There should be no question how much this film impacted society and will continue as the Watergate scandal and President Nixon resigning is a significant part of our American history. It will continue to be taught to our children in the history classes for many years to come. The impact to me was watching the reporters uncover the story piece by piece and seeing how their minds worked and how everyone involved wanted to talk but couldn't. It's no wonder why politicians still have to prove they are not corrupt as they still have that reputation and there are still quite a few of them that are. It's not just the politicians though. It's more of money can buy anything and people who have the power control things, but even thoiugh files were destroyed and there was little evidence in writing, justice again prevailed and I see the theme as everyone eventually gets caught when you do something illegal. As in Chapter 15 when the film ratings came into play, and the film On the Waterfront had to change its ending because film can't have evil win in the end.
I would agree the director's obligation in a documentary is to stick to the truth as much as possible and only add "flavor" to the film to keep the audience enticed and engaged throughout the film. Documentaries can be rather boring. For instance, if this film was told with just Bernstein and Woodward just sitting in a chair telling the story, it would not have been nearly as interesting. The director added the additional pieces like with all the department heads talking about what stories they were going to lead with, that helped keep the timing of the film in tact. Additionally, the setting played a key role in this film as the Washington Post was a big part of the film and the typewriter was used throughout to make the point how significant it was to put this story to the public. The costumes were also impactful in feeling the timing of the film.
The cinemetography was done well. The different camera angles used, especially when the cars would pull out of the Washington Post and the arial views were used, providing another view for the audience to feel like they were there with them. Color was again relatively muted througout, except for the red flag but was appropriate to the film. The lighting was essential in this film like with the garage scenes with deep throat. The most significant sound to me in the movie was the typewriter, especially at the end when it typed out the names and what the crimes were for the main people involved.
For me, I typically enjoy the suspense movies and romantic comedies, I would typically stay away from documentaries. I did however, enjoy watching this film due to the assumed historial facts to it. The characters did a good job throughout. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman are both powerful actors but they worked well together and it was realistic that they could have been journalists.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Cidar House Rules
I am still working through my thoughts on the effects this film had on me and on society. The film challenged one very ethical topic being abortion. Is it right or wrong? Homer states in the movie that he won't judge the Dr. for doing an abortion, but he won't do one. At least, not until he is presented with a different sceanio in which he offers it, but he makes it the woman's choice. I think that is the strongest theme of this movie, not only the choice of abortion, but the choice in life all together. Every person that came to the orphanage looking for a child to adopt, abort, or give up had a choice to make. When Homer left the orphanage, it was his choice, just like it was his choice to return. When he got involved with the girl, he knew it was wrong, but he made the choice to go along with it. That was an interesting way of responding to Homer's earlier comment in the movie when he said that he didn't understand why people weren't more responsible in making their choices and being more careful. Once he was introduced to life outside the orphanage, it opened up a whole lot of life choices, even which apple to pick or which lobster was ready.
The actual rules written on the wall are still a bit of a mystery. Sure, everyone can choose to live by the stated rules but Homer attempted to read the rules a couple times before he actually read all the way through them and then were finally burned in the stove with the impression that people can't make rules for others when they don't know what they are dealing with. The same applies with the situation of Rose and Mr. Rose. That scenario would impact anyone watching the film and was definitely a moment in the film when you gasp. For fragile Homer, who is not supposed to get worked up to blatently address Mr. Rose and outright ask if he was sleeping with his daughter was a bold move and brought more substance to Homer's character as well as to Mr. Rose as he said don't talk to what you don't know anything about. What would the world be like if people stayed out of other people's business that didn't pertain to them? Sometimes good, but sometimes bad.
The film as a whole encompassed all the pieces from the setting, characters, plot, images, cinematic techniques, sound, etc. The setting was quite appropriate in each different setting. The apple farm with the Cidar House put the viewer there, right down to the details of the boards on the floor. The lobster farm setting on the ocean and the scenes where the discussions were often about doing nothing and wait and see. I felt there was irony there as the ocean often does nothing or wait and see as something will inevitably change. Of course, the setting of the orphanage was one of solitude and pain, but at the same time there was happiness. They were all part of a family, maybe not a traditional one, but they were loved just the same.
