The film The Graduate is about a recent college graduate who is trying to find himself in life but gets caught in the middle of an affair and falling in love with a girl. In the words of Dr. Alexis Carrel, "Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor." Ben Braddock, played by Dustin Hoffman, is faced with the challenge of finding who or what he wants to be after he graduated. He struggles to fit and goes to any measure to try to fit in and as soon as he thought he was someone in life he realized that what he was doing was socially frowned upon and went on his journey to find himself.
Ben had just recently graduated from college and he had no idea of what he wanted to do with his life; he didn’t know who he was. He was manipulated by his parents, family, and peers around him. He started to have an affair with a family friend who was married. He knew that what he was doing was wrong but didn’t know better.
As the film blatantly showed, Ben was an outcast and didn’t fit anywhere. For example, on his 21st birthday, his parents gave him a scuba suit. What kind of a 21st birthday present is that? As he jumps into the pool with his present, the camera zooms out and shows Ben underwater. As the camera keeps zooming out we see emptiness around him and how lonely he is.
After this incident, he makes a risky move and decides to have an affair with Mrs. Robinson. Ben keeps sneaking around with her renting rooms and having sex, but he feels that this is all wrong and that he wants relationship and not just a flimsy whore who cant get anything from her husband anymore. He tries to have a meaningful conversation with her but they end up fighting and he realizes that he does not want this. He ends up taking her daughter, Elaine, to dinner but treats her horribly but ant the end of their date he realizes that he really likes her and wants to spend more time with her. Unfortunately, Elaine and Mr. Robinson find out that Ben was having an affair with Mrs. Robinson so Elaine goes back to Berkley in hopes of never seen Ben again.
At this point Ben realized that the only way that he will be happy is if he is with Elaine, but the question is how to get her back. He ends up making the long drive up to Berkley to see her. When he does meet up with her she is not happy to see him. He tries to explain what really happened between her mother and him but its too late because she had left Berkley to marry her boyfriend.
Once again, Ben is on a downward spiral heading nowhere. His whole life he had been a lonely, miserable kid who didn’t seem to fit with anyone. He gets the courage to go find this wedding and stop it because the only person who really cared about him was Elaine and felt like he never felt before with her.
He finally found the wedding and stops it they run out with joyfully and without a care in the world. It seems that Ben has finally found the one person who can make him feel like someone in this world, but soon reality kicks in. Where are they going? Where are they going to live? What to do know? All these questions and more are running through their mind and the happiness is short lived.
After all these struggles and obstacles that Ben had to face, he got his girl and was on his way to a happy life. But the way the director ends the movie gives a kind of cliff hanger of whether or not they are actually happy because they never thought their pan over and had no idea what is ahead of them. Therefore, it may seem that all the effort that Ben put into this may not payoff at the end but he at least found a “name” for himself and found a place in life where he belongs.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Online Film Analysis
Clip A:
At the beginning, a medium to a long shot is used to establish the people and the setting. Then it zooms into a medium shot of the actors as they play cards. The camera always stay from their torso up never leaving that position. There is no slight movement of the camera which tells us they didn't use a hand help ;they must of used a steadicam. The lighting and composition was very well managed because it immersed the viewer in the scene and it made it actually look like a place where people would gather to play poker.
Clip C:
The scene begins with a long shot in order to set the setting. There was a lot of hand help camera when a person walked into a house which put the viewer in the scene. A high angle and low angle camera is used to show the dominance of one individual over another. Cross cutting is also used when the FBI breaks into the high simultaneously as the other other cop enters the real house they have been looking for.
Clip D:
Long Take allows the scene to be seem continuous. This creates a sense of urgency in the situation, making the viewer feel the buzz inside the building. The scene is shot with a medium shot on the adults, however cutting of most of the little boy's body. At a point it seemed that the 180 degree rule would be broken but never was. When the mother and son were in the elevator, it seemed that there was a balanced composition and as they walked out of the elevator, it is clear that they used a wide angle lens because it exaggerated the depth in which they walked.
