Casablanca (1942) Review

Casablanca is considered by many to be one of the best film ever made. After watching it last night, I agree wholeheartedly.

Taking place in Casablanca, Morocco, just before the US entered the Second World War, the film features an all-star cast including Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Raines. While the majority of the film takes place inside Rick's (Bogart) club, it still exudes an air of exotic mystery and danger.

Honestly, I was amazed at Humphrey Bogart. He always has the same uninterested look on his face, always talks in the same disinterested monotone, yet he manages somehow to convey so much emotion to the audience Even so, at the same time it's difficult to know what he's thinking. Claude Rains' Captain Renault, on the other hand, is the polar opposite Bogart's Rick. Perpetually good-humored, with an always-ready chuckle, he's the perfect foil for Rick's eternally-grumpy attitude. It's truly amazing to see these two friendly enemies continually spar good-naturedly against each other. Although it's clear that the two characters do not fully trust or even like each other, the "beautiful friendship" that emerges at the film's end didn't come as much of a surprise. Conversely, even though I knew how the film ended, I was still shocked by the climactic twist.

Unfortunately, due to the film's legendary status, many lines and scenes have become cliche. Here's my take on that: who cares? Casablanca is one of the greatest films ever made, and YOU MUST WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!

Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Scene Analysis

Okay, for this one, I'm going to do something a little different. Rather than analyze part of a film I've already reviewed, I'm going to talk about a scene that I actually analyzed in class; specifically, the first bank robbery in Bonnie and Clyde.

The scene is a straightforward example of continuity editing. All of the cuts are smooth, and many are either invisible or hardly noticeable. In fact, one cut, just after Clyde enters the bank, is so smooth that it took a frame-by-frame analysis to determine that there really was a cut at all: the camera went from a medium-shot of Clyde barging into the lobby to an eyeline match of him surveying the inside of the bank.

From here on out, the scene is basically a series of reaction shots. First, the bank teller reacts with dismay when Clyde actually tries to rob the bank (it had failed some weeks prior). Next, a series of close-ups and eyeline matches portray Clyde's disbelief as he surveys the obvious signs of disuse and disrepair evident throughout the bank. Still not quite believing him (as the furstraition revealed in the last close-up on his face clearly revieals), Clyde hauls the teller outside to explain the situation to Bonnie, who immediately reacts with peels of laughter. Now thouroughly angered by the situation, Clyde shoots out the bank's window (intercut with shots of the teller wincing) and peels off down the road, deliberately running a truck off the road as he passes.

Raging Bull (1980) Review

This was my first Martin Scorsese movie, and let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. Everything about it, everything, was amazing, from the acting to the cinematography to the editing, everything.

What I find most fascinating about the film is that the central character, Jake LaMotta, a boxer whom I hesitate to call him a protagonist, is not a hero in any way. He's crude, he's mean, he has an anger problem, he's paranoid that his wife (whom he abuses) is cheating in him, and he'll do virtually anything to win the middleweight boxing championship. I do have to admire him for one thing, though. He refuses to be knocked down in the ring. Even when he loses the title, he brags to his opponent that he never knocked him (Jake) down.

Probably the only problem I have in this movie are some of the fight/abuse scenes. It was fairly obvious to me that some of the punches were pulled. While I know that all of the punches really were pulled, a fair amount just looked really fake to me. Admittedly, I'm reaching to find fault here, and given that I have some background in the martial arts, I'm not sure anyone else noticed, but still, it bugs me a little.

Bottom line, this is one of the best movies I have ever seen. It's considered by many to be one of the best films ever made. You must watch it at least once before you die.

Breathless (1960) Review

Did Breathless leave me breathless? No. (sorry). Did it leave me dazed and confused? Yes indeed. While the film is noted for its unconventional style of editing, that wasn't what bothered me: I actually got used to the abrupt cuts and shifts rather quickly. No, what bothered me was the ambiguity of the plot and relationship between the characters (and I'm an English major! I really should get better figuring this out!)

I figured that Michel's a thief who jacks cars for a living, and that he sleeps with (and lies to) a whole bunch of girls, but honestly, I couldn't figure out what he saw in Patricia. Likewise, I couldn't really decide how Patricia felt about Michel; she seems to go from loving him to hating him to loving him to running away with him to calling the police on him to telling him he called the police on him. Come on girl, make up your mind already! I also couldn't figure out why he was so desperate to hook up with Antonio. Michel said that Antonio owed him money, but I thought that get got the money from the guy in the travel agency...? Whatever.

