Clip E
While watching this clip from Amadeus I experienced a feeling of melancholy. The clips use of backlighting on the aged man next to the piano brings a darkness to his figure so that he looks mysterious and almost troubled. This is in stark contrast to the cleric whose face is illuminated from the window across from him. This natural lighting provides him with an innocence which the pianist does not have due to a lack of lighting. Once the pianist recalls a memory of his greatest moment as a musician we see what he sees. This mental subjectivity brings us into the characters mind to reveal the pride he has when remembering his accomplishments of long ago.
Clip B
During the clip from Strangers on a Train the main technique used to heighten the action and suspense was crosscutting. Many suspenseful events such as the two men fighting, the old man crawling dangerously under the merry go round, and the crowds utter astonishment at it all come together in this clip to intensify the story. As all of the action unfolds near the merry go round the camera switches between each event to lengthen the event in the audiences eyes and therefore build tension. Besides crosscutting,diegetic music also greatly effected the action of the story. As the merry go round sped faster the music aboard also got faster. With a quicker tempo the otherwise cheery music turned distressing further exaggerating the action of the scene.
Clip F
From the clip from the film Zerkalo we see the dominant use of camera movement to bring the audience into the scene as if they were there. When we first see the children run by on screen the camera zooms back to reveal the setting inside the house. The camera then looks through a mirror to see the children standing in the doorway observing something. Then the camera pans to see a young boy walk outside where the camera soon follows. All of these motions of the camera give this clip a more realistic feel as if the audience were involved in the scene. Finally, as the camera rests on the porch of the house the shot itself uses deep focus composition with the mother in the foreground, father in the middleground, and burning house in the background.
Clip C
In the scene from Silence of the Lambs in which the police gather outside of a house that appears to be the killer's many techniques are used to mislead the audience into believing that the police are at the killer's house when they are actually not. By crosscutting between the police outside of a house and the killer inside his house the audience immediately assumes that the two locations are the same. The extreme long shots outside of a house show the police force gathering tensely while the long and medium shots inside of the killers house show where he keeps his next victim. The pace of this scene increases as the cuts become more rapid creating anticipation in the viewer. The rhyhmic relations created by the editing results in suspense and excitment until the final reveal.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Oscar Nominee Ranking
Brainstorm
black swan-suspenseful, imaginative, gripping, favorite, fast paced
toy story 3- childhood memories, fast paced, laugh, cry, bitter sweet ending accomplished, not only for kids
the social network-creative dialogue, characters well thought out, modern, hype
true grit-main character very successfully, great cinematography/landscapes, plot reveal works
kings speech-not a big enough ending, lacked punch other movies had, less emotional response, funny
inception-too complex, didn't like ending, scenery done well, other characters not developed well enough
winter's bone- lead actress amazing but too dark for me, not suspenseful enough, cruel, long
1. Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan was by far my favorite movie of the year and perhaps that I have ever scene. It wasn't the fact that I love ballet that drew me into the movie but rather the excellent cast, suspenseful action, and flawless transition from scene to scene. Natalie Portman's exceptional performance drove the story forward to a point the audience never expected. Black Swan was able to draw its audience into the plot from the moment the screen lit up to the credits. In truth I hadn't even realized the movie was over until the applause came. This film had substance which no other film had as clearly. Black Swan investigated a deep theme of perfection through an excellent story which translated perfectly to the screen. Its' ability to hold my attention and keep me thinking throughout its entirety make it my favorite of the best picture nominees.
2. Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 was by far my favorite of the Toy Story films. Although I was skeptical of seeing a movie I thought was aimed at kids it in fact captured my attention better than most animated films. I believe it was the movie's ability to capture the hearts of the audience and everyone who has ever owned a toy or had a childhood. While watching Toy Story 3 I was impressed with not only the animation but the success with which the actors embodied their characters, all of which were imagined. It seems as though it would be quite difficult to portray a children's character only through your voice but the cast did it wonderfully. I was fascinated with the movie from the start which is in my view harder for a cartoon to do. The best thing Toy Story 3 did, as in Black Swan, was present a solid theme which is what essentially pulls the audience in. The only reason Toy Story 3 is not my favorite movie of the year is due to its lack of style which Black Swan possessed. Although these movies are very different, Toy Story 3 was not able to have the edge that Black Swan did.
3. The Social Network
As in Toy Story 3, I was skeptical of watching The Social Network but truthfully I did not know what to expect. I was intrigued by a creative trailer for the movie but once I began to see all of the hype the movie was attracting I became wary of it. Now I understand why audiences have been impressed everywhere. It is not only due to the films contemporary storyline as I had guessed but simply due to a well crafted film. I do not think however that The Social Network is the best film of the year. Although it has a cool atmosphere, fresh music selection, and clever dialogue I do not believe these alone make a great film. The Social Network was entertaining by far due to these things but it did not reach a more meaningful conclusion like the others did. Its leading actor Jesse Eisenberg created a successful image of the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerburg and his performance was the most memorable. Although it is clear his was a great performance, the focus of the story was modern, and the film was made well I felt I was not able to connect with the characters .