The characters were all played very well. They didn't overlap or overpower one another. Each story line was credible and acted well. The lighting was appropriate throughout, always dimmer at the orphanage and the hallways that were always clear each time a patient was rolled down one. The sound didn't play a huge role in this film for me, it seemed more subtle throughout which seemed appropriate because there weren't any quick changes to prepare for. The one sound that stood out was when the King Kong film would always stop at the same time and how the last time it stopped, so did the boy's breathing, which was also a significant sound throughout.
The cinematography was good and the makeup and costumes were fitting for each character. It helped identify each one accordingly by the clothes. The color was not excessively bold throughout but there were splashes throughout. The blood from the Dr.'s hand when he broke the glass as he passed away. The red and green apples. The orphanage had color too, but most were all muted colors adding to the effects of the orphanage.
I think the director did a good job with this movie. I felt the style was grave, serious, tragic, and heavy. I think the theme was well thought out and it will have a universal affect on film and society.
The actual rules written on the wall are still a bit of a mystery. Sure, everyone can choose to live by the stated rules but Homer attempted to read the rules a couple times before he actually read all the way through them and then were finally burned in the stove with the impression that people can't make rules for others when they don't know what they are dealing with. The same applies with the situation of Rose and Mr. Rose. That scenario would impact anyone watching the film and was definitely a moment in the film when you gasp. For fragile Homer, who is not supposed to get worked up to blatently address Mr. Rose and outright ask if he was sleeping with his daughter was a bold move and brought more substance to Homer's character as well as to Mr. Rose as he said don't talk to what you don't know anything about. What would the world be like if people stayed out of other people's business that didn't pertain to them? Sometimes good, but sometimes bad.
The film as a whole encompassed all the pieces from the setting, characters, plot, images, cinematic techniques, sound, etc. The setting was quite appropriate in each different setting. The apple farm with the Cidar House put the viewer there, right down to the details of the boards on the floor. The lobster farm setting on the ocean and the scenes where the discussions were often about doing nothing and wait and see. I felt there was irony there as the ocean often does nothing or wait and see as something will inevitably change. Of course, the setting of the orphanage was one of solitude and pain, but at the same time there was happiness. They were all part of a family, maybe not a traditional one, but they were loved just the same.
The characters were all played very well. They didn't overlap or overpower one another. Each story line was credible and acted well. The lighting was appropriate throughout, always dimmer at the orphanage and the hallways that were always clear each time a patient was rolled down one. The sound didn't play a huge role in this film for me, it seemed more subtle throughout which seemed appropriate because there weren't any quick changes to prepare for. The one sound that stood out was when the King Kong film would always stop at the same time and how the last time it stopped, so did the boy's breathing, which was also a significant sound throughout.
The cinematography was good and the makeup and costumes were fitting for each character. It helped identify each one accordingly by the clothes. The color was not excessively bold throughout but there were splashes throughout. The blood from the Dr.'s hand when he broke the glass as he passed away. The red and green apples. The orphanage had color too, but most were all muted colors adding to the effects of the orphanage.
I think the director did a good job with this movie. I felt the style was grave, serious, tragic, and heavy. I think the theme was well thought out and it will have a universal affect on film and society.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Dark Knight
This wasn't my first time seeing the Dark Knight, but I was equally as pleased watching it again. The show has multiple meanings with the story line of the different characters. Overall, what I felt the film was saying to me was that good overcomes evil always, regardless of who is trying to persuade them to the other side. It was interesting unfolding how many characters were corrupt, down to the one police lady that was the commissioner's or head of police's right hand. She admitted they got to her early with all the medical bills she had. Batman clearly struggles with the evil he has to do to be good. As it was stated when the boy says, but he didn't do anything wrong and the response was he's not the hero we need right now, he's doing what is right. Or when Denton said he trusted him to do the right thing when he was being chased by the Joker and when asked what was the right thing, saving his butt. Although in the end, Denton was not the hero, but he was celebrated as one. With the joker, he has led such a torchered life even though the true story of him is never told, it's clear he didn't have alot of love or friends. He wanted Batman to hit him and take him out of his misery, he knew he did wrong, but the just didn't have the strength or courage to do right. And as always, the villain was caught and good overcame evil.
