Shawshank sits at the very top of the IMDB #250, it clearly has a wider popular appeal to the world than any other film ever made (sweeping statement), what is it that makes Shawshank universal, what are the universal values? What is it really about?
To talk about what it is really about I suppose we have to look at what is played out before our eyes:
Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins is sent to Prison for the murder of his wife and her lover, Andy befriends a fellow convicted killer Red who is a seasoned veteran and a 'man who knows how to get things', Red is played by the incredible Morgan Freeman who established himself firmly as one of Hollywoods leading men in this role as the cynical old hand who guides us through prison life and the rise and fall of Andy in this very different world.Andy struggles to make friends but he gets there, the film is tied together in episodes, following Andy's meeting with various prisoners and his rise through the establishment to a respected man amongst the inmates and staff alike. Things go up and down until Andy reaches breaking point and does what he has to do, Red then moves on with his life and is released toward the end of the film.
The whole thing continues a theme throughout of Andy trying desperately to keep a kind of freedom inside him until he gets out (which he must do, it is what keeps him going). Andy's drive is there for the whole film as the theme but it never commands, it sits in the backseat as the action rolls by. This particular picture is not blessed with a cracking script, the real delight lies in character as the actors make us care for Andy, Red and the rest of them, we get seriously invested in the characters as the film goes on and we never want it to end. Even though Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins play their parts to perfection I think that real strength in this film is in the background characters, Andy's morose nature seems particularly apt against the brash, cynical men he meets.
Shawshank gives us it all and it is one of the few films which I can watch in any mood, it gives us hope and joy, it gives us sadness and terror of what might have happened and what surely did happen in far too many places. The film is about Andy and his refusal to accept being caged, he is like a bird flapping away for years, he struggles as he beats his wings against the cage. Whether it is crawling on his hands and knees or taking his own life he will get his freedom to choose back. As a haunting juxtaposition the movie shows us the other side, most obviously in the character of Brookes who cannot deal with his freedom, in the end he longs to be in the cage again.
Perhaps Shawshank is so popular because it shows both a yearning to be free and a yearning for control, it represents all of us whether we be submissive or aggressive, introvert or extrovert, left or right, old or young. Whatever we are we are represented here, amongst murders, liars and cheaters we see all that is human, and the part of you that can never be taken away.
Tuesday 21 April 2015
Sunday 19 April 2015
The Godfather
Scarlet is maybe onto a loser here. Precisely how are you supposed to write something original about The Godfather? It comes to mind that this is going to be a recurring problem with this particular blog, this isn't going to be the first review of The Godfather anyone is going to read and the same goes for the other films I have queued up but I shall certainly try my best.
The Godfather is the story of a mafia crime family in New York over a few decades and the action focuses on one man war hero Michael (Al Pacino) who keeps himself distanced from the family business. As time goes by Michael becomes involved and a masterpiece unravels before our eyes.
The Godfather begins with a single monologue with one long zoom out shot as an elderly man (elderly for the time) narrates to Vito Corleone - known to his many associates as 'Godfather' - his love for his homeland and the American dream, and how the American justice system has let down this patriot. Our friend extends an olive branch to Don Corleone in the correct way (with some prompting) and a new business relationship is formed. Attention then turns to Vito's daughter's wedding and we see the family in full, symbolised with a great family photograph. You see the Godfather is all about family, the Italian obsession for family shines through this picture like nothing else, it is all about family, even when it is not.
So our friend Michael becomes involved in the 'family business' and his role as the Don slowly takes hold of the family we are given some of the most amazing scenes in cinematic history, a horses head in a bed, an assassination in an Italian restaurant and the film culminates as a spectacle with a thrilling baptism scene, family family, The Godfather is about family.
Santino dies after his anger gets the best of him because of his brother in laws treatment of his sister
FAMILY
Michael goes to Sicily to escape some heat and marries a beautiful Sicilian girl
FAMILY
In order for a film with such strong fraternal links to succeed we need the family link to be viable, and how it works on that front, not only is every actor on form in this one but the chemistry of the family sizzles from beginning to end and Diane Keaton plays the outsider perfectly, her role is central to the film as she is never able to fully integrate into the family until she marries into it, FAMILY, CATHOLIC FAMILY.
The Godfather is Italian, it is about Family and food. It is an insight to part of humanity we wish we didn't have in us, but it is there in all of us.
Enjoy
The Godfather is the story of a mafia crime family in New York over a few decades and the action focuses on one man war hero Michael (Al Pacino) who keeps himself distanced from the family business. As time goes by Michael becomes involved and a masterpiece unravels before our eyes.
The Godfather begins with a single monologue with one long zoom out shot as an elderly man (elderly for the time) narrates to Vito Corleone - known to his many associates as 'Godfather' - his love for his homeland and the American dream, and how the American justice system has let down this patriot. Our friend extends an olive branch to Don Corleone in the correct way (with some prompting) and a new business relationship is formed. Attention then turns to Vito's daughter's wedding and we see the family in full, symbolised with a great family photograph. You see the Godfather is all about family, the Italian obsession for family shines through this picture like nothing else, it is all about family, even when it is not.
So our friend Michael becomes involved in the 'family business' and his role as the Don slowly takes hold of the family we are given some of the most amazing scenes in cinematic history, a horses head in a bed, an assassination in an Italian restaurant and the film culminates as a spectacle with a thrilling baptism scene, family family, The Godfather is about family.
