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Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction
How I have not watched this film before, I don't know. This was truly incredible. The director was able to weave the stories of different people together with such success. A little history lesson tells us that people are starting to like complicated plots and story lines in the 80's(I may be wrong but close to there at least). But "Pulp Fiction" takes it to an all new level. This film was a masterpiece in my opinion and reminds me of the "Crash" (2004), Paul Haggis.
{"Crash" lives in California seem to CRASH together and follow multiple angles that don't seem to connect but do. Defiantly watch, great film. I've seen it 4 times but am still noticing things that I didn't see before}
But anyway, this movie had a great cast that I absolutely love and they gave incredible performances. This film was gritty and violent and even with a complicated story line it all worked together nice. I would not recommend this to everyone but to those who love Quentin Tarantino movies will love this. My favorite of his films is "Kill Bill"(volumes one and two) but "Pulp Fiction" is now up there. His cinematography is always great and even though his movies are gore filled, they do have a humor that seeps out and can make me smile if not laugh. This movie had a great soundtrack, screen writing, and wonderful performances from Uma Thurman, Samuel Jackson, John Travolta, and Bruce Willis(not to say that the rest of the cast wasn't good but they definitely stood out plus are personal favorites). Definitely a must watch.
Jaws (1975)
Jaws
This was a truly revolutionary film in the film industry. It was really the first time people attempted filming primarily from hand-held cameras. Not only that, but they filmed on the Pacific ocean on small boats with small cameras. In the production of this film their were a lot of firsts. They took huge risks and were successful.
In the making of this film the had a mechanical shark that was unlike anything ever made. It was more advanced than any other used anywhere. It was huge and by itself it didn't look like much but with the shooting and editing, the shark was able to scare crowds and bring the added effect of terror to the film. What also helped make this movie scary was the soundtrack. The infamous string noise(DA-na) of the great white going in to attack was what startled me the most. It was unsettling.
Something great that the cameramen did was shoot at water level, giving the audience the impression that the great monster was just under the surface ready to strike again. This film was great and truly a masterpiece. The work that went into in and the "revolutionary" ideas in filming of this movie really helped pave the path of what can be done in filming if people took the chance to try something never done by others before.
The Hustler (1961)
The Hustler
This film genuinely surprised me. I watched it out of curiosity since it appeared to be about a man playing pool and conning his opponents, but it turned out to be more than that. The cast all gave great performances and it was realistic in that it was believable. Newman gave a superb performance as a guy who was talented but too arrogant and not to bright in a way.
This film had a pretty simple plot but the cast really brought it to life and gave great performances that saved the film. At first glance, "The Hustler" would appear to be about a man hustling pool with aid of a mentor and his girl. But the film was able to portray a story of a man conflicted on a much deeper level than one expects. Newman shows how morals are challenged and on a level, what it means to be a man. The film is more than meets the eye.
The director gives us a pretty depressing story, but it was a great "noir drama". The film had the dark lighting and conflicted main male character with his femme fatale diverting him off his course. This film was able to capture much more than a movie of pool and I was not disappointed watching it. I would recommend this film. It was in a way your typical noir film, while being very different from typical.
White Christmas (1954)
White Christmas
I'm not usually one to watch a Christmas film or a musical but as I have never seen "White Christmas" before, and since the song was stuck in my head courteous of the radio, I thought I'd give it a try. Plus Michael Curtiz is the director. So I thought it should be pretty good since I have seen many of his films and enjoyed them Watching the movie, I realized that it was actually a pretty good feel good movie. Not my favorite, but not bad nonetheless. It was cute and humorous (probably the only reason I enjoyed the film). The stars of the film had wonderful voices and there seemed to be an equal balance between the comedy and music. I have seen old/the first musicals that are really bizarre and strange with the sets. They always seemed to have that one man singing with beautiful women around him with detailed and ostentatious sets, even "Singin' in the Rain" had evidence of this. But "White Christmas" even though it was a fluff piece was nice and really served the purpose of making the audience feel good. Truthfully, even though it was Curtiz directing, nothing really stood out in the film for me. But that could have easily been caused by my aversion of Christmas.
The director Michael Curtiz did a good job directing this film but this film doesn't even come close to "Mildred Pierce"(1945), "Casablanca"(1942), or "The Jazz Singer"(1952). But for a Christmas and musical film it wasn't that bad. Probably won't watch it again but I do like Michael Curtiz so I thought I'd give it a try. If you want a feel good Holiday film I would watch "White Christmas" but forewarning, it is a bit of a fluff piece in my opinion.
