This blog will not be as lengthy as The Graduate but that doesn't mean that I didn't like this one just as much.
Great, great movie! I am a huge Batman fan and own all of them... including the DVD with all the old television ones. It does demonstrate the differences throughout the history of the comic coming to television and film and the technology and creativeness that has evolved with these characters.
Holy collection of movies, Batman!
This week's text reading was on the color, sound effect and dialogue, musical score, director's style, and acting. This was another great movie that demonstrated all of the topics discussed in our text.
One thing that made the movie for me was the sound and the sound effects. The musical score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard is incredible. I didn't know that this won the Grammy for the Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Pictures. I understand why. Like so many other great scores like Lord of the Rings Trilogy, this score brings the film to a different level of watching. There were some comments on how the score wasn't as good as Danny Elfman's in the Tim Burton directed Batmans, but I really liked it.
Chris Nolan directed both films and I think is currently filming the third and last in this series. His style from Batman Begins carries through to The Dark Knight and I am anxiously awaiting the third. I have to become better at explaining the particular styles of directors, but I do recognize the different styles between directors and the similarities of the director's movies. When watching Tim Burton films you instantly know it is his film just like Guillermo de Toro's films. I could have told you without reading who directed Hell Boy II and Pan's Labyrinth. Toro's influence and style are unmistakable.
Side note: I am not thrilled about the Spider man remake and I am not certain I will see that in the theaters, but Holy Spock, Batman - JJ Abrams is directing the Star Trek II sequel! It isn't named yet, but I loved the first one and will be heading to the theaters to watch this one.
Back to the text reading, the colors in The Dark Knight were rich. This may be a poor adjective, but there was a definite feel and look to both Batman Begins and Dark Knight. According to our text Leitmotifs in color is used in accentuating the Joker, played by Heath Ledger and is amazing and effective. The entire film is dark.
The major flaw that I didn't care for in the film was the casting of Maggie Gyllenhaal. I didn't think that her performance measured up to that of Heath Ledger's or her other cast members. She just didn't fit the Rachael Dawes for me. I wasn't a fan of Katie Holmes either. I am not certain why the casting change, but neither added anything to the film.
The other flaw in the film that is more tolerable each time I watch it is Harvey Dent. Not that his character didn't evolve but it was a bit rushed. I didn't like his makeup or FX and liked Two-Face as Tommy Lee Jones. I think that his performance or portrayal of Two-Face was better, but that may be because we see the development of Harvey in the Dark Knight.
And I must touch on Heath Ledger. It was very sad that he passed away but Holy Bulls eye Batman what a performance! He nailed the character in such a way that you don't view it as a comic but as a real life psycho that is running loose. The lines were delivered superbly and you are mesmerized watching him. I wish there could have be a sequel with Heath as the Joker!
I have searched my cellphones for a picture of us attending the opening of The Dark Knight, but no such luck... I was the Joker. As you can about imagine, it wasn't a award-winning look but we had a blast through the credits before I fell asleep! Holy Headache Batman... (these Holy statements are actual statements from the original series except for the first one.)
Holy Coffin Nails... Holy Fourth of July... Holy Hailstorm... Holy Shamrock.... Holy Fly Paper Batman!
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Graduate... sex is just sex but what about the love?
According to many of my fellow movie-reviewing classmates, this movie is "icky," "raunchy," and "stale." I wondered if I had watched the same movie as the rest of my classmates. Not to offend any classmates, but this was a great comedy and I thought it was hilarious. It was nominated for seven Oscars. With all the "cougar" shows and references and actual relationships, this isn't an out-of-the-ordinary film for today's audiences. Also, to note, the film Casablanca is a love story between a married woman and a guy. It is left to our imaginations what they did on those long drives and picnics. The difference is one went with her husband and the other left with the guy.
There were some definite usage of angles, lighting, editing, notable shots, and sound to this film that enhanced the story of poor Benjamin Braddock. This was a modern-day film which the story and theme has been used throughout film making. I watched an old Alfred Hitchcock silent film with a very similar storyline. Alfred Hitchcock understood the human condition very well and his films depict them with the mastery that he is so well known for.
I watched The Graduate a few times, before this class and of course since enrolling in it. I wonder if Benjamin took a film class, he made a reference in the film like he had taken one. Just a random thought and observation.
The most standout technique in the film was the lighting and cinematography and how it connected the story. I am certainly not the only one to have noticed or experienced this since, of course, humans have been having sex since Adam and Eve. Benjamin is inexperienced and incredibly awkward. It is painful to watch as the experienced and skillful Mrs. Robinson seduces Ben, the track star, the graduate, the lost boy-man.
The director portrays Ben's fear of intimacy with the lighting. The hotel room is too lit for Ben and he turns off the lights, puts on the bathroom light and closes the door to add a little light to the room, closes the blinds, and waits. When Mrs. Robinson enters, she turns on the lights with Ben turning them off again. They have sex. The dark is representative and symbolic of the lack of intimacy and the fear of exposure. Later in the film, it is Ben who is now more experienced and confident in his sexuality that he wants the lights on. It is Mrs. Robinson who wants the lights out. She prefers not to engage in talk or intimacy. She is comfortable with the lack of intimacy and is there for the physical attention only. She knows the complications that come when you become intimate and attached emotionally. Ben, however, is finally seeing that there is more to sex than just the act of having sex and wants the intimacy that couples usually share in a relationship that is based on love. Sex is boring after awhile without the intimacy and creativeness that accompanies deeper feelings of love. We also see this explained very openly in Amelie... she tried sex and her feelings were depicted very differently in the beginning of the film (silently giggling) versus the ending of the film when she let her emotions merge with her physical desires. Just an awesome way of depicting this in the film. It is so accurate on how people act. If it isn't a cover of darkness, it is alcohol or some other form of "courage" to help get through the awkwardness of closeness.
