Month: September 2018

“Shutter Island” is a screen version of a novel Mystic River by Dennis Lehane (2003). The psychological thriller was released in 2010, directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingsley. It is the first thriller by Scorsese, so no one was expecting the movie to be so intense, twisted and tense, and keep the attention of the viewers until the very last scene. The “Shutter Island” leaves you with a feeling that your brain was turned inside out. The movie itself is very complicated. It is both hard to watch and hard to understand. There are some moments and things that the mind couldn’t simply explain or understand. At this moment your senses come into play. The sensual power of the movie is unbelievable. It opens new horizons in cinematography and creates an extreme realism that has never been known before.

“Shutter Island” tells us a story about federal Marshall Teddy Daniels and his partner, who travel to an island located somewhere near Boston in 1954. This island was used as a fort during times of the Civil War, but later it became a psychiatric hospital named Ashecliffe. It is a home for the most dangerous criminals and psychos from all over the country. Teddy and his partner are out to investigate a mysterious disappearance of an extremely dangerous patient named Rachel Solando who killed three of her children. The hospital is surrounded by an electrical fence, and the prisoners are under control all the time, which leaves them with no possible way to escape. Our heroes are here to find the missing patient while revealing some of the scariest secrets of the dark island. But whether the island will let the uninvited guests get away with all that secrets so easily is the question…

The features of the movie that were the most appealing to my particular cinematic experience, and stood out the most and contributed to the mood and the tone, were the music and colors. From the first scene, we feel drowning in dark tones that create the eerie and dangerous atmosphere. We are affected by the dark-grey-blue palette until the very last moment, that does not let us relax and get rid of that tension and confusion. It contributes to the complexity of the plot, by keeping the viewer in a state of suspense throughout the whole movie. The dark tones of the colors chosen by Scorsese, accompanied by the disturbing sound effects, create a feeling of presence inside the scene, making the viewer experience the same type of emotions as the main character, such as fear, hopelessness, and distrust.

It’s worthy of mentioning, that the music itself creates an indelible impression on the viewer. It is not melodic at all; it is a bunch of noise, sounds of different volume and tonality. All the sound and motion effects combined did not simply make me jump out of my seat and feel stupidly scared, as it happens a lot of times with the poorly thought-out “screamer” based horror movies. It did not only make me shudder quite often while I was watching the film, but it also brought awareness into my comprehension of the story. Adding up to that, it intensified the effects on viewers’ perception of the picture on the screen, assured full immersion into the atmosphere and concentrated viewers’ attention on the main turning points in the movie. Even during scenes that are quite bright, with not that much melancholy and low-spiritedness, the sounds were able to place emphasis on the dramatizing of the events. Also, the positioning of the camera and using slow motion to highlight the importance and tension of key moments creates a different form of approach, which helps the viewer to develop compassion and connection to an adversity faced by the main character.

Putting aside the fact that I was not watching the film in a theater, but on my laptop at home, it still impacted my sensual comprehension, connected with my interpretation of the plot. The soundtrack accommodating the tragic incidences, that Teddy has to endure, contributed to the realization of us losing our sense of reality vs. illusion alongside with the main character. At this point, we can no longer distinguish what is real, and what is not. It feels like not that the plot is not thought-out well, or that there are blanks in it, but that we ourselves were deceived and lost.

The psychological thriller pressures our brain, attracting our attention to the actions on the screen, making us stay completely focused on, and involved in unfolding events that happen in the movie. Insanely complicated, dynamic and unpredictable plot unveils sweepingly; impeccable work and inimitable style of Martin Scorsese, and the excellent acting performed will not leave you unsatisfied or indifferent if you decide to dedicate your time to watch this movie.

A story of a melancholic man who falls in love with his computer. Can humans have a genuine relationship with an inhuman entity?

