Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Film Related to Class:  I think that the music and the narration in the movie really made it what it was.  The narration gave the movie that third person point of view.  The audience were spectators in the relationship turmoils of Vicky and Cristina.  The narration emphasized that and kind of let the audience sit back more.  They were not in the thick of the action, on the edge of their seat.  The viewer could just watch and see how things played out.  At certain points the narrator would talk over the characters, this separated the audience from the characters even more.  I liked this because when the relationships got fiery, I did not feel as though I was a part of it.  This led to a less stressful viewing experience.  The music in the film really played to the laid back sunny setting of the movie.  It was always sunny and people were always walking slowly and the music worked very well with that.  Three of the characters being into art also played into the soundtrack as well.  

Article Summary:  ( http://www.ew.com/article/2008/08/15/vicky-cristina-barcelona )  This article speaks about how the author believes that Woody Allen is the worlds last hippie.  They mention how they believe that this movie is a play on Woody Allen's view on commitment.  How he thinks that commitment is "so damn...bourgeois."  The movie was very travel and leisure oriented with a relaxed view on relationships.  There are slow walks and sipping wine in the park.  The author speaks of how Bardem was a hunk but spoke with sophistication. They did kind of bash the outdated idea of hippie love as far as relationships go.

Article Related to film:  This film did have a very hippie feel to it.  The three person relationship had a very free-love vibe.  The movie had a slow paced vibe but moved along at a very good pace.  This slow pace fed the hippie theme that the author was getting at.  Everything was artsy and flawy and about happiness, life and love.  Every scene was a sunny day and had a ton of bokeh from the sun peaking through the green leaves of a tree in the background.  I thin that the hippieness of this movie may have been slightly disguised by the fact that it had a modern setting but was very obvious at the same time. 

Critical Analysis:  I enjoyed the narration and music aspect of this film.  I liked that I was separated with the narration and didn't feel invested in the characters very much.  TI also enjoyed the music because of how well it fit in with the setting.  The ending was funny to me because they both left really trying to figure out what life was about and what they were trying to get out of it.  They went though these emotional moment, loving moments, confusing and angry moments.  After all of that, by the end of the film everybody went back to what they had before and not many answers were found. I thought that was really a play on how were experience life in general.  We try so hard to see what life is all about, and by the end of the day we are more confused than when we first started.

Spirited Away

Film Related to class:  This film's animation is a far cry form the first animation back in the day.  The animation was very realistic even though it was in an anime style.  There was a scene were Chihiro was looking out the window before she arrived at the amusement park, the trees were moving in a natural way.  The depth of the scene was very accurate to real life.  The physics of the characters were also very realistic.  Sometimes in animation the ground will move too fast or zoo slow as someone or something walks over it.  When Haku was a dragon, his movements were very fluid and natural as well.  He flew and ran into walls, but nothing seemed unnatural out out of place.  Also when characters jumped they did not rise or gal too fast.  This made it very easy to watch the film because there were no awkward movements that would distract the viewer from the story. 

Article Summary:  ( http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/SpiritedAway )  The article mentions the complexity of the films's plot.  Within the first half hour a multitude of things happen.  Chihiro was traveling to her new home and then her parents were turned into pigs, she was stuck in the spired world, met a man with multiple limbs and was put to work by her huge headed new boss.  Spirited away reached high acclaim when it won an oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.

Article Related to Film:  This film was extremely popular.  It was reflected in their aware at the Oscars.  It is the only anime film that has ever won.  This helps solidify its epic status.  The award makes sure that this film is not only know for its animation.  The animation is great, but it won the award for animated film.  This rewards the movie's plot, and not its animation.  The movie may have had great animation, but this award is proof that it was an all around great film.

