I have been wanting to see this film for many years now, and am extremely glad I had the oppurtunity. It wasn't my favorite musical, like the dance and song numbers were just alright. But for the storyline and what the creators were trying to do with this film is what really interested me.
I loved how the movie addressed the switch from silent films to "talkies." I thought it was hilarious with that scene when the actress could not figure out the microphone situation. I also really enjoyed her real high and annoying voice, a voice that is often used in musical theater (for the annoying girl ex. Anything Goes, Victor Victoria, etc...).
I found the reading for this film to be quite interesting. I enjoyed the section when discussing how the film "winks" at the audience. The film does this to make apparent to the audience that it's purpose is to point out Hollywood's faults and or techniques. I noticed this before even reading the article. In the beginning you have the main actor discussing to his fans his success story, which sounds glamorous, but on screen you see contradictory images. And this makes it very apparent to the audience, a feeling that you don't often witness or deal with in film, but when done correctly, it is very effective.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Double Indemnity...Baby
Wow, now this is the first movie in the American Film class that really grabbed my attention from start to finish. I have been wanting to watch this film for years, but have never caught it on TCM or AMC. This film had everything a great Film Noir should have- dark settings, attractive femme fatale, cheesy dialogue (especially on the voice overs), and a great murder tale.
Double Indemnity had me guessing the whole time on what Phyllis really was up to. Was she truly a victim? Or was she just a self-absorbed brat who wanted everything when she wanted it? Well turns out she was just the girl who would do anything to get her way, no matter how many men she had to manipulate in order to get there. And that is what interests me so much with this film, like said in the reading, is that it "shows the attractive side to evil." Although ultimately each character ends up getting caught in the end, audiences are drawn to these characters. The audience doesn't really have a choice though it seems either, The main character is Neff, who commits the murder for Phyllis, but we the audience don't view it as being "that bad" because we are under the impression that the man who was killed was a little prick anyway who was supposedly abusive to his wife. But the audience sees two very attractive people, almost like in Natural Born Killers, where you know they are doing bad things, but for some reason their intentions almost seem right or moral.
And one other thing was that the dialogue reminded me alot of some of my favorite movies from the 1980's, that mock Film Noir- including The Naked Gun series. I know that it should be the other way around, but I grew up on The Naked Gun with Leslie Neilsen, so I'm used to it from him. But when Neff would say "Baby" and "How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?" That was a riot.
Double Indemnity had me guessing the whole time on what Phyllis really was up to. Was she truly a victim? Or was she just a self-absorbed brat who wanted everything when she wanted it? Well turns out she was just the girl who would do anything to get her way, no matter how many men she had to manipulate in order to get there. And that is what interests me so much with this film, like said in the reading, is that it "shows the attractive side to evil." Although ultimately each character ends up getting caught in the end, audiences are drawn to these characters. The audience doesn't really have a choice though it seems either, The main character is Neff, who commits the murder for Phyllis, but we the audience don't view it as being "that bad" because we are under the impression that the man who was killed was a little prick anyway who was supposedly abusive to his wife. But the audience sees two very attractive people, almost like in Natural Born Killers, where you know they are doing bad things, but for some reason their intentions almost seem right or moral.
And one other thing was that the dialogue reminded me alot of some of my favorite movies from the 1980's, that mock Film Noir- including The Naked Gun series. I know that it should be the other way around, but I grew up on The Naked Gun with Leslie Neilsen, so I'm used to it from him. But when Neff would say "Baby" and "How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?" That was a riot.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
My Thoughts on White Zombie
Hmmm...where to begin with this review. After first watching this film, I was undecided on how I felt about it. I mean I enjoyed the overall feel and mood of the piece, but couldn't really get wrapped around the plot. Honestly, I am not a horror fan at all, (except for The Shining), because it is so rare for a movie to truly scare me. But I felt that this movie gave an overall creepy vibe and I did enjoy that aspect.
After doing the reading that was assigned along with this piece, I actually became much more interested in the film. Once understanding the historical events that occurred in Haiti, and how much of that inspired or influenced "White Zombie," I had the urge to watch it again. So I did, not the whole thing, but most of the major scenes, to kind of see how everything did play out as it was said in the reading.
One of the main parts of the reading that really struck me was how Neil was the hero but still represented something else as well. Upon discovering that Madeline may have been kidnapped by natives, he responds "Surely, you don't mean she's alive? In the hands of natives? God, no! She's better dead than that!" It's just interesting how the underlying message really is conveying the racism factor that truly existed between US occupants and the Haitans during America's ruling. It is also interesting because the reading points out how Neil (the hero) represented the US occupants who led to "the disastrous effects on Haitian economic and social life." I feel that this film is not really enjoyable or interesting for the plot, but rather for what the plot is masking over- the historical events and relations between the different races on Haiti during the 1930's.