Set in the Los Angeles of the nearby future, Her, Spike Jonze’s exquisite new movie, follows the story of Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the heartbroken Theodore Twombly after the end of a relationship. He holds an ironic day job where he composes personal love letters for those unable to express their emotions. Desperate for any personal connection, he falls for the seductive skills of an artificially intelligent operating system who offers unquestioning allegiance to him. The insightful, witty, and sensitive female voice, portrayed beautifully by Scarlett Johansson, gives herself the name Samantha and is soon organizing Theo’s life, acting as both his personal assistant and therapist. Samantha soon assimilates humanity’s tics and begins to feel emotion, or at least the simulation of it. She expresses this when she says “I want to learn everything about everything. I want to eat it all up. I want to discover myself.” She succeeds in her job of making Theo feel as lively and joyful as ever, but eventually does it too well when she begins acting as a buffer between Theo and his human relationships.

The writing, directing, acting, and cinematography of Her is beautiful. With such a great storyline, the visual storytelling echoes its sentiments. As a true work of science fiction, it sets up a world of upgraded technology with earpieces and holographic video games. Ironically, the advanced technology, which promises to connect us more easily to the world around us, is the reason for Theodore’s lack of human experience. Instead, it results in an illusion of a relationship for him. The work of the cinematographer, Hoyte Van Hoytema, adds depth and meaning to the film in more ways than one. The constant intimate close-ups of Theo, as in the opening scene, gives the feeling of a one person romance and forces the audience to focus and stare straight at him. This enables us to sympathize with Theo; we understand his isolation, happiness, and his rollercoaster of emotions. The sun flares in the close-up shots also gives the film a romantic and wistful feel. Moreover, the consistent flashbacks that portray Theo and Catherine’s happy life together, add a whole deeper level of understanding. It helps the audience to understand the bigger picture and forwards the thematic content. The quiet approach to the soundtrack was also a nice touch. The only instances of music was when Theo explicitly requested Samantha to play a song for him. This also allowed the viewers to think and feel on their own, without letting the background music indicate it.

In addition, the acting could not have been done better. Ms. Johansson’s casting of the voice of the OS was done beautifully; her articulate and expressive tone gives her a palpable form. It’s as if she is whispering into the audience’s ear the entire film. The audience cannot help but wonder about her physicality. The acting of Mr. Phoenix is also impressive. His solitude, quirky character traits, and exotic strangeness makes the entire storyline work.

However, it was also sometimes hard for me to dilate with the movie on an emotional level being that a man has fallen in love with a piece of technology. It was quite unrelatable and I was emotionally detached at times, like the scene where Theo and Samantha were having cybersex, compared to the emotional scenes of Theo and Catherine’s previous happy marriage. However, I soon realized that the point of the film is to draw attention to our dependency of technology and the possible problem of the near future, where technology is more valuable than human communication.

One of the themes that lie in the film is the question that is stated above- can humans have a genuine connection with an object? In this case, Theodore’s character is in such a state of disunity and solitude that anything could fill his void. He, therefore, retreated from other people and turned to technology as an accelerator of social isolation. For example, he’s always playing video games and even turned down hanging with his coworker and wife, just to speak to Samantha. However, by the end of the film, the audience can conclude that technology is only a buffer to genuine emotion; socializing with real humans is the most beneficial, as in the final scene with Theo and Amy comforting each other.

Both the storyline and the acting make Her a memorable film that will never quite leaves your thoughts. Although Siri probably wouldn’t be a fan, I highly recommend Her as a refreshing take on a romantic human saga. It will force you to ponder the question of whether a machine can think or a human being can feel.

Jim Carrey is hilarious in his role as Bruce Nolan in the 2003 comedy film “Bruce Almighty,” written by Steve Oedekerk, Steve Koren, and Mark O’keefe, and directed by well-known comedy writer, director and author, Tom Shadyac. Self-centered Bruce is hit with one misfortune after the next, and when he does not get his dream job of evening news anchorman he angrily accuses God, who is portrayed by Morgan Freeman, claiming, “The only one around here not doing his job is you!” When Bruce finally meets God, in His multiple roles, (janitor and electrician) God explains that it is not as easy as Bruce thinks to keep everyone happy. Freeman excellently depicts a friendly, warm, and funny God who decides to give Bruce the power to take on the role of God and do anything he wants, and this is when things get really crazy. From trying to impress his girlfriend Grace, played by Jenifer Aniston, by bringing the moon closer, to messing with his hotshot, and more successful coworker, Evan, played by Steve Carell, Bruce takes advantage of his newfound powers, goes wild and fulfills his every desire. When he realizes he hasn’t done any good for anyone other than himself, he grants everyone just about anything they pray for without even a second thought about the greater good.

