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Reviews
Notorious (1946)
notorious
this film was incredible. the gripping story of a young woman trying to redeem herself from the shame her father caused by betraying the country she loves. the film effects were lovely, and the camera shots were very effective.
when Alicia has stolen the key, the camera moves from the ceiling to her hand in a beautiful movement.
this film is riddled with sexual tension- the frustration of Delvin and Alicias affections, and the way he looks at her on the plane was so suggestive im surprised that was allowed to be released on film during this time.
The Naked Kiss (1964)
ew, i hate perverts.
im torn about whether or not i like this film. the way that kelly treated the children made me love her character, but the scene where they were pretending to run and play made me so upset i hated her. i commend her for giving up prostitution, but since she did, she became hypocritical and looked down upon the candy girls. she also was irrational and jumped to conclusions. i mean, molesting a child is wrong, disgusting, and really unacceptable and i would probably direct my aggression physically towards someone if i caught them in the act (especially if i was engaged to him... and she just caught the girl running out) but i wouldn't attack him with enough force to cause death. thats just mean. i don't know if i enjoyed it enough to have enjoyed the whole thing. my opinions on the film are completely contradictory.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
classic
its hard to feel afraid of classic horror films because of modern society where everyone is so desensitized, but i could watch a clip of zombies having a tea party and still be uncomfortable. Night of the Living Dead still provides that sense of discomfort, but i was too distracted by how weak Barbra was portrayed. her character annoyed me. i get it, she was in shock and i'd probably be really upset too if i saw a dead guy kill my brother (if i had one), but im under the impression that most people would fight to stay alive and be alert in a situation like this. she couldn't even handle simple instructions or questions. Harry also bothered me... i cant understand how people can be so selfish and cowardly. i would understand if he was thinking of his family, but he was only thinking of himself and his own safety. and really, the risk was minimal because clearly the living were more adept than the zombies. the nature of the characters, even though i disliked them, enhances the movie because throughout the film, there was always something that was less than optimal if one was under attack by zombies.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
explosive laughter
i feel bad about how much i enjoyed this film. true, it takes the delicate subject of nuclear warfare and the destruction of the surface world, but i found it completely hilarious. when ripper thinks that the communists are disguised as US soldiers and tells mandrake "in the name of Her Majesty and the Continental Congress, come here and feed me this belt, boy, the Red Coats are coming" i think i popped a blood vessel trying to stop myself from bursting in laughter in the middle of my class. also when the president urges "gentlemen! please don't fight! this is the war room!" the movie ended beautifully as well as comically. i could only have loved it more if it actually HAD ended in a pie fight.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
thrilling romance, destined for death
One of the conflicts in this film is between Bonnie and self. In the beginning of the film, she debates whether to leave her mother and her boring life and join Clyde or to stay put and stay safe. Clyde convinces her that if she resents her job as a waitress and the dates with boys that just want to sleep with her, that she should accompany him. It doesn't take much persuasion before she agrees with him and sacrifices her old life for a life of excitement.
Another conflict seen in Bonnie and Clyde is the way of living chosen by the Barrow gang clashing with the restrictions of the law. The law enforcement is constantly trying to capture the group of robbers. The gang is evading every attempt until finally they kill Buck and gain custody of his wife, are led to C.W.'s house where they conspire with C.W.'s father to trap Bonnie and Clyde to kill them, and arrest C.W.
The film was set during the Great Depression in the Midwest, ranging from Oklahoma to Texas. The gang runs in and out of small towns and spends their nights in cabins, squatting in abandoned houses, or camping in fields.
The time has a tremendous effect on the characters. During the Great Depression, many people could not pay back loans to the banks and lost their houses and possessions. These people regarded the Barrow gang as heroes for having the courage to take the money back from the bank. Also, having an endless supply of free money was appealing to Bonnie during these especially hard times, and aided in her decision to join Clyde.
Because Bonnie and Clyde were so removed from society, it helped to form their dependence on one another. Another effect of their situation was being constantly in close proximity with the other members of their group. This frustrates Bonnie and causes her to resent her partners even more because she just wants to be alone with Clyde. The most prominent symbol comes early in the film. The day that Bonnie and Clyde first meet and are drinking sodas in town, Clyde shows Bonnie his handgun. The way he is holding it at his hips and how she reaches out to touch it transforms the gun into a phallic symbol. This means that her attraction to Clyde is dangerous.
