Saturday, February 28, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
“Slumdog Millionaire” certainly isn’t a typical love story. It unfolds in a very captivating fashion. The director, Danny Boyle, uses the poverty, crowded conditions, crime, and religious unrest of India to set the stage for this movie. Critics of the movie might think he over dramatized the conditions. I think his intention was to make his audience really feel strong emotions for Jamal, Salim and Latika, as well as the rest of the poor population of India. Emotions range from pity, sadness, depression, anger, to hope and happiness. Although I was aware that India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, I didn’t really comprehend the poverty that existed. Once the main characters were orphaned as young children, they had to fight to stay alive. The director uses an interesting approach to tell the story by using the game show’s questions to relive all of Jamal’s memories of growing up and all the challenges he faced in the process. Another interesting approach was the way the director uses camera angles. There were a lot of aerial shots to show roof tops of the city, the train system, the narrow streets, and crowds of people. This helped illustrate the over populated living conditions. He also uses a lot of close-ups of the faces of his characters to draw on the strong emotions they were feeling. Just because of Jamal’s status in society, the police automatically thought he cheated. After Jamal goes through their interrogation and the police finally believe him and let him go back to finish the game show, the sense of triumph is so great at this time. To me, it was as though he had already won in the game of life, not just the game show. Another significant scene is when Salim helps Latika escape to be with Jamal. Prior to this, Salim had always protected his little brother, Jamal, then he betrayed him. Now, he was redeeming himself. I thought there was some symbolism when Salim filled the bathtub with money knowing that he probably was going to be killed for helping Latika escape. He then climbed into the bathtub with his gun in hand waiting for the others to storm in and shoot him. To me, it was “blood money” to show that the way these criminals earned it was corrupt. In the Time magazine article, “Slumdog to Top Dog”, Boyle says, "Slumdog is just a hybrid of the words underdog and slum. Some people found it insulting, when actually it's a triumph for a kid from that background and a vindication of his resilience." I would agree that this is a very appropriate title for the movie. At the end, Jamal totally has many different classes of people supporting him from the studio audience, the game show technicians, and people in the streets, all sharing in his success and triumph.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Amelie
Chapter 5 refers to the director's interpretive point of view. This is very evident in the movie "Amelie." I feel like the director is manipulating the audience's viewpoint in many different ways. He uses the camera to be the "eye" in this film. His work is very captivating because he uses multiple composition techniques. The camera angles he uses include over the shoulder shots, objects that are in sharp focus in the background, and he also focuses attention on specific objects and their movement such as in the scene when the fish escaped from its fishbowl. In addition, he pays attention to visual composition by incorporating vertical and diagonal lines. An example of this is when he uses leading lines and unusual perspectives to draw our attention to buildings, streets, the swimming pool scene, etc. This is a great method to draw viewers in. Color is another technique that the director makes strong use of. I did some research on the meaning and symbolism of colors. Going back to the fish scene, the color orange was vibrant. Orange is said to be a power color, as well as one of vitality and endurance. That poor little flopping fish was just that. As in the movie, "American Beauty", red was by far the most dominant color displayed. According to my research, on the positive side, red is a warm color and symbolizes passion, vitality, energy, and prosperity. On the negative side, it could mean anger and danger. I think the director's intended use of red was positive. He wanted to illustrate the energy and passion of Amelie, as well as some of the people in her life. Red pops out in so many scenes where other colors were neutral or dark, and the settings were backlit or softly lit. When you see Amelie's mother at the beginning of the movie, she's wearing red. Amelie, herself, wears red throughout the movie. Her home is decorated with a lot of red accessories. I interpret this as symbolic of her passion to change people's lives in her own unique way. I have never seen a movie quite like this. Until, the movie was nearing the end, I didn't anticipate a love story evolving. I thought the director was very creative in how he established the love interest in Amelie's life and the storyline unraveled. I've never seen a movie quite like this where this approach had been used. I can understand why there might be some people who would be critical of it because they don't take the time to decipher any of the details and symbolism that the director laced into the movie. I have a new appreciation for foreign films. I think the program objective of this film is that anyone can do anything that they really desire, sometimes they just need a little help from someone else, and I think that was Amelie's role in this film.
