Rebekah's Film Blog

Citizen Kane Review

2009-12-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

Citizen Kane tells the story of the life of the very famous, rich, newspaper owner Charles Foster Kane. The public is fascinated by him and all he wants is to be loved, probably due to his traumatic separation from his parents during his childhood which put him in the wealthy hands of Walter Thatcher. With Thatcher's money, Kane is able to develop a newspaper empire. Even though he just wants love, Kane can't seem to make marriage work, and eventually he pushes everyone away and becomes a recluse. The movie begins by showing a news real describing Kane's life in brief and then the rest of the details are filled in as Kane's various acquaintances share their knowledge of him, but none of them seem to know the meaning of his final words.

Many consider Citizen Kane to be one of the greatest movies of all time. I can understand why people would think this, even though I do not agree. The plot set up is very engaging because it is untraditional the way that it tells the overall story at the beginning and then goes back to fill in the details. The makeup artists also did a great job of depicting the characters aging over time. The mise-en-scene is very detailed as well. For example in the scene where Susan is putting together a puzzle and complaining of feeling isolated the room reflects the way she is feeling and the life she is living by being vast and empty. Also the scene of Kane as a child where he is perfectly framed in the window behind his parents as they sign him away shows that what is taking place is focused on him, but he is powerless against it. The editing also greatly contributes to the mood of the film like in the shots of Kane and his wife Emily eating dinner together. At first they are both shown on screen together then they are only shown on screen separately as it bounces back and fourth between close ups of them individually, until finally the shot gets further away and we see them on screen together sitting very far apart. The editing in this scene shows the deterioration of their relationship.

I enjoyed all of the mentioned aspects of the film and more, but I would not go as far as to say that it was the greatest film I have ever seen. Even though I really liked the narrative structure, I felt that there were a few holes in it because I still had some questions once the film ended. I would consider Citizen Kane to be ONE of the greatest films, but not THE greatest. The story was beautifully executed and engaging, but for me the greatest film must be one that makes me continue to think about it after I finished watching and Citizen Kane did not do that.

Image from: http://www.brownstoner.com/247631_3.jpg

Film Noir

2009-11-24T19:29:00.000-08:00

Each of the film noir movies that I watched--The Maltese Falcon, Touch of Evil, Chinatown, and Shadow of a Doubt--have certain similarities that cause them to all fall under the title of film noir, however some of them do seem to be variations on film noir. The Maltese Falcon and Touch of Evil seem to be essential film noir; they both were created during the height of film noir which may be part of the reason why. Both movies have the hero private investigator character--Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon and Mike Vargas in Touch of Evil--who is rather cynical and disconnected with the actual police force. Both of these characters are out to solve some sort of crime mystery--Spade has multiple murders and a strange prized falcon that he is investigating and Vargas is on the trail of a murder when he discovers other corruption that he must get to the bottom of.

The Maltese Falcon and Touch of Evil also have similar settings because both take place in cities and there is lots of darkness and shadows throughout. Both of these films also have the underlying belief that the government run police force is no good and it is up to the outside investigator--Spade as a private eye and Vargas because he is from Mexico--to solve everything and put an end to corruption. There is a suspenseful tone throughout the movies and many of the characters often switch from good to bad and visa versa and there is a strong sense of moral ambiguity. For example in The Maltese Falcon the femme fatal character Brigid O'Shaughnessy switches from being credible to non-credible throughout the film, and in Touch of Evil Captain Quinlan seems reliable at first but then we find out that he has been planting evidence.

The other two films that I watched, Chinatown and Shadow of a Doubt, had some of the same elements as The Maltese Falcon and Touch of Evil, but also seemed to vary from the other films. They both also have some characters that seem to switch from good to bad like Uncle Charlie in Shadow of a Doubt and Evelyn Mulwray in Chinatown. However in these films there is not a direct conflict with the police like there is in the other two films. In Chinatown Gittes does conflict with the government, but he is not really racing against them to solve the crime and in Shadow of a Doubt there is no conflict with other investigators or the government. I think Chinatown is more noir than Shadow of a Doubt because it does have a typical femme fetal character with Mrs. Mulwray and it has a cynical private eye who ends up solving the mystery.