4. True Grit
I was more disappointed with True Grit than I was appreciative. The main character played by Hailee Steinfeld was the most interesting and entertaining part of the movie which I think was the overall intent. However I had been expecting more of an adventure in True Grit than was presented. Jeff Bridges role as unruly sheriff was comedic but not as I had expected. I understand that the Coen brothers style of film making is to alter traditional genres but even then a Western needed more thrill and excitement to keep the audience interested. I was surprised, amused by the performances, and even impressed by the cinematography but not completely entertained. What disappointed me the most though, was the quick ending which did not result in a fully developed theme.
5. Kings Speech
Set in a time before the outbreak of World War I The Kings Speech was only just as good but not any better than the previous films mentioned. Although a respectable contender, the film was not as successful as the others not due to flaws but rather what it lacked. The Kings Speech, like True Grit, did not have a powerful ending which the plot seemed to lead up to. It was easy to predict that Collin Firth's character King George VI would not stumble with his words in his final speech as he had previously done in the movie. Unfortunately, the speech itself didn't have as moving an effect as I had hoped. Instead the focus was on the way King George perfect delivered his speech which did not allow for the focus on the content of the speech itself which is also important. Although the movie was centered around his speech impediment it would have been a more successful finale had more stress been put on the words said.
6.Inception
I was excited with the idea that Inception was going to portray. The idea of a movie centered around an idea, one of which people can enter the subconscious of others in order to plant a thought. Creative enough, this aim of the movie was too complex a storyline to follow on camera. I found myself trying to process and record all events that occurred in the movie for fear that I would miss a key detail in the plot. I found this annoying as it took away from the characters performances. In the end I could not determine which character was in control of the dream from which the movie was centered. Although Inception had first-class effects and stunts I could not concentrate on the action scenes as I was trying to figure out the story of the film. When I finally thought I understood the plot, the ending of the movie ruined all knowledge I thought I understood. The unexpected cliffhanger could be interpreted in different ways and I found that the most frustrating of all.
7. Winter's Bone
Like True Grit, Winter's Bone revolved around the initiative of a young girl. Jennifer Lawrence's performance of her character Ree was the best female performance next to that of Natalie Portman this year. Unfortunately Jennifer Lawrence's acting skills could not carry the weight of this dark drama to the top of my nominees. My simple feelings are that this movie was too grim to posses excitement within the audience. At times I was surprised and the movie did prove to accomplish suspense but it was far too slow in the beginning. In a way this film was even disturbing when we finally see what became of Ree's father. The lack of light in the movie's scenery successfully transported the audience to a whole new world, one of which is scarred with secrecy and brutality. Overall Winter's Bone was to hopeless a film to create an impact on the viewer.
black swan-suspenseful, imaginative, gripping, favorite, fast paced
toy story 3- childhood memories, fast paced, laugh, cry, bitter sweet ending accomplished, not only for kids
the social network-creative dialogue, characters well thought out, modern, hype
true grit-main character very successfully, great cinematography/landscapes, plot reveal works
kings speech-not a big enough ending, lacked punch other movies had, less emotional response, funny
inception-too complex, didn't like ending, scenery done well, other characters not developed well enough
winter's bone- lead actress amazing but too dark for me, not suspenseful enough, cruel, long
1. Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan was by far my favorite movie of the year and perhaps that I have ever scene. It wasn't the fact that I love ballet that drew me into the movie but rather the excellent cast, suspenseful action, and flawless transition from scene to scene. Natalie Portman's exceptional performance drove the story forward to a point the audience never expected. Black Swan was able to draw its audience into the plot from the moment the screen lit up to the credits. In truth I hadn't even realized the movie was over until the applause came. This film had substance which no other film had as clearly. Black Swan investigated a deep theme of perfection through an excellent story which translated perfectly to the screen. Its' ability to hold my attention and keep me thinking throughout its entirety make it my favorite of the best picture nominees.
2. Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 was by far my favorite of the Toy Story films. Although I was skeptical of seeing a movie I thought was aimed at kids it in fact captured my attention better than most animated films. I believe it was the movie's ability to capture the hearts of the audience and everyone who has ever owned a toy or had a childhood. While watching Toy Story 3 I was impressed with not only the animation but the success with which the actors embodied their characters, all of which were imagined. It seems as though it would be quite difficult to portray a children's character only through your voice but the cast did it wonderfully. I was fascinated with the movie from the start which is in my view harder for a cartoon to do. The best thing Toy Story 3 did, as in Black Swan, was present a solid theme which is what essentially pulls the audience in. The only reason Toy Story 3 is not my favorite movie of the year is due to its lack of style which Black Swan possessed. Although these movies are very different, Toy Story 3 was not able to have the edge that Black Swan did.