Critical Analysis:  I am not a fan anime at all but I suppose I cannot say anything bad about this film considering how much praise it has received.  I am not a fan of very fanciful movies like this one, but I did think the complexity of the plot.  Even if someone does not like anime, or could not figure out what the movie was about at all, could still be entertained for the entire film.  I am not totally sure about what the deeper meaning of this film was about but it seemed to me to be about nature.  How people are destroying nature and that all of their spirits are now sunned to an abandoned theme park.  I liked the deeper message to tho movie, if that was actually the deeper meaning or not.  I think that it was just subtle enough to not be completely obvious, but just deep enough that you had to to some figuring out.  The animation was very seamless as I mentioned before, but the constant action and plot is what really did it for me.

Three Kings

Film Related to class:  In class we spoke of the language used in class.  The language used in this movie did consist of a lot of vulgarity.  I think that the vulgar language symbolized who the military men were.  They were basic, and harsh people who didn't beat around the bush.  It is not surprising that when they try to do something sneaky, it all goes terribly wrong.  They were men who joined the army to shoot guns and blow up things.  They word choice reflects this.  There is also a language barrier between the locals and the military.  The locals end up being ignored because of this, but they aren't just yelling about nothing.  They have a very serious story that the main characters know nothing about.  The language in this movie reflects a lot.  It reflects the barrier between the US military and the local villagers.  It also reflects the tunnel vision of the United States soldiers, and their very basic approach to war.

Article Summary: ( http://entertainment.time.com/2013/02/27/the-art-of-the-steal-10-great-heist-films/slide/three-kings/ ) In this article, Three Kings is named as one of 10 Great Heist Films.  The article states how some heist movies use the war as backdrop to a heist, but in this movie the heist ends up being the backdrop to the film.  They are trying to steal the gold, but the war is the real issue in the movie.  This movie is not only a good action heist movie, it also exploits the American's policy at the end of the Gulf War and how much it failed.  The most obvious part of that is how they left Saddam Hussein in charge.  The four soldiers ended up being stand ins for the entire US military and came to the realization of how terrible the local people's situation is.  By the end of the movie the soldiers realize that the best thing to get out of this war is to regain their honor.

Article Related to Film:  This article speaks of the real plot of this movie.  It is not about stealing gold a driving off into the sunset.  Three Kings is about soldiers who felt robbed out of the experience of War, and then realize what is really going and and are changed by it.  The article states that the movie exploits the United States poor decision to leave at the worst time and how it affected the local population.  They were taken over by Saddam's military right after the US left after really doing nothing.  The gold is just to make the movie a little more Hollywood and a little less political.

Critical Analysis:  I enjoyed this movie for the same reason the person who wrote the article did.  This movie was not only about stealing gold and some action tossed in their.  This movie was about the positive and negative power of money and international politics.  I liked that this movie really showed how touchy international affairs can be and how a simple situation like crossing villagers over the border in order to save their lives, can turn into multiple helicopters and higher ups coming in and immediately having to take over.  It was also a war movie that did not glorify the military.  The soldiers trying to bring the villagers to freedom were seen as being good people to the viewer but were seen as bad by the rest of the US military.  This movie didn't make the locals as terrorists or radicals, just as the desperate people they were.  I love multilayered movies and this film was a great example of one.  The soldier were trying to get the gold but the movie tells the story of the war, the people it impacts, the soldiers, and American politics in general.

He Got Game

Film Related to Class:  In class we spoke about how Spike Lee uses montages.  I think that he does this to add some background to his films.  It gives a more complete setting to where the film takes place.  His montage showed people playing on nice basketball courts.  We also spoke of his use of classical music.  Spike Lee strayed from hip hop and went really old school.  I like when films use seemly opposite things, such as basketball and classical music.  One of the most elite forms of music, and the most city style hip hop sports are combined.  I think that the slow motion and the classical music went together well.

Article Summary:  ( http://www.allmusic.com/album/he-got-game-the-music-of-aaron-copland-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000382819 ) This article explains how bold Spike Lee was in choosing classical music for his film.  The composer of the music was Aaron Copland who has composed music associated with the American heartland and not the inner city and hip hop.  The gamble pays off during the montage and the display of universality of basketball.  The author did think that the music worked to s certain extent but that other genres like rock, R&B, rock, or jazz.

