Reviews

This is a story about the mind and life about billionaire mogul Howard Hughes.

I just want to say: what a film. The movie is long, as it should be and I sincerely loved Leo's performance. I believe he truly had the mannerisms and technique nailed. Gwen Stefani had a small role as Jean Harlow. She came and went. The one who actually surprised me most in this one was Kate Beckinsale who portrayed the voluptuous Ave Gardner. Her intensity made her scenes captivating to watch.

This is must see for anyone with a mind for dreams. I believe Howard Hughes created a whole other planet with his vision, his mind and ideas. Cate Blanchett was the hilarious staccato Katherine Hepburn. She did a swell job on the role although I felt it was a tad too compelled maybe (the Oscar was slightly predictable). Director Martin Scorsese fills the watcher with passion and as I see more of his movies, I do believe he is the master of his unique craft. Truly stunning and the pictures were elaborate to the eye with just a hint of sexually. The plane crash scene was just extraordinary. I almost forget I was watching a movie. Of course given with the nature of the subject. The end will scare you a little. DiCaprio hit the repetitive mark hard and it shook me.

I am a huge fan of "That 70s Show" and "About A Boy" first and foremost. Topher was just the icing on the cake for this one. I feel he really carried his own and in many ways, this role was made for him. Scarlett Johansson has this presence about her that just makes the watcher want more and more. Plus, she got to smooch Topher. That kiss scene in the street was so natural and didn't seem like it was forced or pretentious one bit. At times, I sort of thought Dennis was overdoing the whole "I'm older listen to me" but I kind of figured at the same time that's what the character called for. Dennis had some funny lines but Topher was the only one with the funny delivery for me. The movie was very funny. I only wished it was longer only because I wanted to see how far it would go with Topher's character. I suppose it was the way Directed/Writer Weiz had wanted us to believe. I loved how the ending mirrored everyone's struggle to be themselves. Maybe you don't want to wear a suit and tie and be this anal retentive prick spewing out orders to a marking company. Maybe life is about doing things that bring you the most joy. I'm glad Tohper had figured that part out. He seems really intelligent in the movie and it showed in every corner of the writing. Though, I believe despite the crazy good screenplay, he had added a little of himself in the role. LOVED this movie! Topher will be around for a while.

Annie Hall is a story about two individuals. Both a like but have different personalities and faults. The movie starts off revealing the tumultuous gathering in which Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) and Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) first begin their courtship. The foundation of the plot is basically told through the eyes of Alvy (Allen). We get the first insight on who he is, how he carries himself, and what his main objective is throughout the film. Alvy is slovenly, curious, intelligent, and wildly analytical. The first scene introduces us to his first encounter with Annie Hall (Keaton). The beginning of their relationship is examined. Alvy is irate about the fact that Annie is arriving less than is scheduled. While he waits, he involuntarily has a conversation with 2 obvious fanatics of his work. Eventually when Annie arrives, he feels saved by her and the world is right as it should be. This could indicate that, even from the beginning, Annie and Alvy live on different times. He's on time and orderly and she is the sloppily late one from the start. But as the film progresses, we see a change occur; in Annie. Alvy appears to be the one with all the answers in the start, all and all, he is utterly clueless as to how Annie could be so different. As Alvy gives Annie some advice on how to change her life, it backfires. He grows jealous and wants to stay within the same place and never change. Alvy appears to be a flat character in this case. Where as Annie is more rounded individual.

She makes the changes to better herself and he remains constant and sullen about "what went wrong?". towards the beginning of the film. The struggle in this film is about being satisfied. Alvy is incredulous through the entire run and even goes as far as breaking the 4th wall to talk to the camera. The split screen effect gives the audience a two-sided view in how the story is told. There was even animation to justify Avly's feelings on the issues. As Annie and Alvy break up, he starts getting more and more voracious. Even to the point where he was absentmindedly asking strangers on the street for advice about what went wrong. He appeared desperate to find answers. When we reach the end, he makes one drastic change. He flew to Los Angeles to where Annie was and met with her for lunch. Annie had completely changed since we last saw her. She is more self-assured, defiant, and willing to speak her mind on any subject. Alvy doesn't seem to notice this until he asks her to move back to New York with him. She says no and leaves with dignity. Alvy, at first, is more than confused. Here he changed everything in his life to try and fix what was broken with Annie and it whiplashes him while knocking a little sense in the mix as well.

