1) Describe the Film
The film is about a genius who had an unfortunate life as a child, living in a poor and abusive household after being orphaned. His genius is discovered by accident at MIT when he solves an equation intended for math students( he is just a janitor). Even though he is extremely smart, he has a lot of issues and his professor endeavors to "fix him" and finds an old friend to be his psychologist. 2) What did you notice about the writing in the film.
The dialogue is very honest and fresh. There's a lot of comic relief to balance out the heavy mood of the film 3) What was a favorite line from the film?  Why? It wasn't a line, but the scene where Robin Williams does a monologue by the lake. It was beautiful and true. Every word he said. 
4) This film won an Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).  Do you think it deserved this award? Why or Why not? I definitely think so. I actually never knew that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon wrote it, I never paid attention. The dialogue is so masterful. Even though the situation is somewhat fantastical it seems so real. 

Contemporary Silent Films

1) What differences do you see in traditional silent films and films of today? The surroundings are different, there's more technology, and the music isn't as happy.
2) Which do you prefer? 
I liked the last two the best.
3) How will you use these differences in your own work?
I think I'm going to play with the slow motion effect and have some of my movie take place on my street with all the modern cars and buildings and such. 

Artist Review

1) Describe the film.


The film was about a prominent silent movie actor who became irrelevant once "talkies" came out. He had fallen in love with one of the extras in his movie, but when talkies became popular, so did she. Now he was the underdog and she was the star, and that hurt his pride. In the end they work it out and perform dancing duets together.
2) How is the story driven?  By the characters or plot?


The story is driven by both equally I think. The plot just shows how important the advent of talkies really was, but you end up falling in love with the main character. He is humbled greatly by the end of the movie, and the love story is adorable.
3) Talk about the cinematography.  How was the use of lighting, acting, camera angles scene development used to help enhance the film?


I loved that it was a silent movie. And I absolutely love how it was black and white. It made it classic. The acting was great. I usually rely on dialogue a lot when I watch movies, but the silence forced me to pay attention to the facial expressions. The shots were really varied, but they had to focus on the face a lot, since there was no sound.
4) What was you favorite scene from the film?  Why? Describe the scene as well as how it was shot.


My favorite scene was when the main character was about to shoot himself, and then "bang" comes up on the screen, but then it turns out it was just a crash and he's alive. I had been crying and I was very relieved.
5) What is the experience of watching a silent film like? How does it relate to watching a "talkie"?


I payed much more attention to the music and facial expressions. 

6) Would you encourage others to view the film?  Why or why not?
I definitely would. One of my favorites of the year. First time I cried during a movie in a while. 

Manhattan Review

I chose the film Manhattan directed by Woody Allen. I love his work so I thought I'd enjoy this film ( I did). It was definitely his style. It's one of the older ones so he played the main character. The film takes place in Manhattan (obviously) and he made an artistic decision for it to be black and white. It's about a T.V. show writer who is dating a 17 year old girl, but ends up falling in love with the woman his best friend is having an affair with, only to find out at the end of the movie that he is still in love with the now 18 year old girl. Even though the plot is perplexing, I found the character development to be more important. The thing is, that Woody Allen plays very similar characters in every single one of his movies, and he is always the main one. Sometimes it gets annoying, but in the end I end up really connecting to him. He's this intellectual, somewhat narcissistic, Jewish, neurotic writer who's very afraid of death and cynical about life. For me that always hits close to home. I think in Manhattan he was more lovable than say, in Annie Hall. The voiceovers and the moral lectures to other characters really got us deep into this character's brain (let's be honest it's Woody Allen's brain). I think the black and white really added a classic feel to the film, especially since it was shot in such a classic city like Manhattan. My favorite part of the film is that he had a lot of shots where it was just silhouettes of the characters with the background behind them still visible. You could hear them talking but you either couldn't see their faces, or you could only see part of them. Woody Allen is a brilliant director and I love him. And now I feel like I haven't let my people down, having watched every single Woody Allen and Mel Brooks film. I don't think anything could have been done differently to make it better. The Actors were brilliant, the black and white, the city, the writing, and obviously the director were flawless. If you don't get tired of the neurotic-ness, this man's movies are always a delight. I recommend this film wholeheartedly. It's one of the best that I've seen in a while. But honestly, Annie Hall is so overrated. If you want to see a good Woody Allen film, watch Manhattan, Bananas, or Crimes and Misdemeanors. Matchpoint and Vicky Christina Barcelona are of course marvelous, even Midnight in Paris is, but the old ones where Woody Allen is his own neurotic self are priceless. 

Melies

1) What did you notice/learn about Melies' style?
He is very comical and imaginative. In his movies everything looks like a bizarre dream. There are a lot of props that are used to drive the story.
2) Were there consistent elements in his films? What were they? There is always an element of magic in his movies, and there are always actors being filmed.
3) Did you enjoy his films? Which ones? Why? I really liked them actually! I think my favorite was The Triple Conjurer and the Living Head. I felt like I was watching a fantastical magic show. It left me wondering how he pulled it off and showed off his imagination.
4) What will you take away with you from watching these films? 
Movies can capture our dreams just as well as they capture reality. It really shows the endless possibilities of experimentation with film. 

