Shawshank Redemption
Movie: 1994, color, 142 minutes
Director: Frank Darabot
Actors: Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Bob Gunton
Summary: Shawshank Redemption is about two imprisoned men (Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins) who develop a strong friendship throughout the years they spend in Shawshank prison together. Tim Robbins character is a wrongly convicted murderer who is sentenced to two life terms in Shawshank prison. Andy (Tim Robbins) uses his banking skills to win the favor of the warden (Bob Gutton) and the guards. In return, Andy is allowed to improve the prison’s library. After 19 years in prison, Andy makes an escape and heads for Mexico. Later, Red (Morgan Freeman), is released from prison and meets up with Andy in Mexico.
In the scene where Andy and Red are speaking about hope and getting out of prison, there is moss behind the wall that Andy is sitting under and no moss behind the part of the wall that Red is sitting under. Why does the director set up the scene in this way?
In the movie, Andy is always full of hope. Towards the end of the movie when Andy is talking to Red about the place Andy wants Red to go if Red ever gets out, there is moss on the wall Andy is leaning against and no moss on the wall the Red is leaning against. Andy is speaking of the idea of getting out of Shawshank Prison one day. However Red says that Andy should give up his dreams. Andy says to Red that you can either “get busy living or get busy dying.” Andy is full of hope for better days. Frank Darabot purposely set up the shot to have green moss behind Andy and none behind Red to portray the color green as a color of hope. In addition, when Red is released from prison, he travels to the place Andy told him to go. While, in the process of traveling to that special oak tree in the hayfield, Red is constantly surrounded by green foliage. The color green seems to be the only thing surrounding him. Red is encompassed with a new sense of hope and the green foliage represents this.
How does Frank Darabot use silhouettes in a formalistic manner?
Throughout the film, silhouettes are used. One example of where silhouettes are used is when the sisters first rape Andy. When Andy is alone in a room, three of the sisters appear and the surround him. When the camera turns to them, they are portrayed in silhouette. They are purposely portrayed in darkness to symbolize the inhumane characteristics of the sisters. Another instant in where silhouettes are used is during the first night the new prisoners spend in the prison. When one of the new prisoners begins to cry out and say that he should not be in prison, the main guard takes him out of his prison cell and beats him to death. In this shot, the guard is also portrayed in a silhouette. Again this silhouette gives the guard inhumane characteristics.
All the President's Men
Movie: 1976, color, 138 minutes
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Actors: Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden
Summary: All the President’s Men is a film based on the journalistic experiences of Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) as they uncover the Watergate scandal that resulted in the resignation on President Richard Nixon.
What is the purpose of aerial shots in the film?
There are numerous examples of aerial shots in the film. One of the most significant aerial shots is a shot of Bernstein and Woodward that takes place in the Library of Congress. The shot starts with a closer zoom aerial shot that then zooms out once they start looking through all of the library receipts. This shot emphasizes the fact that Bernstein and Woodward were two inexperienced journalists that were on the verge of uncovering a story that would bring down a whole administration. Another significant aerial shot is when Pakula shoots an aerial shot of all of Washington D.C. with Carl Bernstein’s (Dustin Hoffman’s) voice narrating the next step for the investigation. This shot aerial shot of all of Washington D.C. with Bernstein’s voice behind it sends the same message that they are two inexperienced journalists in one of the largest and most powerful cities on earth who are about to reveal President Nixon and his administration as crooks.
What is the purpose of the shot with the television showing Nixon speaking at the nomination and Woodward out of focus in the background typing away?
This shot is used as a foreshadowing device. While Nixon is giving his speech at the nomination for the Presidency, Woodward is out of focus typing a story that would eventually bring the man of the hour down. He is out of focus because no body knows who he is at the moment but he is on the verge of bringing Nixon to his downfall. It is interesting to show the contrast between Richard Nixon and Bob Woodward, the crook and the reporter that exposed him. Pakula uses this shot to bring clarity to the conflict and to demonstrate the two opposing sides of the conflict. In the sense of time, it is also a long shot. This further emphasizes the importance of the shot. In addition, in the shot, Bob Woodward is the only one working. Every other journalist in the Washington Post headquarters is watching the nomination of President Nixon. Furthermore, this emphasizes that Bob Woodward is on the pursuit of something bigger than the nomination of President Richard Nixon.
