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Reviews
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Interesting way or directing
"The Grapes of Wrath," is a very well known film based upon the conditions and hardships of the Great Depression. I found it to be very interesting that I could actually tell that some scenes were filmed on a sound stage. The sound gave it away. I noticed that in a scene where Tom and the former preacher were walking "outside" that when they talked, I could hear their voices echoing. I never have been able to really distinguish between on-scene location and on stage. But, in this movie, surprisingly I was able to because of the echoing. But, the lighting in that scene is awesome! It really captures that its later in the day, going on evening, and there is a storm coming. The camera work is pretty basic. The natural lighting of the candle as Tom, the preacher and Yulie are talking emphasizes the conversation they are all having. Good plot, basic filming, interesting light and the sound in some scenes is not synchronized or recorded right in relation to the location/set.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Great movie!
This movie is wonderfully photographed. The lighting reflects very well off of the characters and flows well with the smooth colors of the film. The actors that were chosen for this film coordinate well with each other. The culture behind this film and the history of racism is very apparent in this movie. All the actors are magnificent when they are introduced to John, a colored man in a Caucasian home. The acting is so realistic and natural to those in this film. John's mentality about knowing that people will be shocked about the marriage with Joey is right. Joey is oblivious to the fact that people in that time did not accept African Americans and Caucasians together. But, as society grew and changed, racism has gone down significantly. The message that love cannot bring people apart even if there are some sorts of "issues," is very powerful in this film. Great plot and fantastic acting. Really good movie.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Very gritty.
Very gritty movie that pushes the boundaries. Only a year after the Hays Code was diminished, and the ratings became the source of classifying a movie, this movie definitely is over the top and earns the X rating. Very sexual and overwhelming plot of a male prostitute trying to find his way in NYC. A lot of nudity, prostitution and sexual content that was banned only a year earlier. Kisses were not supposed to last more then 5 seconds and if a woman showed her back or even much of her legs, it was pushing the Hays Code. Interesting how only a year later, directors are going as far as this director went with this movie. The end of the Hays Code was the beginning of " New Hollywood" and this over dramatic plot definitely fulfilled the rating system by getting a high rating. Not a favorite of mine, but it shows how Hollywood changed drastically within just one year.
The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Okay movie. A little strange
The opening credits of this movie were very interesting in my opinion. The sketched buildings were very appealing since that is a different approach to introducing a movie. The music is very entertaining and flows along very well with the movie. I liked the voice over in the beginning as the credits were rolling. Seymore is a very funny character who in a way kind of reminds me of Charlie Chaplin. He is very clumsy and it works for his character. The mallet music is in a way Seymore's theme song when he is on a mission. I think it is goofy which matches his personality. It is very strange that the movie is based around a plant, and also that the plant can talk, but the plot is effective and very funny. Some scenes were were a little off synchronized with the camera angles and elements like that. But overall, it was a pretty good movie in respects to it being a B-list movie, which explains the cheesy plot and non synchronized shots.
All That Heaven Allows (1955)
Wonderfully filmed
The color in All that Heaven Allows is phenomenal. The soft, light colors really help accentuate the actors complexion. Along with the beautiful lighting, the actors look flawless. The photography of this film is wonderful and exceptionally executed. The camera work is very well done. I loved the second scene where the woman was sitting at her makeup table and she was being shot from behind to where you could see her through her mirror. As she got up to greet her company, the camera zoomed in on the mirror to show her talking with her company. I found it very effective and unique. The locations are well picked out, especially where the maintenance man's house is beautiful and inviting. The music is well picked out for this movie. It really emphasizes and supports the movie! Great movie! Great plot!
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Fantastic Movie!
I absolutely love this movie! I have only seen a couple of Jack Nicholson movies, but this movie is definitely one of the best! He is such a natural, real actor that one can really feel for. The different personalities of each character just flow so well together and make the movie so interesting and funny! The plot is so flowing and free. It really engages the audience with its funny dialog, scenes and characters. There is not one boring moment in this movie. It is hilarious and the plot is amazing. Such a well put together movie from the actors, to the plot to the dialog. If the viewer does not know of Jack Nicholson or is not a fan, I feel like this movie will flip that opinion around. He is a very honest actor who is so alive and powerful when he acts!