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Sunset Blvd.
This film was really good. It was interesting and showed the inside of the film industry. The movie had some great themes that showed through. It showed how everyone loved something but that love was impossible to achieve and if it does it doesn't last. It also showed dreams that are are difficult to achieve and tend to be unattainable. The movie was cynical, or maybe that's just the way I am perceiving it.
The performance of Gloria Swanson was wonderful. She was convincing in her unstable frame of mind set on returning to the spotlight and stardom. She even makes a comment, "stars last forever"(or something like that). She wants to return to the spotlight and make a comeback and be loved. Probably best shown through her obsession of the young guy who she "held captive" and how she wouldn't let him leave her.
Like all film noir, the movie was dark in plot as well as lighting. Our poor hero was sadly killed by his femme fatale who was not all there(mentally) in the beginning the movie. The film was well done with the narration and interesting in how the story was told from a dead guy and the events leading up to his death. The movie also had some good commentary towards the struggles of the film industry on all sides and gave a little insight into behind the scenes of that world for the audience. It was a good suspense filled film I suggest seeing.
The Stranger (1946)
The Stranger
I had heard some pretty negative things about this film but it was a pretty good "thriller". Welles films tend to have a theme surrounding the main male character and his dark past but they also always have those long shots that seem to draw you in to the film and the story. "The Stranger" is definitely different from his other films I have seen because it was more classic Hollywood and less original Orsen Welles but that was intentional.
Orson Welles not only directs but plays the leading role in his films a lot of the time. He does a great job of showing the conflicted protagonist who can also be gentle and loving. The story was interesting and capture the viewer with its plot. This movie was a good film, not the best of Welles but definitely enjoyable.
Typical to Welles style of directing, there were some really nice long shots but with the scenes capturing the snow it took on a magical feel with the result. The scenes would have dark lighting but that sis typical to noir films. I think the best shot scenes of the film were the ones showing everyday life of the town in the winter. The scenes shot with the snow just took on a different feel of the film to almost contrast the plot of this noir film.
Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
Don't Bother to Knock
This movie stars Marilyn Monroe as a women who appears all seductive and playing the usual role she is always portrayed as but then it takes a dark turn, as expected from noir films. I was a little curious with the beginning of the movie because I heard it was dark but it started off as a romantic comedy of sorts and it had me worried. But I was not disappointed. I also was not disappointed by MM's performance. She was very convincing with her gradual change from sane to psychotic and suicidal. Usually she plays a "dumb blonde" character but instead she showed she could play a dark twisted individual. Now this film had some good camera work. The scenes shooting back and forth between the rooms across from each other from the courtyard was great. It was interesting how the film was shot within the hotel and limited to that. The film really helped show that MM is more to her than it seemed as an actor. She was capable of playing in dramas rather than the comedies she is known for. It was a great performance and a good film noir.
What was really interesting about this film was that is showed that everybody is not what they seem. That our appearances are deceiving, so be careful of the pretty faces since they hide a dark side. People judge so much on our appearances and preconceived ideas of who they think we are. This film shows this all, of how a pretty face can hide the unstable, suicidal, and fragile state within.
The Women (1939)
The Women
This film was wonderful. It should the lives of women and how the change and adapt. It reflected the changing of social norms that were happening in the 30's and 40's. The main actress did a phenomenal job with her performance and her character embodies the change in how women expected to treated by men. They were not going to walked all over anymore and taken for granted. They had worth and value that and that the men in their lives better take notice or they were going to be left behind. What was truly amazing about this film was the fact that not a single male was present in body. There were male characters but you don't see their faces or here their faces. Having an all lady cast was great to better show that they were the focus of this film not the men. Men played a role but the women were the focus. The film did a great job in showing the different roles of women and developed the characters very well. The cast was great. The were quick and showed the intelligence and sass and power of a women and her words. The film was a crucial film in the history of cinema because of how successful it was of a all lady cast and in showing the change in social norms and roles of ladies.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The Maltese Falcon
This film was very well done. The main actor was fantastic. He was always what seemed like 5 steps ahead of everyone. Even when it looked like he was getting one pulled over on him, he would make a fool out of that person. This film was wonderfully done and had get characters that would balance and contrast each other. The main actor and his secretary had a funny little relationship where she was obviously in love with him and would do everything he asked of her and his character was intelligent and could explain away everything in a drop of a hat. The way the camera moved to capture the scenes was done well. It didn't move so fast that you were dizzy but when the cops and Spade were talking in the doorway it moved back and forth between the sides of the door to capture the person who was currently speaking. I liked how for certain parts and characters the camera would look up at them. It did that with the more criminal characters. The scene where Spade leaned down to almost kiss the girl and you see him see the man who was following him in the doorway in the building across the street the camera moved with his eye line so you could see what Spade was seeing. The camera work and characters were well done and it was an enjoyable film to watch and I definitely recommend watching this film.
