FILMS (big update)

After a long and busy semester I am once again back home in Langhorne. It has been a full year since being at home for more than 4 days at a time. After last year’s winter break I had my second semester, then went to North Carolina for a wedding, spent the summer in Los Angeles, and then went right to Geneva for junior year. Because of my tight schedule, I was unable to keep up with my blog apart from a couple lame posts trying to serve as motivation to make time for it. But, alas, I wasn’t able to, so here I am in December trying to rekindle the blog I had going before. I am going to list out the movies I have seen, books I have read, and ultimately try to give a brief plot line/analysis for each. I keep a list of films I watch on IMDb so I am able to pull from there. I will begin with the first film after Bringing Up Baby, since that is listed on here already. And of course, my mind may be a little foggier on films I saw a little bit back since I have seen so many lately.

Touch of Evil (1958)
Written and Directed by: Orson Welles
A classic murder/thriller that takes place on the border of Mexico and the U.S. as Mike Vargas investigates a crime that leads to a twist in the identity of the killer after finding a major clue. The major elements I took out of this film were learning of the impressiveness of the long take (although I’d already seen Goodfellas and Boogie Nights, which each contain famous long takes of their own) and I also learned about “final cut,” an element of a contract that a director hopes to get in order to solely create the film he/she desires and not what the production company desires, necessarily.

Witness (1985)
Written by: William Kelley, Pamela Wallace, Earl W. Wallace
Directed by: Peter Weir
This is a drama starring Harrison Ford in which a young Amish boy witnesses a murder and a police officer by the name of John Book goes undercover and lives among the Amish in order to protect the boy. The subplot sees Book fall in love with the boy’s mother, and subsequently has to decide which lifestyle he fits into: that of a corrupt police force or one of simplicity with the Amish.

The Birds (1963)
Written by: Daphne Du Marier (story), Evan Hunter (screenplay)
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
The classic Hitchcock horror film about a town in Northern California that is attacked by an onslaught of birds that results in fear, death, destruction, and Hitchcock’s favorite: suspense. It is a film whose special effects are outdated, which results in less fear in the audience than the time period it came out because of visuals that are subpar to the present VFX, yet is nonetheless an obvious mastery of suspense and horror on Hitchcock’s part. When studying this in class, I began to learn the importance of mise en scene and narration.

True Romance (1993)
Written by: Quentin Tarantino
Directed by: Tony Scott
One of my favorites out of the films I watched in class, this is a thriller about a guy named Clarence and his hip girlfriend Alabama. I was fascinated by the film that captured a perfect combination of violence and beauty. Clarence is a guy who loves comics and kung fu films who kills Alabama’s pimp and the only resulting thought on his mind is his desire for a cheeseburger. Alabama is a short-lived prostitute who is paid to run into Clarence in a movie theatre, yet immediately falls in love with him. He accidentally grabs a bag of drugs when thinking it was Alabama’s clothes and results in getting in some serious trouble for it. Alabama and Clarence are definitely one of my favorite on-screen couple, their love for one another never faltering even amidst the violence, drama, and danger that they experience.

The Conversation (1974)
Written and Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Coppola is extremely well-known for his creation of The Godfather films, but in present day I feel that this fine film by him has been overlooked. Harry Caul is a surveillance expert that takes on a personal investigation into trying to help a couple who he fears are in jeopardy of their lives. This is where I first began learning of the importance of sound in cinema, diegetic and non-diegetic, as sound plays a very prominent role in this film. Pay attention to what you hear, because it might not mean what you think it does.

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Written by: Adolph Green and Betty Comden
Directed by: Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly
Originally skeptical of watching it since I am very picky about musicals, I wound up thoroughly enjoying this film. This is very much a result of how complex and flat-out complicated this film actually is. It is an intriguing film in the way that it is very much a prime example of reflexive cinema, or films that expose or reference their own processes. This film certainly does that, while also including great dancing, singing, and laughs. Don’t judge a film by its genre.

Breathless (A bout de souffle) (1960)
Written by: Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard
Directed by: Jean-Luc Godard
A French film made during the time period of the French New Wave, it is very much a film that goes against the traditional conventions of films. It defies normality of films through breaking camera, narration, shot, and even plot rules. 30 minutes in the middle of the film features nothing but a conversation that ends up neither digressing nor progressing. It is film noir featuring a man on the run from police after murdering a police officer while he tries to seduce and falls in love with a beautiful young woman. It makes several allusions to Humphrey Bogart and contains a theme of miscommunication.