Alvy suddenly realizes what was going on all along. He was afraid of change. The message of the movie for me was sometimes when you want some things to happen, there has to be an understanding of where you are first within yourself.

Raging Bull is a story about the dark, gritty, lonely side of the 1940s & 50s boxing phenomenon as shown through the eyes of the champ Jake La Matta (Robert De Niro). Shot as a type of coming-of-age thrill as it opens with the future and dissolves into chronological flashbacks. We see the rise and fall of a superstar. Someone sailing on the tight ropes of fame only to let classically let it all go to his mind and body. He is cocky because of what he is. With each battle he grows less human. He's stronger physically, but emotionally, he's lost his sense of sight. Lost all ties to reality and more possessive as the days pass. As he gets a big head through his talents, he grows confident starting courting 15-year-old Viki Thailer (Cathy Moriarity). It starts out well, but it certainly turns sinister as Viki tries to talk to other people. He gets a paranoid persona and develops a rage in him. He starts questioning everything around him and doesn't trust anyone. The beginning of rage starts in the scene where Jake and his brother Joey La Motta (Joe Pesci) were in the middle of an argument at the kitchen table with their wives and baby present. The brothers told their wives to leave and take their children with them. As a form of dominance, Jake changes his attitude from than on.

There were many scenes in which Director Martin Scorsese portrayed a sullen atmosphere in the Black and White cinematic vision. The music, for one, was taken from the works of an Italian composer Pietro Mascagni. Gives the film a sad feeling and brings even more emotion to the actors on screen.

There was a scene in which a section of the film was in color. For this one scene, Scorsese paints a more laminated picture depicting a genial time in Jake's life. Seems a bit contrived to the real world. The black and white to me, has signified the character's true personality. What life really is. Not optimistic. Just is. Life is previewed in a strange light in the film. We're pulled to care for Jake throughout the film and than we care even more as the movie builds these layers surrounding the characters. A true definitive of what the boxing beast can do to anyone. One of my all time 5 favorites.

Hitchcock is one fine storyteller.

The narrative style is told through the music for the most horrific scenes shown. One other particular scene in which Marion is driving on the freeway toward her boyfriend. The thoughts in her head are coming from first person POV. The majority of the story is told through an overall audience narrative. What we see is what happening. But that isn't always true. There were moments where the story was depicted through the core characters personality. It focuses mainly upon Norman's personality. We really feel what he is going through towards the end and we sympathize slightly as mother takes over his persona. Norman is the central character. His interaction with Marion drives his mother to take over his actions. His mother was a pivoting person in his life. He feels as if his mother won't let him live so his dominate personality takes over permanently at the end. The way everything ties in when it starts with going down a different road, literally. Marion faces choices in the beginning. Weighing of the good with the bad emphases each of her decisions. She has the choice to do the right thing, but she takes a risk and is cramped up into a corner. As soon as she decides to change her mind, she is stopped. Director Alfred Hitchcock shows us that things aren't what they seem just because you think you're doing the right thing for yourself. No matter how much you cover up the evidence, you will be caught and sentenced. The deaths are filmed just a painting come to life. When Detective Arboghast gets killed, he falls backward and we are propelled with him as he tumbles to the floor receiving repetitive stabbings from Norman as mother. Just because you know what is right from wrong, doesn't mean that somehow you'll be pardoned. In Arboghast's position, he read more into the problem and ultimately, that was what killed him. He knew too much and would have told Sam and Lila had he the chance if he wasn't stabbed.

The POV in the film changes dramatically after Marion was stabbed. It was Norman's business from than on. The film drives us to believe the story is going to be about Marion when in fact, she was the trigger that set off Norman to be the main setting. But as Hitchcock shows us, Norman is an innocent in all of this. He was held captive by mother. She began dominating his actions more and more as the story progress. Another scene in which Hitchcock plays with POV was the scene where Norman was sitting in the station and asked for a blanket. A truly disturbing part of the scene in where he changed POV was when Norman's mother was complaining and blaming Norman for everything that happened to her. The final lines summed up the reasons why mother was so clever to get away with the things she got away with. "They'll see and they'll say, 'Why, she wouldn't even hurt a fly!'" It's a definitive film that means so many things but the main idea was that Hitchcock wanted to understand the main focus of the synopsis. Don't trust just anyone on the run. Truly the greatest terror film ever made!