Blog Post #5, Six Films

During my time this summer working on The Art of Film, I've really enjoyed several movies that we have watched.  Although all of them are great, I want to take a look at three of them that I feel really spoke to me and have become some of my favorite movies.

First off, I really enjoyed the modern noir film L.A. Confidential (1997, dir. Curtis Hanson).  After watching it, it has instantly become one of my favorite movies.  Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey are two of my favorite actors, but aside from that there was much more to the film that really captured my imagination.  The mise-en-scene in the film was excellent.  I really enjoyed the fact that a lot of the movie was shot on location in Los Angeles.  I really felt this lent authenticity to the movie, and I just love a movie that is shot in L.A.  I also enjoyed the gritty noir feel of the movie when it came to the lighting, and many of the more brutal scenes are shot at night.  It really brought some grittiness to the crime and betrayal in the story. 


Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential (1997)

My second favorite film of the semester has to be Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and The Butterfly (2007).  To me, this movie was absolutely heart wrenching and an excellent film.  The cinematography in this film is absolutely breathtaking.  The POV shots, dream like sequences, and then harsh cuts to reality showing his body paralyzed and being handled by the nurses were just absolutely jarring when all cut together in the editing room.  I agree that this film is almost like a moving painting.  It's a work of art that is very unique, and the emotion it elicited out of me really just left me thinking about it hours and days after I was done watching it.


Mathieu Amalric in The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

For my third film of the semester, I really enjoyed Sam Mendes' American Beauty (1999).  For me, the cinematography and camera work were great.  As I watched the film, I really enjoyed the use of red throughout the movie to signify Lester's passion, or as a metaphor for passion and life throughout the movie.  I also really enjoyed the plot of the movie and was just really entertained by how everything unfolded.  The use of music in the movie was great too.  Once Lester decides to quit his job and reinvent himself rock music begins to be used in the film, which I thought was a great touch. 


Kevin Spacey in American Beauty (1999)

When I think of all the many films I've watched throughout my life it's hard to narrow down three that I feel someone studying film should watch but I will try. 

For my first pick, I believe Andy and Lana Wachowski's The Matrix (1999) is a film that any interested student can watch and break down different elements of film design.  This film has incredible elements of Mise-en-Scene throughout.  A very noticeable element with the use of colors is all the scenes that take place in "the matrix" have a green tint to them, to signify that they are not in the real world.  The sound design is also excellent, with audio cues when agents enter the Matrix and other things happening inside the world of the Matrix.  It's an excellent movie with many different aspects a film student can study.


Laurence Fishburne in The Matrix (1999)

The second film I would recommend studying, that was way ahead of its time, is Ridley Scotts Alien (1979).  This is an excellent film blending elements of science fiction, horror, and a gritty realness that made it a classic.  The mise-en-scene in this film is really incredible to me when I think about it in terms of what we have learned in class.  The set design and alien costume are truly ahead of their time, because if you watch the film now it still holds up to or is better than many modern films.  This should be no surprise as it won a best visual effects Academy Award.  Alien is also notable for having a strong woman as the central character.  I believe Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of Ellen Ripley is an all time classic as a strong herione, and her performance helped to create a film franchise that has spawned many sequels and spinoffs.  I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't seen Alien to watch it right away.  Maybe just watch it with the lights on, and on an empty stomach.


The infamous Alien creature from Ridley Scott's Alien (1979)

Lastly, I will switch gears from sci-fi movies and recommened that any fan of film watch Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004).  This is a wonderful, whimsical movie about a man swearing vengeance on destroying a shark that ate his best friend and partner.  The film blends wonderful mise-en-scene, sound design and beautiful cinematography to create a fully realized story from Wes Anderson's unique mind.  One example of how eccentric the film is that many David Bowie songs are used throughout the film but are all sang in portugese and sang by one of the crew members of Zissou's ship The Belafonte.  This is an example of how Wes Anderson implements his vision not only visually, but as a part of the sound design as well.  It's a great movie and I recommend that anyone wanting to see how all the parts of film design can come together and create a unique style, which is apparant in all of Mr. Andersons movies.