Self Assessment/Video

1) Describe your film
My film is about a girl who doesn't know what to write, and only in the end inspiration strikes.
2) What was the mood you were going for?
I was going for frustration and writer's block.
3) Do you think you were effective in representing the mood? Why/How?
I think so. Melissa was a great actress and very believable. I think the black and white with the quick color change and the music really added to the frustrated feeling.
4) How did the use of sound or music influence the film?
I tried to match up the clips with the downbeats so that there was a more dramatic feel. Plus I thought the song fit the overall mood.
5) Would you do anything different?
I think if I had more time I would get shots in different settings.
6) What are you most proud of?
I'm really proud of the trash can shot I think it turned out cool. 

"Speak" Review

1)   I watched the movie Speak with Kristen Stewart over the weekend. I have to say that although it was extremely sad, I enjoyed it thoroughly. She may have even redeemed herself from her agonizingly long fling with a sparkly vampire. She was pretty good in the Runaways too, I have to admit. In this movie she played someone who I thought I could relate to much more, that is a very angsty girl in high school. I soon realized that aside from our artistic inclination; me and this chick didn’t have a whole lot in common. This film follows the main character Melinda Sordino, played by Stewart, as she struggles through her first year of high school after being raped by a senior student. She finds solace in art with the help of a charismatic teacher, but for most of the movie she doesn’t really talk much, hence the title. She is experiencing an inner battle with herself to finally tell someone what happened to her and the movie closes with her revealing the tale to her concerned mother. The plot itself wasn’t extremely interesting. It followed a thirteen year old girl as she went to school and was made fun of, but everyone has seen that. The character development was important. We see her break free. She finally rises from the ashes of this trauma in the end after being in a state of mind where she felt completely alone.

2)   The film had a lot of close ups of the characters face. It panned into her sad expressions constantly. I feel like it was shot directly facing her all the time, they could have at least gotten some different angles in there. The dark lighting definitely added to the melancholy feel of the film. I especially liked the flashbacks to the night where she was violated, and how we only saw snippets of it at first and then it all came together. I especially liked this one scene where a super bubbly girl sits next to her and won’t shut up and she’s wearing these sparkly pink shoes. Stewart is silent and then finally says, “nice shoes” and there’s a camera shot of Stewart’s black converse and these ridiculously sparkly pink sandals.

3)   I liked it. I guess you have to be in the right mood to watch it since it’s really sad and intense. It was definitely moving, I was choking back tears at the end. 

Tokyo Glow

In 50 words or less, what was the film about?

The short film captured the "walk" sign coming to life and taking a stroll in Tokyo. It followed him through the busy, bright streets and ended just as the female "walk "sign was about to come to life.

What was more important/ memorable/ significant? The plot or the characters? Why?

The characters are more memorable here because there really isn't much plot.The protagonist is quite lovable and his journey is beautiful and well made. 

What did you take away from the film?

It just kind of made me think about how quickly time flies with the time lapse film. The bustling city made me realize how small I was. 

Two Men Critique

In 50 words or less, what was the film about?

The film is about a man watching two men running by him and imagining the reason for why they are running. 

What was more important/ memorable/ significant? The plot or the characters? Why?

I think that the hypothetical plots laid out by the protagonist are important here. The stories he describes in the voice over show the  flexibility of the human mind.

What did you take away from the film?

It just kind of made me think about how important imagination is and how strange life and the predicaments you get yourself into can be. 

Glory at Sea Critique

Provide a brief description

The movie was about a community's response to hurricane Katrina. The people built a boat and sailed out to see filled with home and ended up sinking right above where their loved ones have perished.

What is the overall tone or mood?

The overall tone is melancholy with a sliver of hope. On one hand they are eventually reunited with their loved ones, but in the worst possible way.

How does the dialogue influence the film?

The words of the Preacher really add to the desperate tone of the movie. How they're trapped and there's nothing they can do. It's all in Fate's hands; it's all part of a plan. The protagonist who initiated the boat building doesn't say much the whole movie, but when he yells at everyone to "Get up!" at the end it added a feeling of hope. The voice over of the little girl made everything seem calmer than it actually was. People dying everywhere and her voice still seemed normal.

How does cinematography effect the film?

I like how there was always sort of a guiding light. The sun, fire, fireworks, and lamps all seemed like beacons of hope.

What scene or part of the scene do you like best? Why?

I liked the scene where they were all putting their most prized possessions on the boat with them and the voice over said that those things were lucky to the people. Everyone was helping and everyone was smiling. I liked it just because it really makes you think about what matters to you. Like that guy who couldn't let go of his car.

What is your opinion of the film?

I liked it. It's not one of my favorites. It made me sad at points but I'm just not satisfied with this particular interpretation of the afterlife. I didn't want to see their limbs moving.

New Boy Critique

1     1) Provide a brief description of the film.

      This film is about an African immigrant boy's first day at an Irish school. He gets picked on at his new school and     he daydreams about his experiences at school in Africa. At the end, he ends up ok with new friends. 