Monday, February 9, 2009
American Beauty/A Beautiful Mind
American Beauty
1. The setting for this movie is a suburban area and is a very appropriate choice to set the stage for all the events that happen throughout the movie. The homes, school, and other buildings are typical of the average city suburb. It’s a common setting for most people to relate to but not necessarily relate to all the events that surround it.
2. A suburban area is a logical location for a movie that is supposed to represent a location that the majority of Americans can identify with. The look of the neighborhood is supposed to be typical of the normal family. The house, its backyard with a garden, a couple of cars in the garage, and kids, all represent today’s American family. However, I don’t think the characters in this movie were the average and ordinary people. The main family characters all had personal issues. Actually, the families in this neighborhood were all a little dysfunctional. Their problems were apparent almost immediately as they were introduced.
3. The costumes are those that today’s modern family would wear. Each character’s costumes are designed to tell the viewers what their personalities are like. For example, the teenager that Lester fantasizes about dresses the part of someone with loose morals.
4. The director uses lighting to emphasize the moods and events that were occurring. For example, it was dark and raining when Lester discovered his wife’s affair, as well as the other tragic events that were soon to follow such as his daughter’s leaving with her boyfriend, and Lester’s own shooting.
5. The lighting used is meant to help create the moods of the characters and establish an atmosphere for the viewers. At times the lighting is natural but the majority of the scenes are shadowy and dark, creating a mysterious element to the scenes. This helps capture the viewers’ attention.
6. The obvious color in this movie is red. It’s everywhere – red roses, rose petals, bus stop signs, clothing, the paint on the wall, and Lester’s hot dream sports car. The symbolism of the color red means so many things to different people. Red is one of those colors that grab attention. It could mean love and passion, heat, warning, stop, danger, power as in the red carpet for celebrities, or anger, just to name a few. With all these meanings, it could be good or bad. In this movie, there’s a definite mix, but I think red means the different levels of power that each character has to control their own fate. I don’t think they realize it though and things end tragically.
A Beautiful Mind
1. The movie’s setting is predominately centered at an academic location. The opening scene is a classroom at Princeton University. It is of a professor telling his graduate students the importance of mathematics and science for the future. This setting is very important to the overall effect of what the whole movie is about. If the action isn’t in the classroom, it’s in the university’s library, John Nash’s (Russell Crowe) dormitory room, or his office, and later at MIT. In addition, there are several scenes at the psychiatric hospital which profile Nash’s treatment of his schizophrenia. Several scenes take the viewers back to Princeton throughout Nash’s lifetime. Nash’s goal in life was to come up with something, an original idea that would distinguish him. His fascination for numbers and codes eventually led to high achievement in mathematics and a Nobel Peace prize.
2. This story is based on a true story although it is not uncommon to magnify storylines to make things more interesting. The main set location was at Princeton University. This is where it all began for Nash. We first were introduced to the competition and stress that the graduate students felt in trying to accomplish or discover something that no one else had. Then, it was at a Princeton dormitory that we first met Nash’s imaginary roommate, Charles. Charles was so real to him and he was real to the viewers until later on in the movie when Nash’s mental illness was revealed. MIT was another very significant location in the movie. This was where Nash was first employed to teach after he completed graduate school and where he met is wife, Alicia. His wife stood by him through all the most difficult times throughout his life. The most touching scene is when he is presented the Nobel Peace prize and he takes out the handkerchief that Alicia gave them on their first date during his acceptance speech. He says something like love is in the mysterious equation that solutions can be found. To me, this summed up what life is all about.
3. The costumes are chosen to reflect the time periods of the characters’ lifetime. The movie starts in the late 1940s, with scenes in the mid 50s, into the 70s, and as years go by into the 1990s when Nash receives his award. By doing this, the director gives the viewer the feel of each time period.
4. The lighting for the movie is appropriate. It appears natural most of the time with the remainder soft and diffused when Nash was in his office working on his numerical equations.
5. Natural lighting makes for a more believable atmosphere and setting. If the director would have chosen something more direct and harsh, I think the effect would have given it more drama and would take the viewers’ attention away from what the whole story was about.
6. The only colors that I recall in the movie are earth tones like brown and tan, and occasionally gray and black. The majority of the clothing were in these colors. These are conservative colors to me and set the tone for the movie. There was nothing flashy as far as colors go and this was probably the intention so it wouldn’t distract viewers from the movie’s message.
