A conniving raccoon and his band of critters work to defend themselves and their lives from the greed of corporate America. Will they be successful in fending off the destruction of the natural world or will the humans take over?
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
The Normal Heart and Why I'm Glad I Watched That Instead of A Documentary
Okay, so here's the deal.
The Normal Heart was not a documentary, but I watched it the other night and I need to write about it.
A film has never opened my eyes the way this film did, it made me understand my privilege as a gay man in 2016. This was a time period where gay men had just had their identities as such become integral parts of their identities. It was the sexual revolution of homosexual America, right after Stonewall. To have all of this immediately put back into question, to instantly be reduced to a life of shame and guilt once again must have been the most painful experience.
I can't believe that the world I live in has come from one of fear and oppression to one of such openness and liberation.
In other words, I cried during every part of this movie.
Breathtaking performances were given by nearly every single actor involved. Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons all broke my heart through their own unique visions of their character.
I loved this movie
The Normal Heart was not a documentary, but I watched it the other night and I need to write about it.
A film has never opened my eyes the way this film did, it made me understand my privilege as a gay man in 2016. This was a time period where gay men had just had their identities as such become integral parts of their identities. It was the sexual revolution of homosexual America, right after Stonewall. To have all of this immediately put back into question, to instantly be reduced to a life of shame and guilt once again must have been the most painful experience.
I can't believe that the world I live in has come from one of fear and oppression to one of such openness and liberation.
In other words, I cried during every part of this movie.
Breathtaking performances were given by nearly every single actor involved. Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons all broke my heart through their own unique visions of their character.
I loved this movie
Friday, March 20, 2015
SOS
For my Sound of Silence film competition I've chosen to use the song The Last Spring. I chose this because it is probably the most somber of the pieces. Luckily, I am going to New York on the 8th and will have an opportunity to shoot there. As of now my only concept is the idea of following a young girl through some conflict in her life. I plan to have it in a narrative style with abstract tendencies
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
NEOREALISM
The Neorealism movement was an international film movement started in Italy. It was also known as the Golden Age of Italian Cinema.
This movement in film was most often characterized by stories set amongst poor characters and setting, filmed on location, and usually utilizing non-professional actors.
Neorealism films often centered their stories around the harsh impoverished conditions of post WWII Italy. They often took place and were shot in run down, poor cities, to add to the effect.
The movement was used as a sort of commentary on the cultural and social progress in the world.
Despite its cultural impact and popularity, the movement began to decline in the 1950s. Liberal and socialist parties were having a hard time presenting their message. Levels of income were gradually starting to rise and the first positive effects of the Italian economic miracle period began to show. As a consequence, most Italians favored the optimism shown in many American movies of the time. The vision of the existing poverty and despair, presented by the neorealist films, was demoralizing a nation anxious for prosperity and change. The views of the postwar Italian government of the time were also far from positive, and the remark of Giulio Andreotti, who was then a vice-minister in the De Gasperi cabinet, characterized the official view of the movement: Neorealism is "dirty laundry that shouldn't be washed and hung to dry in the open."
Some notable directors of the era include Roberto Rosselini, Vittorio De Sica, Cesare Zavattini, Luchino Visconti, Guiseppe de Santis.
This movement in film was most often characterized by stories set amongst poor characters and setting, filmed on location, and usually utilizing non-professional actors.
Neorealism films often centered their stories around the harsh impoverished conditions of post WWII Italy. They often took place and were shot in run down, poor cities, to add to the effect.
The movement was used as a sort of commentary on the cultural and social progress in the world.
Despite its cultural impact and popularity, the movement began to decline in the 1950s. Liberal and socialist parties were having a hard time presenting their message. Levels of income were gradually starting to rise and the first positive effects of the Italian economic miracle period began to show. As a consequence, most Italians favored the optimism shown in many American movies of the time. The vision of the existing poverty and despair, presented by the neorealist films, was demoralizing a nation anxious for prosperity and change. The views of the postwar Italian government of the time were also far from positive, and the remark of Giulio Andreotti, who was then a vice-minister in the De Gasperi cabinet, characterized the official view of the movement: Neorealism is "dirty laundry that shouldn't be washed and hung to dry in the open."