Clip E:
The opening of the scene has the two characters at a medium shot with somewhat of a low key lighting since there is little shadow on one side of their face. Before they cut to the lady singing, you can hear her sing even before they switch toward that scene. A long shot is used on her as she walks down slowly moving back as she comes forward as if you yourself where there watching the opera. We never get to see the orchestra but the viewer assumes that they are there.
At the beginning, a medium to a long shot is used to establish the people and the setting. Then it zooms into a medium shot of the actors as they play cards. The camera always stay from their torso up never leaving that position. There is no slight movement of the camera which tells us they didn't use a hand help ;they must of used a steadicam. The lighting and composition was very well managed because it immersed the viewer in the scene and it made it actually look like a place where people would gather to play poker.
Clip C:
The scene begins with a long shot in order to set the setting. There was a lot of hand help camera when a person walked into a house which put the viewer in the scene. A high angle and low angle camera is used to show the dominance of one individual over another. Cross cutting is also used when the FBI breaks into the high simultaneously as the other other cop enters the real house they have been looking for.
Clip D:
Long Take allows the scene to be seem continuous. This creates a sense of urgency in the situation, making the viewer feel the buzz inside the building. The scene is shot with a medium shot on the adults, however cutting of most of the little boy's body. At a point it seemed that the 180 degree rule would be broken but never was. When the mother and son were in the elevator, it seemed that there was a balanced composition and as they walked out of the elevator, it is clear that they used a wide angle lens because it exaggerated the depth in which they walked.
Clip E:
The opening of the scene has the two characters at a medium shot with somewhat of a low key lighting since there is little shadow on one side of their face. Before they cut to the lady singing, you can hear her sing even before they switch toward that scene. A long shot is used on her as she walks down slowly moving back as she comes forward as if you yourself where there watching the opera. We never get to see the orchestra but the viewer assumes that they are there.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Oscar Nominated Rankings
Pre Writing
1. Social Network:
• Funny
• Well written script
• Intriguing
• Good cast
2. True Grit:
• Exciting
• More modern Western
• A lot of action
• Funny
3. The King’s Speech:
• Amazing acting
• Great scenery
• Good script
4. Toy Story 3:
• Funny
• Not as good as the first one
• Modern twist (?)
5. Inception:
• Awesome graphics
• Confusing at times
• Interesting
6. Winter’s Bone:
• Ok acting
• Not as interested in it
• Some exciting parts
1. The Social Network: By far The Social Network was my favorite movie of all. I especially liked the acting in the film. Jesse Eisenberg plays the role of Mark Zuckerberg to perfection. All his satire and his witty comments added to some of the funny aspects o the film. The script was very well written and easy to follow, even when he was talking about all these computer stuff that I dint understand just added a little comedy to that. Going back and forth between scenes was very interesting because all the questions that were asked to him were answered in the flashback.
2. True Grit: I placed this movie second because I am not a western movie type of guy. But putting aside that fact, the film was very interesting and exciting. There was a lot of action going on, which you would expect from a western film, but there were some modern twists to it. For example, one is having a “father daughter” relationship between the two main characters and not a sexual one. Also, the girl was a big part of the film and at the end finding the “True Grit” inside of her just brought the whole film to a close. There were also some funny parts of the film, but wasn’t my number one because the fact that I don’t really like western movies.
3. The King’s Speech: This film exceeded my expectations. I was expecting to be falling asleep throughout the film but was actually very intriguing. The acting from Colin firth was phenomenal and very believable. Although the stammer was funny at first, he made you feel pity toward him. The scene where he walked toward the microphone to speak was very interesting. It seemed as there was no escape for him almost the feeling of being claustrophobic. Narrow hallways and each room getting smaller until reaching the room with the microphone which was the smallest of all the rooms. I didn’t reach higher in my rankings because there wasn’t much action or much going on to actually keep me focused on the movie for a long time.
4. Toy Story 3: This film kinda disappointed me because it just did not meet my expectations as the previous movies did. I still liked it but just the fact that they made Timmy a grown up did not really sync in at all. It did have a modern twist to it that I did not like at all.
5. Inception: I liked the graphics in this film but at times it got really confusing on what was going on. It was an overall a unique perspective that the director tried to place for the viewer. It was successful but for some people it was hard to follow and for that reason it did not make ithigher in my rankings.
