All the President’s Men

            I remember watching this film in a journalism class in high school and loving it. While most of my classmates were bored with it, my friends and I saw the struggle that Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein went thru to crack open the Watergate scandal and ate it up. The film was made much more interesting to me both then and now because of the significance of the storyline. The fact that these reporters and their investigations caused the President of the United States to resign was a great storyline. So, while the movie may get a tad dry at times, I was very into the film as a whole.

            What I remember from the film the most was the incredible sound clarity when people were walking or putting out their cigarette. This was something that I was still taken by when I watched the film again. There seemed to be a focus on the steps that people took and the sounds that they made, which I thought was quite unique to the film. This is one of the ways that the film does a nice job portraying what a reporter’s life is like:  always on the go, talking to people, and writing down every little piece of information even if it seems irrelevant. Another way the film does this is zooming in on the phone or notepad when Woodward or Bernstein dialed a number or wrote something down. This ensures the viewer is focused on the importance of not only what is being written, but the details that the reporters must listen to gather information. I thought this technique used by the filmmakers was very effective.

            The central aim of the film was to chronicle the time, effort, and steps that were used by the reporters to find out more about Watergate and President Nixon’s involvement with it. The makers of the film did a very nice job in my opinion. Woodward had to meet Deep Throat, his source at 2 am and time lapses showed the immense amount of time that the reporters spent digging up all of the facts. The time lapse is important because it condenses an immense amount of time and still achieves the effect of showing the great time spent on the case. Another main theme and point of the movie was to depict the difficulty that it takes to get people to talk about possible corruption in politics or in the government. The people were constantly hanging up on Woodward and Bernstein and giving them short answers. This is really highlighted when the people being interviewed would give only initials of people and left it up to the reporters to figure out who they were talking about. This leaves the viewers of the film with a sleazy feeling which the makers of the film had to have been trying to do. The film is quite ambitious and not only serves to entertain viewers, but to prove that corruption and cover up exists in government. Also, it is a nice portrayal of how newspapers are run and operated.

            Footage of the President Nixon during his 1973 inauguration as well as his resignation is used in the film and is highly effective. While people in the 1970’s may not have needed a reminder that this film was indeed based on a non fiction book and real scandal, the footage serves as a nice reminder that the happenings in the film are mostly true. The real footage does a spectacular job of bring the scandal to life and reminding the viewers that the “wild goose chase” that Woodward and Bernstein went on was no all for naught.

            The greatest purpose of the film to me is the calling for accountability in government. Because Nixon ultimately resigned because of the scandal and the investigation into it, the film is a reminder that any corruption will not go unnoticed if a trail is left behind. In a way, this created a new standard for the behavior of the government and its officials. After the investigation that is portrayed in the film, political leaders had to think twice before pulling the wool over the public’s eyes. Along with representing the shaping of values in the U.S., the film also used quite a bit of profanity. I believe that his adds to the realistic tone of the movie. I guess I have always viewed newspaper offices as a place that the reporters could say things how they wanted to say it because they can’t exactly write things exactly how they feel about subjects. I think the rating of PG is a little on the generous side because of the foul language and the usage of “Deep Throat” which is a homage to a porn star. They could not help the name of the source because that’s what it really was, but I would have thought that would have made the movie at least a PG-13 rated film. I think if this film were made today it would be rated at least PG-13.

            I enjoyed the movie just as much as I remember enjoying it and many of me fond memories were brought back to me. I thought the attention to detail was very good and the acting was well done as well. Seeing Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in their younger years was very cool. Seeing a second movie with Hoffman for this class in which he’s just a few years older is also kind of cool. You can kind of see his growth in maturity and his acting as he ages. Overall, I give this film an 8.5 out of 10.

The Cider House Rules

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Seeing a pre-Spiderman Tobey Maguire and his growth as an actor was very cool to see, even though I think his performance in this film is very hard to top. The usage of voiceovers was quite prevalent in the film which is something that I view as very effective as a viewer of a film. I think that a voiceover really forces a viewer to focus on the dialogue and highlight its importance to the film. Voiceovers were mainly used in letters to and from Homer and Dr. Larch.

            The film touched my heart on many occasions by mainly using death as the vehicle. I was nearly brought to tears when Fuzzy dies at the orphanage during the film. Dr. Larch’s death and the process that accompanies it struck me as very, very sad. However, the part that really hit an emotional chord with me was when Homer returned to the orphanage from his work as an apple picker. He fulfills Dr. Larch’s wishes that he take for him when he moves on or was “forced out” by the board of medicine. The moment is very touching and fulfilling for viewers as Homer kind of comes full circle.