3. The Social Network
As in Toy Story 3, I was skeptical of watching The Social Network but truthfully I did not know what to expect. I was intrigued by a creative trailer for the movie but once I began to see all of the hype the movie was attracting I became wary of it. Now I understand why audiences have been impressed everywhere. It is not only due to the films contemporary storyline as I had guessed but simply due to a well crafted film. I do not think however that The Social Network is the best film of the year. Although it has a cool atmosphere, fresh music selection, and clever dialogue I do not believe these alone make a great film. The Social Network was entertaining by far due to these things but it did not reach a more meaningful conclusion like the others did. Its leading actor Jesse Eisenberg created a successful image of the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerburg and his performance was the most memorable. Although it is clear his was a great performance, the focus of the story was modern, and the film was made well I felt I was not able to connect with the characters .
4. True Grit
I was more disappointed with True Grit than I was appreciative. The main character played by Hailee Steinfeld was the most interesting and entertaining part of the movie which I think was the overall intent. However I had been expecting more of an adventure in True Grit than was presented. Jeff Bridges role as unruly sheriff was comedic but not as I had expected. I understand that the Coen brothers style of film making is to alter traditional genres but even then a Western needed more thrill and excitement to keep the audience interested. I was surprised, amused by the performances, and even impressed by the cinematography but not completely entertained. What disappointed me the most though, was the quick ending which did not result in a fully developed theme.
5. Kings Speech
Set in a time before the outbreak of World War I The Kings Speech was only just as good but not any better than the previous films mentioned. Although a respectable contender, the film was not as successful as the others not due to flaws but rather what it lacked. The Kings Speech, like True Grit, did not have a powerful ending which the plot seemed to lead up to. It was easy to predict that Collin Firth's character King George VI would not stumble with his words in his final speech as he had previously done in the movie. Unfortunately, the speech itself didn't have as moving an effect as I had hoped. Instead the focus was on the way King George perfect delivered his speech which did not allow for the focus on the content of the speech itself which is also important. Although the movie was centered around his speech impediment it would have been a more successful finale had more stress been put on the words said.
6.Inception
I was excited with the idea that Inception was going to portray. The idea of a movie centered around an idea, one of which people can enter the subconscious of others in order to plant a thought. Creative enough, this aim of the movie was too complex a storyline to follow on camera. I found myself trying to process and record all events that occurred in the movie for fear that I would miss a key detail in the plot. I found this annoying as it took away from the characters performances. In the end I could not determine which character was in control of the dream from which the movie was centered. Although Inception had first-class effects and stunts I could not concentrate on the action scenes as I was trying to figure out the story of the film. When I finally thought I understood the plot, the ending of the movie ruined all knowledge I thought I understood. The unexpected cliffhanger could be interpreted in different ways and I found that the most frustrating of all.
7. Winter's Bone
Like True Grit, Winter's Bone revolved around the initiative of a young girl. Jennifer Lawrence's performance of her character Ree was the best female performance next to that of Natalie Portman this year. Unfortunately Jennifer Lawrence's acting skills could not carry the weight of this dark drama to the top of my nominees. My simple feelings are that this movie was too grim to posses excitement within the audience. At times I was surprised and the movie did prove to accomplish suspense but it was far too slow in the beginning. In a way this film was even disturbing when we finally see what became of Ree's father. The lack of light in the movie's scenery successfully transported the audience to a whole new world, one of which is scarred with secrecy and brutality. Overall Winter's Bone was to hopeless a film to create an impact on the viewer.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
My First Movie Review
Brainstorming
-entertaining
action
explosion
cgi was like nothing i had seen at the time
i was exciting to see it, lots of promo
shia labeouf was funny
comedic
plot was interesting/creative
cars were cool
shot "cleanly"
megan fox was leading lady
whole audience clapped at end
fast paced
conclusion left it open for a sequel
josh duhammel?
Review of Transformers
The first time i saw Transformers I was very impressed. I didn't know how well the movie would be because of its heavy cgi use for the transformer characters but it actually turned out to be like nothing i had ever seen. It was easy to get lost in the fast paced film which never had a dull moment. Because of the heavy promotion for Transformers before it hit theaters I was very excited to see it on the opening day as were the other moviegoers who all clapped at the end. I would say that although this movie was a classic Michael Bay blockbuster with action and explosion it had a creative storyline which contributed to the overall effect this movie had on me.
-entertaining
action
explosion
cgi was like nothing i had seen at the time
i was exciting to see it, lots of promo
shia labeouf was funny
comedic
plot was interesting/creative
cars were cool
shot "cleanly"
megan fox was leading lady
whole audience clapped at end
fast paced
conclusion left it open for a sequel
josh duhammel?
Review of Transformers
The first time i saw Transformers I was very impressed. I didn't know how well the movie would be because of its heavy cgi use for the transformer characters but it actually turned out to be like nothing i had ever seen. It was easy to get lost in the fast paced film which never had a dull moment. Because of the heavy promotion for Transformers before it hit theaters I was very excited to see it on the opening day as were the other moviegoers who all clapped at the end. I would say that although this movie was a classic Michael Bay blockbuster with action and explosion it had a creative storyline which contributed to the overall effect this movie had on me.
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