Wes Anderson is one of the greatest illusion-makers of all time. He doesn’t create movies but entire worlds with his distinct sensibility and dazzling visual style. The 48 year old Texan is one of the few filmmakers in modern cinema with the ability to articulate such idiosyncratic visions. Every frame of “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is so Anderson one can spend hours dissecting each and every shot. The film is a colorful and delicious confection to watch that at times you may have the urge to lick the screen. The film opens to a young lady visiting a courtyard, gazing up at a statue of “The Author” whilst holding his memoir entitled, “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” We start out in 1985 in a grey sky post-Communist town. “The Author” is shooing away is grandson and recalls the time in the late 60’s when his younger self (Jude Law) stayed at the title hotel. At the time of his stay, the legendary hotel was falling into obsolescence. As time goes on he becomes acquainted with its elegant and mysterious owner, Mr. Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham). Law is curious as to why the immensely rich Moustafa chooses to accompany alone on his visits and insists on sleeping in a room no bigger than a closet. Moustafa, acknowledging “The Authors” own work with great respect decides to invite him to dinner to satisfy his curiosity. Over the course of the meal, Moustafa reminisces about his first days at the hotel where he worked as a lobby boy under the direction of Monsieur Gustave H (the impeccable
Based off Charles Webb’s 1963 novel by the same name, The Graduate is an American romantic comedy/drama released in the United States on December 21, 1967 starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross, and William Daniels. The film was directed by Mike Nichols, produced by Lawrence Turman and the screenplay written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham. The film was produced by Lawrence Turman/Mike Nichols productions starting in March of 1967. Mike Nichols has also directed other well known films such as Catch-22 (1970), Working Girl (1988), and more recently Closer (2004). The film was distributed by AVCO Embassy Pictures nationally and United Artists internationally. AVCO Embassy Pictures studio, founded by Joseph E. Levine, the films executive producer, also claims production/distribution for other hit films such as Godzilla, King of Monsters! (1956), The Fog (1980), and Prom Night (1980). The movie was well received due to its $104 million dollar box office opening tab. The score was produced by Dave Grusin and the songs written by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
The vision Christopher Nolan had for The Prestige (2006) was to add to the outbreak of street magician film, whilst playing a large dramatic subplot equal in grandeur to the magical performances within the film. In the final sequence of the film, I will analyse how the cinematography and sound resolves the plot so that it summarises the themes present in the film, whilst also invoking a response from the audience. Nolan predominantly uses close up shots, non-diegetic sound (music) and dialogue collaboratively to convey the dramatic, personal subplot of the characters and their relationships, whilst appealing to the audience bringing forth an emotional response from the audience. The heavy, slow, dramatic atmosphere of the ending sequence uses various techniques to summarise and uncover the underlying mysteries of the events throughout the film and consolidate themes introduced during the exposition.
Hotel Rwanda is a film directed by Derek George that tackles one of the most shockingly disturbing events in recent history, when the Hutu radicals of Rwanda initiated a frightening crusade of genocide, slaughtering thousands of minority Tutsis while people from other countries did nothing and acted oblivious to what was going on in Rwanda. George vividly adapted Hotel Rwanda in a way that the viewer from beginning to end saw the effects of genocide, political corruption, and the consequences of violence. Depicted in the early 1990s , the views on ethnic conflict in Rwanda and the sequence of events is really descriptive and sometimes hard to watch as George digs deep into what happened in Rwanda. The early scenes in town set the scene amazingly for what’s to come throughout the film and gives us vivid insight on the views and social standing of Rwanda in the 1990’s. Don Cheadle portrays Paul Rusesabagina in the movie playing the hotel manager, his wife in the movie played by Sophie Okonedo is a Tutsi and wants to help when the violence ensues. Their marriage throughout the movie supplies a great sub plot detailing how a relationship can stand through turmoil.
The 2012 movie Argo is based off of a true event in 1979. During the Iranian Civil War, President Jimmy Carter gives the Iranian Shah refuge in the U.S. due to his illness. In retaliation, Iranian activists invade the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran and the staff are taken as hostages. This is famously known as the Iranian hostage crises. Although six of the staff members escape and are taken in by the Canadian Ambassador. Determined to rescue the six, Tony Mendez, who is our main character, from the CIA is brought in because of his expertise. After talking to his son one day while watching a science fiction program on TV, he comes up the idea to go into Iran, under the guise of Canadians
The movie “Gone with the Wind” is about a rich southern girl named Scarlett O’Hara and her life hardships set during the time-period of the Civil War. In the story, Scarlett is forced to watch helplessly as her family’s wealth and lives fade as the confederacy loses the Civil War. Even though, the movie is mainly centered on the dilemmas of Scarlett’s love life, there are many historical accuracies that immerse the viewer in the southern mindset as well as the timeframe. The portrayal of class structures and the confederate attitudes before the Civil War are both accurate and engaging details that the movie successfully implements. In the film, these examples are displayed mainly through the dialogue and setting.