The Director's style of this movie was exceptional to me. The cinematography was great, the sound effects were phenominal. I would describe his style in this movie as fast-paced and exciting. The editing was very good. The setting and set design were impeccable. Gothan sure has grown from it's comic book roots. I think the reference was like millions of people in Gothan City. The combination of actors chosen for this film was quite complimentary to each one. I didn't feel like anyone over played another. They were all well acted and smooth transitions each time. The movie continued to add new twists upto the very end making the viewer continue to guess what the outcome would be and just kept you glued to the TV.
Casting on the extras and small parts. The part played by the crazy guy was key to Denton's character and showed his desparation to find the joker. As stated above, the supporting roles were well chosen and well acted. These actors were not playing the roles they always play so it showed their diversity in acting.
The musical score througout the movie was done well. The music was subtle at the beginning and would increase as the tension and surprise would start to unfold. The diaologue was not lost in the music, but enhanced. The music was used throughout the movie appropriately and was not overused at all.
The Sound Effects were good throughout with the shooting of the guns, the sound when Batman and the girl fell from his penthouse on the car, the rope that is being unraveled off the floor before the plane sweeps Batman and the guy from the office building, or even when Batman would open his cape to "fly", the sound effects were vivid and exhilirating.
Color was a bold move throught the movie as well. The makeup on the joker was a story in itself. He emphasized his pain with the red drawn on smile and the dark sulken eyes against the white background. His clothing was bold and colorful too, showing his personality that he didn't care what people thought of him, he did whatever he wanted to do, right down to the green hair. On the other hand, Batman was always well put together with his dark suit, deep voice and very thought out responses. Even as his alter, he was the picture of strength and confidence. To make the joker's color stand out, most of the other scenes and characters were subtle, with the exception of the orange jumpsuits that were used to make it clear that the one boat had normal people on it, and the other was full of convicts. It seemed to be a no brainer what should happen. Even then, the prisoner who took the detinator and said I'm going to do what you should have done 10 minutes ago and threw it out the window without hesitation. He recognized the most ethical response would be to save the other boat, or at least hope that they felt the same way as it turned out.
On a personal note, this is one of those movies that has the after effects that pull at the heart strings with the loss of one of the main characters protrayed by Heath Ledger. It was wonderful to see that he received the accolades he deserved for his acting role in this movie. The industry and the public have missed him.
The Director's style of this movie was exceptional to me. The cinematography was great, the sound effects were phenominal. I would describe his style in this movie as fast-paced and exciting. The editing was very good. The setting and set design were impeccable. Gothan sure has grown from it's comic book roots. I think the reference was like millions of people in Gothan City. The combination of actors chosen for this film was quite complimentary to each one. I didn't feel like anyone over played another. They were all well acted and smooth transitions each time. The movie continued to add new twists upto the very end making the viewer continue to guess what the outcome would be and just kept you glued to the TV.
Casting on the extras and small parts. The part played by the crazy guy was key to Denton's character and showed his desparation to find the joker. As stated above, the supporting roles were well chosen and well acted. These actors were not playing the roles they always play so it showed their diversity in acting.
The musical score througout the movie was done well. The music was subtle at the beginning and would increase as the tension and surprise would start to unfold. The diaologue was not lost in the music, but enhanced. The music was used throughout the movie appropriately and was not overused at all.
