IB Film Blog: Film Journals

Taxi Driver

Movie: 1976,
Director: Martin Scorsese
Actors: Robert Deniro, Jodie Foster

Summary:
Travis Bickle is a lonely taxi driver who goes psychologically mad when he can't fit in with the rest of society. Because of his occupation, Travis is constantly exposed to the social life of New York City - and the brutality that comes with it. He refers to the rest of society as "the others" or "animals". However, he does say at one point: "I don't believe that one should devote his time to morbid self-attention. I believe that someone should become a person just like other people." He does many things to try and fit in, such as taking a girl named Betsy out on a date. However, when he messes up and Betsy leaves, he realizes she is "just like them" gets frustrated. As Travis continues to search for purpose, he only finds himself falling deeper into a hole of social exile. Soon, when he realizes that he can't fit in with other people, he goes insane. He buys four guns and begins to work out, and practices shooting his guns frequently. However, there is another character emerging in the movie: Iris. Iris is a 12 year old prostitute who, even though he is slightly mad, Travis decides he wants to save from a man named Sport, who forces her into prostitution. Travis takes her out to breakfast and sends her cash in efforts to make her life a little easier. Meanwhile, Travis shaves his head and goes to watch a speech by a man named Palantine, who may be America's future President. He comes armed and ready to do something that will get him noticed. However, as he reaches into his shirt for a gun, the secret service catches him and he runs away. By now, there is a new manner to the way in which Travis moves- one that lets the audience know that he is a little crazy. However, he is crazy enough to realize that the only way to free Iris from Sport is by force. Travis arrives at where she lives and begins killing Sport and other bad people in a riveting last scene that stuns viewers. Though he is shot and thus in a coma, Travis becomes a hero in society because he frees Iris from harm. In the end, he finally finds what he had been searching for the entire movie: purpose.

1. Throughout the film, the colors Green and Red are more prominent in particular scenes. In what ways are those Green and Red color contrasts used to show what Travis is feeling?

About 3/4 of the way through the film, I noticed that there were two important color contrasts in every scene: Green and Red. In certain scenes, there is a red tint to the camera, and in others, there was a green one. I also noticed that most of the ones with red tint took place outside, or in places where Travis felt uncomfortable, lonely, and in danger. For example, when Travis enters the building where Iris lives, there is an ongoing red tint - until he walks into Iris' room. Then the tint miraculously disappears. Why? Because Travis feels comfortable and safe in Iris' room. The scene can compared to the last scene, when Travis is in that same building trying to save Iris - only Iris' room is now tinted with red. That is because he is in danger. On the other hand, there are certain scenes where Travis and his surroundings seem to be tinted green. There is one scene Whenever Travis is driving in his taxi, there is usually a green tint on the scene. In a way, the contrast between the two colors influences the audiences emotions. In scenes with a red tint, the audience is usually scared or more aware about what is going on. However, scenes with green tint are less intense, and thus easier to watch. Scorsese's use of color is another factor that contribute to the genius Mise en Scene of the movie.

2. Click Here to Watch! In this scene, Travis stares blankly at a T.V, which shows people dancing and being social with one another. The camera is placed so that you can see the back of Travis' head, as well as what he was watching on the T.V screen. Suddenly, though everyone is dancing, the camera zooms in on an empty pair of shoes on the dance floor. Why are these shoes important?

The construction of this scene is pure genius. You have Travis placed in a chair. He points the gun at the T.V as the angle switches from Travis' face to the T.V screen. You see people dancing, being social, and having a good time. And then your focus shifts to the back of Travis' head, which remains completely still as you then continue to watch the T.V again. The camera then slowly zooms in as the song picks up and eventually and focuses on an empty pair of shoes in the middle of the dance floor. Why did the camera do that? The angle then switches again and faces Travis, who is now staring at the screen with a sick, morbid look on his face. You watch Travis watch the T.V and you feel sorry for him, because all he wants to do is fit in with everyone else. That's when I thought about the empty shoes. They're meant for Travis, but he can't fill them, so they remain untouched and alone on the dance floor. They represent his inability to find purpose in life, his loneliness, and his sadness. He is an outcast. No one bothers to look at the shoes, just like no one bothers to get to know Travis in the real world. As the shoes disappear from the screen, Travis continues to stare at the Television with the same dejected facial expression. Scorsese's use of the shoes is absolutely incredible. I know there isn't much to the scene, but for some reason, it really got me. I would also like to commend the song choice - Late for the Sky, by Jackson Brown, is an beautifully written song about a man who feels alone and wants to be needed. The emotion within the song combined with Travis' face helps to create what is now my favorite scene in the entire movie.

