The World of Stanley Kubrick

  The "Directorial Style" I choose to immolate for this project is the distinctive style of Stanley Kubrick. His best works in my opinion are A Clockwork Orange, Fullmetal Jacket, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Paths of Glory, The Shining, Dr. Strangelove, Spartacus, and The Killing. I still have yet to see Eyes Wide Shut, Lolita, Killers Kiss, and Barry Lyndon. The reason why I chose Kubrick is because he is considered by many directors to have a very distinctive in your face, hypnotic, surreal, and beautiful style of film-making.

Many of the stylized traits in his movies include but are not limited to:
- Slow and elongated shots.
- Shots are often symmetrical and picturesque.
- A 2001: A Space Odyssey and Killers Kiss there was a scene of odd colorful imagery and void.
- Booming classical music.
- When a group of people are having a conversation, the shot has a cool and distant feel.
- Beautiful and expansive sets with excellent mood lighting and bright colors.
- The lighting and look in each of his movies differs from the other, for example in A Clockwork Orange there are so many bright contrasting colors along with sexual shapes and imagery often taking place in futuristic looking, artificially lit locations. Whereas in The Shining the hotel in the movie is filled with different rug and wall patterns having little artificial light and only being lit by natural light coming through windows.
- In some of Stanley's films like Fullmetal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange the violence is blatantly put on screen for the audience to experience. Its not necessarily that he is celebrating it, he's simply telling an honest perspective of how sick this world can be.
- Stanley often had sexual imagery or a sense of sexual risqué in his films. In A Clockwork Orange one of the reasons why it was so controversial because of the few rape scenes it showed and raised several questions on what was ok to even show onscreen in a theatre. In Lolita the plot involved a romantic relationship between a man and a considerably younger girl. Fullmetal Jacket showed the graphic nature of the Vietnam war of prostitutes selling themselves to the soldiers. In Eyes Wide Shut it showed several scenes of what looked like people dressed up in masquerades and performing rituals of sex.
- In all of Stanley's career each and every one of his movies was so different from the other ranging from the genres of science fiction, political satire, noir, historical movies, horror, and black comedies.

Overall, Stanley Kubrick was a man who wanted to explore the outer limits of society, censorship, and the universe and he chose to do it through the medium of cinema.

2046 movie review

      Directed by Wong Kar-Wai, Starring Tony Leung, Gong Li, Faye Wong, and Zhang Ziyi. Ive been really meaning to see this film for years and years upon its release because at the time it came out back in 2004, there was really no possible way I could see it because of its R rating for some explicit sex. Its a nice feeling you have when you actually can view something you weren't allowed to do at one point of your life.... adds a whole mystique... anyways thats besides the point. Taking place in the 1960s, the movie focuses on the life of a man which I thought was a hustler and tells the many relationships he's had with many of the women he's come by throughout the decade. Some ending with blood, and some ending with tears. He lives in an apartment complex next to the room his past lover lived in, no. 2046, because he was going to move in with her at some point before she was stabbed to death by a jealous ex-boyfriend.  He then meets other women, having glamorous relationships with in the same apartment number. He is  writing a science fictional story about a japanese man boarding a train with a butler and female androids which the man falls in love with, but it is very uncertain where this train will take him. This story he says is a reflection of his life and contrasts the characters with people whom he has met. The movie is told through a series of stories and is spoken in mandarin and japanese which can be hard to track at times.

     Overall I'd rank this movie as the best romance film of all time. Its a highly ambitious film that takes you through the past and future. The romance in this movie is absolutely appealing. There is also a lot of romantic depth and symbolism. The visuals are absolutely stunning both in the science fictional scenes and the scenes in the 1960s. The music builds a very dramatic atmosphere which is used very well throughout the film. The characters were very distinguished and complex. The camera also has a panavision effect to it which I loved. Ive heard that the film won several awards when it was released in the Cannes film festival. This film reminds me of a time in my life when I made stories about science fictional worlds and parallel realities. I would've really enjoyed it if I saw it back when it was released, but oh well! This movie gets a rating of: A.

The best actor of all time....

   Its really come to my attention that the crazy people in our society are often the best ones. This is a man I can really relate to in my life because of his astounding approach to the art of acting. He left the world of broadway in 1949 after years of being in badly reviewed plays to pursue a career of acting on the screen. He got a lot of bad criticism from theatre directors because they feel he wasted his talent when he wanted to pursue a different career. Little did they know, it was the beginning of something big... His approach to acting changed the way we see film acting forever, and even actors today don't match up to the standards he introduced. He was completely devoid of melodrama and acted with REAL to life emotions that you can feel through the film prints. He has such a presence in each of the scenes he is in. This was also a man who completely ignored public opinion and journalists to pursue something he loved to do. That is what I consider a TRUE actor.

