Sunday, May 11, 2014

Journal 8 The Godfather



1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The Godfather, is a 1972 film, from young filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. The film went on to win numerous academy awards and was a success with critics and audiences alike. The film is notable for its themes of family and loyalty, as well as the presence of food, and memorable lines.


2) Find a related article and summarize the content.  (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) You can use the library or the internet.  We will discuss suitable references in class.  Cite the article and copy the URL to your journal entry. You should also mention the title of the article and author directly in the answer.  Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.  

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2009/03/godfather200903

In the Vanity Fair article "The Godfather Wars,"  it tells the story behind the making of the film, and how hard it was to put everything in place. It talks about how the producers,the studio, and Puzo and Coppola, couldn't agree on what the final shooting script should look like, as well as a disagreement with the casting choices. It also speaks about the influence on both the films, and the books.


3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.   How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.? 

The article is a perfect example of  how much "too many cooks in the kitchen," approach can ruin a film. I always thought the movie was a complete masterpiece, with the director making all the right choices, but if the producers and the studio had their way, it probably would have been a complete disaster. 



4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of 4 things: the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  I am less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be part of this) than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director.  

In my opinion, when people speak of film making as an art, this is what they mean. You can tell so much time and effort on everyone's part, went into making this. As a result, a film that's widely considered one of the best of all time is created.


CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
    
1(*)
I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2(*)
 If  I reused  any  information  from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly  explain that in  the paper.

3(*)I used  any passages word for  word, I  put quotations around those words, or used  indentation  and  citation within  the  text.
4 (*)
 have not  padded the bibliography.  I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5(*)
 I have  cited in the bibliography  only  the pages I personally read.
6(*)I have used  direct quotations only in  cases where it  could not  be  stated in another way.I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7(*)
 I  did  not so over-­‐use direct quotations that the paper lack interpretation  or  originality.
8(*)
I checked yes on steps 1-­‐7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
  
 Name: ______Marc Ennis___________________________
Date:  ___05/12/2014_________________________
   

Seal, Mark. "The Godfather Wars." VanityFair. VANITY FAIR © CONDÉ NAST DIGITAL, 01 Mar. 2006. Web. 11 May 2014.






Sunday, May 4, 2014

Journal 7 The Graduate

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The Graduate is a 1967 film staring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. It was directed by Mike Nichols, who brought  a new "film school" style to to the movie. The movie was one of its kind to be consider a film for young people, made by young people.


2) Find a related article and summarize the content.  (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) You can use the library or the internet.  We will discuss suitable references in class.  Cite the article and copy the URL to your journal entry. You should also mention the title of the article and author directly in the answer.  Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.  

http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2008/04/dustin-hoffman-the-graduate/

The article "The Unlikely Casting of Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate," it is discussed how throughout the screenwriting, Mike Nichols and Buck Henry envisioned Robert Redford for the role. The actor was brought in for a screen test, but was ultimately deemed to cool and to good looking to be considered a loser in love.  Hoffman goes on to say that his shyness of screen testing with Katheryn Ross, made him extremely nervous an in turn, lead him to flub his lines, only adding to the character and securing Hoffman the part.


3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.   How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?  

I find it funny, because when you think of Hoffman's performance in the film, it really is the part he was born to play. Watching the film, you can see how  he would create a character that he was insert into performances for years. Whenever you see a comedian or an impressionist impersonate Hoffman, they usually mimic his performance for the film.


4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of 4 things: the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  I am less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be part of this) than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director.  

For me, it was incredibly interesting, on how  that I never realized that this was the birth of the youth-dealing-with problem centered films that are common place today. In the nineties you had many "Gen X" films that dealt with this like "Reality bites" or "Before Sunset," and you can see how much of their style leads back to "The Graduate."


CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
    
1(*)
I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2(*)
 If  I reused  any  information  from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly  explain that in  the paper.

3(*)I used  any passages word for  word, I  put quotations around those words, or used  indentation  and  citation within  the  text.
4 (*)
 have not  padded the bibliography.  I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5(*)
 I have  cited in the bibliography  only  the pages I personally read.
6(*)I have used  direct quotations only in  cases where it  could not  be  stated in another way.I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7(*)
 I  did  not so over-­‐use direct quotations that the paper lack interpretation  or  originality.
8(*)
I checked yes on steps 1-­‐7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
  
 Name: ______Marc Ennis___________________________
Date:  ___05/04/2014_________________________
   
Dirks, Tim. "The Unlikely Casting of Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate." AMC Blog.  American Movie

     Classics Company LLC, 10 Apr. 2008 Web. 04 May 2014