Shawshank Redemption

Movie: 1994, Drama, 142 Minutes
Director: Frank Darabont
Actors: Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins

Summary:
The movie begins when Andy Dufresne, an average man and accountant, is convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover and is sentenced to two life sentences in jail. Though he is "proven" guilty, Andy maintains that he is innocent of the crime. However, because he is convicted, he is forced to spend the rest of his life in prison, or in his case, the Shawshank State Penitentiary in Maine. There, Andy befriends a man named Red, who brings him a rock hammer for him to carve rocks. What the no one knows is that Andy was also using this hammer in order to create a hole in which he would escape from the prison. Meanwhile, Andy becomes the accountant of Norton, or the owner of the prison, who, through another prison mate, finds out that Andy is innocent. However, because Andy knows all of his secrets, Norton does not want to release Andy, and kills the man who says he will testify in court on behalf of Andy's innocence. This is when Andy knew that he needed to escape the hard way. It took him 19 years to finally finish the hole he had been carving in the wall. Andy crawled out of the prison and through the sewage pipes in order to finally liberate himself from Shawshank. Norton was furious, and realized that Andy ratted him out for corruption, and kills himself in order to avoid his arrest. Eventually, a free Andy is reunited with Red, which serves as the final scene of the movie.

1. How does Darabount play with natural light in order to convey feelings of both sadness and hope?

After Brooks is released from the prison, he goes through a state of depression that would eventually make him take his life. He feels many emotions; he is sad that he has been released from Shawshank, he is lonely because his entire life revolved around the prison, and he is taken aback by how far the world has come since he has last seen it. He sits on a bench and feeds birds, hoping that his little bird companion, Jake, will come and visit him, but this never happens. The camera starts at his feet, and works its way up to his face, which is blocked from the sun by the shadows of trees. Streaks of light shine upon him, but the shadows eventually dominate this light - a symbol that, though Brooks has finally been given the chance to live in the real world, he cannot function in it because of his depression. Most of the scene is shot with natural light, a sign that the scene is shot in somewhat of a realist fashion. In another scene towards the end of the movie, Red visits Buxton because Andy had said he left something for him. While in Shawshank, there weren’t very many days where you could really see the sun shine outside, but now that Red is released and free from the prison, it just so happens that the day he leaves is the most beautiful day – in Maine, of all places. Darabount does this to depict hope and happiness, for Red has finally been released from the prison in which he had lived out most of his life. In contrast to the scene with Brooks, this scene is much happier, and looks that way because of the large amount of sunlight. I think Darabount was smart to take this kind of approach because it depicts many realist aspects, and has somewhat effortless-ness to it as well. You can hear the sound of nature in the background, and see the sun shine upon the trees. It combines simplicity with an overwhelming sense of happiness – a combination that also depicts the main theme of the film: hope. Thus, the audience feels the hope Red feels. I think Darabount took a realist approach in shooting the scene because he wanted to show things as they were, and make the scene seem as realistic and natural as possible. He uses natural light in other scenes as well for the same purpose.

2. In what way does the cinematography of the film highlight certain colors in order to spark certain emotions in viewers?

It seems as though the most prominent colors of the film are blue and brown. It made sense that the cinematographer would contrast the blue uniforms with dark brown buildings, for they just so happen to be complimentary colors. They also raised two ironic observations: Why, when blue is such a calm, peaceful color, did the cinematographer use blue to to depict hopelessness and confinement? And knowing that - Because the cinematographer used blue to show hopelessness and desperation, why did he use the same color(s) in the last scene, which was full of hope and happiness? Even though it seems as though it wouldn't work, Shawshank Redemption definitely pulled this whole color contrast thing off.