            In the film, Dr. Larch to me takes on a greater significance that extends beyond the film itself. He runs an orphanage in Maine, but also performs secret abortions for women that do not want to have children yet. In my opinion, this is absolutely a statement made the novel writer that a woman should have a choice in giving birth. Larch also makes this statement during the movie. Within the movie, Larch is a doctor that allows women to take ownership in the matter of giving birth, but outside of the film, he is an advocate for pro-choice. This is something that has long been debated since Roe v. Wade, so the fact that a film would touch on this aspect is significant.

            Another big portion of the film is spent on Homer’s work in the cider house and picking apples with a crew that consists of mostly African-American individuals. Homer and his lover Candy, find out that the father of one of the female workers impregnated the daughter. This obvious case of incest is one of the controversial parts of the film! Homer helps Miss Love abort the pregnancy, but she escapes after stabbing her father which ultimately results in his death. This kind of reminds me of one of my favorite films “A Time to Kill” where a father kills the white men who raped his little girl. Both films raise the question, under what circumstances is murder ok or acceptable? The viewer is left feeling like the right thing was done, but someone was still murdered without undergoing the legal process of this country.

            Another issue that is taken on by the film is the issue of having an affair with a woman who is involved with a man at war. Affairs are generally seen as taboo, but the fact that Paul Rudd is fighting in a war makes it even more inappropriate in the eyes of the viewer. When Rudd’s character’s plane is shot down, Candy makes the decision to care for him and leave Homer. The affair and incest issues really show both the good and bad in Homer and the reflection in all of us. It causes us to ask ourselves “Do we do what’s right for me or others even though someone will get hurt?” The film is of upmost quality because it tugs on the heart strings of the viewers and is bigger than just a film on a screen. The film touches on so many social and moral issues that the viewer can’t help but be drawn in. I really enjoyed the film and seeing actors such as Maguire, Charlize Theron, Rudd, Erykah Badu, Michael Caine and Heavy D in different roles than I was used to seeing them in. I give the movie a 9 out of 10.

The Graduate

The Graduate has been a movie that I have heard so much about, but never got the chance to see. I guess I wasn’t interested enough to make time for it. This is funny because I think that Dustin Hoffman is a brilliant actor! The time of the film kind of turned me of, but as I delved into the movie, I found myself very into the film and the acting in the movie. The crisp shots for the time frame are tremendous. What I thought was striking was the amount of white used in the film on the walls and in the decorations. There seem to be many key elements in the film that are discussed in the book, which point to the fact that the film is highly regarded and a true classic.

            The opening scene where Benjamin Braddock (Hoffman) gets off the flight and into the airport while the song “Song of Silence” plays is very fitting and foreshadows many of Ben’s thoughts during the movie. The song is also played when Ben is floating in the pool, along with other parts of the film. This song symbolizes his “drifting” along in life trying to find his way after graduating from college. The lyrics “And in the naked light I saw Ten thousand people, maybe more People talking without speaking People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share And no one dared Disturb the sound of silence” really call out Ben’s thoughts especially when he is dressed up in the scuba gear and exploited in front of his parent’s friends. This seems to push Benjamin into the affair with Mrs. Robinson, which he initially resisted.

            In the film, I thought Dustin Hoffman was tremendous! His skill in portraying an awkward feeling college graduate is spot on. That coupled with the crazy propositions presented to him by Mrs. Robinson and the affair really makes for a weird situation for Benjamin. He nails the awkward, uncomfortable situation and feelings perfectly with real dialogue and awesome facial expressions that really make the viewer feel his emotions. Hoffman’s dialogue is great in this movie. His lines and words seem very, very sincere and his emotions spill out when he speaks to others. I have always enjoyed Hoffman in movies such as Outbreak, Rainman, and All the President’s Men. It’s weird to see him in a movie where he is so young as I have been exposed to his later work. The usage of Hoffman in this movie, when he was relatively unknown is a good thing for the film. Hoffman is able to be flexible in his role and not seen as another character. Since I have seen his other movies, it is hard for me to not see him as Rainman! However, he is very convincing in all of his roles, so this speaks to his range as an actor.

            Aside from Hoffman’s acting, another one of the film’s most effective elements is the use of blurred focus. This is used when Ben runs down the stairs when Mr. Robinson comes home after he gives Mrs. Robinson a ride home from a party. This conveys confusion and the panic that Ben feels. This is also used when Elaine is trying to wrap her head around Ben and Elaine’s affair. The screen comes into focus when she fully understands the affair. This is really, really unique and effective. This reflects the thoughts and feelings of both characters in the film and also shows the viewer the confusion they are feeling as well.

            The film uses irony to a large, successful effect. One specific example is the dialogue between Mr. Robinson and Benjamin when Mr. Robinson says that Ben must have to “fight off” women and learned “tricks” when he was going to school out east. This is ironic because the “tricks” and “fighting off” is being done on Mr. Robinson’s own wife and daughter. Along with the irony, the movie also is humorous. When Ben awkwardly tries to kiss Mrs. Robinson with smoke in here mouth, I laughed out loud. I also laughed when Ben came out in the scuba gear. When Ben and Elaine are at the zoo, Ben asks “Is that him over there” in reference to Elaine’s date. He asks this while showing a shot of monkeys, which is really funny as well.