The transitions from one romp to the next is brilliant! I know this seems as if I am not applying this week's text reading, but how can you not talk about the transitions in this movie! Just fantastic examples of transitioning - dissolve, wipe, flip frame and fade-out/in. The flow was awesome from scene to scene of their romps, the doors, on top the air mattress in the pool to on top of Mrs. Robinson. Excellent!
On to this week's text reading influence, the sound was used in this film the same way as the lighting and helped flow and connect the movie. The songs choice was a mystery to me and needed further investigation. The Scarborough Fair ballad is about two lovers asking for impossible tasks. Hmm, fitting for this film's characters and the impossibilities that were realized/overcome at the end of the film creating a very fitting song for the closing scene. The director was British and possibly was very familiar with this very old English ballad. It was only credited to Simon and Garfunkel but it was written in 1670. When Ben realizes that he may be able to marry Elaine, he starts whistling another tune - Mrs. Robinson. According to some online sources, the song was about a secret love that Paul Simon had on his friend's mother. Interesting. There were also very notable time of silence and other sounds, i.e. the breathing through his scuba suits air tank.
The actors in the film were perfectly cast. I can only say this in my opinion because I have had the chance to see this actors in other films. Dustin Hoffman is incredible and his performance of the inexperienced, lost, and confused guy was done to perfection. I had to laugh at the drive in with Elaine. Hoffman showed the difference in his demeanor when Ben was with Mrs. Robinson and being relaxed and himself with Elaine on their first date. He was so funny and was perfect in his interpretation and performance of Ben.
I haven't watched enough of Mike Nichols films to comment on his style; however, I have watched Working Girl and The Birdcage. He is credited with twenty two films and some of the films I do recognize. He definitely used a particular style throughout the film with the shots and the lighting effects throughout the film. I am going to watch some of his other ones just to see what his "style" is.
I am a true fan of the movie and the soundtrack to The Graduate. I am about out of adjectives or shall I say I need to use some new ones the next time I talk about this movie. I haven't written all that I wanted to talk about. I have trouble concentrating with the continued thought of how actors, directors, filmmakers do their jobs. I am entranced with this industry and what it takes to really know this business and the art of it.
There were some definite usage of angles, lighting, editing, notable shots, and sound to this film that enhanced the story of poor Benjamin Braddock. This was a modern-day film which the story and theme has been used throughout film making. I watched an old Alfred Hitchcock silent film with a very similar storyline. Alfred Hitchcock understood the human condition very well and his films depict them with the mastery that he is so well known for.
I watched The Graduate a few times, before this class and of course since enrolling in it. I wonder if Benjamin took a film class, he made a reference in the film like he had taken one. Just a random thought and observation.
The most standout technique in the film was the lighting and cinematography and how it connected the story. I am certainly not the only one to have noticed or experienced this since, of course, humans have been having sex since Adam and Eve. Benjamin is inexperienced and incredibly awkward. It is painful to watch as the experienced and skillful Mrs. Robinson seduces Ben, the track star, the graduate, the lost boy-man.
The director portrays Ben's fear of intimacy with the lighting. The hotel room is too lit for Ben and he turns off the lights, puts on the bathroom light and closes the door to add a little light to the room, closes the blinds, and waits. When Mrs. Robinson enters, she turns on the lights with Ben turning them off again. They have sex. The dark is representative and symbolic of the lack of intimacy and the fear of exposure. Later in the film, it is Ben who is now more experienced and confident in his sexuality that he wants the lights on. It is Mrs. Robinson who wants the lights out. She prefers not to engage in talk or intimacy. She is comfortable with the lack of intimacy and is there for the physical attention only. She knows the complications that come when you become intimate and attached emotionally. Ben, however, is finally seeing that there is more to sex than just the act of having sex and wants the intimacy that couples usually share in a relationship that is based on love. Sex is boring after awhile without the intimacy and creativeness that accompanies deeper feelings of love. We also see this explained very openly in Amelie... she tried sex and her feelings were depicted very differently in the beginning of the film (silently giggling) versus the ending of the film when she let her emotions merge with her physical desires. Just an awesome way of depicting this in the film. It is so accurate on how people act. If it isn't a cover of darkness, it is alcohol or some other form of "courage" to help get through the awkwardness of closeness.
The transitions from one romp to the next is brilliant! I know this seems as if I am not applying this week's text reading, but how can you not talk about the transitions in this movie! Just fantastic examples of transitioning - dissolve, wipe, flip frame and fade-out/in. The flow was awesome from scene to scene of their romps, the doors, on top the air mattress in the pool to on top of Mrs. Robinson. Excellent!
On to this week's text reading influence, the sound was used in this film the same way as the lighting and helped flow and connect the movie. The songs choice was a mystery to me and needed further investigation. The Scarborough Fair ballad is about two lovers asking for impossible tasks. Hmm, fitting for this film's characters and the impossibilities that were realized/overcome at the end of the film creating a very fitting song for the closing scene. The director was British and possibly was very familiar with this very old English ballad. It was only credited to Simon and Garfunkel but it was written in 1670. When Ben realizes that he may be able to marry Elaine, he starts whistling another tune - Mrs. Robinson. According to some online sources, the song was about a secret love that Paul Simon had on his friend's mother. Interesting. There were also very notable time of silence and other sounds, i.e. the breathing through his scuba suits air tank.