The Sound Effects were good throughout with the shooting of the guns, the sound when Batman and the girl fell from his penthouse on the car, the rope that is being unraveled off the floor before the plane sweeps Batman and the guy from the office building, or even when Batman would open his cape to "fly", the sound effects were vivid and exhilirating.
Color was a bold move throught the movie as well. The makeup on the joker was a story in itself. He emphasized his pain with the red drawn on smile and the dark sulken eyes against the white background. His clothing was bold and colorful too, showing his personality that he didn't care what people thought of him, he did whatever he wanted to do, right down to the green hair. On the other hand, Batman was always well put together with his dark suit, deep voice and very thought out responses. Even as his alter, he was the picture of strength and confidence. To make the joker's color stand out, most of the other scenes and characters were subtle, with the exception of the orange jumpsuits that were used to make it clear that the one boat had normal people on it, and the other was full of convicts. It seemed to be a no brainer what should happen. Even then, the prisoner who took the detinator and said I'm going to do what you should have done 10 minutes ago and threw it out the window without hesitation. He recognized the most ethical response would be to save the other boat, or at least hope that they felt the same way as it turned out.
On a personal note, this is one of those movies that has the after effects that pull at the heart strings with the loss of one of the main characters protrayed by Heath Ledger. It was wonderful to see that he received the accolades he deserved for his acting role in this movie. The industry and the public have missed him.
The Graduate
The Graduate, I have to say I would likely fail this one! I have to give credit to the acting and the sound but just wasn't really thrilled with the style and the story of this film. What I took from this movie was don't give up on what you want and also be aware of the decisions you make and the affect they have on others. Having an affair with your father's partner's wife would not be the best move a person could make. He would not give up on the girl and that was commendable as he stated he's never been around anyone that has made him want to do something or be better. He just graduated from a prestigious college and did very well from what I could gather and yet, he had the social skills of a 5th grader. I also couldn't tell if by getting the girl at the end, that really made him happy as they both seemed to look at each and think "now what". It was like the race was exciting but now that's over so nothing more to do.
I appreciated the sound effects, like with the flippers walking out to the pool and the breathing in the air hose and the bubbles as well as the use of the camera angle really putting the audience in his place. However, with the music score, I was really done with hearing "Here's to you Mrs. Robinson" as I thought that was used in excess. It did stimulate an emotional response every time it was played and I enjoyed the comical piece at first, but then was bored. The diologue throughout the film was definitely clear and concise but slow. The scene where they were trying to talk at the drive-in and he asked the people to turn their music down, but they turned it up was interesting. I assume it was just more of his lack of confidence and how noone really listens to what he says. That was clear as every time he tried to tell his parents something, they just spoke over him. He wasn't allowed to really think for himself as his decisions were already made for him, regardless of what he wanted.
The color of the film didn't seem real effective. What stood out to me was the fishtank and the swimming pool for color. I did notice the use of the pictures in a couple scenes and the dartboard in his room and of course his red care was a vivid use of color throughout. It was also pretty odd that a man with such insecurities about everything and no social skills was dring a red car around. I'm sure it was used for that purpose.
As mentioned, the acting was good. I think Dustin Hoffman did a great job becoming the character. It was very believeable that this was truly the life he led. Mrs. Robinson was so adament in her scenes about everything, she put nothing to doubt and just bossed him around like everyone else. I would describe the acting as Impersonators. The casting was good. You couldn't tell that Mrs. Robinson was actually only a few years older than Dustin Hoffman in reality since there should have been a couple decades differeence for teh movie perspective.
The director's style was probably what I liked least about this movie. I would have to categorize it as loosely structured and rambling. Not because of the dialogue but because of the scene structure and editing. The way the flashbacks or random thoughts he kept going to in his mind during the "intimate" scenes were bizarre and hard to follow for me. The setting and design were all fine.
In comparison to Amelie, I could see some of the similar attempts at comedy but even with subtitles, Amelie had more personality than The Graduate had for me.
