Blog Post #4 Jaws

Jaws

Director-Steven Spielberg

Release Date- June 20, 1975

            For Amity Island the summer season has always been a time of surf, sand, and tourism. That is, until, a ferocious great white begins eating swimmers. Chief Martin Broody (Roy Scheider) attempts to close the beaches, but is overruled by the mayor. A boy is eventually devoured and all of Amity is thrown into a shark hunting frenzy. A tiger shark is killed, but with the aid of Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), Broody discovers that the wrong shark was killed. Broody employs the help of a shark hunter, Quint (Robert Shaw), who reluctantly agrees to help. Quint, Hooper and Broody travel on Quint’s boat the Orca to hunt down the real killer shark. In the end Captain Quint is eaten, while Broody and Hooper survive after Broody blows the shark up using a rifle and dive tank.

            The non-diegetic score used in this film plays a key role in creating suspense for the film. Each time the viewer watches this film and the ominous music begin to play, the viewer understands tragedy will soon strike.  Without this brilliant score, composed by John Williams, the scenes would have lost most of the suspense. The production department for Jaws managed to not only create beautiful sets and scenery, but also a shark that even with multiple problems, could still be menacing with only a fin slicing through the water.  From the mechanical shark malfunctioning to the camera boat sinking during the shoot, it is quite impressive that the film was even completed (which it almost was not).

            When Spielberg made Jaws he was just an amateur director with a few films under his belt. What Spielberg didn’t know was that Jaws would launch his career to the eventual living legend he is today. Spielberg’s use of non-diegetic score to cue the audience in to the impending doom of a swimmer is in my opinion one of the most successful uses of suspense I have ever viewed. Spielberg’s use of suspense was so good that it even seemed to irk the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Spielberg’s use of his production department is what, saved Jaws in the end. A prime example of this is when the mechanical sharks used in the shoot refused to work properly. Spielberg and his effects team then decided that the “fin” was all that they needed to create a sense of fear for the viewer.

Blog Post #3 Children of Men

Children of Men

Director- Alfonso Cuaron

Release Date- January 5, 2007

            The year is 2027 and for the past eighteen years all women are infertile. Theo Faron (Clive Owen) is a cynical bureaucrat living in dystopian London. One day, Theo is approached by his ex-wife, Julian (Julianne Moore), wanting to buy transit papers for a refugee Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey). Theo eventually accepts the offer, but the papers require him to travel as well. On their journey the group is ambushed and Julian is killed. Theo then learns that the refugee Kee is pregnant and that the group (Fishes) protecting her planned the ambush. Theo in the ends gets Kee to the Human Project boat, but dies from a wound suffered earlier.

            This film has found a way to blend two genres, sci-fi and drama, together to make an almost perfect hybrid. To me this film is more drama, but the science-fiction aspect used is the spice that makes the film unique. The Cinematography of this film was astonishing. One aspect in particular has to be the intricate “oners” that Emmanuel Lubezki created. To make a dystopian future work, in my opinion, you must choose your production designer(s) carefully. I believe that Jim Clay and Geoffrey Kirkland were chosen perfectly to craft the decrepit and depressing setting of this film.

            Before viewing Children of Men Alfonso Cuaron was a director I loathed, mainly due to one of his previous directorial efforts (Prisoner of Azkaban). But when the credits began to roll for Children of Men, I had a new admiration for Alfonso and his past transgressions were forgiven. Alfonso’s placing of the plot into a drama /sci-fi genre has created a film that shows a future we may all have to eventually live. By doing this I believe Alfonso has made a film that can grab the attention of most viewers. The most impressive tool that Alfonso used was his cinematographer (Lubezki). When I was initially viewing the film, some of the shots had me speechless with how they were created. One shot in particular that really baffled me at first was the oner used in the car ambush scene. The cinematography of the film was astounding, but without a well-crafted set the scene can still fall short. This, however, did not occur due to brilliant work done by Clay and Kirkland in creating what most would believe a crumbling society to appear as. 