1. The setting for this movie is a suburban area and is a very appropriate choice to set the stage for all the events that happen throughout the movie. The homes, school, and other buildings are typical of the average city suburb. It’s a common setting for most people to relate to but not necessarily relate to all the events that surround it.
2. A suburban area is a logical location for a movie that is supposed to represent a location that the majority of Americans can identify with. The look of the neighborhood is supposed to be typical of the normal family. The house, its backyard with a garden, a couple of cars in the garage, and kids, all represent today’s American family. However, I don’t think the characters in this movie were the average and ordinary people. The main family characters all had personal issues. Actually, the families in this neighborhood were all a little dysfunctional. Their problems were apparent almost immediately as they were introduced.
3. The costumes are those that today’s modern family would wear. Each character’s costumes are designed to tell the viewers what their personalities are like. For example, the teenager that Lester fantasizes about dresses the part of someone with loose morals.
4. The director uses lighting to emphasize the moods and events that were occurring. For example, it was dark and raining when Lester discovered his wife’s affair, as well as the other tragic events that were soon to follow such as his daughter’s leaving with her boyfriend, and Lester’s own shooting.
5. The lighting used is meant to help create the moods of the characters and establish an atmosphere for the viewers. At times the lighting is natural but the majority of the scenes are shadowy and dark, creating a mysterious element to the scenes. This helps capture the viewers’ attention.
6. The obvious color in this movie is red. It’s everywhere – red roses, rose petals, bus stop signs, clothing, the paint on the wall, and Lester’s hot dream sports car. The symbolism of the color red means so many things to different people. Red is one of those colors that grab attention. It could mean love and passion, heat, warning, stop, danger, power as in the red carpet for celebrities, or anger, just to name a few. With all these meanings, it could be good or bad. In this movie, there’s a definite mix, but I think red means the different levels of power that each character has to control their own fate. I don’t think they realize it though and things end tragically.
A Beautiful Mind
1. The movie’s setting is predominately centered at an academic location. The opening scene is a classroom at Princeton University. It is of a professor telling his graduate students the importance of mathematics and science for the future. This setting is very important to the overall effect of what the whole movie is about. If the action isn’t in the classroom, it’s in the university’s library, John Nash’s (Russell Crowe) dormitory room, or his office, and later at MIT. In addition, there are several scenes at the psychiatric hospital which profile Nash’s treatment of his schizophrenia. Several scenes take the viewers back to Princeton throughout Nash’s lifetime. Nash’s goal in life was to come up with something, an original idea that would distinguish him. His fascination for numbers and codes eventually led to high achievement in mathematics and a Nobel Peace prize.
2. This story is based on a true story although it is not uncommon to magnify storylines to make things more interesting. The main set location was at Princeton University. This is where it all began for Nash. We first were introduced to the competition and stress that the graduate students felt in trying to accomplish or discover something that no one else had. Then, it was at a Princeton dormitory that we first met Nash’s imaginary roommate, Charles. Charles was so real to him and he was real to the viewers until later on in the movie when Nash’s mental illness was revealed. MIT was another very significant location in the movie. This was where Nash was first employed to teach after he completed graduate school and where he met is wife, Alicia. His wife stood by him through all the most difficult times throughout his life. The most touching scene is when he is presented the Nobel Peace prize and he takes out the handkerchief that Alicia gave them on their first date during his acceptance speech. He says something like love is in the mysterious equation that solutions can be found. To me, this summed up what life is all about.
3. The costumes are chosen to reflect the time periods of the characters’ lifetime. The movie starts in the late 1940s, with scenes in the mid 50s, into the 70s, and as years go by into the 1990s when Nash receives his award. By doing this, the director gives the viewer the feel of each time period.
4. The lighting for the movie is appropriate. It appears natural most of the time with the remainder soft and diffused when Nash was in his office working on his numerical equations.
5. Natural lighting makes for a more believable atmosphere and setting. If the director would have chosen something more direct and harsh, I think the effect would have given it more drama and would take the viewers’ attention away from what the whole story was about.
6. The only colors that I recall in the movie are earth tones like brown and tan, and occasionally gray and black. The majority of the clothing were in these colors. These are conservative colors to me and set the tone for the movie. There was nothing flashy as far as colors go and this was probably the intention so it wouldn’t distract viewers from the movie’s message.
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