Wednesday was our first movie-screening day in seminar. The first movie we viewed was Manhattan, staring Woody Allen. The movie is a romantic comedy in which Isaac Davis, played by Woody Allen, falls in love with his best friend Yale’s mistress, Mary, while currently in a relationship with a 17 year old. I am unsure as to what I personally thought of the movie, since I spent the first half hour or so paying more attention to how the film was produced, rather than the actual story line. By the end, however, I was able to piece all of the characters together.

In terms of the film’s production, there are several pieces to be examined. First, the camera was always positioned to keep the main character, Isaac, in the shot at all times, regardless of who was speaking. For instance, if Isaac and his ex wife were having a discussion, the camera would be focused more on him, rather than her moving around the room. In my opinion, I felt that this kept reminding you to focus on his reactions and remarks, rather than those from the other actors and characters. In addition, there were many of scenes where the main characters were walking down the street having a discussion.  The camera remained tight on those people, yet allowed some scenery in, giving the ambiance of walking down a New York City street talking with friends. Also, it seemed as if the camera wasn’t always in the actor’s faces. There were many shots in which there were people or cars interrupting the frame.

The choice of the director to shoot in black and white or color is a very important one. There are certain advantages and disadvantages of each way. For this movie, I thought that shooting in black and white was a good choice. The black and white film gives the movie an old fashioned romantic feel to it, making certain scenes, such as the one looking at the Brooklyn Bridge, that much more magical. The only downside to using black and white film is that you need to be very careful and intentional with your lighting. For example, in the scene where Isaac and Mary are inside the space exhibition, you could barely make out their faces or bodies. Another great example is when Isaac shows everyone the brown water in his apartment. Everything has to be exaggerated 10 x to have it appear on camera properly. One thing that bothered me throughout the film was there were no transitions in between the scenes. The cuts were very quick and hard.

In the movie, there was very little music, except for the points where Isaac was with his son, or when he was with Mary. This can be analyzed from several points of view, but I feel that the director’s choice to put music only in these parts was to show the differences in Isaac’s moods. The music was present when Isaac was really happy and enjoying himself, rather than living his dreary, emotionally confused life.

On wednesday, we watched the movie Manhattan in class. This movie is directed by Woddy Allen is about a forty-two year old writer who is trying to live a normal life in Manhattan. However, he has much difficulty in doing this due to many barriers, such as having a relationship with a seventeen year old girl.

1. I thought the the camera functioned in the movie very differently than it would in other movies. Even though the camera did focus on the actors during different scenes, it also did something different which I found to be very interesting. The camera would capture the dialogue between the actors, however, it would not focus its attention on the actors. For example, when Issac and his seventeen year old girl friend left the diner after school, the camera captured the dialogue between the two but did not show the audience the presence of the actors.

2.The directors approach with framing scenes with people was somewhat odd. As I explained before, there were some scenes where the director captured the dialogue between the actors but did not actually show them present in the scene. Although the majority of the scenes were with the presence of actors, there were a few scenes where this did not occur.

3. Since this movie was filmed in black and white, it had a different effect than it would have had if it were filmed in color. This actually confused me because the movie was actually set in modern times. I did not know why Woody Allen decided to set the movie in black and white. However, his decision definitely made it more interesting.

4. The clips in this movie did not last for that long. I do not remember any scenes where the clips were long and the scene was filmed in the same place for a good amount of time. I thought that the camera moved frequently and the different parts in the scene were brief.

5. The dialogue between the characters represented the time period in which the movie took place. It was somewhat modern and involved contemporary language.

6. The costumes in the movie usually describe the time period it was set in. Just like the dialogue in the film, the costumes described in what year the movie was set. The clothing and the hairstyles of the characters made me believe that the film was set in the 1970s.

7. Usually, the use of music in a movie plays a huge role. However, in this movie I rarely remember any music being played at all. I am sure there was some music played in the movie, but it did not play a huge role or had an important significance in the flow of the movie.