Another symbol from the film is the constantly changing cars. This shows the free spirited nature of Clyde, and how he loves to search for new and exciting things. When Bonnie says "But this is the car we came in!" and Clyde responds "That doesn't mean that's the one we have to leave in". This illustrates how they have endless possibilities and no restrictions. Whatever they want, they can take. One theme of this film is publicity. Everyone knows about Bonnie and Clyde, the famous bank robbers of the Barrow Gang. Newspapers were constantly referenced and people treated Bonnie and Clyde like stars. When the gang stole the car of Eugene Grizzard, played by Gene Wilder, Eugene and his girlfriend Velma were excited to find it was them and enjoyed spending the night driving around and getting burgers with the group. Bonnie and Clyde loved to be in the public eye, and introduced themselves to everyone when they were stealing.
Bonnie had her picture taken with the Texas sheriff to have it sent to the newspapers and published. This was a punishment for him for traveling out of his jurisdiction to hunt them when the Barrow gang thought that he should be in Texas, protecting the poor. The picture showed Bonnie kissing the sheriff and Clyde standing beside them smiling. This created a bad image for the sheriff and he lost his credibility because of it.
Bonnie also had her poetry published in the newspapers. She wanted everyone to know the truth about the group, about her love for Clyde, and the story of their lives. She wanted to let people know that they were good people who were on the wrong side of the law. They killed people and knew it wasn't right, but it's what they needed to do to survive because when they were caught, they would die.
Although I prefer movies that are shorter and more concise, I would recommend this movie to most of my friends. I enjoyed the story and the pacing of the plot. Sympathizing with the villains and telling their story through their point of view is something that has never been done before this time, due to the Hays Code. Because of this, it makes the film an important stepping stone in cinematic history.
This is a film that could be watched at anytime. It would suit the mood for a romance, comedy, crime, thriller, or drama. The cast performs brilliantly, with the exception of Gene Wilder who is not so convincing and ruins the verisimilitude, however seeing a film with Gene Wilder is a treat in itself, no matter the context.
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
plot^2
The only fault to this film is the pacing. the film started out grabbing my attention, but since i already knew what was going to happen, waiting for the plot to pick up. The beginning that showed the events leading to Joe's residence at the Desmond estate was painfully slow, and instead of rising, my interest remained flat. After gradually developing Norma's character, the plot took off and my enthusiasm for the film rose exponentially. The ending was absolutely brilliant; setting Norma up to have her believe that she was being filmed for the picture that she wrote and had been preparing for. if Norma's character had not been so mentally unstable, i don't believe this film would have succeeded as well as it did.
East of Eden (1955)
fruitless effort
I remember watching this film when i was younger. Even after watching it again, the pity felt for Cal as he tried to gain the affection of his father remained as strong as it once had. For most young adults, his relationship with his father is not difficult to relate to; everyone has felt at some time in their life that they have tried everything and invested all their effort into pleasing someone that refuses to praise them. even though Cal and Aron's mother Kate is on screen for a short amount of time, her role is crucial in the movie. Because Cal is like his mother, who shot at and abandoned his father with two young boys, his father resented Cal and Favored Aron. Kate also loans Cal money which helps him invest in starting a business. The brothers Cal and Aron switch roles by the end of the movie. Cal remains by his father's side when he falls ill and Aron, "the good one", runs off in the army. Cal even begins a relationship with his brother's finance, Abra, after Aron leaves.
The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
thought provoking
Aside from the beautiful camera-work and scenery (including a few familiar places in Mexico), "Lady From Shanghai" doesn't have much to offer besides a mushy pile of screwed morals and a head scratching twist.
At the conclusion of the film, i was not really sure what i was watching. The plot was easy enough to follow, but the meaning of the film is still a bit fuzzy. It is enough to keep you thinking well after the movie is over. The mental imagery in the film compliments what is seen on screen and the plot very well. When O'Hara tells the story of the sharks eating each other, it serves two purposes- to foreshadow the fate of the elite seen in the film and when they finally kill each other, it is used as a simile.
