Murder in Burlesque #VictoriaRomprey

      Those who have seen the movie Chicago, are well aware of the fact that this is no regular musical. This is no fake love story where people rejoice in song and laughter in the streets of Italy. The ending isn't necessarily a happy one like the rom-coms you'll see in the theater today, and you definitely will not catch Roxie Hart flying back into the arms of her beloved, neither Amos Hart nor Fred Casely.

      Chicago is not a movie where the women learns to be successful and independent on her own merit, nor does she learn right from wrong. In Chicago, the lesson is more then meets the eye and is not generally one you expect to hear on the big screen. Chicago proves the fact that ultimately, the "easy" way out may just be something a bit more.

      This crime-fiction-comedy-musical is a cult classic that not a single person can deny the humor behind. The ironic story of a women searching for fame, and killing the man that teases her of the glory is an undeniably humorous storyline. In life, there seems to be both challenging and clean paths. The clean cut path always seems so enticing, maybe there is only one or two steps down the path before you reach your destination, although the catch is that the steps are dangerously steep, and narrow. The challenging path may consist of a windier, and downhill journey-which may seem quite daunting at first look-but might just be intimidating rather than actually challenging. People often choose the shorter and clean cut path, which end them up in a scary situation. In Chicago, the belief that the "Clean cut" path will end you up in a bad situation is tested by two girls getting exactly what they were looking for in murder.

Director: Rob Marshall

Starring: Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Velma Kelly), Queen Latifah (Matron Mama Morton) , and Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)

Producer Circle co., 2002

"Bad News Bears" by Anthony Ruggiero

Bad News Bears is a 1976 drama/sport film all about baseball. The film stars Walter Matthau (Coach Buttermaker), Tatum O'Neal (Amanda Whurlitzer), Jackie Earl Haley (Kelly Leak), Vic Morrow (Roy Turner) and Chris Barnes (Tanner Boyle). 

The movie starts out with Coach Buttermaker watching baseball from his roofless car. he then goes and talks to his new team where he starts to learn what their names are and what positions they play. It is revealed that Buttermaker was a former minor league player and was actually a pretty decent player. Most of the kids on the team don't get along and they all pick on each other. Once his team starts to look hopeless he recruits some players to make his team better. One of those players is Amanda Whurlitzer who becomes the teams starting pitcher.The next player is Kelly Leak who is really good at hitting and fielding. Kelly drives a Harley-Davidson and is pretty much labeled as a bad ass. The team starts to gain confidence and they start to win games. They eventually make it to the championship game against the Yankees who are coached by a guy who only cares about winning. During the game the Yankees coach hits the pitcher and the pitcher starts to let the Bears score. At the end Buttermaker plays all of his players and see's that the bears start to play better with different rotations. The Bears end up losing in the end and the Yankees start to talk junk to them. 

Overall Bad news bears was a fantastic film. It could be boring at times but the baseball aspect of it should be more than enough to keep you entertained. 

Italian Classic

The Godfather. Dir. Francis F. Coppola

Feat. Al Pacino (Michael Corleone), Marlon Brando (Vito Corleone), Diane Keaton (Kay Adams-Corleone), James Caan (Sonny Corleone)

Paramount Pictures, 1972.

Francis Coppola’s 1972 film The Godfather is an ultimate classic. When I hear the term “family values” I oftentimes think about the Corleone Crew in this film. This movie focuses on the family’s patriarch and mafia boss Vito Corleone. Vito is all about respect, business, and most importantly his family. Hence why he is deemed as “the Godfather”.

Starting from the beginning where we saw Vito’s daughter getting married to the bloody war with the other crime families across New York, Vito remained in charge. Whenever people mention the mob I oftentimes think about The Godfather. The characters in this film (Sonny and Michael) react to many different things.

Take Sonny for example.Sonny who is the oldest reacts once his father was shot. He wanted to hunt down whomever killed his father. He also reacted when his sister was beaten by her husband. The term “I would die for you” can be used to describe Sonny. When Sonny was going through a checkpoint while going to find his brother in law, he was shot dozens of times. What was weird about the assassination was after he was shot a good fifteen times, he still maintained to exit the vehicle. He wanted to put up a fight; Sonny Corleone does not back down.