While this is a great movie if you are in the mood for some fun and laughs, there are a few scenes which are quite vulgar and may be offensive to some. For example, he plants drugs in his competitor’s news van, uses his powers to lift a woman’s dress up and to pleasure his girlfriend, gets his dog to urinate in the toilet, and often yells at and undermines God. Further, some may find Bruce’s goofy personality a bit overdone at times, such as when he can’t control his jealousy and makes Evan sound like a high-pitched idiot on live TV. Overall, however, the film is light, funny, and entertaining.

Alongside the silliness, the film addresses the religious belief in an omnipotent God. Is God really in charge of our lives, do we have free will and choice or is it both? As Bruce experiments with his newfound abilities he is told that one major rule is that he cannot infringe upon any person’s free will. In time, Bruce discovers that it’s pretty hard to grant everyone’s wish while still allowing them this free will. When his girlfriend leaves him, he cries out to God, “I want you to decide what’s right for me. I surrender to your will!” He soon realizes that things don’t work that way and that he is responsible for his own actions. At one point he asks God “How do you make someone love you without affecting free will,” and God’s answer is “Welcome to my world son.” Bruce’s relationship with God is often full of anger and discontent, however, it is honest and candid, and full of unconditional love, even if one-sided for most of the movie.

Loving and caring for others is another religious, central theme. Bruce eventually comes to realize that by indulging himself he has done nothing to improve the world. By the end of the movie, Bruce is no longer a selfish, pleasure-seeker. His concern for others is heartwarming, such as when he finishes up a photo album for his girlfriend, and finally congratulates Evan on his success. With various references to and quotations from the bible, such as, “and let there be light,” “and God saw it was good,” and the splitting of the red soup, this movie dangles religious ideas around, while still remaining a light, humorous and easy watch.

I highly recommend this movie as it is full of humorous wit, while still leaving the audience with much to think about in terms of philosophy and religion. It uses a great approach as it delves into a deep topic in a lighthearted, comical way.

The Syrian Civil War started in 2011 and is ongoing to this day. Initially, the war was overlooked. Blatant human rights violations, however, cannot be overlooked. Photographers, journalists and filmmakers are documenting these atrocities through direct visits to Syria. Last Men in Aleppo, a documentary directed by Feras Fayyad in 2017 is one of these efforts.

Most documentaries are thought of as “merely educational” and solely academic. Unexpectedly, this film is more than that. It proves to us that we shouldn’t only learn but we should also engage and act. Utilizing both formal techniques and thematic content to make the film highly personal, Fayyad connects us with the civilians and heroes in Syria. By the end of the film, dumbfounded and heartbroken, viewers can’t help but think about what the film leaves inside them.

Throughout the film, Fayyad follows the daily lives of two white helmets during the siege of Aleppo. White Helmets, also known as the Syrian Civil Defense, are volunteer first-responders in Syria. Mostly working-class civilians before the war, these are people who have risen up for their fellow neighbors. Particularly, Fayyad follows Khaled, a loving father of two daughters and Mahmoud, a worrisome young man.

For the highlights in the beginning and the end of the documentary, the camera follows Khaled and Mahmoud through aftermaths of various bombings. One scene after a bombing shows a member of the White Helmets sorting through rubble to dig out a crying young boy underneath. As he carefully pulls him out, the camera focuses in on the child’s head: gashed and bleeding heavily. This is just one of many painful scenes.

With the camera switching from warm moments between Khaled and his young daughter (Isra) to horrific rescues, it’s hard to find a peace of mind during the film. A repeating switch between friendly/familial humor and disturbing bombings dominates the film. Although with repetition, the film comes off as “cyclic”, this repetition is exactly what digs into our minds. With each painful and disgraceful scene, we open our eyes to the reality in Syria. Laughing at the innocent dialogue between Isra and Khaled then immediately frowning from the chaos after a bombing, there is no break. With every single scene ending with sadness, feelings of restlessness take over as we just sit and watch.