Annie Hall
Movie: 1977, color, 138 minutes
Director: Woody Allen
Actors: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts
Summary: Annie Hall is a film that tells the story of a love between comedian Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) and Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). Alvy Singer eventually breaks up with Annie Hall and much of the movie Alvy retraces his steps to see where things went wrong with Annie and what mistakes he made for their relationship to fail.
Why does Woody Allen break the fourth wall and use long takes in the film?
Throughout the film, long takes are prominently used. Woody Allen does this because he wants to portray the camera as another character. These long takes are used because Woody Allen wants the film to be as realistic as possible. It is rare to see the camera cutting to anticipated dialogue or zooming. The camera is simply another character that follows the action of the film. One example of this is where Alvy and Rob are walking down a street and having a conversation in New York City. The shot opens with Alvy and Rob talking but the viewer cannot see them. As their conversation progresses, they walk towards the camera and not before long, they are in the foreground of the shot. The camera then turns once they walk past the camera, however, the camera never cuts in anticipation of other dialogue. It simply follows Alvy and Rob as they walk past the camera. This claim is further exemplified when Woody Allen breaks the fourth wall on multiple occasions. Alvy directly speaks to the camera as if it were another character in the film. It is almost as if the camera is not even there and that the viewer of the film is a bystander watching the story of Alvy and Annie Hall unfold. Both of these techniques are used to portray the realistic tendencies of the film. Going off on a total tangent, this is a thought I just had. It is difficult to distinguish Annie Hall as either a solely formalistic or realistic film. Woody Allen wants the viewer to see life as he sees it. Therefore the film is formalistic. However, Woody Allen uses long takes to portray the film in a realistic fashion because he wants the viewer to believe that this movie is a representation of what actually happens in the world. Therefore, the movie is formalistic.
What film techniques does Woody Allen use to portray on of the movie’s themes that art can reshape life into something more satisfying?
The main theme in the Annie Hall is that art can reshape life into something more satisfying. Woody Allen uses a variety of techniques to portray this message. Woody Allen uses some visual techniques in order to portray this theme. One of these visual techniques is literally walking into the past in order to give his opinion of what was happening. Another one of these techniques is directly addressing the camera. Another technique that Woody Allen uses is the use of subtitles that contradict the onscreen dialogue. When Alvy and Annie Hall are conversing on top of a balcony, Allen places subtitles at the bottom of the screen that contradict what is really being said in the conversation. Allen uses this to give his opinion on what is really happening. Allen uses his artistic film techniques to shape reality the way he sees it.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Movie:1975, color, 133 minutes
Director: Milos Forman
Actors: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Danny DeVito
Summary: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a film about man named Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is sentenced to prison for statutory rape. However, he is transferred to a mental institution for evaluation. McMurphy fakes insanity to avoid a harsher sentence. The ward that McMurphy is transferred to is run by a cold, harsh woman named Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher). Nurse Ratched oppresses the patients in the ward and strikes fear into them. McMurphy brings light and hope to this fear-ridden ward. He makes light of certain situations and is the best thing that ever happened to these patients. The film progresses with many patients breaking out of their shell and becoming closer to the outside world.
Why does Forman use so many close ups of the patient’s faces?
There are countless instances where Forman uses close ups in the film. Throughout the therapy sessions with Nurse Ratched, Forman uses close ups that show all of the patients’ faces. These close ups provide a realistic emphasis for the film. These close ups show the emotion on the patients faces and these emotions portray them as human beings. These close ups serve the purpose of disconnecting the patients from the stereotype of insanity. Forman wants the viewer to know that these patients are just human as themselves. In addition, during the therapy session, Forman uses multiple short takes to show multiple points of view of the scene in the therapy session. These short takes truly provide a realistic aspect to the film because through these short takes of the patient’s emotional faces, Forman leaves the interpretation of the scene up to the viewer. He is providing all of the different points of view and allows the viewer to come up with his or her on interpretation.
