Black exploitation film has been a genre I have taken an interest in for a few years now. A few years ago I just happened to stumble upon a documentary on IFC that was all about the history of Black Exploitation. Originally I only checked it out because Quentin Tarantino was one of the interviewees in it and I was familiar with Pam Grier (only because of Tarantino's "Jackie Brown"). So I watched the doc and learned about a genre that I never even knew existed. And I realized how influential and important this genre truly was.
The doc showed how films starring Pam Grier, were some of the biggest audience draws (Coffy, Foxy Brown, and Blacula II). I also learned more about Grindhouses- which were usually renovated burlesque theaters that showed exploiation films.
So when we went to watch the Petey Wheatstraw film, I was so excited because I knew what to expect- just cheesiness and a bunch of kung fu. I wish we could of watched the whole thing but now I will just have to add it to my NetFlix list.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Natural Born Killers
This is a film that I am very familiar with, for I own the DVD and have seen it numerous times. I have always been a fan of Oliver Stone- everything from JFK to Platoon. But, none of his other work compares to his guerrilla style film making with Natural Born Killers.
NBK is a crazy ride that takes the audience on a psychedelic, fast-paced, scary, eye-opening, and yet humorous journey. The film covers so many topics- everything from sex, violence, the media, love, and religion.
I love the cinematography in this film because it is different. Stone uses different filters and colors to provide more symbolism to what he is trying to convey on screen. I love how shots go from color to black and white when Robert Downey Jr's character comes on.
This film is pretty much the equivalent of an acid trip. Not that I would know from personal experience but I have friends who do and have told me that this is pretty close to it. What I found interesting in the reading was the description of Stone himself. I never realized how truly out there and messed up he was, and granted I knew that he did have some problems- especially when it came to politics. In the reading, a New Yorker article stated "Oliver Stone is a man much like Mickey: a man given to "tirades and bad behaviors, to womanizing and long, intoxicated journeys into the night." The reading goes onto describe how Stone would go on "mushroom fueled journeys to Arizona and New Mexico for location scouts." And how he was known to just fondle employees like it was no big deal on set. Becoming aware of this it all makes sense as to how messed up this movie is. It is now interesting to go back and watch this film knowing that Mickey is this exaggerated form of Stone.
The film also deals a lot with sex and incest. Probably one of the most intense and uncomfortable scenes is the "I Love Mallory" television show. It features Rodney Dangerfield as her father who is abusive- physically and sexually. In the piece it is shown that he raped his daughter Mallory. I remember when I first saw this years ago and feeling so strange and uncomfortable when the laugh track would be played at the most inappropriate times.
This scene is a very interesting one because it shows the effects of sexual abuse and one's psychological reaction to it. The reading discusses how Mallory's attraction to Mickey is due to her abusive father and upbringing. "As an incest victim, she has been broken in by her father and thus is primed for the sadistic Mickey's controlling embrace." I find this truly interesting because it does make sense. Here is a man who kills innocent people and does not show any regrets. But he is a man who loves Mallory, a man who will do anything for her. Mallory, a girl who has never been truly loved by a man in a moral way, naturally falls for Mickey, although blind to the many faults that exist within him.
Natural Born Killers is a film that studies childhood upbringing and the effects on children. It is a film that demonstrates early traumatic stress and trauma can result in drastic and scary measures.
NBK is a crazy ride that takes the audience on a psychedelic, fast-paced, scary, eye-opening, and yet humorous journey. The film covers so many topics- everything from sex, violence, the media, love, and religion.
I love the cinematography in this film because it is different. Stone uses different filters and colors to provide more symbolism to what he is trying to convey on screen. I love how shots go from color to black and white when Robert Downey Jr's character comes on.
This film is pretty much the equivalent of an acid trip. Not that I would know from personal experience but I have friends who do and have told me that this is pretty close to it. What I found interesting in the reading was the description of Stone himself. I never realized how truly out there and messed up he was, and granted I knew that he did have some problems- especially when it came to politics. In the reading, a New Yorker article stated "Oliver Stone is a man much like Mickey: a man given to "tirades and bad behaviors, to womanizing and long, intoxicated journeys into the night." The reading goes onto describe how Stone would go on "mushroom fueled journeys to Arizona and New Mexico for location scouts." And how he was known to just fondle employees like it was no big deal on set. Becoming aware of this it all makes sense as to how messed up this movie is. It is now interesting to go back and watch this film knowing that Mickey is this exaggerated form of Stone.