            The shots that are used in the film are tremendous as well. The underwater scenes when Ben is dressed in Scuba gear are very cool and seem to be unique for the time. Also, the quick shots of Mrs. Robinson’s naked body also mimic Ben’s quick, awkward glances at her. The viewer is really pulled in to Ben’s view and feelings inside his head by the quick shots. This is greatly effective! The scenes also have a relatively smooth flow as they are ended with prominent sounds. In some scenes, the sounds overlap which creates a smooth flow and transition from scene to scene.

            I really enjoyed the film and especially Hoffman’s acting in it. He really does have a great range as an actor as he can play many parts. After seeing this film, I enjoy him even more. The film does a nice job of portraying the struggle of college graduates that many of them go thru. I could really relate to Ben’s struggles, even more so because Hoffman was so realistic in the movie. I give the movie an 8.5 out of 10.

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

            I was very excited to see The Dark Knight on the list for this class as it is one of my favorite movies. I grew up a huge Batman fan when I was younger and also loved the original Batman movies by Tim Robbins. While this movie as well as Batman Begins is very different than the Robbins’ versions, they are both very good. The Dark Knight is on another level for me because Heath Ledger and Christian Bale are so good in this film. I find it refreshing to see different depictions for my favorite super hero from my youth. I also think the despair and agony regarding the moral struggle that Batman/Bruce Wayne experience in this film are amazing.

            The first thing that struck me in the film was the crispness of the shots and realistic views of the city in the first scene with the bank robbery. The shots look very clean with great views of the city. Another thing regarding color is the yellow lighting of the tunnels during chase scenes. The lighting to me creates a sense of poor sickly areas that are being driven thru by the Joker. I actually made the comment about feeling like being in The Dark Knight while driving thru a tunnel in a poorer part of Minneapolis this last weekend. The lighting and color are uniquely tied together in this film in parts when Batman is attacking a criminal or burglar. The lighting and color give off an aura of deceit and crime. Batman then swoops in and does his work to clean up the streets of Gotham City. The viewer’s feelings of Batman’s good works are enhances by the colors and lighting used in the shots.

            The speed-up effect is used throughout the movie to great effect as well. I saw this as creating an atmosphere of chaos which enhances the viewer’s feelings about the Joker and his brand of evil. Also, I think it creates a sense that he is “out of control” as the speed of the shots picks up. Another really great effect used in the film is the cutting out of sound when the huge vehicle is flipped by the cable. As the vehicle starts to flip over, the sound is cut out. As the vehicle is getting closer to exploding on the ground, the sound picks up. This is sensational, as the viewer is alerted by the lack of sound and their attention is focused on the screen, which is rewarded by a huge explosion.

            The dialogue in the movie is also very good. I feel that Christian Bale is one of the best actors in Hollywood as I have enjoyed a lot of his films such as American Psycho, The Machinist, and The Fighter. His dialogue in The Dark Knight really fits the Batman character with the gravely tough voice that he uses. He contrasts this with sophisticated speech and toned down voice when he speaks as Bruce Wayne. Both of them are very effective even though I sometimes thought that his speech as Batman was a little forced. Bale is the perfect tough guy to take on the role as Batman as well as doubling as the dapper billionaire Bruce Wayne. Heath Ledger’s portrayal as the Joker is on another level though. His acting in the film literally made my skin crawl. His dialogue and acting gave off a sense of lunacy and craziness which was what the directors wanted I am guessing. His acting in the Joker role is much different than Jack Nicholson’s in the 1989 version of Batman. Nicholson was also very good, but seemed much more playful than Ledger’s version. I really felt the danger and craziness in Ledger’s portrayal.

            The movie was tremendously done with Christopher Nolan directing it. I have an inkling that the instructor of this course enjoys Nolan!?!?!? I find his mind bending, chaotic creating style very unique. It may even be safe to say that I like him a little bit! The Dark Knight truly is one of my favorite movies even though a few things bothered me, such as the Bat-mobile being an SUV and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s acting as Rachel Dawes. I thought Gyllenhaal was kind of insincere in her acting when compared to the other actors. Could just be me though! The acting, dialogue, special effects, clean camera shots, and plot make this a tremendously great movie. Overall, I give the film a 9.5 out of 10!

Amelie

Amelie was a different type of film to watch for me. The last movie I remember watching in subtitles was Passion of the Christ. While I thought the subtitles were effective for that movie and even MADE the movie to some extent, I also thought they were effective in Amelie as well, although not to that degree. The usage of subtitles pulled me in to the French style of talking and living, which I know I would not have gotten if the film was entirely in English. I saw an IMDB post that says the biggest crime of the movie is that it is in French, but that it is also its greatest strength because of the depth it creates. One problem I did have was the subplots were going in and out on me, so I feel as though I missed some of the movie! More problems with Netflix I guess!

