"What makes you think we're getting diplomas?"

High School Musical: Senior Year

2008; USA; 112 min.

Director: Kenny Ortega

Screenplay: Peter Barsocchini

Music: Various Artists

Cast:

Troy Bolton - Zac Efron

Gabriella Montez - Vanessa Anne Hudgens

Sharpay Evans - Ashley Tisdale

Ryan Evans - Lucas Grabeel

Chad Danforth - Corbin Bleu

Taylor McKessie - Monique Colman

Let the record show that I was dragged to High School Musical 3. While I have seen the other HSMs (hey, I babysit - I need to stay in the loop!), this was the first one that I actually paid to sit through. The theater dynamic consisted of a bunch of elementary to middle school year old children, mostly girls. There were the few older high school groups, disgruntled brothers, and parents. It was amusing to watch the response of the crowd to the movie. In one scene, Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) is shown without his shirt on. As soon as he took his shirt off, a chorus of screams erupted from the mouths of the younger girls. I found this absolutely hilarious! The shrieks when Troy and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) shared an innocent G-rated kiss was another funny theater moment. So, about the film - it actually exceeded my low expectations. While the plot was corny at times and predictable, some of the scenes were actually good and some of the songs were quite enjoyable. I was surprised to find that a couple of scenes contained cinematic elements! What I did like a lot about the movie is that it was about senior year. The film was very sentimental for me because of that, and I did like "High School Musical 3," even though I'm a bit ashamed to admit it! :-) 

iRate: 3.5/5 diplomas

Trailer: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/highschoolmusical3/

"Well this is it. We're gonna die today. I've never even kissed anyone before, have you?"

Elephant
2003; USA; 81 min.

Director: Gus Van Sant
Screenplay: Gus Van Sant
Music: Felix Andrew (sound mixer)

Cast:
Alex - Alex Frost
Eric - Eric Deulen
John McFarland - John Robinson
Elias - Elias McConnell
Jordan - Jordan Taylor
Carrie - Carrie Finklea
Nicole - Nicole George
Brittany - Brittany Mountain
Acadia - Alicia Miles
Kristen Hicks - Michelle
Benny - Bennie Dixon
Nathan - Nathan Tyson

*SPOILER ALERT: I'm definitely going to spoil some of the plot in my post, so just be warned...
Let me clear something up before I start blogging: When I say that I love this movie, I mean the way in which it is shot (no pun intended, honestly!). I'm not some sadistic person who is amused by school violence. On the contrary, the topic is always something that I find extremely upsetting. That being said, I absolutely loved "Elephant." I thought that the personalities of the characters were real, and not overexaggerated and stereotyped. The cinematography was stunning. The way that Van Sant follows around the students gives you a direct view of their perspective - literally! I thought that the imagery with the clouds in both the establishing and final shots was brilliant. The non-linear structure of the film was extremely interesting and made the viewer think. The way that the stories connect and how the same moment is re-played is probably one of them most innovative ideas I've seen in film. The film suggests that everyone is connected, yet at the same time, disconnected. While these stories are interwoven, everyone is quite absorbed in their own lives. It's even apparent when the film around the character you are following is blurred - the characters seem to be oblivious to others' problems. That's where the title of the film comes in.

One of my favorite books, The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch, describes the "elephant in the room" concept. While he was not the first to coin the well-known idea, it was in Pausch's book that I heard of it. Pausch, a late professor at Carnegie Mellon, refers to his pancreatic cancer as the "elephant in the room." When he gave his "last lecture" at Carnegie Mellon, he gave out stuffed animals at the end, one of them being an elephant. Pausch started his lecture by talking about the "elephant" and that his cancer was not going to hold him back. The "elephant in the room" is something that is so obvious, but people blatantly ignore. I think that "Elephant" is a thoughtful, intelligent title for this film. The isolation that both Alex (Alex Frost) and Eric (Eric Deulen) face is extremely obvious from the second time we see them in the film, when one of the boys is being pelted with spitballs during class. Alex and Eric aren't the only "elephants." The whole idea of school shooting is an "elephant" in our society. People don't want to think about it, because they know that it won't personally affect them. Unfortunately and sadly, it has happened (i.e. the horrific events at Columbine). Many people don't deal with this "elephant," and ignore it completely.

With my new "film eyes," I began to watch "Elephant" completely determined to spot hidden film elements. Much of what I wrote down is probably over-analysis, but I feel compelled to share my ideas (and some little details that I have noticed in the film) on my blog, which people may or may not read...