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
Relatable Scene discussed in review
The movie, "Where the Sidewalk Ends," is a movie that is constantly going around in circles involving all the characters. My favorite part of the movie was the scene where detective Dixon takes Morgan out to eat. The sarcasm between Dixon, who is a regular customer at the restaurant, and the owner and worker there Martha. In some ways, it makes the movie more realistic because when people get to know one another, the level of bonding becomes that of more intimate in a way. The way Martha talked about Dixon was definitely intimate in the way that she joked around with Morgan about Dixon. Martha: "How's the soup?" Dixon:" Horrible." The dialog between these two characters lifts the mood from gloomy and mysterious to funny and engaging.. because of the relate-able bond to these characters knowing each other over the years. It is a very interesting movie because it is a big circle of accidents and purposeful murders.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Very Good Plot and Message
This movie, " Do the Right Thing," by Spike Lee is very moving in the sense that racism was a big issue in the movie. It it moving because throughout the film, certain situations are touched upon that were very blown up years ago. But, throughout, one realizes that how these situations are handled aren't the best way to go about solving the problems. It is also very upsetting at the end to see the Riot scene and know that the racism and in some ways, hatred of other races really existed. Also, how people were treated when they would stand up for what they believed in and how they felt. It was upsetting but also moving to me that we have mostly come a long way in accepting freedom of speech and we are a multicultural country, and that we are more open eyed when it comes to new situations. Such as voting an African American man to be our President. This movie's meaning is stated in the title, " Do the Right Thing," and the older man in the movie definitely helps the other characters realize that we need to accept people for who they are.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Great Movie!
I had not expected this movie to have the plot that it did, but it was very well directed and shot. I absolutely enjoyed it. It was very risky for the time, but it showed that since the approval was not in effect anymore, that such acts like robbery, and sex were allowed to be shown or implied. I found it to be straight forward as the characters who did not know each other, just suddenly became partners in crime. The whole connection and also distance between Bonnie and Clyde is frustrating because the audience wants them to work out, but the constant tension and disregard that Clyde shows is aggravating. The movie in some senses, implied that robbery was a fun and cool thing to do which again was very risky. But the movie ended up being a fantastic hit and was very enjoyable to watch!
Citizen Kane (1941)
Not my style, but not a bad movie
Citizen Kane is a very well known movie. It is phenomenally directed. I never really got into the movie as much as others have. I didn't find it that interesting, although it was beautifully shot, I did not really like the plot. It just wasn't my style. But I did have a favorite part which was engaging. The scene where they Kane is out to eat with a big group of people and the dancers and the band came out. It was so out of the loop and not really expected in the film, which is why I liked it because it was so unexpected. My teacher pointed out that they had microphones that were in the ceiling, and you could hear the change in volume as the band would walk underneath the microphone and then walk away and it be suddenly different in volume. I found that to be very interesting. Not a bad movie, just not my style and not a favorite of mine.
The Graduate (1967)
Not what I thought
When I heard of the movie "The Graduate," I thought it was going to be about a college scene, and then how the character pursues what he learned in college and was very successful. Which was not what the movie was about at all. I had always heard the phrase," Mrs.Robinson, " and never knew what it was from. But this movie was very interesting in a "risky" kind of way for the time period. My favorite part about the movie was how awkward Benjamin was. His innocence is taken away when he makes a decision that will affect his future. It was a very flowing plot that kept my interesting throughout. The way that it was shot was also very unique, using ellipses to show how time had past but also making the scenes into a montage was very cool in my opinion.
Mildred Pierce (1945)
Loved the Girl Power in it
Mildred Pierce is such a fantastic film for the mid 1940s. The story line was very unique and engaging. There was not a single scene where I became uninterested in the film. I love how Joan Crawford's character was such an eccentric, strong and bold woman who could get through any obstacle that she was faced with. Her independence and will to succeed was overpowering and uplifting. Her sense of self and pride was well portrayed of her character as she remained calm and had a very demanding, yet smooth way of overcoming issues that came her way. The "girl-power" she had was very encouraging and really helped the film become a big hit. This is one of the more interesting and good films I have seen for this time period. Very well done.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Brilliant Musical
I am not a big fan of Musicals when it comes to movies. They always come off as cheesy and very bland. But, "Singing In The Rain" is a magnificent musical. For those who are unsure about this genre of film, this movie will change your mind. It is the first colored film we have watched in my History of American Cinema class, and also the first musical we watched and I loved it. The dancing blew my mind. Donald O'Connor's character, in my opinion, was the best and made the movie more exciting. His crazy dancing, and off the wall personality was so entertaining and put a smile on my face. The other character who made me laugh was Jean Hagen's needy character. Her part in the movie just made it that more enjoyable because it goes to show that not every "hollywood glamor" girl is perfect for every roll. It also shows that an ordinary girl like Debbie Reynold's character, does have a shot in the big world! The singing, and dancing were phenomenal. I love the scene with O'Connor and Gene Kelly dancing around the speech teacher!