Shadow of a Doubt is a twist on film noir because there are detectives in the film, but they are just minor characters rather than the hero of the movie. The hero in the movie is a female because Young Charlie is the one who discovers the truth about her uncle, but she is also a lot like a femme fatal character because since she knows the truth she can be detrimental to Uncle Charlie and in the end she actually is. Both Shadow of a Doubt and Chinatown have the moral ambiguity and suspenseful tone of film noir, but they do not have as shadowy and urban look as Chinatown and The Maltese Falcon. I think part of this lack of film noir look in Chinatown is due to the fact that it is in color because that takes away from the dramatic effect of the shadows. Shadow of a Doubt takes place in a small town rather than an urban environment because Uncle Charlie leaves the city to go there and everyone seems to know everybody in that town. These films are still noir, but seem to be modified versions of noir.

Chinatown Review

2009-11-18T12:40:00.000-08:00

Private investigator J.J. Gittes is hired by a woman pretending to be Evelyn Mulwray, wife of Hollis Mulwray who is in charge of the city's water supply, to find out if Hollis is cheating on her. Gittes does what he does best, takes pictures of Hollis with another woman, but this investigation turns out to be more than just a marital problem when Hollis turns up dead. The real Evelyn Mulwray then hires Gittes and he is out to find out what happend to Mr. Mulwray. He soon discovers that the family is full of more scandal than just a murder. The movie starts out a little slow as you are first convinced that Mr. Mulwray is just spending all of his time starring at various bodies of water. However once it picks up it is definately shocking as the series of discoveries unfold.

I did not really find any of the characters in Chinatown particularly likeable, and I think a movie should have at least one likeable character, but the acting was convincing. The plot was engaging because different mysteries were added along the way. I enjoyed the few jokes that broke up the tension in the movie. As a firs time viewer the movie was entertaining, but I would not watch it again.

Image from: http://www.theindependentvoice.org/SEPT_09/index.html

Shadow of a Doubt Review

2009-11-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

In Shadow of a Doubt Charlie Oakley goes to visit his sister's family in the quiet town of Santa Rosa. His niece young Charlie, who is named after him, is very excited to have him visiting until she discovers that he may be responsible for a string of widow murders. She then becomes fearful of her uncle and with good reason because he doesn't treat her so well after he finds out that she knows the truth about him. All of the characters are well developed and the movie takes time to develop them before all the mystery sets in which is very necessary for the plot to make sense. Even the more minor characters like Uncle Charlie's other niece Ann or young Charlie's father's friend Herbie have distinct personalities and characteristics. The variety of colorful characters are part of what makes the movie so memorable.

Shadow of a Doubt makes you feel for young Charlie as she keeps the horrible secret about her uncle from her family. The way the plot is set up makes you become increasingly paranoid alongside young Charlie and you want to turn Uncle Charlie in without upsetting the family as well. The movie will keep you on edge as you wonder how much longer Uncle Charlie will be able to fool everyone around him and continue to get away with what he has done. There is plenty of suspense and drama and even some budding love in Shadow of a Doubt so it is hard not to become enthralled in it as you watch.

Image from: http://www.moviezeal.com/shadow-of-a-doubt/

Touch of Evil Review

2009-11-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

Mexican narcotics officer Mike Vargas gets sucked into a murder crime that takes place just across the boarder. However, once he gets involved he finds out about more scandal than just the crime he is trying to help solve. Police captain Quinlan has been framing suspects for quite some time and once Vargas finds out about it, Ouinlan makes things personal by trying to frame Vargas' wife.

It was very difficult for me to take Touch of Evil seriously and this could all stem from the fact that Charlton Heston was supposed to portray a Mexican. Everything about the film seemed over the top like the fumbling idiot for a motel night manager and the band of Mexican greasers who were pawns of Grandi. Too many different typical character types seemed to be forced into the movie. The plot line was fairly interesting, but not as surprising as it should have been because almost everything that happened in the movie was alluded to far before it took place which sucked out all of the shock value. The film just seemed too forced and unnatural so it was hard for me to really enjoy it.

