Chinatown
Double Indemnity
The Maltese Falcon
Touch of Evil
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
UPCOMING CLASS
I have enjoyed this class of International Cinema as much as any I've ever taught. I would love to see many of you next term (PEL Spring II) for my class in Film Noir (listed as Film Genres). We will be viewing many of the classics from the period of 1941 through 1958. There will also be a few contemporary "neo-noirs." Here are some of the titles we will be watching. A poster is followed by a still from the film.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
What good was Simon's faith?
It
seemed purposeless for Simon to be standing on top of the pillar. He could have
prayed more discreetly on the mountains in the scenery behind him if he wanted to be up higher. He wanted
Christ to come get him but it was Satan who kept showing up to tempt him
instead. How ironic and disheartening for such a faithful man. I do not understand
why his beard was parted the entire scene. Maybe it was a version of the red
sea parting. The dancing at the end reminded me of Footloose or Dirty Dancing.
Of course there would be dancing in hell! I think Simon’s life may have been
more useful getting to know his mother and possibly finding a woman or a man if he so chooses, to enjoy
life with. He could still pray while living life!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
I
am an official Jean-Luc Godard fan. I thoroughly enjoyed À bout de
soufflè,
Breathless. I have
been riding the French New Wave with this film, along with Masculin Fèminin,
Vivre sa Vie "My Life to Live", and Weekend. As a Director, Godard partnered nicely with Cinematographer, Raoul
Coutard to deliver these films.
Breathless speaks for itself, engaging, visually appealing, has you drawn in to the characters Michel Poiccard aka Laszlo Kovacs and Patricia Franchini. I enjoyed the fashion of both Patricia and Michel, along with the buildup of their odd romance, and the beautiful scenes of Paris behind them. I felt like Godard was presenting Paris in a mysterious fashionable way, and yes with a little criminal activity to boot. But it was fun criminal activity that until the end Michel appeared to be very good at. That is until he fell helplessly in love with Patricia. Actually he did help himself and quite often. He was a smooth but rude gent. Rude when he called Patricia a coward. Ultimately she could not live the life he lives. So the message, to all you women out there, be good and you won't die. Godard didn't seem to mind a little sexuality badness. In fact he weaved it into most of his films (I think).
FINAL Thoughts: It was difficult though to see the countless cigarettes being smoked in all of Godard's films (former smoker). I almost choked out in the bathroom scene in Breathless. I am glad cinema has moved away from that practice. There is also the murderous tone of Breathless and Weekend; its satire quality makes it okay and daring in Breathless, not Weekend (that was a bit over the sexual and murderous top for me). If you get the chance to check out Weekend, it definately brings his film making to a new level. Lastly, I found it interesting in Masculin Feminin that in making the film he ”did not have a shooting script and instead relied on a hand written spiral notebook filled with ideas, sketches and dialogue written the night before” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masculin,_f%C3%A9minin).
Overall After watching several French films (mostly by Godard for me), you get a feel for the music, vivid imagery and dynamic presentation of character. Feel the wave!
This is a good site that gives a little overview of Godard and his films Breathless, Contempt, and Weekend.
http://www.carleton.edu/curricular/MEDA/classes/media110/Friesema/contempt.html
"It's sad to fall asleep. It separates people. Even when you're sleeping together, you're all alone."
-- Patricia Franchini in Breathless
Breathless speaks for itself, engaging, visually appealing, has you drawn in to the characters Michel Poiccard aka Laszlo Kovacs and Patricia Franchini. I enjoyed the fashion of both Patricia and Michel, along with the buildup of their odd romance, and the beautiful scenes of Paris behind them. I felt like Godard was presenting Paris in a mysterious fashionable way, and yes with a little criminal activity to boot. But it was fun criminal activity that until the end Michel appeared to be very good at. That is until he fell helplessly in love with Patricia. Actually he did help himself and quite often. He was a smooth but rude gent. Rude when he called Patricia a coward. Ultimately she could not live the life he lives. So the message, to all you women out there, be good and you won't die. Godard didn't seem to mind a little sexuality badness. In fact he weaved it into most of his films (I think).