Honestly, this is the first movie I've reviewed that I'm not going to recommend. It just left me too confused to like it.

Do the Right Thing (1989) Analysis: The Boom Box

If one particular character can be inextricably linked to one particular prop, it would have to be Radio Raheem and his beloved, ear-shatteringly loud boom box. While at first appearing to be nothing more than just a nonessential prop, it is actually significant on multiple levels.

Of course, the boom box is first and foremost an instrumental prop. Raheem carries it around with him everywhere he goes because he loves Public Enemy and their song Fight the Power. In fact, he seems to love the song so much that he cannot stand turning it off for more than a moment.

The boom box is also a cultural prop. What's more representative (or stereotypical) of the rebellious youth of the 1980's than a massive boom box blaring hard rock or hip hop. The box, more specifically, the song it always seems to be playing, also serve to represent Radio Raheem's "personal culture." Raheem takes the boom box wherever he goes, even into Sal's Famous Pizzarria, whether the device is allowed in the establishment or not. He also ensures that the boom box is always blaring at maximum volume at all times. When the noise draws the ire and protests of aggravated bystanders, Raheem just curses them off. Because of his blatant disregard of authority and because he adornes himself with a good deal of "bling, "Raheem could also be considered to be a forerunner of today's "gangstas." Thus, Fight the Power can very well be considered Raheem's anthem or theme song, as his actions are a perfect mirror of the song's title.

Finally, the box can be seen as a contextualized prop. It is the boom box, or rather it's destruction at the hands of an enraged Sal, that ultimately leads to Raheem's death at the hands of a (white) police officer, an act which causes the neighborhood's long-simmering tensions to explode into a full-blown riot that destroys the pizarria, along with all of the understanding between Sal and the rest of the neighborhood.

Do the Right Thing (1989) Review

Honestly, I went into Do the Right Thing not really knowing what to expect. The only previous exposure I had to Spike Lee was the controversy (for lack of a better word) over his comments about Clint Eastwood's film Flags of Our Fathers, so I wasn't sure what this film would be like. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised, but for different reasons than I expected.

Firstly, the film doesn't really have a plot, at least, not in the conventional sense. Rather than having a single storyline, the film chronicles the events of one scorching hot day on a block in Broklyn, New York. Specifically, the film focuses on the tensions in the neighborhood caused by bigotry and racism. Ultimately the tension reached a boiling point at the end of the film, with tragic consequences.

Secondly, there is no real protagonist or antagonist. Each character has a unique set of flaws, specifically feelings of animosity towards other characters of different races. On the other hand, each character has a set of positive values as well. Even the police officers are viewed (briefly) in a good light as they help the neighborhood get rid of a raving mad man whose car was soaked by a fire hydrant.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about Do the Right Thing. While I did enjoy the film, I probably won't watch it again. While I could make sense of the story, I prefer films with clear, conventional plotlines (sorry, I'm an English major). Also, the film was just a bit too "loud" for my tastes; the music is blared at max volume, especially when Radio Raheem in in the story, and most of the dialogue is shouted, even when two characters are right next to each other. While it isn't one of my favorite films, I would say that Do the Right Thing is definitely worth a watch.

The General (1927)

Before I get into this review, I'd like to clear up a few things. First, this is the first silent film I have ever watched. I'll try my best not to compare it to the talkies, but I really have nothing else to compare it to. Second, I watched it on YouTube, so... yeah. That kinda speaks for itself.

Buster Keaton plays Johnny Gray, a patriotic Confederate engineer during the Civil War who loves two things: his locomotive, The General, and his woman, Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack). When the Confederate Army comes to town looking for recruits, Johnny is first in line to sign up. Unfortunately, the Army thinks he's more valuable as an engineer than a soldier. Johnny's leaving the recruiting station is misinterpreted by Annabelle as an act of cowardice, so she tells Johnny that she won't speak to him again unless he's in uniform. One year later, Johnny is still an engineer, and he's still driving The General. By sheer coincidence, Annabelle Lee happens to be a passenger on his train. Without warning a band of Union spies hijack the General at a meal stop-with Annabelle trapped on board! Determined to rescue both of his loves, the heroic (yet bumbling) Johnny sets off after them, and the chase is on.

