Inactivity and my Resurgence

Hello again everyone! For those of you who have been disgruntled by my absence, I apologize. Many things have kept me away and I am hoping I will be able to make the time to return. Recently most of my spare time has been spent on anime series and analyzing those. I plan on writing about some that I feel have qualitative elements worthy of pairing with many films that I plan to write on. Most of my work regarding film will be more focused on older movies as I feel there is a decrease in art house films, which is my main area of expertise.

Since my last posting going back a couple years now, few films have caught my attention and those that did rarely left lasting effects. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) by Alejandro G. Iñárritu is one of the few films that I think could be posted on this blog due to its magical realism and interesting story line. It is fueled by a variety of psychological elements and uses magnificent cinematography to convey a discontinuous look of a single tracking shot. Unfortunately, I don’t feel as strongly about Iñárritu’s more recent film, The Revenant. Despite the cinematography living up to its predecessor, it falls short practically everywhere else. Perhaps this could be a topic to write about in the future. My point being, only one film since my last posting has been enough to satisfy my craving for a possible masterpiece in cinema.

I haven’t looked at my about page in a while, but I can say with certainty that my new goal will be:

To analyze and critique works of significant value and attempt to convey the absence of such elements in modern cinema – specifically commercial films.

This may be obvious, but it is still something that can be continued and elaborated on. Critiquing is also a discussion. My analysis can only amount to a stance on the meaning invoked by a work, but that is the intention of true art. I’ve heard others say film isn’t an art form but it is. It is THE art form, everyone watches film and TV more than viewing paintings or reading poetry. The digital age meant an evolution in art, in more ways than one. If people can understand the values a film should convey, then maybe less people will advocate for more poorly orchestrated superhero films.

I would really like to see if anyone has requests for things to write. I’d like for this, as I stated before about critiquing, to be a discussion – a collaborative piece to hash out the values of film.

The bird has risen again!

Here is a list of potential topics I am considering:

-Deceptive elements in works by Akira Kurosawa

-Depictions of power and supporting symbolism in Paul Thomas Anderson films

-How Karl Marx’s Estranged Labor influenced film

–Evangelion 3.33 – I Can (Not) Understand

-Psychological elements in entertainment – Birdman and Black Swan

-How black and white films are still effective – a look at Guy Maddin, The Artist, and late 20th century horror

-A summary of why anime can’t be done live-action

The Film Industry and It’s Excessive Mainstream Failure

Knowing what we know now, film directors and writers continue in what seems like a downward spiral of creativity and performace. As of today, few directors do I truly herald as some of the great artists of our time. Directors such as Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut) and Ingmar Bergman (Wild Strawberries) I feel stand at the pedestal of entertainment and meaning. When people speak highly of directors such as Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver) and Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), in no way am I speaking as if they are not able in their fields but they seem to care more about the general excitement of today’s youth than the true meaning of an art style. As far as a mainstream cinema goes, directors such as these two and many others including Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight), Clint Eastwood (Mystic River), Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained) and J.J. Abrams (Super 8) all make films with a feeling of exacerbated scenery. Too much is thrown in to “wow” the viewers through action, violence, mediocre/decent story and actors with an image but little context, art style in the imagery/language and nothing meaningful to the film world as a whole. Of the few surviving great directors in history, many have fallen under this mainstream success and are ignored by the general populus. It makes me feel sick that I can start a conversation with someone in my film class about one several directors and just get the response “I don’t know who that is or what they’ve done.” Some of these directors include:

– Terrence Malick – Director of films such as The Tree of Life and Days in Heaven.

– Charlie Kaufman – Director of films such as Synecdoche, New York and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

– Lars Von Trier – Director of films such as Antichrist and Melancholia

– Hayao Miyazaki – Although he is a writer/director for an animation company known as Studio Ghibli (works with Disney), his animated films such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are some of the best films I’ve ever seen

– Wes Anderson – Director of films such as Moonrise Kingdom and Fantastic Mr. Fox.

These are just 5 of the directors who I think are heavily influential to our time. But many people diregard their many accomplishments and only pay attention to the mainstream directors who have little contextual meaning in their films. Even directors like Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan) has only wowed me on several occasionions like with films such as Schindler’s List and A.I. Artificial Intelligence but overall seems to be missing something in a lot of his films or are just a historical retelling of a story which is relevant putting history into a more enjoyable medium than a class in school or a historical reading, it overall is not used as an art style or as a meaningful story that gives you new insight on life of other inspiration.

So what can be done to turn this industry back into its former glory? I feel the directors I have listed above need more recognition in the cinema world since their films will be remembered years from now in film classes while other box office hits will fall off the watch lists.