Now Michael Corleone changed the most in the film. At first he really did not show up that much in family affairs, but then he took on the lead role for his father’s business. Michael really went from this guy who was kind of shy, to the mob leader. He was the one who took the job as the “killing leader”; anyone who messed with the family was subsequently killed.

This movie is a classic. I have nothing bad to say about The Godfather. This film portrays how important family values are. When someone messes with your family, you fight back. When someone messes with an italian mob family, you kill them.

Jaws

young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody 

Release date: June 20, 1975 (USA)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Story by: Peter Benchley

Screenplay: Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb

During a beach party at dusk on Amity Island, a young woman, Chrissie Watkins, goes skinny dipping in the ocean. While treading water, she is violently pulled under. The next day, her partial remains are found on shore. The medical examiner's ruling that the death was due to a shark attack leads police chief Martin Brody to close the beaches. Mayor Larry Vaughn overrules him, fearing that the town's summer economy will be ruined. The coroner now concurs with the mayor's theory that Watkins was killed in a boating accident. Brody reluctantly accepts their conclusion until another fatal shark attack occurs shortly thereafter. A bounty is placed on the shark, prompting an amateur shark-hunting frenzy. Local professional shark hunter Quint offers his services for $10,000. Meanwhile, consulting oceanographer Matt Hooper examines Watkins's remains, and confirms her death was caused by a shark—an unusually large one.

Bonnie and Clyde/ Badlands

 

Bonnie & Clyde
Dir. Arthur Penn

Feat. Warren Beatty (Clyde Barrow), Faye Dunaway (Bonnie Parker), Gene Hackman (Buck Barrow), Estelle Parsons (Blanche Barrow), Michael Pollard (CW Moss)

Warner Bros, 1967.

Badlands

Dir. Terrence Mallick.

Feat. Sissy Spacek (Holly), Martin Sheen (Kit), Warren Oates (Father).

Warner Brothers, 1973.

         These two movies were very interesting and had some similarities. Escaping with someone you have deep regards for and committing a bunch of crimes seems crazy, but the fact that these were based on true stories makes it seem even more unreal. A difference I noticed was Bonnie was more willing to live that type of lifestyle and Holly just seemed forced, plus Holly seemed to be very young. In Bonnie and Clyde the always announced themselves after stealing or killing someone, which completely threw me off because I know if I were them I would never give my real name or any name at that. However, in Badlands Holly and Kit were more secretive and tried to keep a low profile.
        Overall I enjoyed both movies, but it just felt like I was re-watching Bonnie and Clyde since they were similar. I'd recommend this movie to people who enjoy old films that involve action and romance. 

The Godfather Benjamin Rutherford

The Godfather. Dir. Francis Ford Coppola. Perf. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and Diane Keaton. 1972. VHS. Paramount Home Video, 1999.


In the film, you see the characters develop through the situations that surround them, and how they are affected by those situations.  The eldest brother, Sonny, is shown as reactionary and passionate when his father is shot, and he wants action against the perpetrators, but he develops as caring, especially for his family, when he gets revenge for his sister, who was beaten by her husband.  Michael has the most development in the film, going from a wantful exclusion to the family business, to controlling the family business.  The film does this by slowly pushing Michael into the life of his father.  He encroaches the life slowly, doing one job to protect his father out of the kindness of his heart, to discussing plans, to killing rivals.  It is an excellent development of all the characters that make them feel real to the viewer.The film uses subtlety masterfully in this film, allowing the viewer to piece together parts of the history, or story for themselves without having exposition shoved in their faces.  They don’t give you any explanation as to what the family does for income, instead, they let you find out for yourself as you are watching.  They don’t tell you about the other families, instead, you see their actions later in the film.  The film lets you create the image as you watch the film which gives it an even greater sense of reality and immersion.

“The Godfather” is a classic, and it deserves the title of classic.  The film grabs the viewer and walks them through a story full of intensity.  “The Godfather” feels real, and that is one thing that makes it truly amazing.  You feel as though the family could be real, and that this story could very easily be true.  “The Godfather” is a film that everybody should at least watch once because it’s an offer they can’t refuse.