Five weeks of studying film is now bringing to a close. Now in this blog, I will discuss 3 films I have studied and three films from my own experience. I'm going to explain what impacted me about the assigned films, and why I believe the other three are worthy of film study.
The first film from my study was Memento, directed by Christopher Nolan. I was intrigued by the editing techniques showcased in the film, and how the director used it to play with continuity. It also played with the notion of free choice, and whether or not it exists, which i found to be extremely intriguing. I felt for Leonard after watching this film, realizing that there was no immediate resolution to his problem.
Trailer for 'Memento' :
The second movie from film class I'll talk about is 'North By Northwest', directed by Alfred Hitchcock. I was impacted by this movie because I am a great fan of dry british wit. The director did a great job of making the audience feel the helplessness of this man, used as a pawn by powers wildly above his head. The fact that he succeeds even in the face of so many overwhelming odds and yet somehow manages to avoid feeling over the top is a testament to the director.
Trailer for 'North By northwest':
Third from film class was 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', directed by Michael Gondry. I really was impressed by how the director changed the meaning of 'interior monolouge'. The sequence in which the main character is running inside his head was actually more suspenseful than many other chase scenes in hollywood blockbusters. I especially liked the end, because it signified the ultimate triumph of free choice even after all memory has supposedly been expunged.
Trailer for 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind':
-----
Now for the films I believe every film student should see...
1) I believe that Director Christopher Nolan's 'Inception' should be seen by every student of film. The film not only plays upon the themes of the director's earlier film 'Memento', but it also takes it to a new level. It's ambiguity is what makes this film great, as it is still unclear whether this film should properly be called 'Closed' or 'Open'. The cinematography of this movie is also worth a careful study, as each of the settings could potentially be related to the state of the pivotal characters frenzied mind.
Trailer for Inception:
2) 'The Matrix', directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski was a pioneer in the usage of revolutionary special effects technology. One glance at the 'bullet time' sequences convinced me that this was a technique worth studying all the useful applications for. The sets, the designs, all are enough to convince the viewer that he has actually stepped into a dystopian world that is only an illusion. The film's themes include the line between reality and fiction, and it blurs.
The Matrix Trailer:
3) 2001: A Space Odyssey was perhaps Stanley Kubrick's best film, a distinction that is not lightly taken given his roster of now-Classics. Kubrick managed to take the vastness of space, and instantly make it feel claustrophobic in a split second. This film literally and deliberately calls to attention the powerlessness man feels the instant a superior force takes control of the situation. If future film students take nothing from this film... they must at least view the 'Star-Gate' Sequence, unmatched in Cinema before this movie, and since.
Trailer:
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Blog Post #6: Tim Burton interviewed on 'The Treatment'
This week, I listened to a radio show entitled 'The Treatment.' The guest for that day's interview was none other than the Hollywood Director and Producer, Tim Burton. This interview was on February 16,2006, just after two of his films premiered in theaters. Tim Burton is known for his groundbreaking films such as 'Edward ScissorHands', 'Sleepy Hollow', and 'The Nightmare before Christmas'. During the interview, I picked out some details that I thought were very interesting and especially noteworthy.
During the interview Tim Burton talked about his films, his art direction, and his background in film. There were some things I was surprised at, such as when Tim Burton revealed that he had been working on two films at once ('Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and the 'Corpse Bride') for the past couple of years. What he did was work on 'Charlie and the Chocolate factory' during the day, and 'Corpse Bride' at night. I was also intrigued to learn that during his tenure in animation school, he had Disney Animators (who had worked on the classic disney films) as professors.
Tim Burton did say in the interview that he was encouraged to experiment through his own artistic lens in school though. In his words: "I was terrible at that, that style, so they let me do my own thing, which was quite lucky." Indeed, Tim's unique sense of Animation style can be seen in his backdrops and character designs for his films such as 'The Corpse Bride', and 'Nightmare Before Christmas'. His creations are often eclectic and bizarre, but Tim's individuality shows through, and his designs only enhance the films that much further for it.