Image from: http://infolab.stanford.edu/~prasanna/dmc/mexico.html

The Maltese Falcon Review

2009-11-11T14:24:00.000-08:00

Detective Sam Spade finds himself in the middle of a strange scandal involving the murder of his partner and the man he was tailing after he meets a strange untrustworthy woman. Spade attempts to get to the bottom of this scandal which involves Brigid O'Shaughnessy, Joel Cairo, and Kasper Gutman, all of whom seem to be after a very valuable Maltese falcon. While dealing with this group of shady characters, Spade is also being questioned about the murder of his partner Miles. The Maltese Falcon keeps adding more and more twists to the story as it goes on and none of the characters can be trusted.

The movie is very conversation heavy and you don't really see a lot of the action that takes place, but you won't miss it because each of the characters are so fascinating that you want to listen to everything they say. It doesn't take long for the movie to grab your attention because the mystery starts off almost immediately before the characters are really even established. More aspects of each character seem to unfold as the story progresses which only keeps you more interested. With all of the crime dramas out there it is often hard to find a detective movie that is able to keep me interested by giving just the right amount of information along the way, but The Maltese Falcon does just that. There were some corny moments, but they were probably just due to the fact that the movie was made so long ago and for me they only made it more enjoyable. The movie is fascinating and engaging and I was entertained by it.

Image from: http://rapid.org/board/showthread.php?t=61869

Classic Film Narrative vs. Alternative Film Narratives Presented in Monsoon Wedding and Daughters of The Dust

2009-11-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

Daughters of the Dust and Monsoon Wedding have very different narrative structures than classic Hollywood films. One major way in which Monsoon Wedding deviates from this tradition is the fact that there is not really one main character or one single plot line, rather the movie is made up of an assortment of different stories each having their own central characters. There is the story of the bride deciding to tell her husband to be about her recent involvement with her ex-boyfriend, there is the budding love between the housekeeper and the party planner, and there is light shed on the uncle's abuse of children, just to name a few of the simultaneous plots. Each of the characters in the movie seem to be part of their own story line in which they are the main character, while they also act as supporting characters in the other stories taking place. Even though Monsoon Wedding does not fit within the classical film narrative, it is still understandable. This films ability to work without following the classic conventions shows that those conventions are not necessary aspects of a film, they are just one way to present a story, but not the only way.

Daughters of The Dust also does not have one central plot line or character, but unlike Monsoon Wedding it does not have a linear plot structure. From watching Monsoon Wedding I realized that one central character or plot is not necessary for a film to work, but for me Daughters of The Dust did not work. In Daughters of the Dust there seems to be no concrete time frame in which the events are taking place. It was difficult for me to follow what was going on in the movie because I was never sure when things were happening or how much time had passed. Since this made the film difficult to understand, I think that a linear plot is necessary for a film to work.

Monsoon Wedding Review

2009-11-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

Monsoon Wedding revolves around the few days leading up to a wedding in India and all of the drama surrounding it. The bride is not quite over her ex-boyfriend, the event planner and the housekeeper fall in love, the mother and father of the bride have rising levels of stress, and much more. The movie has so many different story lines that it is impossible to be bored while watching it. It emphasizes family loyalty and Indian traditions mixed with some modern issues like the fact that it is an arranged marriage, but the bride is still sneaking around with her married ex-boyfriend.

The movie makes you wonder if all the misunderstandings and wrongdoing will ruin everything, but in the end love and family values prevail. The film is very musical with singing thrown in very naturally throughout it. Subtitles can sometimes be distracting and for me the mark of a good subtitled film is when I forget that I am even reading them, and Monsoon Wedding made me do just that. I do not know too much about Indian culture, but that did not at all hinder my movie watching experience because Monsoon Wedding gave me all of the information I needed to understand what was taking place. The film kept me interested, was understandable cross-culturally, and I enjoyed it.

Image from http://www.filtersage.com/movies/seed-movies/monsoon-wedding-mira-nair.html

Daughters of The Dust Review

2009-11-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

Daughters of The Dust is about a family of African descent living on an island and maintaining their old customs until most of the them decide to leave the island and move to the mainland up north. I found this movie to be very confusing and it did not seem to have a very strong plot. I think it really tried to use symbolism, but I did not understand most of it and it seemed overused. I had never heard of these people or this area and even though the movie had brief text explaining this at the start, it did not really make anything clearer. I did not follow most of the metaphors used in the film either. I am not sure if this is just because I have no knowledge of this culture or if is because the movie should have included more information. Another thing that confused me about this film is the fact that the characters had a variety of accents even though they were from the same family.