The plan worked out by the scheming seductress Elsa is curiously portrayed. It is frustrating to watch unfold because the whole time O'Hara knew better than to get mixed up with her.
Mildred Pierce (1945)
bleak and beautiful
Mildred Pierce is exquisitely crafted. the script is masterfully written and the characters developed to perfection. This movie grabbed me, pulled me in, and altered my emotions with the plot as any great movie would.
Throughout the movie, the character Veda really bothered me. I could not understand why Mildred would continue to try and please her insatiable, ingrate daughter. Sure, she loves her and is the only daughter she had left, but when someone is that cruel to you, the sacrifice of your happiness is completely fruitless. Even after Mildred found her daughter having an affair with Monte (her husband) and killing him, she continued to give anything she could to protect her daughter.
Holiday (1938)
nothing special
The plot of the movie moved along way too slow, and i was bored almost throughout the entire thing. Katharine Hepburn has yet to impress me, and this is just yet another film where i wish she was not a part of. Her character was too whiny and childish and to watch this movie was to suffer. This aside, she does have excellent chemistry with Cary Grant and they work very well together.
I did, however, like the overall idea of the movie, being that an engaged man falls in love with the sister of his betrothed. the topic seems entirely taboo, maybe because i know if i even thought about one of my sisters men, past or present, the outcome would be catastrophic.
Overall, there was nothing special or unique about this movie. it was kind of bland, not memorable, and i probably could've done without.
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
the stairs are always san juan hill
So hilarious. Every time Mortimer's poor wife tried to get his attention, he completely ignores her. I couldn't help feeling uncomfortably sorry for the poor girl, and guilty that i couldn't help but to laugh. It's not surprising though, coming from a man that has never placed any value on marriage, and writing books on his negative view. Two sweet, darling old sisters loved by the entire neighborhood are in fact responsible for the murder of twelve lonely people, and claim to be doing them a favor. When on of the aunts is justifying her actions to Mortimer, she uses a hand gesture used in the many portrayals of Jesus Christ- with the right hand raised and the thumb, first and middle fingers held open while the third and fourth finder are down. Teddy. Oh, Teddy, Teddy. An absolutely lovable, quirky character. His role is beautiful- mentally impaired, he believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and his duty is to bury yellow fever victims and dig the Panama Canal. My favorite scene is when Mortimer's brother Jonathan ties up Mortimer and plans to kill him. You know whats going to happen, step by step, because Mortimer is telling the plot to a play and Jonathan is replicating it.
Scarface (1932)
Breaking Glass
I loved the portrayal of police intervention in gang activity in New York. I related personally to this film because my grandfather was a first grade detective in New York City and would tell me stories of murder and investigation, involving his work on the Gotti case and his play in the downfall of Son of Sam. This movie gave a personal relationship with the "bad guys", and even though the main character Tony was a cold-blooded murderer who caused inter-gang and family conflict, I found myself reacting fondly towards him; he had a sense of humanity. The scene where he kills his boss is very powerful. He punches the glass with the name printed on it out of the door, letting him know there will soon be someone to take his place. Tony then whistles as he walks away, something he did in the very beginning of the movie, before gunshots are heard.
Eraserhead (1977)
ummm... thanks for that, David Lynch
After about the first ten minutes I decided that continuing to ask "What? Why?" was futile. But still, its hard not to ask "Why are those chickens oozing? Whats wrong with that baby? why are her cheeks so big?" or wonder why I was so captivated by a dead cat being wriggled around by a hanger. I was too mesmerized, and disturbed, by the beauty and obscurity of every scene to even bother with symbolism or deeper meaning. The light and contrast used was lovely- black and white, with more black than white, really added to the nightmare/post-apocalyptic feel. Every second of every scene could be paused, printed, and the result would be a perfect still. There was always noise- sometimes music, but a constant whooshing that sounds like hard wind from inside a building. Every scene was an uncomfortable existence. Still, I couldn't wait for it to be over; I couldn't wait to watch it again.
