Well i just finished Brian De Palma's Black Dahlia. The protagonist Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert battled through the mysteries of the rich and corrupted to solve the murder of the black dalhia. But what i enjoyed most was not the solving of the dalhia case, it was the multiple mysteries that spung up during the investigation. Bucky's partner ends up getting slayed in a violent scene. Bucky now has two cases to solve and avenge his partners death. This to me is much more enjoyable than a one murder ending. It allowed for more suspense and a more powerful resolutin for the viewer.
Ive had some time to let the film soak in. I have decided that i didn'like the movie. I did some research on the original Black Dahlia case and i found out some discouraging facts. Though the movie is fictional, evidence was made up to draw conclusions on the case which frankly doesnt sit right with me. Though it may not have been as exciting or 'hollywood' but i would give more credit to de palma if he went about the movie more objectivly.
I was glad I finally watched scarface after having heard so many good things about it. I now understand why It is such a classic. Tony Montana reminded me in a way of Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman in the way that they were both obsessed with the American Dream. I was interested in the way that Tony tried to pursue his dreams. It was interesting to see the way the drug world worked back then and the costumes were really cool. At times it seemed stylized to me but then I just realized that that's really what they wore then.
Scarface was sick. I really liked all the clubs, cars, and mansions. My favorite scene is when one of Tony's partners get's chain sawed in the bathtub. It's a great scene because all it shows is a close up of the victims face without showing the actual killing. The musical motifs are another highlight, Tony has one, and his sister Gina has one but Tony's is slower and sinister Gina's is kind of girly. Scarface is definitely a new favorite of mine, Tony's coked out rampage sold it.
Scarface, what a classic. How could anyone not love the obnoxious but suave and suprisingly intelligent Tony Montana. Paul, i agree that the shower scene is quite entertaing and has it merits. Although i am going to go with the death of Tony Montana as my favorite scene. Shoving your face into a small moutain of cocaine, killing your sister, then blowing rivals away with a grenade launcher, wow. Tony seemed to be striving to fit in the the american niche. I feel that there is no more of an american way to die than to get pumped full of lead while trying to defend your drug empire.
I watched Black Dahlia after hearing about it from Judson. I enjoyed the movie and its distinct style. The movie was dark and had a sad feel to it. It was interesting to see it and notice some similarities in direction from this movie to scarface. Although they were completely different in plot, the direction was similar in some points such as shot angles. I was also dissapointed after hearing that the adaptation wasn't true to the novel and had a different ending.
The theme that is constantly sought after in Scarface in assimilating to american culture. When Tony arives to america he his working in the bottom of the chain as a cook for a cuban resturant. Tony sees that immigrants, like himself, are finding there money in drugs. Tony sees this as his way to climb to the top. What is interesting is that the american dream i differnt for every indivisual. Some would like to settle down and have a family but others would like to earn their wealth illeally by selling drugs. I wonder how the american dream became so pervesed. I guess its all in the eye of the beholder.
I agree with Judson on the assimilation. it just shows how people chose to take a path in life and that determines where they end up ultimately. Tony chose to take the quick route to success with the drugs. In the end his mixing of business with pleasure was his downfall. That's not to say that you can't be successful doing what Tony did. I think that De Palma did a great job of showing how Tony changed from being ambitious to becoming reckless.
I watched Femme Fatale. It was cool to see another movie with such an evil woman character in it just like the woman from Double Indemnity. This movie is much different becasue it is much more modern and is by no means a film noire. It is more of a suspense thriller. De Palma used quick cuts to heighten the sense of action and urgency in the fight scenes.
I liked the move except for the fact that the plot is a little questionable. It is hard to believe that someone could completely pass off as another person and take up where the other person left off wih their life. Also, the plot was pretty complicated and at times hard to follow which was hard for me to keep paying attemtion. Overall I kept watching though because it was a well made movie cinematically and the shots were framed well. It had lots of action to keep you interested as well. I liked the character of Nicolas Bardo as well because I am an Antonio Banderas fan.
One interesting thing about the movie that made it stick out from other movies was the very long opening scene. It had almost no dialogue and it made you realize that the film was about watching and paying attention to the details. It is clear we are to observe and gain details and clues as we go. The film itself did not have that much dialogue which I enjoyed because I could sit back and enjoy it more I felt instead of worrying so much about what was being said. I related the film before to Double Indemnity but failed to mention that in the opening of the movie we see the Laure the femme fatale watching Double Indemnity and getting tips on how to manipulate people just like Phyllis did. I am glad I got to watch this movie that I would not have without this project.
I just finished the cinematical roller coaster that is FEMME FATALE. meh. Thats basically my opinion on the film, the twist ceased to amaze me let alone the completly improbable plot. Corrine brings up a good point. No person can completly seclude theirselvs from their past. The person seeking a new life is lily watts or laure ash (same person) acted by the not so talented rebecca romijn. I found myself fixated on her bad acting and bad ass girl attitude.
Having more time to think about FATAL FATALE,i am having second thoughts. M favorite scene would have to be when nicholas (antonio b.) diguises himself as a hobo. HE hobbles down the street towards a limosuine driving rebecca romijn stamos.At the last second antonio is struck by the limo and he falls to the ground in agony. THe limo stops and the door opens. Anotnio is ready with his camera and snaps a shot of a "dead person" this is the turning point in the movie and when the so called hunt begins,
This is my seventh year teaching film, and ninth overall. I got my B.A. in journalism in 1998 from the University of Minnesota, then worked as a sports writer at The Star Tribune for awhile. I eventually went back to the U for my master's degree in English education, and started teaching in 2001.