Narrative Project Explanation: Osiris the Killer

     This is a quick explanation of what my narrative project will be, because I will already figure that many of you will be lost upon the first viewing. This is a narrative/teaser for my final project. This is sorta a prologue to the story so its a work in progress at this stage.

   This movie I've invisioned supposed to be very stylized and like nothing you have seen before or can really compare it to. My take on it is that its A Clockwork Orange/ Jason Bourne / Matrix / Drive / 2001: A Space Odyssey / Kill Bill all put into one motion picture. The first thing that will catch your eye in this movie is the markings on the protagonists face. I figured that it would be a bit style over substance at first but why he has them is later explained in the movie. Just the prologue itself will raise many questions that will later be answered. But anyways this is what pretty much sums up the beginning of this mans story.

  He rises from his bed, disturbed and confused. In a hypnotic induced state. Trying to figure out where he is and what brought him there. He goes into his restroom to see his face that appears to have the distinctive markings and starts to recognize the unique face he has which he will never forget. He soon finds a gun on his counter that leaves him surprised but then realizes what he is which is a hired killer. This starts to raise the question of whether he has a choice or not to kill because he's been brainwashed. He puts on his clothes that have been "provided" to him and states that many people wear clothes to hide the core of who they really are and says that he wears them for business. He has an employer whom he's never met before but is somehow brainwashed by this big figure, playing a big significance in what this hired killer does on a daily basis. The only thing that compels him to exist is to kill, which then brings up the question if is this the way to create a super soldier to embark on dangerous missions. The Killer is simply given a name, a face, and a location and he does what he does best. The final movie however is him questioning whether he should continue killing and to find out who this employer really is....

Argo (2012)

"Argo" directed by Ben Affleck, starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman.
Argo is a true story which reflects true life events dating back to 1979 dealing with a violent revolution in Iran and how the CIA got involved with the escape of 6 American diplomats. This was a time when America had close ties with Iranian dictator Reza Pahlavi and did business by taking control of the oil field thus giving him all the profit with little else going to the people. The opening scenes show a storm of protesters swarming an American embassy as the diplomats are taking shelter along with arming themselves. Six of the diplomats escape and find exile in the Canadian embassy. It is up to the CIA and Tony Mendez (Affleck) to ensure a safe getaway for these American diplomats. None of them have a plausible idea in how to get them back home until Mendez decides to hire a film crew to produce a fake movie titled "Argo" and film it on location in Iran where the ambassadors are to rescue them. He goes to Iran with the identity of a Canadian film producer to rescue these people in hiding in a time of hatred towards the Americans.

   This was a very well executed film. I thought that this was going to be a somewhat mediocre film because alot CIA movies I find are very cold, dull, unentertaining, and plain hard to get (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy...). This movie manages to get to the point and be an entertaining thrill ride of suspense. This movie often displays warm moments of comic relief from Arkin's and Goodman's characters. This manages to be an unusual yet intriguing story. You really feel for what these American diplomats have to go through yet you don't know which side to root for because it is a very distressing political situation they are in. The Americans are power hungry when the Iranians are violent and restless. This movie often reflects on events that still happen today with political unrest in the middle east. Which brings up a good message that war never changes and it is often cyclical in some parts of the world. This film had an old panavision look to it which I loved and remained loyal to the style of the 1970s. There were very intense moments of suspense that stressed me and the people next to me out in the theatre. Ben Affleck picked a very good lead character to play as and will most likely get a nomination. In fact this movie might get a nomination. On the down side, like all political thrillers it is a bit hard to understand at times and Ben made the ending a tad schlocky and hollywood but I didn't care about that because the movie held my interest. This gets a grade of: B+.

Mazzy Star "Fade into You"

  This is a song done back in the 90s by an independent group named Mazzy Star. This video has such an effect in its visuals and music that it feels you are taken to a different time of calm and happiness. Kinda has a hippie vibe to it but this song is classic and is still played on 102.1 every so often. Each time I hear this in the car especially late at night I feel a sensation of indescribable inner peace and calmness. Amazing how songs can bring emotions as well as memories because I started getting into this song at the beginning of last summer and that was a time in my life where I had everything to look forward to and I had the whole summer not expecting what was going to happen but to enjoy it anyways. Love that feeling.

End of Watch (2012)

   End of Watch starring Jake Gyllenhal, Michael Pena, and Anna Kendrick. Directed by David Ayer. Takes place in the down and dirty, gang ridden streets of Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhal plays officer Brian Taylor who decides to record on an HD handheld and clip-on body camera all that he encounters throughout his daily job with his officer partner Mike Zavala played by Michael J. Pena. This movie shows the dangerous reality of being a cop, although if I were to ask a real cop about this movie he would most likely differ. This movie captures the rivalry of mexican and african american gangs throughout the city often showing uncomfortable scenes of an eyewitness video camera point on what they were going to do before killing someone. Officer Brian and Mike encounter a mexican cartel member unexpectedly and decide to track down the whereabouts of this cartel. They come to a realization how twisted these people can be by observing the aftermath of grizzly murders and come across a gang members house that involved a graphic scene showing the atrocious reality of trafficking illegal immigrants. As they further tug on the string the cartel members bite back at these two cops personally and it is up to them if they want to live or die.  