I appreciated the sound effects, like with the flippers walking out to the pool and the breathing in the air hose and the bubbles as well as the use of the camera angle really putting the audience in his place. However, with the music score, I was really done with hearing "Here's to you Mrs. Robinson" as I thought that was used in excess. It did stimulate an emotional response every time it was played and I enjoyed the comical piece at first, but then was bored. The diologue throughout the film was definitely clear and concise but slow. The scene where they were trying to talk at the drive-in and he asked the people to turn their music down, but they turned it up was interesting. I assume it was just more of his lack of confidence and how noone really listens to what he says. That was clear as every time he tried to tell his parents something, they just spoke over him. He wasn't allowed to really think for himself as his decisions were already made for him, regardless of what he wanted.
The color of the film didn't seem real effective. What stood out to me was the fishtank and the swimming pool for color. I did notice the use of the pictures in a couple scenes and the dartboard in his room and of course his red care was a vivid use of color throughout. It was also pretty odd that a man with such insecurities about everything and no social skills was dring a red car around. I'm sure it was used for that purpose.
As mentioned, the acting was good. I think Dustin Hoffman did a great job becoming the character. It was very believeable that this was truly the life he led. Mrs. Robinson was so adament in her scenes about everything, she put nothing to doubt and just bossed him around like everyone else. I would describe the acting as Impersonators. The casting was good. You couldn't tell that Mrs. Robinson was actually only a few years older than Dustin Hoffman in reality since there should have been a couple decades differeence for teh movie perspective.
The director's style was probably what I liked least about this movie. I would have to categorize it as loosely structured and rambling. Not because of the dialogue but because of the scene structure and editing. The way the flashbacks or random thoughts he kept going to in his mind during the "intimate" scenes were bizarre and hard to follow for me. The setting and design were all fine.
In comparison to Amelie, I could see some of the similar attempts at comedy but even with subtitles, Amelie had more personality than The Graduate had for me.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Momento
"How can I heal if I can't feel time?" That's what Leonard had said and reigns so true for so many things with the usual stance of time heals all things. What a chaotic way to live life.
From a cinematic view, the editing sequences throughout this film were phenominal. Although, hard to follow and certainly kept the audience guessing on what was real and what wasn't, it was the story as a whole told backwards. I didn't feel any parts of the story were long and boring, initially was hard to follow as like Leonard referred to repetition being key to memory, the repetition of showing the same clips in the beginning was confusing until it was then laid out to how the story would be told. The editing was clearly effective and did guide me through the necessary associations and emotional responses smoothly. There are still some unanswered questions but I'm guessing I just didn't get them watching it the first time.
The film was cerainly cinematic as the film had continuous motion. The scenes flowed with rhythm and fluidity. They used the close ups with the needle for the diabetic injections and the redness around the tattoos and how the one was backwards so you'd have to look in the mirror to read it. The transitions were smooth and kept the audience always guessing what would be next.
The cinematic points of view were all included. We were observers throughout the movie, but we also had a subjective and an indirect-subjective viewpoint like with the needle being injected. They had close ups of Leonard giving us an interpretive viewpoint as well as with Teddy. In the bar scene, when they had the people spit in the cup, they focused on the cup and then again when they gave that cup to Leonard to drink out of testing his ability to remember what just happened. The cackling from the older gentleman that spit first then was understood because when the scene played the first time, I didn't know what was funny about it. The assumption was made that a drug or something was put in the drink.
The film used the extreme close-up as well as background in motion, foreground framing and the menacing frame throughout the movie. When the guy would sit in his chair with the camera on him, but his wife was in the background feeling completely in awe of what she was gaining clarity on that her husband truly didn't remember. Lighting was used appropriately and did not overshadow the characters.
The coloring in the movie was subtle but went between color and black and white. When flashbacks were used, the color change was used to go from current to past to keep the audience aware of what was going on. They also used a blue theme throughout with the sign on the motel, the motel key, the shirt he wore and the paint on the wall in the bathroom.