- The name of the high school is Watt High School. Could Watt possibly relate to the unit of power, watts? The plot is ultimately, when the boys are faced with the principal, a fight against power.

- Most of the visual imagery is composed of lines and linear objects.

- At one point in the film, there is a green carpet. In the beginning of the film, the sky is green. Do these opposing spaces mean that the world has literally turned "upside down"?

- I noticed that when Elias (Elias McConnell) is taking photos, John (John Robinson) taps his hip. I originally thought that this forshadowed John being shot in the hip. I was wrong.

- The lamp post top in the establishing shot is shaped in a backwards "E," while the light almost looks like an "A." Does this have any relation to Eric and Alex?

- When Nathan (Nathan Tyson) is moving across the field, he steps over many lines. He goes between the people playing frisbee and the field line. My original thought was that Nathan was the killer because he was crossing these boundaries. I was wrong.

- In one scene, Michelle's tag is sticking out of her sweater. Why? Is she just unkempt like that? Is it intentional?

- The director alludes to the Nazi's by showing a segment of what Alex and Eric are watching on TV.

- The chemical developing container that Elias flips up and down sounds like a gun. I thought he was the killer. I was wrong.

- The film uses pathetic fallacy when it depicts the thunderstorm and darkening clouds before the shooting.

- One of the blonde girls in the "popular trio" is cut out of one of the frames while she is talking. Does this mean she will be "out of the picture" and shot later? My foreshadowing was correct, but I think it is merely coincidence.

- One of the brunette girls says, "I'm not gonna' kill you." I found this line interesting because I thought it may foreshadow the fact that someone else might kill her [the girl she is talking to]. I was correct, however, I don't know if this was a real moment of foreshadowing.

- The blonde boy (I'm not sure if it was Alex or Eric; I'm still unsure about who's who.) is lying in his bed with his hands crossed over his head in an "x" shape. I thought that this might foreshadow him being handcuffed and potentially arrested. I was wrong. Van Sant doesn't offer any consequences for the boys' actions.

- Allusion to Macbeth: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen." - Alex

- Why does Michelle's outfit match her boss' at the library the day that she is shot?

- Does the Gay Straight Alliance meeting scene forshadow the kiss that Alex and Eric share in the shower scene?

- Film Goof: When we first see the boys (Alex and Eric) in their camo gear, the weather outside is cloudy, but the ground is dry. When we see the boys later on during the re-play of the same scene from their perspective (as opposed to John's earlier) the ground is wet.

That concludes my intense film moments analysis. I know most of it is probably a stretch, but who knows? Maybe all of my ideas will pay off and I'll get a "Baby Daz" for originality! ;-)

The plot reminded me exactly of the novel, Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult. Picoult is one of my favorite authors, and usually tells her stories from the point of view of numerous characters. Picoult jumps back and forth between characters by having each chapter be written by a different character. This is almost identical to the intertitles that we see in "Elephant." Nineteen Minutes has the same non-linear structure as "Elephant," and is also pertaining to a school shooting. Nineteen Minutes was published in 2008, while "Elephant" was released in 2003. Suspicious... I almost want to e-mail Picoult to see if she has seen "Elephant." The two works bear an uncanny resemblance.

From the beginning of the film on, I feel like Van Sant wants you to think that each new character is the killer. First, when we're introduced to John, I though he was definitely the killer. His family life, including his drunk dad, supported my thoughts. Then, I thought that it was Nathan, the "jock," because (SPOILER ALERT FOR NINETEEN MINUTES) in Picoult's novel, it's that same character type who does the shooting. The plot in Nineteen Minutes also suggests that Carrie could be the killer. When we meet Michelle, I was definite that it was her. There was obviously something going on with her (like when she wouldn't wear shorts in gym). I thought she probably had a body image issue, like anorexia or bulimia. Also, Michelle was a loner. Elias also seemed like he could be the killer. However, after all of the build-up, it's obvious that Alex and Eric are the killers when you meet them. The idea of two boys executing the premeditated killing spree is congruous with the events that occured at Columbine High School.