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
Written and Directed by: Woody Allen
A character of a film within the film, humorously also entitled The Purple Rose of Cairo, walks off the screen into a movie theatre where Cecilia is trying to escape her dreadful life of sadness and an abusive, cheating husband. It is a film that, like Singin’ in the Rain, is reflexive but also comments largely upon the fantastical elements and experience of films. It also begs the question- what happens when the line between fiction and reality no longer exists? I felt the premise of this film was good, but I think I might be one of the few people who just does not enjoy Woody Allen films. I am just not on the same level as him with his humor and taste of story. It is obviously an interesting story that has garnered critical acclaim, but it was not enjoyable to me.

Tokyo Story (1953)
Written by: Kogo Noda and Yasujiro Ozu
Directed by: Yasujiro Ozu
A Japanese film about an old couple that visits their children and grandchildren in Tokyo, this film is very much an examination of family dynamic. The family features three separate generations, and through all three there exists a major disconnect and lack of communication. It is a long film that very much exists through dialogue and relations. I learned the methods of frontality, 360 degree filming, and the film element in which what is not shown on screen is sometimes more important than what is shown.

Contagion (2011)
Written by: Scott Z. Burns
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
This film ranks very very low on my list of films that I enjoy, in fact, it ranks along with films I did not enjoy. I would throw it out if I didn’t feel that it would be extremely disrespectful to movies and filmmakers. It’s a thriller about doctors’ attempts to stop an outbreak of disease that is rapidly wiping out the population of the planet. I felt bored throughout the film, wishing for it to end. I guess you need to see one of these films every once in a while to appreciate the ones you do enjoy. Next.

Speed Racer (2008)
Written and Directed by: The Wachowskis
This is a film that bombed in the box office, but has recently begun gaining attention. This summer I heard some of the Scenario interns discussing the film, believing it to be ahead of its time and thus the reason for its lack of popularity when it originally came out. I have to say I did enjoy it. It has a funky, unique style that emulates anime (Japanese cartoons) in a real-life way. Through funky special effects and stylized acting, it creates a fun and intriguing world as the audience follows Speed Racer and the Mach-5. Fun film that I feel will continue to gain popularity as people begin to appreciate it more.

Super 8 (2011)
Written and Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Well, this ranks below Contagion for me. I missed it when it was in theatres, but I am a fan of Abrams (mostly from LOST), but this was complete shit. It is hands down the most predictable Hollywood film I have ever seen. It majorly lacked excitement because it was so predictable. It seems its makers felt like it was a much more complex and exciting film that the actual garbage it actually is. Sorry to be blunt, but that’s my opinion.

Man with a Movie Camera (Chelovek s kino-apparatom) (1929)
Written and Directed by: Dziga Vertov
I very much enjoyed this film. It is an old Soviet documentary that documents the Soviet lifestyle through the eyes of a cameraman. It is an hour of juxtaposed images and sounds that connect humans and machines. It is a beautiful creation that is fascinating to sit back and watch. It is a great example of the Kino-Eye, the term used to depict the filmmaker’s eye as the camera. At one point in the lens of a camera is literally shown as an eyeball looking around.

Cloud Atlas (2012)
Written and Directed by: The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer
This is an epic that examines 6 or 7 different stories that are set in different time periods and settings throughout the past, present, and future and how each character’s life affects the other. It is an adaptation from David Mitchell’s incredible novel of the same title. I had been waiting to see this film since this summer and decided to read the novel, which is just a beautiful piece of literature. The film did not disappoint. Seeing it the first time, I was captured and in awe of the images being presented on the screen, the 3 hours in the theatre seeming like 1 hour and leaving me wanting to see more. Like the Wachowskis’ other film I watched, Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas did not do well in the box office and is sure to gain recognition over the years. Its subject matter illustrates my philosophical beliefs of reincarnation and interconnectedness, and I wish more people would go out and immerse themselves in the film. I gave it a 10/10 and saw it in theatres 3 times. It is a film that needs to be seen, challenging the level of complex information films usually portray- diving into a philosophically complex and engaging sequence of stories.

