Change Your Image
E-reilly3
Reviews
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
issue of racism
Although this was probably one of the first films to deal with the issue of racism and interracial couples, I have just seen so many stories like this that it was somewhat boring. Because of the riddance of the Hayes code they were able to make a movie about this issue.The dialogue was not all that great and that was really all that happened in the movie within the one house. So I would have expected they would have been a little more clever or interesting. The acting was pretty good and I felt that this movie went about the issue of racism in a way that wasn't offensive and has potential for a positive impact. However, like I said before it is just a story that I have seen too many times.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Social commentary
I liked this movie because I know that I can relate along with most other people. I loved Jack Nicholson's acting. I thought that he really played the character well and how the director imagined the part to be done. I think this movie brings up interesting points regarding Mental illness and what it actually is. Just because someone is mentally ill does that mean that they can't function in society and be locked up. I think that this movie did a good job on tackling some of the stereotypes and misconceptions about mental illness all the while taking us through an interesting story with great acting. This is one of the more interesting social commentary films that I have seen.
The Naked Kiss (1964)
Story of a prostitute
Right from the title I was aware that this movie was going to be a little risqué, but I did not think they would push the limit the way they did. Even with the code not being in effect I think for the time not only was the story outrageous, but what they were hinting to on camera. Although they never showed it, it was very strongly hinted at to the point where it was almost obvious. I liked the black and white cinematography and the editing was well done so that it could hint to the audience what happened without getting confused. I don't think that I will watch this movie again even though it does have a pretty interesting story of a woman trying to redeem herself after doing something socially unacceptable.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Cool movie
I really enjoyed this movie because I liked seeing everyday people getting away with things..well at least for a little until it caught up with them. I think that the story was very well planned out and the characters were all interesting in their own way. The violence seen in this could be comparable to some of the gangster type movies of today. I liked how the group got progressively more violent, and in the end just get gunned down in a bloody ambush. I think it all kind of leads up to it. Although I wanted to see them continue on I think that the viewers of the time would not have liked it because they were used to the code and the bad guys had to be punished. They couldn't get away. Interesting movie and definitely worth a watch.
Psycho (1960)
Horror
I don't really like horror films but this one was OK. I found it very suspenseful which helped keep my attention. I liked the murder in the shower scene because it is a great example of an early movie right after the abolishment of the Hayes code. Never before were we able to see a showering woman murdered. This is one of the most influential and memorable scenes in not only horror films but American films in general. The beginning of the movie seemed very real and I think helped me get into the movie. The only thing is I don't get why she was trusted with that much money, I feel that is pretty unrealistic, however it is a movie so anything goes. Overall pretty good horror movie and it definitely paved the way for the modern day gory horrors we watch today.
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
Film Noir
This is a good example of the Film Noir category. The lighting and shadows created the dark feeling that you might expect with a crime film. To be honest I don't think that I will watch anymore film noirs after Casasblanca. For some reason the others just don't compare. I didn't really like the main character, I found his aggressive behavior rather annoying. Also all of the drama was not for me. The cinematography was good and the classic film noir style was definitely shown by not only the shadows but the isolated main character and the crime based storyline. I will say that the story was interesting, how he tried to frame people was pretty clever, a jerk move, but clever.
The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
Drama
This movie had too much drama for me. I found the storyline and plot to be confusing and really didn't make sense. I have seen too many movies where a murder is pinned on someone else and I was not really all that surprised to find out who had set it up. As for the filming technique, I have always been a fan of Welles' creative genius. Really the only part I liked was the mirror scene. The use of angles and the mirrors in general created a sense of insanity and really reflected how the whole movie came off, confusing.The random gunfire and the shattering of the mirror was pretty cool. I liked how they showed the glass and you could really see the shards falling pretty well. I was kind of disappointed in the ending though.
Foreign Correspondent (1940)
Great Hitchcock
This is one of my first Hitchcock films, although I have been meaning to see some because he is comparable to Orson Welles. What really kept me interested in this movie was the amount of action that it had. Right from the beginning the viewer is drawn into this hectic and dangerous lifestyle. I have always found spy movies to be interesting and that is the case for this. What made it even more interesting was that it came out right before the War and maybe because some knew it was coming, I felt that there was a certain patriotic feeling to this film in the sense that he was trying to get valuable information to inform the rest of the country. Of course this movie would not be a Hitchcock film without scenes like the umbrella scene. Definitely worth a watch.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
California travels
This classic tale of a family's struggle to make it across country I found quite interesting. Growing up in a middle class suburban house hold this is quite different from anything that I have known. I like Steinbecks use of harsh angles and lighting to add to the feeling of depression and hopelessness that is portrayed by the characters at times throughout the movie. I can see why this movie would be controvercial back in the day, however today I couldn't help but think how reserved it was. Modern movies have way more to say about the government and most of the time they are not good things. I felt that this was a pretty good movie overall and from what I can guess is an accurate portrayal of what many families had to go through.