Nothing about the movie was cohesive and I am unsure about what the theme of the film was. There was some drama and plenty of emotion, but done of it really seemed to contribute to an overall theme or plot line. The acting was decent, but seemed wasted in the obscurity of the movie. The film seems so determined to be unconventional, that most of it remained misunderstood by me. I was over halfway through the movie before I was able to have a faint idea about what was going on. I do like the idea of having a not yet born child narrate a story about family heritage, but the story itself needs some work.

Image from http://emeagwali.com/igbo/

Casablanca Review

2009-10-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

During the start of WWII Casablanca becomes a stop along the way for people fleeing from the Germans and heading to America. Rick Blaine, an exiled American, owns a popular night club and his former lover Ilsa and her husband resistance fighter Victor Laszlo come to Casablanca in hopes of getting passes to America. Rick obtains letters of transit that can get them to America and Rick who "doesn't stick his neck out for anyone" must decide if he wants to help them or not.

The most enjoyable thing in Casablanca is the character Rick Blaine because he is the classic type who claims to only have his own interests in mind, when really has a soft spot for his former lover and is a romantic at heart. Rick always takes the side of the underdog and is all for the independence movement. Ilsa is also a very strong character. She is a very modern independent woman who struggles to decide between staying with Rick and leaving with her husband. Each of the minor characters are well developed and interesting too. Background knowledge of the beginning of WWII is not necessary to enjoy the movie because its primary focus is not on the war. The movie flashbacks are slightly corny, but they are needed to set up the relationship between Ilsa and Rick. Casablanca is a good movie and many movies since then have taken elements from this movie because it seemed to work so well.

Image from http://www.cityofhastings.org/parks/Special%20Events/Classic%20Movie%20Matinee/classic_movie.htm

Editing in the Death Scene in Bonnie and Clyde

2009-10-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Bonnie and Clyde mixes Hollywood continuity style with European editing techniques. The final death scene has especially unique editing techniques. The sudden close ups on Bonnie and Clyde immediately show their distress. The editing of the shooting scene is very disjunctive and it gives the scene a noticeable style. There are many cuts used as Bonnie and Clyde are being shot and the cuts are all clear to see because the give the scene a jerky quality. The cuts almost seem to go in rhythm with the noise of the gun shots. This choppy editing makes the death scene all the more shocking and tragic. This scene also uses overlap editing which seems to emphasize that is happening. The fact that they die in slow motion invites the audience to feel their pain because they are forced to slowly watch them die.

The duration of the death scene does not match up with the temporal continuity of the rest of the film because it is the only part of the film that is in slow motion. This could be to help signify that all throughout the rest of the film they were running and the only time they can stop running is during their death. However, even though the duration is slow due to the use of slow motion, the pace of the editing is fast. There are so many cuts used during this scene, but they all take place very rapidly to match up with the sudden fire of the gun shots. The face pace of the cuts just adds to the shock value of the scene.

Bonnie and Clyde Review

2009-10-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

Bonnie and Clyde follows the life of a band of bank robbers on the run who become known all over the country. Clyde is just out of prison when he meets up with Bonnie who is desperate to get out of her life in a small town. They two fall in love and begin their bank robbing spree along with a few others who join in on the action. It is no surprise that this movie is considered a classic because it has everything from romance to violence. Bonnie and Clyde seem to be the most likable criminals of all time and almost everyone, but the law seems to admire them. Warren Beatty's performance as the smooth talking Clyde and Faye Dunaway as the thrill seeking Bonnie seem to be the perfect fit to play the young, glamorous, and desperately in love criminals.

The film mixes in tender moments, suspense, violence, and humor so that there is never a dull moment. Unlike most movies about criminals on the run, Bonnie and Clyde makes you hope that the law does not win. The cleaver dialogue and the very human characters make the story come alive in a very enthralling way. It almost inspires you to take up bank robbing--if it weren't for the ending. This excellent film definitely deserves it place among movie classics.

