Film Noir Example: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

German Expressionist Influence: Film Noir

Film noir in French, or “black film” is a terminology used to illustrate stylistic Hollywood crime  drama. It extended from early 1940s to the late 1950s. This movie rooted with German Expressionist cinematography.

 

Film noir has mysterious ambiance. It’s like having camera angle from top to bottom of the grayscaled wall with stairs and smoke in it. One of the examples the director gave while watching the interview about Film Noir is that there is this man who has a stable job, a stable relationship with his fanily and wife, actually has a good living. And then one night, a messenger came. The stable man had a car ride with the messenger in the middle of the dark, rainy night. That same night, the messenger died while the stable man decided to replace the messenger’s identity. This kind of character is called fall or down fall.

Since it has mysterious calling, film noirs are only black and white with the presence of shadow and light effect. Most examples given are apartment connected side by side where a woman tries to gaze at their neighbor’s window but only saw shadow of a man that increases the intensity and the curiosity of the viewer. Is it a bad man? A stalker? A killer? Whatever a viewer may think that will enhance his or her mental imagery.

In this kind of film, we will notice that women are mostly dominant in the film. Directors hire talents or actress with angelic face, pleasing to the eyes, and nice looking not knowing that they’re snakes that lures his man on the bed then gets him on trouble. These women are strong-spirited, fearless and usually smoke and sexy in appearance.

According to one of the directors interviewed, this kind of film are graded ‘B’ unlike other films that are graded ‘A’ or has high quality and high in cost. Nevertheless, though low in quality and cost, they provide good plots, choice of character, storyline, angles, etc.

The setting of this kind of film if in outdoor or exterior type is usually along the streets of a certain city, riding in a car or taking a walk by the asphalt hall. However, if interior, it is most commonly inside the room, dark room or living room.

Trainspotting – Trailer

Trainspotting: Choose Life

It is a 1966 film directed by Danny Boyle and written by John Hodge. It is about a young man deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene who tries to clean up and get out although his friends continue to influence him. This film depicted a life among a group of people struggling to survive a grim existence on heroin in late 1980s.

 They are Rent Boy, a young man with few prospects and fewer ambitions, lives in economically depressed Edinburgh. Like most of his friends, Renton is a heroin addict who loves the drug’s blissful nothingness; financing his habit also provides excitement and challenges that his life otherwise lacks. Sick Boy, a snappy dresser obsessed with James Bond. Spud, a guileless nerd who suggests Pee Wee Herman’s debauched cousin. Begbie, a borderline psychotic. He loathes junkies even though he drinks like a fish. After one too many brushes with the law, Renton kicks heroin and moves to London, where he finds a job, a flat, and something close to peace of mind and Tommy.

It used Scottish slang and the dialogue is heavy in Scottish accent so I was not able to understand some of the words, good thing there is subtitle on the movie. The characters’ hobby is Trainspotting, which was not actually mentioned on the film.

The film has creative moments and sometimes it can be funny, but the viewer should be prepared for a downbeat experience and should expect to find himself places he would never go of his own accord. At first, I did not understand the movie, what the characters do. Until I found out that they inject such drugs which gives them pleasure more satisfying than sex. Through the usage of this kind of drug, they tend to forget all their problems whether about their love life just like what Tommy encountered when his girlfriend broke up with him because their sex video was lost and assumed that it was given to the CD Company that allows them to rent disc. Another scenario is when the baby died on their hide out, the mother asked for one hit just to soothe the emotional pain.

I understand why they do that. It somehow becomes their escape. We do things that will let us forget our problems and hardships. In our culture, we drink alcohol, smoke, go out with friends, shop for girls, and the last option is to commit suicide. In that short span, we forget what is happening but right after that pleasure we will still come back to reality. We will still face the problems so what these guys on the film do, they hit every now and then until they cannot get enough off it.

Then like Renton, there is this realization whether to choose life, have a family and children, get a job, and get a life or stay where he is. Moreover, he took the opportunity after he was rehabilitated and cured. He looked for a job where he earned enough money and came to point he overcame his weakness until his friends once again. He worked with them but when they closed the deal, he ran and just left a bundle of money for spuds, the lesser evil among his friends.

This movie does not glorify heroin. It glorifies the youth.

In terms with how film was made, on the opening billboard, it used dolly shot wherein the characters are in motion and the camera angle is before them as if as the viewer of the film, they were chasing after you. I did not recognize or knew much who the characters were in real life, probably because it was done several years ago. They are not the superstars renowned in the industry. Nevertheless, the film is very relevant especially to the youth. The influence of sex and drugs of the youth’s lives even nowadays. People who will watch the film even this modern age could relate in the film. I just cannot believe that those kind of film were presented during that year where sex and violence reigns.