The film also deals a lot with sex and incest. Probably one of the most intense and uncomfortable scenes is the "I Love Mallory" television show. It features Rodney Dangerfield as her father who is abusive- physically and sexually. In the piece it is shown that he raped his daughter Mallory. I remember when I first saw this years ago and feeling so strange and uncomfortable when the laugh track would be played at the most inappropriate times.
This scene is a very interesting one because it shows the effects of sexual abuse and one's psychological reaction to it. The reading discusses how Mallory's attraction to Mickey is due to her abusive father and upbringing. "As an incest victim, she has been broken in by her father and thus is primed for the sadistic Mickey's controlling embrace." I find this truly interesting because it does make sense. Here is a man who kills innocent people and does not show any regrets. But he is a man who loves Mallory, a man who will do anything for her. Mallory, a girl who has never been truly loved by a man in a moral way, naturally falls for Mickey, although blind to the many faults that exist within him.
Natural Born Killers is a film that studies childhood upbringing and the effects on children. It is a film that demonstrates early traumatic stress and trauma can result in drastic and scary measures.
Repo Man
Where to begin with this film....? Well, I must say it was interesting and definitely had my attention- but unclear as to what I was keeping my attention for. The plot, well if there was a plot, was just about Emilio Estevez becoming a repo man and then discovering aliens. The part that got me was how it just ended with Otto (Estevev) flying away in the vehicle through the city. I really don't understand this ending, but do realize that maybe their is just nothing to get. In class we discussed how the eighties was time of experimentation with science fiction and all the new technology that was surfacing then. So this was a very interesting look into the future.
The area I would like to discuss is how the eighties represented a time of consumerism and commercial franchise. In the eighties- movies began to become saturated with commercial advertisements and product placements. In the reading, the author writes that "...such films identify and celebreate their landscape as American precisely by symbolically figuring our political franchise in the warm neon and comforting glows of the powerfully concentrated and yet spacially dispersed ubiquity of commercial franchise." The author then goes on to give an example of how Americans truly do find comfort and safety in the familiar glows a popular neon sign. In the film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the McDonald Arches sign suddenly dies out. This creates a sudden fear for the audience- for something truly must be wrong for those ever glowing lights to fade out. It is so interesting how something as simple as a glowing M can represent so much for a society.
Not only is it McDonald's that is a huge part of American culture- but other companies as well. In Back to the Future there are numerous spots- Mountain Dew, Burger King, Nike, etc... In E.T.- at the dinner scene in the beginning when the kids are eating pizza and drinking pop- it is not generic- it is Pizza Hut and Pepsi. I grew up on these films and ever since I was a child I always noticed the product placement and yes, I honestly will trust these products over others. I buy Nike shoes and clothing, and I do prefer Pizza Hut over others.
So in a time of commercalism and consumerism, it is fun to watch Repo man and see how it pokes these ideas. Instead of showing actual labels on food or drinks- like all the other movies made around its time- they just include labels of "Food" and "Drink." Either it is just representing a time in the future where everything is generic in society or rather it is the director trying to make a statement on consumerism in America. But then their is the one thing that I am concerned with in this film- I am pretty sure I saw the McDonald golden arches in one of the scenes. So...I am not sure why the director would still put them in...especially after providing the generic food and drink items.
The area I would like to discuss is how the eighties represented a time of consumerism and commercial franchise. In the eighties- movies began to become saturated with commercial advertisements and product placements. In the reading, the author writes that "...such films identify and celebreate their landscape as American precisely by symbolically figuring our political franchise in the warm neon and comforting glows of the powerfully concentrated and yet spacially dispersed ubiquity of commercial franchise." The author then goes on to give an example of how Americans truly do find comfort and safety in the familiar glows a popular neon sign. In the film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the McDonald Arches sign suddenly dies out. This creates a sudden fear for the audience- for something truly must be wrong for those ever glowing lights to fade out. It is so interesting how something as simple as a glowing M can represent so much for a society.