The movie seemed to be filmed mostly in the studio but the setting was secondary to the actors and didn't over shadow them. I felt the main factor in this film was customs, moral attitudes and codes of behavior.
Costume and make up design played a role in the film with its little marks. For example, the scratches on his face from the fight, and the red mark and cut on her face. The placement of his tattoos were relevant to the story line.
From a cinematic view, the editing sequences throughout this film were phenominal. Although, hard to follow and certainly kept the audience guessing on what was real and what wasn't, it was the story as a whole told backwards. I didn't feel any parts of the story were long and boring, initially was hard to follow as like Leonard referred to repetition being key to memory, the repetition of showing the same clips in the beginning was confusing until it was then laid out to how the story would be told. The editing was clearly effective and did guide me through the necessary associations and emotional responses smoothly. There are still some unanswered questions but I'm guessing I just didn't get them watching it the first time.
The film was cerainly cinematic as the film had continuous motion. The scenes flowed with rhythm and fluidity. They used the close ups with the needle for the diabetic injections and the redness around the tattoos and how the one was backwards so you'd have to look in the mirror to read it. The transitions were smooth and kept the audience always guessing what would be next.
The cinematic points of view were all included. We were observers throughout the movie, but we also had a subjective and an indirect-subjective viewpoint like with the needle being injected. They had close ups of Leonard giving us an interpretive viewpoint as well as with Teddy. In the bar scene, when they had the people spit in the cup, they focused on the cup and then again when they gave that cup to Leonard to drink out of testing his ability to remember what just happened. The cackling from the older gentleman that spit first then was understood because when the scene played the first time, I didn't know what was funny about it. The assumption was made that a drug or something was put in the drink.
The film used the extreme close-up as well as background in motion, foreground framing and the menacing frame throughout the movie. When the guy would sit in his chair with the camera on him, but his wife was in the background feeling completely in awe of what she was gaining clarity on that her husband truly didn't remember. Lighting was used appropriately and did not overshadow the characters.
The coloring in the movie was subtle but went between color and black and white. When flashbacks were used, the color change was used to go from current to past to keep the audience aware of what was going on. They also used a blue theme throughout with the sign on the motel, the motel key, the shirt he wore and the paint on the wall in the bathroom.
The movie seemed to be filmed mostly in the studio but the setting was secondary to the actors and didn't over shadow them. I felt the main factor in this film was customs, moral attitudes and codes of behavior.
Costume and make up design played a role in the film with its little marks. For example, the scratches on his face from the fight, and the red mark and cut on her face. The placement of his tattoos were relevant to the story line.
Amelie
Waking up to Amelie on a Saturday morning was an unique experience! I could certainly see why this film was chosen in regards to the reading material. The visual design was apparent throughout the movie. Using color for this film was definitely the right decision as it helped to add power to many of the scenes. Red was used throughout but I am not real clear on the reasoning other than making the main character stand out as well as other key pieces that connected the story lines, such as the red shoes on the photo shoot repair man. The blue arrows except the one that the birdseed was on. I didn't understand the significance of that one being different, unless it wasn't and I just overlooked it.
I think the movie was meant for wide screen based on the multiple angles used throughout and the different references in a lot of the scenes. The production design seemed simple, yet elaborate. Using the apartment complex to house the story of the majority of the characters. The setting was specific and critical to understand the feeling of the movie, but it didn't upstage the characters. I felt the temporal factors and the social structures were most important to tell this story. It would not have had the same effect if told in a different environment.
Costume and makeup design was again simplistic but powerful. The use of color on Amelie made her stand out, but most everyone else had more subtle colors. The hair style for Amelie was an interesting choice and I believe just showed her as a simple character but bold with the red and validated with the tricks she played and the well thought out way she put things together, like the letter for the one gal or how she got the two together where she worked. She was quite a clever character. She had a big heart and maybe that was the relation with red?