8.The role of the setting of the movie also is very important. This movie was set exactly where the title of the film tells us: Manhattan. I believe it was a great place to set the film. Since the protagonist is a writer trying to find normalcy in his life, Manhattan was a great place for him to reside. The director tries to make the setting as real as possible.

To be honest, this movie was one of craziest movies I have ever seen in my life. There were so many insane scenes and facts about this movie that made me want to slap every actor involved. As crazy as it was, I did wind up enjoying the movie.

This Wednesday, we watched a Woody Allen film called “Manhattan”. I have heard of Woody Allen before but never witnessed any of his works. My first impression of the film was that it was odd but amusing. I felt like it was realistic even though it was over exaggerated and the dry sense of humor kept me on my toes. Before we watched the film, we were given a series of questions to consider after watching clips from two other films.

1. How does the camera function?The camera played a vital role in the film because of its variations. One moment the camera would follow the characters from one end of the street to the other. At other times, it would remain in one place and we would watch the characters enter the scene and then exit the scene all in one shot. But what was most interesting was that it was used in such a way that the viewers were able to capture all the dialogue which is perhaps the most important factor of the entire film because of its wittiness and relevance to the progression of the film. The camera was sometimes placed in the dark so the audience wasn’t distracted by the surroundings; in that moment all that mattered was the dialogue.

2. What is the director’s approach towards framing scenes with people? The director often made the characters the focus of the scene. For example, the one scene when Isaac, Yale, Tracy and Mary were walking out of the museum together. The director had them exactly in the center because their dynamic amongst themselves mattered to the progression of the film. At other times, the director purposefully took the characters out of focus because their dialogue mattered more. Both techniques were intertwined together in such a manner that it properly delivers the message of the movie.

3. What impact does the b&w v. color have? The use of black and white shows that regardless of the time period in which this plot took place, the relationship issues that people deal with are the same and will forever be the same. The situations dealt with are very modern but the black and white sets its timelessness and also addresses the setting. Since the movie is in the city, the use of black and white enhances the timelessness of the city life and also addresses the chaos that exists.

4. Generally, how long do the clips (edits) last? It definitely varied. At times the transition wad very quick and at times it was long; it depended on the relevance of that particular scene to the film as a whole.

5. The dialogue was fit for city folk. It felt natural and not forced and that made the plot line so much more believable. At the same time, the dialogue was full of humor.

6. What is the role of costume in each scene? The clothing was very middle class which is exactly what the characters are. So it didn’t dominate in any way or distract the audience from the significance of the dialogue. It kept it realistic and appropriate.

7. What is the role of music in each scene? The music wasn’t as important as some other factors. In fact, I hardly remember hearing any music at all. Once again, this might have been the director’s approach to figuring out what mattered and what didn’t and the music didn’t have much relevance.

8. What is the role of the set in the movie? The setting took place in various areas of Manhattan and it was important in terms of the who the characters were. Their lives were as chaotic as city life and drawing attention to that, enhanced the chaos of each character’s lives.

Overall, I enjoyed watching this film because it’s a film like no other. I’m curious to see what other films Woody Allen directed and acted in because his style is very appealing. This film was also very appropriate to the class since it focused on the “Arts of New York”. I look forward to viewing other films and opening myself up to different genres and such.

Yesterday’s seminar class was probably the most enjoyable one out of them all. I was excited to watch A Bronx Tale for the millionth time in a row, but to my surprise, Professor Kahan decided to change the movie we were about to see to, Manhattan, directed by Woody Allen.

To be honest, I was very disappointed because I love watching old “gangster” movies such as: The Godfather, Scarface, and A Bronx Tale. Normally, I am not a big fan of black and white movies because I have grown up in an age where everything is in color, so a lack of color seems boring and prosaic to me. However, I do make a couple classic exceptions for black and white films.