The Master (2012)
Written and Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
This is the new film from PTA that had been gaining a good amount of attention. It is PTA’s first film after his very successful There Will Be Blood. It is a complicated story about about a naval veteran fascinated by The Cause and its leader, with incredible acting performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. Unfortunately, I only got to see it in theatres once and it is definitely a film that requires more than one viewing, but regardless it is still a movie that had my head swirling with thoughts upon leaving the theatre. It’s another work of genius by the great PTA.

Blood Simple. (1984)
Written and Directed by: The Coen Brothers
A film noir about a man who hires a private investigator to kill his wife and her boyfriend, but all does not go according to plan. It is a film that greatly succeeds through its use of unrestricted narration, so the audience observes as characters believe false information and base their actions off the wrong information. It is a gritty, tough, and bad-to-the-bone film with a punch at the end.

V For Vendetta (2005)
Written by: The Wachowskis
Directed by: James McTeigue
V is a vigilante/”terrorist” that seeks to bring down the British Parliament after the country elects a new leader who turns out to be an evil dictator. V is the face of a one-man movement to motivate a revolution, a revolt against the powers that oppress them. He works together with Evey, whom he rescues from being raped. It is a film that brings into question what a terrorist truly is, the fantastical elements of film, and film’s power to expose its audience to different ideologies.

Network (1976)
Written by: Paddy Chayefsky
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Like V For Vendetta, Network is a film that shows the ability of cinema to inspire its audience to fight for change. It is a film about a news network’s TV anchor who goes “crazy” with on-air rants and revelations as he seeks to cause his viewers to express their anger and dissatisfaction with its failing government. It is also indicative of society’s ability to understand and enjoy complicated films.

Michael Clayton (2007)
Written and Directed by: Tony Gilroy
Michael Clayton is a “fixer” brought in to clean up a mess made by a delusional lawyer who stopped taking his medication. The plot features a twist at the end that explains the unexplainable events that take place in the film. Things aren’t always as they seem the first time around.

Skyfall (2012)
Written by: Neil Pervis, Robert Wade, and John Logan
Directed by: Sam Mendes
The newest edition of the continuing 007 films, Skyfall is a fantastic film that takes Bond back to its roots in the country. It is a film that features beautiful cinematography that reminds Bond fans film is as much art as it is enjoyment. It destroyed everything in the box office, making close to a billion dollars.

Redbelt (2008)
Written and Directed by: David Mamet
A mixed martial arts instructor gets involved in a series of events out of his control that result in a suicide, as he tries to avenge his actions and friends in a public mixed martial arts tournament. I had a major problem with this film, specifically in the lack of believability in its ending. I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t seen it, but you can give your take on it after watching it yourself (hint: the end is crap). The only positive I took away from this film was the intriguing form Mamet wrote the script in- having the plot emulate a back and forth fight rather than conforming to the standard script format.

21 Grams (2003)
Written by: Guillermo Arriaga
Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu
This is an absolutely beautiful and breathtaking film. A mind bender, it brings together three characters after a freak accident. The story is presented completely out of order and, like a puzzle, the viewers must pay attention in order to put all the information together and decided which information goes where and why it is significant. It is a film that makes you appreciate the power and ingenuity of cinema. I highly recommend seeing this film; it is easily one of my top 10 films of all time.

Argo (2012)
Written by: Chris Terrio
Directed by: Ben Affleck
This is a film that dramatizes the real-life situation where the CIA undertook a secret operation of a fake film in order to rescue six American fugitives from revolutionary Iran. It is a powerful story that captures the intensity and danger of the mission, giving insight into a complex situation kept on the down-low by the government until recently.

The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
Written and Directed by: The Coen Brothers
A film noir about a barber who kills the man sleeping with his wife who does everything in his power to admit and take punishment for the murder, since his wife is arrested, but he cannot seem to convince people who do not believe him. It is a modern day film that is presented in black and white, which is a treat to see in a day and age where color film dominates. It is another film in which the Coen Brothers create a very complex and intriguing main character, who Billy Bob Thornton brings to life masterfully.

Sin City (2005)
Written by: Frank Miller
Directed by: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriquez, and Quentin Tarantino
A comic book made for the screen, Sin City is the story of three separate tales caught in the violent corruption of a futuristic Basin City. It is a black and white film, yet some elements of it are in color- which makes it even more artistic. Like Speed Racer, whose style emulated that of anime, Sin City has a style very emblematic of comic books/graphic novels. It is a film that requires its audience to pay attention and no doubt benefits from multiple views.