City Streets (1931)
City Streets
The movie wasn't bad. The characters we alright but I wasn't too impressed with them. I guess it is because I have seen so many mob movies that I wasn't blown away by it. It did have some clever lines. What the director did do in this film was the interesting show of time with the clocks and going back and forth with different angles when shooting the scenes. The car scene at the end was really good with showing the car against the train, the person in the train, the conflict inside the car. The scene did a good job of balancing things leading up to the finally. The other notable scene was when Nan and Big Fella were in the room and the other woman was trying the listening on them but could only see. So you heard the city streets but not what was going on inside. Another scene I liked for the camera work was when Nan and Big Fella were dancing and the camera would follow them around the room so you could see the faces of Kid and the other women and how they were upset. Other than those scenes I wasn't too impressed with the movie. It was a mob movie and a had some quirky characters but their really wasn't much development of characters besides the Kid. I would recommend this movie to better appreciate the advancement of film in general. It wasn't a bad film, just a little underwhelming.
His Girl Friday (1940)
Fast pace, fast talking film you need to see.
This film by Howard Hawks was brilliant. The characters were believable in the sense that they seemed exactly what you would expect from Newspapermen(and women) and balanced each other well. The movie went by fast and people could argue that it went by too quick but I would disagree. The director did it perfectly. The fast paced film showed the life of a reporter and how those who weren't a part of that world would get swept to the side but if it was your world you would thrive. The camera didn't move much with interesting camera angles and such but it did a good job of zooming in and out and showing the entire scene where certain characters were concerned. The by far best part of the good use of the camera was when Hildy and Walter were talking on the phone and it would swap back and forth. It didn't do it in a way that would make you dizzy but in a way that gave you a good picture of what was happening and of the conversation. The actors all helped because even though things would happen really fast you could understand them. The film wouldn't have been successful without the cast they used because they really helped bring the feel of the film to life and in the mist of all the confusion they made it clear through organized chaos. The movie was fast paced with fast talking and would have multiple conversations going at a time. It was great how the director could capture the conversations and the most important parts. The film gave a great portrayal of the journalism world, corruption within a government, and (yes cheesy but it was part of the film) a quick but accurate view of working men and women getting caught up in their jobs causing them to neglect their loved ones. It showed lying and sarcasm, and so much between the lines that swept the viewer. I would recommend this movie and am definitely going to watch it again in fear I have missed things. It was brilliantly done with characters, accurate portrayal of things, and the camera work limited though it was.
Dracula (1931)
Dracula, a disappointing monster horror film.
This movie directed by Tod Browning and Karl Freund was disappointing. I understand that they it filmed it relatively quick but the acting was sub-par, the set not so scary and quite obvious. I guess my main problem that I can't get around is the fact that there always seems to be that damsel in distress that always needs saving from the monster. It was a predictable movie. The only redeeming quality the movie had was through the performance of Bela Lugosi who played Count Dracula. His performance was incredible and the the way they shot his scenes with the lighting and shooting looking up a him made him positively creepy. The directors would put shadows across his face and do upward shots so you had the feeling of being looked down upon. They had some nice trick shots with the cobs webs where Dracula could walk through them but the lawyer could not. They also did an interesting thing with making Count Dracula's appearance in mirrors not show up. Those little things made the movie worth watching and Bela Lugosi's performance but besides that I do not recommend this movie for its story but rather the things I mentioned earlier.
Wings (1927)
Wings, a movie about war and friendship
This movie was about World War 1. It showed the story of three people. A rich man, a poor one, and a love stricken girl who did her part in the war also. It at first glorified the war and showed how it was every man's dream to fly but then you can see a shift where it shows death in the war and how it can happen really quick. This movie does have a love component to keep the attention of the audience because a movie solely about war can sometimes struggle to keep the audience interested. The movie did a good job of showing the sides of the two soldiers David and Jack but I wish it had shifted its focus a little more towards Mary beyond being in love with Jack. Wings was a good movie and it was well done. The camera work was good and the characters appealing. It also had good character development and good relationships between the characters, mainly David and Jack's friendship. The movie really made you feel and connect with the characters and their plight. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes silent films and war, it was a well done movie.