tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18904462536918146542024-02-08T09:51:00.678-08:00TypicalBanterBlogging the way through the American Film Institute's top 100 movies, from 1 all the way to 100.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890446253691814654.post-54822276960740133292011-02-04T20:25:00.000-08:002011-02-04T20:25:33.982-08:003D Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUzQswHhm6I/AAAAAAAAAHo/nmJIj4xHHAA/s1600/u2premiere_wideweb__470x3020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUzQswHhm6I/AAAAAAAAAHo/nmJIj4xHHAA/s400/u2premiere_wideweb__470x3020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Recently in the news there has been some debate among directors/media about the viability of 3D in the long-term. While I have <a href="http://typicalbanter.blogspot.com/2010/04/future-of-3d-in-cinema.html">asserted</a> and will continue to assert that 3D only offers a limited amount of commercial success--particularly in the short-term--I think that James Cameron makes some good points on the viability of this new medium in cinema. While I don't necessarily agree that 3D in any way has an effect on cognitive ability development in children like director Cameron would have you believe, I do find it an interesting development in the world of cinema on a very general basis.<br />
<br />
Article: <a href="http://www.boxofficemagazine.com/articles/2011-01-exclusive-james-cameron-on-3d-there-is-a-biological-precedent-which-goes-back-hundreds-of-millions-of-years">here</a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890446253691814654.post-14033194610661314282011-02-03T22:41:00.000-08:002011-02-03T22:47:29.098-08:00The Art of Drew StruzanA kind of side-obsession I have is with movie posters. It's considered a lost art, mourned by a lot of older people in the industry. Artwork by Drew Struzan is of particular interest to me. His autobiographical book put out this year is pretty incredible. You can check out his own website <a href="http://www.drewstruzan.com/illustrated/">here</a>, which features a lot of the work you'll see in his book, which I highly recommend (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Drew-Struzan/dp/1848566190">here</a>). <br />
<br />
Check out some of my favorites from Drew's collection after the break, including these three from his work done on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future_trilogy">Back to the Future Trilogy</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUuZ5Tqyz_I/AAAAAAAAAHM/Xs_KcPuAkfg/s1600/gl0807021549437702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUuZ5Tqyz_I/AAAAAAAAAHM/Xs_KcPuAkfg/s640/gl0807021549437702.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUuc1bzp6iI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/rt3xb2o1Uik/s1600/gl0807021514555261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUuc1bzp6iI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/rt3xb2o1Uik/s400/gl0807021514555261.jpg" width="262" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/">Blade Runner</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUudWx-ryqI/AAAAAAAAAHU/47_gk5AV5kE/s1600/gl0807221731202417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUudWx-ryqI/AAAAAAAAAHU/47_gk5AV5kE/s400/gl0807221731202417.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241527/">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUud1CCw04I/AAAAAAAAAHY/dlgxYf7Qg_c/s1600/gl0809111541325660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUud1CCw04I/AAAAAAAAAHY/dlgxYf7Qg_c/s640/gl0809111541325660.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Trilogy_%28Special_Edition%29">Star Wars Special Edition Trilogy</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUueekuBXDI/AAAAAAAAAHc/CsXhRNmjPnI/s1600/gm0807111610537984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUueekuBXDI/AAAAAAAAAHc/CsXhRNmjPnI/s400/gm0807111610537984.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/">The Thing</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUuexL-nx-I/AAAAAAAAAHg/SSwyxG_OOGk/s1600/gl0807021656096272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUuexL-nx-I/AAAAAAAAAHg/SSwyxG_OOGk/s400/gl0807021656096272.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083944/">Rambo: First Blood</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUufF4SRe_I/AAAAAAAAAHk/i_vBtPxx6Do/s1600/gl0807021717359466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUufF4SRe_I/AAAAAAAAAHk/i_vBtPxx6Do/s400/gl0807021717359466.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411477/">Hellboy II: The Golden Army</a></div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890446253691814654.post-72492988599459185752011-02-02T21:44:00.000-08:002011-02-03T01:44:39.179-08:00New post, New Year (Star Wars IV - A New Hope, Star Wars V - Empire Strikes Back)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUpCVcdJStI/AAAAAAAAADs/JoVMgDU-D6Q/s1600/gary-kurtz-star-wars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUpCVcdJStI/AAAAAAAAADs/JoVMgDU-D6Q/s320/gary-kurtz-star-wars.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I recently ran into a blog article about Gary Kurtz--second unit director of the first two original <i>Star Wars movies</i>. The article talked about how Kurtz made the decision to depart with the franchise after <i>Empire Strikes Back</i>. He spoke to how Lucas changed the entire film after they had agreed to and written more subdued, bitter third script. Lucas decided to indulge the franchise's fans with a third film that ended on a more optimistic note. Interestingly, Kurtz's version had Han Solo dying in the middle of the third film, but he asserts that Lucas and the film's producers overrided him due to the massive income in the franchise's toy sales.<br />