Two specific methods are utilized to engage viewers in such a personal way: formal techniques and thematic content. First off, cinematography plays a vital role in providing viewers with an up-close look. With the camera directly face to face with the white helmets and victims almost all the time, it feels as if we are standing right in the middle of it all. It becomes hard to ignore the blood, tears and debris from bombings.

In addition, one feature of the cinematography that I found especially impactful was the shaking of the camera as the bombs hit. While watching, the screen feels an “earthquake”, as if the bomb hit the building right beside us.

Lastly, the sounds are also important to the message. Specifically, the authentic diegetic sounds of loud missiles falling onto crumbling buildings, screeching sirens rushing to save lives as well as children crying and screaming all come at once into our ears. Once again, the reality of the destruction is forced into attention, as Fayyad proves that was is happening is not only real but also horrific.

In these ways, the formal techniques enhance the film, forwarding the thematic content and making it more than just another dull documentary.

With regards to thematic content, the central issue that resonates with me is how important it is that we help prevent these mass atrocities from occurring. Scene after scene, we sit, eyes glued to the screen and minds racing to make sense of it all. As we watch Isra, for example, her giggles provide comfort while also increasing a sense of worry. What if something happens to her?

Iconic images of brutality in the Syrian civil war have come and gone. From Omran to Aylan Kurdi, stories have gone viral one day and immediately forgotten the next. That is what makes this film so urgent. Fayyad insists that we take a deeper, more personal look. For any bit of humanity left inside us, this film is a must-see. We should watch this film not to learn facts or spend time but to think deeply about what we can do to help stop human rights violations in Syria.

As a peace deal for the Idlib district in Syria is made this week, I can’t help but think if the fate of Idlib will be the same as Aleppo. Perhaps what Last Men in Aleppo has left in me is the message that peace is not given; it must be actively advocated for.

“Sierra Burgess is a Loser”, directed by Ian Samuels, opens up to a scene of a girl stepping out of a shower, set to sound of  the other side by Betty Who. She then walks over to a mirror and pronounces: “you are a magnificent beast”. This girl is Sierra Burgess, played by Shannon Purser. Sierra is a confident, funny, and smart girl that is big boned and not supposed to be seen as beautiful, even though Pursers looks don’t exactly portray unsightliness. Nevertheless, Sierras doubt in herself due to her appearance leads her to commit a crime that can not be overlooked by the audience; cat-fishing the good looking jock, Jamie, played by Noah Centineo.

Shannon Purser got her fame playing Barbara on the Netflix series “Stranger Things”. After her character was killed off, many fans complained due to the fact that Barbara was a very relatable character that was sensible and not complacent doing things that movies tend to portray as what teenagers like doing for fun. Due to her role in “Stranger Things” she was nominated for an Emmy award and chosen to play Sierra, another girl that is seemingly relatable.

However, pretty quick into the movie, Sierra as a character is no longer likable and can not win the audience’s sympathy. This is  due to her pretending to be Veronica, a cheerleader that Jamie believes he is speaking to. Her deception goes so far as to get Veronica involved and make her facetime Jamie and go on pretend dates as well. One person’s bad actions lead to another’s and the movie makes you want to scream at the characters, similarly to how one wants to scream at characters in a horror movie. But, in this movie, instead of walking down the basement steps into assured death, Sierra is talking her way down the path of fatal social situation.

She has placed herself in an ethical dilemma. Pretending to be someone is wrong, but would you be noticed for your personality if you don’t look a certain way? And, the answer is probably not. Although Sierra is prepped by her mother, that says things like “leave your insecurities in the bathroom mirror” and “open yourself up to rejection”, she is a teenage girl that is incapable of implementing these mantras in her life.

Purser’s portrayal of her character is spot on, and executed well. As, is the cinematography. Each scene is set perfectly to match the dialogue. The shots are taken from interesting angles such as from a birds eye view, when Veronica and Sierra are laying down in a bed. Or, from far away and peeking in through a window, when Sierra is starting to do things that the audience would not expect, like a keg stand. But, the great angles and acting do not make up for the bad plot.