6. Winter's Bone: I havenothing against this film it just that I dont find independent films as exciting as movies filmed in studios and lots. For an inexpensive film, it was interesting at times but I was never really focused on it all the time. That is why it made it where it did in my rankings.
1. Social Network:
• Funny
• Well written script
• Intriguing
• Good cast
2. True Grit:
• Exciting
• More modern Western
• A lot of action
• Funny
3. The King’s Speech:
• Amazing acting
• Great scenery
• Good script
4. Toy Story 3:
• Funny
• Not as good as the first one
• Modern twist (?)
5. Inception:
• Awesome graphics
• Confusing at times
• Interesting
6. Winter’s Bone:
• Ok acting
• Not as interested in it
• Some exciting parts
1. The Social Network: By far The Social Network was my favorite movie of all. I especially liked the acting in the film. Jesse Eisenberg plays the role of Mark Zuckerberg to perfection. All his satire and his witty comments added to some of the funny aspects o the film. The script was very well written and easy to follow, even when he was talking about all these computer stuff that I dint understand just added a little comedy to that. Going back and forth between scenes was very interesting because all the questions that were asked to him were answered in the flashback.
2. True Grit: I placed this movie second because I am not a western movie type of guy. But putting aside that fact, the film was very interesting and exciting. There was a lot of action going on, which you would expect from a western film, but there were some modern twists to it. For example, one is having a “father daughter” relationship between the two main characters and not a sexual one. Also, the girl was a big part of the film and at the end finding the “True Grit” inside of her just brought the whole film to a close. There were also some funny parts of the film, but wasn’t my number one because the fact that I don’t really like western movies.
3. The King’s Speech: This film exceeded my expectations. I was expecting to be falling asleep throughout the film but was actually very intriguing. The acting from Colin firth was phenomenal and very believable. Although the stammer was funny at first, he made you feel pity toward him. The scene where he walked toward the microphone to speak was very interesting. It seemed as there was no escape for him almost the feeling of being claustrophobic. Narrow hallways and each room getting smaller until reaching the room with the microphone which was the smallest of all the rooms. I didn’t reach higher in my rankings because there wasn’t much action or much going on to actually keep me focused on the movie for a long time.
4. Toy Story 3: This film kinda disappointed me because it just did not meet my expectations as the previous movies did. I still liked it but just the fact that they made Timmy a grown up did not really sync in at all. It did have a modern twist to it that I did not like at all.
5. Inception: I liked the graphics in this film but at times it got really confusing on what was going on. It was an overall a unique perspective that the director tried to place for the viewer. It was successful but for some people it was hard to follow and for that reason it did not make ithigher in my rankings.
6. Winter's Bone: I havenothing against this film it just that I dont find independent films as exciting as movies filmed in studios and lots. For an inexpensive film, it was interesting at times but I was never really focused on it all the time. That is why it made it where it did in my rankings.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
My First Movie Review
BRAINSTORMING - Film: The Green Hornet
1. Action Pack
2. Thrilling
3. Funny
4. Jay Chou played the part perfectly
5. Script was really well followed and not confusing at all
6. The 3D could have been better
7. Seth Rogen was the perfect character to play the slacker son
8. The background of why Seth Rogen's character wanted to be a Superhero/ hated villain
9. Some of the action was not truly believable
10. There was always something to laugh about in the movie
11. No boring moments
12. Awesome car!!!!
13. Boring script turned genius
14. No real plot
15. Well directed
MY REVIEW - The Green Hornet
The film The Green Hornet was thrilling, action pack, comedy movie that had not much of a plot. It was a boring script turned genius by the well chosen actors who played the characters. Jay Chou role in the film was a very strong part in making the film as action packed as it was and also making it funny with his witty comments, Also, the character that Seth Rogen played was just perfect for the kind of personality that he has. Although some of the action that was portrayed in the film was not very convincing, it did not take away from all the good stuff the film showed. It’s not worth watching in 3D because there wasn’t much of it. A regular 2D film would suffice. The best parts of the film were the cars that they drove. They were nothing ordinary about them besides the fact that they look like cars. They had bullet proof windows and wheels and also 2 wheel drive where you only needed the two front wheels. Overall, it was a good movie but to only watch one or two times.