The actors in the film were perfectly cast. I can only say this in my opinion because I have had the chance to see this actors in other films. Dustin Hoffman is incredible and his performance of the inexperienced, lost, and confused guy was done to perfection. I had to laugh at the drive in with Elaine. Hoffman showed the difference in his demeanor when Ben was with Mrs. Robinson and being relaxed and himself with Elaine on their first date. He was so funny and was perfect in his interpretation and performance of Ben.
I haven't watched enough of Mike Nichols films to comment on his style; however, I have watched Working Girl and The Birdcage. He is credited with twenty two films and some of the films I do recognize. He definitely used a particular style throughout the film with the shots and the lighting effects throughout the film. I am going to watch some of his other ones just to see what his "style" is.
I am a true fan of the movie and the soundtrack to The Graduate. I am about out of adjectives or shall I say I need to use some new ones the next time I talk about this movie. I haven't written all that I wanted to talk about. I have trouble concentrating with the continued thought of how actors, directors, filmmakers do their jobs. I am entranced with this industry and what it takes to really know this business and the art of it.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Amelie!
Out of the two films that we were to watch Amelie was much easier for my brain to follow. A well known fact about me is the inability for people to follow my thought patterns when speaking. I often get stares and then I have to go back and let them known how I got from point A to point Z. Maybe I should take notes from Leonard. I have had to testify in front of Legislation, speak in front of governors, classrooms, board meetings, and public events but not with ease mind you. It isn't the lack of confidence or that I am shy as Amelie, but my thought patterns are highly unusual and their relationships are difficult to follow. It is sometimes much easier to write especially when I am passionate about a subject because I can organize my thoughts much better and with more understanding.
The beginning of the film reminded me of a day in my mind. The playfulness of the movie is what was so charming and kept interest in the movie. There is a universal theme and story and it is the appeal that has awarded this film internationally. The characters were incredibly real and you couldn't help but feel the emotions along with them and love them.
Now pertaining to the reading in the text... the lighting, cinematography, editing, color, design, and scenery. This film was tinted. This is a technique that the director wanted to use to help bring the world of Amelie out. The colors were primary and worked well with the story. The brilliant blue that was singular in most of the shots was very notable. The blue car, blue vase were just a couple. There were the black and white television shows used throughout the film which provided a different plane. If you watch there are several different planes in scenes of the film that draw your attention.
The scenery was intentionally cleaned up by the director. The streets of Paris are not as in the movie, but watching it made me want to go online to purchase a ticket to France. He stated in an interview that he wanted to give the Paris feel. The design team that made Amelie so unique and beautiful in her dress and hair to the elements all around Amelie and the characters in every part of the film from the apartment, the market, the train station all so detailed and modern. There is a texture and feel to the film brought out by the color, scenery and design.
The cinematography incorporated animation and and other special effects. I wish I had had an art or an art history class. There is so much incorporated in this film that I am really not aware of exactly what it is other than I know that there is an influence that needs researching. The camera angles used included close-ups, wide angle, below the eye (the motorcycle ride) and there was definite arrangement of people and objects in this film.
Another element to this film that wasn't in our reading but was in both Amelie and Memento was the voice overs used by the narrator in Amelie and Leonard's inner thoughts. It enhanced the film in Amelie even though it was in French. I love foreign films and subtitles. Somehow I think I will learn the accent or learn the language, but so far I have not developed the art of dialect.
This is a movie that I watch when I want to feel good and get creative... a prankster at heart!
The beginning of the film reminded me of a day in my mind. The playfulness of the movie is what was so charming and kept interest in the movie. There is a universal theme and story and it is the appeal that has awarded this film internationally. The characters were incredibly real and you couldn't help but feel the emotions along with them and love them.
Now pertaining to the reading in the text... the lighting, cinematography, editing, color, design, and scenery. This film was tinted. This is a technique that the director wanted to use to help bring the world of Amelie out. The colors were primary and worked well with the story. The brilliant blue that was singular in most of the shots was very notable. The blue car, blue vase were just a couple. There were the black and white television shows used throughout the film which provided a different plane. If you watch there are several different planes in scenes of the film that draw your attention.
The scenery was intentionally cleaned up by the director. The streets of Paris are not as in the movie, but watching it made me want to go online to purchase a ticket to France. He stated in an interview that he wanted to give the Paris feel. The design team that made Amelie so unique and beautiful in her dress and hair to the elements all around Amelie and the characters in every part of the film from the apartment, the market, the train station all so detailed and modern. There is a texture and feel to the film brought out by the color, scenery and design.
The cinematography incorporated animation and and other special effects. I wish I had had an art or an art history class. There is so much incorporated in this film that I am really not aware of exactly what it is other than I know that there is an influence that needs researching. The camera angles used included close-ups, wide angle, below the eye (the motorcycle ride) and there was definite arrangement of people and objects in this film.
Another element to this film that wasn't in our reading but was in both Amelie and Memento was the voice overs used by the narrator in Amelie and Leonard's inner thoughts. It enhanced the film in Amelie even though it was in French. I love foreign films and subtitles. Somehow I think I will learn the accent or learn the language, but so far I have not developed the art of dialect.
This is a movie that I watch when I want to feel good and get creative... a prankster at heart!
Memento - otnemeM
Have you ever thought that a movie was too complex or too smart for you? Inception was one movie that many viewers were confused by and the calls into radio talk shows expressed the confusion and complexity of the dream within a dream within a dream concept for the film. The visual nature of Inception amazed viewers but overwhelmed their minds. I wonder if they had ever watched Memento?
