Driving Miss Daisy

If anyone has not seen this movie, I highly recommend that you do so soon! This is a sweet and uplifting story of a relationship that stems from a place least expected. Watching the Jewish little old white lady grow found of her chaffer, a black man, in that time period was inspiring. Sometimes the best of friendships grow between the people we would last expect to. This movie showed hard times, happy times and times of simply getting older, but you felt that you were right there with them. This movie is wonderful!

Doubt

Being that I am Catholic, Doubt was one that made my teeth clench. The whole movie made me question my everything. What would I do if I were found in a situation where my "superior" was doing something I instinctually knew to be wrong. How would you go about finding out the details to that situation, all while keeping the peace and not accusing someone of a thing that could ruin ones life. We have come a long way in the sense of women in the work force, but are women looked down upon in the church? This movie was a great one to show me that doing the right thing may not always be a black and white circumstance, but that the gray area is a place where most life situations reside.

The Bird Cage

Another really surprisingly fun movie I watched was, The Bird Cage with Robin Williams. This movie was charming; it was sweet and touching, all while making you laugh. The costumes were wonderful and it was so fun watching Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in a relationship! Especially being that Lame was a drag queen! They acted so wonderfully together to make your heart go out to them but also giving the comic relief as well.

         The whole movie I giggled and sat on the edge of my seat just anticipating what would happen next! It was a fun suspense where you couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I also like how this is an "older" movie, being that it came out in 1996, when being gay wasn't so mainstream. That's huge that the movie not only showcased and condoned such a "scandalous" lifestyle, but also had these two gay men as parents. That is so controversial this day and age, I like to see that the movie not only supported this idea, but made a point to say how they were a great family who were capable of raising a great and "normal" child. Great movie!

Sleuth

       This is another movie that I read the script for before watching. I have always been a huge fan of mysteries. In elementary school, I was obsessed, and I still enjoy reading books or watching movies with a mystery theme. When I first read the title “Sleuth,” I pictured a huge slimy slug. Why? I’m not sure. So when I began reading, I was thrilled that this was more of a dynamic plot with people, not creepy creatures.

            I am personally a fan of the British series “Sherlock,” with Benedict Cumberbatch, so as I began reading, my imagination almost combined these two stories. I pictured Andrew as a man in his mid-50s, a wealthy writer, cocky in a cool yet arrogant way. I pictured his house as a nice apartment-like flat in London; one where a prestigious writer might live while home from his travels. The miscellaneous items and trinkets around his house I pictured as items he had picked up while traveling the world. I imagined rustic, vintage globes and puzzles, all that scream culture, and countless books lying around, spilling out of bookcases and lining antique coffee tables.  Although married, the house appeared to be his more than anyone- like a bachelor pad.

            When picturing Milo, I saw a dark tanned skin, thick brown hair, deep brown eyes and very fit young man. I imagined that he was a hard-working man and you could tell by just looking at him, yet he had a soft, sensitive side. When he arrived to visit Andrew, I pictured him being scared, and trying to pretend that nothing was out of the ordinary, all while observing Wyke’s items with wild dreams of other worlds.

            As the dialog picked up, I was literally shocked when Andrew flat asked Milo about their affair. What was even more shocking was that it was true! Then the way that Milo talked about Marguerite made me view him as a naïve young boy in the ways of love.  I instantly felt bad for Marguerite, poor woman married to  a man who didn’t care about her one way of the other, but only kept her around for appearances; a woman cheated out of “love” so she found it in the arms of another. The more the men spoke, the more intrigued I became.

            The discussion changed from the affair to the set up of Milo “robbing” Andrew rather quickly. I was in the back of my mind begging Milo to not do it! “Don’t fall for it!” I wanted to scream. But, the more Andrew kept talking, the more I couldn’t tell if this was a set up or not. It did sound legitimate, maybe he really didn’t want any trouble, and being a writer called for such an imagination. But the vision I had of Andrew made me not trust this elaborate plan. When Andrew turned on Milo, I was disappointed that I had believed him, and that obviously Milo let down his guard as well. Yet, even more than that, I was terrified for what would happen to Milo. Even more so when he was shot! I couldn’t believe it! I was reading while my roommate was in the room, I couldn’t help but to scream and tell her what had happened. I had to but the script down for a few minutes and regroup.