1. Action Pack
2. Thrilling
3. Funny
4. Jay Chou played the part perfectly
5. Script was really well followed and not confusing at all
6. The 3D could have been better
7. Seth Rogen was the perfect character to play the slacker son
8. The background of why Seth Rogen's character wanted to be a Superhero/ hated villain
9. Some of the action was not truly believable
10. There was always something to laugh about in the movie
11. No boring moments
12. Awesome car!!!!
13. Boring script turned genius
14. No real plot
15. Well directed
MY REVIEW - The Green Hornet
The film The Green Hornet was thrilling, action pack, comedy movie that had not much of a plot. It was a boring script turned genius by the well chosen actors who played the characters. Jay Chou role in the film was a very strong part in making the film as action packed as it was and also making it funny with his witty comments, Also, the character that Seth Rogen played was just perfect for the kind of personality that he has. Although some of the action that was portrayed in the film was not very convincing, it did not take away from all the good stuff the film showed. It’s not worth watching in 3D because there wasn’t much of it. A regular 2D film would suffice. The best parts of the film were the cars that they drove. They were nothing ordinary about them besides the fact that they look like cars. They had bullet proof windows and wheels and also 2 wheel drive where you only needed the two front wheels. Overall, it was a good movie but to only watch one or two times.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Blog#6:Quarter 4: Tender Bar
In the story, although Moehringer develops a personality he likes and he talks positively of the men at the bar, it seems like the men were corrupting him and turn us into hating him too. At the beginning of the story, I thought that J.R. was pretty innocent, had ambitions, but was slowly being corrupted by the men at the bar that he had called his saviors. At one point, his uncle, one of the men at the bar, and the one who introduced him, took him to the bar where he would "mature." In my opinion, this lead to a downward paths in his life. For example, when his mom had been in the hospital because of a car accident, he didn't try to do anything. Instead, he decided to call up a girl he had met at a party by the name of Lana. At the point where his mom is in trouble, he gave her up. Even though she was being taken cared of, the extra comfort by him would've helped her. However, on that day, he took out Lana, to try and lose his virginity because he believed that it was what would transform him into a man. These were the ideas that the men at the bar had taught him and these ideas corrupted him, and as noted before by me, would ruin his life because as he adopted these new ideas, he had lost the ambitions that he had developed from before.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Blog#5:Quarter 4: Tender Bar
In this story, there are several ethical issues that the main character faces. J.R. Moehringer, all his life, was given the impression that he should hate his father because of what his mom said. His father had left him and his mother penniless and his mom just despises his father. Ever since, he had started to severe relations with his dad, and working to become a lawyer like his mom had dreamed. However, there were certain problems. When he wanted to fill out for YALE applications because the paternal figures of the bar insisted he do so, he needed his father's address. He put "NOT APPLICABLE" but he kept on hesitated about it. Later when he was interviewed and asked about his name, J.R. he didn't want to say that it was his father's because he was ashamed of his dad. He didn't want all his work to be his dad getting credit for it. His mom then arranged for him and his father to have time together. They spent time together and Moehringer began to like him. Soon it was time for his father to go. He was going to ask him why he left him and his mom penniless. He didn't have the guts to do so. However, later on he gave up on the idea of becoming a lawyer and suing his dad because he didn't want to betray his dad. He didn't want to help his mom and betray his dad. However, because of this, in his mind, he thought that he had betrayed his mom.
Blog#4:Quarter 4: Tender Bar
From what we are showed, Moehringer tells us that he didn't fit the qualities of a seven year old either. He had his "security blanket" which was kind of like the object he carried around him even when he was seven years old and he had started to develop strange tantrums. He had develop tantrums that his mom hoped to grow out of, but he just got worse. Soon after he returns from his psychiatrist meetings, we learn that he develops his problems from his anger developing inside of him. This adds to the problems that is lead throughout his life. He has to suffer living in the "Shit-House" while his neighbors are all living in such big houses. Such anger and jealously of them causes him to start suffering delusions and superstitions and fears. He would fear cats, dogs, ladders, and other things that can lead to trouble. All of this just add to how he disliked being of a lower class because of his grandfather's scrooge like attitude.
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