The movie Inception is a favorite and very understandable to this girl's brain, and Memento is a film that reminds me of the complex nature of the plot and the method of storytelling. However, Memento was a challenge and I unfortunately was only able to watch the movie three times. That may sound like enough viewings but the first was just to watch and it was confusing. The unfolding of the movie in reverse with parts that were forward telling. The second viewing was to understand the story but more importantly begin to identify the purpose of watching this movie in relationship to the text. The third was only to realize that I needed to watch this a few more times to really understand it.
Memento has the story within a story like Inception but is presented in a way that mimics the injury of the main character Leonard. There are moments you feel like you have been hit in the head because you are as clueless as the main character appears to be. While trying to process the presentation of the film which is now not only requiring my right side of my brain, it is demanding left brain usage as well, but with all this thinking going on the Excedrin bottle is calling. Lighting, scenery, color, design, and cinematography are elements that need identifying in the movie. All of these elements and the complex nature of the film require multiple viewings of the dominantly right-brained individual such as myself.
Color is not a part of this week's text reading but I did read further into the text to get some insight to the usage of color or the monochromatic theme throughout the film. Let's talk about that first. The film has distinctive usage of color. The black and white sequences are the part of the movie that is forward and separate from the colored sequences which are unfolding the movie in reverse. The colored sequences have some parts subdued or haze to them. The color palate is monochromatic in blue hues and I think is intentional by the director to give the feel of sameness. Is this Leonard's mind? It is difficult to remember the scenes moments before because they are the same in texture and feel. It is the same over and over, bland and isn't as distinguishable. I am not sure that last statement even makes sense. Let's try again. The director films a sequence in the blue monochromatic scheme, breaks away to black and white, goes back to monochromatic scheme with a splash of color which houses a new "clue" as to what happened before, back to black and white and this continues throughout the film. You are trying to make out yours and Leonard's memories like Leonard is trying to make them out following the clues he has left and the moments that happened before that you are seeing after. I should include a flowchart.
There is a lot of information in this movie in regards to the techniques used, and I am not certain if I will be able to touch on all of them. The lighting in the black and white sequences are notable. The black and white scenes have depth but represent his memories that he can recall.
The camera angles used are notable. You see Leonard's point of view seeing Teddy through the windshield of the car. Viewing his victims, Jimmy and Teddy. The close ups of his tattoos, the photos. The flashback's of his wife suffering which are in color are also extreme close ups. The memories of his wife are in color which are different from his Sammy recollections.
One thing to mention is the voice over in the film. You are watching Leonard but he is not talking to the camera, we are allowed into Leonard's thoughts and listen to Guy Pierce guide us through the film.
I am hoping that with more viewing that I can pick up even more notable filming techniques. There is a lot of information and I haven't even touched on the editing. The transitions are abrupt and when you hear Leonard speaking you know that you are about to be confused and will have to sequence the events you just watched in order to make sense of what is happening next that was in the Leonard's past moments which could have been anytime from the time he last dozed off or unfocused.
It was a good movie, but I want to be able to study the film more and look for all of the filming techniques in our text. There is so much information that I am afraid that my short term memory may be failing as Leonard's but I am thankful that it ignorance can be taught, poor Leonard is stuck having to purchase a digital camera.
The movie Inception is a favorite and very understandable to this girl's brain, and Memento is a film that reminds me of the complex nature of the plot and the method of storytelling. However, Memento was a challenge and I unfortunately was only able to watch the movie three times. That may sound like enough viewings but the first was just to watch and it was confusing. The unfolding of the movie in reverse with parts that were forward telling. The second viewing was to understand the story but more importantly begin to identify the purpose of watching this movie in relationship to the text. The third was only to realize that I needed to watch this a few more times to really understand it.
Memento has the story within a story like Inception but is presented in a way that mimics the injury of the main character Leonard. There are moments you feel like you have been hit in the head because you are as clueless as the main character appears to be. While trying to process the presentation of the film which is now not only requiring my right side of my brain, it is demanding left brain usage as well, but with all this thinking going on the Excedrin bottle is calling. Lighting, scenery, color, design, and cinematography are elements that need identifying in the movie. All of these elements and the complex nature of the film require multiple viewings of the dominantly right-brained individual such as myself.
Color is not a part of this week's text reading but I did read further into the text to get some insight to the usage of color or the monochromatic theme throughout the film. Let's talk about that first. The film has distinctive usage of color. The black and white sequences are the part of the movie that is forward and separate from the colored sequences which are unfolding the movie in reverse. The colored sequences have some parts subdued or haze to them. The color palate is monochromatic in blue hues and I think is intentional by the director to give the feel of sameness. Is this Leonard's mind? It is difficult to remember the scenes moments before because they are the same in texture and feel. It is the same over and over, bland and isn't as distinguishable. I am not sure that last statement even makes sense. Let's try again. The director films a sequence in the blue monochromatic scheme, breaks away to black and white, goes back to monochromatic scheme with a splash of color which houses a new "clue" as to what happened before, back to black and white and this continues throughout the film. You are trying to make out yours and Leonard's memories like Leonard is trying to make them out following the clues he has left and the moments that happened before that you are seeing after. I should include a flowchart.
There is a lot of information in this movie in regards to the techniques used, and I am not certain if I will be able to touch on all of them. The lighting in the black and white sequences are notable. The black and white scenes have depth but represent his memories that he can recall.
The camera angles used are notable. You see Leonard's point of view seeing Teddy through the windshield of the car. Viewing his victims, Jimmy and Teddy. The close ups of his tattoos, the photos. The flashback's of his wife suffering which are in color are also extreme close ups. The memories of his wife are in color which are different from his Sammy recollections.
One thing to mention is the voice over in the film. You are watching Leonard but he is not talking to the camera, we are allowed into Leonard's thoughts and listen to Guy Pierce guide us through the film.