            The second half was equally as intriguing. I wondered how Andrew would wiggle his way out of killing Milo. I was sad with Milo’s fate, but I had a feeling Andrew, being that he was a master of writing about murders, would get away with it. As Inspector Doppler kept questioning Andrew though, I began to question the whole story. All of his evidence and questions all seemed to frame Andrew perfectly! The more evidence that was found, the more frantic Andrew became. I literally thought that possibly, Andrew was crazy! I have to admit that I wanted his story to be true, about him not killing Milo, but using an extreme scare tactic; but at the rate the Inspector was going, it just didn’t seem likely. I thought for sure the ending would be one where Andrew had multiple personalities or was clinically insane and honestly didn’t remember him killing Milo.  When Inspector Doppler revealed who he was, in a riddle no less, I was ecstatic! I didn’t see that coming at all.

            Unfortunately it didn’t stop there. Their final conversation left me feeling multiple ways and also left a few questions. I was proud of my naïve Milo for pulling off such a trick, but made me wonder if he was a hot-blooded man who lived for revenge. It also made me almost sad for Andrew. He realized that he would actually be alone, his wife didn’t want to stay with him. He couldn’t even win at his own game of trickery and the way he begged Milo to stay with him was sad. Although this man had everything, he was still so lonely and had no one. Like I said though, I had some questions arise. I wondered if he wanted Milo there as a equal to his mental ‘superiority,’ or was a companion? And what did Milo expect from doing this? Just to go along on different paths as if nothing had ever happened, all while taking Marguerite away from her husband?

            But the ending truly made me sad. I wanted to see Milo live! I didn’t want him to halfway win against Andrew. Also, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to Andrew, would he get arrested for murder? And what would Marguerite do? Even though the story didn’t end exactly how I wanted it, I absolutely loved the script. It was a page flipper; exciting and devious. It was actually probably one of my favorites from the whole semester.  I would read this again and probably recommend others to read it as well.

                  So as I wrote before, I loved reading Sleuth and enjoyed so much how suspenseful it was. I was looking forward to watching the film in class. I was even more excited when I saw Michael Caine would be in the movie, although he didn’t fit my description of Milo at all. As the movie began, I began to realize everything I pictured was entirely different.

            I didn’t piece together that this play had anything to do with the ranking system that traditional English people still follow today. When seeing the elaborate and beautiful house Andrew Wyke lived in, it made sense what we were dealing with. The maze in the front of his house was super over the top, but also a great opening scene for the film. That is definitely something I could see a wealthy old-money type person having at their home. I also liked it that you heard him working on his story while Milo had to search for him. A maze would be something that Milo wouldn’t have typically encountered.

            I loved Andrew right away. He was showy and proud; Laurence Olivier was fantastic and made Andrew someone you loved and hated all at the same time. As they went into and through the house, the items that Andrew had collected and had all through the house were creepy to me. I hate that kind of stuff, dolls and singing robots, so I hated his house all together and thought that those items, along with the rest of the décor seem so cold. Then I realized, that was exactly the point.  The robotic man that Andrew had displayed was also terrifying, not at all what I had pictured.

 I did however like how Michael Caine portrayed Milo. Although he wasn’t the naïve and exotic man I pictured, he showcased just how hard it is to come into a new culture of people who don’t find you worthy. He was very proper and well-dressed, yet was looked upon as an outcast still. He was still naïve, but in different way then I imagined. He wanted to trust Andrew, and that became very clear when he agreed to the set up robbery.

It all seemed so theatrical, the robbery. Everything that Andrew suggested was way over the top. I grasped that while reading, but when seeing it portrayed, I was more disappointed in Milo agreeing to do it. The plan was so flawed! I do suppose though, since I had read the script and I knew what was going on, that too tainted my view. I was very excited to see how Milo would get his revenge and how Andrew would react to it.