Buster Keaton's acting is definitely the highlight of the film. Truly earning his nickname "The Great Stone Face," Keaton's character finds himself thrust into one hair-raising situation after another, reacting only with stoic disbelief at every turn. Even more impressive is that Keaton performed all of his own stunts. While this might not seem like much at first, take time to consider that the entire film was shot on real, full-size trains, all of which were moving, and the danger suddenly becomes very real. That adds another layer to the film; everything was shot with real trains, even the climactic wreck at the end. This decision made The General one of the most expensive films of the silent era (a whopping $400,000), but personally, I think it was worth every penny.

However, the film does have some faults. For starters, it takes a little while for the action to get going (the chase, which makes up the majority of the first half of the film, doesn't start until more than 20 minutes into the movie). Some of the musical pieces picked to accompany certain scenes seem out of place. My primary gripe is during the climactic battle scene, which moves at a very fast pace, the music is very slow, almost tranquil. While this isn't the only spot where the music doesn't seem to fit, it is the most noticeable. Also, I think that the caption cards may have been displayed for a bit too long (but then again, I'm a really fast reader). However, these faults are minor ones, and even with them, the film is definitely worth watching.

Amazingly, even though it is considered to be one of the best films ever made, The General was a major flop when it first premiered. Apparently, audiences were expecting another light-hearted comedy similar to Keaton's other works, not a serious action-drama. However, the film slowly but surely gathered a following, and while it took many years, Keaton's genious with this film was finally recognized.

Overall, I would say that if you enjoy silent films, definitely watch The General if you haven't already. (If you have, watch it again) If you've never seen a silent film before, you should still watch it; it's a great starting point into the era of silent films. Just make sure you watch it somewhere besides the Internet.

The Godfather (1972) Analysis

Color and light play a significant role in The Godfather. It helps establish the film as a period piece, helps differentiate between the world of the family business and the outside world, and showing Michael Corleone's slow descent into the mafia underworld.

While it is not immediately noticeable, the entire film has a reddish-yellow tint to it, not unlike the subtle green tinge in The Matrix films. However, instead of conveying a sense of unreality, the tinting gives this film the feeling of being old and warn, not unlike an old photograph. It helps to remind the audience that this is taking place in the 1940s and 50s, not in the present day.

Light and color also play an important role in the film; it helps to differentiate between the world of the mafia and the "outside." This is best exemplified during the opening sequence, during the wedding. The wedding ceremony takes place out in the open in the bright sunlight and is filled with a multitude of colors. Inside Don Corleone's office, however, things are much different. The office is very dimly lit, filled with shadows, and composed of an array of black, gray, and muted browns. This theme of darkness inside vs. light outside continues throughout the film, and serves to highlight that the family's business is ultimately a different world from everything else around it.

Finally, color and light serve to highlight Michael Corleone's descent into the Mafia underworld. Michael first appears in the film wearing a Marine Corps Dress Uniform. It is a dark outfit, yes, but for the next portion of the film, Michael appears primarily in a white shirt, signifying his relative innocence. The first time he appears fully in black is when he kills Sollozzo and McCluskey, his first action for the family. Michael returns to his white shirt while in Sicily, and outfit which he wears continuously until Apollonia is murdered and he returns to the USA. From there on in, Michael exclusively wears black, signifying his total immersion in the family business. He even begins wearing a black hat once he takes over the business, literally covering himself from head to toe with the blackness that is his legacy.

The Godfather (1972) Review

Well, it was very different from what I was expecting, but I still loved The Godfather.

I knew it was, and expected it to be, a violent film. However, it was nowhere near as violent or as action-packed as I expected. Instead, I found it to be more drama and character-driven. Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of such films, but Francis Ford Coppola won me over with this film. It was fascinating to see Michael Corleone's transformation from a young man who wants nothing to do with the family business to a vengeful killer to the new Don Corleone.

The film is long to be sure (a hair under three hours), and while it did feel long, not once did I find it to be boring. Not even during the opening sequence, which alternates between random moments at Connie's wedding and Vito Corleone doing business, was I bored for even a second. Most films, I'd be snoring in my chair, but The Godfather had me hooked the whole way through.

In short, this is an amazing film, and like Apocalypse Now, you absolutely must watch it at least once before you die.