The Sixth Sense

Movie: 1998, Psychological Thriller, 107 Minutes
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Actors: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment

Summary:
The movie begins when Dr. Malcom Crowe, a psychologist, is shot in his apartment by an old patient named Vincent Grey. The movie then flashes 6 months into the future, where Malcom meets a young, psychologically troubled boy named Cole. Eventually, Cole confides in Malcom and tells him that he sees dead people. He also says that these people walk around like regular people, and that they don't know they are dead. Malcom then devotes his time to help Cole live peacefully with his "sixth sense". Though out the movie, Malcom helps Cole realize that he shouldn't live in fear from the dead people, but instead use his sixth sense to help bring them justice and guide them in the right direction. It is not until the end of the movie that Malcom realizes that he too is dead - a striking and unexpected ending that helps add to the film's genius story plot.

1. In what ways did M. Night Shyamalan use abstract camera angles in order to create fear in this psychological thriller?

Towards the end of the movie, there is one scene where Cole is about to enter the room of a dead girl. Already, the audience is anxious, nervous, and scared of what might be inside. The camera adds to this fear because it is diagonally angled towards a doornob, which serves as the dominant of the shot. In the reflection of the doorknob, you can see Cole's terrified face as he reaches to open the door. You then see his hand in the doorknob, as well is in the actual shot. The entire shot adds a sense of horror to the film because it is angled in a really abstract way.

2. Throughout the movie, Cole often hangs out in a church or in his homemade sanctuary. Why do you think he does this, and why do you think the writer chose to incorporate religion into this psychological thriller?

I think Cole choses to spend his time in religious settings because he thinks it will free himself from his "sixth" sense. The entire movie is about Cole's struggle to accept, to overcome, and to live with the gift he had been forced to live with his entire life. He turns to God because he does not understand his gift, and thus wishes to purify himself of it.

Blade Runner

Movie: 1982, Science Fiction, 116 Minutes
Director: Ridley Scott
Actors: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos

Summary:
Blade Runner, which takes place in future(2019) Los Angeles, is about a dystopian version of modern society where a group of genetically engineered robots called replicants attempt to escape from being "retired", or killed, by the human race. Because humans had banned the replicants from earth in order to solely use the them for dangerous work on "off-world colonies", certain replicants felt the need to defy this ban and return to earth. However, these replicants put themselves at risk of retirement, which is done by a group of people known as "Blade Runners".
This story focuses on a group of replicants in Los Angeles, where Blade Runner Rick Deckard(Harrison Ford) attempts to exterminate them. The film explains that replicants can often be identified by their lack of emotion - they cannot love, get angry, feel fear, or show affection towards any type of emotional situation. However, these replicants have developed emotional feelings, and thus they are harder to identify. Nonetheless, Deckard is sent out to retire three replicants: Roy Batty, Zhora, and Pris, which all happen to by Tyrell Corporation Models. During his journey, he discovers that Tyrell's assistant Rachael is a replicant who thinks she is human, for Tyrell had instilled childhood memories in her brain. Over the movie, he manages to retire each individual replicant except for Rachael; that is up to interpretation.

Questions:

How does the Mise en Scene of the film reflect the overall appearance and ideals of a dystopian society?

A dystopian society can be described as a dark, futuristic that is based on control. The movie begins with a series of establishing shots of what was supposed to be the city of Los Angeles. In a way, the music in the film tells the viewer that life in this futuristic society is far from perfection and utopian ideals. The sky is dark, which illuminates the buildings in the city. This shows that technological advancement has played a large role in shaping the future city of Los Angeles. Technological advancement is also shown through the flying cars in which the police use to watch over city. These flying cars also depict the government's grasp on society, and how they have more control when compared to the power of an individual human being. There seems to be an absence of all life other than humans.

2. What was the significance of the unicorn?

The devision between humans and replicants is their ability to feel emotion and sympathy towards other people and situations. To check if someone was a replicant, people would often ask them questions about animals because it toys with the replicants "emotions". Throughout the film, the audience does not know whether Deckard is a replicant or a human. However, as some viewers question his humanity, Deckard suddenly has a dream about a unicorn running through a forest. Could this possibly show that Deckard was not a replicant because he dreamt about an animal? Or does this prove that Deckard is a replicant because the unicorn dream could have been implanted in his mind by his creators? The dream can be interpreted in many ways. I think the creators of the film did this intentionally.

