Film Log- 2nd Semester-Forest Gump

Movie: Forrest Gump
1994, Color, 142 mins
Director:Robert Zemekis
Actors: Tom Hanks, Sally Field,


Summary (IMDB): Forrest Gump is a simple man with little brain activity but good intentions. He struggles through childhood with his best and only friend Jenny. His 'mama' teaches him the ways of life and leaves him to choose his destiny. Forrest joins the army for service in Vietnam, finding new friends called Dan and Bubba, he wins medals, starts a ping-pong craze, creates a famous shrimp fishing fleet, inspires people to jog, create the smiley, write bumper stickers and songs, donating to people and meeting the president several times. However this is all irrelevant to Forrest who can only think of his childhood sweetheart Jenny. Who has messed up her life. Although in the end all he wants to prove is that anyone can love anyone

Q: How does costuming/makeup play a role in the film?
A: Forest Gump is film that follows a boy throughout his life-- in order to emphasize the time era of when the movie is taking place in, costuming is crucial. During Forest's childhood, preppy and crisp clothing was used to show the era of the 50s and also the social status of his mother (upper middle class). Forrest remained quite the same throughout the course of the movie while his surroundings were changing. Every decade was defined by the clothing-- mostly shown through Jenny (hippie phase, 60s, druggie phase 70s), as well as through supporting actors coming in and out of Forrest's life. Costuming was crucial in portraying Forrest as a consistent person-- never changed person while the whole world was changing.

Q:How does the soundtrack play a role in Forrest Gump?
A: Much similar to the concept of the costuming in the film, the musical soundtrack to Forrest Gump is extremely crucial in portraying the time period in which Forrest is living in. The music is used as a tool to show his surroundings-- not so much his perspective on what is going on. The Beatles, The Who,& Jimi Hendrix are just a few of the well-known artists that made it to the soundtrack. Each track is filled with depth and relevance to what Forrest is doing next (war, ping-pong, sorrow). The use of music makes a strong statement as to what the movie makes of its' main character.

FIlm Log- 2nd Semester- North by Northwest

Movie: North by Northwest
1965, Color, 131 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Actors: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint

Summary: Middle-aged Madison Avenue advertising executive Roger O. Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent by a gang of spies. He gets involved in a series of misadventures and is pursued across the States by both the spies and the government whilst being helped by a beautiful blonde.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/

Q:How does the camera movement play a role in the film?
A: The way Hitchcock maneuvers the camera embraces the intentions of every character-- showing that each one of them has their own agenda. Coming from a "formalistic" film making history, Hitchcock relies more on the editing of a film, rather than the actors to enhance the emotions off-screen. Hitchcock shows the importance of camera angle and focus in order to move the story forward. Hitchcock's films "usualy seemed as if it had been considered an after though, often mirroring the audience's sense of fear and anticipation only to confirm what their feelings really were."

Q:How does costuming/makeup play a role in this film?
A: One of the most memorable aspects of this film is the beautiful Eva Marie Saint. Her sense of elegance and irresistibility comes from her outer appearance. Her perfectly styled blonde hair, clean and fashionable clothing, and poise are factors that give the viewer the ability to determine her character. Cary Grant's character is another example of a "put-together" and sharp man-- mostly due to his outer appearance. His character was mostly seen in a clean suit.

Film Log- 2nd Semester- Toy Story

Movie: Toy Story
1995, Color/Animation, 80 minutes
Director: John Lasseter
Actors: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen

Summary: A little boy named Andy loves to be in his room, playing with his toys, especially his doll named "Woody". But, what do the toys do when Andy is not with them, they come to life. Woody believes that he has life (as a toy) good. However, he must worry about Andy's family moving, and what Woody does not know is about Andy's birthday party. Woody does not realize that Andy's mother gave him an action figure known as Buzz Lightyear, who does not believe that he is a toy, and quickly becomes Andy's new favorite toy. Woody, who is now consumed with jealousy, tries to get rid of Buzz. Then, both Woody and Buzz are now lost. They must find a way to get back to Andy before he moves without them, but they will have to pass through a ruthless toy killer, Sid Phillips.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/

Q: Why do the toys seem more human-like/ realistic than the actual humans in the movie?
A: The film focuses on a Toy's journey/ conflicts-- therefore the humans in the movie are mostly an "extra" background addition. However, the central conflict of the story does revolve around the Toy's efforts to remain in a human's life-- but the director hardly elaborates on any of the human characters- most likely in defense of taking away the characteristics that make all the toys, dolls, or plastic seem real. (this element of the emotions of the toys entices emotion from the audience)

Q:How does the costuming play a role in this film?
A: As previously discussed, the central characters of Toy Story are "inanimate" in terms of "real life". However, their costuming contributes to all of their characteristics. The stereotype of "beautiful/feminine blonde," or handsome cowboy, and even the brawny astronaut are extremely prevalent points in giving the audience something to base their characters off of. Though the humans are lowkey in the movie, their clothing exemplifies their social standing in their community as an upper-middle white suburban family.

FIlm Log- 2nd Semester- To Kill A Mockingbird

Movie: To Kill A Mockingbird
1962, Black and White, 129 minutes
Director: Robert Mulligan
Actors: Gregory Peck, Frank Overton

Summary: To Kill A Mockingbird is a screen adaptation of the original novel by Harper Lee. The story takes place in Alabama through the eyes of a young white boy with a father who is a lawyer. During this time, blacks were looked down upon in society and when a young black man is accused of sexually harassing a white woman, Atticus, the lawyer, decides to take the case and defend the black man. Meanwhile, the children cause mischief as they run amuck the town and mess with the town "creep" Boo Radley.

