The Full Monty

For a film that isn't too old, I was very surprised that I've never heard about The Full Monty, and as I read the summary of the movie, I wasn't too impressed. Watching a film about male strippers is not at the top of my movie viewing list. However, being that this film was a comedy, I tried to keep an open mind. As it turns out, The Full Monty turned out to be very good film and was much more than my initial expectations.

While watching the film, I did not have the most positive outlook on the movie. Since my initial thoughts were negative, it took some thinking after the film was over to fully appreciate the underlying message in The Full Monty. At first, I thought about how the main characters were struggling with no work and and relationship issues. One of the supporting roles even attempted suicide! Obviously these men felt they were at "rock-bottom" and things couldn't get any worse.

I found it very amusing that the actors felt the best option to pick themselves up was stripping. But once a viewer accepts that the film really isn't about stripping, they can see that The Full Monty addresses a lot of social issues. The way these issues were presented was brilliant being that the film was a comedy and viewers must really focus on the underlying plot to fully understand them. The most obvious issue in The Full Monty would be custody rights. After all, the whole plot and idea of stripping to earn money is what the film is based on. But there were also many other issues addressed more lightly in this film. For example, one of the main characters was very self-conscious about his weight and two supporting actors turned out to be gay. The Full Monty did a great job presenting these issues in a comical way.

If the plot and underlying social issues weren't enough to keep the viewers entertained, The Full Monty had another useful technique (and no, it wasn't the stripping). The selection of music and songs used in this film was amazing. A majority of the songs used in the film were hits when they were released by their respective artists. "You Sexy Thing," "Land of a Thousand Dances," "Flashdance (What a Feeling)," and "We are Family" are just a few of the songs used in this film. The popularity of these songs has certainly not decreased since their releases.

The phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" does actually have some truth and I feel that it should also be applied to films. Initially, I was not interested in this film and definitely did not want to spend my time watching it. However, there was much more to this film than I had anticipated. If I ever run into similar problems that these characters experienced, I will immediately think of The Full Monty. And I can't say what will happen after that, but perhaps my luck will turn around!

Little Miss Sunshine

It isn't too often that a film lacks a main character. I mean, what is a story without a main character? Who is the audience supposed to relate to? While the film Little Miss Sunshine might not have a main character, viewers will not have trouble finding someone to relate to in this cast.

The acting in this film was not overshadowed by any one character. There were multiple characters that each contributed equally through the use of an ensemble cast. This was a unique way to represent the story and that is why I feel that many viewers would be able to relate to this film. It was so realistic; all the actors in the ensemble cast represented a typical family. For example, each person in this film had a dream that they were completely dedicated to fulfilling. The father in Little Miss Sunshine wanted success for an inspirational program that he created, the son in this film took a vow of silence to show his dedication in becoming a pilot, and the daughter was focused on winning the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. The use of an ensemble cast provided many connections that viewers can make with each character.

Again, the reality of this film definitely made it a success. Most viewers will be able to relate to a at least one character in some way. Standing in the way of each character's dream was a struggle or challenge that had to be overcome. However, not all of the dreams in Little Miss Sunshine were fulfilled, just as people fail to fulfill dreams in real life. As seen in this film, there were financial burdens and even death that complicated life for the family.  In the end, the family pulled together despite their struggles and became one unit. It served as a message of hope during a rough period and many viewers can appreciate that.

As for the use of sound in this movie, there was only one part that actually stood out to me: the car horn that did not stop beeping. It took me some time to realize the significance and purpose that the car horn played in Little Miss Sunshine. It was almost a constantly nagging sound that represented the families constant conflict and just how dysfunctional they are. This reiterates the point that the family in Little Miss Sunshine was very similar to normal families in today's society.

In conclusion, the casting and acting in this film is what made it great. Each character was unique, but able to relate to viewers in some way. There was not any overshadowing of characters by a main or central character, which allowed viewers to view the characters as equals. Little Miss Sunshine proves that movies can have great success without superstar actors or a single main character.