The film “Renaissance Man” is directed by Penny Marshall. Renaissance Man was first taken place in the state of Michigan in the city Detroit where Bill Rago’s businessman dream job fails. Bill Rago is very brilliant but, conceited. He owes a lot of people money, late on his bills, and his daughter wants him to believe in her. His conceitedness got him fired from his businessman job. The unemployment agency finds him a teaching job on a U.S Army base, Fort McClane. Where he is to teach a Drill Sergeant Class how to comprehend in six weeks. This Drill Sergeant Class calls themselves the “Double D’s”. Bill finds the Double D’s impossible to teach in six weeks because they came from poor backgrounds. But, Bill’s knowledge of his favorite Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” helps the Double D’s a lot and they learn how to comprehend. Even though, Bill Rago is conceited and does not care or take anything serious at the beginning of the movie Bill also, listens to what people says even though it does not seem like it he is also, very brilliant when he puts his mind and heart into his work and deep down he is very caring, which leads to the Double D’s being successful and learning how to comprehend.
Casablanca, the crowning achievement of director Michael Curtiz, which was released in 1942, is a film that had to work against the pressing concerns associated with World War II to stay relevant in both cinematic and general audiences. The writing, which was done by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch, had to be inspirational yet uncontroversial. With actors like Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund, Claude Rains as Captain Louis Renault, and Paul Henreid as the French revolutionary Victor Laszlo, Casablanca has a respectable cast. The movie initially appears to fit the film noir genre because of its smoky backdrops with muted colors,
Casablanca was released in 1942 by the director Michael Curtiz. The film was considered one of the best motion pictures ever made. The film's multinational cast, strong emotions, and the love triangle helped it become a classic film remembered for all time. The scene I will analyze is the last scene in the film where Rick Blaine and Ilsa were saying their final goodbyes as an airplane was in the background setting was one of the greatest scenes in the history of romantic films and the history of cinema itself.
The film, the Untouchables, was directed by Brian De Palma. It was set in the prohibition era, which was right at the start of the 1920’s. Prohibition can be described as a law that made selling and manufacturing alcohol illegal. By putting this law into effect, it actually increased the amount of crime and violence throughout cities in the US. This was ultimately due to the rise in organized crime, also known as gangs. In the movie specifically, it was centered around the rise of the Mafia in Chicago. By looking at the production of the movie, we can see how during prohibition, the Mafia controls everything and the violence ultimately it leads to.
The Grand Budapest Hotel revolves around Europe of the 1930s and 1960s while it was in time of the war, through the adventures of The Grand Budapest Hotel's doorman Zero and the Hotel manager Gustave. The saga is linked to a burglar and a Renaissance painting, a great family's wealth war, and the sudden change of war in Europe. It reflects the vicissitudes of political history in Europe for half a century. This article will analyze The Grand Budapest Hotel from two aspects: artistic style and film theme.
This film was extremely influential during a very crucial period in American history. It greatly influenced society’s impression of intervention during World War II, and it also impacted our standpoint on the interference in future foreign affairs as well. The movie led to a series of American intervention in several upcoming troublesome and demanding foreign conflicts and or struggles. America could no longer remain neutral and detached while other countries were crumbling at her feet. Justice and democracy had to be maintained and defended whether it was on our soil or our enemy’s. This film defends that objective and builds support for the United State’s new game plan for constructive meddling in foreign affairs. And as a result, our country would soon become the defender of justice for the entire world. For instance, this meddling came about during the Cold War.
Three elements from Casablanca are: explicit meaning, a protagonist character and editing of close-ups. Aspects of surface presentation, characters in pursuit of the story theme and editing shots that fill the frame lead and enhance the plot of the backstory.
The film The Breakfast Club was directed and written by John Hughes and was released in the year 1985 (IMDB, 2016). The film’s running time is 95 minutes and can be categorized under the genre of comedy and drama. It follows five teenagers, who all vary in personality and stereotype, get stuck in detention on a Saturday morning. They are all different types of people in nature but when stripped down and seen through without a stereotypical lens, they all have something to share and have something in common amongst themselves despite being so different from each other. In the movie, they are stereotyped as, a basket case, a brain, an athlete, a princess, and a criminal (IMDB, 2016). The setting takes place in a library and whilst they are in detention, they go through varying phases. They start off with solitude, then proceed to share a few words, and later into the film they start to disclose information about themselves that normally would be very difficult to disclose. While they are in the library they start off as complete strangers and barely talk to each other. As the movie progresses, they start doing a lot of things that a normal group of friends would do such as dancing, playing music, sneaking out together, and even smoking a joint together.
Analyze This is a hilarious, feel good movie about two men from different backgrounds living completely opposite lifestyles. Through a series of very funny, random and bizarre moments they form a memorable friendship together. The movie came to theatres in 1999, was directed by Harold Ramis and included a cast full of some of Hollywood’s brightest stars. It begins with two gangsters leaving a café, discussing their plans to attend a meeting involving the countries major crime bosses. One gangster goes back in the café to get a toothpick and at the same time the other gangster is killed from a drive-by shooting. The movie’s plot is based upon the surviving gangster seeking out a psychiatrist to help with his emotional
The film “The Prestige” is one of many masterful Nolan films that walks the line between being a meta film about the film industry, and being focused on immersing the audience in the actual content of the film. At a close inspection, comparisons to the film industry can be seen, but they are not so obvious to distract the audience from the central conflicts that are at the forefront of the film. The subject of the film could most easily be defined as surrounding the topics of obsession or fame. More specifically, the obsession of fame, and the illusion of happiness that fame projects. The main characters of the movie both urn for the fame of being the world’s most successful entertainer, even if for different reasons.