Lincoln (2012)
Written by: Tony Kushner
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Spielberg and a fantastic performance by Daniel Day-Lewis bring to life Abraham Lincoln during the end of his life as he deals with the Civil War and emancipation of slavery. It is a truly extraordinary film that makes its viewers feel as though they are back in the 1800s standing alongside Lincoln as he makes decisions and tells stories. It has gained mass recognition and perhaps it has revitalized Spielberg’s name as not just someone spewing out stereotypical “Hollywood” films. A historical epic that needs to be seen by all. Perhaps it will spark a trend in films to revive historical figures in order to tell their honorable and heroic tales.

Rear Window (1954)
Written by: John Michael Hayes
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Hitchcock claims this to be his best film cinematically. I would have to see this is an incredible film, specifically in the way that it is told in a manner that could be watched and understood without sound. A photographer with a broken leg stuck in his wheelchair observes his neighbors’ daily lives through his rear window, but his casual observance takes a turn when he feels one of his neighbors murders his wife. It is reflexive cinema in its finest. Hitchcock once again shows his mastery of suspense and thrills.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Written by: Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry
Directed by: Michel Gondry
A mind bending rom-dram starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a couple erases each other from their memories, but the fate of lovers cannot be erased. It is an artistic, genius, and fantastic piece of work that leaves the viewer satisfied and happy after undergoing laughs, happiness, sadness, and despair. It is a wonderfully written script by Kaufman brought to life by beautiful directing in Gondry. This ranks right up with 21 Grams as a favorite film of mine, a Top 10 for sure.

The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) (2006)
Written and Directed by: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
A beautiful German film about an agent of the German Secret Police in East Berlin, 1984, as he spies on a writer and his wife who are believed to be opposing the empire. It is a story of human kindness and tragedy, showing the hidden acts of kindness existing in humanity. It gives the world a little hope.

Killing Them Softly (2012)
Written and Directed by: Andrew Dominick
I thought this was a completely badass movie. It is about an enforcer hired to restore order in the Mob in an alternate reality present day US. It is depressing, bleak, cold, angry, and generally powerful. The characters are all depressed and mostly unhappy. It features lots of dialogue and conversation where characters tell stories and try to convince themselves they have some sort of significance to their lives. There is an obvious style in the filmography and it works hand in hand with the tone and mood of the story. It has one of the coldest and hardest finishes to a film ever, leaving its audience needing to take a breath after not breathing for quite a while and whispering an impressed, “Wow!”

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
Written and Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
A violent but stunning film by Tarantino that follows The Bride as she seeks revenge against the assassination attempt against her. It is primal, hardcore, and gory. Uma Thurman contributes a great performance and Tarantino again displays his mastery of film.

Adaptation. (2002)
Written by: Charlie Kaufman
Directed by: Spike Jonze
Charlie Kaufman writes a tricky and extremely intriguing story about himself as he attempts to write an adaptation of a book about orchids into a screenplay. It is reflexive in the process of screenwriting and provides an intelligent little twist halfway through. Kaufman’s style is evident and Jonze brings the story together with a great performance from Nicolas Cage. It gives insight into the creative process of writing. A must-see film.

Brick (2005)
Written and Directed by: Rian Johnson
This first feature from the director of Looper, this indie film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt follows Brendan as he investigates the disappearance and murder of his ex-girlfriend. It is a twist on film noir and high school, with Johnson’s developing style evident.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Written by: Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
I don’t know if there is any explanation that can do this film justice. It is a tantalizing film that shows how extraordinary humankind, machine, and the universe all are. Its filming style is beautiful, symmetrical, colorful- you name it. The visuals are incredible. It makes its audience feel as though there is a much deeper meaning to life and much more out there than just Earth. The scope of the film is absolutely incredible and bar-none. It is a film that should be seen by all and is a true masterpiece. To even think that mankind can perceive something like this is amazing and unreal. The visuals created in 1968 for the film seem as thought they could be from 2025. Kudos Kubrick.

Now I am up to date on films I have seen. I am trying to watch as many as possible. I feel as thought I am beginning to grasp the extraordinary and artistic film medium.

I’ll try to keep the posts consistent,
Waddy