The Dark Knight

Batman is a character that people from all generations can recognize easily. With his start in comic books, Batman has now moved on to the big screen. It seems that comic book characters have been becoming increasingly popular at the box office. For example, Spiderman, The Avengers, and  Ironman have all had great success in recent years and I enjoyed watching all of them. So naturally, it was no surprise to me that Batman in The Dark Knight was also a great movie.

This was actually the second time that I had watched The Dark Knight, and I was definitely able to pick up on a lot more information in the movie. The first time I watched this film, I was completely focused on the Joker, played by Heath Ledger. There were several reasons for this. The first, and probably most obvious, is that the entire world was shocked by his death (as many people believed his role in this film directly related to his death). The second reason, was due to the fact that I was honestly creeped out by the guy.

If his personality wasn't enough to scare a person, the color of the Joker's costume and makeup did the job. His hair was dyed a tinted green color, his clothes were purple and green, his makeup white, red, and black. Noting about these colors seemed to mesh and that was done for a specific reason. The Joker was a very chaotic, unpredictable character. The director wanted the viewers to be afraid and nervous when they saw the character. This emotion was accomplished with the help of colors used in the Joker's costume and makeup. They were aggressive, random, and spontaneous. It all helped play into the fact that viewers never knew what the Joker was going to do next.

But these colors have been used to portray the Joker ever since the comic book was created. When the director chose to use the same makeup and costume for the film, the only other thing needed was an actor. Acting in any movie is crucial, and after watching The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger was definitely the right choice to cast as the Joker. Everything about Ledger's acting was spot-on. The facial expressions, the body movements, the quirky ticks were exactly what I'd expect from a psychopathic killer. Ledger completely took on the role of the Joker, focused internally, and became the character. After all, many think this role lead to his death.

The music and sound of The Dark Knight were also incredible. The sounds of explosion, gunfire, and the Joker's haunting laugh all added significantly to the feeling of reality in this film. Music also has a large impact on viewers, and some could argue that it has a larger effect on viewers than added sound effects. There was so much drama, action, and tension in this film. The music contributed greatly in every scene to help express the emotion that the director wanted to convey. When one stops to notice the music in films, they can hear that there is some music playing in almost every scene. Music and sound each have specific purposes that add significantly to movies.

Overall, this movie was incredible. It was the classic film about good versus evil, but there was so much more going on. It was action-packed, realistic, and entertaining. Though it was a longer film, I never felt bored or wanted the film to end. I was very glad to see that this film's success lead to another great film by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises, and hope that more Batman films are produced in the future.

Memento

"Wait a second...what?" I can't count how many times this phrase was said when I sat down to watch the film Memento. That phrase was said not only after the opening scene, and but also after the ending scene. There have only been a few movies that I have watched in the past that have had this effect on me. I'm having troubles sleeping at night, I can't concentrate in class, and every time I see a person with a tattoo I get suspicious as to why they have it. It might sound as if Memento had a negative effect on me, but that is far from the truth!

This film was utterly and completely mind-boggling. Even now, I still cannot totally comprehend what I watched. How did the movie end? Or should I be asking how it began? Were the main characters static or dynamic? These aren't even a fraction of the questions that remain. I cannot even pinpoint Memento's message after I watched the film not only once, but twice! But, that is what I absolutely loved about this movie. There are so many different answers to all of the questions that remain in this film due in large part to the great work by the film's editors.

From scene to scene, the editors chose to use inside/out editing. The scenes would open with a very specific image and then would later show viewers where the scene is taking place, which characters are present in the scene, and what is happening overall in the scene. I also interpreted this form of editing as a direct correlation to the way the entire film was created. For example, the film opened with very specific scenes and the viewer was able to put the information presented in those scenes together to make connections as the film progressed. In this way, the techniques used to create the entire movie were very similar to the way each individual scene was constructed.

The color usage was a bit confusing, but very unique at the same time. It wasn't until the second time I watched Memento that I was able to come up with an explanation for the transitions of colors. Throughout Memento, some scenes were in color while others were in black and white. I noticed that, for the most part, the black and white scenes were flashbacks in Leonard's (the main character) life. They also seemed to play in chronological order from earlier events to later events in Leonard's life. Again, this might not have been the case in every black and white scene as it would require much further analysis to completely understand. However, one thing that I am very certain of is the use of colored scenes and what they represented. The color scenes played in reverse chronological order. The first scene of the movie was actually the ending to the film's plot. As with Memento's  ending scene, it was actually the beginning of the plot. This use of colors was a very creative way to keep viewers' attention.

