The Great Gatsby '74/'13

The Great Gatsby comparison.

Now having finally seen not one but two of the Great Gatsby's, I've noticed a few big distinctions between the two. I've never read the original book by Fitzgerald so it wont be in my place to say whether the actors stayed true to their character, I'm solely going to go off who I thought played their role well. 

 Jay Gatsby 

These two actors took a completely different path on portraying their character. I cant say I like one more than the other because they both did a good job. Redford (1974) took on the calm and collective approach, making Gatsby look mysterious, Id have to say it made his scenes more intense,but also bland at time, many times. Di Caprio (2013) added  "oomf" he displayed a lot more emotion than Redford, at times overdone but making the movie all the more exciting. He showed the true emotion of a guy in his situation.

Daisy

Now here is where I become biased. Mia (1974) was completely wretched. I couldn't stand seeing her on the screen. At first I thought I just  didn't like way they presented girls in general but it was more than that. It was her horrible scenes, the overdone emotional breakdowns, the way she moved and the things she did made absolutely no sense to me. Her yellow teeth. The way she always always always seemed like a damsel in distress. Awful. Now, Carey (2013) was more appealing to watch. She seemed distant enough which worked in her favor since she skipped out on Jay at the End.

Nick

Sam (1974) was boring. He was way to unattached to his character to have any lasting impression. When I think of his character nothing really stands out. Hes supposed to be the leading character and yet theres nothing special about him.. Tobey (2013) like Di Caprio ( 2013) added a little more to the movie that made it great. The way he delivered the lines and his narrating made the movie intriguing.Plus, he was something to look at.

The great Gatsby 2013 was truly amazing, the ending was so impacting and the soundtrack was lovely and riveting.

Magic

Chicago- Female Empowerment

Chicago is a 2002 musical comedy crime film based on the musical of the same name. It explores themes of fame, scandal, and corruption in Chicago during the Jazz Age. The film stars Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere as the three leading roles and features appearances by Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Christine Baranski and Lucy Liu.

This to me is one of the best musicals due to the strong female empowerment that is highlighted throughout the film. The empowerment of the lead female protagonists is an unique element in this film, especially during the time period. It was a time of change and women were slowly rising up, no longer damsels in distress even though they were still damsels.

I found the focus on the themes crime and fame to be very relatable to that era as well. In the 1920’s organized crime and prohibition laws in America were at an all time high and citizens at this time turned to crime due to the economic depression. Jobs were in short supply and people had to provide for their families, crime seemed to be the next best option.

Chicago, however, doesn’t focus on the organized crime or prohibition laws that were a main focal point of that era. Instead, the film focuses on the crimes committed by the female protagonists portrayed by Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, it focuses on the murders committed by women.

In the film, one of the female inmates was the first woman to be hanged for her crime. This scene in the film changes Roxy’s perspective viewing her case, and brings to her attention that she might in fact die for her crime as well.

Previously in the film Roxy didn’t want to be her lawyer’s puppet but once she realized that she was signing her death warrant by pushing him away and not following his instructions, she listened.

There is a lot of symbolism in the fact that the case was set up like a show and her press conference was set up where she was his puppet. Her lawyer had to have full control on all matters in order to sway the possible outcome of the jury’s decision.

Overall, I found this film to be empowering and entertaining and full of symbolism surrounding fame, scandal, corruption, and the system during the 1920’s Jazz Age in Chicago.

Bonnie & Clyde

This film was directed by Arthur Penn, written by David Newman, Robert Benton; starring Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Michael J. Pollard. A well known film based around a romantic involved couple as well as criminally involved partners. It's 1934 and Clyde finds his way to Bonnie who at the time was a waitress. It takes no time at all for them to be attracted to each other, sexually, physically, etc.

They also find that they think it's best they team up so they can have more time together, make money together from the banks they rob, and have fun. Who else better to have as a partner than your significant other? Along the way they recruit a few others to improve the strategy they take on so they're able to rob banks flawlessly.

A gangster/romance/ comedy all in the same token which makes this movie that much better. All these factors that add into this amusing film, that comes with an unexpected twist.. Love affair? Murder? Break up? Or maybe all three?

In my opinion this movie is very relatable to viewers because we all want that one person that we're in a relationship to be our lover, our partner in crime, and our best friend all in one. Someone who can hold you down no matter the circumstances. But the movie isn't all about the couple of focus because they're on the run from the law enforcement. But they have each other, money, and freedom what else could they want? Movie had me drawn all through and it shows because this movie is an award winning film as well.

Winter's Bone

This film is directed by Debra Granik starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawked, and Garret Dillahunt. This film mainly focuses on a 17 year old girl named Ree with a motive to find her meth-engaged father despite any circumstances. It's a very risky path that she goes down as she tries to seek the truth. Time isn't on her side when she's informed that her family will be turned to the Ozarks.

A very heart wrenching, realistic, grim, haunting film. The main role phenomenally acted by Jennifer Lawrence. In my opinion she's a very award worthy, talented actor. She can sell her part well, as well as well as being believable. What would it take for you to go all out for your kin? This movie answers that question. Even when her obstacles are life threatening she does what she can to take care of her mother, and her two younger siblings while trying to figure everything else out on her own.