I am hoping that with more viewing that I can pick up even more notable filming techniques. There is a lot of information and I haven't even touched on the editing. The transitions are abrupt and when you hear Leonard speaking you know that you are about to be confused and will have to sequence the events you just watched in order to make sense of what is happening next that was in the Leonard's past moments which could have been anytime from the time he last dozed off or unfocused.
It was a good movie, but I want to be able to study the film more and look for all of the filming techniques in our text. There is so much information that I am afraid that my short term memory may be failing as Leonard's but I am thankful that it ignorance can be taught, poor Leonard is stuck having to purchase a digital camera.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The King's Speech
The King's Speech is a favorite with my family. My sister gave this movie earlier this year. I didn't think that I really wanted to watch the movie, but I was in the mood for watching something different and thought why not and was very pleased with the decision.
This week's blogs were more difficult because we had to find the symbolism in the movies but more so in this film the characterization stands out to me. You cannot help but love the characters in this film. This is apparently the story of the real life characters which made it all the more appealing and you grow to feel for Albert and his speech impediment. It is a movie that you root for the underdog to come out on top. You feel the audience in the film with each speech hoping this will be the speech that he will make it through without stuttering. You see the audience including yourself silently pushing out the words as if this will help him get his words out. Very engaging and so, so charming and warm.
To find the symbolism in this movie, I chose not to host a "Help Me movie watching party" but rather enjoyed it over and over. The movie itself is about a symbol... the King of England, the symbolic leader who has certain duties concerning the country. Albert does not want to be King because he believes he is not qualified to be the country's symbolic leader.
He has a great fear and how the filmmaker gets this point out is not in words spoken necessarily by Albert but the repeated film shots of the microphone and the fear it causes Albert. It could have just as well been a blood-thirsty werewolf or the devil himself but I don't think that Albert would have considered them as frightening as that long walk to the microphone. You feel the dread and the gut wrenching nerves as the shot of that unattended microphone is viewed then a shot to Albert's face leaves no room for guessing - you can relate in some way to the fear that is presented to you in the film. The silence in the movie with the sound of a horse whinnying and a dog barking symbolizes the long paused silences that one expects when Albert is speaking. The shots of the radio audiences and the looks passed around symbolizes the question of will Albert make it through. During the final speech you want to stand up and cheer with the audience in the movie. This is what gives this film the universal appeal and universal symbols used in the film are what all audiences can relate to.
I am not sure if this is stretching a bit with the next thought of symbolism, but the toy planes that Lionel's boys make show the desire that Albert craved as a child to be allowed to explore his interests and not those of the ones others deemed Albert should have instead. You feel for Albert in the pressures that the Royals felt and the very young age that he knew that someday there was a chance he would be a asked to lead.
Lionel's office was a focus. I may be stretching a bit here as well, but the director has so many wide shots of the enormous office that was very simple and contained only a minimal amount of furnishings. Albert was still just a man and not a Royal in this office. There was safety within the office that as the movie progressed it was intimate.
The film was great and is a movie that invites the audience to be apart of the success of Albert and him overcoming his biggest fear so that he might become the man that he was supposed to be. Lionel's character is just as lovable and you see how he genuinely wants to help. I will admit I sing my thoughts as Lionel taught Albert to do to help with flow. I do it to help with thoughts but more importantly for the pleasure of annoying anyone else around me who disagrees that I should have been the next American Idol winner!
This week's blogs were more difficult because we had to find the symbolism in the movies but more so in this film the characterization stands out to me. You cannot help but love the characters in this film. This is apparently the story of the real life characters which made it all the more appealing and you grow to feel for Albert and his speech impediment. It is a movie that you root for the underdog to come out on top. You feel the audience in the film with each speech hoping this will be the speech that he will make it through without stuttering. You see the audience including yourself silently pushing out the words as if this will help him get his words out. Very engaging and so, so charming and warm.
To find the symbolism in this movie, I chose not to host a "Help Me movie watching party" but rather enjoyed it over and over. The movie itself is about a symbol... the King of England, the symbolic leader who has certain duties concerning the country. Albert does not want to be King because he believes he is not qualified to be the country's symbolic leader.
He has a great fear and how the filmmaker gets this point out is not in words spoken necessarily by Albert but the repeated film shots of the microphone and the fear it causes Albert. It could have just as well been a blood-thirsty werewolf or the devil himself but I don't think that Albert would have considered them as frightening as that long walk to the microphone. You feel the dread and the gut wrenching nerves as the shot of that unattended microphone is viewed then a shot to Albert's face leaves no room for guessing - you can relate in some way to the fear that is presented to you in the film. The silence in the movie with the sound of a horse whinnying and a dog barking symbolizes the long paused silences that one expects when Albert is speaking. The shots of the radio audiences and the looks passed around symbolizes the question of will Albert make it through. During the final speech you want to stand up and cheer with the audience in the movie. This is what gives this film the universal appeal and universal symbols used in the film are what all audiences can relate to.
I am not sure if this is stretching a bit with the next thought of symbolism, but the toy planes that Lionel's boys make show the desire that Albert craved as a child to be allowed to explore his interests and not those of the ones others deemed Albert should have instead. You feel for Albert in the pressures that the Royals felt and the very young age that he knew that someday there was a chance he would be a asked to lead.
Lionel's office was a focus. I may be stretching a bit here as well, but the director has so many wide shots of the enormous office that was very simple and contained only a minimal amount of furnishings. Albert was still just a man and not a Royal in this office. There was safety within the office that as the movie progressed it was intimate.