Seu George performing David Bowies "Rebel Rebel" in portugese in Wes Andersons "A Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004)

In conclusion, I am so happy to have taken this class in the summer session.  I have been a lifelong fan of film, and this summer I was able to see some films that I've never seen before as well as learn how my favorites are made.  Learning how much work and love is put into filmmakers works of art has given me a new found respect for them and their craft.  I look forward to using this knowledge to look at all future films I see in a different way, and appreciate them that much more.

Dustin Hoffman Interviewed on the Treatment

The guest on my episode of "The Treatment" is acclaimed actor and Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman.  Mr. Hoffman is considered one of the greatest actors in his generation, with the roles to prove it.  He has many credits to his name but some of his most famous portrayals were in such films as The Graduate (1967), Midnight Cowboy (1969), Rain Man (1988), Hook (1991), and Wag the Dog (1997).  Mr. Hoffman has won two Academy Awards, Best Actor for Kramer V. Kramer (1979) and Best Actor for Rain Man (1988).  This episode originally aired on June 10th, 2015.

Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man (1988)


Mr. Hoffman was on the show to promote a Master Class in acting which he is involved in.  He spoke about trying to help young actors or those involved in film, so the main reason for his visit was to explain that.  In listening to this episode of "The Treatment" I came away very impressed with how humble and personable Mr. Hoffman came across.  Although he has achieved all kinds of accolades and success in his career, he came off very humble and personable.  He just seemed like a really nice guy.  I was very surprised to learn that Mr. Hoffman was a poor student as a young man, and attended Santa Monica Community College because he couldn't get into a university.  He only took an acting class because a friend told him that it was an easy class and everyone passes, and he was trying to get some easy units.  Taking the class ended up changing his life and he became a great actor.

One of the quotes that really struck me about Mr. Hoffman is what he stated about acting.  "Every director or someone who wants to be a director...should take an acting class to know what it feels like...to be terrified...that's really what acting is all about".  I thought this was really just striking coming from such an accomplished actor.  Mr. Hoffman really explained that you are really up there in front of everyone and trying to connect with the audience but at the same time be real and authentic.  It sounds difficult and it shows that it's really an intimidating thing to try and do.  To transform yourself into a role such as Captain Hook and utterly try to own it and make it real, and without succumbing to a fear of failure is really impressive and a skill not all actors have.

Dustin Hoffman as Captain James Hook in Hook (1991)

In addition to having some fear when acting, Mr. Hoffman also mention something else that is really interesting.  He stated "You're someone who follows orders, and that was difficult for me".  The reason he stated this was very interesting.  He said in film school you learn all about inhabiting a character and having a process, but once you get on a film you are working, and you are more goal oriented on set.  You are told to stand here, walk over there, pick this up etc.  That sounds like it would be a difficult thing to do, to be ordered around by a director while you are also focused on creating a character.  It really shows how much there is to being an actor, and how much focus one must have to make your characters achieve great heights like Mr. Hoffman has been able to do.

The last quote that Mr. Hoffman said really connected with me as far as the characters he has played throughout his long career.  He says "I was always someone that was uncomfortable in my own skin, and that's why I gravitated to those characters".  This really sheds some light on why in some of his most famous roles such as "Ratso" Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy (1969) and  Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man (1988) he is playing such strange characters, a con man and a autistic genius, but utterly inhabits them both and gains critical acclaim.  I feel that he draws from that part of his personality and it really brings some of these strange but fascinating characters to life.

Dustin Hoffman as Enrico Salvatore "Ratso" Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy (1969)

In conclusion I believe that Dustin Hoffman has really shown what an actor can accomplish by embracing their fear of failure and their insecurities, and channeling all of that energy into bringing a character to life onscreen.  His films read like a list of classics, and he has shown over the years that he can reinvent himself in different genres and styles.  Mr. Hoffman truly is a master of his craft, and he is now trying to pass on some of his knowledge to a new generation of actors and filmmakers. 


