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A Clockwork Orange (1971)
A brilliant work of art from the greatest filmmaker of all time
There is no doubt that Stanley Kubrick was extraordinarily intelligent, and he is definitely my number one favorite filmmaker of all time. I love every one of his professional films, from The Killing (1956) to Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Each film of his clearly shows his expertise on a technical level, which for him began with still photography. The many topical issues, which are apparent in many of his films, have also been heavily discussed. His films, 2001: A Space Odyssey for example, have all received heavy criticism upon initial release. But no other film of Kubrick's has been as controversial as A Clockwork Orange. When I first saw A Clockwork Orange, I was a sophomore in high school. And, as you might expect, I was disgusted by what I had perceived as the cold, warped, and biased nature of the film, but I later realized how wrong I was. Just like many other viewers of the film, I was particularly negatively affected by the rape scene that occurs within the first ten to fifteen minutes of the film. However, after several more viewings of the film, and after thoroughly reading (and listening to) some rare interviews of Stanley Kubrick (I understand how much Kubrick disliked interviews), I began to understand not only his intentions, which were clearly misunderstood by many haters of the film, but also the brilliance and central idea of the film. Just like with any other Kubrick film, there is a lot to be said about A Clockwork Orange regarding the technical aspect and style of it, as well as the substance, intelligence, and brilliance that all lie beneath the surface of it. I advise you to BE CAREFUL before reading my review, because there are SPOILERS.
First of all, I have to FIRST mention the incredible cinematography that the film involves. As a filmmaker currently in college, I have in particular been heavily influenced by the use of the ultra wide-angle (or maybe fisheye) lens, tracking, and zoom shots used in the film. Although I find it very difficult to explain why I love these shots so much, they bring much of an effect to the screen. In addition, I love the shot of Alex's POV as he jumps out the window toward the end of the film; I find it amusing that the camera survived six takes of being dropped for that particular shot. I also love the use of slow and fast motion in the film, which adds to the satire of the film. What amazes me about Kubrick is that he almost never planned out his shots. I simply cannot imagine some of the most memorable shots in the film being unplanned. In a way though it makes perfect sense, since Stanley Kubrick started out as a photographer and cinematography came naturally to him.
I also LOVE Kubrick's choice of music in his films, and A Clockwork Orange is no exception. I think it's genius, and absolutely appropriate, for classical music, such as Beethoven and Rossini, to be used extensively throughout the film. The classical music also fits well because Alex is a lover and fan of Beethoven.
What I also love about Kubrick is that his films have their own style; he didn't like to go with the usual cliches used in lots of films. For example, there is a certain kind of way that he cuts. He doesn't like to cut when not necessary, so he usually holds a shot for long time when it's appropriate to do so. I think these slow cuts can add much drama to a scene. There are a lot of these slow cuts in The Shining, for example, when Jack Torrance is speaking to Grady in the bathroom scene. There is a very dramatic scene in A Clockwork Orange that also uses these slow, infrequent cuts: when Alex returns home from being "treated," he discovers that a fellow named Joe has replaced him in his own home. This way of cutting has influenced me tremendously, and I have incorporated it into some of my own short films.
Malcolm McDowell could not have been a better choice for the role of Alex. I recently watched the film If... for the first time, and I can clearly see why Kubrick decided to cast him. Besides McDowell, I also particularly love the performances of both Patrick Magee and Philip Stone, both of which have roles in Barry Lyndon, and the latter having another role in The Shining as Delbert/Charles Grady.
