Do the Right Thing Sucka

"Do the Right Thing" really challenged me on many different levels, I must say Spike Lee has surprised me with his trickery. There are so many aspects of this film that show Spike Lee as an artist. The cinematography was truly amazing throughout the film, I particularly liked the way he used a filter and bright warm colors to portray the heat of the day. I especially liked that he painted the wall behind the three men such a vibrant shade of red. By doing this Spike made the viewer feel uncomfortable to look at the screen. This color was so bright it made me squint my eyes, this really added to the setting of a hot hot day, it really made me feel like I was sitting on the corner with the three men trying to beat the heat. I thought the ending was amazing, I was a little confused at first when Mookie threw the garbage can through Sal's window but I soon realized the irony behind the scene. It's sad to think that there is such hatred in the world but the "racial slur montage captured many people's viewpoints on diversity in today's society. There is so much about this film that I don't even know where to begin. There were many interesting angles and creatively conceived shots throughout the film. I felt that the dutch angles, the extreme close ups, low angle shots and high angle shots all contributed towards the chaos that gradually grew until the final scene when the people of the neighborhood exploded in a furious riot. I think Spike Lee did a good job displaying the racial injustice and the racism that encompasses our world. Whether Mookie did the right thing is of little importance, what we should be asking ourselves is, Why is there so much hate in the world? "Do the Right Thing" has been one of my favorite movies I have seen all year next to the film, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". I do not recall watching any other films directed by Spike Lee, definitely none starring the Lee. I really liked the film, I thought it was comical in many ways but I also saw the importance of the message that Lee was trying to get across. I intend to watch a few of Lee's other films in the near future.

The Battle of Algiers

The film, "The Battle of Algiers" made in 1965 was rereleased with new print and new subtitles. The film is unique and plays an important role in todays time as well. It has been respected by both sides of the political spectrum, "The Battle of Algiers", a political document with imagery and insights are relevant in today's world and touches base with our times as many countries experience the oppressive actions of an intervening power. The director Yulo Ponte Corvo seemed to lean towards being sympathetic with the Algerians but he also does a good job of showing the French in a somewhat favorable light as well. When the bomb goes off and all of the innocent French people are killed the audience is able to feel sympathetic towards the French. This film successfully makes the audience feel like they are watching a documentary of this battle and it becomes exciting as all of this history is thrown at them. By using a cast that is almost completely unprofessional, Ponte Corvo is able to portray this feeling of "reality" and "suspense". "The Battle of Algiers" has definitely brought a lot to the table concerning the politics of warfare, and still can be respected today as a work of art.

http://www.npr.org/templates/dmg/dmg.php?prgCode=ME&showDate=09-Jan-2004&segNum=14&NPRMediaPref=WM

Chinatown

The film Chinatown had a very different take on the Film Noir style, it was definitely stylized in a different manor. This was something that I really liked about this film. Chinatown was in color unlike any other Film Noir we watched, it was also more modern and depressing. The ending was a bit of a shocker which I liked but it also ended so abruptly which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Jack Nichalson is a great actor and it was interesting to seem him at the beginning of his career and the way he played his role. I found it interesting how the femme fatale turned out to be the only person acting on moral grounds, she was acting with good intentions while the other characters where out for wealth and other things. I think the ending was an amazing scene because there was so much going on and it was very hectic until it ended abruptly with a gun shot and the car horn and screams adding to the chaos. The use of shadows throughout the film was huge, by covering JJ. Gittes face we were left outside of the bubble as to what he is thinking we cannot see his facial expressions. I think this adds a lot to the film and brings the mystery and danger to life. I felt that this film was a lot like Out of the Past in the sense that the detective was a very likeable person with a hazy past. I liked that JJ was smooth and good on his feet, and I thought that it was more realistic that he only slept with one woman throughout the movie. I don't know if this film inspired me to check out more Film Noir, because frankly I think I have had enough for a while, but I do think I was inspired by Jack Nickalson's performance and I plan on checking out some more of his movies.

