Luxury is one of those subjects of interest that many others have not captured in the human imagination and cinema, often a mirror of society’s aspirations. Movies that are synonymous with luxury, time and time again bring audiences into an understated world of grandeur, sophistication, and opulence, lifestyles that seem almost unattainable yet tantalizingly close. Luxurious scenes and precious jewels are often used in films that intend to depict wealth as a blessing and a curse and have deeper thoughts.
But what does it mean to indulge in such a luxurious cinematic experience? This article travels into the world of luxury movies to explore their features.
The Gentlemen
The Gentlemen” dives one right into the rarefied atmosphere of affluence and refinement from the very beginning. The film introduces the audience to a suave Matthew McConaughey playing Mickey Pearson, an American expatriate who built a successful marijuana empire in London. The cinematography, guided through by the brilliant Alan Stewart, frames the richness-from sleek vehicles to the lavish homes peppered throughout the movie. Every frame has been used to establish the position of the character, and that results in a film that also shows how its characters live their lives in the midst of wealth and power.
Brilliant is the production design in the movie. Richness achieved through the trade of marijuana is reflected in every interior of Pearson’s house replete with expensive works of art and pieces of furniture. The same is also continued through costume designer Arjun Bhasin, who plays an important role in documenting the lifestyles of these characters. The tailored suits Mickey and his cohorts wear are not mere pieces of clothing but symbols of status, symbols of authority. Ritchie’s use of such trappings of luxury alongside the grit and often merciless world of crime serves to highlight the duality of wealth: alluring yet dangerous.
la la land
From the moment the film opens with traffic jam dance number – La La Land is a feast for the senses. The movie itself, as shot by Linus Sandgren, is nothing less than strikingly beautiful. The vivid colors and striking compositions affect a dreamlike quality that sends viewers tumbling into the allure of Los Angeles. From the awesomely magnificent Griffith Observatory to quaint, beautiful streets of Hollywood, the locations add a touch of luxury to the movie. These are not mere backgrounds but signify the aspirations of the characters, primarily Mia, played by Emma Stone and Sebastian, played by Ryan Gosling, to make it big in the entertainment industry.
The film’s musical score enhances that feeling of luxuriousness. It was written by Justin Hurwitz, and here everything is possible to hear-from a look in the rearview mirror at one’s childhood to a dream about continuation of life in happiness. Compositions like “City of Stars” generally contribute to the arousal in listeners a sense of longing to reach success and the bitter essence of a dream. This music is like the grand visuals for this film and in fact supplies an emotional resonance that would draw audiences right into the on-screen journey of characters.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
On a deeper level, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a psychological thriller-a movie about identity, aspiration, and moral ambiguity. Tom Ripley is a young man who came from a poor background and was infatuated with the life of Dickie Greenleaf-one in extreme luxury. Tom’s obsession leads him into adopting Dickie’s identity, resulting in a series of morally questionable decisions. It is so poignant in showing the extent to which people go at times just to get out of reality and to get themselves what they want.
Tom’s story is emblematic of the darker side of aspiration. While at first the movie pours out a vision of wealth that is highly dazzling and glamorous, it makes sure to show just how empty it all could get. His transformation from charming con artist to cold-blooded murderer underlined the mental price he paid for his need to be accepted and for his pursuit of success. This duality of luxury being an object of fascination, while simultaneously serving as a destructive force, is one that sends the audience out considering their own goals and ambitions, and the aftermath of those desires.
Crazy Rich Asians
From the first frames of “Crazy Rich Asians,” opulence is personified. The film opens in a plush 1990s London hotel-all opulence, less setting than character. The production design team, headed by the ingenious Nelson Coates, created stunning visuals that epitomize the over-the-top lifestyles of the ultra-rich in Singapore. Everything from the sprawling mansions down to the exclusive boutiques of designers seems to whisk the viewer away, allowing them to live a life which most of them could only dream of.
Costume designer Mary E. Vogt also did an outstanding job, bringing a number of fashionably brilliant looks that mirrored the diverse cultural identities within the film. Araminta Lee’s wedding dress in the film is a piece from the reputed fashion brand Pronovias, made with minute details that speak to opulence. It is also symbolic of the melding of tradition and modernity that happens across Asian cultures. This kind of visual storytelling elevates the film’s exploration of wealth into a dazzling spectacle that enthralls audiences.
the great gatsby movie
The striking element of Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” is the grand visuals. From the opening scenes themselves, audiences have been consistently awestruck by the over-the-top production design from Gatsby’s estate to the over-the-top parties that inhabit the narrative. All functioning with CGI and an elaborate set design, the world feels larger than life itself. For Peter Bradshaw, film critic at The Guardian, the movie captures some “extravagance and excess” of 1920s America, where audiences were soon to be plunged into a landscape of money flowing like champagne.
Costume designer Catherine Martin was also a contributor to the production design of this film. She has played an important role in bringing into actuality the lavish lifestyles of its characters. An opulent wardrobe-Prada and Miuccia Prada being contributors in the realm of designers-reflects their social standing and personalities. Since the story interlinks completely when it comes to fashion and class, the visual spectacle of the costumes offers another leap in our understanding of the motivations and desires of its characters.
Conclusion
Full of splendor, this luxurious movies in its finale exudes a rich tapestry of themes on wealth, desire, and identity. With striking aesthetics-almost touchable-enticing narratives mean that these movies literally make their audiences narrowly explore not only the complexities of ambition but also the societal implications of having privilege. And so we fantasize on screen, remembering in our waking moments how aspiration and reality can’t let go of each other. Ultimately, sumptuous films stand as celebration and as critique of the human condition, making them an integral part of our cinema.
As we go on enjoying such films, let us give consideration to their effect on the way we perceive wealth and success. Only when one understands the possible allure of cinema luxury can one truly appreciate the power of narratives that shape our cultural surroundings and the reflections of ourselves that we see within them.