When most people were criticizing "Elephant" in my class, their main complaint was the slow pace of the film. "Too much walking," was a common complaint. I feel that the pace was appropriate for it's purpose. As a favorite teacher of mine once said, "Form Follows Function!" The slow pace really made you feel that you were a part of the boring school day. You could truly feel like you were there, which made the movie quite horrifying. The slow pace also allows for the plot to build. I think that the director wants to try and build a relationship between the viewers and each of the characters so that the ending and eventual death of the characters is that much more horrific and personal. Van Sant doesn't really suggest motivations for the killers. The director does offer the following as ideas: Nazi following, violent video games, bullying, and unsupervision.

I know this is an extremely long entry, but I definitely had a lot to say about probably the shortest full-length film we've watched in class. If you've made it this far in reading, feel free to comment... my blog is like Michelle, very lonely. (Just kidding... but honestly, you've already taken the time to read my crazy ideas, so why not?!) As I stated in the beginning of this entry, I loved this film, and think that it appropriately deals with an upsetting, horrific subject matter. I would warn viewers before they watch the film that the content is disturbing and some of the language is vulgar; but if you can get past that, Van Sant's genius camerawork triumphs and shines in this film.

iRate: 5/5 perspectives
Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1000538393/

It's my birthday...

and I'll post if I want to.
:-)

"There's this part of Judaism that I like. Tikun Alum. It said that the world is broken into pieces and everyone has to find it."

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
2008; USA; 90 min.

Director: Peter Sollett
Screenplay: Lorene Scafaria, Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
Music: Mark Mothersbaugh

Cast:
Nick - Michael Cera
Norah - Kat Dennings
Thom - Aaron Yoo
Dev - Rafi Gavron
Caroline - Ari Graynor
Tris - Alexis Dziena
Beefy Guy (Lethario) - Jonathan B. Wright

I'm not usually a big fan of going to the movie theater (gasp, I know). I happen to love just watching a DVD in the comfort of my own home. At home, there's no need to fret over people talking loudly, or if you're talking too loudly. There's no fee for the beverages, no fee for entrance (I was surprised when my ticket was over ten dollars - the last time I went it was nine and change... I feel old!). There are no previews (although I must admit, I do like when they have the rebus-style word games before the movie - yes, I am a bit of a dork like that...) and you can alway re-watch scenes and catch things that you might have missed. However, I ended up spontaneously going to see "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" with my friends. ("Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" is a film based on a young adult novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan that I wanted to read, but never got around to reading!)

I've realized that there's a power to movie theaters. Let me explain: I guess tonight renewed my feelings about going to see a movie in the theater. My friends picked seats all the way in the back, which is not my usual movie seating preference. What I loved about the seats, though, was that you could see the sides of the theater when you watched the film. Surprisingly, the walls added to the movie experience. The power of a theater is due to strength in numbers. Scenes that aren't typically humorous become hilarious in the company of others. I think after my experience seeing "Nick and Norah's" I'll definitely be frequenting the movie theater more often (but don't get me wrong, I'm still a DVD girl at heart!). Another thing that I like about theaters is the projector. As peculiar as that may sound, I like turning around sometimes and looking at the image projecting through the little glass window, with particles of dust floating in the light's path. I just find something interesting about that (I'm wondering if that's just me?). In the beginning of AoF, we took a survey about film, with one of the questions regarding if we had seen a film alone. That's something that I'd be interested in doing, actually. Maybe I'll challenge myself to do so before AoF ends...

So enough of my theater epiphany and back to the film! I can't tell you much about the beginning (we came in 20 min. late... that's the price you pay for spontaneity, I guess!). However, as the story of Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) developed, I was able to catch onto the plot. The story is about Nick, who has just dealt with a break-up with Tris (Alexis Dziena), and is part of a band, "The Jerk Offs." Nick is trying to get Tris back by sending her mix CDs; however, Tris just throws them away. Norah, Tris' "best friend" listens to the mix tapes and loves them. When Norah and her friend Caroline (Ari Graynor) are at a club one night, the all gay band (except for Nick), "The Jerk Offs," happens to be playing. When Nick is playing his guitar, it's love at first sight for Norah. Then, Tris shows up with her new boyfriend; yet, Norah doesn't want Tris to think that she is without a date. Norah then asks Nick to pretend to be her boyfriend and kisses him. When Tris finally decides that she and Nick are over, Norah and Nick start to develop a relationship. However, when Tris sees Norah and Nick getting closer, she immediately wants Nick back. The story unfolds with a quest for a missing friend and for Nick and Norah's favorite band, "Where's Fluffy".