Lighting was a big part of this film, especially when she dulled the lights in the man's apartment she didn't care for due to him being so mean to his son and other people. Also, lighting used in the beginning when they were building the character's story lines. I thought the lighting was natural and did contribute to the overall emotional attitude of the film.
The film was cinematic in quite a few ways. One specific example that caught my eye was when Amelie was on the bridge skipping rocks. The angle was initially on top making it appear that the water was quite a ways beneath her, but then the angle looked toward her from afar showing she was only a couple feet above the water. There were many close ups of people throughout the movie to bring the audience into the story.
On cinematic points of view, I think I had the objective, impersonal observer at times but was also a participant of the action in other scenes. When he was running up the stairs, it gave me the feeling I was right there with him, but when he was running down them, I was an observer. I'm not sure if I am appropriately classifying the talking moving pictures, lamps, animals, statues as specialized cinematic techniques but I didn't feel it would have impacted the movie dramatically if they weren't used, but it was a clever way of continuing the comical piece of the movie, while at the same time providing key pieces of the story by interpreting the mind's questions and having them answered by objects.
A couple odd symbolisms (I believe) were when she picked up the rocks in front of the one house when she was looking for the gentleman and throughout the movie and the sound of them clicking together when she put them in her pocket. Another notable one was the use of the one gal referencing her name of Mary Wells to Mary Magdelon and how she was destined to cry with Wells meaning water.
The editing of this movie seemed choppy at first as so many pieces were thrown out rapidly with seemingly random information about people or things...like the cat. There were editing sequences with the arrows but also how they sped the film up with the blind man as well as on the escalators and riding the bike at the end. I think overall the editing was good and told the story appropriately.
I think the movie was meant for wide screen based on the multiple angles used throughout and the different references in a lot of the scenes. The production design seemed simple, yet elaborate. Using the apartment complex to house the story of the majority of the characters. The setting was specific and critical to understand the feeling of the movie, but it didn't upstage the characters. I felt the temporal factors and the social structures were most important to tell this story. It would not have had the same effect if told in a different environment.
Costume and makeup design was again simplistic but powerful. The use of color on Amelie made her stand out, but most everyone else had more subtle colors. The hair style for Amelie was an interesting choice and I believe just showed her as a simple character but bold with the red and validated with the tricks she played and the well thought out way she put things together, like the letter for the one gal or how she got the two together where she worked. She was quite a clever character. She had a big heart and maybe that was the relation with red?
Lighting was a big part of this film, especially when she dulled the lights in the man's apartment she didn't care for due to him being so mean to his son and other people. Also, lighting used in the beginning when they were building the character's story lines. I thought the lighting was natural and did contribute to the overall emotional attitude of the film.
The film was cinematic in quite a few ways. One specific example that caught my eye was when Amelie was on the bridge skipping rocks. The angle was initially on top making it appear that the water was quite a ways beneath her, but then the angle looked toward her from afar showing she was only a couple feet above the water. There were many close ups of people throughout the movie to bring the audience into the story.
On cinematic points of view, I think I had the objective, impersonal observer at times but was also a participant of the action in other scenes. When he was running up the stairs, it gave me the feeling I was right there with him, but when he was running down them, I was an observer. I'm not sure if I am appropriately classifying the talking moving pictures, lamps, animals, statues as specialized cinematic techniques but I didn't feel it would have impacted the movie dramatically if they weren't used, but it was a clever way of continuing the comical piece of the movie, while at the same time providing key pieces of the story by interpreting the mind's questions and having them answered by objects.
A couple odd symbolisms (I believe) were when she picked up the rocks in front of the one house when she was looking for the gentleman and throughout the movie and the sound of them clicking together when she put them in her pocket. Another notable one was the use of the one gal referencing her name of Mary Wells to Mary Magdelon and how she was destined to cry with Wells meaning water.