 Overall this movie was like a punch of emotional adrenaline to the heart. The atmosphere of this movie is so real that it made me feel a bit uncomfortable at times yet it had a really human side by showing what these characters were like which were just normal everyday people with friends and family throughout the community. It was interesting observing the relationship between the two leads, they certainly had a chemistry that very few actors in movies can achieve together. I don't even know if this is considered a movie because it feels very much like reality, showing both the happiness and pain we share with each other. There was also a love scene between Anna Kendrick and Jake Gyllenhal that featured the song "Fade into you" by Mazzy Star which was so passionate and took me to another world for a second because my recognition of the song makes me think of happier times. Its nice to hear a song in a movie that credits your sense of taste in music.  Although this movie was seemingly realistic, it seemed like at times it stretched the truth. For example each and every day it seemed they were going out to die like an action movie which I doubt is like reality (mall cops for example.). Also there were shooting scenes that seemed a tad too hollywood to me. Overall this was a very emotional with few flaws and gets a final grade of B+.

25th Annual Videofest

   Last Saturday, I went to check out what was going on at the videofest to see what kind of shorts they were going to show having no idea what I was going to see. The first and only thing I saw were the animated shorts ranging from artistic experimentation to a charming study of human appearances. The shorts that really stood were "flawed", "puberty in a minute", and a French short film that I can't find the title to. "Flawed" was about acceptance of your appearance and ultimately yourself, it was animated charmingly like a children's watercolor painting covering the life of a couple in Canada where the woman is in a relationship with a plastic surgeon but wonders if he is actually the kind of person to fix peoples "flaws" for what makes them unique, or make these people's lives change for the better. "Puberty in a minute" was probably the most uncomfortable to watch but that is why I liked it. It was an animation of a completely nude guy going through several phases which include many "bodily" functions and experimentation with sex, drugs, and rock'n roll. Painted quite an honest picture of a teenage guy's main focus in life which lies somewhere in his pants. The french film was the most interesting yet disturbing. It was animated like Tim Burton's Nightmare before christmas or Corpse Bride. About a woman with a half-scarred face living secluded in a home with a watch dog out front so she can't escape and a man who comes home to sexually take advantage of her. Until one day when he brings another woman home to live with them whom he has the same intentions for except these two women plot to kill him. The women end up succeeding and live together as lovers. I had a short but interesting experience at the videofest and I definitely look forward to seeing more artists next year.

Raging Bull montage scene

   This scene is taken from the movie Raging Bull made back in 1980 by director Martin Scorsese. This film is probably one of the best works he has done. The movie shows the grittiness and dirtiness of what life was like in the Bronx for boxer Jake Lamotta, to live as a champion yet live with complete distrust of everything and everyone. The film is shot in black and white mostly giving it a very genuine feeling of a movie made in the 40s except it can be violent as hell sometimes. This sequence really stands out in the whole movie to me because it is shot with a vintage looking camera which gives the scene a sense of pure nostalgia as we see Lamotta's years with his wife and brother pass by. This scene really touches me and is probably one of the most touching scene's I've ever seen in a movie, escaping from this world to live somewhere in a different time while watching these people live out their lives.

Gus Gus "Over"

    A music video from the icelandic music group Gus Gus. This video is a perfect example of how artistically oriented a music video can look and try to make a point or a reference to something. The make-up and fashion I think is quite reminiscent of the 80s and 90s or sci- fi films like Bladerunner, or Star Wars. The woman's makeup in the video kinda reminds me of Bjork in the 90s, or if your a fanboy, the Haradrim from Lord of the Rings. The purplish shadows and beam effects in this video are stunning and give a slick yet beautiful sci-fi atmosphere to the whole video. Videos like this inspire me to create things that are out of the norm and forward thinking.

Looper (2012)

    Looper (2012) Starring Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels, introducing Pierce Gagnon. A run-down future taking place in 2044, Joe (Joseph), is a hired gun called a looper. Loopers are individuals who are apart of an posse or group with a leader from the future (Jeff Daniels) giving them silver and riches for each man they kill who has been teleported back to the past. By the year 2044 time travel hasn't been invented yet but the reason for killing these men is to dispose of their body because in the future it is almost impossible to hide the victim (better explained in the movie). Eventually Joe comes across almost killing his future self, but fails in an attempt in doing so letting his old self escape (Bruce Willis). Old Joe has lived a life of his own, being a looper from the future (again better explained in the film). They both have their own reasons how they want to live out their own life which causes the ultimate conflict in this story. Young Joe must kill his future self in order to stop chaotic events from happening, and Old Joe.... well I don't want to spoil his reason but you have to see the movie for yourself...