            When Doppler arrived, I have to say I was disappointed. It was so obvious to me that Doppler was a disguised Milo. Did they do this on purpose? And if that was the case, WHY! Reading it, I thought Andrew was in huge trouble, my heart pounded while Doppler investigated. I thought they could have done a better job in that regard. At the same time though, I did like the mannerisms Caine gave him. He made me laugh and I looked forward to the reveal.  It was also almost “fun,” for a lack of a better word, to see their roles being reversed. Here a prestigious man, Andrew, went from tormenting a “commoner,” to becoming a flustered wreck, subject to the “unworthy” man who turns out to be quite clever. Them running through the house was kind of cool and I liked seeing Milo in such a strong position.

            Overall, the movie was pretty great. It wasn’t much like I had pictured, but I really liked how it was made. It was also exciting to watch people around me react to the story. That made it almost more exciting to watch for me. I couldn’t wait for them to figure out what was going on. The movie had a great amount of suspense and comedy. I’m still sad that Milo had to die at the end, but that’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes! I would definitely recommend this film, and script, to anyone!

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

      When I first heard the title, I had no idea what to expect. I had never heard the expression, if that's what it is, but I knew I had heard of the film. When I saw that the legendary Elizabeth Taylor was one of the main characters, I couldn't want to see what it was all about, and I wasn't disappointed.
        The setting of the movie was deep in the south. I feel that it is my calling to be a southern belle, so I was pretty happy to see that. The south is a funny kind of place. It is rich with history and honestly, their own culture. Family is a huge priority, yet so is perfection and appearances. Down there it seems that status is a huge thing people are striving to boost. In this movie, that is very evident.
         One of the main characters, Brick, was a real stud back in the day. He was a very successful athlete and the pride of his hometown. When the movie begins, we are introduced to him though as a sad, drunk man. He was a man riddled with depression and very obvious resentment and pain towards something, but it takes almost the whole story to find out what that is. He is married to a very beautiful and glamorous lady, Maggie. She is also a complex character, striving to make her husband happy and interested in her, all the while trying to keep up their appearances as a happy couple.
          Their struggles only heighten when you realize that they are at his family's home in order to hear about his fathers health. His brother, Gooper, and sister-in-law, Mae, are the types who make you feel super uncomfortable, not to mention their motley crew of "no-neck little monsters" who reek havoc in every scene they're present in.
          I really enjoyed watching the dynamic of their family evolve. It was interesting to watch because it was so real. Every family get together of my extended family is just crazy. I love to observe my family and read their body expressions. In the movie, it was obvious that Brick was a raging alcoholic who wasn't too fond of his wife who desperately wanted his affection,  Gooper and Mae were crazy suck-ups and business-like in the way they wanted to secure financial inheritance of the boys father, Big Daddy.
          Big Daddy was a fun character for me to watch because he reminded me so much of my dad. A stubborn man who tells it just as it is. Gooper and Mae don't hold back in trying to get Big Daddy to favor them, and even go so far as to teach their children songs and play them at any moment for Big Daddy, something he doesn't seem to enjoy at all. Despite their attempts, Brick and Maggie are looked at favorably by Big Daddy.
           Sibling rivalry is so prevalent in families and I liked that it was shown in the movie. Their whole family had problems, each relationship was very different from the next and created a whole web of issues. Big Daddy was the one who first started in the detangling of the web when he reached out to Brick and his alcohol/marriage problems. As the story went on and each characters struggles were voiced, you ending up feeling bad for all of them!
          I really liked this movie. It captured how a family works; it's a group of complex people all of whom are going through and feeling different things. The film shows the true importance of communication between people. Lack of communication can assist in the development of many problems.  

Twelve Angry Men

               For this film, I actually read the script beforehand. This made for a very interesting experience while watching. Obviously I know that reading a script is not the same as watching a movie, or even reading a book. So as I began to read Twelve Angry Men, I tried to keep that in perspective. Reading the stage directions and other notes made reading the script interesting as well, but I personally see why books and movies are more popular.