Trainspotting looks hard at the alternatives to living in oblivion. They’re not as trendy as stealing and shooting up to a pulsating Brit-pop score, but the film’s flash can’t disguise the emptiness of these blasted lives. Trainspotting is 90 minutes of raw power that Boyle and a bang-on cast inject right into the vein.

CAST

• Ewan McGregor as Mark “Rent Boy” Renton
• Ewen Bremner as Daniel “Spud” Murphy
• Jonny Lee Miller as Simon “Sick Boy” Williamson
• Robert Carlyle as Francis “Franco” Begbie
• Kevin McKidd as Tommy MacKenzie
• Kelly Macdonald as Diane Coulston
• Peter Mullan as Swanney “Mother Superior”
• Eileen Nicholas as Mrs. Renton
• James Cosmo as Mr. Renton
• Susan Vidler as Allison
• Pauline Lynch as Lizzy
• Shirley Henderson as Gail
• Irvine Welsh as Mikey Forrester
• Keith Allen as The Dealer

 

The Film School Generation

There are two kinds of directors: one who considers the public and one who consider themselves.

Based on the documentary that we have watched, name the directors who consider the public and the directors who consider themselves. And explain the effects of their movies to the industry and to the art of cinema.

Directors: Francis Coppola, George Lucas, Martian Scorsese, Brian de Palma and Steven Spielberg.

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLLA

Studied film at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA Film School) where his focus in doing film is more of a personal or considering himself. His dream is to run his own studio wherein he own the lights, the cameras, the sounds, the equipments needed in order to establish or make a film and do the works like directing, editing, writing cross-country journey script as stated on the documentary. According to one of his actors he worked with, he wanted to influence people and as much as possible give them work or help them.

One of his works that had great impact on its audience and in the field of media is the “The Godfather”. The film changed Hollywood because it finally changed the way Italians were depicted on film. It made Italians seem like more fully realized people and not stereotypes. It was a film in Hollywood made by Italians about Italians. Previously, it had not been Italians making the mobster films featuring Italian gangsters.

I feel it helped Italianize American culture. I think it helped people see that in this depiction of Italian-Americans was a reflection of their own immigrant experience, whether they were Irish or Jews from Eastern Europe. They found that common ground.

GEORGE LUCAS

Studied film in University of Southern California (USC) and his heart in doing film have something to do with gearing people for the industry or for the public. According to the documentary, specifically from people he worked with such as the editor and producers, what he likes in doing film or movie is its non-linear stories, non-character driven scenario, futuristic, romance, escape, character development and documentary in dramatic context.

“THX 1138”, was one of his most controversial films made. While “Star Wars,” which is also a blockbuster hit clicked on the masses. Star Wars fundamentally changed the aesthetics and narratives of Hollywood movies, as well as changing the Hollywood film industry in other fundamental ways.

Star Wars started the tradition of the summer blockbuster movie in the entertainment industry, where movies open on many screens at the same time, and profitable franchises are tied in. It created the model for the major movie trilogy and showed that merchandising rights on a movie could generate more money than the movie itself did.

MARTIN SCORSESE

Studied film in New York University and it with Francis Ford Coppola, though different from schools attended, his way of managing film is in a way he could express himself, consider himself, or put himself on the situation or story. He often uses long tracking shots. Every move has choreography. Some of his films include references or allusions to Westerns. Slow motion flashbulbs and accented camera flash or shutter sounds. More recently, his films have featured corrupt authority figures, such as police officers.

He likes nostalgic pieces and does movies that would move himself like “Taxi Driver” and “New York, New York (film)”.

“Taxi Driver” is a hell, from the opening shot of a cab emerging from stygian clouds of steam to the climactic killing scene in which the camera finally looks straight down. Scorsese wanted to look away from Travis’s rejection; we almost want to look away from his life. However, he is there, all right, and he is suffering. For this reason, he designed the film’s sets and storyline to be deliberately artificial-looking. He acknowledges that it is an experiment. It did not please everyone.

BRIAN DE PALMA

He involves the audience or public in expressing things clearly in films. His films have strong scripts, characters following and learning from each other. De Palma’s films can fall into two categories, his psychological thriller. He has often produced “De Palma” films one after the other before going on to direct a different genre, but would always return to his familiar territory. Because of the subject matter and graphic violence of some of De Palma’s films, such as Dressed to Kill, Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito’s Way, and Mission: Impossible, they are often at the center of controversy with the Motion Picture Association of America, film critics and the viewing public.

De Palma is known for quoting and referencing other director’s work throughout his career.

“The Untouchables” received positive reviews from film critics and has an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Vincent Canby, of The New York Times, gave the film a positive review, calling it “a smashing work” and saying it was “vulgar, violent, funny and sometimes breathtakingly beautiful.”

Somehow, we’re put off here by the spectacular stuff he throws up onto the screen. De Palma’s storytelling instincts have given very completely to his interest in film as a visual medium. His only real concern is his own style. De Palma does not waste a shot. The result is a densely layered work moving with confident, compulsive energy.

