Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Seventh Seal -- Where is Death in the Scene?

I just watched the scene 6 or 7 times on YouTube. (Link to clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1f7llGxkdc ) (Relevant clip begins at 2:15)

The scene I am discussing is where the witch is being burned and at what point in it, Death is. Now some people believe that he is the guy kneeling when the camera pans but that man is clearly wearing a cincture (or rope around his robe) which symbolizes that he is a member of the clergy.

In the background, in the cart, we see something there. Now, to me, that is not Death, but instead an empty black robe, possibly symbolizing something but I do not see the figure of Death in there. It appears to be an empty black robe, if it is that at all but I don't see anything in it. It appears empty and formless.

However, I do see Death but in a different place. Now, assuming, that it is two different shots, which I believe it is, when Jons and Antonius are making their speech about Emptiness and what is there for the poor child, if you look behind their left shoulder, there is a kneeling figure I which believe to Death. I could be wrong but I think it resembles Death the most, has no cincture, and would be the most fitting since they are discussing Emptiness and Death, for the character himself to be lurking right behind them.

Please watch the scene, it is only a minute and a half long, beginning at 2:15, and I think that together we can uncover the mystery, and my opinion is only one and I could be wrong, but I do think that Death is actually behind Jons and Antonius during the speech on Emptiness and pain, and not in front of them kneeling, but lurking behind them kneeling.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Long Continuous Shots and Ad-Libbing

Today, at the end of class, Nick and Mr. Bennett, were having a discussion about the movies, The Player and Touch of Evil, which each had very long shots without a cut, a fantastic cinematic achievement, when done well. Unfortunately, I have not seen either of these films but it would be certainly be interesting to watch both of them, but the discussion brought to mind two films that have similar styling.

A movie that some of you may have seen was Children of Men, which was released in 2006 and starred Clive Owen. Now to begin with, this was an extraordinary film, in many different aspects and one of my favorites, but it is especially well known for its long shots without a cut. I would write a full review on it if I was able to remember the film more vividly, but it was an amazing film that I would suggest everyone to see.

But back to the continuous shots. In this film, there are three lengthy scenes without a cut, one which is 3:58, one which is 3:11, and the third and most incredible which was 6:11. Believe me, if you have seen it or when you see it you will know. The first scene is also nearly impossible and when I read that it was not cut, I was shocked and amazed. Each of the three scenes were great and the movie on the whole was great. It was quite a compelling story with great acting and many other brilliant elements of film. It was not perfect, but it was very well done and I do highly recommend because of it as a film as a whole but also to see these three shots.

A second film, which I have not seen, which was released in 2007, was the Oscar-nominated Atonement. I wish I could comment on it better but I have read that their is a 4:30 shot which is incredible because of its scope and various elements and that the movie is worth seeing for that alone so people may want to check it out. I should probably watch it myself but the movie as a whole does not appeal, in the least.

Finally, an unrelated, not movie topic, but I know that Mr. Bennett was discussing ad-libbing and improving, a characteristic of some actors. Now, some of you may be familiar with the TV series, Scrubs, by far my favorite show on television. For anyone who knows about the show, they will definitely know the role of the Janitor, portrayed by Neil Flynn. I have read (and it could be false) that nearly all of the lines by the Janitor are improvised and that several times throughout the script, instead of giving him a line, the script literally says, "Whatever Neil says."

That could be an exaggeration but when that was brought up today I thought of those two different ideas and the films and TV that connected to them. I highly endorse Children of Men and Scrubs, because I am addicted to Scrubs and think everyone should check it out but I did think it was interesting the amount of improving that the character does.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

I Love You, Man

The other day I saw the buddy comedy, I Love You, Man. This will be the first review on the blog of a not serious, not independent, not intellectual movie, but still a very good movie. This movie was certainly not a gem of filmmaking in terms of styling or cinematography or meaningful dialogue but it was definitely an enjoyable movie.

Now, I understand that people are not used to me posting about movies that aren't heavy and impossible to find, but I Love You, Man was a movie that deserves a posting. Paul Rudd is a great actor and he showcases his talent in his quirky, offbeat role as Paul Klaven, a real-estate agent. The movie features some great cameos and terrific acting, as well as an engaging and interesting story.

Although the movie was somewhat predictable (as I expected), it was actually well-executed and was not just a cheap, poorly thrown together comedy, but instead a smart, funny movie that raised some interesting social points. To be honest, I am sure that Mr. Bennett would not be able to sit through more than 10 minutes of what he would likely call a "low-brow atrocity" or something along those lines, but if you are a student in the class, and therefore, 17 or 18 years old, you will probably enjoy this movie.

It is not spectacular but Paul Rudd and Jason Segel do a great job of getting you interested in their characters and their lives, along with delivering some hilarious lines of dialogue. The movie was quite funny and except for a few minor flaws, a strong overall movie, with not too much substance but it allows for a good time.

If you have got nothing better to do, go out and see I, Love You Man, you'll have a good time and it'll make you think, as much as a buddy comedy can.