Beneath the surface, A Clockwork Orange is a very intelligent work of art that can lead to many different interpretations or meanings. There are several themes or meanings that I believe can be interpreted throughout the film: man versus society; anarchy versus total government control; freewill versus the abuse of freewill; etc. One could also argue, and Kubrick has discussed this himself, that the film portrays the left- and right-wing characters as equal in terms of means and ends but differing in terms of beliefs. The film also portrays the philosophy (and I quote Kubrick once again) that "society is imperfectly structured because of the nature of man." Alex starts out as a criminal, murderer, and rapist. But he ends up becoming a Clockwork Orange when society deals with him in ways that may be just as bad as, or even worse than, the evil crimes that Alex committed himself. The doctors use a brainwashing technique, known as the Ludovico technique, to treat Alex. The film, in my opinion, becomes more interesting when it goes full circle, and Alex ends up back to where he started - as an evil criminal without any "goodness" within him. But the biggest reason why I love this full-circle transformation that occurs within Alex is that I believe that Alex ends up rejecting what society has not only given to him, but forced into him. A Clockwork Orange is not just a work of art or a masterpiece of a film, but it's something that everyone can relate to in one way or another. Let's use school as an example (the film If... with Malcolm McDowell is a great example of a film that directly shows this). I believe that learning and education are both important. However, I also believe that true learning must come from within. When learning becomes a requirement in school, students can start rejecting the education that is being given to them. Therefore, the students start defying the teachers and the staff members at school. This is not always the case with everyone, but I certainly had a similar reaction myself while I was in high school. That's when the issues portrayed in A Clockwork Orange come into play. As Stanley Kubrick explained, we can all identify with Alex on the unconscious level, but we don't all become Alexes "as a result of morality, the law and sometimes our own innate character." There are so many more things that could be said about A Clockwork Orange, which is why Stanley Kubrick tended not to speak too much about the meanings of his films. Stanley Kubrick, from an interview regarding Full Metal Jacket, has explained, "If a film has any substance or subtlety, whatever you say is never complete, it's usually wrong, and it's necessarily simplistic: truth is too multifaceted to be contained in a five-line summary. If the work is good, what you say about it is usually irrelevant." Nevertheless, I cannot see the film the same way (with disgust) that I saw it immediately following my initial viewing. For example, I know for a fact that Stanley Kubrick never did glorify violence nor rape; I think that believing something like that is way too simplistic. To show the various crimes of ultra-violence that Alex commits during the beginning of the film is simply to develop the character of Alex as an evil sociopath. I currently continue to think about A Clockwork Orange - all the time, in fact - and I think it accurately illustrates the nature of man in an unbiased way.
Overall, I believe A Clockwork Orange to be a timeless societal, political, and philosophical commentary open to subjective interpretation. I, therefore, urge viewers to watch this film with an open mind and allow themselves to put their own interpretation on it. I understand that it may be extremely difficult for many viewers to see much brilliance and beauty in the film after an initial viewing due to the "ultra-violence" and extremities portrayed in the film. I furthermore urge viewers to watch the film more than once, to appreciate it as stimulating masterpiece of cinema.
Love Is All You Need? (2016)
Very interesting perspective!
As a supporter of LBGTQ rights, I praise "Love is All You Need?" very much for its remarkable screenplay and intense acting.
Director Kim Rocco Shields created an interesting perspective for the film's viewers, in which homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuality is the minority. This unique twist of reality caused me, as a heterosexual viewer, to "feel" the alienation and abuse that the heterosexual characters (Jude, Ryan, and Emily) felt; in reality, these characters would be mistreated for being homosexual, and that is why this film seemed so compelling for me (and many others viewers of this film).
In addition to the brilliant screenplay, the acting seemed so real and accurately depicts the inverse of the reality regarding today's LGBTQ rights and equality. I thought that Briana's acting during the film's entirety was outstanding. Although it was very painful for me to watch, the scene that I felt had the most convincing acting was when Emily breaks into tears and attempts suicide in the bathroom.
I would highly recommend this film, since I feel like it successfully addresses (and hopefully allows people to understand) problems with LGBT community.
Farewell Ferris Wheel (2016)
Very good documentary film!
I watched this film, along with Big Sonia, with my high school for a field trip. As a filmmaker, I found Farewell Ferris Wheel very sad, inspirational, and engaging, and I respect Jamie and Miguel for bringing awareness to the issue that the film addresses. While the carnivals and Ferris wheels are visually engaging, this insightful documentary film is about Mexicans working hard for a living and not getting payed enough. I highly recommend this documentary film to anyone who wants to learn more about the treatment of Mexicans and the economy in the US, since it speaks out about the issue that needs to be addressed.
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
One of the best horror films I have seen!
Although Rosemary's Baby is not among my favorite films of all time, it is still a masterpiece, and I would even say that it's better than the Exorcist in some ways. Rosemary's Baby proves that a film doesn't need special effects (blood, gore, zombies, etc.) in order to be a scary film. Mystery and the sense of the unknown drives this film and makes it truly chilling.