The film speaks alot about American Imperialism, and as in the reading states how people are not sure how much was deliberately put in. But that is why I found this film much more fascinating- a film that secretly reveals one of the low points in American history.
After doing the reading that was assigned along with this piece, I actually became much more interested in the film. Once understanding the historical events that occurred in Haiti, and how much of that inspired or influenced "White Zombie," I had the urge to watch it again. So I did, not the whole thing, but most of the major scenes, to kind of see how everything did play out as it was said in the reading.
One of the main parts of the reading that really struck me was how Neil was the hero but still represented something else as well. Upon discovering that Madeline may have been kidnapped by natives, he responds "Surely, you don't mean she's alive? In the hands of natives? God, no! She's better dead than that!" It's just interesting how the underlying message really is conveying the racism factor that truly existed between US occupants and the Haitans during America's ruling. It is also interesting because the reading points out how Neil (the hero) represented the US occupants who led to "the disastrous effects on Haitian economic and social life." I feel that this film is not really enjoyable or interesting for the plot, but rather for what the plot is masking over- the historical events and relations between the different races on Haiti during the 1930's.
The film speaks alot about American Imperialism, and as in the reading states how people are not sure how much was deliberately put in. But that is why I found this film much more fascinating- a film that secretly reveals one of the low points in American history.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Not My Man Godfrey
I disliked this movie for one major reason and liked it for another. I disliked this film because of the weak plot and boring storytelling. I could not really connect with the film, after being told it was a screwball comedy. If not told beforehand, I never would of guessed the genre. I may have said comedy but definitely not screwball. And I know people are going to say- "What about the guy with the gorilla impression?" and "What about Irene in the shower?." Yea...I can see how that is pretty outrageous and screwy, but didn't feel that it was sufficient enough to make it a complete screwball comedy.
Granted the only other screwball film I have seen is 'Bringing Up Baby,' I still feel "Godfrey" is lacking in the comedy department. I actually enjoyed Baby with its intense characters and wild adventure that the audience could go along the ride for. Baby just offered so many sexual innuendos and slapstick comedy that it was hard not to fall for the film. But with Godfrey, to be completely honest, I was just bored with the storyline, and laughed only a couple times.
One thing that I definitely loved about this film is not the comedy aspect of it, but rather the era that it depicts and how it reveals Americans living in one of the most horrific times as a country. The audience gets to see firsthand how an economic depression effected millions of Americans in the 1930's. That adds a great deal to the film I feel, because it shows how the film reflects something that truly did happen and affected everyone (all classes), even if it just meant interaction with one another (Like Godfrey becoming the Bullock's butler).
Another thing that I thought was cool in the reading that I read was how the film transmuted audiences front row and center to the lives of rich people. And its true, most movie goers in the 1930's were the middle class who were being affected by the depression and wanted to be taken to a world where life appears easier and more luxurious. They were brought into a hgih class world of champagne, ballrooms, and rich people scavenger hunts. THey were also taken right into homes with tall spiral staircases, chandeliers, and beatiful furniture.
ALthough My Man Godfrey fell short in the storyline with me, I still feel that it is a great piece of art to take a look back into one of America's grimmest moments and see how life can greatly be affected by the economy. Kind of scary...considering everything happening now...
Granted the only other screwball film I have seen is 'Bringing Up Baby,' I still feel "Godfrey" is lacking in the comedy department. I actually enjoyed Baby with its intense characters and wild adventure that the audience could go along the ride for. Baby just offered so many sexual innuendos and slapstick comedy that it was hard not to fall for the film. But with Godfrey, to be completely honest, I was just bored with the storyline, and laughed only a couple times.
One thing that I definitely loved about this film is not the comedy aspect of it, but rather the era that it depicts and how it reveals Americans living in one of the most horrific times as a country. The audience gets to see firsthand how an economic depression effected millions of Americans in the 1930's. That adds a great deal to the film I feel, because it shows how the film reflects something that truly did happen and affected everyone (all classes), even if it just meant interaction with one another (Like Godfrey becoming the Bullock's butler).
Another thing that I thought was cool in the reading that I read was how the film transmuted audiences front row and center to the lives of rich people. And its true, most movie goers in the 1930's were the middle class who were being affected by the depression and wanted to be taken to a world where life appears easier and more luxurious. They were brought into a hgih class world of champagne, ballrooms, and rich people scavenger hunts. THey were also taken right into homes with tall spiral staircases, chandeliers, and beatiful furniture.
ALthough My Man Godfrey fell short in the storyline with me, I still feel that it is a great piece of art to take a look back into one of America's grimmest moments and see how life can greatly be affected by the economy. Kind of scary...considering everything happening now...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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