The Seventh Seal -- Mid-Movie

It is likely that we will finish the Seventh Seal in class tomorrow, so before the movie ends, I thought I would share some thoughts about it before I forget them or before we begin concentrating on elements towards the end of the film, instead of at the beginning. Now, since this is my 2nd viewing, I might have an unfair advantage in seeing more of the elements of film, but I hope that only advances my ideas.

One thing that I noticed early in the film were the numerous references to the colors black and white, especially the amount of black that was attributed throughout the movie, especially to Death, himself. For one, Death is dressed all in black and when they begin playing Chess, Antonius holds the pieces in his hand for Death to choose and Death chooses the Black pieces, or as Antonius puts it "Black for you." As well, Antonius wears a black hood and the world is surrounded by the Black Death or the plague. These numerous allusions to Black are certainly noteworthy in one way or another.

Another idea that I had which may be overly interpreted is two scenes that took place with the actor. The first occurs when he sees the vision of the Virgin Mary with her child. Immediately before seeing the vision of her, he begins juggling balls, which I interpreted as the actor juggling the balls of life and trying to keep them from hitting the ground, just like he is trying to keep himself alive, despite the plague and being bitten by fleas.

The second scene which reaffirms this thought is that when he is talking to his wife about their son Michael with the other characters, they talk about Michael becoming a juggler like Joseph and he says that he knows that his son will be able to perform the impossible trick -- namely that he will make a ball stand still in the air. By keeping the ball in the air, he would be avoiding death and keeping the balls of his life afloat, much like his life. While Joseph believes that the impossible trick is keeping the balls in the air, the director Bergman, is telling us that the true impossible trick is stopping death and much like Mary says that the trick can never be done, we learn that death cannot be avoided.

Now, Joseph is sure that Michael will be able to perform the trick despite his wife's disagreement, and it becomes interesting as to whether his son can really keep a ball floating in the air, and through this avoid the inevitable death that all must face. I could be wrong but I felt that it was fitting that the characters are jugglers, trying to juggle their lives and keeping themselves alive amongst certain death.

Those were the most relevant points that I have seen so far but I also want to write down some of my favorite, and possibly most important lines of dialogue of the film, that I have noticed so far. Meaning can be attributed to each of these quotes and these quotes include:

"You and your visions" - Mary

"There was great silence on heaven and earth." - Joseph

Joseph and Mary
"Mikael will grow up to be a great acrobat--or a juggler who can do the one impossible trick."
"What's that?"
"To make one of the balls stand absolutely still in the air."
"But that's impossible."
"Impossible for us -- but not for him."
"You dreaming again."

Antonius and Death
"I want knowledge."
"You want guarantees?"
"Call it whatever you like. It is so cruelly inconceivable to grasp God with the senses? Why should he hide himself in a mist of half spoken promises and unseen miracles?"

Painter and Jons
"The Dance of Death."
"And that one is Death?"
"Yes, he dances off with all of them."
"Why do you paint such nonsense?"
"I thought it would serve to remind people that they must die."

"This is my hand. I can move it, feel the blood pulsing through it. The sun is still high in the sky and I, Antonius Block, am playing chess with Death."

"Our crusade was such madness that only a real idealist could have thought it up." - Jons
"No matter which way you turn you have your rump behind you. That's the truth." - Jons

Soldier and Jons
"The Devil can't stand the smell."
"Neither can I."

(about Flagellants) "Do you really expect people to believe this drivel?" - Jons

"People are dying like flies" - Jons (Ironic since plague was spread by flies.)

"You look more beautiful without your make-up on" - Antonius (beauty is inherent, no need for false appearances)

"I'm bored with myself" - Antonius

"To believe is to suffer, to speak to one who never answers." - Antonius

"Lord, why did you create women?" - Jons

"Your time is up. Performance -- canceled owing to death. Contract annulled." - Death

"Love is nothing but lust, cheating, and lies." - Jons

"If everything is imperfect in this world, love is perfect in its imperfection." - Antonius

Death and Antonius
"Will you ever stop asking questions?"
"No"
"But you never get any answers"

Jons and Antonius
"Who watches over that child?Is it the angels? Or God? Or the Devil? Or only the emptiness? Emptiness, my lord.
"No."
"Yes emptiness."

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The Visitor

The Visitor was another low-budget, independent type film that was released in early 2008, directed by Thomas McCarthy, and starred Richard Jenkins, an exceptional actor in all of his roles, and actually received an Oscar nomination for his role in this film, this year.


The Visitor told a simple yet complex story centering around a middle-aged (60-year old) professor, who lives in Connecticut where he teaches, but he has held an apartment in New York, for 25 years, and when he is forced to come back to New York for a conference, he finds that a foreign couple is living in his apartment, which they were told was for rent.


From here, the story revolves around the interaction of the characters, and tells a realistic story, a story that seemed like it could truly happen everyday. Now, some people do not like realistic films, but I credit a director who can capture and portray reality as close as it can be. This movie does this incredibly well, and throughout the film, I never once felt like I was watching actors, I was watching real people. This story engrossed me and I believe Mr. Bennett has said that it is the credit to great actors when they seem like the people, not like they are playing a role. And in this film, it could not be more true.

