Director: Paul Leni Release Date: September 9, 1927 The Cat and the Canary is a silent film inspired by German Expressionism. It exemplifies all of the characteristics we talked about in class like the film being sinister, there’s exaggerated makeup, dark lighting, and crazy angles. The opening scene was probably one of my favorite scenes because they overlaid hands, cats, and Mr. Cyrus West. It gave a spooky and "weird" effect to the film. The plot of the film, to my surprise, was actually interesting. Cyrus West is a rich man who died, and his family members were fighting for his money, which caused him to go crazy. He asks for his will to be locked for 20 years, so no one gets his money. The 20 year anniversary came up, so his heirs had to spend the night in the haunted mansion. I don’t typically go for silent films, but it was an assignment to watch a film in the German Expressionist style. I actually didn’t mind it and I thought it was okay.
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Director: Lasse Hallström Release Date: December 17, 1993 One of my comfort films is What's Eating Gilbert Grape. This weekend was one of those weekends where I had to sit down and watch a "classic" movie. Gilbert Grape is trapped in his hometown taking care of his overweight mother and his disabled brother. Gilbert Grape shows real life and vulnerability because he puts his family first. Johnny Depp deserved an Oscar for his performance in my opinion. His acting skills made me sentimental throughout the movie. It's beautifully filmed, and I feel like the director wanted to portray something relatable for all. I want to note, what IS eating Gilbert Grape? I think it's the fact that he has to take care of his family and never leave. Is there a right answer to this question? Probably not. Anyways, I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to get comfortable and shed a tear. Director: Sam Levinson Release Date: January 29, 2021 on Netflix Malcolm and Marie was really boring. The plot of the movie wasn't really my forte because it was over an hour of fighting on screen. It feels like it should be a play since it's really static. It takes place in Malcolm and Marie's humble abode after Malcolm's first movie premiere. It was difficult to keep up with the plot since it is not a traditional narrative film (there is no climax). Although I did not enjoy the movie, I believe Zendaya and John David Washington did an excellent job acting. I've never seen Zendaya do this type of intense and emotional acting. Another aspect I enjoyed in the film was that it was in black and white. It exhibits this "old" vibe, and it really shows how both Malcolm and Marie see things in "black and white." I'm not really sure if Sam Levinson wanted to make that distinction; however, both Malcolm and Marie cannot agree on whether or not he should've thanked her during his movie premiere speech. I know many people who LOVED this movie, but personally, I would not recommend it. Director: George C. Wolfe Release Date: December 18, 2020 on Netflix Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is based on Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, AKA the Mother of Blues. I was inspired to watch this film because it was Chadwick Boseman’s last performance before he passed. The movie is set on a hot summer day in Chicago in 1927. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’s use of color is absolutely beautiful and shows warm tones to represent the summer heat (yellow, orange, ochre, red, beige). One of the movie’s themes is racism; it discusses how black artists in the US were simply used for their talent since the white man profits on them. A scene that really touched me was when a band member, Toledo, said that the colored man are the leftovers. It symbolizes how the black man doesn’t understand their identity while the white man who used their labor doesn't find it valuable anymore. Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of Levee, a band member, was absolutely phenomenal. His emotions were raw and powerful, especially when he was talking about how the white man sold his father’s land. I also loved Viola Davis’ portrayal of Ma Rainey. Her confidence and her determination is inspiring. It shows how Ma Rainey is determined to control her art and stay true to her roots. Overall, I really enjoyed this film and the message. |
Jasmin AsadWatchin' films and writin' reviews is the purpose of this blog. Archives
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