An even more creative and brilliant way to keep viewers' attention is the way the plot was portrayed through the process of editing. So many movies follow the basic structure of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The choice to completely reverse this structure made Memento a much better film in my opinion. There are not many movies that choose to do so, but it really captivates the viewers and makes them think and keep interest in trying to understand the film.

While some people may prefer to watch films that don't require a deep thought process, I love movies that make you focus on every detail and leave you still not fully understanding the film. This lack of knowing or closure is what makes viewers want to watch a film over and over. Memento is a great example of a film that can be interpreted differently every time it is watched. That is one of the great things about complex films. There are so many different interpretations that allow viewers to discuss and debate with each other. For this reason, Memento is a film that is well worth watching.

Amélie

If I can't successfully pronounce the title of a film after two attempts, I normally walk away mumbling something negative about foreign films. So naturally, I didn't have the best first impression of Amélie. With a French title, I was unsure of what to expect because I usually only watch American films. Now that I have watched Amélie, I may find myself watching more foreign films in the future.

Was this film produced at a similar level as American films that I am used to? No, Amélie was produced at a much lower level, but this doesn't mean that Amélie was a bad movie. The movie was just fine, but that might be the highest rating I'd give this film. The acting, special effects, design, and other aspects of this film were very lacking compared with what I am used to in American movies. However, laughing during this film was quite common and the message and plot were presented well.

The setting of this film is extremely important to the formation of the main character, Amélie. Paris, therefore, had many effects on Amélie as she grew up. There might have been many reasons for her shy and secluded behavior growing up, but one might think it was due to the overwhelming size of the city that she lived in. Despite the large size of Paris, Amélie searches across the city to find people that she hopes to help and bring happiness to. However, one might think that it would be extremely difficult to track down people in an area the size of Paris. This is the point at which destiny and fate can play a large role in a film's setting, as seen by the joining of Amélie and her "man friend" at the end of the film. Only fate could bring these two random strangers together in a city like Paris.

One aspect that I was extremely confused about were the colors used in Amélie. It seemed as if the main colors used were green and red. In many scenes that took place outside, the clouds even had a green tint! A somewhat unique look was constructed by the choice to use the two primary colors of green and red throughout much of the film. In addition, the costumes and makeup used in the film were very plain. Nothing stood out or was memorable about the appearance of the characters in this film.

There are many possibilities why the director didn't focus attention on color, costumes, and makeup. For example, the director might have chosen to limit the use of makeup and flashy costumes so that they didn't detract from the characters' personalities and nature. Another reason why the film's colors, costumes, and makeup seemed to be lacking could be due to the budget of the movie. Since it was a foreign film, the director might have known that it wasn't likely to have the same success that American films attain. With that being acknowledged, financial resources might not have been applied in these areas. Or there could be a completely different reason that the director had in mind for his choice to use simple colors, costumes, and makeup.

This was a very simple film as indicated by the script and how the movie was directed. The simplicity of Amélie could be attributed to the French target audience. With the audience in mind, the movie didn't necessarily need to be action packed with special effects to draw in the attention of viewers. Instead, the director wanted to spread a simple message to the audience: "Like Amélie, do kind things for each other, but do not completely forget about doing things for yourself on occasion." With a meaningful message such as this, a simple film is the way to go by ensuring that viewers will clearly understand the film's purpose.

In the end, this film was a nice change of pace for me. With all the action movies and raunchy comedies that are circulating in America, Amélie proved that foreign films are worth watching. Though I might not watch it more than once, the calm flow and simplicity of this film made viewing it an enjoyable and relaxing experience.



Good Will Hunting

For a movie that I grew up hearing people talk about, I always thought it was strange that I had never sat down to watch Good Will Hunting. There were certainly many opportunities for me to watch this film over the years, as it was produced in 1997, but I was never drawn toward it.
I can think of two reasons why I wasn't interested in seeing the film when growing up. The first, and probably most obvious reason, is that my parents loved it. Kids and adults don't always agree when it comes to classifying a movie as "great." The second reason, which is the most important, would be that the title of Good Will Hunting was not intriguing to me at that stage in my life. Even as I sat down to watch the film this week, I began to think about the movie's title. I figured it was going to be a film with a serious tone that teaches a valuable life lesson through some dramatic journey. And for the most part it was!

