal of the nerdy analyst makes it clear to viewers how much gray statistics influence us and how powerful probability calculation is.
• "Moneyball" is a great opportunity to experience the world we live in from the perspective of its most powerful engine: statistics. The film only gives an outlook on the extent to which we experience today through algorithms and artificial intelligence.
• "Moneyball" is the ideal film for all sports fans who like to question and observe critically. This streak breathes wonderfully American air and remains amazingly authentic.

Satirical and provocative: The Lobster (2015)

In England of the future, monogamous two-way relationships have become a legal obligation. Anyone who withdraws from this will be sent to a correctional center, where he can find a partner and thus fulfill this duty. If you can't keep it up, you'll be turned into an animal of your choice.

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• In this satirical work by the Greek director Giorgos Lanthimos, Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz shine as intimidated individuals who try to survive in a brutal social system. Colin Farrell in particular offers a presentation that is unusual for him: As an inconspicuous average type with a mustache, he runs into a touching form.
• Last but not least, "The Lobster" captivates with its intensive film music, which is mainly characterized by string quartet sequences. The sound colors created in this way, which penetrate the viewer mainly in minor, emphasize the dystopian atmosphere of the society described.
• Get really brooding with "The Lobster" by Giorgos Lanthimos. The intolerably dense atmosphere of the absurd was combined with social questions that at the end of the film don't seem that far-fetched.

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These films, books and songs are free of rights from 2019

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