Image from: http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/2030916

Elements of Editing that Contribute to Time and Chronology in Run Lola Run

2009-10-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

Time and chronology are very key elements in Run Lola Run. The film does not follow a typical chronological structure. Instead it uses editing techniques that allow the viewer to see that different possible scenarios and outcomes are being portrayed. Each time the scenario starts all over again a graphic match is used when the bag of money is thrown into the air at the end of one possible outcomes and that footage is cut together with footage of the phone flying through the air right before Lola begins her run. The bag of money and the phone flying through the air are moving in similar ways which is what signals to the viewer that a different possible situation is about to take place. These two different things are put together using parallel editing which makes it seem like they are happening at the same time. Since they appear to be happening simultaneously, one possible scenario comes to an end at the same time as the next one begins which contributes to the circular plot structure of the film.

Run Lola Run also shows its unique time organization through the use of montages. Each time Lola comes in contact with the characters Jager, Doris, and Mike we get to see a different possible future for them. Since these are just minor characters the quick montage of images of their futures allow us to learn a little more about them with out taking up too much time in the film which would take a way from the high pressure of the time crunch that Lola is under. Since the montages revolving around Jager, Doris, and Mike are so disjunctive they stand out as clearly showing a situation that is happening at a different time and place. These montages break up the action that is currently taking place, but since they happen so quickly they do not take away from the main focus of the movie.

Run Lola Run Review

2009-10-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

In Run Lola Run Lola's boyfriend Manni lost $100,000 that belongs to a gangster, and Lola has just 20 minutes to come up with that amount of money before Manni robs a grocery store to get the money. The film depicts three different scenarios and their outcomes based on the different things Lola decides to do during her run to meet Manni. The movie will wear you out and reenergize you at the same time as you watch Lola run throughout the entire movie. She seems so determined and unstoppable that you can't help put root for her to succeed even when she decides to do it through dishonorable means. The movie does not give the characters very much of a background story, but it does not need to because the intense race against the clock really allows you to feel for Lola and Manni regardless of who they are or what they have done.

The movie may have been fairly short, but it was just the right amount of time to keep me involved and entertained. The three alternative scenarios that the film presents allow you to see just the right amount of possible outcomes for the situation. If there was just one more or one less the film would not be satisfying. The fact that only the very beginning of Lola's run is the same each time allows you to understand that the situation is starting all over again without making you board by showing too much repeated footage. Run Lola Run presents its plot in a very original and intense way which is what makes the film so enjoyable.

Image from: http://lindsayhumbert.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/run-lola-run/

How Spike Lee Convey's the Hottest Day of the Year in Do The Right Thing

2009-10-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

Image from: http://livinginweather.tumblr.com/

The mise-en-scene in Do The Right Thing is used to really make the viewer believe that the film takes place on the hottest day of the year. Spike Lee conveys realism through the setting, props, and costumes used in the movie. The film took place in a Brooklyn neighborhood which created scenic realism because the movie contained things like sidewalks, apartments, no front yards and a community made up of mostly African Americans. Each of these things made it believable that one was watching a Brooklyn neighborhood.

To convey heat, Spike Lee not only had many of the characters speak about the extreme heat, but he also made the viewer see the heat. The bright red building that the three older men sat and chatted in front of really conveyed heat because its bright color seemed to cause the light to radiate from it. The fact that the men also sat around an umbrella and often wiped their faces with handkerchiefs made it seem as if they were sitting in extreme heat. All the characters were wearing summer clothes such as shorts and tank tops which made it believable that this was the hottest day of the year. One prop that made it particularly believable was the fire hydrant. During one scene some of the characters open the valve on the fire hydrant to let the water spray into the street for all the children to play in. Since it is very common for children to play in water on a hot day, this prop really made it seem like it must be hot. Another thing that always attracts children on a hot day is an ice cream truck. During one part of the movie all of the kids are gathered around the snow cone cart and then proceed to run after the ice cream truck when they hear it go by. These props are all things that are very typical on a hot day. When all of the various elements of mise-en-scene come together it becomes very believable that Do The Right Thing does take place on the hottest day of the year.

Do The Right Thing Review

2009-10-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing focuses on the people and conflicts within a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the year. There is a strong sense of community within the neighborhood because everybody knows everybody, but as the day progresses racial tensions seem to rise. Pretty much all of the residents are African American, but the two businesses in the neighborhood are a Korean owned grocery store and an Italian owned pizzeria. Mookie, the pizza delivery boy, seems to be the one that connects the everyone and the local radio DJ provides commentary on everything he sees.