Q: How could Atticus Finch's appearance alter the initial judgement of the viewer?
A: Based on the fact that the film takes place in a racially segregated town set in the 1930s, the white community of this town is the vast majority. Atticus Finch is a lawyer, and his clothing shows his hygiene and stance in society. Initially, the viewer can make the assumption that this white man, who appears to have money, is just as racially prejudice as the town he resides in. Eventually, the viewer sees Atticus make a brave move and defend the black man in his trial.

Q: How does the black and white aspect of the film prove to be significant?
A: This film was released in the 1960s-- a time when color movies were, in fact, released/ produced. The director uses this "old" style of film-making to emphasize the era of when this was actually happening. The town, the courthouse, and even the clothing was especially true to the styles of the 1930s, and the director could have shot the film in color, but in order to add the antiquated depth the story needed, black and white was most appropriate.

Film Log- 2nd Semester- JAWS

Movie: Jaws
1975, Color, 124 minutes
Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Schneider

Summary: Martin Brody is a police chief on Amity Island on the East Coast of America. On a random summer morning, he is called to the beach to investigate a "mangled" body of a tourist washed upon the shore. Police investigators and medical examiners suspect the cause of her death to be a shark attack. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Amity Island tries covering up the death with another reason in order to keep the 4th of July festivities unaffected. The police chief, marine scientist and fisherman set out to find the cause of the tragic deaths in their area.

Q: How does the musical score play a role in this film?
A: The theme song of Jaws has carried over into so much of today's media as a "villain" song. The two notes are haunting, mysterious, and perfectly adds the deadly aspect of what lurks in Amity's waters. As soon as the theme song begins to play, the viewer knows danger is coming up in the story. It is simple, sharp, and adds character to the shark itself. Though the orchestra chimes in later in the song, the two notes are the most prominent and well known.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3mKAKPYh6k

Q:How does this film relate to symbolic social issues facing America then, and now?
A: Jaws can be viewed as a controversial film aimed at society. The killing of the first victim-- a blonde woman, is an example of sexual dominance of man. For example, a critic wrote:"The shark’s-eye camera view watches from below as the woman swims acrobatically above. Then it rises up under her toward her crotch as she scissorkicks vertically in the water. The camera quickly switches to the surface of the water. Here the close up of the woman’s agonized face as the unseen shark tears her body under the water is a frightening imitation of orgasm, the cliché of the equivalence of pleasure and pain used almost from the first portrayal of female orgasm in film." and the Second killing of the child stresses the importance of " civic responsibility and male protectiveness." And Lastly, the film can be an attack on America's economy-- in that it kills its victims and praises the value of money over life (mayor and his concern with the 4th of July).

Film Log- 2nd Semester- Titanic

Movie: Titanic
1997, Color, 194 min
Director: James Cameron
Actors: Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio

Summary: Rose DeWitt Bukater is a 100-year- old woman explaining her story on the Titanic to her grandchilden. She started out on board with her mother and fiancé, all of whom were first-class passengers. Rose tells the story of meeting Jack, a boy from the third-class of the Titanic, and how they fell in love on the tragic voyage of the iceberg-stricken ship.

Q: How does the setting of the film affect the passengers/ their social classes?
A: Most of the film takes place on board the Titanic. Cameron really does an incredible of capturing the essence of the two main characters within their element/ social classes. Rose comes from an incredibly wealthy family and without having to hear it, the viewer can infer this by the people she associates with/ the cabin she is staying in. She is rarely seen in a "lower" ranked class area of the ship. Jack is a third-class passenger and he is mostly shown in the "nitty-gritty" parts of the the ship and where the coal workers help run the ship in an orderly fashion. He is mostly associated with blue collar workers and not-so-luxurious cabins.

Q:How does costuming play a role in the film?
A:Rose and Jack are the two most extreme cases to show how important their costuming was to show the "irony" of two separate worlds falling in love. Jack, as mentioned before, wears casual clothes that get dirty easily (from his work on the ship), and Rose wears elegant, crisp clothing that shows what kind of a background she comes from. Both characters are defined by their lifestyles and this is easily seen through what these two wear. Crewmen, the Captain, and the rest of the guests on board are clearly labeled to be a part of a certain class based on their clothing.

Film Log- 2nd Semester- E.T.

Movie: E.T.
1982, Color, 115 minutes
Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace

Summary: E.T. takes place in Northern California where a group of botanists from outer space come down to collect samples-- the US government show up and the aliens quickly flee, forgetting one of their crew members behind. Elliot, a suburban boy, is introduced. He is shown to be quite lonely , trying to find his connection with people/ his siblings. Elliot notices the alien and lures it with Reese's Pieces. This eventually works, bringing the alien into his home and hiding it from his family/ the government.

Q: How does the opening sequence of the film tell the audience about the nature of the aliens?
A: Spielberg barely shows the creatures in the beginning sequence to add more mystery to the image of the aliens. When the craft lands in the forest, Spielberg really shows the machine from every angle, through every bush or tree, and through the smoke/fog. The focus is shifted from what the actual aliens look like, to why they are there and how quickly they flee when search guards come for them. This shows the viewer that the aliens are powerful and much quicker than the humans are-- displaying a bitter attitude the aliens may have toward humans. This is later contradicted by the relationship Elliot builds with E.T.

Q: How does costuming/ makeup play a role in the production?
A: In every movie, the mise-en-scene is a crucial aspect of the production. Obviously, E.T is a built creation, but it's appearance makes it so outer-wordly in order to justify E.T's foreign presence. The characters in the film are quite average and display the mediocrity of suburban lifestyle with their clothing.. Jeans, baseball caps, t-shirts, plaid flanels, etc are common clothing and easy to access in their "social class." This also contributes to the vastly different worlds both Elliot's family belongs to and where E.T. comes from.