An Underrated Film – Ink

Jamin Winans is a director with only a select few films under his belt. I can’t say I’ve heard of any of them until looking at his site where I saw stuff like 11:59, Flip and his in-production movie called Frame. But one stuck out to me as a strong example of a fantasy film that could have significant meaning throughout the context: Ink. Ink came out in 2009 that follows the struggle between two forces that act while we are asleep. There are the Storytellers who grant us dreams and the supernatural beings known as the Incubus which deliver nightmares to our minds. One night, a mysterious being appears who is considered a Drifter which is a lost being that is neither Storyteller nor Incubus who kidnaps a young girl named Emma to be a sacrifice for initiation into the Incubus forces. During this time, her father John is a successful businessman who has made his way up to the top but has neglected his family and is in the middle of a big deal when his stepfather tells him the sad news. He has to make a choice to damage his company’s reputation or to see the daughter who was taken away from him for being unfit to care for her after his wife’s death.

The film stars Christoper Soren Kelly as John and Quinn Hunchar as Emma. None of the actors are popular and the film seemed strong for such a large cast on a low budget. The special effects were decent overall but there was room for improvement. The way the Storytellers appeared at night seemed simple and mediocre. But that isn’t supposed to take away from the successes of the other effect. The Incubus members look well done and constructed marvelously. The plot was simple yet explored in depth. The quest to stop Ink before he sacrifices the child while at the same time trying to get the father to see his daughter while in a comatose state. Both of these correspond throughout the story and delves deeper into the subconscious idea of neglectful parenting and how our dreams/nightmares are able to define things we may not recognize due to pride or shame.

The biggest weaknesses that stood out to me was some character development. They did a good job on John and Emma, but most of the characters and groups are not detailed thoroughly. How did the Storytellers/Incubus come into being? When did it become apparent that people needed to have dreams? What do nightmares supply for the Incubus? They do let us know that they were all once living who have moved onto a new level of living, but some of the more prominent Storytellers have unknown backgrounds. Also, why does the Pathfinder where tape on his eyes? I understand he’s blind and it kind of added to the interesting character design, but was there some significance to it? How did the doors appear to the domain of the Incubus? So many unanswered questions, even more but those would be spoilers.

Besides these unanswered questions, I think this movie was done very well and is heavily underrated. Character design and plot progression grabbed my attention and I was at the edge of my seat during certain scenes. So what would I rate this? IMDB gave it a 6.7 and RottenTomatoes gave it a 100%, I’d give it an 8.5/10. The film was strong for the most part but a couple small mistakes do catch the eyes of avid film watchers. I would recommend watching this movie if you like movies such as Pan’s Labrynth and The Tree of Life since it is a fantasy with interesting scenery and imagery that are moving and captivating.

————–SPOILERS————————————-

Another issue with the film was how it ended, right when Emma wakes up and John is reunited with his daughter, the film ends with the Storytellers and the Pathfinder standing nearby glad to see everything back to normal.

MORE QUESTIONS UNANSWERED: What happened to the Incubus when they were defeated? They didn’t seem like they were killed but just beaten in a fist fight. Did Liev die when she was stabbed by the Incubus? If so, what happens when a Storyteller dies?

I do think it was effective how Ink was actually the deceased family life of John, how all that existed inside of him was his work where the love he had for his child and wife had died. The Incubus keeping watch and making sure he kept feeling this way was also an interesting touch.

The First Rule of Fight Club is…

Hello once again my loving readers, and welcome back to Critical Films! Today I will be talking about a cult classic, and is another film that will remain near the top of my list. This movie is: Fight Club. Directed by David Fincher (Se7en), this film stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham-Carter. It is an outstanding film that is known throughout the world. It begins with the insomniac Narrator (Edward Norton) who befriends a soap salesman, Tyler Durdan (Brad Pitt). Eventually, a series of unfortunate events leads them into the world of underground boxing clubs and the eventual terrorism its escalates to.

This has been a cult classic since its release back in 1999. Currently ranked as #10 on IMDB’s Top 250 films of all time, this film is full of philosophical quotes and excess of violence, being a perfect choice for anyone!

It is notable for the Fight Club rules. Many people know what you mean when they hear, “The first rule of Fight Club is…” It is followed by the secrecy of Fight Club, “you do not speak of Fight Club.” Although this is repeated throughout the film, it is used as reverse psychology in a way, and the club expands from people breaking the rule repeatedly. “The second rule of Fight Club is…you do NOT speak about Fight Club.” This is  significant quote from the film, and is one of the easiest ways of recognizing what film people are talking about.

I would personally rate this film with a 8.5/10. Being a piece of cinematic art, there is a lot of controversy with Fincher’s vision, since some critics look at it as “the squall of a whiny and essentially white-male generation that feels ruined by the privileges of women and a booming economy.” Although it seems to have deeper meaning than this, it is not completely absurd. Either way, the film is fantastic, and I definitely recommend seeing it!