<br />
Article below:<br />
<a href="http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2010/08/12/star-wars-was-born-a-long-time-ago-but-not-all-that-far-far-away-in-1972-filmmakers-george-lucas-and-gary-kurtz-wer/">Did ‘Star Wars’ become a toy story? Producer Gary Kurtz looks back</a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890446253691814654.post-48522051225498932082010-04-02T09:41:00.000-07:002011-02-04T20:26:40.188-08:00The Future of 3D in Cinema<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUpCzw9K_RI/AAAAAAAAADw/eOnDbzYFmLQ/s1600/3d_movie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/TUpCzw9K_RI/AAAAAAAAADw/eOnDbzYFmLQ/s320/3d_movie.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Since<i> Avatar</i> came out and I saw it in 3D, I have been thinking more and more about what it will do to the cinema landscape in the near and distant future. It worries me that films will take 3D and run with it not for the sake of artistically exploring the 3rd dimension but because it's a cash cow and a way to make a ton of money. Some might say in response to this that huge blockbuster films have hardly innovated in any really creative ways in the past few decades and as such the same could be expected from these new "fake-3D" movies that have been recently coming out (in case you're wondering, I'm talking about movies like <i>How to Train Your Dragon </i>and <i>Clash of the Titans</i>, among others).<br />
<br />
I'm glad that a huge blockbuster picture like <i>Avatar</i> was able to appeal to such a wide audience while providing the cinema world with so many new innovations on the 3D front. But I worry that its success has driven major studios like Warner Brothers, who recently mandated that all of their movies be filmed in 3D, to compromise the quality of their films for a gimmicky 3D trick that will land more people in seats at the cinema and force people to pay more money for a ticket. In my mind, if you're going to use 3D, use it in a cool, new way that serves a purpose in the film.<br />
<br />
To this end, there's a great article over on the Enquirer website that should be read if you're interested in this sort of thing: <a href="http://www.esquire.com/the-side/hollywood/new-3d-movies-coming-out-040110">"Are You Ready for 3-D Everything?"</a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890446253691814654.post-841618326637475892010-03-22T12:00:00.000-07:002011-02-03T01:52:56.230-08:00AFI #3 - Casablanca (1942)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/S6e--lNO61I/AAAAAAAAACo/Ce82BVnvnJ4/s1600-h/casablanca-poster" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/S6e--lNO61I/AAAAAAAAACo/Ce82BVnvnJ4/s200/casablanca-poster" width="111" /></a></div>This was my third time seeing <i>Casablanca</i>, and I honestly can say that this film just gets better and better with every viewing. This repeat viewing was different than that of <i>Citizen Kane</i> mostly because I wasn’t necessarily noticing the subtle nuances of the film but because I’ve grown to appreciate the film as a whole more as I’ve become older and better versed in cinema.<br />
<br />
Make no qualms about it; <i>Casablanca</i> is a romantic’s film. Everything from the romanticized setting of Casablanca, Morocco to the doe-eyed Ingrid Bergman makes this film the most idyllic, classic black-and-white romance movie of all time. It almost makes me sick how much of a romantic film this is at times. Whereas with <a href="http://typicalbanter.blogspot.com/2010/03/1-citizen-kane-1941.html"><i>Citizen Kane</i></a> and <a href="http://typicalbanter.blogspot.com/2010/03/2-godfather-1972.html"><i>The Godfather</i></a> I can say that everyone would appreciate and be entertained, I can’t say the same about <i>Casablanca</i>. It certainly appeals to a wide audience, but I’m not sure if it is as relevant today as when it came out—unlike the two films that precede it on the <a href="http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/TOP10.pdf?docID=441">AFI top 100 list</a>.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The reason I say this is two-fold, and the problem isn’t necessarily with the film itself. Both reasons have to do with the current generation of moviegoers. The most obvious reason in my opinion that this film hasn’t kept as well has to do the fact that it is in black and white. This is purely speculative, but I’d be willing to bet that this is part of the reason <i>Casablanca</i> hasn't withstood the test of time as well as the other top three movies. While in my opinion <i>Casablanca</i> is visually one of the most appealing films I’ve ever seen, those who have no educational background in film could be disinterested because of the lack of color. The second reason is that the film’s pace isn’t so action-packed or filled with lots of interesting conversations. It’s not like an <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/"><i>Inglourious Basterds</i></a>-type movie where you’re so fixated on the dialogue that you can’t take your eyes off of the screen (although certainly <i>Casablanca</i> has its moments, such as the last scene in the movie).<br />