What is the purpose of the 65 second close up of McMurphy’s face?
When McMurphy sends Billy off to sleep with Candy, Forman shoots a 65 second close up of McMurphy’s face. This shot is the point in the movie where, with a slight grin on his face, McMurphy realizes the price of his sacrifice for letting Billy sleep with Candy. This 65 second close up sums up all of the short close ups that Forman shot in the therapy sessions with Nurse Ratched. This one shot encompasses all of the progress, symbolized by the short takes of the patients’ faces, that the patients made under the guidance of McMurphy. It is the ultimate close up that encompasses the total relationship between the McMurphy and all of the other patients. It is almost like all of the short close ups in the therapy session on the beginning of the film fit inside this 65 second close up to form the face of the best person that ever came into the patients’ lives, Randle McMurphy.
Casablanca
Movie:1942, black and white, 102 minutes
Director: Michael Curtiz
Actors: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
Summary: In World War II Casablanca, a man by the name of Rick Blaine runs the most popular saloon in town. This saloon becomes the location for refugees in search of purchasing illicit letters of transit that allow them to escape to the Unite States. However, one day Rick’s true love, Ilisa, walks into his saloon. This brought back the memories of Lisa leaving him in Nazi Paris. It is the story of Rick and Ilsa and their decisions to either stay forever in Casablanca or to leave each other and never meet again.
How is alcohol used to represent hard times in the film?
After Rick sees Ilsa walk into his saloon, all of the bad feelings about Ilsa leaving him when the Nazis invaded Paris come up again. He feels the feelings of rejection, anger, and disappointment he felt in the past. That night, Rick begins to drink heavily in his saloon when everybody went home. There is a close-up of an empty shot glass tipping over that then leads the viewer into a flash back that Rick is having about his time with Ilsa in Paris. The fact that the empty shot glass tipped over says that Rick has consumed all of the alcohol and it has allowed him to escape from reality. Then, at the end of his flash back, another empty shot glass tips over. This time, the tipping over of the shot glass portrays that there is no more alcohol and Rick is forced to come back to the present. In Casablanca, people use alcohol to escape from their reality. Even Rick says that “alcohol takes the sting out of being occupied.”
Why is Casablanca shot in black and white and how does Curtiz use shadows?
Casablanca is shot in black and white because Curtiz wants to portray the city of Casablanca in a dark light. Casablanca is like purgatory on earth. It is the stop for refugees of World War II on their way to the United States. Often times, people have a hard time obtaining visas to the ever so desired United States just as people in purgatory wait to go to heaven. In addition to the black and white color, Curtiz uses poor lighting to give the town an even darker appearance. Even expressions on some of the actors faces are difficult to see. Often times in Rick’s saloon, shadows are displayed on the walls to portray mysteriousness and corruption. Also, shadows are neither a real person or are not existent. They are kind of neither here nor there. Just like Casablanca is neither here nor there. Casablanca is in between Nazi Europe and the ever so desired United States just as shadows are neither a representation of a real person or are not existent. Shadows are in between existence and non existence just as Casabalnca is in between safety and the danger of Nazi Europe.
Forest Gump
Movie 1994, color, 142 minutes
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Actors: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
Summary: Forest Gump is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Althought he is not intelligent, he has a big heart and has been present at many historical events. At each one of these events, he has made an impact on history. In every thing he does, Forest Gump amazes the people around him. His childhood best friend Jenny is his one true love. However, Jenny constantly lets Forest down when all Forest wants to do is take care of her. Forest Gump is the story of a man who overcomes all of his challenges while being eluded by his one true love Jenny.
How does the director use close ups to portray significance in Forest’s life?
In the beginning of the film, Zemeckis shoots a close up of Forrest’s shoes. Shoes have a large significance in Forrest’s life. Often times, Forrest runs to get out of situations. When he was a kid, he ran from bullies when they were trying to hurt him. Also, he ran for three whole years in order to clear his mind and get rid of stress created by the Vietnam War. In addition, Zemeckis shoots a close up of Forrest’s purple heart when he is giving it to Jenny. This shot not only signifies the importance of the bonds he made during the Vietnam war, but it also signifies the importance of Jenny in his life.