Dracula (1931)
Horror
I have never been a fan of horror films, scary or not, but i really didn't enjoy Dracula. I think that the acting was very over done most likely due to the recent switch to the sound films from the silent. I felt that it was somewhat unrealistic in that aspect. Although the story line was pretty good, the props that were used really took away from what the movie could be. Had they used real bats for example instead of the fake ones, I think the movie would have felt more realistic and probably at the time much scarier. Now a days you can't have a horror movie with out gruesome deaths and beyond creepy killers so I guess that this movie was very far from what I am accustomed to.
Scarface (1932)
Classic Gangster
I always liked the more recent Scarface so I was excited to see the earlier one. This movie really is a classic. It became the inspiration and for a good reason, to many gangster films to follow. I really enjoyed the drive by scenes because they weren't so real as they would be in today's movies. I liked Paul Muni as Tony, I think that he really got into the character and portrayed him in a way that a lot of people find appealing. Although he does have some flaws, you can really tell that he is a hardened criminal demanding respect. Another thing I liked was that the film was shorter compared to the newer version that seemed kind of drawn out just for the heck of it, where as this earlier version was direct, to the point, and very entertaining.
His Girl Friday (1940)
Screwball
I liked this movie. The clever and witty comedy really did it for me. Although I am usually more of a "dumb humor" type, I found this movie pretty funny. I liked how it was black and white, I felt that this gave it a more classic feel, and allowed that older humor, where as had it been color, I would have felt like I should see the newer modern comedy. I also liked how it was fast paced and so it didn't feel as if it dragged on. I like the cinematography and one scene that really stood out to me was when the spotlight is shined up at the men in the window. I thought that it was well done. Overall a good movie very well put together, and seems like it is much more recent than it really is.
Annie Hall (1977)
Woody Allen
I didn't really enjoy this movie. I found Alvy quite annoying with his constant complaining and pessimistic views. At the end of the movie I felt somewhat depressed and at the same time relieved it was over. The story was one that has been used many times, the classic case of a nerdy guy falling for a woman that is seen to be out of his league. I did like how at times Alvy was narrating so that we could figure out what was going on inside his head, and I found that the asides or soliloquy were creative ways for Allen to throw a few jokes into the movie to make it a little more light hearted. Overall I did not enjoy the movie and felt that it was the following of a whiny man in an overused story line.
The Big Heat (1953)
Interesting story of revenge
I liked The Big Heat because it had a average cop that wanted revenge but also the truth. The story takes a few unexpected twists and the scene where his wife is killed really took me by surprise. It is easy to see why this movie is placed in the film noir category, with it's isolated, vengeful, main character and the use of heavy contrast. I wouldn't say that this movie is a "must see" but it is definitely worth a watch. I enjoyed the plot line and the suspense kept me interested throughout the duration of the movie. I think that having little knowledge of the characters helped keep the audience guessing at what was going on and why many of the characters acted how they did.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Great film
I've seen Citizen Kane a few times now and it seems to get better every time. I always notice a few new things. The plot is very interesting and I find that the way it is told with flashbacks makes his life story easy to comprehend. It was cool to see how all of the different people throughout the story remembered him. Welles' use of lighting in Citizen Kane is unmatched by any movie I have seen. The lighting along with the use of creative and dramatic angles puts this movie in a category of it's own. I liked the story in the sense that Kane was able to go from a poor family to running a news paper it gives you the feeling that anything is possible. This movie is worth watching multiple times because each time you appreciate the cleverness of Welles' directing even more.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Did not enjoy
I found this movie quite boring. It did have it's funny points at times. I will admit that the way Spike Lee collaborates the issue of race and violence into the film without jamming it down your throat was very clever. I think one of the main reasons I did not like this movie was because it was all about people over reacting where I felt that most people would not act the way the characters in the movie did (but thats why it is a movie I suppose). I was confused at the end, as there was no real solution or portrayal of what the "right thing" to do was in the situation and I was glad when the movie ended. I was not offended at any point, however I do feel that the racial stereotypes were pushed to the extremes
Easy Rider (1969)
Cool biker film
As a biker myself, I related to some of the anti biker feelings that were seen in the movie at various points. Also, where some did not enjoy the sometimes lengthy scenes of riding through the country. I enjoyed the visuals presented. I think this movie did a very good job of showing the counter culture of the time. The commune part of the film was done very well along with the acid trip scene. I think one of the main reasons I enjoyed the movie so much is because this is something that I would like to do myself (minus some of the drugs) at some point in my life. This is a great example of a post classical Hollywood film because of the drugs and the sex. I don't think this movie would be appealing to everyone, especially those who are not into motorcycles, it is however an interesting story of their travels.