Crash

Movie: 2004, Drama Film, 112 Minutes
Director: Paul Haggis
Actors: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Phillippe, Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrance Howard, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, Larenz Tate, Michael Pena, and Shaun Toub.

Summary:
Crash is a movie that follows a series of people who, though all their lives are connected in the things they do, are divided by one thing that proves to be a consistent problem in the city of Los Angeles: Racism. All of these people are from different races are portrayed as somewhat racist people in the things that they do from day to day. The movie shows how one thing can affect something else completely different - how a lady who gets robbed by a black man can suddenly judge anyone who isn't white and say they are gang members. That a good white police man will shoot a black man who he thought was reaching for a gun when, really, he was just reaching for his cross. That an Arabic man will shoot a Mexican man's daughter out of hatred. It shows that racism is contagious, and yet it doesn't need to be. The irony of this film is that, though all of these awful deeds were done because of racism, all of the people involved were good people. They were just good people who were tired of being treated poorly. This motivational film teaches it's audience not to hate, but to accept others as they are. Because you never know - the person you hate the most might just be the one who will save someday save your life.

Questions:

1. What is the significance of the cross the black man was holding when he was shot by the white man?

There is a scene towards the end of the movie where a white man picks up a black man who is hitchhiking. As they drive, the two men begin to fight and, as the black man reaches into his pocket, the white man shoots him because he thought the black man was reaching for a gun. Afterwards, however, the white man realizes that the black man was reaching for a cross. From a religious standpoint, a cross typically represents Christianity and Faith in God. In the Bible, it says that people should not kill other people, and people with different appearances and cultures should live together in peace and harmony. To me, the fact that the white man killed the black man while he was holding a cross was a way to show that, by judging each other and killing each other based off of race, human beings are going against God's ideals. It didn't matter that the white man was a nice guy because kindness does not necessarily overpower ignorance. The scene represents humans inability to tolerate one another, and the consequences we face because of it. It goes against God's vision of the world, which is depicted through the cross the black man is holding. Some could even take the scene one step further: That, by killing a man holding a cross, the white man killed a part of God too.

2. Why is it so important that the director of crash used a realist approach in shooting the movie?

The entire movie follows people around Los Angeles as they’re lives continue to be affected by racism. Because it’s setting is supposed to be current, it was important that the director took a realist approach because it makes the movie more believable. If the movie had a formalist feel to it, it would not have been as emotionally influential or believable because it would look more staged, and less realistic. It is the realistic aspect of the film impacts the audience the most because it translates the fact that this many kinds of racism are still prominent today – even in the places you would least expect it. Overall, the realistic aspects of Crash are the aspects that emotionally compel the viewer the most, as well as leave them with a lasting impact on racism in Los Angeles and in general. It is definitely one of those movies that you continue to thin

The Godfather

Movie: 1972, Gangster-Drama, 175 Minutes
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Actors: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall

Summary:
The move begins when Vito Corleone, the head of the Corleone family, and his family are at his daughters wedding. All of the Corleone family is involved in the mafia, but Michael, a war veteran and his youngest son, does not want anything to do with the family business. Virgil Sollozzo, a drug dealer, wants the Corleone family to protect him in exchange for money he makes by selling drugs. However, Vito is against the use of drugs, and thus does not accept Sollozzo's offer. Out of anger, Sollozzo sends hit men out to kill Vito. They shoot him, but do not succeed in killing him for Vito survives. Nonetheless, Michael is angry and begins a mob war against Sollozzo, which in the end ends up tearing his family apart. In the end, Michael becomes the Godfather

1. How does Michael's character change throughout the movie? How is this ironic?

In the beginning of the movie, Michael is determined to live a normal life and not be a part of the "family business". However, his motifs change after he sees his father almost die after being shot in an assassination attempt. Instead of walking away, Michael decides to seek revenge out on Sollozzo, and puts his entire family through a mob war that kills all of his brothers. There is one scene where Vito admits that he had hoped that Michael would not fall into the family business, but Michael does the exact opposite. The turning point is when he kills Sollozzo at dinner, signifying that he has now set his life to be a part of the family business. By the end of the movie, Michael becomes the new Godfather and is planning out the murders of numerous people who he thinks are dangerous. His character changes the most throughout the movie.