Citizen Kane (1941)
most important film of the 20th century
the reason this film is so revered is not because it is an outstanding story with awesome special effects and lots of guns n stuff. true, it is to be appreciated for its morals and storytelling, but if you look at how it was filmed and compare it to other movies of and before its time then you can really see just how impressive "Citizen Kane" is. It uses a lot of deep focus, which required a decent amount of skill and was an out-of-the-box thing to do. one indoor scene stands out particularly for its beauty and play with light. the only light coming into the room is natural sunlight streaming in to a dark, smoky room from small windows high on the wall. other scenes were shot from ground level, also an unusual way of filming. "Citizen Kane" is really different, really clever, and and excellent film to watch for those who appreciate more than just an interesting story.
Casablanca (1942)
heres looking at you, movie *clink*
A bittersweet romance film, Casablanca pulls so hard on my heartstrings. Everything about it- the story, the plot, the lighting, the shots- are awe-inspiring.
The suspense regarding the letters of transit build until they are used at the very end. I found the end incredibly disappointing; not that I feel it should be changed, its magnificent as is. But the whole movie I wanted and hoped that Alsa would end up staying with Rick instead of leaving with Victor, and even though its what Alsa and Rick want, they realize the larger importance of her leaving with Victor.
I've never been to keen on politics, and I found some of the things mentioned were a little tough to keep up with, but that doesn't take away from the movie's excellence. Some of the scenes in Rick's bar I had no idea what was going on and who wanted what because there were so many different uniforms walking around... I wish they were labeled clearly!
Lovely in so many ways, Casablanca deserves its reputation as one of the greatest films of all time.
Frankenstein (1931)
its alive D:
In Frankenstein, the idea that a man can pick apart bits and pieces of dead bodies and assemble them into a working, functioning man is ludicrous. However, the movie takes this idea, creates an acceptable explanation, and the monster springs to life. It works because it takes something that is true- the existence of light waves- and extends it one step further to describe the properties of a newly discovered frequency. The message of the film, that God is the only one who should create life, is very convincing. The Monster was intended to be human, but is a murderer by nature. The Monster's temperament and actions are Dr. Frankenstein's punishment for his transgression against God.
Stagecoach (1939)
"i guess you cant break out of prison and into society in the same week"
Stagecoach is incredibly straight-forward, easy to watch western. a group of unlikely companions adds a lot of flavor to the film- a pregnant army wife, a scorned prostitute, an outlaw, an alcoholic doctor, a marshal, a witty driver, a banker and a gambler. the foreboding suspense of being attacked by the Apache warriors is prevalent. the plot comes together when the Apaches attack and the stagecoach passengers are rescued by the soldiers, including Lucy Mallory's husband. by the end of the movie, the social outcasts- like the prostitute Dallas and Ringo Kid- prove themselves and gain respect. the scenery is absolutely breathtaking and John Wayne plays out wonderfully in this breakthrough role, carrying out brave and dangerous stunts.
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
i'm rolling my eyes so hard i think i popped a blood vessel
An entertaining plot, but i could not get over how annoying and controlling Katharine Hepburn's character Susan is. She is what keeps the movie pushing forward, but the character is too much. where does she get off stealing cars? transporting leopards? ruining weddings? i found that instead of enjoying the movie, she just stressed me out and i felt like i was just waiting for it to be over so i could be done with her. thank god it had Cary Grant in it... the balance he provides makes the movie slightly more tolerable. i was surprised by his use of the word "gay". its not something i would expect from a 30s movie, especially before the term was common.
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
psychologically depleted.
The first time I watched Synecdoche, New York was a couple months ago with my boyfriend. It was the first Charlie Kaufman film I'd ever seen (and a gateway to his other movies "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Being John Malchovich"); it was definitely the most intense cinematic experience I've had yet. The first time around, it was really hard to follow and I wasn't used to trying to make sense of things that did not. Most of the movies I had been exposed to followed a strict storyline, where all questions were answered and everything made sense. Afterward, I sat frozen with my mouth open and didn't even realize I had been crying. I was overridden with sadness... the kind that keeps you awake and thinking about an empty life and lonely death. The second time I watched it, I wasn't bothered with trying to nail down details or keeping track with the dates. It was like having a memory or dream- some things don't exactly make sense but it doesn't matter because all you need to know is that they exist as a piece of a larger symbol.