It may not be action-packed, the dialogue may not always pique the audience’s interest and it may be in black and white, but <i>Casablanca</i> is remarkable in its own right. <i>Casablanca</i> stuns me visually. The combination of the posh interior sets, costume design, lighting and use of soft lenses make this film a landmark in early cinema because of its visual appeal. To me, this is what defines <i>Casablanca</i> in cinema history. It’s visually probably the most refined, appealing film of its time. Whereas <i>Citizen Kane</i> took drastic steps to define itself as a film that innovated by combining different practical forms into one fluid picture, <i>Casablanca</i> takes a similar but different approach in telling a classic lovers’ story using idealistic forms to immerse the viewer in a world that is overwhelmingly romantic.<br />
<br />
The acting in it is nothing short of fantastic. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000006/">Ingrid Bergman</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000007/">Humphrey Bogart</a>, each spectacular in their own right, together are the perfect on-screen couple. Their chemistry is incredible and not for a moment throughout the entire film does the viewer ever question whether it’s “real” or not. Bogart was faced with a character who has to play two sides, both politically and emotionally and he seemingly does it with ease. Bergman is the classic Hollywood beauty, though her acting is nothing too impressive mostly because her character isn’t necessarily the most dynamic or given the most screen time. That being said, her beauty makes her the center of attention every time she steps into a scene and that’s exactly what director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002031/">Michael Curtiz</a> intends. There’s a reason why Bergman and Bogart’s characters are popularized as near perfect: it’s because they are.<br />
<br />
I’ve grown to like <i>Casablanca</i> much more than I used to. Cinematically there’s really not much to complain about when it comes to this film. Still, I feel it is a little unjust for it to be #3 on the top 100 list. There are so many great films and <i>Casablanca</i> should be considered as one, but in terms of its relevance to modern cinema—a key criteria when I consider the best of the top films of all time—it falls a little short of my expectations. It certainly is one of, if not the most popular romance movie in history and provides plenty of memorable quotes. It’s romanticized setting is breathtaking, yet there’s just something about it that doesn’t sweep me off my feet (no pun intended).<br />
<br />
Rating: 9.2/10<br />
<br />
Relevant Links:<br />
<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1003707-casablanca/"> Casablanca - RottenTomatoes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/">Casablanca - IMDb</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casablanca_%28film%29">Casablanca - Wikipedia</a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890446253691814654.post-73661691518547966202010-03-21T11:54:00.000-07:002011-02-02T23:49:03.970-08:00AFI #2 - The Godfather (1972)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/S6ZAIotYu2I/AAAAAAAAACI/bknc4yzvTOQ/s1600-h/godfather-poster" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/S6ZAIotYu2I/AAAAAAAAACI/bknc4yzvTOQ/s200/godfather-poster" width="141" /></a></div>The first thing I have to do when writing this is come clean: before now I had never seen <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000338/">Francis Ford Coppola's</a> <i>The Godfather</i>. I had heard so many good things, yet I had never gotten around to seeing it and I now understand what all the hype is about. <i>The Godfather</i> is not only a masterpiece of the gang/mafia genre, but of modern cinema as a whole.<br />
<br />
Where to begin? I suppose the first thing of note--probably the most blatantly obvious element of the film--is the performances of the entire ensemble cast. My favorites were the two leads: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000008/">Marlon Brando</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000199/">Al Pacino</a>. Without a doubt I was more impressed with their performances in <i>The Godfather</i> than almost any other performance in any other movie I've ever seen. With that being said, I wouldn't fight a single person if they made an argument for nearly any member of the entire cast being the most brilliant, as it really is the ensemble that elevates the film into the stratosphere of best films of all-time.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I want to give specific attention to Al Pacino's performance, because as much as Marlon Brando deserves credit for carrying the film, if you dive deeper into the film you begin to realize that the film isn't just about the life of Vito Corleone (played by Brando) but emergence of his son, Michael (played by Pacino), as the head of the family. I honestly believe that if Pacino and Brando hadn't been equally as impressive in this picture that the film would have been awkwardly out of sync and half of the narrative would have fallen flat.<br />
<br />