Article Related to Film:  This article spoke of the classical music used for Spike Lee's film.  Spike Lee decided to use classical music and not the basketball associated hip hop.  I think that the classical music went along with Jesus' sophisticated approach to his career and how he valued education.  Jesus may have lived in the ghetto but some parts of him seemed to not belong there.  I think that the classical music spoke specifically to the Jesus character in the movie.

Critical Analysis:  I did enjoy the movie and how the viewer got to follow the Jesus character through his process of choosing a school.  I think that a lot of people don't realize how much pressure and  turmoil is involved in a character like Jesus's life.  People think that someone like Jesus have it very easy but people like him have it harder than most people.  I think that Spike Lee went into a realm that is not usually spoke of.  People like to criticize college athletes for taking money and perks but what they don't realize is that just because they have a nice jersey and all the attention in the world, when they go home they still have nothing.  This movie not only opened up peoples eyes to the pressures behind being an athletic star but also had a very high pressure plot involving Jesus' father.

Fargo

Film Related to class:  In class we discussed the director's connection to Minnesota.  This movie takes place entirely in Minnesota and I think that they wanted to really show a lot of aspects of the state.  They had many different characters from different walks of life.  They had prostitutes, a family, a bartender and of course cops.  Not all of these charters play a crucial role but everything in a movie is put in it for a reason.  The Coen brothers being extremely smart clearly had they reasons for having so many minor characters.

Article Summary:  ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10792814/The-truth-behind-Fargos-true-story.html ) This article explains how the movie was not actually based on a true story.  It was stated in the beginning of the film that the movie was based on actual events and that the participants names were changed for their protection.  When  the movie was first coming out the brothers went as far as pretending that it was based on a true story and even flat out stated that it was true.  Later on, they stated that the movie "pretends to be true."

Article Related to Film:  The article did not really speak about the film content.  It spoke of the truthfulness of the film.  Weather or not the events were really true.  We spoke in class about how the film was not based on true events, I do think that the first time I saw the film I thought it was actually true.  The story did seem slightly unbelievable, but whenever I hear a crazy story I always think stranger things have happened.

Critical Analysis:  When I first heard about this film I heard someone say that it was "hilarious."  I had also heard that it was a comedy, or dark comedy.  After seeing it, I realized the humor in the movie but was not prepared for the violence and graphic scenes.  I did like how the film was filled with mild light humor and then followed up by murder and violence.  The opposites of the humor and violence gave the film a unique feel.  One moment your chuckling and the next you seeing a man getting beaten or shot.  I think that it made the movie feel a little more real.  There weren't characters cracking jokes and doing unrealistic things for laughs.  Every joke or comedic moment in this film was very realistic.  It was like you were sitting in, or eavesdropping on their conversations.  That made this film much more believable when it came to being "based on true events."  I liked the believable conversations because that made things much more intimate.

Dazed and Confused

Film related to class:  This movie is what every person who did not experience the 70’s, thinks the 70’s was like.  It painted the quintessential picture of teenage life during that time period.  There were geeks and jocks, bitches, kids in between, and those about to make the transition to high school.  It covered kids worried about the government, school, their future, and most importantly, partying.  When you think of the 70’s, Vietnam may come to mind.  Instead of making a War hero movie, this is a movie of the complete opposite nature.  There are fights and conflict of teenagers but they are comedic and light hearted.  Thinking about this movie the song “Glory Days” has come to my mind, as apposed to “Fortunate Son” by Creedance.  It put a more positive look on the 70’s that every teenage can either relate to, or wish they could.

Article Summary:  This article discusses many of Richard Linklater’s evolution in the films he makes, and his motivations.  He got more into film after a heart problem forced him to stop playing baseball in college.  He began watching more and more movies until he watched an average of almost 2 a day.  He eventually stopped going to school and set goals for what he wanted to do in film.  He made a film called “Slacker” and considered entering it into some film festivals.  After things were all said and done, it was distributed internationally and made 52 times the amount of money it cost to make the film.  It also spoke of “Dazed and Confused,” and his process of making it.  He tried not to use aspiring actors and tried to get people who enjoyed acting and did not necessarily want acting to be their future.  This helped create the characters more genuinely, such as Mathew Mcconaughey and his famous catch phrase “Alright, alright, alright.”  The article also spoke of his lack of plot but how he makes it work.  That is evident in in “Dazed and Confused,” as there is a beginning and end, but not exactly a cookie cutter plot, but it works.  Many of his films involve a coming of age, “Dazed and Confused” does, it’s just that it doesn’t focus on one age group or generation; it focuses on all of them.

