PART I: STREET FIGHT
The documentary Street Fight directed by Marshall Curry covered a boisterous 2002 campaign in Newark, New Jersey, against a young city councilor Cory Booker verses the cities longest serving major running for a re-election James Sharpe. During the entire documentary there were multiple points regarding politics and political power. In the beginning of the movie it was noted that some citizens were afraid to support Booker because they feared being targeted and possibly losing their homes or businesses. Even though Booker attempted to beat the Sharpe, he was nowhere near as entrenched and politically connected Sharpe. With the stark difference in the demographics each runner was targeting it became apparent that Booker was viewed as an outsider to the suburban residents of Newark that believed Sharpe would be the best candidate to become mayor. With that in mind, it is clear that social class adds a dimension into consideration of civic engagement (Losco 12). In my opinion, due to Sharpe’s vast influence to achieve his desired goals would be considered a ruling elite. Paraphrasing from Losco page 5, Sharpe had access to government officials to become re-elected as a government official himself. In the AM GOV text it states, “Although citizens may not agree with specific government policies, they will support as legitimate, or lawful, policies founded upon accepted contracts and standards.” (Losco 5). This can be connected to the documentary by noting the
Working out conflicts face to face can and cannot make a difference in resolving the problem.“These face-to-face interactions build trust, understanding, and a real sense of a shared mission, and this has made all the difference in the world.” This direct quote from Forbes.com explains how this specific way can improve how the world communicates to each other. Many people will disagree with the previous statement, but it is just one of the basic elements of the social system. Admittedly, not everyone believes in face to face interaction. People can choose whichever side they want to, but people can solve their problems by talking to somebody.
The movie Napoleon Dynamite directed by Jared Hess and released June 11, 2004 is a comedy about an awkward teen that has trouble fitting in. Napoleon (Jon Heder) the main character, lives with his grandma until she gets into an accident and his life is immediately made worse when his uncle Rico (Jon Gries) who is stuck in his high school football “superstar” days knocks on their door and is there to keep an eye on Napoleon while his grandma is getting hospitalized. Napoleon has a red afro, wears moon boots, and is constantly practicing his atrocious ninja moves. Napoleon has a best friend in high school names Pedro (Efren Ramirez) who decides to run for class president, and it is up to Napoleon to step out of his comfort zone to help Pedro win, and get his information out around school. Napoleon Dynamite was excellent because it met the criteria of humor, acting, and the profound message.
The 1946 film The Killers is a renowned film noir based off of Ernest Hemingway’s short story of the same title, focusing on the detailed backstory and investigation for the motive of the murder of Pete Lund/Ole Anderson, commonly known and referred to as “The Swede.” A film noir is a term made originally to describe American mystery and thriller movies produced in the time period from 1944-1954, primarily marked by moods of menace, pessimism, and fatalism. Although the film does not focus on the war itself at all, it still puts forth interesting new ways in how gender relations can be stereotypical as well as divergent proceeding the Second World War.
My gut reaction to hearing a film about wheelchair rugby was one of pity. I thought that as soon as I saw the players I would feel sorry for them not being able to play the sport the “right” way, or the traditional way. My unconscious bias towards disabled people seemed hard-wired into my brain. I was expecting less of them athletically but after sitting through the 88-minute documentary on wheelchair rugby I was proven wrong in the best way possible.
The Gangster film ‘Scarface’ (DePalma) is about the rise and eventual fall of Cuban immigrant, Tony Montana. Throughout the film the viewer witnesses how Tony Montana goes from a criminal in Cuba to a drug overlord in America. The average viewer cannot connect to the arc of Tony Montana. But, the average viewer can connect to what Tony Montana is working for, the American dream. Brain DePalma chooses purposefully to have a hyper-masculine, narcissistic, megalomaniac immigrant as the main character of a story of American dream. In ‘Scarface’, DePalma show the universality of the American dream. By utilizing various filming techniques, DePalma shows how the American dream is available for everyone.
In the 1940’s a series of propaganda films titled Why We Fight were produced for the purpose of defining the enemies of World War 2 to justify the necessity of America’s involvement in war. Hitler needed to be defeated, Nazism had to be destroyed, and tyranny had to be stopped for the sake of the American way of life by any means necessary. How could society argue against America’s role in the world war when freedom was being threatened? As Martin Luther King Jr. said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to everywhere.” No questions asked, Americans mobilized in the name of liberty and freedom. However the 2005 documentary film Why We Fight directed by Eugene Jarecki is not a sequel or war propaganda. The film informs the audience and questions America 's military industrial complex that has since dictated policy since the victory of World War 2. With the help of narration, soundbites, and credible speakers Jarecki shines light on the pernicious impact of the armed industry on our government, army, and citizens.