Vito and Michael Corleone's brilliant character progression is equally as attributable to the writing as it is to the actor's performances. In any case, I do believe that this element of the film is remarkable and is what most impresses me when I think back about the film. The way that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0701374/">Mario Puzo</a> and Coppola make the characters come full circle in this subtle way is fantastic and I really can't get over how well done it is. At the beginning Vito is in full power and Michael is a war hero, someone who is not a part of the family power dynamics. At the end we see the antithesis of this, with the last scene closing as Michael accepts power as don of the Corleone family and Vito is dead.<br />
<br />
The build up in the scene where Michael murders the two men in the restaurant is probably the most anxious I've ever felt in a film. Even sitting by myself on my couch watching this scene built the tension so well that I was tense myself. When a film causes physical reaction in its viewers, it's pretty safe to say that magic is happening on-screen. In this case it certainly is. I still can't identify how Coppola did it so masterfully. In fact, maybe it was Al Pacino that was so brilliant that the inner conflict going on within his character was felt by the viewer. In any case, wow, what an incredible scene.<br />
<br />
In my opinion the cinematography isn't really anything to be too excited about, especially when compared to other top ten movies like <i><a href="http://typicalbanter.blogspot.com/2010/03/1-citizen-kane-1941.html">Citizen Kane</a></i> (#1) and <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052357/">Vertigo</a></i> (#9). To me it's another great movie that perfects its era of cinematography, immersing the audience in its world, but yet not innovating or advancing it. The setting is beautiful, and the lighting is something to be marveled at. I really do think that the way the sets and characters are lit are about as good as I've ever seen, yet I don't think it is as big of a benchmark in terms of the physical aspects of the film as <i>Citizen Kane</i> is. In this sense, it makes sense for it to sit at #2.<br />
<br />
With all of this being said, the narrative and acting far outclass <i>Kane</i>, in my opinion, and therein lies the dilemma. Several of the top 100 lists put out by movie critics have <i>The Godfather</i> as the #1 movie of all-time: <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/film/highscores.shtml">Metacritic</a>, Entertainment Weekly and <a href="http://www.empireonline.com/500/99.asp">Empire Magazine</a>. It should be considered in the top few movies of all-time, although it should be kept in mind that I still haven't seen six of the remaining eight top ten movies on the <a href="http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/TOP10.pdf?docID=441">AFI list</a>. I can understand people rating this movie at number one, but after giving <i>Citizen Kane</i> and <i>The Godfather</i> enough consideration, I think that <i>Kane</i> should sit on top, as it contributes more to the world of cinema than <i>Godfather</i> does. It's more entertaining and it's got better acting, but as a whole movie it isn't as important as <i>Kane</i> in how much it influenced films to come.<br />
<br />
<i>The Godfather</i> is a very good movie, anyone who has seen it would tell you that. It seems to me that it probably has much wider appeal than <i>Citizen Kane</i>. Yet I still don't believe it is as relevant to modern films<i></i> and because of this I'm rating it lower than <i>Kane</i>, but not by any significant amount. Simply put, <i>The Godfather</i> is a certainly in the canon of greatest American films of all-time.<br />
<br />
Rating: 9.6/10<br />
<br />
Relevant Links:<br />
<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godfather/">The Godfather - RottenTomatoes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/">The Godfather - IMDb</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather">The Godfather - Wikipedia</a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890446253691814654.post-70555820892444737142010-03-19T12:36:00.000-07:002011-02-02T23:49:15.494-08:00AFI #1 - Citizen Kane (1941)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/S6IysSQic3I/AAAAAAAAABo/2CDAy0Y9G1U/s1600-h/citizen-kane-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gh9sw7iglPU/S6IysSQic3I/AAAAAAAAABo/2CDAy0Y9G1U/s200/citizen-kane-poster.jpg" width="141" /></a>What first comes to mind upon my re-viewing of <i>Citizen Kane</i> is just how masterfully done it is. I really do believe that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000080/">Orson Welles</a>, in his first attempt at a motion picture in Hollywood, was able to make a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. He virtually perfected the art of the classic Hollywood film. As such <i>Kane</i> should not only represent Welles' achievement in cinema but the achievements of those that came before him and paved the path for such a film to be possible.<br />
<br />