The film was great and is a movie that invites the audience to be apart of the success of Albert and him overcoming his biggest fear so that he might become the man that he was supposed to be. Lionel's character is just as lovable and you see how he genuinely wants to help. I will admit I sing my thoughts as Lionel taught Albert to do to help with flow. I do it to help with thoughts but more importantly for the pleasure of annoying anyone else around me who disagrees that I should have been the next American Idol winner!
Good Will Hunting
Alright, how can I put this? Symbolism for a difficult task in my life movie would have to be the movie trailer for Good Will Hunting! I have identified simplistic symbolization in movies like Beerfest, for example, when they are sitting around their freshly poured home brew and cautiously take a sip and the face of Todd lights up symbolizing the "heavenly and Divine nature" of the beer they have brewed from the family secret recipe! Easy? I thought that this assignment would be easy for me to talk about the symbolism in the movies Good Will Hunting and The King's Speech, but I admit this wasn't as easy as I anticipated.
I did not post to our classroom discussion because I did not want to miss this opportunity to figure it out on my own. I did some research online and found some psychological explanation of the personality types and so on, but really nothing that I thought explained thoroughly in my mind what was symbolic or the symbolism in this movie was. I came to the conclusion I was over thinking and over analyzing this subject matter and these movies. So, I did what most people would do - start calling people over to watch this movie with me and get their thoughts of the symbolism in the movie Good Will Hunting. I will not be calling that group again, because they were of no help and that is why on the day the assignment is due, I am sitting in a parking lot at the National Guard Armory, typing his blog from the uncomfortable position of my car.
However, I have made a few connections that I am satisfied with but really only one original idea was mine, the rest of them came from my instructor who pointed out the obvious. I will state that I am a babe in the symbolism recognition realm of movie watching and will after this class hopefully graduate to relate the symbolism in movies other that Beerfest.
According to our text, a symbol is something that stands for something else. It also states that filmmakers use universal symbols to evoke complex associations which saves them the time of creating the attitudes and feelings within the context of the film. Got it. Another way filmmakers create symbolic meanings is by repetition, value placed on an object, context, and special visual, aural or musical emphasis,(like in Kill Bill Vol. I and II the stare down music!) There are also the symbolic patterns and progressions too. And lastly in our text, it discusses the symbolic value in conflict. The symbolism forces an object to represent something beyond itself. The example was civilization versus barbarism, sensual versus spiritual and others. This one was a bit more to try and wrap the brain around, but I remembered... just a babe... one step at a time.
Armed with that information, I watched my assignments everyday this week, except today in the car, in the parking lot, in the sun that is making my screen difficult to read. Good Will Hunting's title is symbolic. The so called bad (angry and fearful) Will Hunting is who we are introduced to first in the film which by the title clues the viewer in that in the end Will Hunting will be good.
The other symbolic element was mentioned by my instructor, Will's friends giving him a car on this 21st birthday. My interpretation of the symbolism of the car are as follows: (1) the car was given on the 21st birthday which also signified his being an adult... he could legally drink in the bar, he was released from his probation, and signified a coming of age and freedom; (2) the car was pieced together by his friends each giving a piece of themselves; (3) the car looked rough, but it had a good engine - rough on the outside but a good heart - good Will Hunting.
The slow motion fight scene symbol was a bit more difficult to grasp, but after viewing I decided that what it signified to me was the beginning of facing the past and the coming to a head the fear, pain, and frustration that was mounting in Will. On a side note, if you talk to a psychologist, was is typical of young abused victims, the age of 21 is significant in that his is a time where you will see most young adults feelings coming to a head and seek out help in developing coping skills. This was a way for the filmmaker to signify a turning point in this kids life.
One bit of symbolism that I came up with on my own although I am sure that somewhere someone thought of this was the train ride. Throughout the movie it was filmed (aha, the repetition) Will riding on the train always looking inward and usually in the dark or overcast. The last train ride we see Will ride on is after his breakdown/release with Sean. All the pain and fear came out in tears with Sean and he is filmed looking out of the train with the sun on his face and he looks happy to be looking at the future.
The symbolism in the painting of Sean's is probably the most obvious for me to see. The man in the painting is lost in a large body of water appearing hopeless. The picture emits loneliness and oneness. I am not certain about the color reference other than Sean has had a bright life until the point of losing his wife and unable to find his way again. The relationship between Sean and Will has a universal theme of healing together the pains of the past and the fear of the future.
Good Will Hunting
I did not post to our classroom discussion because I did not want to miss this opportunity to figure it out on my own. I did some research online and found some psychological explanation of the personality types and so on, but really nothing that I thought explained thoroughly in my mind what was symbolic or the symbolism in this movie was. I came to the conclusion I was over thinking and over analyzing this subject matter and these movies. So, I did what most people would do - start calling people over to watch this movie with me and get their thoughts of the symbolism in the movie Good Will Hunting. I will not be calling that group again, because they were of no help and that is why on the day the assignment is due, I am sitting in a parking lot at the National Guard Armory, typing his blog from the uncomfortable position of my car.
However, I have made a few connections that I am satisfied with but really only one original idea was mine, the rest of them came from my instructor who pointed out the obvious. I will state that I am a babe in the symbolism recognition realm of movie watching and will after this class hopefully graduate to relate the symbolism in movies other that Beerfest.
According to our text, a symbol is something that stands for something else. It also states that filmmakers use universal symbols to evoke complex associations which saves them the time of creating the attitudes and feelings within the context of the film. Got it. Another way filmmakers create symbolic meanings is by repetition, value placed on an object, context, and special visual, aural or musical emphasis,(like in Kill Bill Vol. I and II the stare down music!) There are also the symbolic patterns and progressions too. And lastly in our text, it discusses the symbolic value in conflict. The symbolism forces an object to represent something beyond itself. The example was civilization versus barbarism, sensual versus spiritual and others. This one was a bit more to try and wrap the brain around, but I remembered... just a babe... one step at a time.