Kiss Me Deadly

Honestly when looking back at the film Kiss Me Deadly I find it hard not to laugh. The whole concept was ridiculous really, from beginning to end I couldn't help myself from seeing the movie as a joke. At the beginning of the film there was this very mysterious feeling floating around, with the naked woman by the side of the road and the panting and moaning. I have to say, the opening credits did leave me wondering what was going on under the dashboard. The opening credits had caught my attention but I soon lost interest in the story. I felt that the acting was below par, most of the time the actors were overacting. It was also distracting how Hammer was able to bed just about any woman who came in contact with him. Lets just say the character development could have been better....VA VA VOOM, for instance. I mean what is his deal, he must have eaten paint chips as a child or something. As ridiculous as Va Va Voom was (if that is his real name) I must say he was the only character that I connected with. His joking personality made him easy to like, and I felt bad when the car came crushing down on him. Overall "Kiss Me Deadly" left me looking for more, I guess that is what "Chinatown" is for...redemption for the Film Noir genre.

Out of the Past or Back to the Future? you decide...

The film "Out of the Past" was my very first Film Noir, and I must say it wasn't what I had expected. I thought that it would have more of a detective that sits behind his desk smoking cigarettes and drinking bourbon until a dame comes through his door asking him to trail her husband...or something like that. Don't get me wrong I liked a lot of things about this film, I liked how it was almost a perfect match with the definition of Film Noir (smooth talking detective, can go almost anywhere, never puts himself in harms way, the femme fatale...and much much more) this was interesting to me because it was so black and white....literally. I liked Jeff's character the most and I think most of the class would agree with me that he is a "badass". Jeff is the typical detective, he smokes he drinks, and gets with the women (he just doesn't sit behind a desk...shoot so close). These are the reasons why we find it hard to resist watching him lay out a man with one punch while simultaneously answering the phone. I really liked this new genre Film Noir, mainly because it is something I have never seen before. I liked the characters seen throughout the film and I hope to find another Film Noir with an even cooler detective...if that's possible, but this next time he has to have his own desk in a smoke filled office.

Eternal Sunshine...(wouldn't that be nice) of the Spotless Mind

I really liked this movie and was excited to see it. This was my first time seeing the film but I heard good things from a number of different people. I liked it for many different reasons, I liked seeing Jim Carrey play a different role, I liked the way it was shot and how the story brought the audience along for the "trip". This was a very artistic movie, although confusing at times the end of the film seemed to tie everything together pretty well. I really enjoyed the use of light throughout the film, the "real world" was very bright and vibrant whereas deep inside Joel's memories and thoughts things were often in shadow or darkness. By using the lighting in this manner, we can see how Joel is confused and running through his mind. The real world is bright clear, unfazed by any intruding "memory erasers". The darkness throughout the film shows a sense of fear and anger towards these intruders of the mind. One scene I really liked was when Joel and Clementine were talking in the library and all around them books were losing their color and fading away. This was a cool way to show that Joel's mind and memories are slowly being erased. I liked how this choice a lot because it wasn't too obvious, it was just happening in the background. This was a cool movie because it was mysterious yet engaging at the same time. I liked how the film showed that erasing any memory no matter how terrible is almost like erasing who you are. Your memories are what make you you, and if you erase them you are erasing part of yourself in the process. The film also touched base on how love prevails. I think that both of these ideas are important and this film portrays them both accurately and in a good light. This has been my favorite film of the year and I intend to see the film "The Science of Sleep" soon because I believe that Michel Gondry worked on that project as well. I really like Gondry's style and look forward to seeing his work with a different story.

His Girl Friday

His Girl Friday seems like the first screwball comedy that I have seen but I'm sure that I've seen others. The fast pace of the film keeps you interested and it makes you really listen to what they are saying. I really liked the way the dialogue moved back and forth between Walter and Hildy. The way the two react to one another makes for a good comedy. The physical comedy doesn't hurt either. I liked the way the reporters and journalists would move from phone to phone frantically trying to get the news onto paper. The opening scene is a great example of both the physical and vocal comedy seen throughout the film. When Hildy visits Walter to tell him that she is remarrying they get into one of their massive speedy conversations and the jabs and insults keep coming. At one point during the conversation Walter says something that puts Hildy over the edge and she throwns her handbag at him, this and the way they move about the room while talking makes for quite a funny scene. The biggest turning point in the film is when Walter is filling Hildy with excitement concerning the article and Bruce walks into the room. This is a key scene because Hildy completely ignores Bruce when he is trying to tell her that he is leaving on the 9:00 train showing that she loves the paper more than she does Bruce. I now know what the screwball comedy has to offer and I plan on pursuing this genre in the future. I always walked right past these movies in blockbuster and now...maybe I'll stop and take a closer look at some of the titles...but I'm not promising anything I'll probably end up renting 300 again.