Not only is it McDonald's that is a huge part of American culture- but other companies as well. In Back to the Future there are numerous spots- Mountain Dew, Burger King, Nike, etc... In E.T.- at the dinner scene in the beginning when the kids are eating pizza and drinking pop- it is not generic- it is Pizza Hut and Pepsi. I grew up on these films and ever since I was a child I always noticed the product placement and yes, I honestly will trust these products over others. I buy Nike shoes and clothing, and I do prefer Pizza Hut over others.
So in a time of commercalism and consumerism, it is fun to watch Repo man and see how it pokes these ideas. Instead of showing actual labels on food or drinks- like all the other movies made around its time- they just include labels of "Food" and "Drink." Either it is just representing a time in the future where everything is generic in society or rather it is the director trying to make a statement on consumerism in America. But then their is the one thing that I am concerned with in this film- I am pretty sure I saw the McDonald golden arches in one of the scenes. So...I am not sure why the director would still put them in...especially after providing the generic food and drink items.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Westerns...More than meets the eye?
Probably the most interesting thing I've learned so far this semester is how many Western films are based off contemporary culture in America. Obviously films are created from scripts that are inspired by events and culture- but I guess I just never took into consideration the idea that even Westerns showcase this idea as well.
I find it so interesting to view a Western as just a cowboy/Indians type movie and then to view it with thorough understanding of what the director is actually trying to say. It is just so strange how a genre that was created out of Hollywood studio lots, portraying a huge exaggeration of what actually happened in the Old West- was used as another way- to create correlations to current events happening in America.
In class, we discussed how High Plains Drifter was inspired by the murder of Kitty Genovese, a New York City resident who was murdered in her window while being watched by her neighbors listening to her screams. No one did anything to help her and just watched her die. Eastwood and Tidyman (writer of High Plains Drifter) used this within their treatment for their film. In the reading, the author states - "Eastwood saw the story as a morality play and thus by its defintion, the film has a message beyond its form." Of course this is referring to his character, the Drifter, who doesn't play by any of societies rules.
High Plains Drifter shows Eastwood raping a woman in the first ten minutes of the film. Everyone in town knows what has happened and does nothing about it. They just let the Drifter go about his business. This is a major element in the idea of referring to current American events (the Genovese murder).
That whole rape scene is very weird and hard to fully understand. The audience sees this woman begin to insult the Drifter, who is just trying to carry on his own way. But after a while he decides that to shut her up he only has one option- rape. But the Drifter knows she wants it, and the audience can see this as she starts to moan and hold on to the Drifter in a very sensual way. So it is very confusing as to what the true message behind this is. Is Drifter a raper? Or is he a man fulfilling this woman's wants?
I loved this film and surprisingly have never seen it till this class. I have always been a fan of Eastwood (Unforgiven, Pale Rider, The Outlaw Josey Wales). And now realizing how even westerns have sub context - I am eager to learn more about the hidden motives behind other westerns.
I find it so interesting to view a Western as just a cowboy/Indians type movie and then to view it with thorough understanding of what the director is actually trying to say. It is just so strange how a genre that was created out of Hollywood studio lots, portraying a huge exaggeration of what actually happened in the Old West- was used as another way- to create correlations to current events happening in America.
In class, we discussed how High Plains Drifter was inspired by the murder of Kitty Genovese, a New York City resident who was murdered in her window while being watched by her neighbors listening to her screams. No one did anything to help her and just watched her die. Eastwood and Tidyman (writer of High Plains Drifter) used this within their treatment for their film. In the reading, the author states - "Eastwood saw the story as a morality play and thus by its defintion, the film has a message beyond its form." Of course this is referring to his character, the Drifter, who doesn't play by any of societies rules.
High Plains Drifter shows Eastwood raping a woman in the first ten minutes of the film. Everyone in town knows what has happened and does nothing about it. They just let the Drifter go about his business. This is a major element in the idea of referring to current American events (the Genovese murder).
That whole rape scene is very weird and hard to fully understand. The audience sees this woman begin to insult the Drifter, who is just trying to carry on his own way. But after a while he decides that to shut her up he only has one option- rape. But the Drifter knows she wants it, and the audience can see this as she starts to moan and hold on to the Drifter in a very sensual way. So it is very confusing as to what the true message behind this is. Is Drifter a raper? Or is he a man fulfilling this woman's wants?