What is the purpose of the feather in the beginning of the film?
The feather in the beginning of the movie symbolizes chance and blind luck. Throughout the film, Forrest constantly shows up at historical events and he makes an impact on these events. He calls in the police to investigate intruders at the Watergate hotel. He also is present at the first integration of black and white school children. Also, he teaches the King Elvis Presley how to dance. All of these events happened purely by chance, just as the feather happened to land right on Forrest’s foot in the beginning of the film. The quote that epitomizes the theme of chance in the film is when Forrest says “I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe its both.” In addition, the feather is white. This white color symbolizes the innocence of Forrest Gump.
Psycho
Movie 1960, black and white, 109 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Actors: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
Summary: A woman named Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) steals $40,000 in an attempt to use that money to get married. She then leaves town to go to her lover’s store in California. After a long day’s drive, Marion stopped at a small hotel on the side of the road. Norman, the one and only hotel employee, murders Marion. The rest of the film explores the possibilities if what could’ve happened to Marion.
How did Hitchcock create suspense in the famous shower scene?
As the bathroom door opens, a dark figure walks in the room. The music starts to get louder and faster. The speed of the editing quickens. None of the cuts is more than a second long. This really intensifies the suspense of the scene. In addition to the fast editing, Hitchcock never shows the knife killing Marion Crane. He lets the viewer’s imagination explore all of the possibilities of what could have happened in that shower. This further intensifies the suspense and mysteriousness of the scene. Furthermore, the slow death of Marion Crane is reflected in the editing. Her life slowly ends as the blood runs down the drain. And in this part of the scene, there are only a few cuts that bring the viewer’s feeling of suspense back down into harsh reality.
Why is Psycho thought of as a classic film?
One of the reasons that Psycho is thought of as a classic film is because of its insane twists and turns. First of all, the “main character” of the film was murdered 30 minutes into the film. Secondly, throughout the film, Hitchcock creates a battle between good and evil. The viewer first sympathizes for Marion Crane because she has problems that can be solved by money. Also, Hitchcock creates a feeling of sympathy for Norman because he is fully devoted to his sick mother. He doesn’t have a life of his own and he seems like a genuine man. Then, at the end of the film, it is a shock to the audience not only that he is Marion’s killer but also that he has always been disguising himself as his “sick” mother. When I saw this film, I was bewildered by the twists and turns that Hitchcock created in the film. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The film instantly became one of my favorites.
Wizard of Oz
Movie 1939, black and white and color, 101 minutes
Director: Victor Fleming
Actors: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger
Summary: Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto are swept away from their home in Kansas by a tornado that takes them to the magical land of Oz. While Dorothy is in Oz, she makes a few close friends. The film is about Dorothy’s quest to find the Wizard of Oz who is the only one in Oz that can send her home.
Other than the use of Technicolor, what makes Dorothy’s arrival in Oz so magnificent?
The arrival in Oz is one of the greatest scenes in cinema history. One of the aspects of the scene is set design. The use of dazzling color and imaginative sets centered around a swirling yellow brick road adds a sense of imagination and adventure to the film. Also, a great emphasis was put on the casting of little people as muchkins which certainly tells Dorothy and Toto that they are “not in Kansas anymore.” In addition, music and choreography play a large role in the difference between Kansas and Oz. I also noticed the comtrast between a simple yellow brick road and a very complex society of little people, witches, crazy costumes, and never before seen set design. The yellow brick road almost adds simplicity to the very complex scene. I keep watching the scene of Dorothy’s arrival in Oz over and over again and I cannot get over how Fleming has so many things going on in the film but still manages to keep the focus on Dorothy.
What techniques where used to define Dorothy’s real life from her fantasy life in Oz?
