5 Movies Every CMC Student Needs to See

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The inaugural class of CMC’s predecessor, Claremont Men’s College, was largely composed of World War II veterans who were beneficiaries of the G.I. Bill. These were the same men who had helped liberate Europe and defeat imperial Japan, and thus naturally sought a practical education which would allow them to provide for their families. Saving Private Ryan, which chronicles a fictional rescue mission following the D-Day landings, is an inspiring film which illustrates the immense sacrifices of America’s “Greatest Generation.” Every CMCer could benefit from reflecting on the individuals who established our college’s pragmatic, forward-thinking academic environment. Trailer here!

Moneyball (2011)

Claremont McKenna has an unequivocal emphasis on the social sciences, as an overwhelming majority of students major in fields relating to government or economics. Hence, it is safe to assume that some students with alternate interests perhaps feel pressured to emulate their peers’ choice of major. Moneyball is a wonderful film about the 2002 Oakland A’s baseball team that achieved success through statistical ingenuity. However, at the heart of the film is the inner struggle of the team’s innovative general manager Billy Beane. CMC students could benefit from the film’s powerful message regarding the pursuit of one’s passions as well as the evaluation paradigm of success. Trailer here!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

CMC students are expected to exhibit a sense of maturity well beyond their years, whether in regards to interacting with world leaders at the Athenaeum or with renowned professors at one of the various research institutes. As a result, students are able to develop a sense of professionalism and ethical responsibility which they carry on into the work force. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is nothing short of cinematic brilliance, perhaps having one of the most powerful endings in the history of film. The movie will undoubtedly challenge your established set of ethical beliefs and leave you with an agonizing moral conundrum. Trailer here!

Flight (2012)

6:01 and TNC are just a couple of examples which demonstrate the chaotic, sometimes reckless nature of CMC’s wet campus. I do not believe that CMC’s drinking culture is necessarily a cause for concern or a negative force on campus. However, it is safe to say that most students at CMC have not received proper alcohol education, as alcohol.edu is a running joke of orientation. As a result, a lot of CMCers are probably oblivious to the potentially detrimental effects of alcohol, instead possessing a false sense of confidence. Flight is a raw, unfiltered film which shows the horrors of alcohol addiction from the perspective of an airline pilot (played by Denzel Washington). Before we erupt with anger over President Chodosh and Dean Spellman’s efforts to reform the alcohol policy, CMC students need to be honest with themselves, and start by viewing this film. Trailer here!

Shutter Island (2010)

Leonardo DiCaprio delivers the best performance of his career (yes, even better than his sparkling charm in Titanic) in this heart-pounding psychological thriller. Martin Scorsese, the greatest filmmaker of our time, provides a masterful sense of guidance to the film. Shutter Island possesses a shocking chain of events, ultimately leaving the audience with an emotional dilemma very similar to One Flew Over the Cuckcoo’s Nest. However, the movie distinguishes itself with a powerful message regarding the importance of coming to grips with one’s faults. As a group of motivated students who are constantly striving for success, CMCers could certainly benefit from the harrowing sense of perspective the film provides. Trailer here!