The characters in the film are well developed, but the plot it not. It just seems to be a typical day in the neighborhood until the end of the film when a riot breaks out. The movie makes you want to pick a side, but in the end you are left unsure of which side was right. The fact that there is no resolution is clearly intentional and it surely makes you think about the different tactics used to resolve racial conflicts. However the film just left me angry with everyone and I do not think that a sense of frustration is conducive to anything. The movie definitely succeeds at providing a unique perspective on racial tensions, but due to the thin plot and unresolved ending I do not think that it succeeded at being a good film. It tries so hard to make a statement that it does not really draw me in to what is going on by developing a plot or giving me a reason to want to keep watching.

Image from: http://edwardg.wordpress.com/page/2/

The Acting and Look of Marlon Brando Makes The Godfather Believable

2009-10-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

In The Godfather the character of Don Vito Corleone provides one very important element of mise-en-scene. Marlon Brando's performance as Don Corleone really makes the movie what it is. He uses a particular way of speaking and gestures that help the viewer to understand who the Don is.

Brando specifically takes on a strong somewhat mumbled Italian accent for the part. He delivers his lines in such a nonchalant, but intimidating way that it is easy to understand and believe that the Don is not someone to mess with. The way he speaks is combined with his very stiff body movements which convey not only his age, but also is seriousness. If he moved quickly, he would not be taken as seriously as he should be. Brando's acting is very naturalistic because he seems to fully take on the role of the Godfather. It is recognizable that he is Brando and even though most viewers know that Brando does not normally talk in that voice, his acting is so naturalistic that while watching the film we believe that he is indeed Don Vito Corleone.

Throughout The Godfather Don Vito ages and becomes more decrepid and less powerful as the power shifts into the hands of his son Micheal. A lot of makeup was used to make Brando look considerably older for the role. His mouth was also altered to give him a specific look and contribute to his manner of speaking. Brando wears a suit for almost the entire movie, which aids to the idea that he means business especially when he is in his office. If he were not so well dressed he would not have as much credibility and it would be hard to see why he would be so respected. As Don Vito ages and the power transfers to Micheal we see him in more casual attire like at the scene of his death where he is not wearing a suit, jacket or tie. This helps us to believe that he is no longer the most important member of the family and is ready to pass it all on to Micheal. The look and acting of Brando in this film heavily contributes to the believability and plot of the film.

Image from: http://wwww.startimes2.com/f.aspx?t=14886767

The Godfather Review

2009-09-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

The Godfather revolves around the Corleone family, a New York mafia family. Don Vito Corleone's youngest son Micheal plans to never get involved with the family business, but he eventually does and begins to get rid of anyone that does not give his family the proper respect just like his father did. A drug dealer approaches the Corleone family to get protection, but the traditional Don Vito refuses to get involved with the drug market which leads to a mob war between the Corleones and the Sollozzos.

The Godfather is the epitome of what a mafia film should be with multiple plot lines made up of various hit crimes and family drama. The film could stand to be a little shorter and keeping track of who is killing who can sometimes get confusing, but otherwise the film hits the mark. The list of well known actors will not let you down because all of them are very convincing in their roles. However, Marlon Brando as Don Corleone is sometimes hard to understand due to the fact that he can barely move his mouth which seems like it is always filled with something. Other than his distractingly slurred voice, Brando fits the role because he looks and acts the part.

The film is filled with memorable lines and wonderfully choreographed scenes such as the baptism scene which is broken up by images of the Corleone's enemies being killed off. All of the violence in the movie is not overwhelming because just as much emphasis is placed on dialogue and emotion. The Godfather makes you side with the Corleones even though you do not agree with what they are doing because of the excellent acting and reasoning behind their actions. The movie succeeds at what it aims to do and illustrates a convincing mob family and all of their affairs.

Image from: http://www.reelmovienews.com/movies/godfather/

Cinematography in Apocalypse Now

2009-09-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

The opening of Apocalypse Now where we see a close-up of Captain Willard's face on the screen and war scenes of helicopters and gun fire are being shown alongside and sometimes overlapping his face is very striking. This close-up on his face helps the viewer understand how Willard feels about the war and it is clear that the war is what is on his mind because it is being shown alongside his face. The close-up shows him staring off into the distance past the camera while smoking a cigarette. Since he seems almost emotionless, it is like the war has completely consumed him which seems to almost foreshadow what is to come with his character.