"Deserves Got Nothin' To Do With It"

I must say I enjoyed the film "Unforgiven" very much, it really opened up a new perspective on the Western genre as a whole. I used to think that Westerns were all pretty much the same but "Unforgiven" really shows a different and more vulnerable side of the cowboy "outlaw". Throughout the movie Will Munny struggles with many demons, his drinking problem and his past as a ruthless killer play a big role on Munny's psyche as the film progresses. I really enjoyed this film mainly because it was more believable than most other westerns and some great emotions were portrayed by the three outlaws. I liked how Eastwood showed that even the worst of killers having some vulnerable characteristics hidden deep within them. I felt the depiction of a slow and painful death added a lot to the movie's message. The title is a key component of the film as well because it makes you wonder who this is being directed to, as it turns out almost all of the outlaws are battling their consciences as they murder helpless men. In the end the murders and killing of these men is unforgiven. After seeing this movie I have come to the conclusion that the revisionist western appeals to my tastes much more than a classical western. Primarily the action and emotion that the outlaws are going through grabs my attention more than a group of strangers in a stagecoach.

Pan's Labyrinth=Amazing

After watching the trippy adult fairy tale that is "Pan's Labyrinth" one thing stuck with me, perhaps this is due to the fact that I had been taking notes on it throughout the entire film but the set design in "Pan's Labyrinth" was breathtaking. After taking notes on the set design I tried to pull up some extra features and commentary tracks on the making of the film but this only comes with the two disk feature set. Feeling a bit helpless I finally struck gold on a YouTube search "Pan's Labyrinth Set Design". This was just what I was looking for, a commentary segment by the director, Guillermo del Toro and the set designer, Eugenio Caballero. This commentary focuses most of it's attention towards the differences between the set design of the "real world" and the "magical/mythical world" seen throughout the film. Caballero and Del Toro collaborated together on the set design, in the commentary Del Toro points out that he wanted the "real world" to look very cruel and cold, he was able to accomplish this by using diagonal and straight lines, everything in the set is rough and textured so the set seems more unforgiving. Del Toro uses cool colors like blue and black to establish the sadness and loneliness that Ofelia, the main character is experiencing, it is almost always raining as well, this adds to the dispair that she feels. By collaborating together Del Toro and Caballero are able to paint a realistic portrait of the line between a world of cruelty and evil and a world of hope and love. The magical world is seen as a sort of safe haven for Ofelia as she strives to escape the cruelties that surround her. The sets of the magical world are amazing to me because they all seem so real, the truth is the sets for the mythical world are all big models. Del Toro chose to do it this way because he wanted it to lie on the fine line between reality and a mythical place. Caballero uses many rounded objects and soft light in his set designs for the "magical realm", quite the opposite of his "real world's" sets. The use of soft colors like red, yellow, and gold help lighten the mood when things in the real world are violent and terrifying. At certain points during the film the set designs echo each other, Ofelia's stepfather, a tyrannical military officer throws a dinner party with his "yes men" and their wives. The table they are eating on is a long and ornate hand crafted piece , at the head of the table sits this cruel man that kills with no remorse, later on in the film we return to Ofelia's quest and she must complete a task, in the set of this scene the very same table is present and at the head of the table a terrible monster awaits Ofelia like a spider luring in it's prey. Del Toro mentions in his commentary that, "The set design is trying to tell us that the girl, (Ofelia) is trying to understand the real world through the fantasy. For the most part the sets were constructed by the set design crew with exception to those that were digitally retouched, (The Ruins). Del Toro adds his own thoughts when he gives the woods a glowing affect full of life and mysteries, one thing that I noticed that added a bit of mysticism was the floating particles seen throughout the air that gave the film a nice dreamlike quality. Overall there weren't many problems that got in the way but Del Toro and Caballero are so smooth in their directions that there was little room for error, It is not hard to see why Pan's Labyrinth is Guillermo Del Toro's proudest film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4pbPUqain4