Armed with that information, I watched my assignments everyday this week, except today in the car, in the parking lot, in the sun that is making my screen difficult to read. Good Will Hunting's title is symbolic. The so called bad (angry and fearful) Will Hunting is who we are introduced to first in the film which by the title clues the viewer in that in the end Will Hunting will be good.
The other symbolic element was mentioned by my instructor, Will's friends giving him a car on this 21st birthday. My interpretation of the symbolism of the car are as follows: (1) the car was given on the 21st birthday which also signified his being an adult... he could legally drink in the bar, he was released from his probation, and signified a coming of age and freedom; (2) the car was pieced together by his friends each giving a piece of themselves; (3) the car looked rough, but it had a good engine - rough on the outside but a good heart - good Will Hunting.
The slow motion fight scene symbol was a bit more difficult to grasp, but after viewing I decided that what it signified to me was the beginning of facing the past and the coming to a head the fear, pain, and frustration that was mounting in Will. On a side note, if you talk to a psychologist, was is typical of young abused victims, the age of 21 is significant in that his is a time where you will see most young adults feelings coming to a head and seek out help in developing coping skills. This was a way for the filmmaker to signify a turning point in this kids life.
One bit of symbolism that I came up with on my own although I am sure that somewhere someone thought of this was the train ride. Throughout the movie it was filmed (aha, the repetition) Will riding on the train always looking inward and usually in the dark or overcast. The last train ride we see Will ride on is after his breakdown/release with Sean. All the pain and fear came out in tears with Sean and he is filmed looking out of the train with the sun on his face and he looks happy to be looking at the future.
The symbolism in the painting of Sean's is probably the most obvious for me to see. The man in the painting is lost in a large body of water appearing hopeless. The picture emits loneliness and oneness. I am not certain about the color reference other than Sean has had a bright life until the point of losing his wife and unable to find his way again. The relationship between Sean and Will has a universal theme of healing together the pains of the past and the fear of the future.
Good Will Hunting
Sunday, January 8, 2012
On The Waterfront
"I could've been a contender..." I about fell over when I heard this! I held off watching this movie but after having a great experience watching Casablanca, I couldn't wait to watch this film. I played it over twice because I never knew which movie this dialogue came from and was so happy that I "got it"... On The Waterfront!
What a classic! This movie has all the elements of a classic with the drama, action, romance, the underdog and the all around satisfaction at the end of the movie feeling like justice prevailed. The only difficult part viewing the movie was my fascination with Marlon Brando's face. I had to stop and go back to listen to the lines because I was so intrigued with Brando's face and his performance. His non-verbal cues, his mannerisms were fantastic to watch. It was as though I should have watched the movie muted first so that I could concentrate more on the dialogue.
I like watching actors first films like Eva Marie Saint in this film. Her performance in North by Northwest is a favorite because I love suspense movies. She was also in 2006 Superman Returns. I had to watch this one after On The Waterfront just to see her again. To see her age in movies and how aged actors' performances are so fluid is amazing and demonstrates their years of work and talent. She is a beautiful and talented actress.
The movie was infused with talent from the writer/director, the main actor and actress and the supporting cast. On the recommendation from my instructor, I took the time to learn just a bit about the director. It is obvious in the movie that the performances and the direction of the film was personal to the director. It was also new knowledge to me that this director, Elia Kazan directed the stage and film version of A Streetcar Named Desire.
The famous quoted lines from this movie again gave me better appreciation to the other performers who used this reference. An analogy is like laughing at at joke without understanding the joke. It is hard to fake or force an expression without fully understanding why you are supposed to laugh.
This movie gave me the same feeling as the Rocky films which is similar in many aspects. The Rocky films are not a sports film about boxing but the life struggles of a guy and a love story. It is a great example of an underdog movie that makes you want to get off your couch when you are done watching to hit a slab a beef. Stallone wrote the film and made the first Rocky for under a million dollars and in less than thirty days. He wrote the Rocky series from his personal battles and both movies give the viewer a sense of victory. On The Waterfront is a motivating film of good versus evil and that the good guy can come out on top if you stand up for your beliefs... and in both of these films the guy gets the girl!
What a classic! This movie has all the elements of a classic with the drama, action, romance, the underdog and the all around satisfaction at the end of the movie feeling like justice prevailed. The only difficult part viewing the movie was my fascination with Marlon Brando's face. I had to stop and go back to listen to the lines because I was so intrigued with Brando's face and his performance. His non-verbal cues, his mannerisms were fantastic to watch. It was as though I should have watched the movie muted first so that I could concentrate more on the dialogue.
I like watching actors first films like Eva Marie Saint in this film. Her performance in North by Northwest is a favorite because I love suspense movies. She was also in 2006 Superman Returns. I had to watch this one after On The Waterfront just to see her again. To see her age in movies and how aged actors' performances are so fluid is amazing and demonstrates their years of work and talent. She is a beautiful and talented actress.
The movie was infused with talent from the writer/director, the main actor and actress and the supporting cast. On the recommendation from my instructor, I took the time to learn just a bit about the director. It is obvious in the movie that the performances and the direction of the film was personal to the director. It was also new knowledge to me that this director, Elia Kazan directed the stage and film version of A Streetcar Named Desire.
The famous quoted lines from this movie again gave me better appreciation to the other performers who used this reference. An analogy is like laughing at at joke without understanding the joke. It is hard to fake or force an expression without fully understanding why you are supposed to laugh.