Special effects allow the war scenes and Willard's face to overlap each other. A process shot allowed the two different images to be part of the same shot. This allows the viewer to see the two different realties--Willard feeling depressed and distraught and the war in Vietnam which caused him to feel this way. These special effects show just how connected Willard is to the war.

I think this scene of the film portrays the image as presence because it really makes thw viewer feel what Willard is feeling and gets them involved emotionally. The close-up really aids in the emotional response to what is being shown on screen. The fact that the war images are shown with Willard's face makes it seem as if you are actually experiencing his thoughts.

Apocalypse Now Review

2009-09-22T19:22:00.000-07:00

Image from: http://terrytibbs.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/apocalypse-now-holy-hell/

Apocalypse Now takes place during the Vietnam War and follows Captain Willard's classified mission into Cambodia to terminate American Colonel Walter Kurtz who has gone insane. Willard is taken up the river to his destination by a navy patrol crew and also receives some help from an Army helicopter cavalry group. Willard and his crew face some dangerous obstacles and some crew members are lost before he reaches his destination.

Apocalypse Now depicts the danger and uncertainty of the Vietnam War. The film is full of sudden attacks, death, and destruction which paints a picture of what a war zone would be like. However, the film is not all gloomy because many of the characters provide some comic relief at times such as Lt. Colonel Kilgore who seems to be more interested in surfing than safety and always seems to escape every threat without a scratch. The way comedy is intermixed with serious themes and senarios gives the film a nice balance of emotions.

The film makes good use of striking visual images wheather it is depicting the bright lights of a USO show or gun fire and smoke rising amung the jungle. These visuals add a lot to the movie by allowing the viewer to better understand Willard and his crew's experiences.

Depth of Field Allows Viewers to See Through the Eyes of Bauby

2009-09-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

In the film "The Diving Bell and The Butterfly" the cinematography really helps the viewer see things through the eyes of Jean-Dominique Bauby. The way depth of field is used makes you feel just as confused and disoriented as Bauby does when he is first waking up at the beginning of the film. As he is struggling to get his eyes to focus the depth of field is very shallow and the only thing that comes in clear is the person that is closest to the screen or closest to Bauby's face. This causes you to see things as Bauby does which helps you connect with him and feel for his character. During this time in which Bauby is trying to focus his eye, the cinematographer also uses rack focus to make you follow Bauby's line of sight as he keeps refocusing on new things. This allows you to see piece by piece where he is and discover where Bauby is at the same time as he does.

As Bauby becomes more alert and awake, the focus is able to shift to more distant objects. At first he can only see what is directly in front of his face, but as he comes to he is able to see more distant objects like the wall and the curtain. This makes you experience his struggle and see what it is like for him to realize what has happened to him and what is going on around him. The use of depth of field annoys you while sucking you into the movie because like Bauby you want to know what is going on and you want to see more even though it is not easy. It allows you to know that something is not right and it makes you want to know why. If this first part of the movie had a deep focus, you would not be able to relate to Bauby as easily because you would not be seeing things through his eyes.

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly Review

2009-09-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

Image from: http://movies.about.com/od/divingbellandbutterfly/ig/Diving-Bell-and-Butterfly-Pics/divingbellbutterflypic4.htm

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly is based on the true story of French Elle Magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby. Bauby has suffered a stroke and is completely paralyzed except for his one eye. His mind, hearing and sight are still functional, but he feels trapped in his body or his "diving bell." After he regains his will to live, he writes a book by communicating through blinks.

The film sucessfully tells the story from Bauby's perspective by allowing the viewer to know what he is thinking and often using camera shots filmed from his perspective. This helps the viewer to better understand what Bauby is experiencing which ivites the viewer to take part in the film. The film grabs your attention right away by showing a blurry screen that slowly comes into focus as Bauby blinks. The film however, does not stick with showing the film from his perspective. This might have some deeper meaning, but I think it would have been better to stick with showing it all from his perspective because that is what made it easy to understand how Bauby felt and gave the film a unique aspect.

Even though I had to read all of the dialouge through subtitles, I forgot I was reading the subtitles after a while because I became full ingulfed in the film. I also think the flashbacks were very effective in helping the viewer get to know Bauby, but I do think it would have been benificial to include a few more flashbacks especially ones that better explained his relationship with the mother of his children.