            The story is about a seemingly ordinary French waitress that lives in isolation. She starts on a quest to find a boy that is now an adult and return to him a box of toys that she found when in despair over Princess Diana’s death in 1997. The movie has a simple plot and right away seems very childish and unrealistic; however the simplicity is a great strength of the movie in my opinion. Amelie could be described as very simple and remotely childish although imaginative, so the plot matches her personality very closely. One of the quirky parts of the film is Amelie’s smirk that is shown in some frozen shots to end scenes. The shot is also partially shown on the cover of the film. To me, this reflects the sarcastic, playful attitude of the film.

            I really the thought the film was quite funny and humorous. I laughed out loud at the 15 orgasm comment by Amelie as she was above the city. This humor is in contrast to the seemingly simple and dry life of Amelie. During this scene, the wide view of the city below is fascinating! I think the director used that show to capture the huge city and crease the illusion of Amelie in the city. During the movie, one technique I found effective was the use of slow motion and zoom to capture the expressions on people’s faces. This increases the importance of the emotions and makes sure that the viewer focuses on the feelings of the character at the time. Early on in the film, I felt myself drawing comparisons to television show Malcolm in the Middle as well as the children’s book and movie Madeline. I believe I had these feelings because of the focus on one character as well as the sarcastic tone surrounding the movies and shows.

            Scenes with black and white along with different music created a down trodden mood as well as reflecting on the past. The scene where the young boy drops the marbles is in black and white and is very effective in telling the viewer that it is a past event. The music is great because the movie watcher is expecting a sad scene and getting ready emotional for it. The scenes with sped up images and darting shots of the actors and their activities is also unique. I felt it had a great stirring effect on the film, which created a little confusion for the viewer as they had to stay on track with the film. I thought the film was good, but not great. I give it a 6.5 out of 10.

Memento

            As everyone probably was, I was initially quite confused when I was watching Memento. I had heard it was a “mind trip” from other people in the past, so it was a movie that was in the back of my mind as one I wanted to see. I also have enjoyed the director Christopher Nolan’s work in the past. The movie was very, very well done in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I most likely missed a lot of the symbolism and things. Once I was caught up to speed on the presentation of the story and plot, I found myself absolutely intrigued and engaged in the film. As the textbook indicates, this is a film that must be viewed multiple times to fully grasp the depth of the film, but I truly thought that the movie was especially unique.

            A visual effect that I thought was very effective was the usage of black and white along with normal full color. I did not realize it right away, but the black and white scenes were from the past and the color was the present. I think this could be a form of a parallel cut, even though the events are not happening at the same time. However, the cuts are interrelated because they lead to one another. This is initially confusing, but once it is determined, the usage of different colors is tremendous. The black and white scenes are unique because it forces the viewer to really focus on the dialogue in the scenes without much else to look at or focus on. While there were a lot of elements in each scene that were unique to the film, I felt that the most important aspect of the film was the presentation of the plot in reverse. I thought this was extremely unique and creative! This type of presentation really makes the viewer think about the film and piece it together in their own head. Also, it draws a parallel between Leonard’s memory loss and the viewers own confusion. The fact that Leonard can only remember things up to the time of his attack means that he forgets things very quickly. We as viewers also forget things quickly because the film is played in reverse chronological order. We don’t know the reasons behind the action in the film until later on. Because of this, we really are just like Leonard.

            Another unique part of the film to me is the use of the Polaroid pictures as notes for Leonard. As the film progresses, we as the viewer see the notes disappear from the pictures. The reasons that the notes are written on the pictures are also revealed, which clues viewers into what Leonard was thinking at the time. The viewer is drawn into the film by feeling confused and therefore can relate to Leonard. An effective part of the film is the first scene where Teddy is killed and the bullet goes back into the gun. This scene sets the tone and the direction for the rest of the film by reinforcing that the film will be presented backwards.

            Also interesting to me is the setting of the movie. The movie is primarily set in rundown hotels, abandoned warehouses, and bars. This is important because it gives the viewer a tremendous idea of the type of people that Leonard is dealing with. The characters seem sleazy to match the setting as well. This environment creates an emotional aspect of low-income, drug dealing, and shady business. The film is affected by it because it gives the viewer a feeling that Leonard is doing the right thing by tracking his wife’s killer down.

            Overall, I really enjoyed the film. I believe that it deserves every accolade that it has received. While, I did not enjoy it quite as much as I enjoyed Good Will Hunting, I will probably rate it the same. I honestly need to watch Memento again to get the full effect of the plot, acting, and symbolism. Rating 9 out of 10.