Westerns...bang bang

I usually don't enjoy westerns because, in my experience with them they have always been about the outlaw and his travels. I know the film, "Stagecoach" followed the outlaw (Ringo the Kid) but it also followed the stories of the many other passengers riding in the stagecoach. I found this interesting because every passenger came from a different social background, whether they were an outlaw, prostitute, doctor with a drinking problem, or a crooked banker each character was represented well and each were shone in a different light. I did have a hard time getting used to the little amount of action and shoot-em up scenes found in this movie, i have gotten used to today's action packed, guns blazing movies we see today. But when the stagecoach arrives in Lordsberg and the shootout scene is finally upon us, I am at peace, the way Ford shot this scene is classic. I like the way he shows everyone in town scurrying out of the main street and the shadows and low key lighting adds tremendously to the suspense effect. This is an important scene because this is what the entire movie has really been building up to, "Will Ringo the Kid get his revenge?"
I like how Ford portrays Ringo as the outlaw we can all learn to love, I realized how in many contemporary movies this same idea is used. The most recent Western that I have seen was "American Outlaws", for some reason this film seemed just too much like hollywood nonsense, maybe this was because Jessie James was played by Colin Farell not the typical cowboy in my mind. The film did have many of the same general scenes as stagecoach though, the long travel across country, the shootout, and the girl that the outlaw falls in love with were all there. I don't have anything against Westerns i just don't find myself seeking out such films as 3:10 to Yuma as I would for comedies. But the viewing of this film has taught me to give the Western genre another try.

Wait..."There wasn't a cane in Citizen Kane"

To me the film, Citizen Kane was the beginning of a new "breed" of filmmaking. Orson Welles put so much, time, energy, and heart into the creation of this film that it seems to be crammed full of technical elements of film. Some can take this in a positive light while others can see it as distracting and almost "too much". I would have to say that some of the techniques used were almost too drastic...(the parrot) but at the same time the film gave a whole new light to the term photography. Welles does a good job of varying his shots he uses a wide range of shots, he uses extreme long shots (Kane's mansion), long shots (Opera theater), medium shots (Breakfast table), close ups (Susan's face pleading to Kane to let her stop singing), and extreme close ups (Kane's mouth as he whispers his last word, "Rosebud"). The great thing about the photography in Citizen Kane is that the camera's distance, angle, and aspect ratio tell a story in themselves. The use of high angle and low angle provide another aid in determining what is going on in a certain shot. When Susan is pleading that Kane let her stop her singing career she is on her knees and is almost as low as she can get in the frame, Kane stands above her and dominates the frame showing his power. The camera angle from Susan's perspective is a low angle and she is looking up at Kane in fear, the camera angle from Kane's perspective is high angle as he looks down upon Susan, almost in anger and disgust with himself. The movie in itself was a huge contribution to the filmmaking world and the elements of film seen throughout have provided a platform for movies to build off of.

The Godfather Review

“The Godfather” directed by Francis Ford Coppola may be the all time greatest gangster movies of all time. What gives me a right to say such a bold statement? I have something known as the freedom of speech. “The Godfather” is the platform of which nearly all gangster/mafia movies build from; this movie alone set the standards for this genre. This is of course my opinion but I am sure you will agree if you decide to listen to my praises and watch this movie.

To begin, “The Godfather” has won three academy awards including best picture of 1972. With an all-star cast how couldn’t this movie receive all the attention it did? The movie stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and Anne Keaton. The acting is superb, the emotions and the dialogue are so rich and full of life that you come out of the movie feeling as if you are part of the family. Marlon Brando is amazing he sells his character to you and you believe him when he makes promises, you listen to every word he says because you almost find yourself respecting him as a character.

“The Godfather” is the story of a Sicilian family that is one of the five most powerful mafia families in New York. It’s 1946 and at this time the mafia has it’s hands in the casino, and liquor industries, A young narcotics dealer comes into the picture and starts to shake things up, he tries to get narcotics into organized crime. This does not go over well with Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) who feels that the introduction of the narcotics industry will only bring trouble and confrontation. Don Corleone is right in thinking this because this is exactly what happens. Rivalries and the event of the Don’s assassination attempt really gets the ball rolling and forces the family business to be placed in the hands of Sonny, Don Vito’s hot headed son. While Don Corleone’s wounds heal, Sonny has turned the situation into a full on war between the five mafia families of New York. After many retaliations and twists and turns Michael, the Don’s youngest son is handed the control of the family business and learns that the family business isn’t all about killing and crime, but it is about respect for one’s friends and enemies, and family is a huge part of the business.

