A director is someone who directs the process of making a movie. But I submit that they also direct the viewer of that movie. They direct your attention, your thought processes, your emotions. In short, to watch a movie is to let someone else control the way you think for 90-150 minutes. Subtle movements of the camera convey emotion to our subconscious in a way that words could never convince us to feel consciously. Music, coloration, focus, movement - an infinite number of tools lie at the director's feet - he takes them up alternately, or together, and crafts a story.
The first step in watching a movie is to be taken in by the story - remove distractions (and don't
be a distraction) so that you can be completely swept along by the roller-coaster ride that the director has provided. Don't focus on trying to guess what will happen next, although attempting to solve the mystery in your own mind may help you understand its intricacies more fully. But let the director tell the story, let the director show you what he wants to show you, and sit along for the ride - enjoy it.
Secondly, however, and this must be done parallel to step one (a bit of a paradox, but you'll get it) is to pay attention to
how the director is telling the story - how he is movinng you. To use the roller coaster analogy, take some time to notice the track, the cars, the structure, the clever knowledge of physics that goes into taking your stomach into your throat, etc. Pay attention to everything in the movie that is caused by the director - movies don't just fall into place. They must be shot through a camera, and someone decides where to place that camera, how to move it, how to tilt it. For the most part the actors do the acting, but they are not on a stage that you can view from whatever angle you want. The director hides and reveals exactly what he wishes through that camera lens. Watch that.
Thirdly, think back once you are done, look at the overall storyline, and more importantly the overall message. What beliefs about the world were demonstrated by this movie? Were they stated bluntly, implied by character's actions? What was the motivation for making this movie - were the ideas unique and valid, or were they cliched and safe, guaranteed to please the average audience and make some money?
Consider, rather than watching movies with your favorite actor/actress in them, to watch movies by a favorite director. Find out who directed your favorite movie, and look for more from his camera. The director is often far moreimportant than the actors in determining the quality of a movie, and also whether or not you will enjoy it. For example - Tom Cruise has been in many movies, some of which I loved, some of which I hated. But he worked with Michael Mann in Collateral, and all of Mann's movies have been ones that I've enjoyed. He worked with Steven Spielberg in Minority Report and War of the Worlds, and I enjoy most of Spielberg's movies. Chow Yun-Fat has been in some great films (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and some cheesy ones (Bulletproof Monk), but when he works with director John Woo, it is brilliance.
Some actors do well no matter who they are with, and please feel free to follow them as well. But if you seek to understand movies, not acting, then follow the director.
Additionally:
Watch. Foriegn. Films. If you can't handle paying attention to subtitles, then you haven't yet learned fo put enough mental energy into watching a movie to get what you should out of it. Watching a movie with subtitles that you must read is good training to pay a-freaking-tention. Don't know what happened to the extra 't' in that word, but a-freaking-ttention just doesn't look right. deal.
Not only do they train you to pay attention, they train you to think about interesting world views and beliefs. Films from other countries are films from other cultures. Things that are second nature in those cultures will shock your sensibilities sometimes, or leave you confused. Take the time to figure out why that happened, and think about where they are coming from. It is fine to end the day disagreeing with the movie's message, as long as you know what it was.
Remember: Directors control what you think. You wouldn't let someone manipulate your mind without knowing their agenda, and yet watching a movie without thinking about it is exactly that. So wake up! Enjoy your movie, and think about it at the same time.