She even takes a pretty nasty beating throughout her journey of finding her farther, which quickly angered me. This scene easily accessed my emotions to the point I felt as if I was playing the part of the anger she was supposed to have towards the people that did that to her. Movies such as this one grab my attention when someone young does what they can't to defend oneself or their kin. Very significant because we're taught to defend ourselves and our families. Surprising to see what one is capable of when it becomes a threat to their lives and their loved ones around them. Great film, Oscar worthy.

Winter's Bone- Improved Perception

The film, Winter’s Bone is a 2010 independent drama film directed by Debra Granik. This film stars Jennifer Lawrence as the leading protagonist, Ree.

This film takes place in rural Missouri, in the mountain area. The atmosphere and culture is very different from that of an urban or suburban area. This setting sets up the premise our film and possibly the differences between the different area’s ideals.

In the film, Lawrence portrays Ree as strong and independent. She is the caretaker and provider for her younger brother and sister as well as her ill mother. In various scenes she can be seen teaching her younger siblings useful survival skills, such as helping them to study for school, teaching them how to cook, and teaching them how to shoot a gun for hunting.

These skills that Lawrence’s character is instructing her siblings on, shows how the rural environment comes into play in the film and creates these differences in the atmosphere.

Similar themes from Beasts of the Southern Wild,  also come into play in this film, such as the strong female lead protagonist, the essence of strength and survival, as well as family and community.

The main protagonist, Ree, completely steps outside of gender role stereotypes in this film, in a similar fashion as Hushpuppy from the film, Beasts of the Southern Wild. Also in this film the rule of keeping quiet and not speaking to law enforcement, is also similar to that of Beasts of the Southern Wild, because the ‘Bathtub’ community was against the law enforcement for evacuating them and taking them from their homes.

The first time I watched this film I found it to be uncomfortable to watch due to the many unorthodox practices surrounding the rural Missouri mountain community. All the characters seemed to be of some relation to each other and involved in illegal practices and misdeeds.

However, after watching this film again and analyzing the themes, I feel I have a better understanding of the culture and therefore the film itself which has greatly improved my perception of the film. Now, when I think of Winter’s Bone, I think of strength, survival, determination, and independence.

Chicago #tati

This film is directed by Rob Marshall starring Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere released in 2002. This movie is very unique compared to any other movie I have seen recently. A murder, musical, and entertainment all in one [sentence fragment; no verb]. The events that take place in this movie aren't very realistic because they get away with things that we couldn't in reality.

The characters use musical theatre to express their emotions, as well as committing crimes. We see how the emotions vary throughout their acts. Some more sentimental, while some are more violent.
They outline a common show business drama using this young girl that is hungry for stardom. As she's coming up she realizes that this isn't a clean objective, the twist here seems to be violence and murder. So she does what she can to get to stardom even if that means communiting a crime.

They [who are they?] use two worlds: the realistic Chicago, which is violent, and crime filled. But on the other hand the fantasy one that every young naive upcoming actor wants a piece of.. the Jazz fantasy. This movie consists of a lot of singing and what not. More like a musical overall, which isn't my thing. So this movie didn't really peak [pique] my interest, for the most part I found myself easily getting distracted away from the movie [run-on]. Also the back and forth from reality to the musical was confusing, so there were a lot of points I would question what was going on. On a [in] retrospect the idea of combining the real Chicago and the fantasy that every actor dreams of was very interesting and intelligent. So in regards to that technique I won't knock the movie. But this wasn't one of my favorite films that we've watched.

Tati,

This post shows real progress in that you skillfully offer up both critical analysis and evidence in support of your ideas. You are no longer relying so heavily on recall/retell. That said, one of the requirements found in "The Guide to Evaluating Blog Posts" states that in order to be competent or exemplary you must include a relevant image. It seems to me this might be a good opportunity to find a shot that includes a split-screen or a dissolve that visually represents both the realistic and fantastic versions of Chi-town for example:

 https://media1.giphy.com/media/6xpUgQ1OrAili/200_s.gif

MM

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Beasts of the Southern Wild was directed and written by Benh Zeitlin, starring Quvenzhané Wallis as Hushpuppy, and Dwight Henry as her father Wink. Hushpuppy (one of the few nicknames her father gave her) and her father live in a small community referred to as "The Bathtub" located in Louisiana. 

We see that her father doesn't focus much on the fact that she is a little girl but as a little boy. He gives her the responsibility of maintaining her own house by her father's. He also expects her to be strong emotionally, and physically. When she gets emotional it upsets him because he didn't raise her in this manner. We also learn that her mother is no longer around so her father has a great impact in who she is. 

Throughout the movie reality and Huspuppy's imagination would easily confuse a viewer, as it confused me. The movie title is heavily incorporated into the movie. The way Hushpuppy and her father lived isn't necessarily the way we live ours. This title can be interpreted in many ways. I see it as they were beasts because they fanned for themselves, and did what they had to do to survive. They live in a community with people just like them. Louisiana is also located in the South.

This movie to me was amazing, it expressed a rather imaginary/realistic order of events. It captured a very real aftermath of a flood. Along with what we would have to do to fen for ourselves. In most cases we have our mother and fathers or just mothers, but in this case she only has her dad. Which is great because he teaches her strength in all forms. Just as capable as a mother can teach this, this movie captures how impacting your parent can be on you.

As we watched how Huspuppy had a hard time accepting the fact that she had to let go of her father. This part of the film drew me in because she already lost her mother and now she's be losing her father. Her father didn't want her to cry but they both had a break through when they both began to cry. This scene was a real tear jerker, overall this movie was great. With great actors to play their roles with a very powerful storyline.