 

Week 2 Blog Post - Film Noir

 

"This is what the picture is about, how circumstances become more and more unbearable, but yet you must endure"  -Abraham Polonsky

This is the quote that I feel truly sums up the film Double Indemnity.  Walter Neff begins the film as a normal insurance salesman and begins his downward spiral once he meets the femme fatal Phyllis Dietrichson.  Walter is smitten with Phyllis and in his lust to be with Phyllis they hatch a plan to create a phony accident insurance plan and murder her husband to collect the money.  This is where Walters downward spiral begins and he starts to endure worse and worse situations.   Walter and Phyllis feel like they got away clean after they murder Phyllis' husband, but things start to unravel quickly when the insurance company doesn't believe their alibi of her husband committing suicide.  As the pressure begins to build Walter has to keep his composure, but finds himself in more challenging situations like when his boss comes over to his apartment unannouced and almost finds him with Phyllis.  He is also almost outed when the man he saw on the train somewhat recognizes him in the insurance office.  Throughout the film Walter is slowly seeing his world fall apart because of the plan he made with Phyllis.  Finally, at the end of the film he confronts Phyllis about her double cross and finds out she really only wanted the money and never cared about him. She shoots him and then he hits rock bottom by killing her, which was his only way out of the situation at that point.  Walter has to endure all this and the movie is really about his downward spiral from an insurance salesman to a murderer.


-Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity


"She's very smart, very powerful, and extremely sexual.  She uses her sexuality to get what she's after, which is not the man, he's just another tool.  What she's after is for herself."
-Janey Place, Scholar

I believe this greatly sums up the description of the femme fatal that is Phyllis Dietrichson.  She is introduced in a towel in the beginning of the movie, immediately catching Walter's attention by using her sexuality.  She is flirty with him, and invites him back over several times while her husband is not home.  We find out as the movie progresses that she wants Walter as an accomplice to help her take out an insurance plan on her husband and then kill him so they can run off with the money.  This is all manipulation on Phyllis' part because at the end of the movie we find out she just wanted the money for herself the whole time.  She was using Walter for her own ends, which fits in to my chosen description of a femme fatal.  She is intelligent and dangerous, and will do what she has to get what she wants.


-Murder scene from inside the car in Double Indemnity

The shadows and the way all of the lighting is shot in Double Indemnity contributes to its noir feel.  The scenes shot around Los Angeles on location at night look amazing and greatly contribute to the films verisimilitude.  I feel the cinematography really sets itself apart and defines the style of classic "noir".  The director and cinematographer's use of shadow is done extremely well and really helps define the tone of the movie.  I feel like many of the most important scenes were taking place at night and giving everything a dark and foreboding feel, which fits the fact that Walter and Phyllis were committing crimes.  The scene where Phyllis is going to drop her husband off at the train station and Walter is hiding in the backseat of the car sticks out.  It's at night, Walter can't be seen hiding in the back, and the head lights of the other cars are shown prominently as they drive.  As Phyllis honks the horn three times and Walter starts to kill him, the close up of Phyllis face darkens like there are no lights around and really brings a darkness to that shot. 


-Close up of Barbara Stanwyck in car murder scene in Double Indemnity

In contrast to the black and white classic "noir" style, I feel the neo-noir films also represent noir in their own way.  Martin Scorsese says that it's not about what they "show or don't show", but he wants to show something that "was real and was his experience".... He was "just going to show it".  I really love his style of films and think they are greatly influenced by noir.  Although his movies are in color, I can definitely see how many of Scorsese's films have a noir feel to them.  Casino to me has all of the great elements of a noir film.  It has a femme fatal, crime, and a main character that is getting in over his head.  The shots of the neon lights of the Las Vegas strip coupled with filming at night and on location really set a noir feel.  It's a an excellent Scorsese film and in my opinion a great example of modern neo-noir.


-Robert DeNiro in Casino

In conclusion, I am glad to have watched Double Indemnity and the documentary about film noir because I can see where the roots of some of my favorite movies came from.  I look forward to learning more as we move forward in class.

