"I mean, certainly it's the single biggest event, I think, in terms of popular entertainment, or art even, if you say that, of the 20th Century. It's been film. It's the 20th Century's real art form"

The quote from Sydney Pollack shows an extensive gratitude and acknowledgment of the effect of movie on pop culture and art in the 20th century. Pollack, a respected filmmaker, suggests that cinema has been the most substantial medium of entertainment and creative expression throughout the century. By identifying it as the "single greatest event" in popular entertainment, Pollack acknowledges the unrivaled influence of film on an international scale, exceeding other types of home entertainment in regards to reach and impact.

In the context of the 20th century, film became a dominant cultural force, revolutionizing the method stories are informed and consumed. Its advent and subsequent development used a special blend of art and technology, making it accessible to a large audience while also pressing the limits of creative expression. The technological advancements in film, such as sound, color, and unique results, allowed filmmakers to craft increasingly advanced and immersive narratives, solidifying movie theater's position at the forefront of creative development.

By asserting that movie is the 20th century's "real art form", Pollack highlights its capability to encapsulate the zeitgeist of the age. Cinema not only amused but likewise showed and shaped social values, political environments, and cultural movements. It offered voice to diverse viewpoints and served as a platform for commentary on pressing problems, from war and social justice to individuality and existential concerns. This multifaceted nature of movie allowed it to go beyond simple home entertainment and develop itself as a vital element of cultural discourse.

Additionally, Pollack's statement highlights the democratizing impact of movie. Unlike standard art types, which were typically confined to particular social classes or areas, movie theater reached a wider audience, bridging geographic and cultural divides. This worldwide resonance of movie, coupled with its capacity to evoke psychological and intellectual responses, cemented its status as a specifying artistic legacy of the 20th century.