We all love film. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be blogging or podcasting or reading film blogs or listening to their respective podcasts. We all love film, but not all of us love long movies. I enjoy long films, so this list is all about my favorite films that are 3 hours or longer. These are films that I believe find a way to keep the audience engaged without sacrificing an elaborate story or complex character development. These are films that don’t let you think “wow how much longer is this film? ..my legs are starting to fall asleep” or “man how much time is left? I don’t wear watches anymore and I’m a responsible and respectful theatre patron and I turned off my mobile device so as not to take away from anyone elses theatre-going experience. Yeah me and my boyfriend are arguing, but I’m enthralled by this film and have no need to show my friends in the middle of a dark theatre during a pivotal plot point a cryptic text message he sent me 39 minutes ago. I’m a good person.”
But I digress, in order for a film to be on the list it had to be 3 hours or longer. It also has to be the theatrical version, because if I could include Director’s Cuts, Unrated Cuts, Ultimate Cuts, Special Edition Cuts, (you get the idea) then this list would be much longer. There are still films I haven’t seen like Ghandi or Seven Samurai and I haven’t seen any of those experimental films that are 7 or 90 or 240 hours long because…. well… even though I don’t have a girlfriend, I’d like to think I have a life. A lot of films I wanted to include were just minutes short of 3 hours, films like Cloud Atlas, Watchmen, and The Sound of Music. (The Sound of Music has a runtime of 179 minutes! 179 Minutes! My Favorite Things got 2 reprises! Edelweiss couldn’t be a minute longer? The Lonely Goatherd couldn’t get an extended reprise!??! It’s decisions like this that make Rogers & Hammerstein so overrated. Hacks. Both of them.) Again, I digress… the 7 films are listed by run time starting with the shortest. Have a favorite long film? Least favorite? Maybe you’re as fed up with Rogers & Hammerstein as I am? Comment and let me know!
Magnolia (1999) 188 Minutes OR 3.13 Hours
I’m still trying to figure out what the hell this movie is about. It’s a day in the life of a group of people whose lives intertwine in the most unexpected ways. The film’s conclusion is… well, you’ll just have to see it to really understand it. Magnolia takes you on a journey and performances Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzman, and Tom Cruise keep it entertaining and keep you involved. Watching this film makes me appreciate the writing and directing of Paul Thomas Anderson and makes me anticipate his future projects.
The Green Mile (1999) 189 Minutes OR 3. 15 Hours
Who doesn’t love Tom Hanks? This film, to me, has become his Shawshank Redemption. Whenever it’s on tv, I have to watch it. I know the dialogue, I know what’s going to happen, but I just have to watch. And as many times as I’ve watched it, I’ve never noticed this film was longer than three hours. There is enough story and side plot to entertain you and then some. It’s become a family favorite and whenever it’s on, my father and mother begin quoting it, which is cool, but at the same time bizarre. My folks don’t care for long films, but they’re able to sit through this one the whole way even when casually flipping through and catching it as it begins, knowing full well they have other things to do.
JFK (1991) 189 Minutes OR 3.15 Hours
JFK is a long film. It’s drawn out and it feels LONG; but that’s the point. It took years from New Orleans DA Jim Garrison to get the case and all the facts together. Constantly fact checking, constantly talking to witnesses or those that had some involvement with the JFK assassination would tire anybody out. That’s why when the film ends, you let out a sigh of relief, get up to stretch your legs, and reflect. Reflect on the incredible acting jobs from Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, John Candy, Ed Asner, Jack Lemmon, Vincent D’Onofrio, just to name a few. And it let’s you reflect on the JFK Assassination. Over 50 years later, and this murder mystery remains studied and discussed by universities, historians, and countless conspiracy theorists. Despite what you believe happened to JFK, the film is fantastic and is worth every minute of your time.
Schindler’s List (1993) 195 Minutes OR 3.25 Hours
Schindler’s List, by any means, is not a happy film. It deals with one of the toughest times in the history of the world realistically and respectfully. It’s a film that everyone should watch in high school or college when learning about world history because Schindler’s List is able to bring you the feeling in the air and the emotions of those effected by the Holocaust. It becomes more than a film, it becomes a document. But unlike most documents, and historical based documentaries, Schindler’s List holds your attention. Yes, the historical events are a big draw and interest-getter, but the acting brings you in. Liam Neeson gives one of his best performances and Ralph Fiennes is right behind him in a near sympathy for the devil type role. While Schindler’s List isn’t a film you watch over and over, it’s definitely a film to be experienced from time to time.
The Godfather Part 2 (1974) 200 Minutes OR 3.3 Hours
Do I really need to comment on the masterpiece that The Godfather Part 2 is? It’s the tale of a man trying to maintain his power and his family contrasted by the story of how his father rose to power in a new country. It’s a rare instance of a sequel that’s better than its first film and one that’s just as capable of holding your interest. From murder attempts, to Las Vegas and Cuba, to Sicily and old old old New York City, the film leaves nothing left to the imagination. The acting is nothing less than spectacular and the score is iconic. I’m not even gonna ask if you haven’t seen it yet.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 201 Minutes OR 3.35 Hours
The first time I saw this film was opening weekend and I had no idea what was going on. I didn’t see Fellowship, I watched ¾ of Two Towers on DVD and my friend at the time said we had to go, so I went. That being said, despite having no idea what was going on, I was so lost in the world that Peter Jackson had created that it didn’t matter. I was meeting characters and other worldly creatures and there was an intense battle! How could you not love that! Now, I didn’t care too much for the ending after ending of the film, but for artistic reasons, I can see why it was done.
I’ve now seen the entire trilogy (theatrical and un-godly extended editions) and while I better comprehend what’s going on in the story, I still find myself getting lost in the beautiful world of Middle Earth that Jackson created. (Okay, I know he didn’t “create” it, but he definitely painted an incredible visual) The films pull me in and whenever I begin to watch them, I can’t stop. Return of the King, which won several Oscars, definitely feels like the strongest of the trilogy because it’s able to combine all the elements of the previous two films including the ability to hold your attention as we watch the fate of Middle Earth become decided by a hobbit.
Gone With The Wind (1939) 238 Minutes OR 3.96 Hours
The first time I saw this film I was 3, maybe 4 months away from being born. My mother had gone and seen this film at a revival theatre with her friends while pregnant with me. I must have been half paying attention cause I’ve always had an interest in seeing the film. It wasn’t until recently, but I saw the film and was glued to my TV. It held my attention much like Casablanca, but added beautiful visuals of the South to keep me there for longer. Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh give fantastic performances in a film directed by Victor Fleming (who’s indie film The Wizard of Oz also came out in 1939) Much like Casablanca, Gone With The Wind had a tear jerker of a score from Max Steiner added that emotional connection and investment to these characters you might otherwise get tired of after 3 hours. I kick myself for not having seen this sooner and while I might not watch this movie ALL the time, this film is definitely a once or twice a year or special occasion watch.