Films Studies

I have always been a film of silent. I think when sound came into the picture we began to lose subtext, the main form of communication between humans. When sound came around, text was used as a way to communicate almost everything. The old saying goes, a pictures worth a thousand words. Art deals in the realm of the subject, so when we use text words to give it a defined meaning, than in a way, it loses meaning when we define it. A good story gives us all of the given circumstance but doesn’t always give us the logic and reason and explanation behind what happens in the given moment. Is a film where very little is explained. Hayao Miyazaki is another story teller who rarely explains what is going on. What he cares about is the relationship between characters. And that doesn't need to be conveyed through text. That is the job the actor and cinematographer, lighting and set design. The where many moments where I was wondering what was going on, but I also was able to put two and two...

Film Studies Pascal DiBetta Film: Vertigo Disclaimer After today's discussion, I have gone back and changed several things. I have the issue of separating the artist from the art. I will give an example of Louis C.K., an artist who has now been singled out by society for his sexual misconduct. C.k. had a movie coming out a week after the allegations began to spread. The disturbing thing about the film is that it seemed almost an outlet for Louis. Most of his comedy routines talked about how his messed up sexual preferences, in particular, jacking off. In his movie, I love you, daddy, he has a scene where a guy masturbates in front of someone else. When we show something, it becomes acceptable and glorified. That is why the Greeks never showed violence, merely should the effects that it had. And I think I should be more specific about that statement.When we show something in a story, we are explaining what will happen if you take that course of action that is displayed....

Film studies Film: Citizen Kane Power It is funny what happens to us in childhood and how it effects us for the rest of our life. Citizen Kane is addressing the subject of the American dream and how it all ends up being a tragedy. Charles Foster Kane is a character bigger than life it self. He is charismatic and as rich as a king. He is loved and has, in more ways then one, reached success at a very young age. His story follows the arch of a tragedy, where success is found for the god like figure, and then they fall. Kane is very much a god -like figure and his fall is O so great. In a way it is a narrative on Orson's own life, despite him claiming that his character has no resemblance to who he is. Yet, Orson gave a narrative of his own life without even knowing it. Citizen Kane was the first film he ever made and was the greatest as well. He would go own to attempt to replicate what had been done, but nothing could compare, so he fell. Towards the end of his life he beca...

Film Studios FIlm: The Treasure of Sierra Madre November 5 Gold Themes Gold has been the obsession and epitome of human greed for thousands of years. A shiny valuable metal which does not rust and weather. Many men have died in war over gold and perhaps many shall die in the future. The Treasure of Sierra Madre directed by John Huston brings up an interesting question, what is wealth. As Howard (Walter Huston) says sometimes water can be more valuable than gold. The only reason that gold has such value is because of society. In some tribal settings the wealthiest would not be the man who had the most possession but the man who had assisted the post people, the man who had the most people in debit to him. The thing about materialistic wealth is that it can never truly fulfill you. We see this as Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) gains wealth. The more gold he gets, the unhappier he becomes. This film shows how greed can kill metaphorically and physically. We see at the end what gold ...

Film studies Pascal Di Betta Film: Grapes of Wrath October 29, 2017                                                                         Acting A shot that stood out to me was the scene with the dead monkey. As Joe Gills (William Holden) approaches the dead body with drapes on it, we begin to get nerves. Has Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) Killed the poor fella. As she lifts up the cloth we see that it is a monkey. She invited Joe to come up because she thought he was a the coffin guy. She realizes she has invited a total stranger into her house and tells him to leave. He is about to, until he realizes that he knows her. “Wait a minute, haven't I seen you before? I know your face.” He says. “Your Norma Desmond, used to be in silent pictures, use to be big.” She raises her eyebrows as high ...

Double indemnity. Film Studies Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson)  is the shining star of this film. When I think of insurance companies I think of extremely boring tedious work, and also of corruption and fraud. However Barton gave me a very interesting perspective on the business. Through his monologue talking about suicide we see a bit of humanity come out, and also chuckle to see mister Napoleon tell of the boss. The Boss has just attempted to tell Ms. Dietrichson ( Barbara Stanwyck)  that her husband committed suicide. But she won't have that crap. She storms out and so the boss say they will have to take it to court. Keyes comes in and biggies to list all the ways that people have committed suicide. He becomes enthused lively and it is captivating to watch. “Mr. Norton, of all the cases on record not one single case of suicide by leaping of the re end of a moving train. And you know how fast that train was going at the point where the body was found, 15 mile an hou...