STEVEN SPIELBERG

Studied film in University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television and makes movies that would move everybody or the public will interact. He has a middle-American point of view. And for him, television is a job. He is ideal and likes intense or breathtaking movies such as “duel” and the well-known, box office record and patronized, “Jaws”.

The film “Duel” received many positive reviews and is often considered among the greatest TV movies. On Rotten Tomatoes the film currently has a “Fresh” score of 86% (2010).

According to the American Film Institute, Jaws ranks among the fifty greatest movies of all time and the second- greatest thriller ever (Behind Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho). After three decades, the film continues to intrigue, thrill and frighten viewers. It’s become an entertainment mainstay, a timeless classic in a world of fad filmmaking.

Jaws were a thoroughly groundbreaking film in every way imaginable. It had a tremendous impact on the way movies are made, marketed and merchandised and spawned a pop cultural fascination with sharks. And, perhaps most notably, the film generated a visceral fear of swimming that continues to afflict multitudes to this day.

Facing the Giants – Trailer

FAVORITE FILM: Facing the Giants

Facing the giants is an American film directed and starred by Alex Kendrick in 2006. It is the second film produced by Sherwood Pictures about a team that was weak and underdog in the field of football. I served this movie as one of my favorites because this film talks about faith in God and how it helped them to overcome their fear and be confident in themselves and so with their coach and team through God’s grace. A very inspiring and encouraging movie.

Grant Taylor happens to be the coach of Shiloh Eagles team who has poor records on the several seasons. His assistant coach told him that he is the reason why his wife, Brooke cannot become pregnant. He used to encounter different problems. His car get wrecked, their house stinks and professors in the University are planning to kick him out of school and replace another coach for Shiloh Eagles since he cannot manage it well. They think of another one that could do better and at least improve the game. He is pressured and frustrated.

But there is this voice that continue whispering to him never to give up. One day, a professor who is as the same time a pastor never get tired of reminding him about God’s Word and how the Lord wanted to help him if he will only allow it. The pastor is posting different encouraging Bible verses on their locker’s door. Then he tried to take a glimpse and tried it. He felt relieved as if there is someone who listens to his cry and agony. He even shared this to his team and wife and establish a new coaching philosophy and praise God whether they win or lose. Few months later, his team improved and he got his own children.

This film is really inspiring. It’s a must watch film. It does not only teaches us to draw near to God in times of trouble but to do our part and praise Him whatever the outcome may be. I consider this as my favorite one because of the story. It is relevant and has something to say. The first time I watched this film was on our youth camp last April 2013. We were many young people there who was touched and decided to surrender our lives to God and let Him be in control in everything that we do and say by His grace.

Even the lyrics used by Ana Laura as the theme song of the film is encouraging:

“Take my heart, take my soul
I surrender everything to Your control
and let all that is withing me,
lift up to You and say,
I am Yours and Yours alone,
Completely.”

CAST:

• Alex Kendrick as Grant Taylor
• Shannen Fields as Brooke Taylor
• James Blackwell as Matt Prater
• Bailey Cave as David Childers
• Steve Williams as Larry Childers
• Tracy Goode as Brady Owens
• Jim McBride as Bobby Lee Duke
• Tommy McBride as Jonathan Weston
• Jason McLeod as Brock Kelley
• Chris Willis as J.T. Hawkins Jr.
• Ray Wood as Mr. Bridges
• Erin Bethea as Alicia Houston

Classical Hollywood Style

Classical Hollywood Cinema or Classical Hollywood Narrative is a term used by David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, and Janet Staiger  from 1917 to 1960. Acclaimed for their breakthrough approach, these three persons analyze the basic conditions of American film making as a historical institution and consider to what Hollywood film production constitutes a systematic enterprise.

Although they differ in director, genre or studio, most Hollywood films operate within a set of shared statements about how a film should look and sound. Such statements are neither natural nor expected.

Narrative go after building blocks that are part of most Western narratives such as events, actors and agents, linear chains of cause and effect, main point and secondary points. The narrative is clearly structured with evident beginning middle and end. It provides resolution at the end. The characters goals are usually psychologically rather than socially motivated; Time in classical Hollywood is continuous, since non-linearity calls attention to the illusory workings of the medium. The only permissible manipulation of time in this format is the flashback. It is used most to introduce a memory sequence of a character, e.g. Casablanca; Editing in Classical Hollywood style is invisible as mentioned a while ago; treatment of space consists of four main aspects: centering, balancing, formality and depth.

Classical Hollywood Style is motivating and conventional. It follows a casual relationship. For example, if you have a hostage situation there will invariably be a crosscutting between the rescuers and the hostage. It follows a set of norms, paradigms, and standards that match and gratify viewers’ expectations.