People often throw around the title of "Greatest Film of All Time," but to the untrained eye the film itself seems unremarkable in that capacity. What's so great about <i>Kane</i> is the subtleties and nuances that make it what it is today. In addition to its many innovations, it marked an important time in cinema: a culmination of the achievements of the films that came before it and the future for the Hollywood industry for years to come. Only with time and distance did <i>Citizen Kane</i> really get the credit it deserved. The film failed to make its money back at the box office initially and took several years to gain the critical acclaim it carries today. It didn't even win the Oscar for Best Picture that year (although to be honest, many films have had this happen to them--more <a href="http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2010/03/05/oscar%E2%80%99s-15-biggest-best-picture-snubs/">here</a> and <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1495191/greatest_oscar_snubs_best_picture_nominees.html?cat=40">here</a>).<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Re-watching it I was initially astounded at how many more nuances I picked up on. It definitely helps to know the ending, as the allusions to the illustrious "Rosebud" are jam-packed throughout the film if you know what you're looking for. The narrative of the story was incredibly intricate for its time. The way Welles ties together the beginning and the end of the film is brilliant in my opinion, one of the best endings to a film I've ever seen.<br />
<br />
Even the second time around I still have trouble following some of the first few scenes featuring a grown up Charles Kane, but even still I think that the fast pace of the main character serves the film well. Whenever Kane is seen he's always moving, thinking, talking and acting quickly. The few times that he's not are moments of importance to the film. The scene that comes to mind that is representative of this is the scene where Kane and friends move into "The Enquirer" for the first time. The current manager and calm, quiet staff is at once overwhelmed and usurped by Kane and the quick, almost impulsive way he acts.<br />
<br />
The actor who most impressed me was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0806041/">Everett Sloane</a> who plays Mr. Bernstein. Perhaps it is because he's the only endearing character in the entire film, but maybe also because he does such a convincing job as Kane's right-hand man. I thoroughly enjoyed every scene he was in. It was interesting to note that he was the only character to show the utmost respect to Kane. Bernstein never made his interactions with him personal, and as such was able to stay out of Kane's personal mess that is essentially what defined the entire film.<br />
<br />
The scene with the mirrors, after Kane destroys Susan Alexander's bedroom stands out to me as the most interesting, and most beautiful scene in the entire film. I know it's a very blatant moment in a film filled with subtleties, but I can't get past how amazing the cinematography is in the scene. It portrays Charles Kane as such a lonesome figure, someone so filled with despair and self-loathing that he cares about no one but himself. To me it really is the culmination of Kane's ultimate demise.<br />
<br />
As an entire film, <i>Citizen Kane</i> serves an important moment in cinema history. It bookmarks the moment where modern cinema came together in a physical form that is still relevant today. As such, <i>Citizen Kane</i> should be recognized not necessarily for its outstanding acting, narrative or cinematographic moments but for the moment in cinema history that it defines: the culmination of different film forms into one fluid, perfect movie.<br />
<br />
As much as I would like to give this film a perfect 10/10 rating, I can't bring myself to do it. Despite me raving about it, there's something in <i>Kane</i> that doesn't grab me as much as some of my favorite films of all-time. The narrative structure is perfect, but if I'm really being honest the narrative itself, the topic of the film, doesn't interest me as much as it should in order for it to be a "perfect" 10.<br />
<br />
Rating: 9.8/10<br />
<br />
Other Relevant Links: <br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033467/">Citzen Kane - RottenTomatoes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/citizen_kane/">Citizen Kane - IMDb</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane">Citizen Kane - Wikipedia</a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890446253691814654.post-37750924784553140092010-03-16T18:25:00.000-07:002010-03-17T09:22:12.978-07:00Blog ManifestoThe intention of this blog is to watch every single one of the American Film Institute's top one hundred films of all time. This blog will contain reviews of every movie in order, from one to one hundred, examining, at least briefly, different aspects of each film. This may take a while, but I promise that I will get to every single film given due time. Even if I have seen the film before, I will re-watch it. From this I hope to gain a more expansive knowledge of the history of American cinema that will inform my viewings of films that I watch five, ten, fifteen years down the line.<br />
<br />
As I watch every film, I will rate it on a scale of ten. This is not a typical ratings system: with the exception of a few films, I expect to encounter movies that would ordinarily be rated nine or more out of ten. With this in mind, I intend to use the ratings system relative to how influential and important the film is in the world of cinema.<br />
<br />
Let's get it started!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604384769719238001noreply@blogger.com0