Movies about problem solving

Take a quick view of the scene below from the 1993 movie The Fugitive…think carefully about what is actually happening:

It’s a classic scene and one we all remember. Tommy Lee Jones gives a great performance and creates a character who is smart, in charge, and quickly adapts to a fluid situation. But the real juice in the scene is how he diagnoses the situation, works out the parameters of what needs to happen, and directs the team with specific actions to accomplish their goal.

It’s problem solving, pure and simple. And it represents an under appreciated subgenre of movie.

The Fugitive is a smorgasbord of problem solving - there are actually three different layers of problems being worked. First is Tommy Lee Jones figuring out how to catch Dr. Richard Kimball. Second is Richard Kimball trying to solve the mystery of who killed his wife, and last is him simply figuring out how to survive.

Here’s another example of a problem focused epic, the classic 1963 film The Great Escape:

The Great Escape is filled with scenes like this - figuring out how to disguise escape tunnels, give the prisoners new identity papers, distract guards, and more. Probably 50% of the film is dedicated to the main characters figuring things out…

I’m not sure why I am drawn to these stories. Perhaps it’s because I work in consulting. Maybe my brain is just wired that way. But I truly love just about any film that focuses on the protagonist learning, thinking things through, overcoming obstacles. And once you start thinking of films in this way, you see problem solving everywhere in the movies.

“How will I survive?” is a common problem solving archetype…characters working out the best way to take limited resources and make sure they get out alive. 2000’s Castaway is a solid example - especially where Tom Hanks figures out how to start a fire:

One of the most important aspects of a good problem story is the setting up the problem itself - where the characters have to grapple with the boundaries of the problem, the time limit, the sheer complexity of finding a way forward. 1995’s Apollo 13 provides a great example of setting up the problem:

Another classic example of setting up the problem in Ocean’s 11:

Essentially, any heist movie is a movie about problem solving. How do you trick the system, steal the loot, and make your escape. Sometimes these are - admittedly - a little ham handed in how they artificially make the bank vault susceptible to the genius plans of our heroes. But they’re fun nonetheless.

Another flavor of problem solving cinema is the spy movie and/or ‘whodunnit.” Any murder mystery or espionage thriller usually concerns itself with figuring out how to catch the spy or identify the murderer. The best of these engage the audience in the quest for an answer…giving you a chance to solve the problem. Think of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the Knives Out movies, Silence of the Lambs, etc. The list is endless.

But when it comes to top tier problem solving smorgasbords, you have to look at the 1992 thriller Sneakers. Plenty of problems to be solved in this one - how to track the bad guy, using only sound:

How to locate the code breaking device, how to imitate a voice identification system, how to defeat a thermal alarm, how to outwit the bad guys, and more. It’s so much fun!

Another problem solving trope is that of “journalist after the story.” How does the reporter get the facts, find the truth, and break open the story for all to know? All the President’s Men from 1976 sets up tons of problems, including getting multiple sources to confirm a story. 2015’s Spotlight is another great example - and I love the scene where the investigative team learns that something as simple as personnel directories can help them map and scale the nightmare they’re tracking.

When you get down to it, pretty much any movie has at least some level of problem solving, at least in part. It’s the engine of drama. Relationship problems, survival problems, political problems, life problems. Every story contains at least one conundrum that propels the narrative along.

As proof, take a look at this scene from Star Wars:

Everywhere you look in a movie - problems to be solved.

But perhaps the king of all problem solving movies in recent years is Ridley Scott’s The Martian from 2015. This picture is literally nothing else but a story about problem after problem:

Another example:

Problem solving movies tap into a deep part of our psyche, presenting a very human story. One that tells us that we are clever, we can adapt, think things through, and ‘science the shit’ out of tricky situations.

They remind us to use our gifts of intellect, creativity, the practical application of trial and error, and the scientific method. The entirety of human civilization is essentially an accumulation of solved problems, and today, more than ever, we need to remember that. We’re not just animalistic impulses reacting to a dynamic world. We have agency, we can learn, share lessons, and pass along the solutions we find to those around us and those yet to come.

Problem solving movies remind us of the best of human achievement, and that hope can be found in our own resourcefulness. And for that, I am thankful.

Parting Proclamation

Words, wit, and wisdom.

Enjoying The CD Dispatch?

Please share, forward, retweet, repost, like, publish, proselytize, subscribe, praise, promote, and generally make it clear to your friends and colleagues that life is simply not worth living unless you’re a subscriber.

Why should you have all the fun?

No, seriously. Who do you think you are? Selfish bastard…

Disclaimer:

All content and opinions are solely those of the author (Jack), and not representative of my employer, former employers, clients, anyone in Congress, my family, former college roommates, Baptists, the good citizens of Colorado, or my dog Mabel.