Article Related to film:  The article definitely gave me a deeper understanding of the director, and his motivation behind making this film.  Reading the article basically explained his style.  I still like the film as much as I did before, but now I have a deeper and fuller understanding of the film.  It made me notice the fact there wasn’t really a plot with a climax and a hero and antagonist.  I think that Linklater would be pleased with that.  I understand now that many of his films are about transitions in someone’s life.  I like how he gave a snippet of multiple generations or transitions, and what they were going through.  There are probably multiple age groups looking back and thinking, “that was me when I was in high school.”   

Critical Analysis:  I liked the film, and I loved that it covered every different social status in high school.  There were freshman, seniors, dropouts, super-seniors, anti social people, jocks, and even sibling attending school at the same time.  The movie focused on every person or group, even if just for a little bit.  I feel that this gave the most true and complete representation of what high school is like...or at least was like in 1976.  Everyone has a different image of what high school was like to him or her, and this movie covered just about every one of those.  There were main characters, but some viewers may have different opinions on who the main character was.       

Unforgiven

Relate to Class: Unforgiven involved a hero, Clint Eastwood, that had to overcome obstacles in order to achieve what he needed to do;  he used his gun on many occasions in order to conquer those obstacles.  Clint Eastwood using a gun to get what he wanted was classically Western, along with the setting and the basic rough lifestyle he and the other characters lived.  Aspects that were not classically Western include how killing was seen in a more negative light.  Death was dealt with in a more real life way along with injuries resulting from fights.  Men did not want to kill because they knew the emotional and mental impact it had on them.  Of course there was the gutsy "Schofield Kid" who had "killed five men."  He eventually realized the toll that killing a man would put on his soul.  After fight scenes, people had injuries that were realistic and visible.  In other Westerns, men could be in full brawls and in the next scene have no visual scarring.  The plot may have been typically Western, but the characters and realism of this film were not typically Western.

Related Article:  ( http://www.clinteastwood.net/filmography/unforgiven/ )  The article fist explains Clint Eastwood's role in the film.  He was a former gunslinging murderer who was turned good by his young wife.  His wife dies and he is left with a failing farm and two young children.  The article then goes on to talk about the writing of the script and how Clint Eastwood got involved with the movie.  Clint Eastwood saw the script and bought it.  At the time he felt he was too young to play the role of Bill Munny so he held onto the script until the appropriate time.  Gene Hackman did not want to be in the film due to it's violent nature but he was convinced that it promotes non violence.  The article also goes into little things such as the fact that the pheasants that English Bob shoots were not introduced to the United States until the year after the movie was supposed to take place.  

Article applied to film screening:  The article stated that Clint Eastwood did not allow any modern vehicles on set.  This gave me a little more respect for the movie, I say a little because I already respected the movie and Clint Eastwood.  I have heard multiple good things about Clint Eastwood but this article gave me a little more insight no his process.  The movie grossed over $80 million and won multiple awards.  Clint Eastwood also dedicated the movie to two of his greatest influences.  This gave me more respect for the move and Clint Eastwood.

Critical Analysis:  I really enjoyed the film and I enjoyed the characters in the film as well.  I think that this movie covered every type of Western character.  The young gun, the old veterans, the outlaws, the good guys, the rich guy, the innocent townspeople, and the entourage members.  Of course they all met at the bar.  I liked the real representation of murder and killing and how it burdens people.  I think that Clint Eastwood's character was very deep and was my favorite.  His transformation throughout the movie was very interesting, especially seeing him return to his old self.  The final fight scene at the bar was a great scene and a great climax and ending to the film.