Blog Post #2 Tommy Boy

Tommy Boy

Director- Peter Segal

Release Date- March 31, 1995

After seven years of college Thomas R. “Tommy” Callahan III (Chris Farley) has graduated and is returning to his hometown. After his father Big Tom Callahan (Brian Dennehy) dies Callahan Auto Parts is endanger of being sold. Tommy and Richard Hayden (David Spade) must sell 500,000 brake pads before the bank sells the company. The sales trip is a disaster until Richard proves to Tommy that he really can sell. Tommy’s step brother Paul (Rob Lowe) sabotages Tommy’s orders causing him to fail. Tommy eventually discovers his new in-laws devious plan to sell the company which Tommy and Richard prevent. The film ends with Tommy as the new president of Callahan Auto.

The dialogue and action written for this film evokes much laughter from its witty one-liners to its spot on slapstick. A scene in particular, showing Tommy having a meltdown during a sales pitch has the perfect combination of dialogue and action needed to create a very humorous and memorable scene. The non-diegetic soundtracks and score selected for the film helped convey the on screen emotions and attitude of the actors. The non-diegetic soundtracks used in the “selling montage” fit perfectly with the new upbeat attitude of the characters. Cinematographer, Victor J Kemper, did a phenomenal job constructing the shots for this film. The low angle shot that tilts to reveal the death of Tommy’s father achieved a perfect transition.

            For this film, I believe that Peter Segal has used all of his resources to craft a film that is not only comedic, but also has a dramatic side. Most of the plot for this film is meant to make you laugh, but at certain times a more serious side of the characters is shown to help the viewer connect. The soundscape Segal and his sound department created also really add to the comedy and sometimes seriousness of the film. From the non-diegetic bagpipes score chosen for Big Tom’s funeral to the foley sounds used in the slapstick bits. Segal has used the elements of sound in his film to make a good film even better. Segal working with his Cinematographer (Kemper) achieved great success. The full shot used in the scene where Tommy is walking down a gravel road, after Big Tom’s funeral, was brilliantly chosen to accurately depict Tommy’s strong emotions. 

Blog Review #1 Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump

Director- Robert Zemeckis

Release Date- June 23, 1994

            This film is a Romantic Drama about the extraordinary life of a simple man. While waiting for a bus, Forrest begins to tell his life story to the strangers sitting next to him. He talks about the, to most people, amazing events of his life. He eventually discovers that his destination Jenny, the love of his life, is only a few blocks away. The film ends with Forrest discovering that he has a son (Forrest Jr.), he marries Jenny who shortly after dies of a new disease (probably AIDS), and he becomes a father for Forrest Jr.

            The dialogue for this film was written very well, and delivered exceptionally by the actors. Certain scenes have such an emotional impact that the viewer can feel every emotion the character is expressing. An emotional scene in particular deals with Forrest retelling his life story to Jenny. Forrest’s dialogue alone shows how deep even the simplest of men can be. The production designer, Rick Carter, created very realistic and beautiful sets. One set in particular that I thought was well designed and executed was the Vietnam set for the scene where Forrest carries Bubba while fleeing an air strike. The script and sets are what initially invested me in this film, but the score is what has made this a favorite of mine. I feel that the score composed for the film by Alan Silvestri was executed perfectly. From the opening scene with the floating feather to the similar scene at the end, the score really brings everything full circle.

            The director, Robert Zemeckis, used the elements I discussed above almost perfectly when creating this film.  Zemeckis used the dialogue in a way so that you would connect emotionally to the characters. By doing this I believe that he has made a film that people can easily relate to. Zemeckis has also used his production designer, Rick Carter, quite effectively. Had Carter’s sets or scenery for the film not been crafted or selected properly the film would have suffered gravely in my opinion. As I mentioned earlier, I felt that Forrest Gump’s score is what really made this film exceptional. I feel Zemeckis really utilized the score composed by Silvestri to aid in conveying the strong emotions in certain scenes. One famous scene in particular shows Forrest freeing himself from his leg braces to a perfectly chosen score.