Week 1 Blog Post

Movies are something I've been fascinated with since I was a young child.  I remember loving movies all of my life because they have always transported me to a different time and place no matter where I was.  There are a few characteristics that I feel are essential to creating a memorable film.  First off, I think a movie needs to be visually interesting.  Whether this is achieved through clever camera shots like in a Quentin Tarantino movie, or if it's memorable visual effects like in Star Wars, I think this is important.  Secondly, I believe a film needs to have interesting characters.  Characters like The Terminator, or Steve Zissou in the Life Aquatic, stick with you long after you've finished watching the movie.  Lastly, but certainly not least, a movie has to have a great plot.  At the heart of every great movie is a memorable story, whether it's about an intergalactic war or a romance between two lost lovers, it has to grip us and get us invested in the story.

When applying my requirements of a good movie to Le voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon), I saw all three of my requirements met,.  First of all, I viewed the movie with no volume as it was originally screened.  I was very surprised at how it entertained without any dialogue or music.  The special effects (for the time) in the movie were really cool to see.  The space ship, as well as the moon set definitely were visually interesting.  As for an interesting character, the leader of the expedition group would qualify seeing as how there was no dialogue.  Despite that, you could tell he was a feisty leader and was determined to get to the moon and back.  Lastly, the story was very easy to understand.  The group was trying to make it to the moon, and once they ran into trouble they had to get home.  These are all really great traits the movie had and I can see why it is considered a classic.  To think this film was made over 100 years ago is mind blowing.  

Moving on to the Great Train Robbery, I have to be honest and say I didn't feel as strongly about it as I did Le voyage dans la lune.  It definitely had a compelling story about a group of bandits stealing the train and the passengers belongings, but I felt it lacked a compelling character and wasn't as visually interesting.  However, I can see for the time that it may have been extremely visually interesting.  The heist on the moving train, as well as the horses running through the forest at the end with the shootout was pretty good for a movie so old. 

Now, moving on to two of my favorite movies.  This exercise for me was extremely hard because I love so many different genres, not to mention individual films themselves.  I decided to pick two very different movies, but for very much the same reasons.  First, I am a guy, so I love action movies.  One of my favorite movies of all time, if not my favorite, is Terminator 2: Judgment Day.  The reasons I love it so much can fill a whole blog on their own, but I will stick to the criteria I have for a great movie.  It is an extremely visually interesting movie.  From the opening sequence with the robots fighting in the future, you know this movie is going to be pretty crazy. 
Aside from the amazing visual effects throughout the movie, it also has memorable characters.  From the iconic performance of Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator, to Linda Hamilton as the hard as nails Sarah Conner, you get the feeling that the actors really became their roles for this movie.  I feel all of the performances are amazing, whether it is an action movie or not.  Finally, the story.  The story was great from start to finish.  The mind bending plot of the Terminator coming back in time to PROTECT this time around, coupled with the T-1000 being almost indestructible, left many tense moments throughout the movie.  The ending with John Conner becoming attached to the Terminator, and the Terminator finally understanding while people cry, had emotional resonance after the thrill ride of a movie is over.  An all time classic in my opinion.

My second favorite movie is a huge departure from my first, but shares all of the same traits.  My second favorite movie is Lost in Translation.  Lost in Translation is a beautiful film and is basically the opposite of T2.  The plot is very minimal, but really touched me when I saw it in the theatre.  It's basically the story of Billy Murray and Scarlett Johansson's characters meeting in Japan.  Bill is there for work and feels isolated and alone, and Scarlett's there because her husband is also working in Japan but is gone most of the time.  The isolation both characters portray is something anyone can relate to when they're lonely, but once they meet and become friends you feel the genuine happiness both of them have. 

As for the setting, it shows many different places in Japan.  From the standard boring hotel room that can be anywhere in the world

to a very foreign and beautiful Japanese flower garden

the film is able to transport you to that time and place.  Lastly, the performances of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are amazing.  I believe Bill Murray should have won the Academy Award for best actor for his performance, which I think is timeless.  The gamut of emotions Bill makes one feel when watching this movie is incredible. 

In conclusion, I feel films are one of the greatest artistic mediums of our time.  They can transport us to the future, the past, foreign lands, space, or anywhere someone can imagine.  They can evoke emotions out of us or dazzle us with action and suspense.  There is no other artistic medium that can achieve all of these things the same way. It is for this reason I am looking forward to this class and studying new films I've never seen and learning how to analyze them in a way I've never thought of before.