The movie is supposed to send a message that one should be confident in themselves and not judge a person by their looks. It is sparked by many campaigns of inclusion and the general shift in the beauty industry to try and make beauty standards more realistic. This is evident with the rise of supermodels such as Ashley Graham and Precious Victoria Lee. However, the message is lost as Sierra becomes a deceiving liar that eventually wrongs all her friends in one way or another. Despite being a great character in the beginning, the new persona taken on by Sierra is no longer relatable. This is apparent in the last line spoken by Veronica: “You think I’m mean, well you should check the mirror because your looks aren’t the most ugly thing about you”.

The deception goes on for way too long which leaves just a small amount of time for an ending that gets the audience back on Sierra’s side. Thus, the climax of the movie comes way too close to the end, with only twenty minutes left, and does not allow everything to be worked out. And so, the denouement is lacking and altogether resolved too easily. It leaves one thinking that the creators are saying that cat-fishing isn’t that bad.  

The take away from the movie is not to conform to societal standards of beauty and that it’s best to be yourself. But, it was executed in a way that doesn’t have the audience convinced. For, in the end, if it wasn’t for her pretending to be someone else, Sierra would never get the guy of her dreams.

Adapted from Stephen King’s 1982 novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption,  The Shawshank Redemption tells a tale of  hope, friendship, and willpower encased behind cold and timeless prison life during the 1940’s. Directed by Frank Darabont, The Shawshank Redemption portrays the life a successful banker named Andy Dufrane and his 40 years in prison alongside his friend Ellis Boyd Redding. Although Andy Dufrane is the film’s main hero, Ellis Boyd Redding narrates the development of their inseparable relationship in a corrupt and cruel prison system, and does so with an unforgettable style that tells the tale of two people’s lives in the matter of 142 minutes.

Convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover under overwhelming evidence, Andy Dufrane finds himself lost in a foreign world of solitude that he confronts with silence and indifference. Shawshank Prison was cruel and merciless place, home to corrupt guards and prison rape. Andy arrived to Shawshank last in line standing tall and unfazed by its stone walls and iron gates. However, as Red put in the first time he laid eyes on Andy, ” it looked like a stiff breeze would blow him over”. Andy was a man of few words, but the way he walked prison grounds and looked at other inmates made it seem he was always thinking as if he was a free man. He was very different from other inmates and this characteristic is what drew Red to reconsidering who Andy really was. He lived for more than smuggled boxes of cigarettes or being the top dog, which was something Red was keen to. Being a successful banker on the outside, Andy found a way to use his wit to develop a useful relationship with Warden Norton filing his taxes and running the numbers for the prison in order to work on a library for the inmates. Andy valued education and knew it was what the prison needed because he knew what being institutionalized does to a man. For this reason, Andy becomes a respected and protected inmate, but soon Andy realizes the game he got himself into was going to take a lot to escape from.  Andy is forced to launder money through the prison for Warden Norton in fear of his library being burned to ashes or months of solitary confinement. As Andy states to Red, “It’s funny. On the outside, I was an honest man. Straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook.”. Struggling with the waging war of the idea of his life wasting away and perpetual confinement Andy is brought the edge of deciding if his life is even worth living.

The Shawshank Redemption approaches Andy’s story in way that makes its viewer continuously wonder, which was why this film is so successful in grabbing its viewer attention.  Instead of painting Andy’s perspective in a first person point of view, Frank Darabout uses another character to frame the story of the film’s hero. From every situation we see Andy it is always in the perspective of how others see him. As Red narrates the film we see more and more of who Andy really is and continue to wonder about what exactly is going on his head. The mysterious and astute nature Andy withholds begs questions from the viewer that are typically never answered. This characteristic of the film is particularly apparent upon the rooftops of Shawshank prison where Andy and Red are working. Andy approaches a guard with financial advice concerning a large sum of money he had run into, in return all Andy asked for was a couple of beers for his friends on a hot summer day. When the day came and each of them grabbed a bottle in rejoice of their sliver of freedom Andy laid a distance away staring into space. Red had wondered why Andy had gone through the trouble to not reap the benefits, possibly to curry favour with the guards or just to make a couple of friends. These kinds of questions are never answered and situations like this are very common in the film making it harder and harder to gain a stable judgement of who Andy really is.