The Killing (1956)
Personally: Not Interesting.
The film "The Killing" was in my opinion a very uneventful, boring, long film that took energy for me to stay awake to watch it. The replaying of the same horse racing scene was very annoying and too repetitive for me. I know that it was to serve the purpose of importance, but in my opinion it was just "getting old." I also thought that the plot was not as good as it should've been, for it bored me and I kept wondering when it would be over. But, the one element I loved from the film was the snappiness of Sherry Peatty's character. She was a very outspoken, sneaky girl with many sassy comebacks and a big attitude. I think her character was the one who filled up the screen and actually made the movie a little better.
Foreign Correspondent (1940)
Similar elements to Casablanca.
The first thing I noticed about this movie was how during the credits that it starts off with a globe spinning. This scene is similar to that of "Casablanca" where they both start off with the image of the earth twirling around. The lighting for this movie is very washed out in the beginning because it had scenes of success and happiness. The bar looks familiar too in the scene after the main character meets someone outside of the train. The bar looks like the one that is in "Casablanca." This movie is more open then "Casablanca" was. One can tell with the washed out and lighter lighting indicates that this movie is lighter then "Casablanca" which was a very dark and mysterious film. As that, these two films were both about war, although Casablanca had more affect on society in my opinion because it was released only a couple years after we entered the war after Pearl Harbor, where as Foreign Correspondent was released before our entrance into the war.
Casablanca (1942)
Moving Love Story
Casablanca is a very well known movie across the United States. It came out in 1942, just as the was began to end. The plot, which was about World War 2, was very relatable to those during that time of crisis. It shows how much power the Germans really did have over other countries and the people. This love story is very compelling and edgy because the two characters are in a funk that they had a love for each other before, but cannot seem to ever be together because of certain circumstances. The love that Rick has for Ilsa is so unselfish that he makes decisions for her that will affect her life in a good way, causing him to lose the girl he once and does love. This goes to show that many people are willing to give up their feelings for another person's well-being.
Dracula (1931)
The look
The 1931 version of Dracula is a very classic movie to watch when it comes to horror films. "The look" is what caught my eye through the entire movie. Whenever Dracula is about to transform someone or give someone instructions to make someone into his follower, he expresses this very creepy, dark look on his face. It makes the character even more mysterious and haunting because the face is so dramatic, that it gives one the spooks. Bela Lugosi was a fantastic actor in this film. He portrayed this vampire so well that you would think that he is like this in reality: quite and mysterious. Dracula had very few lines in the movie, but that lack of dialogue emphasized the character so much more. Everything he said, I wanted to make sure I heard because it was very important. But, although he did not say much, his facial expressions really did show what he was feeling or thinking.
Scarface (1932)
Not my favorite film
Scarface was an okay film for me. I expected a lot more from it by the title of it. Paul Muni is a wonderful actor and portrays very good acting skills in this film, especially at the end. The aspects that did not make this film jump out to me were, the plot was dull for me, and it was not lively enough to keep it interesting. The aspect that was very successful in this film was the acting by Paul Muni. His character at the end becomes insane, and how he shows this insanity is amazing. You would actually think the he might be slightly crazy with how well done he did with his character. You can feel his emotion through the screen because he expresses it in such a dynamic way it draws attention to his character.
Stagecoach (1939)
Slow moving movie.
Stagecoach was one of the more less interesting films I have seen in my opinion. It is classified as a "western movie," but does not have as many chase scenes or fight scenes in it to make it more intense and fascinating. Although many western movies have the clichés and the stereotypes, that is how we notice them. For instance, the Indian race/tribe who fights and chases the "western" men. Yes in this movie it had a small chase scene that actually made the movie good to watch, but it still did not meet my standards because it was very slow pace. The slow pace of this film made the movie seem to drag on and on and seemed like it never ended. But, my favorite aspect about the movie was that of the higher class woman ( Lucy Mallory ) learned to accept and appreciate the help that was being given to her by the prostitute Dallas. It sends the message that even though there are many differences between people and their social class, it doesn't mean that they aren't people and have feelings to. So by Lucy appreciating what Dallas was doing for her, it allowed their differences to be put aside and their appreciation to shine.