Kat Dennings delivered a performance very similar to that of Ellen Page in "Juno" (amazing movie - if you haven't seen it, it's a must!). Her character, Norah, possesses the same sharp, sarcastic wit that Juno has. What I loved about the movie is that the terminology and attitude of it was true to what teenagers are really like. "Nick and Norah" wasn't your stereotypical teen movie with stereotypical high school types (i.e. the jock, the beauty queen, the geeks, etc.). Stereotypical high school movies often overexaggerate what high school is really like, but "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" was right on target. The film was a sweet romantic comedy (I feel like I've used that same expression on half of my blog posts, but oh well!) and I really liked it. The scenery and NYC backdrop was great! The soundtrack was also quite impressive, and my friend (who is somewhat of a music guru) agreed as well (which is a high sign of praise). I would definitely recommend "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" as a light-hearted fun teenage film.

iRate: 4/5 pieces of gum
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-btDYY-uLeY

"Strength Through Unity, Unity Through Faith!"

V For Vendetta

2005; USA; 132 min.

Director: James McTeigue

Screenplay: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski, David Lloyd

Music: Dario Marianelli

Cast:
Evey Hammond - Natalie Portman

V - Hugo Weaving

Inspector Finch - Stephen Rea

Gordon Deitrich - Stephen Fry

Adam Sutler - John Hurt

Creedy - Tim Pigott-Smith

"Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot... But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes and I know, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But who was he really? What was he like? We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught, he can be killed and forgotten, but 400 years later, an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed first hand the power of ideas, I've seen people kill in the name of them, and die defending them... but you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it, or hold it... ideas do not bleed, they do not feel pain, they do not love... And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man... A man that made me remember the Fifth of November. A man that I will never forget."

"V For Vendetta" is a simply amazing film! The acting was fabulous, the writing was great, and the plot was quite intriguing! I had never seen Natalie Portman in a movie before - she did an amazing job of creating the character of Evey Hammond. V (Hugo Weaving) was another character who was beautifully developed. When watching the movie, V's charismatic personality captivated the audience, yet at the same time, the audience has to question V's intentions. Is V a "freedom fighter" or just a villain with vendetta (hence, the title)? At first, during the film, I felt afraid and uncomfortable when the scenes in the film dealt with V, as did Evey. Then, as the film progressed, I began to really like V and his ideas. The writing in the film is outstanding! The quote above ("Remember, Remember...") was such a catchy tagline for the film. Another part of the writing that I loved was V's "V" vignette:

"Voila! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no more veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."

To be able to write an excerpt such as the one above is amazing. I can't even fathom trying to write something as coherent and creative as that passage! The plot of the film was one that I found extremely interesting. While the same totalitarian concept has been discussed in other works (such as George Orwell's 1984), I still found the topic to be fresh and new. The whole concept of government deception is something that I took away with me from the film. Are we being tricked by leaders like the Chancellor tricked the society in the movie? Another interesting concept that the movie brought up was, "Can violence be used for good?" such as V supposedly used it for when dealing with Evey's fear. Despite what V believes, I think that violence is violence and cannot be used for good.

While watching the film, I came across a couple of interesting production elements. I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into the film, or if my thinking is too abstract, but I've listed what I noticed below:

1. Repetition of the "V" shape
- government packaging boxes (spiral, "V" shape)
- fireworks
- elevator button
- v-neck shirt (worn by Evey)
- way the flags are crossed (in the senior center)
- corner angle of the desk at the BTN Office
- hands of a clock
- v-neck dress
- v-neck hoodie
- Roman numeral "V" on the room, signifying the number five

2. Foreshadowing

- Evey under the bed as a child forshadows Evey under the bed as an adult

3. EVEy?

- One of my thoughts is that Evey is possibly a symbol of Eve, as in Adam and Eve. In a way, Evey and V are the only ones who are aware. They're the only ones who are aware of the government and they way in which it deceives people. Could this truly be an allusion to Adam and Eve?

4. Evey's Connection to V

- Evey's name has the letter "v" in it, which I believe represents how connected V is to Evey. V is literally a part of Evey. At the end, his thinking becomes a part of how Evey thinks, which I believe is what prompts Evey (SPOILER ALERT) to follow through with V's plan to blow up Parliament.