I loved this film and surprisingly have never seen it till this class. I have always been a fan of Eastwood (Unforgiven, Pale Rider, The Outlaw Josey Wales). And now realizing how even westerns have sub context - I am eager to learn more about the hidden motives behind other westerns.
Monday, April 6, 2009
But Mommy...I don't want to...
First off, I freaking loved this movie. At first I wasn't sure if I would because I did not enjoy the remake with Denzel Washington. But maybe that is because I was a little too young to fully grasp some of the concepts and ideas of the film. However the original film was very good- from the actors to the dialogue, and the suspense to the plot.
I really enjoyed the cinematography of this film. I felt that the black and white worked well for it, using lights and shadows. I really enjoyed the whole hypntizing idea and the use of solitaire and the queen of diamonds to express that.
This film is interesting because it is a historic piece that mirrored current events of its time. It reflected the views and ideas that were spreading through the world due to the Cold War and Communism. It even dealt with the idea of "momism." Momism was coined by Philip Wylie, an author who wrote that "A mom was a self righteous, hypocritical, sexually repressed, middle aged woman...in which the women of America raped men." Wylie also discusses how the mom would manipulate husband and son for her own best interests.
The Manchurian Candidate is a perfect example when it comes to discussing "momism." In the film, Raymond Shaw, is a former Korean War POW who is brainwashed by Communists to become a political assassin. What is even crazier, is his own mother is somehow in cahoots with this whole operation. She is right up there with the other Communists when it comes to getting Raymond to assassinate their targets. Its interesting to watch this film knowing that the director is addressing the whole "momism" idea. Angela Lanzbury, the mother, portrayed the perfect manipulative mother. She was very calm with Raymond, but very decisive and clear with what she wanted- to have her son assassinate the newly official , so she can become more powerful.
What is also interesting about this film is how Raymond kills his mother in the end- instead of the elected official. Wylie discusses how in the unconscious mind- the "mom" disempowers the husband or son, and in the conscious mind - the "mom" becomes the target. In the film, when Raymond is "un-brainwashed" by Frank Sinatra, he begins to think for himself. He realizes he cannot listen to mother anymore and that she is the true target and the cause of all the evil that is being brought upon him. So Raymond turns the gun at her instead.
I'm not sure if I fully grasp this whole "momism" thing, but I feel I am starting to anyway, because it is pretty darn intriguing.
I really enjoyed the cinematography of this film. I felt that the black and white worked well for it, using lights and shadows. I really enjoyed the whole hypntizing idea and the use of solitaire and the queen of diamonds to express that.
This film is interesting because it is a historic piece that mirrored current events of its time. It reflected the views and ideas that were spreading through the world due to the Cold War and Communism. It even dealt with the idea of "momism." Momism was coined by Philip Wylie, an author who wrote that "A mom was a self righteous, hypocritical, sexually repressed, middle aged woman...in which the women of America raped men." Wylie also discusses how the mom would manipulate husband and son for her own best interests.
The Manchurian Candidate is a perfect example when it comes to discussing "momism." In the film, Raymond Shaw, is a former Korean War POW who is brainwashed by Communists to become a political assassin. What is even crazier, is his own mother is somehow in cahoots with this whole operation. She is right up there with the other Communists when it comes to getting Raymond to assassinate their targets. Its interesting to watch this film knowing that the director is addressing the whole "momism" idea. Angela Lanzbury, the mother, portrayed the perfect manipulative mother. She was very calm with Raymond, but very decisive and clear with what she wanted- to have her son assassinate the newly official , so she can become more powerful.
What is also interesting about this film is how Raymond kills his mother in the end- instead of the elected official. Wylie discusses how in the unconscious mind- the "mom" disempowers the husband or son, and in the conscious mind - the "mom" becomes the target. In the film, when Raymond is "un-brainwashed" by Frank Sinatra, he begins to think for himself. He realizes he cannot listen to mother anymore and that she is the true target and the cause of all the evil that is being brought upon him. So Raymond turns the gun at her instead.
I'm not sure if I fully grasp this whole "momism" thing, but I feel I am starting to anyway, because it is pretty darn intriguing.
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