Synecdoche, New York is gloomy, disappointing, emotionally ravaging, and absolutely beautiful. It is best watched uninterrupted, and if you don't like or understand it at first, give it another shot.
Freaks (1932)
internal vs external beauty
The focus on the value of human characteristics is represented largely in Freaks. The people who were regarded as beautiful looked down upon the sideshow talents. The image of Cleopatra, the beautiful trapeze artist, is skewed after she cons the midget Hanz into marriage with plans to poison him and have the right to his fortune. The Freaks accept her into their "family" and she humiliates them and Hanz by refusing their welcome and revealing her affair with Hercules. The Freaks, on the other hand, are kind to each other and since they have little physical beauty, they judge each other by their character. They band together and support each other, like when they attacked Hercules. They also captured Cleopatra and vengefully spliced her with a chicken making her the strangest monster in the show. This turned the tables and took away Cleopatras external assets, showing how if you took a second look she really isn't beautiful because of her lack in character.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
arts 272-500
"I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" follows the life of a man, James Allen, who is struggling for control. It seems that his life is not governed by his own choices, but those that are forced upon him. He is an army veteran, returning from basing his day-to-day life off orders and returns to living in his mother's house with dreams of change and finding a job that has importance to him. His mother finds him a clerical job at the factory where he used to work and she tries to force him into it. James spends his days working at the factory with his mind wandering to the construction site he can see through the window and goes there during his lunch breaks. He finally leaves to pursue a life working in construction and hops from town to town looking for work. He finds himself at the mercy of fate when he is offered dinner by a new friend. At the diner, he is held at gunpoint to steal money from the cash register and runs away during the confusion when cops come in. Since he was caught running away with the money on him, he is found guilty even though he was forced to steal.
James is sentenced to ten years of labor in a chain gang and successfully escapes after a year. He finds a new job under the name "Allen James" and through hard work becomes very influential and wealthy. His landlord Marie reads a letter from his brother and learns that he is a fugitive. She blackmails him into marriage so she can live off of his money. He falls in love with another woman Helen and wants to divorce his wife. His wife betrays him and spills his secret and he is approached by officials to negotiate a pardon.
James fulfills his requirements for his pardon but is retained to finish his previous sentence. He escapes again and approaches his lover Helen. Before he leaves her, she asks how he will live without money and as he disappears into the dark he replies "I steal".
These last words have a great significance to the theme of the movie. He is ultimately forced to steal because he was wrongly accused of stealing. The misfortune he encounters takes a good, hardworking man and reduces him into exactly the thing that society was trying to prevent: a criminal.
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)
response for History of American Cinema- ARTS 272_500
This movie did not keep my full attention. There were parts that were captivating, but the mid-section of the movie, when the couple were in the city, failed to keeping my interest. There were funny scenes during this part, but I feel like it was too removed from the plot to have any purpose other that just killing time.
Odd things I noticed in this movie is whenever a transaction happened, no money was shown; the actors just over-dramatized the action of placing coins on the table. I also noticed how even though the couple was married and had a child, they did not sleep in the same bed.
Irony plays a part in the story of The Man and his wife. On their return from the city and they have all their problems worked out, a storm comes and she end up missing anyway. I did not expect this to happen.
"Sunrise" could be interpreted as a battle of good v. evil. The Woman From the City is the evil character, who dresses in dark clothing and seduces The Man and tries to persuade him to drown his wife. The Wife is the good character and is dressed in lighter colors and is faithful and caring towards her husband, even though she knows of his disloyalty.
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
review for History of American Cinema- ARTS 272_500
Birth of a Nation demanded my full attention in order to follow. At first, it was difficult to figure out who people were, differentiate them, and how they each related to each other. After I got used to the characters, I began to really appreciate this movie. The story of how the civil war tore apart friendships and how friends and brothers killed each other was beautifully portrayed. The battle scene where the two friends and opponents died side by side was very touching.
This movie was also visually pleasing. When the outdoor fire scenes, which were red, switched to the glowing, yellow indoor scenes, it really added a sense of changing atmosphere. I also really liked the music choice, it's not every day that you see a town burning down to the soothing tune of "O Tannenbaum". "In the Hall of the Mountain King" was a wonderful choice for setting a battle scene; it reminded me of playing the old computer game Return Fire.