My favorite scene in the movie, although very unpleasant, is the scene where Rosemary dreams of getting raped by Satan. The way the scene is executed is extremely well done and it successfully brings terror to the screen. The audience realizes that Satan is raping her without it telling the audience directly. There are a lot of things to figure out that add on to the dread in this film. I also loved that Rosemary was forced to see more than one doctor because it made me question if there was any way that Rosemary could cure her "illness."
To be quite honest, I didn't really understand the movie when I first watched it, especially the ending, so I didn't love it the first time I saw it. However, after watching it again, I picked up some of the parts that I missed and it all made sense to me, leaving me disturbed, yet amazed.
Although Rosemary's Baby is an older film, it still remains a classic today. The pacing of the movie is more on the slower side, but without the slow pacing, the suspense would not be as strong. I am a filmmaker and this is the reason why I choose to make my films slower-paced. I find pacing to be an important factor in films because it can completely change the mood of any film.
The acting was great! Mia's performance was incredible, from scenes where she had severe pain inside of her...to her reactions of the tragic events that affected several people that she knew...to her frustration with the doctors and the treatments she was receiving...to her final reaction of her baby's eyes at the end!
Another thing to be discussed in this film is the apparently frequent use of symbolism, ideas, and themes. Satan seems to be the most common symbol. Pretty much everything that happens in this film is centered around the concept of Satan. I think reality is an important theme in this film also. The entire film is somewhat surreal in a way I cannot explain. Eraserhead and this film both seem to share the idea of a deformed or, in this case, damned child. I could keep going on about themes, symbols, and ideas, but I will end this review with a conclusion.
I HIGHLY recommend this movie to anyone who loves horror film. I do not believe in special effects, when it comes to horror films; I believe in the audience sensing the unknown, whatever or whomever it shall be. This is indeed a MASTERPIECE and I absolutely respect every bit of it! CHILLING, MYSTERIOUS, CREEPY, DISTURBING, DARK...these words all apply.
I will be back to revise this review.
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)
Great film!
This film was outstanding! Usually I do not watch Western movies, but I think I will watch more. I have seen one other movie with Clint Eastwood and in it, called the Unforgiven. I love the Unforgiven, but I felt that this movie had everything. It is really interesting to find out how the good, the bad, and the ugly are related to each other in this movie. The story is very complex and the acting is terrific. The soundtrack, by Ennio Morricone, is excellent as well; I have heard the theme music before and I never knew that it came from this movie. I also recognized the Ecstasy of Gold, which plays as an introduction for Metallica concerts.
In the film, it was really interesting to learn why the good, the bad, and the ugly needed each other alive in order for them to complete the same quest: to obtain the money from the grave in the cemetery. This film has so many great quotes, such as "When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." I laughed so hard at that part! It was interesting when Tuco wants justice for what Blondie did in the beginning, but later on, the two of them develop a friendship. Trust also plays a role in this film. When Tuco and Blondie put TNT on the bridge, they share secrets about which grave the money is in; however, when Tuco discovers no money in the grave, Blondie reveals that he never trusted Tuco. This is why I feel like character development plays a major role in this film; however, I feel that this film is mostly plot-driven.
I could keep going on and on about this film, but I am going to end my review here. I recommend this film for anyone who is into Clinton Eastwood or Westerns.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
Another Great Quentin Tarantino film!
First of all, I want to congratulate Quentin Tarantino for the release of his 8th film, The Hateful Eight. As a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino's films, I have seen Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, and Reservoir Dogs. Just like any of his other films, The Hateful Eight did not fail to impress me and it clearly utilizes the same distinctive film style that he uses in all of his films. Although, The Hateful Eight is extremely well made, I cannot say that it's my favorite Quentin movie. But, I am going to thoroughly explain what I enjoyed and didn't enjoy about the film.
The cinematography is excellent! I noticed that Quentin incorporated a lot of shots that were filmed with slider, dolly, and/or jib. I may be mistaken about the equipment that was used, but the motion of the shots definitely held my attention. The opening credits scene with the crucifix and the horse carriage was very creative; it was all filmed in one long shot, and the camera slowly moved back to reveal the horse carriage moving closer until it went out of frame. I loved the shot where Quentin reveals the people hiding beneath the cabin in the basement; Quentin also filmed this type of shot in the beginning of Inglourious Basterds, and it allows to viewer to be aware of something that the actors are not aware of. I was also fascinated by the fact that almost every moving shot had a purpose for the way it moved. For example, when Daisy was explaining her deal to Chris, the angle of the shot shifted from the right to the left so that John, who was sitting at the table, ended up in the background right before he was about to speak. There were also a lot of long shots in the movie that not only used subtle camera movements, but that also had the focus adjusted to the actor that was speaking. For an example, there was a memorable shot at the table in the cabin where everybody was eating and talking; the camera stayed still but the focus was constantly changing to keep the viewer's attention. I am currently in advanced video production in high school and I find the cinematography very inspiring.