Beyond the perspective director Frank Darabout places Andy into, there are a few qualities that separate it from common films. The Shawshank Redemption lacks action, it lacks notable actors for its time, and it lacks a popular storyline. The film revolves around a historical prison drama which, in terms of modern entertainment, is a sure bet for a fall in the box office. During the film’s release in 1994 that is exactly what happened. Besides a wordy and odd title, The Shawshank Redemption did not initially appeal to its audiences because of what it lacked and its inability to match with other upbeat thrillers. However, like many things, classics aren’t always appreciated in their time. This film defied the convention of its time and faced the consequences, but for the same reason it was able to  solidify itself as a classic in the industry.

The title of the Don is meant to be worn by a man of reason; a man who is able to identify and separate business and personal affairs. But in his attempts to negotiate and conduct business, there is nobody more that the Don trusts than his family— those that he considers friends. In Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 production of The Godfather, there is no greater concept than family and friendship that can exist in a man’s life. Starring Hollywood greats Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan, The Godfather and many of its cast members would win 27 awards and earn 28 nominations, being ranked one of the greatest films of all time by AMC Networks’ Filmsite.

In this film, Marlon Brando plays the iconic role of the “Godfather” as Vito Corleone, the founder and Don of the Corleone crime-family. After Vito Corleone is approached by one of the film’s antagonists, Virgil Sollozzo (Al Lettieri),  with an opportunity to finance a major narcotics trafficking operation, the Don decides to respectfully pass on “the Turk’s” offer, sparking a feud between the heads of the other New York and New Jersey Mafia families. As Vito Corleone ages and grows increasingly ill throughout the film, transitioning from the role of the Don to that of a loving grandfather, his position is passed to his sons, the youngest of whom embodies the characteristics that every leader should possess– reason, respect, loyalty, and love for family.

A film developed in the 1970s that follows New York and Sicily post-World War II, The Godfather brings you to a world dominated by a different class of criminal, where culture, faith, respect, friendship, and family are fundamental to the identity of a man.

The deep ties to Italian American culture are abundant, as Italian song, dance, language, food, and drink dominate scenes filled with gleeful men, women, and children or are used to convey the seriousness of situations during times of loss. Italian song and dance can be clearly seen in one of the first scenes of the movie, as Vito Corleone’s wife, Carmela, sings “Che la Luna” during their daughter’s wedding. With love and laughter filling the air on a beautiful, sunny day, culture and family are seen as the cornerstones to building a happy and successful life. Building this happy life is furthered by the importance of old fashioned Italian dinners, as friends and family gather in community to eat staple Italian dishes, drink red wine, and have loud, overlapping conversations with each other across the dining table.

Elements of faith and religion are also prevalent as the “Godfather” bears a sacred bond with his godchild and serves as both a spiritual leader and protector. Vito and Michael (Al Pacino) Corleone’s acceptance of the title of “Godfather” emphasizes the importance of faith and protection of children to the Corleone family, shaping the demeanors and decisions that the Don makes for the safety of both his children and the children of others. While the “Godfather” may be attributed with an image of a bright, moral figure, Vito and Michael are often addressed as “Godfather” during times when they face great injustice, surrounded by a dark setting that promotes a grim mood.

Respect and friendship present as major themes of The Godfather as Michael sacrifices a life outside of organized crime to provide for his family, just as his father’s reasons for getting into organized crime were to provide a better future for his children. Although Michael Corleone’s inevitable involvement in the family business was never what his father had planned for him, Michael decides to help his father during his time of need as both a sign of friendship and familial respect, vividly reciprocated by the soft, barely heard words of his father asking “Where’s Michael?,” as his first words spoken after having gone through a major medical crisis. Michael’s character development as a family man is furthered by his commitment to care for his loved ones as he becomes one of the few Corleone brothers to stay in a faithful relationship throughout the film. Through his faithfulness to his wife and time spent playing with his son, Michael embodies the moral character of a real man as described by his father– one who spends time with his family.

Culture. Faith. Respect. Friendship. Family.

The values of the Corleone family are key attributes that any American family should strive to achieve. It is The Godfather that reminds us of these values that we take for granted, making this film a piece of movie history that any father, mother, or child can learn from and relate to– a lesson in family.

By Paul Mastrokostas