The main technique that was used was the difference between sepia and Technicolor. The difference in color between Kansas and Oz provided a dramatic contrast between the two places. In addition, the characters from her real life in Kansas were also present in a different form in her fantasy life. This technique shows that her fantasy life was not totally separate to her real life in Kansas. It emphasizes the fact that the dream is not a pointless fantasy but has some meaning to life in the real world.
Duck Soup
Movie 1933, black and white, 68 minutes
Director: Leo McCarey
Actors: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx
Summary: A man named Rufus T. Firefly is named leader/dictator of his country Freedonia and he declares war on the neighboring country Sylvania over the marriage and wealth of a woman named Mrs.Teasdale.
What are some of the techniques used for comedy?
On many occasions the Marx brothers used scenes where there was no dialogue. In two of the most famous scenes in the movie, the lemonade stand scene and the mirror scene, there was no dialogue. I think the Marx brothers put no dialogue in these two famous scenes on purpose. With no dialogue in these two hilarious scenes, the viewer is forced to focus on the physical aspect of the comedic situation, which was probably McCarey’s intention. Another technique that McCarey and the Marx brothers used in these two scenes was that there was very little interruption with regards to the number of cuts in the scenes. McCarey let the scene flow with hardly any interruption. Again, this forces the viewer to focus on the physical comedic aspects of both scenes.
Can this type of comedy be pulled off today?
Personally, I don’t think that this type of comedy can be pulled off today. I really enjoyed the film but I think many people expect more out of a comedy. Many people want more sarcasm and less physical comedy. Also, the screenplay is close to ridiculous, and, in today’s world, it would be hard for a lot of people to buy into the physical comedy in the film without a hilarious screenplay to back it up. I think that many people today would call the movie stupid. In many comedies today, people can relate to the situations in which the actors are. For example, I am sure that many people have had crazy nights in Las Vegas just like the screenplay of The Hangover. They might not have had that crazy of a night but something along the lines of it. However, I am sure many people can’t relate to being appointed as a dictator of a country and declaring war on another nation over a widow’s fortune.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Movie: 1946, black and white, 130 minutes
Director: Frank Capra
Actors: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Berrymore
Summary: It’s a Wonderful Life is the story of a frustrated business man named George Bailey who wonders what life is really like if he never existed. The story takes place during the Great Depression when everyone had no money. George Bailey contemplates suicide but is then rescued by his guardian angel Clarence who shows him how great life really is.
How does Capra contrast between life without George and life with George?
In the film, life with George in Bedford Falls is has a warm and happy feeling to it. There is good lighting and everything is able to be seen. When many people are having financial trouble, the people of Bedford Falls unite together to take the challenge on first hand. When George Bailey’s money runs out of money, George and Mary cancel their honeymoon and loan their savings out to their needy customers. This is a world that George Bailey lives in, a world of caring people helping others. In addition, Violet Bick, a very beautiful woman is well respected by all of the men in the movie. Many men try to go out with her and she is highly desired. But the only man that Violet wants is George Bailey. When George comes from to Bedford Falls to see what the world would be like without him, Capra displays a dark and cold world. The lighting is dark and Capra uses strange close ups that made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Capra also used a lot of dark and long shadows. Also, the portrayal of Violet is totally reversed. She is now portrayed as a prostitute that all of the men in town disrespect. All of the men touch her as she walks by rather than open doors for her like the way it used to be when George was alive. Capra not only uses lighting and camera angles to contrast the difference between life without George and life with George, but he also uses character.
Why is George Bailey so likable?
George Bailey is such a likeable man because he is the common man. The audience really fell in love with George Bailey’s character because he appealed to the people of the time. The movie came out during World War II when the common man was worried about his financial situation and his family. Many of the viewers of the time could relate to George Bailey’s character. In addition, he was unselfish. He always gave things up with the sole purpose of helping others. He saves his brother from drowning but then loses hearing in one ear. He also saves his boss from jail. And, he never gets to go off to college because he has to take care of business at home. The viewer develops a sense of pity for George and only wants to see him succeed. The dramatizes the scene where he comes back to see what life would be like without him and the end scene where all of his friends show up and celebrate Christmas with him.