       2) What is the overall tone or mood of the film?

      It's definitely heartwarming. There are some dark undertones, like the murder of the father, but it the end things seem to be looking up for the main character. I'd say heartwarming is a good word for it. Kind of a mix of tears and smiles. 

       3) How does the dialog influence the film?

      The dialogue in the film really adds a sense of purity and innocence, but also mixes in some racial tension and bullying. The little pigtailed girl and the overall interaction between the kids and the teacher is very innocent. Then we get the little bullies and trouble makers and their mean comments blackening the overall docile environment of the classroom. The repetition of the phrase, "You're dead" foreshadows future conflict. In the end the dialogue of the little girl with the teacher and the laughter of the three boys completely changes the mood of the film and makes it much more light hearted. 

       4) In what ways does the cinematography affect the film?

      At the beginning, we could see a bit of the boys head with him looking at a classroom filled with blurry white faces. We can from the start see the sharp contrast of his skin to theirs. From then on we see a transition from what he sees, to the camera being focused on the boy. This lets us really feel and experience along with him. 

       5) What scene or part of a scene do you like the best? Why?

      My favorite scene was the last one, when the three boys were standing outside the classroom, waiting to get in trouble and hating eachother. Then this little girl ends up badmouthing the teacher and after laughing about it together the animosity between the group of boys lessens. It's extremely cute.

       6) What is your opinion of the film?

      I really liked it. It definitely still hits close to home when I watch classroom scenes in movies. This film was especially gladdening. It left a little smile on my face. 

10 Minutes Critique

       1) Provide a brief description of the film.

       The film follows a Japanese tourist and a Bosnian boy over a span of 10 minutes. The tourist is waiting for his photographs to be developed in sunshiny Rome and the boy is retrieving water for his family when the enemy attacks, killing his parents. The tourist's film is developed in the same amount of time as it takes for the boy to lose his family. 

       2) What is the overall tone or mood of the film?

       It overall has a very melancholy tone. The whole time you kind of know something bad is going to happen to this little boy. The setting is dark and dirty and there are guns and soldiers. At the end it's definitely a tearjerker, watching the boy walk into the house with his parents bleeding profusely and the baby crying in the backgroud. 

       3) How does the dialog influence the film?

      The dialogue throughout most of the movie is very calm and casual. The tourist interacting with the shopkeeper and the boy interacting with his family, then neighbors and friends. It all seems strangly calm even amidst war and then at the very end the dialogue becomes panicked and loud and urgent. This contributed to the very gruesome tone of the final scene. 

       4) In what ways does the cinematography affect the film?

      Other than the switch from the tourist to the boy, It was all one shot following the boy. It really made it seem like a veritable journey. It felt almost like you were there walking with him. I also liked the switched from darkness to light. 

       5) What scene or part of a scene do you like the best? Why?

      I think my favorite part was the film was the close up on the clocks at the end. It really added to the severity of the situation with a sharp contrast between the lives of the boy and the tourist. 

       6) What is your opinion of the film?

      I loved it. I think the concept was great. I felt all of the raw emotion of the war scene so much more when it was shown alongside the tourist calmly waiting for his photos in beautiful Rome.  

What I hope to accomplish

I really want to learn how to make movies in here. Words cannot describe how much I love film. I spend way too much time watching movies. I always thought I should try to make my own.

I'm inspired by dark comedies and Independent films. My goal is to make a sort of dark comedy. Probably something about high school because high school movies are my favorite. I'm good at writing, well I think I am anyways. I could write a great screenplay I think at some point. I would need actors and a high school setting I guess.

First Class Post

Heathers is my absolute favorite High School movie. Although I like my fair share of 80s high school flicks (e.g. Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire... I just like the Brat Pack what can I say), Heathers is in a strange way more realistic for me. It's something about the way the characters interact with each other. It's so disturbing and so real. And like they said, the only place that so many social types can live together in peace is in heaven. There could be no truer statement in my point of view.

American Beauty is definitely one of my favorites. If anything it's tied with Heathers. I love that at the end all these people wanted to kill the dad. It's like a sick puppet show playing with fate (Being John Malkovich reference inserted here). Chances are he would have died even if the wife hadn't shot him. I loved the character Ricky. He was so creepy and perfect, truthfully a lot like the lead male character in Heathers (maybe I have a type? Billie the kid types..) Anyways I love the darkness of this movie. The interactions with the kids and their families. My favorite is the scenes with the dad's fantasies of the teenage girl... and then you find out that she's just a scared virgin.

Lost and Delirious is one of my favorite same sex love stories (that and Little Ashes of course, Robert Pattinson plays a mean Salvador Dali, so much so that I almost forgave him for being a sparkly vampire). It's a great Girls at Boarding School type of story. The repetition of the reference to Lady Macbeth's speech ("unsex me here...") adds a feeling of determination and strength. Also I loved what the character Paulie said to Mary. I can't remember the exact quote but it was something along the lines of, I'm not in love with a girl, I'm in love with Tori. Paulie loves Tori, we're not lesbians (I swear it was way more poetic in the movie). I cry at the end every single time (I won't spoil it just in case).