This movie gave me the same feeling as the Rocky films which is similar in many aspects. The Rocky films are not a sports film about boxing but the life struggles of a guy and a love story. It is a great example of an underdog movie that makes you want to get off your couch when you are done watching to hit a slab a beef. Stallone wrote the film and made the first Rocky for under a million dollars and in less than thirty days. He wrote the Rocky series from his personal battles and both movies give the viewer a sense of victory. On The Waterfront is a motivating film of good versus evil and that the good guy can come out on top if you stand up for your beliefs... and in both of these films the guy gets the girl!
Casablanca - A Favorite
For the first session of Intro to Film, ART 116, my class was required to read chapters one and two in our textbook. Being a avid movie watcher, I was interested in learning more about the art of watching movies and hopefully find some missing element that would enhance my movie watching experience.
In preparation for viewing Casablanca and armed with the new knowledge provided in my textbook, I viewed every movie on our required reading list BUT Casablanca and On The Water Front. It wasn't that I have difficultly being told what to watch, but I was bias against the movies because the notoriety of the movies. I was worried that I would not like Casablanca because it would be a predictable movie with an average storyline and that maybe I should be folding clothes or something while it played. Casablanca has been critically acclaimed by movie critics and in many film classes from high school to college as a great example of a classic movie with a universal appeal and romance, but then those same critics have also trashed a personal favorite Trailer Park Terror and so I held off watching the movies. My conclusion after watching; they are both classics which I am happy to own and watch over and over.
What universal appeal Casablanca holds and why the movie has been deemed a classic! The era, the storyline,and the themes represented in the movie, romance, mystery, duty and moral conflict kept me interested the entire movie. The film had the right amount of action, romance without the overt sexuality that is in many of today's films. It let your mind wanting to know more about the relationship, where she came from, why the unanswered questions. It showed the reluctance to commit or being completely vulnerable on Rick's part because he knew there was something she was hiding.
Black and white films are a favorite, but this one kept my mind wondering how beautiful it would have been in color. The club scenes were my favorite, I wondered what the place looked like in the rich colors of the country and the time of art deco design. The piano playing and the atmosphere is something that brings the desire to go out and experience a similar evening. It was a common thing in that time to enjoy and relax versus today's rushed experiences.
I have heard and seen so many times at the beginning of DVDs the information about piracy using the scenes from Casablanca. I have heard it but didn't realize the significance of the "play it for me Sam" that has been referenced in other movies, sit-coms, and comedy sketches. It brings better enjoyment to those moments now understanding what and why it is referenced. It was as if the light bulb turned on and I said aloud, "That is where the song came from, this is why they used it in that sketch!" followed by a great big "duh."
I compared Casablanca to some of my all-time favorites, Where Eagles Dare and Indiana Jones. The plots of those favorites, although are not exactly the same, have some things in common such as the romance, the sense of duty, right from wrong, and have you rooting for the good guy even though you wish they could have gotten all the rewards, i.e. the girl. The personal sacrifice that was made by the hero still left you feeling good about the choices they made. It was a good choice for Rick and Ilsa to remember the time they shared but that the right thing was for her to leave and Rick to stay behind. He thought of the greater good of others and for her without thinking about himself.
In preparation for viewing Casablanca and armed with the new knowledge provided in my textbook, I viewed every movie on our required reading list BUT Casablanca and On The Water Front. It wasn't that I have difficultly being told what to watch, but I was bias against the movies because the notoriety of the movies. I was worried that I would not like Casablanca because it would be a predictable movie with an average storyline and that maybe I should be folding clothes or something while it played. Casablanca has been critically acclaimed by movie critics and in many film classes from high school to college as a great example of a classic movie with a universal appeal and romance, but then those same critics have also trashed a personal favorite Trailer Park Terror and so I held off watching the movies. My conclusion after watching; they are both classics which I am happy to own and watch over and over.
What universal appeal Casablanca holds and why the movie has been deemed a classic! The era, the storyline,and the themes represented in the movie, romance, mystery, duty and moral conflict kept me interested the entire movie. The film had the right amount of action, romance without the overt sexuality that is in many of today's films. It let your mind wanting to know more about the relationship, where she came from, why the unanswered questions. It showed the reluctance to commit or being completely vulnerable on Rick's part because he knew there was something she was hiding.
Black and white films are a favorite, but this one kept my mind wondering how beautiful it would have been in color. The club scenes were my favorite, I wondered what the place looked like in the rich colors of the country and the time of art deco design. The piano playing and the atmosphere is something that brings the desire to go out and experience a similar evening. It was a common thing in that time to enjoy and relax versus today's rushed experiences.
I have heard and seen so many times at the beginning of DVDs the information about piracy using the scenes from Casablanca. I have heard it but didn't realize the significance of the "play it for me Sam" that has been referenced in other movies, sit-coms, and comedy sketches. It brings better enjoyment to those moments now understanding what and why it is referenced. It was as if the light bulb turned on and I said aloud, "That is where the song came from, this is why they used it in that sketch!" followed by a great big "duh."
I compared Casablanca to some of my all-time favorites, Where Eagles Dare and Indiana Jones. The plots of those favorites, although are not exactly the same, have some things in common such as the romance, the sense of duty, right from wrong, and have you rooting for the good guy even though you wish they could have gotten all the rewards, i.e. the girl. The personal sacrifice that was made by the hero still left you feeling good about the choices they made. It was a good choice for Rick and Ilsa to remember the time they shared but that the right thing was for her to leave and Rick to stay behind. He thought of the greater good of others and for her without thinking about himself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)