It delves into the modern male psyche, and unleashes the rage against economic control and progression. Revolution of the people through unity, and Fight Club was a way to make that happen. This film incorporates strong cinematography, strong acting and a thought-out plot. To close, let’s think about the fundamentals of Durden’s reign:

Mischief. Mayhem. Soap.

Brilliance in the Classics: Seven Samurai

Hello to all of my fellow movie-enthusiasts! Welcome to another review from Critical Films, and today I will be discussing possibly my favorite film of all time. Sichinin no Samurai (Seven Samurai)! This brilliant film was released in Japan in 1954, and is an acclaimed classic directed by the amazing Akira Kurosawa. This action/drama is very well known in Eastern culture, but not as much in its homeland. Due to its age it is a colorless film, but it adds to authenticity of the acting in my opinion. Back then, it was more difficult to create fighting scenes without the special effects we have today. This film includes fantastic acting by Takashi Shimura, Toshiro Mifune, and many others!

Based in the 16th century, this story tells the tale of a farming village that is constantly raided by bandits. Eventually, they cannot survive if they are attacked again, and must resort to finding some samurai to defend them. After finding a Samurai by the name of Kanbei (Takashi Shimura), he tells them that the most effective way of defending the village with little to pay the samurai is at least seven. Together, the seven prepare the village for the upcoming battle to fend off the vicious thieves.

This film is an estimated 207 minutes long, and was nominated for 2 Oscars, 4 wins, and 5 other nominations. With a current MetaScore of 99/100, ranked 17th best film on IMDB, and 24th on Rotten Tomatoes shows that this film is a definite must-see film. The film contains a simple, yet fully developed plot that expands into an array of suspense and action.

Akira Kurosawa has been considered by many as possibly the best director of all time, and this film it at the top of his successes.

 

There have been many films and television series influenced by this masterpiece such as The Magnificent Seven and the anime series Samurai 7.

Overall, I would rate this film a 9.5/10. Although I love this movie very much, it is difficult to give a perfect score on any film. This film may not be enjoyable to some viewers, but is renowned throughout the world as one of the best films ever. I see very little flaws in the film besides the occasional goof, but no film is perfect.

In the near future, I plan on reviewing other Kurosawa films, the Godfather trilogy, and many other films that have been ranked by the most prestigious critics.

Top of the List: The Shawshank Redemption

Greetings to all of my avid movie watchers out there! Today I will be discussing a matter that is known throughout film history. This movie is currently considered the best of all time by IMDB and is ranked on numerous other sites. This movie is of course The Shawshank Redemption.

Released in 1994, this stunning tale follows a banker named Andrew Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is falsely accused of murdering his wife and her lover, and is sentenced to life in Shawshank Prison in 1947. There, he meets a convict named Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman) who serves as a salesman withing the walls of their world. Through the worst of challenges, Andy is able to overcome the corrupted prisoners, use his skills to do good for his fellow man and to befriend the monstrous foundation of guards under the warden, and break through with his boundless courage. Serving as a fantastic prison drama, it also is used as a metaphor for the prisons we ourselves are trapped in. A true tribute to the human spirit.

The film is ranked first on IMDB’s Top 250 films of all time, but surprisingly, is not on the Top 100 list of RottenTomatoes. The film has a fresh 98%, while hundreds of films maintain a solid 100% freshness. Although many people consider these reviews meaningless in discovering enjoyable film, it is a good skeleton of what to look for. Shawshank Redemption was a stunning film, and was enjoyable. Although I feel IMDB is giving this film a little too much credit. The film maintains a strong plot with a beloved cast while contrasting cruelty and hope, but the film manages to leave out some loose moments in time, and can be boring at moments. There are not many complexities within the film, making it simple with little thought of full understanding. Personally, I like a film where you have to think about the scenarios presented. Overall, the film is a cult classic, and should be seen at least once.

Critical Films Rating: 8/10

***SPOILER ALERT***

QUESTION: Is Andy’s escape realistic?

Another problem I had with the film was the scene where Andy escapes. Although it took much time and effort to plan the perfect getaway from Shawshank, it seemed difficult to believe that he was able to dig through the walls unnoticed, break into the septic pipes, then being able to fit within the pipes and crawl several miles through feces to safety. Digging through excrement could cause a large array of diseases with the amount in those pipes, and being surrounded by it in a closed area for such a long time could be noxious, possibly causing you to faint. It may be me being to literal with the movie (since it is just a movie after all), but it is a question that arose in my head when that scene occurred, and there is no real sense of fantasy or fiction within the context of the film (it is fiction though).

Another Blog Begins…

Hello to everyone out there! My name is Connor Bazil and I will soon begin giving my reviews on films; new and old. This post is just about what this blog will represent, as my other blog was about the trading card game YuGiOh. Do not worry, that blog will still be worked on, but less frequently. This blog will become my priority, since YuGiOh is not interesting to me anymore, and i’d prefer to expand my horizons, and follow my passion of movie watching!