“The Godfather” is directed by the great Francis Ford Coppola a man who knows that the power of music can dramatically affect the mood of the film. The music throughout the film is scored by Nino Rota, she created the moving music throughout the film that is upbeat during the weddings and downbeat during funerals and deaths. The music in itself tells a story of victory and defeat, the way this film is put together is amazing because it has so much to offer: action, drama, suspense, weddings, funerals, shootouts, and assassinations. Everything that a good gangster film should be The Godfather has it all. I would highly recommend this film to the seven people on earth who haven’t seen this film, and to those who have already seen this masterpiece so they can take a closer look at the genius behind Coppola’s “The Godfather”.

LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN

I began watching this movie not knowing what to expect. I heard that it was a mafia/gangster movie and i have rarely watched a mafia movie that i haven't liked. Lucky Number Slevin came in the mail through our netflix account, i didn't order the movie but i had just seen the departed and i was in the mood to watch more criminals do what they do best. One thing that caught my eye was the great actors listed on the cover: Morgan Friedman, Bruce Willis, and Josh Hartnet (I almost didn't watch the movie because his performance in pearl harbor wasn't stellar). Although he was very good in this film, convincing, Lucy Lui starred as Hartnet's "girl". The one thing that disappointed me, the plot wasn't that believable: Two "Dons" or "Godfathers" if you will, live right across the street from one another in the penthouse's of their buildings. There penthouses face eachother yet they never attempt assassinating each other from their compounds. Both leaders stay hidden in their penthouses in fear of being killed out in the "real world". The idea of two mafia leaders living across from each other seems ridiculous but it did allow for interesting twists and turns along the way. I will not go on any longer in fear of ruining the movie, but I will recommend this film to anyone who has seen the departed and thought it was good.

JOURNAL #1: CRITIQUE THE CRITIC

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times actually turned out to know what he was talking about, his review of “The Bourne Ultimatum” almost parallels my very own of the action packed film. Ebert critiques the film but does not bash it like many other critics; he is the kind of critic that can point out a movies’ weaknesses as well as its strong points. I felt that Ebert did a good job of portraying his feelings towards the film, he pointed out his likes, and dislikes and never really chose a side. This leaves it open for the reader to choose whether or not the film is worth seeing. Ebert seems to review every aspect of a film that a good critic should. He begins the review by praising the skillful exercises in high-tech effects, and stunt work that takes place throughout the film, he goes on to say he watches the films because he likes the fast paced action.

“Of course there are sensational car chases, improbable leaps over high places, clever double reverses and lightning decisions.”

Ebert Shares a little about the background of the film and it’s prequels (“The Bourne Identity,” “The Bourne Supremacy”), to give the readers some more information on this Jason Bourne they are about to spend two hours with. He shares the storyline of “The Bourne Ultimatum” without giving anything away, and then he gives his opinion on the acting throughout the film. Ebert speaks very highly about Matt Damon’s performance and comments that he has a unique talent as an actor.

“That Matt Damon can make this character more convincing than the Road Runner is a tribute to his talent and dedication. It's not often you find a character you care about even if you don't believe he could exist.”

Ebert speaks highly of the director, Paul Greengrass, director of such films, (“United 93”, “Bourne Supremacy”) he comments on Greengrass’ filming style and his amazingly long takes that are hard to even notice:

“He not only creates (or seems to create) amazingly long takes but does it without calling attention to them. Whether they actually are unbroken stretches of film or are spliced together by invisible wipes, what counts is that they present such mind-blowing action that I forgot to keep track. Greengrass wants to show the action without interruption to reinforce the illusion it is all actually happening.”

Ebert really promotes this movie well without making it feel as though you have to see it, that is why I like Roger Ebert as a critic he doesn’t really choose sides (at least in this review), and he covers almost everything that people want to hear. The actors, the setting, the director, the storyline, and the plot…everything the reader would want to know before seeing the movie. He then ends the review with a pretty thoughtful statement:

“But why, if I liked the movie so much, am I going on like this? Because the movie is complete as itself. You sit there, and the action assaults you, and using words to re-create it would be futile. What actually happens to Jason Bourne is essentially immaterial. What matters is that something must happen, so he can run away from it or toward it.”

Overall I agreed with Ebert on most of his viewpoints, and I am definitely going to read one of his critiques again. But until then, “Good Night and Good Luck”.

This review by Roger Ebert can be found at:
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/REVIEWS/70710008

Blogging

I'm blogging...
blog blog blog blog