            As for the story, I did enjoy it. Murder and crime are something we all know about. Sure, some of our expertise ranges, but we all hear about crime. When watching the news and hearing people talk about crime, I think it’s hard to think about the actual people they are pertaining to. We have all become almost desensitized by the horrible things we are hearing. When we hear “murder,” do we think about the actual person who will never open their eyes again? Or will never hold and hug their mother? Speaking of mother, do we think about the ones they are leaving behind? I think most people would shamefully admit we do not. So reading this story, I took that into account.

            The realism lied within the jury members. The fact that our justice system comes down to the opinion of complete strangers is kind of scary. Although they are presented with the facts, and are told to be unbiased, they do have their own lives and responsibilities. The story captures that really well. Here these men have their own things that they are worried about, and it would be easy for them to do whatever the group is doing. The fact that one man did stand up is honestly shocking.

            I also liked that they showed how different upbringings and social structures affect different people. Each jury member noticed something different, or knew about something to back up facts. No one person knows enough about everything, so I liked that juror No. 8 wasn’t the only one talking and presenting facts.

            It also was sad but true how people can be disposable of others based on where they are from. The kid who was being charged was instantly looked down upon and considered guilty based on where he was from. I believe this happens regularly, not even in court, but on every day accounts. This isn’t always fair, but people do it.

            I like that this story made you question your morals. It made you look at yourself and think about how you would vote. I would hope that I wouldn’t simply go off of my own biases and vote with the norm, but then again, not everyone is like juror No. 8.  It made me also hope that people who are on juries really take their position seriously. After reading this script, it made me excited to see the movie so that I could see and feel more emotion.

     The characters in the script all had very distinct personalities and had very specific roles to portray. I picked up on that right away and knew that this story was tapping on some inner ethical issues that are rarely addressed. I wondered how each of the characters would be represented and how emotional they would be.

            Watching the movie, I honestly wasn’t too disappointed. I didn’t realize until after the movie started though how hard it was going to be to keep up with all the characters, seeing as they didn’t have names! In the script, you could simply look over to see what number juror was talking, but in the movie there was no such luxury. As the movie went on though, it was easier to keep up. In fact, I really liked the fact that I had read the script before the movie. It made it easier for me to know what each character represented and who each of them were in the film. Honestly it was fun to see the person casted, as well as their outfit, for each character. I had my own depiction of each character in my mind, so to see them dressed as what each of their stereotypes was interesting.

            I also liked that I got to see the conditions of the room they were in. Being a juror isn’t a glamorous task, yet it’s jurors who uphold our founding values. A bit ironic if you ask me. Seeing the men, with such a huge decision on their shoulder, drenched in sweat in a cramped space, looked awful. How were they supposed to stay focused on the decision at hand when they were uncomfortable? That would also explain why the other jurors were irritated with juror number eight asking questions that would keep them confined longer.

            The script made me question a lot about our country’s fair trial system. It almost shed a light on how important it is to have unbiased jurors who take their position seriously. Everyone has their own life to attend to and responsibilities, but when faced with a serious decision on behalf of someone else, is it possible to push those behind? The movie only solidified that. Getting to see each character and how they acted made it more real. I had kind of forgotten how juries were selected and how they were purposefully meant to be diverse. Seeing from the outfits they were wearing, to their demeanor, was interesting to identify.

I really liked how even though it was a movie, they never said their names. It made you think about what it is they stood for and what they were saying, not about their identity. They kept that theme until the very end of the movie, until two of the jurors introduced themselves to each other. It was then when I had the “epiphany” moment if you will that they really were everyday people. I also found it to be very symbolic that juror number eight, the one who made them question the whole case, was wearing a white suit. He was a Jesus-like character, there to save the day.

Overall I really liked the film and script. I appreciate pieces that challenge your everyday normalcy and morals. This is a situation that you could easily find yourself in, maybe not to this severity, but similar. This piece made me realize just how important it is to have your values and stick to them. Convenience is not a good enough excuse to not do what is right.