The film was great overall. There are still some aspects of the plot that are a bit foggy, so I'd like to watch the film again. This film is definitely one that you could watch over and over again. Here's a big shout-out to blogger Banama (http://moofahsah.blogspot.com) for the awesome film suggestion! I would definitely recommend this to anyone, and I plan on viewing it again very soon!

iRate: 4.8/5 Guy Fawkes masks

Trailer: http://vforvendetta.warnerbros.com/trailer.html

"It wasn't logic, it was love."

Sex and the City

2008; USA; 148 min. 

Director: Michael Patrick King

Screenplay: Michael Patrick King, Candace Bushnell, Darren Star

Music: Aaron Zigman

Cast:

Carrie Bradshaw - Sarah Jessica Parker

Samantha Jones - Kim Cattrall

Charlotte York - Kristin Davis

Miranda Hobbes - Cynthia Nixon

John James 'Mr. Big' Preston - Chris Noth

Enid Frick - Candice Bergen

Louise - Jennifer Hudson

Steve Brady - David Eigenberg

Harry Goldenblatt - Evan Handler

Jerry 'Smith' Jerrod - Jason Lewis

Although I have never seen the hit TV show, "Sex and the City," I was interested in checking out the movie when it came out on DVD. Based on the HBO TV series, "Sex and the City: The Movie," proved to be a fun romantic comedy. The plot follows the fabulous four friends, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), as they deal with life's issues. Carrie Bradshaw, a 40 year old writer is finally engaged to the man of her dreams, 'Big' (Chris Noth), while Miranda is dealing with marital issues. Charlotte has a successful marriage with an adopted daughter, Lily, while Samantha refuses to commit to a man and is obsessed with having sexual relationships with men. As Carrie's life begins to change, the women jump to her side and prove that friendship is a powerful bond. The love and caring between the women is a very heartwarming part of the film.

The plot deals with forgiveness, and what constitutes the ability to forgive. Both Carrie and Miranda are faced with this issue. Love is another major theme in the movie as well. While some characters seek out love, such as Carrie, others don't seem fixated on the issue, for example, Samantha. I particularly enjoyed the fashions that the women wore in the movies. The fashions play a huge part in painting this picture of rich New York women living in the lap of luxury. The scenery of NYC presented a great background for the film. In relation to the fashion, I happened to absolutely love the walk-in closet that Carrie received as an engagement present from big. I didn't think a movie like this could have elements of classic film in it, but when I was researching the film, I encountered an element of foreshadowing that I had missed. The foreshadowing incident takes place when Lily colors in Cinderella's shoe blue in her coloring book, which relates to Carrie later on. About the film - I do want to mention, however, that is is rated R for strong sexual, graphic scenes, as well as language and nudity. Overall, I would highly recommend this film - it was enjoyable, with a great soundtrack and a fun plot!

iRate: 5/5 Louis Vuitton purses

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6U809EdoVI

"You're a good-looking boy: you've got big, broad shoulders. But he's a man. And it takes more than big, broad shoulders to make a man."

High Noon

1952; USA; 85 min.

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Screenplay: Carl Foreman, John W. Cunningham

Music: Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington, Tex Ritter, William Cool White, William Steffe, Julia Ward Howe

Cast:

Marshal Will Kane - Gary Cooper

Mayor Jonas Henderson - Thomas Mitchell

Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell - Lloyd Bridges

Helen Ramirez - Katy Jurado

Amy Fowler Kane - Grace Kelly

Frank Miller - Ian MacDonald

When I typically think of Westerns, I think of a saloon, a shoot-out, tumbleweed, and cowboys. "High Noon" did provide the saloon, shooting, and sheriffs, but also proved that Westerns are more than this preconceived image. "High Noon" is the story of Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper), who has just married Amy Fowler (Grace Kelly), a Quaker woman. When Marshal Kane finds out than Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) is returning to town, he forgoes his honeymoon to protect his town. Kane was once responsible for Miller's arrest, and Miller has a personal vendetta against Kane. As the film elapses in real time ("reel time in real time"), the audience learns of Kane's past relationship with Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado), as well as Amy's past. Finally, when the clock strikes high noon, Kane and Frank Miller face off. The rest of the plot unfold and finally concludes with a shocking ending. I really loved the romantic aspect of the film (obviously). What I found interesting about the film was the political element of it. I hadn't even thought of the fact that it was an influential movie through a political lens. It was only when the class discussed the film that I realized this. While this film did deliver some elements of a stereotypical, quintessential western, it definitely opened my mind to my prior dismissal of westerns. 

iRate: 3.5/5 guns

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2041381145/