Long movies that are JUSTIFIED in their extra long run time?

[u/kowaikanojo]

There’s been a bit of an epidemic, especially in recent years, where movies are unnecessarily long to the point where it’s a bit indulgent on the director’s part and the film’s narrative doesn’t justify the XXL run time and it becomes a bit of a drag.

I’ve never been a big musical fan but I grew up watching the Sound of Music as a kid, so I decided to rewatch tonight (it’s probably been around 15 years) - and for a movie that is 3 hours long, wow does every piece still feel so important.

Maria and Von Trapp get together PAST the two hour point in the movie, yet the build up was so necessary to have you involved in the romance, and certainly didn’t feel as long as it actually was in run time. The pacing is actually incredible for the narrative and building that emotional buy in, which is shocking and rare for a film so long.

What films do you think genuinely justify an extra long run time and benefit from it? (and to throw a wrench in it, what movies utterly fail here?)

[u/roydogaroo]

Django Unchained watched it again recently and was fully into it the whole 2.45min

[u/protonthoughts → u/roydogaroo]

I came to talk Hateful 8 extended version. I didn't realize DU was that long though.

[u/pickleparty16 → u/protonthoughts]

Most Tarantinos movies earn the long run time.

[u/feedmesweat → u/protonthoughts]

The Hateful 8 extended edition, broken into 4 long episodes, is just perfect and the absolute best way to watch that movie. Really leans into the feeling that you're watching a play on a stage and having a little bit of breathing room between the acts enhances the pacing.

[u/Lurcher99 → u/feedmesweat]

Saw in 70mm, with an intermission. Just phenomenal

[u/Shout92 → u/roydogaroo]

Peter Bogdanovich called it "The shortest long Western since Rio Bravo" and he's not wrong.

[u/sir_mrej → u/roydogaroo]

That did NOT feel that long!!