  Overall this movie is bound to be a classic sci-fi film. Has the same kind of twisted plot structure like Inception, except even better! The cinematography is beautiful and flashy, showing a very unique yet realistic future which has some scary similarities to which how ours can turn out to be. I was sitting up front and noticed a bit of a film grain effect which I liked, although I don't know if that was intended or not. This film will set the bar for future sci-fi films with intricate plots, which will be very hard to beat. There was almost nothing wrong with this movie except the plot seemed a bit confusing at times which is bound for people to have repeat viewings. The trailer gave very little away to such an intricate and well structured story. This movie is intricate, emotional, mind-bending, suspenseful, and has quite a heart. This is probably the best wide-release movie I've seen this year and gets a grade: A.

 

Dredd 3D (2012) Movie Review.

    Dredd (2012), Directed by Pete Travis, starring Karl Urban and Olivia Thirlby co-starring Lena Headey and Wood Harris. Takes place in an overrun dystopian society full of gangs and chaos in an irradiated wasteland supposively set in America. But appointed cops known as judges are the established law and order of the city, the notorious Dredd being one of them. It is a violent metropolis with large buildings made up entirely of slums ruled by different gangs, but the drug lord known as Ma-Ma eventually takes over all 200 floors, eliminating rival gangs and anyone who interferes. She and her gang introduce a drug on the streets called Slo-mo which tricks the mind into thinking that everything being processed in moving at 1% speed which ties in perfectly with the slo-mo effects making it an actual logical use  throughout the movie. It is up do Dredd and his female rookie accomplice Judge Cassandra Anderson to rid the slums of this drug lord and to bring justice to the chaos. 

  Overall a very impressive film, displaying the latest visual effects (not special effects). This movie introduces something quite new to the action genre with its highly stylized slo-mo capture going where no movie has gone before. It actually shows in great detail the bullets ripping through human flesh as if they were ballistic gels, quite impressive to watch! The colors and stylization used in this movie were fresh and vibrant. This film will set the bar for future movies to come. On the down side the movie felt like it dragged a bit during the middle of the movie with certain plot points that seemed unbuyable, for example Olivia Thirlby's character was a mutant that can read minds yet she choses to be deployed as a judge. For about 30 minutes of the movie they bring along this cliche'd black thug that was quite irritating at times and felt unneeded, they should've just killed him off once they got him. The visual effects although great sorta distanced me from feeling for these characters and seemed like a movie that is all explosion yet no exposition. Other than that the villain in the movie played by Lena Headey was very well played, not being too cartoony yet having quite an intimidating presence on-screen. This movie also does contain some very surprising twists that made its flaws completely forgivable, straying away from the generic good cop, bad thug, shoot 'em up plot. Overall score: B+ 

"Beyond the Black Rainbow" Movie Review

     Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010), Directed by Panos Cosmatos, starring Eva Allen and Michael Rogers. Set in 1983, A lovely  girl with ESP,  Llana is held captive in a psychedelic underground drug manufacturing institute called Arboria. Run by Mercurio Arboria and the hypnotically evil Doctor Barry Nyle. Barry Nyle played very well by Michael Rogers interrogates her throughout the beginning of the film about her symptoms of the drugs she has been injected with and her psyche. He is probably one of the creepiest characters you will see onscreen, with his blue piercing eyes, cold stare, and slow hypnotic voice. In the film the Llana character has no dialogue which gives her character a charming yet brooding mystique, her emotions being conveyed only through her engaging eyes onscreen from time to time. Her goal is to escape from the facility without being sedated, or in a few cases killed. As the film draws on it further explains why she is held captive there and there is a really great scene which is told from Nyle's perspective of a trippy flashback he had in the 1960s involving him taking LSD that explains who the characters really are. The film itself artistically presents a lot of symbolism that we find in today's society. So if your the type of person who gets impatient with art house movies and likes to see explosions every five seconds, you probably won't understand this film. Although this film is VERY visually stylized it does have a very interesting plot that will leave you thinking for days to come.

   The role that cinematography plays in the movie is very great and the most daring than any movie I have seen this year. It is said by the cinematographer Norm Li of the film that it was filmed with a 35mm panavision camera which I find very raw and loyal to the earlier genre that the film portrays. This film presents imagery that is very reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, THX 1138, A Clockwork Orange, The man who fell to Earth, and many other films of the 70s and 80s. This film is the kind that will be still talked about 20 years from now and will most likely get a cult following. Grade: A.