Engaging Films

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Comment by Brad Federman on August 17, 2009 at 9:23am

I like to use real events and news footage when possible. However one of my favorites is Good Will Hunting. You can not truly engage until you deal with fear and begin to focus on others.

Comment by Robert Morris on March 18, 2009 at 10:45am

I apologize to everyone for not being more active. Hopefully, a new post will encourage other current members to do so and be joined by new members.

The other day, I was discussing films that reveal lessons about effective leadership with a close friend who tends to favor westerns and war films. We began to compile a list of our favorite westerns and the total soon exceeded 25 (including My Darling Clementine, Pale Rider, Shane, and the original 3:10 to Yuma). Then we shifted our attention to war films and, again, the list soon exceeded 25 (including Paths of Glory, Saving Private Ryan, They Were Expendable, and Twelve O'Clock High). The conversation really became lively when we discussed the best seldom (if ever) mentioned western and war films. My friend selected A Bell for Adano and The Virginian; I selected Attack and The Gunfighter. What do you think?

Comment by David Archibald on May 2, 2008 at 10:45am

There are a couple more that may be a little bit of a reach for Engagement.
300- The idea that a King can find 300 warriors that will follow him to certain death. Why would you follow a leader no matter what he asks you to do? Has he shown that he values you and you have something to offer that is crucial for the mission at hand?
Gladiator- A leader with such character that he was asked to become the leader of not only the army but the empire. Even when thown into captivity he inspries thos he is with to become more that they are expected by others to be. Again, would you fight and die for him?

Comment by Robert Morris on April 8, 2008 at 5:02am

Spartacus is a film that exemplifies one form of engagement as gladiators join with Spartacus to obtain freedom. There are other films that engage the emotions of those who see them.

More often than not, employees will become engaged for emotional rather than for rational reasons.

What lessons can be learned from any of these films?

High Noon (1952)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Meet John Doe (1941)
Night of the Hunter (1955)
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
The Pawnbroker (1964)
Rudy (1993)
Schindler's List (1993)

Please share your thoughts about any of these or other engaging films.

Comment by Robert Morris on March 25, 2008 at 9:44am

In general, people become engaged in the doing of what must be done if they believe in the given objectives and, key point, are able to communicate, cooperate, and collaborate effectively with others involved. They agree with David Packard that “people get together [in order] to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately.” Here are some films that demonstrate what teamwork can accomplish.

Apollo 13 (1995)

Comment: Directed by Ron Howard, this film examines an unexpected development during a space flight that created a life-or-death situation (literally), requiring seamless teamwork to return the module safely. Note how calmly Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) responds as does Gene Kranz (Ed Harris) while coordinating the improvisation of a solution under increasingly greater pressure. Without leadership and teamwork both in space and on the ground, Apollo is doomed.

The Dirty Dozen (1967)

Comment: Here is an excellent example of effective teamwork under less than favorable conditions: a dozen soldiers (convicted of various crimes) are scheduled to be executed or to serve long-term sentences unless they agree to participate in a suicide mission. If it is successful, those who survive may be granted a more lenient sentence. The mission is led by Maj. Reisman (Lee Marvin), widely viewed as an insubordinate officer. Of special interest to me is the fact that if any one of the “dirty dozen” escapes or fails to make a full commitment to the success of the mission, all of their original sentences will be carried out.

The Great Escape (1963)

Comment: This film is also based on an historical situation (during World War Two) as Allied officers who are inmates in a German prison plan and execute an escape. Preparations are lengthy and complicated, constantly vulnerable to detection. The division of labor is necessarily at a very high level because only exceptional expertise will produce the German uniforms, documentation, and escape routes that needed. Note that only of a few officers will have the opportunity to escape but all inmates are actively engaged in achieving that.

Hoosiers (1986)

Comment: To some extent based on events that enabled a basketball team from a small high school in Indiana to win the state championship (Milam in 1954 rather than the fictional Hickory), this film examines “teamwork” that includes but is by no means limited to the players on the team. Indeed, much of the plot focuses on the coach (Gene Hackman) as he struggles to convince not only the players but also their family members and friends, school officials, and other residents of the town that he is capable, and, that the team can be a winner if he remains as coach.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Comment: Based to some extent on Akira Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai, this film examines how residents of a village that has been repeatedly terrorized by more than 100 bandits led by Calvera (Eli Wallach) retain for a nominal fee seven gunfighters led by Chris Adams (Yul Brynner). Of special interest to me is the fact that, after the villagers observe the teamwork of the seven during a series of violent encounters, they realize that they must assume responsibility for defending themselves. For too long, they have allowed others to dominate and intimidate them. Most recently, they have hired others to protect them. Only by becoming actively engaged can the villagers determine their own destiny.

Major League (1989)

Comment: Teamwork is often required if there is a common enemy to be vanquished. In this instance, that would be Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitten) a former chorus girl who married the owner of the Cleveland Indians. After his death, she is determined that the team lose as many games as possible so that declining attendance will enable her to break a lease and move the team to Florida. (She hates Cleveland). The manager, coaches, and players overcome their personal animosities and character flaws and come together to win the Indians’ first division title in more than three decades. Although this is a loopy comedy in most respects, I think there are a few valuable lessons about engagement and shared commitment to be learned from it.

Remember the Titans (2000)

Comment: As with Hoosiers, this also a dramatized portrayal of events that occurred (n the 1970s) when two high schools in Alexandra (VA) were merged. Unlike Hoosiers, however, questions about the competence of the coach and the effectiveness of his leadership style are anchored in a racial context. Getting everyone on the team and in the community to “come together” and become engaged in helping the football team to succeed is far more difficult. Again there is a common opponent and in this instance, Pogo’s observation is relevant: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Seabiscuit (2003)

Comment: This film is also based on actual events, as presented in Laura Hillenbrand’s bestselling book of the same name. The voice-over narration is provided by an eminent historian, David McCullough. Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges) is a successful automobile dealer who purchases a horse that seems to have little (if any) chance of winning any races. As for trainer Tom Smith (Chris Cooper) and jockey Red Pollard (Tobey Maguire), their prospects are no better. Over time, a horse and three humans learn how to work together effectively prior to the narrative’s climax that occurs when Seabiscuit competes against War Admiral on November 1, 1938, in the "Match of the Century.” Of special interest to me is how popular Seabiscuit became among those who had not as yet recovered from the Great Depression. Presumably many of them had also cheered for James Braddock when he faced heavyweight champion Max Baer in 1935.

The Sting (1973)

Comment: Although quite complicated, the plot is seamless and sustains a viewer’s interest as Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) and his associates plan and then perform an elaborate deception. Their target is a Chicago mob boss, Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), and objective is not only to cheat him out of hundreds of thousands of dollars (several million by today’s standards) but to do it so that he does not realize how and by whom he has been deceived. (That is the essence of a “sting.”) It is worth noting that although all but one of collaborators accept their share of Linnean’s money, their primary motive for engagement is to succeed despite all manner of barriers and perils. Similarly, in the business world, members of peak performance teams accept appropriate compensation because it has been earned and is deserved; however, they tend to be most excited by what they have accomplished together rather than by the recognition and rewards received.

Comment by David Zinger on March 21, 2008 at 8:41am

Just a quick comment about Apollo 13 because we viewed it again at home last week. I have been doing some work on employee engagement more focused on project engagement. Many project managers use PMBOK as a guide, over 400 pages of the basics of project management.

When Apollo 13 gets into trouble I really liked the mission commander's line, We are now improvising! I believe fully engaged project work involves improvisation and co-creation at various times.

David