Sure one might be able to pick up a bit of information about the movie from the title, but only someone that has viewed the film can truly understand the significance of the title. One of the main characters was named Will Hunting. So does the title signify that Will Hunting was a good man?  I'd say not, based on my personal opinion of Will's moral integrity. Instead, I interpreted the film's title in two parts: "good will" and "hunting." So who was hunting for a good will? Many people were in this film. Two college professors were each doing what they thought was best to help Will, a best friend was pushing and motivating Will to use his gift of knowledge, and Will was searching for his place and what to do in this world. The title of Good Will Hunting is significant on so many levels in this film.

The characters in this film also added significantly to this film. The unique personalities of all the actors make it very easy for viewers to relate to the people in this film. For example, not very many people can relate to Will on an intellectual level, but they may be able to relate to him (or know someone that can relate to him) on an emotional level. The trauma that Will experienced in his childhood is very much affecting his life and many viewers might have similar experiences. Another aspect that viewers could relate to would be the college professors and Will's best friend. Viewers might also be able to understand what it is like to try to help a young person that has a lot of potential.

I'm actually glad that I did not watch this film until I was older and more mature. Now I can appreciate the film and relate to it much more than I might have if I watched it at a younger age. I was also able to understand a lot of the symbolism used in this film. There were many symbols in Good Will Hunting. For example, the fight scene at the beginning of the movie symbolized the loyalty that the four young friends had for each other. Despite not knowing what they were getting into, Will's three friends all followed him into a fight with people they didn't know.

I feel that many people can enjoy this movie because they appreciate all the aspects in this film. In the end, this film was great. It had adventure, romance, and conflict. But most importantly, Good Will Hunting was realistic.

The King's Speech

This movie is without a doubt one of the best films that I have seen in a long time. And the fact that it was based on a true story about King George VI (referred to as Bertie in the film) adds even more to this movie. From the very beginning, viewers are introduced to the main characters, their emotions, and their struggles. For example, one of the main characters, was shown in the opening minutes struggling to give a speech as he stood nervous, embarrassed, and scared due to a speech impediment. Whereas some films have trouble keeping the interest of viewers when so much information is presented to them right away, The King's Speech seems to intrigue the audience almost effortlessly. This was accomplished due to the film's focus on the elements that are necessary for a good story.

For example, the title of a movie is very important. It can many times influence whether a person will watch a movie. In this film's case, viewers are captivated after Bertie's speech in the opening minutes and can immediately foreshadow what the remainder of the film will be about. The final scene again emphasizes why the movie's title was appropriate as the audience listens to the king's speech. However, the king's speech is much more than a reference to the title. It is a symbol.

Symbolism played a major role in this film, but viewers did not have to dissect the film and critically analyze it to see the symbolism. The movie was presented simply from every aspect. The king's speech represented so many things. Yes, it represented perseverance, but it also was a symbol of hope and unity. As England was preparing to enter into World War II, it needed a king that could unify its people and give them hope in this uncertain time.

Aside from the title and symbols in The King's Speech, the personalities of all the characters kept the attention of the audience. While the king's personality varied from time to time, he was very much a determined man with a slight temper. The speech pathologist was very calming and a bit quirky. One character that might have been a bit overlooked was the king's wife. She was just as supportive, determined, and stubborn as her husband. These characters' traits were instrumental in the film's message.

Overall, this film was amazing. Historical films always interest me as I view them as alternatives to textbooks. I also feel as if I learned something about society from watching this film. I have heard many people say that they enjoyed this film. But again, this film presents everything to viewer's in the opening minutes. How was this movie able to captivate the audience for its entirety when the ending is easily predicted? Is it because a man has a stutter and we want to see if he can correct it? Partly, but I have concluded that society likes cheering for the underdog. We like to see people overcome obstacles and difficulties so that we gain hope to overcome those challenges within our own lives.