Aside from my interest in old movies, yesterday we watched Manhattan, and at first glance it looked really familiar, but I couldn’t exactly pinpoint where or when I had heard of this movie before. Not until someone shouted out that Woody Allen directed it, did I realize, that in my old AP English class we discussed him briefly. All I can remember about him is that he was a complete weirdo and there was definitely something wrong with him, not only in the movie, but in real life as well, for he married his adopted stepdaughter. Personally, I find that very strange and he was a very odd man, to say the least.

As I was watching the movie the questions we had to answer for A Bronx Tale and All About Eve, began to quickly formulate in my mind.  The function of the camera in a particular movie is the key for the overall feeling and mood of the movie. In Manhattan, the camera wasn’t really quick moving as it was in A Bronx Tale. There are some times when it zooms into particular characters to emphasis the point he/she is trying to convey. But, overall, the camera shadows over the main characters and pinpoints where the audience should be putting their attention.

The costumes, music, and setting all played a vital role in driving the plot and series of events along. For example, the clothing portrayed a wealthy and superior nature. Whereas, the music shifts from jazz all the way to classical. By having such a wide rang of sounds, it adds to the high society persona. The setting had its roots in New York, a place all of us can relate to quite significantly. By doing so, we were all able to get a better feeling as well as understand some of the famous New York hotspots such as: Central Park.

The black and white nature of the film represents the “old Manhattan” feeling, and I was able to relate to the emotions evoked by the main characters. Woody Allen’s approach towards framing each scene was for the most part pretty similar throughout the entire movie.  From what I can see, he made sure all of the characters were placed in the center and by zooming in and out produced a contrast of framing.

I’d be remised if I didn’t discuss the dialogue and its importance in the movie. It varies from time to time because it can range from resentful humor, to calm and peaceful tones. The move in itself is a quick and eventful one, which is because of the characters diverse and noteworthy dialogues.

Overall, I thought this movie was a little abstract and creepy, but that definitely represents Woody Allen in a nutshell.  I am looking forward to hearing more about this movie in depth next week.

Yesterday’s seminar class introduced the film portion of the semester with the viewing of Manhattan, directed by Woody Allen.  It starred Woody Allen himself, Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy and Mariel Hemingway.  Normally, I am not a fan of black and white movies, but I am currently taking a cinema class, and that has introduced me to all types of movies, leading me to see that black and white films aren’t so bad.  This particular movie, even though it was in black and white, was very enjoyable and I think, if anything, the black and white film stock added to the effect of the movie instead of taking away from it.  It gives the film that “old time-y” feel and helps the viewer appreciate the time period of the movie and usually helps to characterize at least one of the characters.  For example, in black and white films, shadows are often used to emphasize a character’s personality.  In the scene in the film where Isaac and Tracy are in Isaac’s basement and Tracy is getting ready to go home, the entire room is cast in shadows.  That could maybe help to emphasize the point that what they are doing is wrong and their relationship they have to keep hidden from the rest of the world.

I’d like to discuss some of the other technical aspects of the film.  The camera movement in a film is always very important, because the camera is the method of telling the story.  The camera is the “eyes and ears” of the film.  In this movie, the camera did not have any particularly special shots, except for the few times when the camera became somebody’s point of view.  There were certain shots throughout the film where the camera went from filming the people as a 3rd person to showing the viewer whatever the character was looking at, shooting from a 1st person perspective.  One time in particular that I recall this was when they were driving in a car, early in the film, and it is as if the camera is looking out of the windshield.  When the camera takes on a 1st person point of view, it adds emphasis to the way the story is being told.  Most of the frames are shot including all of the characters who are partaking in a conversation of particular activity.  The camera follows the central characters with whatever they are doing.

The roles of costume, music, and set in this film help to contribute to the storyline and the time period.  The costumes of the characters mainly help us to understand that they are high society and they are intellectuals.  Yale is a college professor; both he and Isaac are writers; Mary is supposedly brilliant.  They are always dressed in suits and dresses, and the viewer always sees them attending events such as book publishings, gallery openings, museum exhibits, etc.  These backdrops to the storyline help the viewer understand the kind of status the characters hold in NYC.  The music also adds to this effect.  Throughout the movie, the music is a mix of jazzy and classical.  To me, this music seems like the type of music that high society people would be accustomed to, when they attend parties and gallery openings and such.  In a way, it reminds me of All About Eve.  The music just provides a background to the storyline. (or in the case of All About Eve, the conversation)  The music never has lyrics, it is just playing in the background.