2. How does the wardrobe of the film match with the overall superficial sense of what a mob should look like?

When one thinks of the mafia, they think of lots of money, expensive suits, nice cars, and weapons. Personally, I think The Godfather does an excellent job in incorporating these aspects into the wardrobe of the film. Throughout the film, the Corleone men are usually wearing nice suits and driving nice cars, both signs of wealth. Overall, the wardrobe portrays everything a person would expect the mafia to wear or have with them. Wardrobe also plays a role in depicting the changes each character goes through. When we first see Vito, he is wearing a dark suit and is clearly the one who has the most power in his family. However, by his death, Vito is wearing casual clothes, which could be interpreted as a sign that he was loosing his power. Michael, on the other hand, is wearing a white suit when we first see him. White is a sign of purity, just like Michael was pure of the dark side of the family business. However, by the final scene, Michael is wearing a blank suit and looking way more powerful than he did at the beginning of the movie.

The Sound of Music

Movie:
Director: Robert Wise
Actors: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker

Summary:
The film takes place a little before WWII in Austria. It begins with a girl named Maria dancing and singing in the hills. she returns to the Abbey in which she is to become a nun, but her Mother tells her that she should spend some time outside of the Abbey in order to make sure that she wants to live her life as a nun. Maria is then sent to be the Nanny of the Von Trapp family; a family of seven kids, a deceased mother, and a militarily strict father who calls himself "Captain". There, she instills life and happiness back into the children with love and music. She also finds herself falling for the Captain, who then brings his Baroness - or his future wife - into the picture. The Baroness then becomes jealous of Maria and convinces her to go home, which she does, but Maria returns quickly because she knows the children need her. Captain and Baroness soon break up, and the Captain then confesses his love for Maria. They soon get married go on a honeymoon. Meanwhile, Austria is being taken over by Nazis, and they want the Captain to be a part of their new government. The Captain doesn't want to do such a thing, so he and his family attempt to escape, where they are almost caught, but freed when the Nazis find that their car cannot start. The cross over into Switzerland through the Swiss Mountains and sing to the sound of music.

1. In what ways is the music in the movie interconnected with the story line?

The song Edelweiss, which is sung by the Captain, expresses a deep love for his homeland. In the plot of the movie, the Captain is being driven away from Austria because of the Nazis, and thus he is forced to abandon the place he has grown to love. Edelweiss in a way sort of embodies the movie. In it, the Captain says that though he cannot stay in his homeland, he blesses it and loves it. This is how it connects with the overall plot.

2. Why does the director use not just one, but a series of establishing shots in the beginning of the movie?

In order to fully convey the setting to the viewer, the director uses a series of establishing shots of Austria. However, the first minute is all different shots of the Swiss Alps. It signifies beauty, grace, and most importantly, freedom. It is possible that the director did this to foreshadow the fact that the Von Trapps will find freedom in the mountains as they escape from the Nazis.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Movie: 1939, Comedy Drama, 109 Minutes
Director: Frank Capra
Actors: James Stewart, Jean Arthur

Summary:
After a Senator dies, Senator Joseph Paine needs to find a man to fill the dead senator's spot, and fast. So, he turns to local hero Jefferson Smith, who is a local hero and the leader of the state's Boy Rangers group. However, Smith his naive and thus embarrassed by the press, and wishes to resign his position as Senator. Nonetheless, Paine encourages him to stay and work on a bill for the Boy Rangers of his state. Here, he meets Clarissa Sanders, who helps him write the bill for a boy's camp. The camp would take place on Willets Creek Site - the same place that Paine wants to have his graft. When Jefferson tries to expose him, Paine reacts by accusing him of stealing money from the Boy Rangers. Noentheless, Smith stays and fight in Washington. He talks to the Senators, but they won't listen, but as he gets tired they begin to devote him a little more attention. Smith won't stop until he gets people to believe in him, but he immediately faints - where Paine feels guilty and attempts to kill himself with a gun. He then runs into the Senate and confesses everything, where the audience and Smith's supporters jump up in cheers and happiness.