I live in Minneapolis with Susan (wife, works at General Mills), Jack (son, born in August '08), and Gunnar (dog, a PBGV -- look it up).
13 comments:
Well i just finished Brian De Palma's Black Dahlia. The protagonist Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert battled through the mysteries of the rich and corrupted to solve the murder of the black dalhia. But what i enjoyed most was not the solving of the dalhia case, it was the multiple mysteries that spung up during the investigation. Bucky's partner ends up getting slayed in a violent scene. Bucky now has two cases to solve and avenge his partners death. This to me is much more enjoyable than a one murder ending. It allowed for more suspense and a more powerful resolutin for the viewer.
Ive had some time to let the film soak in. I have decided that i didn'like the movie. I did some research on the original Black Dahlia case and i found out some discouraging facts. Though the movie is fictional, evidence was made up to draw conclusions on the case which frankly doesnt sit right with me. Though it may not have been as exciting or 'hollywood' but i would give more credit to de palma if he went about the movie more objectivly.
I was glad I finally watched scarface after having heard so many good things about it. I now understand why It is such a classic. Tony Montana reminded me in a way of Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman in the way that they were both obsessed with the American Dream. I was interested in the way that Tony tried to pursue his dreams. It was interesting to see the way the drug world worked back then and the costumes were really cool. At times it seemed stylized to me but then I just realized that that's really what they wore then.
Scarface was sick. I really liked all the clubs, cars, and mansions. My favorite scene is when one of Tony's partners get's chain sawed in the bathtub. It's a great scene because all it shows is a close up of the victims face without showing the actual killing. The musical motifs are another highlight, Tony has one, and his sister Gina has one but Tony's is slower and sinister Gina's is kind of girly. Scarface is definitely a new favorite of mine, Tony's coked out rampage sold it.
Scarface, what a classic. How could anyone not love the obnoxious but suave and suprisingly intelligent Tony Montana. Paul, i agree that the shower scene is quite entertaing and has it merits. Although i am going to go with the death of Tony Montana as my favorite scene. Shoving your face into a small moutain of cocaine, killing your sister, then blowing rivals away with a grenade launcher, wow. Tony seemed to be striving to fit in the the american niche. I feel that there is no more of an american way to die than to get pumped full of lead while trying to defend your drug empire.
I watched Black Dahlia after hearing about it from Judson. I enjoyed the movie and its distinct style. The movie was dark and had a sad feel to it. It was interesting to see it and notice some similarities in direction from this movie to scarface. Although they were completely different in plot, the direction was similar in some points such as shot angles. I was also dissapointed after hearing that the adaptation wasn't true to the novel and had a different ending.
The theme that is constantly sought after in Scarface in assimilating to american culture. When Tony arives to america he his working in the bottom of the chain as a cook for a cuban resturant. Tony sees that immigrants, like himself, are finding there money in drugs. Tony sees this as his way to climb to the top. What is interesting is that the american dream i differnt for every indivisual. Some would like to settle down and have a family but others would like to earn their wealth illeally by selling drugs. I wonder how the american dream became so pervesed. I guess its all in the eye of the beholder.
I agree with Judson on the assimilation. it just shows how people chose to take a path in life and that determines where they end up ultimately. Tony chose to take the quick route to success with the drugs. In the end his mixing of business with pleasure was his downfall. That's not to say that you can't be successful doing what Tony did. I think that De Palma did a great job of showing how Tony changed from being ambitious to becoming reckless.
I watched Femme Fatale. It was cool to see another movie with such an evil woman character in it just like the woman from Double Indemnity. This movie is much different becasue it is much more modern and is by no means a film noire. It is more of a suspense thriller. De Palma used quick cuts to heighten the sense of action and urgency in the fight scenes.
I liked the move except for the fact that the plot is a little questionable. It is hard to believe that someone could completely pass off as another person and take up where the other person left off wih their life. Also, the plot was pretty complicated and at times hard to follow which was hard for me to keep paying attemtion. Overall I kept watching though because it was a well made movie cinematically and the shots were framed well. It had lots of action to keep you interested as well. I liked the character of Nicolas Bardo as well because I am an Antonio Banderas fan.
One interesting thing about the movie that made it stick out from other movies was the very long opening scene. It had almost no dialogue and it made you realize that the film was about watching and paying attention to the details. It is clear we are to observe and gain details and clues as we go. The film itself did not have that much dialogue which I enjoyed because I could sit back and enjoy it more I felt instead of worrying so much about what was being said. I related the film before to Double Indemnity but failed to mention that in the opening of the movie we see the Laure the femme fatale watching Double Indemnity and getting tips on how to manipulate people just like Phyllis did. I am glad I got to watch this movie that I would not have without this project.
I just finished the cinematical roller coaster that is FEMME FATALE. meh. Thats basically my opinion on the film, the twist ceased to amaze me let alone the completly improbable plot. Corrine brings up a good point. No person can completly seclude theirselvs from their past. The person seeking a new life is lily watts or laure ash (same person) acted by the not so talented rebecca romijn. I found myself fixated on her bad acting and bad ass girl attitude.
Having more time to think about FATAL FATALE,i am having second thoughts. M favorite scene would have to be when nicholas (antonio b.) diguises himself as a hobo. HE hobbles down the street towards a limosuine driving rebecca romijn stamos.At the last second antonio is struck by the limo and he falls to the ground in agony. THe limo stops and the door opens. Anotnio is ready with his camera and snaps a shot of a "dead person" this is the turning point in the movie and when the so called hunt begins,
Post a Comment