The acting is also incredible; Quentin seemed to do a great job directing the movie and telling the actors exactly how to act. The style for this movie, just like any other movie directed by him, is long, and usually slow, with a lot of violence mixed with humor. I am very fond of his style, but there are many people that express distaste for his style. One of his most popular actors for his films is Samuel L. Jackson, and I found his acting superb and humorous for this movie. Walton Goggins, who apparently played a role in Django Unchained, did a great job acting as Chris in The Hateful Eight. Jennifer Jason Leigh does a fantastic job acting as Daisy Domergue, who is a very creepy and deceitful character...
***SPOILERS AHEAD!***
...Chris and Samuel L. Jackson's character, Major Marquis Warren, don't seem to have a great relationship in the beginning of the film; but at the end of the film, the two characters unexpectedly seem to have planned their rough relationship the entire time, and they end teaming up to hang Daisy.
The only (small) weakness of the film is the story. First of all, I disliked the fact that the entire film took place all in one day at a cabin. I do wish that the story could have gone elsewhere, rather than just the cabin. I also observe that the storyline is very simple, instead of being complicated like Pulp Fiction; I am not saying it's a bad thing, it is just my observation. Even though the story seemed to drag on, it didn't reduce the quality of the movie that much.
I do however love Warren's background story of how he made the general's son suffer in the terribly cold climate; the scene itself is very well done: Warren has his own gun next to the general while he is telling the story, and at the last second, Warren has the general shot dead right before the general can shoot him.
I could go on and on about this film...Nevertheless, this was a great film filmed by a fantastic director! I recommend this film to anyone who is a Quentin Tarantino fan!
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
What a movie!
Before watching this movie, I looked it up on IMDb and there seemed to be a lot of mixed reviews; many of the positive reviews explained how much of a cute, romantic film it is, while the negative reviews simply stated how boring and pathetic it is. I've got to be honest, I was uncertain about whether or not to watch it because of the reviews, but I thought about it and ended up giving it a try. Now, I have finished watching the movie and I must say, I found the movie very warm and touching. At the same time, the movie seemed to have a little too much forced exposition. There were a couple of moments in the beginning of the film that didn't seem to flow. For an example, it was strange how a woman on one side of a country could feel such a strong connection with a random helpless man on the other side of the country. That man, Sam, is none of her business and she doesn't even know him, but that's what makes the film so ironic. I found that part of the plot very unrealistic, but, I guess, cute in a way. Nevertheless, the plot of the film was interesting to me.
As for the acting, Tom Hanks surely did a great job playing his character, and his character seemed the most realistic in this film. Sam never knew that Annie was the right woman for him until he saw her in person. I enjoy the films that Tom Hanks is in, like Big, for an example, and I really enjoyed his performance in this film as well. Meg's character, on the other hand, got a little too dramatic at times. When she got dramatic, the movie felt more like a sitcom, like Good Luck Charlie, but I would rather not ruin the beauty of this film because there are many positive things for me to say about it. I definitely found Ross' character cute. Although I felt sympathy for Jonah at times, I didn't understand how he felt such a strong connection between Sam and Annie. Maybe there was something that I missed in the film that was included in the letter that Annie sent to Sam. Besides that, the acting was very well done!
I loved the music that played throughout the film and it seemed to fit the theme very well! It made the film seem more like an older film from the 50s or 60s. A lot of the music sounded a lot like Frank Sinatra, which is commonly played in romantic situations.
I have honestly never watched a romantic film before, nor are romantic films my type of movies, but I was truly impressed after watching Sleepless in Seattle. I would recommend this film to anyone; there is nothing inappropriate in this film for younger children, so I think children would also enjoy this. I understand how one could dislike this film, but I do think that this film is very cute, which I hope others can see in this film.