The editing of this movie seemed choppy at first as so many pieces were thrown out rapidly with seemingly random information about people or things...like the cat. There were editing sequences with the arrows but also how they sped the film up with the blind man as well as on the escalators and riding the bike at the end. I think overall the editing was good and told the story appropriately.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Good Will Hunting
I always enjoyed this movie and have watched it a number of times, and yet still can't fully appreciate the depths required to get all the meaning that it intended.
The story felt very realistic in its plot. The storyline kept me interested and kept me rooting for Will as well as the other characters. Because of the many underlying stories in this film, I thought it had a lot of simplicity and complexity, but I don't think it lacked or exceeded on either one. Unless I was trying to follow along with how he solved the math problems! The length was not excessive either, it had enough time to appropriately tell the stories of the characters and get a clear sense of them.
Certainly, the title of this would not at first make you think it was the kind of story it was. My interpretation now would be to turn the title around to hunting good will. A little irony on the name as well as the meaning of the story it told. I have never really considered the names of the characters before, unless they were mythological and it just now occurred to me on the name Will and its characterization through choice of name. A lot of stereotyping as well with in the beginning he is shown as a janitor, implying that his intelligence level was far less than it really was.
The story had to use non linear structures to understand the history of the character, but still staying mostly chronological. Flashbacks are often necessary to add that visual that puts a little more clarity to the viewer, rather than a subjective or made up scene from how it was explained or interpreted.
This film had a lot of conflict in it for multiple characters. The conflict was both internal and external with himself but with others as demonstrated with the fight scenes both physical and verbal. The conflict was definitely at the heart of the story. The characters again were not static, but ever growing.
As noted in the discussion threads, there was a lot of symbolism in this film. Most notably the art and what it stood for with multiple characters. This was a piece of the text that I found very interesting as I was trying to recall other movies and how symbolic they were and it will definitely be a major thing I look for watching movies in the future. Somebody referred to the clover throughout the movie referring to his Irish roots and drinking in the Irish bar. Pieces of a story that I think is overlooked at the overall determination of movie, but when you think about played a big role in whether you like it or not.
This is a movie that I would give a thumbs up to because I like the story of strength that it tells and overcoming obstacles that life often presents.
The story felt very realistic in its plot. The storyline kept me interested and kept me rooting for Will as well as the other characters. Because of the many underlying stories in this film, I thought it had a lot of simplicity and complexity, but I don't think it lacked or exceeded on either one. Unless I was trying to follow along with how he solved the math problems! The length was not excessive either, it had enough time to appropriately tell the stories of the characters and get a clear sense of them.
Certainly, the title of this would not at first make you think it was the kind of story it was. My interpretation now would be to turn the title around to hunting good will. A little irony on the name as well as the meaning of the story it told. I have never really considered the names of the characters before, unless they were mythological and it just now occurred to me on the name Will and its characterization through choice of name. A lot of stereotyping as well with in the beginning he is shown as a janitor, implying that his intelligence level was far less than it really was.
The story had to use non linear structures to understand the history of the character, but still staying mostly chronological. Flashbacks are often necessary to add that visual that puts a little more clarity to the viewer, rather than a subjective or made up scene from how it was explained or interpreted.
This film had a lot of conflict in it for multiple characters. The conflict was both internal and external with himself but with others as demonstrated with the fight scenes both physical and verbal. The conflict was definitely at the heart of the story. The characters again were not static, but ever growing.
As noted in the discussion threads, there was a lot of symbolism in this film. Most notably the art and what it stood for with multiple characters. This was a piece of the text that I found very interesting as I was trying to recall other movies and how symbolic they were and it will definitely be a major thing I look for watching movies in the future. Somebody referred to the clover throughout the movie referring to his Irish roots and drinking in the Irish bar. Pieces of a story that I think is overlooked at the overall determination of movie, but when you think about played a big role in whether you like it or not.
This is a movie that I would give a thumbs up to because I like the story of strength that it tells and overcoming obstacles that life often presents.
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