1. Pride
Pride is the downfall of man and is perhaps the greatest sin because it caused that fall. In film, it is no different. While pride has driven directors to make great films and wonderful contributions to cinema throughout the ages, pride has also blinded directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Francis Ford Coppola, and Brian De Palma. What contributed to these directors and their films' fall from grace? I can only speculate, but an obvious reason is the changing of the times. Directors can lose touch with their audiences; what the people want and expect today is different from when the directors were in their prime. What the director found relevant and exciting in his time has changed with current events and other historical moments. 9/11 has had an impact on the American people as a whole; we're a lot more cynical and fearful than we were in the '80s or '90s, so our cinema has changed accordingly. There's a reason why people don't watch old black and white films; many people feel they are dated and speak to a time long gone, but where does pride come in? Pride comes in when the director refuses to acknowledge the changing of the times and sticks with what he knows has worked and should work instead of continually learning and growing as an artist and filmmaker. John Carpenter made horror classics in the '70s and '80s, but has made terrible films since; the audience has changed and he hasn't really acknowledged it with his current films. I saw Halloween in a film class when I was in college and I asked a co-worker, who saw the original back in the '70s, what her reaction was. She said it was the scariest thing and people would scream in the theaters, but the reactions from my film class was completely the opposite. People laughed whenever Michael Myers creeped on the screen and the chilling leitmotif played in his presence. The film sin of pride is one that becomes apparent with time as most films may not be dated right now, but they will be and that's a shame. Although there are classic films that will forever be immortalized in cinematic history, there are countless other films out right now that may never be referenced to or seen again. Because 10, 20, 30 years from now people won't understand the current references or cliches in film and all that will remain is another pretty face or cool explosion. It's a responsibility for the filmmaker to ensure his filmography extends beyond himself and leaves behind a legacy for people to behold and learn and appreciate. Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg have continued to make great films throughout their careers - beating the odds - because they've continued to be true to their vision and to the times.
Agree or disagree with these movie sins? Let us know in the comments section below.