Finally, the dialogue is a part of the movie that intrigued and entertained me. The dialogue in this movie is very fast-paced, very witty at times.  Even when the narrator is speaking at the beginning, the dialogue is very conversational, very relaxed, unrefined.  Within the movie, the characters often use crude humor to make their point, which is kind of surprising since they are supposed to be in high society.  All of the characters seemed to be intellectuals, but they reminded me more of pseudo-intellectuals, as if they were all trying to come off as being more intelligent than they actually were.  The dialogue, for me, was the best part of the movie, because it grabbed my attention and kept me interested.

As for the actual movie itself, the storyline, it was slightly weird, and definitely eccentric.  Woody Allen came off as kind of creepy to me, but I appreciated his humor and at the same time, I kind of felt bad for him.  He seemed to have it all together and yet, he seemed so lost.  The movie also had some morals behind it.  For example, you should always have a little faith in people and nobody is perfect; everybody makes mistakes. I think the movie teaches you something about yourself, while you go through the process with Isaac of trying to discover what he wants for himself.  I’m glad I enjoyed the movie, because it made watching the film and writing this blog much easier and more enjoyable.  I look forward to seeing the rest of the films in the upcoming weeks.

Earlier today I went to class eager for two reasons, it was my last class before Thanksgiving break and we were going to watch A Bronx Tale.  I have seen A Bronx Tale once before and loved it, so kicking back and watching this film sounded great.  To my surprise, there was a last minute change and we watched Manhattan, a movie that I took a liking to.

During the first five minutes of the film, I was a bit saddened because I dislike black and white films.  I consider most of the black and white movies I watch to be a bore so my initial impressions of the film were not too great.  As the film progressed, I started to really enjoy it.  My favorite part of the movie was Woody Allen’s character, Isaac.  I thought that he was a selfish and manipulative character but still very lovable.  His character is similar to George from Seinfeld, they are both self-centered and always try to sway other characters’ opinions for their own selfish benefit.

The camerawork in this film does not do anything all too special. The camera considers the viewer as the typical type of audience, it does not pull you in as part of the world but rather a spectator of Isaac’s life. One other noteworthy thing about the camerawork was that there were a lot of exposition shots, wherein notable Manhattan areas were shown.  Woody Allen purposefully shot scenes in which the beauty of a Manhattan landmark was emphasized, such as the Central Park scene.

Even though I usually dislike black and white films, this filter seemed like a perfect fit for this movie.  When I picture Manhattan, I see it in black and white, mostly because I derive mental imagery of Manhattan from black and white photography.  Other than that, the editing of the movie is worth talking about.  When I watch a movie, I sometimes notice that some shots drag on and others seem like they were designed for people with really short attention spans.  The shots in this movie are not too long or too short, perhaps because it came out in 1979.  A time when film was not too similar to theatre and attention spans were longer.

Aside from the camera work and editing, the characters themselves had very witty dialogue and were dressed like typical, urban middle class adults that would live in Manhattan.

The music in the film ranged from upbeat jazz to orchestral music.  The film’s soundtrack complemented the film very well, using pieces that would be found in Manhattan jazz clubs and in and off Broadway shows.

Last but not last, I want to talk about the setting, which was a character of its own.  The city and its culture seeped into every aspect of the film; the music, the camera work and especially the story.  Manhattan is dense with the flaws of modern society, such as frequent affairs between married people and constant divorces. This was basically the basis of Manhattan‘s story.

It was a joy to watch this film and if I can, I would like to recommend the movie, I Love New York.  It is a film about the different types of people who live in Manhattan.