Santino dies after his anger gets the best of him because of his brother in laws treatment of his sister
FAMILY
Michael goes to Sicily to escape some heat and marries a beautiful Sicilian girl
FAMILY
In order for a film with such strong fraternal links to succeed we need the family link to be viable, and how it works on that front, not only is every actor on form in this one but the chemistry of the family sizzles from beginning to end and Diane Keaton plays the outsider perfectly, her role is central to the film as she is never able to fully integrate into the family until she marries into it, FAMILY, CATHOLIC FAMILY.
The Godfather is Italian, it is about Family and food. It is an insight to part of humanity we wish we didn't have in us, but it is there in all of us.
Enjoy
Thursday 16 April 2015
Casablanca
A series of film reviews, spending some time poring over some of my old favourites and sharing it with the world, what better place to start than the ultimate Wartime Drama, the film that is remembered even today for its incredible cast, script and how well everything sits together. Casablanca shows us the Hollywood studio system in full swing; Casablanca shows us a timeless cliched old story in what was a staggering poignant contemporary light. There are no rolling mountains and vastly extravagant shots, Casablanca is a film that plays out through a narrow window, we are part of the scene and part of the experience, it draws us into its world and most of us never tire of visiting her like an old family Photo Album. Casablanca will be around as long as humanity recognises raw beauty, both the physical and the mental, she is a treat to our eyes.
That's enough sentimental nonsense and lets talk Casablanca.
The plot to Casablanca is the stuff of legend these days but for those of you who aren't sure there won't be any major spoilers in this blog, although truth be told the term spoiler isn't all that appropriate in any case, as this is not a film I have ever found a way to spoil. Rick (Bogart) is a cynical bar owner in Casablanca (a city in the French possession of Morocco) during the second world war. Rick's life is turned upside down when the love of his life Ilsa (Bergman) turns up in his bar fleeing the Nazi's with her husband Victor, whom Rick never knew she had. Fate conspires that Rick has something that Ilsa and Victor need and from there a tale of love, greed and passion plays out before our eyes. Accompanying us on our journey are the customers of Ricks bar, the staff and the local law officials.
This brief synopsis opens the book on the first thing which I really love about this film, the characters are excellent, even the minor roles are played by established actors of their time and each character gets at least one great moment. Everyone is on their A game from Casablanca from Bogie and Bergman all the way down to a delightfully horrible Peter Lorre and the subtly arrogant Sydney Greenstreet. The only actor who gets anywhere close to not delivering his best is Paul Henreid who puts in a slightly wooden turn, but as Henreid plays Victor the character who keeps Bogie and Bergman apart it feels right that Victor is not a particularly likable character which is ironic because truly he is the one character in the film with a truly moral purpose.
At the end of the day the sizzle between Bogie and Bergman is the glue that holds everything together. From their first scene together to the final dance of their romance both actors put in the best performance of their career as well as one of cinemas greatest partnerships. Both characters are brilliantly played in their own right but it is when they are together that they each take on another level, as they dissolve and let the romance create one from the two of them.
Casablanca gives us some of the finest lines in cinematic history, the script never feels forced and the plot keeps the characters where they need to be with no fluff at the edges. We are treated to some of the most iconic lines in cinema history: "Round up the usual suspects", "Of all the gin joints..." and of course "Here's looking at you kid".
Casablanca will give millions more the thrill of the perfect picture, it is a screenshot of life, of love and of honour; it is perhaps the studio systems finest hour and we will love her forever.
That's enough sentimental nonsense and lets talk Casablanca.
The plot to Casablanca is the stuff of legend these days but for those of you who aren't sure there won't be any major spoilers in this blog, although truth be told the term spoiler isn't all that appropriate in any case, as this is not a film I have ever found a way to spoil. Rick (Bogart) is a cynical bar owner in Casablanca (a city in the French possession of Morocco) during the second world war. Rick's life is turned upside down when the love of his life Ilsa (Bergman) turns up in his bar fleeing the Nazi's with her husband Victor, whom Rick never knew she had. Fate conspires that Rick has something that Ilsa and Victor need and from there a tale of love, greed and passion plays out before our eyes. Accompanying us on our journey are the customers of Ricks bar, the staff and the local law officials.
This brief synopsis opens the book on the first thing which I really love about this film, the characters are excellent, even the minor roles are played by established actors of their time and each character gets at least one great moment. Everyone is on their A game from Casablanca from Bogie and Bergman all the way down to a delightfully horrible Peter Lorre and the subtly arrogant Sydney Greenstreet. The only actor who gets anywhere close to not delivering his best is Paul Henreid who puts in a slightly wooden turn, but as Henreid plays Victor the character who keeps Bogie and Bergman apart it feels right that Victor is not a particularly likable character which is ironic because truly he is the one character in the film with a truly moral purpose.
At the end of the day the sizzle between Bogie and Bergman is the glue that holds everything together. From their first scene together to the final dance of their romance both actors put in the best performance of their career as well as one of cinemas greatest partnerships. Both characters are brilliantly played in their own right but it is when they are together that they each take on another level, as they dissolve and let the romance create one from the two of them.
Casablanca gives us some of the finest lines in cinematic history, the script never feels forced and the plot keeps the characters where they need to be with no fluff at the edges. We are treated to some of the most iconic lines in cinema history: "Round up the usual suspects", "Of all the gin joints..." and of course "Here's looking at you kid".
Casablanca will give millions more the thrill of the perfect picture, it is a screenshot of life, of love and of honour; it is perhaps the studio systems finest hour and we will love her forever.
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