The film Warrior was released September 9, 2011 by director, writer and producer Gavin O’Connor. O’Connor takes us through a story of two former MMA fighting brothers dealing with a harsh family past (“Warrior”). Gavin has also directed the 2000 film, Tumbleweeds, and the winner of the Best Sports Movie Award in 2004, Miracle (“Gavin O’Connor”). Tom Hardy (Tommy Conlon) was also featured in a major 2010 film, Inception, and This Means War in 2012. He also played one of the main roles in The Dark Knight Rises as villain Bane (“Tom Hardy”). Joel Edgerton is most recognized for his role as a main character in an Australian Television show, The Secret Life of Us, but is also famous for his role as Uncle Owen in Star
Street Fight is a feature length documentary by former literary teacher Marshall Curry. The film follows the 2002 mayoral contest between Cory Booker and Sharpe James in Newark, New Jersey. It is mainly portrayed from the opposition Booker’s perspective and it is clear that Curry is a supporter of Booker and may sympathize with his views.
Film noirs describe pessimistic films associated with black and white visual styles, crime fiction, and dark themes. Sunset Boulevard is a 1950 film noir directed by Billy Wilder. Sunset Boulevard presents many themes that are common with the genre film noir, but also introduces some differences from the typical movie in that genre.
Fight Club is a psychoanalytical film that addresses the themes of identification, freedom and violence. It acknowledges Freud’s principle which stresses that human behavior is the result of psychological conflicting forces and in order to analyze these forces, there needs to be a way of tapping into peoples minds. The narrator tells his personal journey of self-discovery through his alter ego and his schizophrenic experiences. The movie is told through a sequence of events is told through a flashback that starts with insomnia. Jack starts attending support groups for testicular cancer survivors that let him release his emotions and can finally is able to sleep at night. Although he
When it comes to the film industry, entertainment is the tool used to acquire what is desired, money. The main goal for filmmakers when they create a film is to attain money in addition to the money spent to make the movie. Therefore, in some films that they like to base off of true accounts, it is somewhat necessary to dramatize or embellish the story to really tug at the heartstrings of the films audience. They achieve this goal by the use of dramatic music, ambient lighting, and a small amount of tweaked diction. The Fighter is an excellent example of this dramatization in action because throughout the film the characters are faced with a multitude of decisions that must be made. The choices they make require the characters to choose
Fight Club is a unique film that has many different interpretations consisting of consumerist culture, social norms, and gender roles. However, this film goes deeper and expresses a Marxist ideology throughout; challenging the ruling upper-class and a materialist society. The unnamed narrator, played by Ed Norton, represents the materialist society; whereas Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, represents the person challenging the controlling upper-class. Karl Marx believed that the capitalist system took advantage of workers, arguing that the interests of the upper-class class conflicted with that of the common worker. Marx and Durden share the same views about the upper-class oppressing the materialist, common worker. By interpreting Fight Club through a Marist lens, the viewer is able to realize the negative effects a capitalist society has on the common worker by seeing the unnamed narrator’s unfulfilled and material driven life in contrast to the fulfilling life of Durden who challenges the upper-class. The unnamed narrator initially fuels the upper-class dominated society through his materialistic and consumeristic tendencies; however, through the formation of his alter ego—Durden—the unnamed narrator realizes the detriment he is causing to himself and society. He then follows the guide of Durden’s and Marx’s views and rectifies his lifestyle by no longer being reliant on materials. Also by forming fight club, which provides an outlet, for himself and the common worker,
Taxi Driver (1976) follows Travis Bickle’s life in New York after being honorably discharged. The film is a psychological thriller that deals with Travis Bickle’s mental instability and desire to do something meaningful with his life. The narrative centers around Travis’ loneliness and disconnect from society.
The movie Once Were Warriors was released in New Zealand in 1994. The film focuses on an urban family of Maori descent, the Hekes. Within the family there is a lot of poverty and domestic violence, primarily from the father, Jake. The family also includes the mom (Beth), oldest son (Nig), teenage son (Mark aka Boogie), 13 year old daughter (Gracie), and a very young son and daughter. Although any family member would make for an interesting case study, I choose to focus on the mom, Beth.
Finding fulfillment in life requires people to truly understand their reality and is only achieved through an effort to grow out of one’s comfort zone. This idea is explored in the film Sing Street, directed by Jim Carney. The film follows the journey of Conor Lawlor, a shy schoolboy who gets moved from a private school into a strict Catholic school due to his parent’s financial situation. At Syng Street he is bullied by another student and his principle. A turning point occurs when he falls in love with a mysterious girl. After a desperate attempt to gain her phone number, he starts a band with a group of outcasts from his school. Throughout the film, Carney suggests the idea that to fulfill one’s happiness, a person needs to make an effort to take a risk and push beyond their comfort zone, and while doing so they also need to gain a sense of confidence in their identity. It is necessary to grow beyond hindering beliefs to achieve a new perspective on life to lead to happiness.