The Killing (1956)
Unique story telling technique
This movie used a unique form of story telling in which it sets up each characters role and how they prepare before the job. Right before we see the job it rewinds to another characters actions that day. I also liked the use of the narrator to set up the time and place in order for the viewer to keep things straight. Another thing that I found unique to this movie, at least up until more modern times is the use of a point of view shot. That really gave a sense of what happened and I felt as if I was right in the scene. The action was good and I think that it was a good plan overall which really made it disappointing when it goes terribly wrong. This film also uses some film noir style lighting for dramatic effect in which the men are planning the heist. A great story of how you can't plan for everything and that nature can foil even the best of plans.
The Graduate (1967)
Great story of a confused graduate
This is a great film that takes advantage of the "New Hollywood" era in which films were allowed to show things on screen that were previously deemed unacceptable by the Hayes Code. A few things that I found interesting were the use of popular music of the time, Simon and Garfunkel rather than an orchestra like previous movies. Also there were numerous scenes where Benjamin is in bed with a woman, engaging in sex before marriage which was unheard of prior to this era. Another thing is that this movie is wide screen in order to get people to go to the movie theaters because it isn't something they can see on TV. This was an interesting movie and I could relate because at this point in time I also have no idea what to do after college. This is still relevant today with a lot of people graduating and not so many jobs available.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Interesting musical
I'm not really the biggest fan of musicals but I did somewhat enjoy this one. The acting was quite good and the dancing was fa-nominal. I enjoyed how the musical told the story of the switch of the movie industry from silent films to "talkies" and the troubles that came with it. The colors were amazing which made this movie very interesting to watch. The love story was complicated but not so much that it didn't make sense. The thing that I most enjoyed were the dance routines. I have never seen dancing like that before. Even the minor characters could dance, like the "make em laugh" song. Even if you aren't a big fan of musicals, this is one that anyone can enjoy and it is obvious why it is a great American classic.
Casablanca (1942)
Great classic movie
The cinematography in this movie is unparalleled. The dark lighting and heavy shadows create that classic film noir feeling that gives this movie the dramatic effect. One thing that I really liked is that there are a lot of close up and medium close ups that really focus the viewers attention on who is speaking and allow us to concentrate on the story. A very creative aspect to the movie is how we don't find out the story between Rick and Ilsa all at once. Flashbacks and the use of the character Sam allow us to slowly figure out the situation between the two. The dramatic twist at the end comes as an unexpected but valiant move and shows Rick to be the character that we didn't quite see him as throughout the rest of the movie.
Stagecoach (1939)
Great western
This is a classic western with an interesting twist. The fugitive that was supposed to be such a tough character turns out to be a hero within the group. Another great social commentary pointing out a common misconception that all fugitives are bad. The excellent story line combined with the extraordinary scenery of the west come together to make an all around good movie. I liked that as the viewer we get to see a lot of the characters background or find it out throughout the movie. I enjoyed the combination of both long range panoramic shots combined with the close ups, and the action follow camera during the Indian chase creates the feeling that the viewer is actually in the movie. Overall a great John Wayne western.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Very funny
Classic screwball comedy with a touch of social commentary. An old style funny with excessive emphasis on avoiding all of the situations deemed not allowed to be viewed by the public due to the Hayes Code. The movie provides non stop laughs and a few unexpected twists. I really liked this movie because it brought up the fact that men are men with or with out jobs, with or without a house, and no matter what their social status may be. I really enjoyed the smart witty humor that Godfrey brought to the table. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes good old fashioned humor with a good message that is not pushed on the viewer and although it is over 50 years old it is still very relevant today.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
Good movie
This movie tackles the age old topic of a good guy doing a bad thing. Although technically a criminal we come to find that he is actually a decent guy and successful as well. This socially conscious film analyzes the faults and flaws of the American Justice system. The use of silence in this film forces you to focus on the characters and the images displayed. Heavy shadows and use of lighting has a dramatic effect and helps set the tone of different scenes very well. The story is well written and very interesting with a few unexpected twists along the way. This movie,although quite old is still relevant today and i think that makes it a great movie.
The Circus (1928)
The Circus
This was the first silent film that I had ever seen. It was better than I had anticipated.The story was easy to follow and the humor was a funny that is not matched in movies today. The fact that the film is silent added to the comedic persona played by Chaplin. The exaggerated movements and expressions have a great impact on the effect. The chase through the mirror maze would not be as funny had it not been the tramp character and also would not be as funny with sound. The effect of the applause at various points in the film were amplified by just being able to see the audience clapping furiously. I would recommend this film if you are into goofy and clumsy characters and a simple story to follow.