Tim Burton said(in interview) that he doesn't adhere to fads, and is reluctant to waver from his own personal style just because of current trends. According to Tim Burton: "I think other people do things just for reasons of, this is a popular technique." What Tim is referring to in the interview, is the then current(in 2006) of studios trying to emulate Pixar's success with animation by copying that style. What Burton means is that those studios were possibly leaving character and narrative behind, when their plots could have easily been altered to fit into another animation medium.
Also in the interview, Tim Burton declared that he did not really understand the whole concept of social classes. He went on to describe how he took the societal rankings in 'Corpse Bride' and modeled them after his own experiences. According to Tim Burton: "It(social rankings) cuts out people really connecting with each other or seeing things from another perspective." What Tim is trying to say I think is that people just wall off each other, create artificial barriers just so they do not have to mix. Possibly Tim is referring to his own experiences as recounted in the interview, where he felt more connected to social outcasts, rather than the rest of society.
Tim Burton really has some interesting opinions, which really highlight his mind. Mr. Burton really is an individualistic person who does not really fit into the established order. Burton brings his outsider viewpoint into the world of film, and uses it to create a mirror unto society. He brings also from a creative standpoint, rich worlds and designs that are uniquely and surely his. To conclude, in the world of Hollywood, Tim Burton is truly an original, and cannot be matched or copied by any other.
During the interview Tim Burton talked about his films, his art direction, and his background in film. There were some things I was surprised at, such as when Tim Burton revealed that he had been working on two films at once ('Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and the 'Corpse Bride') for the past couple of years. What he did was work on 'Charlie and the Chocolate factory' during the day, and 'Corpse Bride' at night. I was also intrigued to learn that during his tenure in animation school, he had Disney Animators (who had worked on the classic disney films) as professors.
Tim Burton did say in the interview that he was encouraged to experiment through his own artistic lens in school though. In his words: "I was terrible at that, that style, so they let me do my own thing, which was quite lucky." Indeed, Tim's unique sense of Animation style can be seen in his backdrops and character designs for his films such as 'The Corpse Bride', and 'Nightmare Before Christmas'. His creations are often eclectic and bizarre, but Tim's individuality shows through, and his designs only enhance the films that much further for it.
Tim Burton said(in interview) that he doesn't adhere to fads, and is reluctant to waver from his own personal style just because of current trends. According to Tim Burton: "I think other people do things just for reasons of, this is a popular technique." What Tim is referring to in the interview, is the then current(in 2006) of studios trying to emulate Pixar's success with animation by copying that style. What Burton means is that those studios were possibly leaving character and narrative behind, when their plots could have easily been altered to fit into another animation medium.
Also in the interview, Tim Burton declared that he did not really understand the whole concept of social classes. He went on to describe how he took the societal rankings in 'Corpse Bride' and modeled them after his own experiences. According to Tim Burton: "It(social rankings) cuts out people really connecting with each other or seeing things from another perspective." What Tim is trying to say I think is that people just wall off each other, create artificial barriers just so they do not have to mix. Possibly Tim is referring to his own experiences as recounted in the interview, where he felt more connected to social outcasts, rather than the rest of society.
Tim Burton really has some interesting opinions, which really highlight his mind. Mr. Burton really is an individualistic person who does not really fit into the established order. Burton brings his outsider viewpoint into the world of film, and uses it to create a mirror unto society. He brings also from a creative standpoint, rich worlds and designs that are uniquely and surely his. To conclude, in the world of Hollywood, Tim Burton is truly an original, and cannot be matched or copied by any other.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Blog Post #5: The shot list...
This week, I am going to be analyzing the opening scene from the movie "Memento". It's going to be a shot by shot breakdown of that scene. With the aid of a spreadsheet, I am going to analyze the camera angles, the shot type, and the camera movement.
Note: In following video, the Sequence I'll be talking about begins at 1:11 and ends at 1:43. It contains approximately 12-13 shots in all.
Here is a shot by shot description of the Opening Scene in Memento.
SHOT LIST:
Note: In following video, the Sequence I'll be talking about begins at 1:11 and ends at 1:43. It contains approximately 12-13 shots in all.
Here is a shot by shot description of the Opening Scene in Memento.
SHOT LIST:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)