FINAL Thoughts: It was difficult though to see the countless cigarettes being smoked in all of Godard's films (former smoker). I almost choked out in the bathroom scene in Breathless. I am glad cinema has moved away from that practice. There is also the murderous tone of Breathless and Weekend; its satire quality makes it okay and daring in Breathless, not Weekend (that was a bit over the sexual and murderous top for me). If you get the chance to check out Weekend, it definately brings his film making to a new level. Lastly, I found it interesting in Masculin Feminin that in making the film he ”did not have a shooting script and instead relied on a hand written spiral notebook filled with ideas, sketches and dialogue written the night before” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masculin,_f%C3%A9minin).
Overall After watching several French films (mostly by Godard for me), you get a feel for the music, vivid imagery and dynamic presentation of character. Feel the wave!
This is a good site that gives a little overview of Godard and his films Breathless, Contempt, and Weekend.
http://www.carleton.edu/curricular/MEDA/classes/media110/Friesema/contempt.html
"It's sad to fall asleep. It separates people. Even when you're sleeping together, you're all alone."
-- Patricia Franchini in Breathless
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Kill Baby, Kill
I found this film very reminiscent of the Gothic horror films put out in the late 50s through early 70s that starred Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Stylistically, it seemed similar. However, the other elements tended to lend itself to a more B movie versus horror. But that could also be because of the stilted acting and wooden deliver. However, the colors and details definitely fit the film story.Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Kill, Baby...Kill
I watched the first half of this movie, watched the second half a few days later, then had to go back and watch the first half again for it to make more sense. Villa Graps made more sense when they mentioned it, and Baroness Graps and other characters' names I picked up on better after viewing a second time. Also Monica's childhood made more sense too and why she came back to the town. I also noticed that the beginning of the film shows daytime outside in the village and it's bright. But shortly after the daytime shots, the rest of the movie is dark like it's nighttime and all of the rooms are dark, dilapidated and cobwebby. Then at the very end, Paul and Monica walk off into the sunset where it is brighter like it was in the beginning of the movie. The majority of darkness everywhere seemed odd. I also was amazed at Dr. Paul's hair. It was both brown and black and perfectly styled throughout the whole movie. He sort of reminded me of Roger Moore in James Bond. Loved his outfit. That was the longest rust-colored jacket ever.
I watched the first half of this movie, watched the second half a few days later, then had to go back and watch the first half again for it to make more sense. Villa Graps made more sense when they mentioned it, and Baroness Graps and other characters' names I picked up on better after viewing a second time. Also Monica's childhood made more sense too and why she came back to the town. I also noticed that the beginning of the film shows daytime outside in the village and it's bright. But shortly after the daytime shots, the rest of the movie is dark like it's nighttime and all of the rooms are dark, dilapidated and cobwebby. Then at the very end, Paul and Monica walk off into the sunset where it is brighter like it was in the beginning of the movie. The majority of darkness everywhere seemed odd. I also was amazed at Dr. Paul's hair. It was both brown and black and perfectly styled throughout the whole movie. He sort of reminded me of Roger Moore in James Bond. Loved his outfit. That was the longest rust-colored jacket ever.
Metropolis was my first silent film I watched. It was a very long, elaborate film. I noticed right off how certain men in the film (namely the main male character) wear a lot of make-up. I was surprised to see such a religious theme in the movie talked about and showed with the Tower of Babel. Also the character of Maria who was such a good person and encouraged the workers to have hope and faith in a the coming of a Savior was an obvious and strong religious theme. I thought Maria was Jesus-like or she was telling the workers of the coming Savior of the actual Jesus. I thought the seductive dance of the evil Maria was very racy for the time period with dance moves and wearing of just pasties for a top. That whole scene was very dark and evil with the whole theme of the seven deadly sins. That was a very evil and creepy scene. But at the end good won over evil. I was surprised that Hitler liked that movie and that gave me the creeps too. I guess it gave the director Fritz Lang the creeps too that Hitler liked it so much and wanted him to direct movies for the Nazi party. Lang divorced his wife and left in a complete hurry for America which was a smart move.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
metroplis
I thought metroplis was good . Surprised to see that he gave so much just help the u fortunate people. The scenes were pretty basic but I guwss it was approprate for that time.
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