Some notable directors of the era include Roberto Rosselini, Vittorio De Sica, Cesare Zavattini, Luchino Visconti, Guiseppe de Santis.
Monday, October 20, 2014
THIS IS NOT A FILM REVIEW
This grading period, I decided to review the documentary This Is Not a Film.
This film follows a film-maker who was put under house arrest and banned from making films due to his spreading of "propaganda against the regime." In his attempt to salvage his art and not lose his touch, he films himself in his apartment during his house arrest. He also invites his colleague and collaborator, Martahmasb, to help him film. In his filming, he reads some of his ideas for films he was planning on making in the future that he can no longer make. He then interviews a young boy, who cleans the litter in the apartment, and asks him questions about life and his goals.
This film portrays the feeling of being locked in a confined space for so long very well. It is so simple, but manages to create such an emotional experience. The audience really sympathizes with this character, and as a film maker myself, I cant imagine being in the position that he was in.
It really is touching and is such a sad accurate depiction of censorship.
This film follows a film-maker who was put under house arrest and banned from making films due to his spreading of "propaganda against the regime." In his attempt to salvage his art and not lose his touch, he films himself in his apartment during his house arrest. He also invites his colleague and collaborator, Martahmasb, to help him film. In his filming, he reads some of his ideas for films he was planning on making in the future that he can no longer make. He then interviews a young boy, who cleans the litter in the apartment, and asks him questions about life and his goals.
This film portrays the feeling of being locked in a confined space for so long very well. It is so simple, but manages to create such an emotional experience. The audience really sympathizes with this character, and as a film maker myself, I cant imagine being in the position that he was in.
It really is touching and is such a sad accurate depiction of censorship.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
BLACKFISH
Blackfish, a film directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, is one that I'd been anticipating and planning on watching for a while. I, personally, feel very passionately about the unethical treatment of orca whales in captivity. I was extremely curious to see what the film had to offer in terms of information, and also curious to see what kind of bias the film carried throughout.
For some reason, I expected a lot more out of the film visually. I thought going into it that it would be a lot more beautiful than it was, but understanding that it is strictly a documentary; this did not make me think negatively of the film.
The film covers such a broad spectrum of sources, such as old Seaworld trainers who understand that what was happening was wrong. I found it so interesting that they were using former Seaworld employees to testify AGAINST Seaworld. They mentioned that the employees were so painfully misinformed on what was going on in the facility, and that made me think a lot.
Surprisingly, it keeps an unbiased perspective. It is a mature approach to the topic and manages to persuade you without simply putting down Seaworld or Waterworld or whatever company it is informing you about.
I found Blackfish to be passionate, informative, and smart. It was touching and made you take a step back and look at what you thought was a pleasant experience as a child and realize it for what it was. It gets an excellent point across while managing to really persuade you in a professional, intelligent manner.
For some reason, I expected a lot more out of the film visually. I thought going into it that it would be a lot more beautiful than it was, but understanding that it is strictly a documentary; this did not make me think negatively of the film.
The film covers such a broad spectrum of sources, such as old Seaworld trainers who understand that what was happening was wrong. I found it so interesting that they were using former Seaworld employees to testify AGAINST Seaworld. They mentioned that the employees were so painfully misinformed on what was going on in the facility, and that made me think a lot.
Surprisingly, it keeps an unbiased perspective. It is a mature approach to the topic and manages to persuade you without simply putting down Seaworld or Waterworld or whatever company it is informing you about.
I found Blackfish to be passionate, informative, and smart. It was touching and made you take a step back and look at what you thought was a pleasant experience as a child and realize it for what it was. It gets an excellent point across while managing to really persuade you in a professional, intelligent manner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)