Frankenstein (1931)
Classic Movie!
Frankenstein has been such a big hit throughout the years. There have been so many remakes and "sequals" to it that it is a very well known movie. With all the talk, I had never seen it before. After seeing it I was in some sorts amazed with it because I didn't think that the plot was going to be as good as it was. I learned that Frankenstein is not the name of the monster, but it is the name of the scientist who created him. Throughout the movie, the viewer in some ways learns to feel bad for this monster who in terms, has no control over what he does. One would think that Frankenstein is a monster who loves to be evil, but in fact, he is a monster who is just trying to live. The acting was phenomenal by Boris Karloff ( the monster ). All in all, it is a classic movie that everyone should see.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Good Over Exaggerated Acting.
This film," My Man Godfrey," was a very interesting movie. It was filled with many dramatic scenes, such as crying, and hysterical scenes of over emphasized acting. Irene, the main woman character was a very clingy and over the top woman who was almost obsessed with a man named Godfrey that she met and soon helped him become the butler for her family. Her love for Godfrey is so powerful that she over emphasizes her feelings and emotions for him to notice her. She constantly follows him around and says his name many times. It was a very funny film because of the exaggerated acting and the plot that was very fast but flowed nicely.
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
Very Upbeat
This film," Arsenic and Old Lace," is very upbeat, comical,and fast moving. The plot is very jumpy, it doesn't seem to flow nicely. For me, it was too choppy for my liking when it comes to the plot, but the acting was great. The main character, Mortimer is very overly dramatic in this film, making it very funny to watch. My favorite character was "Teddy," because he was so funny as he thought he was someone he wasn't. His actions were very exaggerated, which brought more emphasis to the plot, making this film very over the top in terms of comedy, and drama. Although some of the parts were kind of creepy in this film with Mortimer's brother, it was an overall comical film with much appreciated acting.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
Okay Movie
In my opinion, this movie was just okay for me. The plot was good, where as it flowed very well and made sense throughout the entire movie, but I didn't find it interesting enough for my taste. Yet, for it being one of the first films to have sound, I give it credit for how well the sound was obtained throughout the movie. The sound effects were especially good for that time period and the technology they had. The clanking of the hammers on the rails of the train tracks were very well done, as in they were in time with the scene. Although a couple times in the movie the sound was a bit delayed, I thought it was a very good attempt at making the scenes and the sounds go together.
Why Change Your Wife? (1920)
The Plot is like those of Modern Day Romance Drama's
Today, many modern day romance drama's are about an average girl who likes a guy, but isn't enough for him. In this movie, Beth, is a very conservative wife to her husband Robert, but she is very controlling about what he does. Instead of balancing their lives together, she has taken total control over his life, making him unhappy. Every time he tries to let her relax and loosen up, does she make a big fuss about how he doesn't like who she is. Then, he meets with an old friend again and they instantly connect and their sparks are flying just like they would in a modern day movie. The music really helps to make the tone of each scene. When Beth decides to kind of "live on the wild side," it just gives the impression that many woman are more likely to change their appearance for a guys attention. But in all respects, not every woman is like that. Its mostly for the affect that writers put that scenario into their plots. All in all it was a decent movie, very dramatic for the 1920s. Slow start, but ended pretty well.
The Circus (1928)
Great Silent Film! Not what I expected!
This movie," The Circus," was a very funny and uplifting movie for someone who is feeling a little down and needs a good laugh. Charlie Chaplin is a hilarious actor, who, in this film plays a clumsy and awkward character. Along with his facial expressions, Chaplin uses body language in this silent film to get the message across of what he is doing. Although I had thought I would not enjoy a silent film, this movie changed my mind and my thoughts about silent films all together. Although there is no dialogue, by paying attention to body language, and facial expressions, it was easy to go along and understand the plot of this movie. The music that filled in the silence was also a big help! For those of who are only interested in colored, sound films, take some time to watch this movie because it definitely changed my mind set about old silent movies!