I felt like a character in the film and when I thought about it this morning, I actually felt like I could see some of the characters walking down the street past me today, that was how genuine the film felt. And another credit to the film, was the ease and skill in which the director portrayed every emotion beautifully and truly used the range of emotions in this movie. Never once did I want it to end, and when it did, I was craving for more.

This film is certainly not for everyone, especially people who like action films or romantic comedies but it was an extraordinary film on many levels. Some parts were clearly low-budget and it showed, but that should detract nothing from the film and it didn't. Believe me, it is not the perfect film, but it is one I would recommend very highly. I would suggest it more than all of my previously reviewed movies except maybe Schindler's List and In Bruges, but it's very close.
The acting is terrific and the story is beautiful and moving. If you get the chance, see it!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Runaway Train -- The Control Room

The control room, as well as the people in it became an interesting character throughout the film. The people in the control room were almost overshadowed by the information in the room itself and it certainly took on its own experience. It is difficult to say the exact significance of the Control Room.

One conclusion that could be drawn from this is that the Control Room, is a God-like figure, since it was omniscient and able to see everything. The room was the source of knowledge and it knew exactly where the Runaway Train was and it was able to control it, to a point. It saw all of actions of the runaway and all of the other trains, in a way playing a role of someone who watches over everything and everybody, and fits in with the religious allegory of Manny taking on the role of Jesus and human sacrifice.

But in my opinion, there is also another way to look at it. This is, that in fact, the Control Room was powerless and that the Runaway Train was an unstoppable force that could not be controlled, even with all of the knowledge and information that it possessed. The runaway train was on a path of its own, a path of destiny, one that would happen, regardless of all the power in the world.

The third similar idea, again referring to a religious allegory, is that the Control Room is a God-like figure, but that although He has the power to stop and control everything, but the train and the people in have the Free Will to make their own decisions and that God only guides them in directions but allows them to choose their own path, and allows mistakes to be made so that people can pave their own path in the world.

The people in the Control Room are very complex because they didn't seem prepared to handle a crisis like the one they were faced with. Every single plan they had was only a momentary solution and they were never able to come up with any solution to save everyone, a possible allegory for salvation, that not everyone can be saved. It was also interesting how lax and unprepared they were when they first learned of the train and only the one man had any solutions for trying to save the train without derailing it.

It was interesting to note the juxtaposition between the power and all-knowing ability of the Control Room, with the powerlessness it felt when it was unable to stop the train and the way the people in the Control Room did not have the knowledge of how to save the Runaway Train. They were clearly numerous symbols behind the Control Room, and the true answer is probably hard to find, but these are just some possible scenarios.

The most enduring image of the Control Room was when Ranken pushes Frank into the toilet and gives him that speech. It was both very funny and could also show that the Control Room could easily be overtaken and had no real power in stopping anything. It was interesting also that the bathroom was referenced several times in the Control Room but I don't think that it holds any significance.

The Control Room was certainly an integral character in this film and I'm sure that people will have many opinions on it, which I hope to hear.

Favorite Lines from Runaway Train

Here are some of the lines I wrote down while watching Runaway Train. I may have missed some of the best lines because it is difficult to watch the movie, pay attention, and write down the quotes, but I tried my best. Hopefully you like some of them, or they at least bring back vivid memories of the film:

(In sewer) "That's the smell of freedom, brother" - Manny

(Looking at train) "That's my ticket to Broadway... Cause I want it." - Manny

"I ain't expect nothing" - Manny

"Dreams, dreams" (Spits on the ground) - Manny

"You get an inmates' job. Because they job is like gold. That job is gold." - Manny

"God, don't kill them. Let me do it." - Rankin

"You clean that spot!" - Manny

"Well, I guess you guys picked the wrong train." - Sara

"I ain't getting caught alive, and you neither." - Manny

"I don't know man... I don't know what to think." - Buck

"You'll break every bone in your body." - Buck
(Describing his bones) "They've been broke before." - Manny
"We've been breaking through doors all our lives" - Manny

"Miracles - what are you stupid." - Manny
"I ain't waiting for no miracle."

"Win, lose, what's the difference?" - Manny

"You don't know what you can do, and what you can't" - Manny

"You were a hero to us - until the truth came out" - Sara

"You're an animal." - Sara
"No worse! Human!" - Manny

"Hold me - I don't want to die alone." - Sara
"Everyone dies alone." - Manny

"We all die alone - ain't that right Rankin." - Manny

"You think you're a hero. You're Scum!" - Rankin
"We're both scum, brother!" - Manny

"You're as afraid to die as anybody else, and I never let you free. You hear me? " - Rankin
"I am free, Rankin. I am free. " - Manny

Throughout these quotes, there are several Biblical allusions, including the discussion of miracles which Manny thinks is stupid be he ends up performing something that could almost resemble a miracle. Also, Manny said that he had all of his bones broken before, it is interesting that when Jesus died, all of his bones were broken. All of these quotes have their own significance that I won't get into but these were just some of the memorable quotes that I remember. Hopefully, people have some other ones, and some of these could be the basis in our discussion of this film. Hope these ring true to you!