1. How did Capra incorporate his romantic ideals into the film?

Towards the end of the movie, Smith is determined to get people to believe in him. Even though the other Senators aren't listening, he continues to speak, sweat, and move with the passion of a romantic. He is so passionate, that, eventually the Senators find that they have to pay attention to what he is saying. Smith speaks with sharp, powerful words that not only grab the audience in the film, but also the audience that is watching the movie. Eventually, he finds himself so overwhelmed with emotion that he faints. I think this shows Capras romantic ideals of passion and getting people to believe in you because that is exactly how Smith acted. It payed off - Paine confessed and the entire Senate went crazy with joy.

2. In one scene, the camera steadily follows Smith's hat as he talks to a woman he likes. What does this show?

As Smith talks to a girl, the camera doesn't focus on him, but instead focuses on the hat that he fumbles with. It frames the hat directly in the middle of the camera and follows it as it moves, flips, and falls to the ground. Yet, even though the camera isn't even on Smith, the viewer is still listening to the conversation at the same time. To me, this was a really clever and creative way in showing Smith's nervousness. I've never seen anything like it, and I thought it was really cool.

The Wizard of Oz

Movie:
Director:
Actors: Judy Garland,

Summary:
The movie is about a young girl named Dorothy who gets whisked away "Over the Rainbow" into another world. She arrives in Munchkin Land, where she is greeted happily by little munchkins because she just so happened to have killed the Wicked Witch of the East. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, takes a pair of red slippers off of the bad witch and puts them on Dorothy. However, she is then visited by the Wicked Witch of the West, who wants the red slippers because that have many magical powers. Now, not only does Dorothy have to fight off the Wicked Witch of the West, but she now has to find a way back home to Kansas. She arrives at Emerald City and meets with the Wizard, who tells her to do a series of things in order to take her home. This continues until she is forced to bring back the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West, and is forced to confront her. However, in the end, Dorothy defeats the Wicked Witch by dumping water on her, causing her to melt. She then realizes that all she needed to do was clap her feet three times and say "There's no place like home", and she would return to Kansas. She then realizes she was dreaming, and lives happily ever after in her little Kansas town.

The Bicycle Thief

Movie: 1948, Drama,

Director: Vittorio De Silca

Actors: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell

Summary:
Antonio and Bruno Ricci are a father and a son who are living in post-war Italy. They are very poor, and Antonio just got a job hanging Rita Hayworth posters around the town. However, his new bicycle was stolen on the first day of his job, and he and Bruno go around looking for it to try and track down the Thief. This is the basic story line of the film, as the rest of it follows them around as they search for their bicycle. When Antonio thinks he finds the thief, he has no proof, and is thus forced to leave. He then does not know what to do because he is poor and has no money, so he tries to steal another person's bicycle. However, he is caught, and the movie ends with he and Bruno walking sadly in a large group of poor people.

1. Why was it better to take a realist approach in shooting this movie rather than a formalist approach.

To start, this was made during the Italian Neo-Realism Era, and thus it was presumably written to be a realist film. However, even if it was a modern day film, it does help that the film was more realist because a lot of it takes place outdoors. There was a lot of leisure around the actors as they searched for their bicycle - and there should be, because they were walking around a town. Because they were out in the real world, it was best that the scene wasn't staged. Also, there was a lot of natural light, which also conveyed a more realist feel to the film.

2. For the role of Antonio, why did the director chose to purposely cast an factory worker rather than a real actor?

Personally, I think that the director chose to cast a factory worker instead of an actor because, in a way, a factory worker would be a better actor for this particular film. The goal of realism is to make a film as realistic and natural as possible. In order to do that, you have to have a really convincing actor - someone who has been through similar first had experiences that the main character goes though. In The Bicycle Thief, Antonio searches for his bike because he is poor and it is the only thing he has left that is worth anything, and yet, even at the end he does not find it. In order to really show the depression someone feels after they lose all that they have, you need to have someone who has actually experienced it. I also think that the fact that the film did not have a professional actor would appeal to a wider audience, because many people were going though the things that Antonio - and the actor who played Antonio - were going though.