On the Waterfront

This week we saw the classic American film "On the Waterfront." Brando stars as ex-boxer/longshoreman Terry Malloy. The story is ripe with symbollism, cultural reference and controversy.
The articles directly point out the connection between Kazan and his associates, and the House Un-American Activies Committee hearings. It could be said that the story of Terry Malloy is a direct representation, and in fact an illustration of defense for "ratting" on people with whom he'd been affilliated, and shared Stalinist views and sympathies. This reflects other accusations that the story was stolen from Arthur Miller, who vehemently withheld names from the HUAC.
Cultural turmoil aside, "On the Waterfront" was released in 1954 and has since been revered as one of the greatest American films ever made.
The plot revolves around Terry Malloy and his personal struggle between his loyalty to the corrupt power machine he has long been associated with, and his responsibility to do what he knows is right. His trouble starts when he is unwittingly involved in the murder of a neighborhood kid. His sense of right over popular is further humanized by his romantic entanglement with a "good girl" from the neighborhood, who happens to be the sister of the boy he helped murder. Terry's better side eventually shines through when he aggrees to testify against the corruption to which he was once loyal.
The movie's rich symbolism is best represented by Joey's jacket. To me, the jacket represents the burden of righteousness. It's said that no good deed goes un-punished, this seems to be literally the case here, and the jacket is the scarlet letter that represents it. The pigeons are a less revealing metaphor. It could be said that they represent their caretaker, the "stoolpigeon" but I believe they're deeper than that. I think they represent Terry more personally as a caged bird. I don't see the point of this, but it seems evident that he identifies more with the birds than he does with most people. The birds never judge him, take moral sides, or kill anybody to get what they want. I don't think this helps the story, or improves the message, but maybe I'm just missing something.


This week's Movie suggestions:

I said throw down boy, you gonna do somethin or just stand there and bleed?

Cap'n Ron gets gritty in this new classic western focusing on the Earp Brothers, Doc Holiday, and the incident at the OK Corrall in Tombstone, AZ. Movie kicks ass.

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are illuminating as prisoners at Shawshank prison with nothing but time to contemplate the really important things. One of my top 5 movies ever.

The essential "story about a story." Crime mystery awesomeness. For the record, I am Kaiser Sosei.

Get ready to root for the bad guy is right. What's not to love about a hooker, a great Dane and a crook who just don't give a hoot what you think. Believe it or not, this is my feelgood movie for the week.

Casablanca

This week, we saw the classic WWII period love story Casablanca.

I hadn't seen this film since I was very young and didn't remember much, but loved every minute of it.

I really enjoyed how much humor I found that would have eluded my grasp even a few years ago. I find that to be the case even in movies I've seen time and time again. Captain Renault's dialogue was hilarious. It is often said that parody is the most sincere form of flattery; I believe this is why so many aspects of Casablanca have become such recognizable iconography in American entertainment. How many movies, television shows, songs etc. have invoked Bogart with "here's looking at you kid," or versions "all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine"? Even the archetypal love story is rich for parody, i.e. Out Cold, a story of a young man in Alaska who was left by his love at first sight in Cancun, only to discover she was engaged to a crippled ex-pro snowboarding pilot/doctor all along... cheesy? yes. Funny? Absolutely. Consider this; if Casablanca had been made in 2009 just as it was in 1942, it would be a terrible movie. It would be a corny ("are those bombs, or is that my heart beating?") un-creatively cast, hack movie. But in 1942 it's a box-office smash. In all honesty, I found some of the dramatic elements a little overused, especially Rick's bitterness about Ilsa, the "As time goes by" motif, even how many characters seemed a little too femme for their role, or maybe that was just military submissivism, I don't know. All in all Casablanca is one of those movies you want to watch over and over again for reasons you can't really explain.

Speaking of musical motifs, I found the combination and flow of the North African music, with French patriotic tunes, and American jazz and bar-tunes, all of which you hear within the first few moments of the movie. I think this subconciously sets the tone for the connection between the setting of the story, the patriotism that that eventually shined to protect the protagonists, and the freedom that was everyone's ultimat goal. That freedom could be seen as America, the "Cause" of Victor Laszlo, or just the freedom to love the one you want.

Jesse's movie suggestions this week:

Out Cold - Just for kicks, mostly just wanted to recommend you watch. I probably watch it at least 3 times a month.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit - A film Noir/Cartoon Escapade and in many ways the great last hurrah of cell animation. Cameos from many of the great cartoon characters of the last fifty plus years, and an excellent "solo" performance by Bob Hoskins.

The Incredibles - In my opinion the pinnacle of Computer Animation from Pixar Studios. The constant clash between extraordinary and mundaine stirs something incredible in anyone who sees it. I frickin love this movie.

Box of Moonlight - For something you probably haven't seen, but will definitley enjoy, try this movie. Turturro's journey to happiness is the ultimate in feel good stories. This is a diamond in the rough.

Welcome everyone..... well.... just Mike I guess

Welcome one (Mike) and all (maybe my mom).
This is where I'll be posting my reflections for Intro to Film (ART 116)
make yourself at home.