The Piano Lesson

            This kind of film was different than many other movies I had seen in the past. The Piano Lesson has many deep roots to African American culture. It showcases the history of African Americans, from the time of slavery, up until the point of 1930s. Through the charming story of two siblings, both fighting over a family heirloom, a piano, the real message is about family and valuing ones history.

            Berniece had kept the family piano in her home, teaching her daughter how to play and showing it off as a focal point in their front room, her brother, Boy Willie, was living in the south making a "living." He was intent on coming back to his sisters house and selling the piano so that he could buy some land. The piano was both of their inheritance and felt that he deserved his "half." 

            I instantly didn't like Boy Willie. He seemed rude and overbearing. It was very clear that he was only concerned with looking out for himself. He even walked all over his side kick, Lymon. It was very annoying when he was on stage.

            Throughout the whole movie, Berniece and Boy Willie fight over this piano, which had beautiful carvings all over each side. Berniece was not going to let Boy Willie sell it though. She was very mad and defensive about Boy Willie even asking such a thing. The Uncle Doaker was also very adamant that the piano was not leaving. 

            Later on, the story of the piano was given. It was a story about the family's history. The carvings were done by their grandfather and they told the story of their family members all the way back when they were in Africa. It went on to show how they were sold into slavery and sold, divided. This piano was owned by the slave master who owned their family. After this man sold off his wife's favorite slaves, to get back in good graces with her, he had the slaves' father and husband make these carvings of them in the piano. If you remember, this man was Berniece and Boy Willie's grandfather. Their father felt that the piano should belong to them, seeing as it was their family history, so he devised a plan to steal it from the slave master. Once he round up some friends, they broke into the house and stole it. Shorty after, the men who participated, including their dad, were found killed.

             No wonder Berniece didn't want to sell the piano! It was the last piece she had of her family, and most dear, her father. I cannot blame her for not wanted to let that go. But Boy Willie didn't see it that way. He wanted to do something that would have made his father proud, like own his own land. That I can understand too. As a black man in the 30's, I'm sure that was monumental. 

             This story made me challenge what I thought was more important. I try to live a non-materialistic life, possessions don't constitute as true wealth, but some do have sentimental value. Family history is something that resides in you, of that I am certain. It helps shape who you are, where you want to go in life and what you value. A possession doesn't do that. But this piano was more. It was a symbol of where they came from, a literal timeline. Plus, their own grandfather had handcrafted it and their father had lost his life over it. Although it was just a "thing," it was more than that. 

             Although it wasn't my favorite movie, I did enjoy the message. It incorporated ghosts and higher-power, which I just didn't care too much for in this case. But it was overall a pretty good watch, if not just to hear the songs they sang and used in the film.

 

 

 

A Doll's House

When the movie A Doll’s House first began, I was a little weary of what my opinion would be. I instantly began critiquing because quite simply, it was an older film. When the actors came out and I saw the clothing, I realized what the time period was. Personally, I don’t always make a connection to films of this area. Despite all of these factors, I tried to keep an open mind.  I knew that although the film was older and the time period isn’t always my favorite, I knew the underlying message had to be good if it was considered a “classic.”

            I was immediately disappointed as the first scene developed. The female character, Nora, was incredibly annoying to me. It was obvious that she had some sort of social standing, with her nice clothes and a house you presumed she was responsible in the caring of. Yet, she acted like a child! Squeaking and squealing, she pranced around the house as though she was a preteen girl, immature and materialistic. This was only heightened when her husband, Torvald, was introduced. Here they had a pitter-patter conversation, full of pet names and jokes. Of course there were some terms of endearment, but as the conversation went on, it became more insulting. Torvald spoke in a condescending tone and seemed more as the father who needed to steer his silly child into making responsible choices, not a conversation of a husband and wife.

            Now obviously I know that this was a different time period, a time where woman were not viewed as serious and insightful assets, but more as a possession of their spouse. Their duties were clear and cookie-cutter; they were to fill the role their husbands wanted them to, most typically a wife, mother and keeper of the home. This is shown repeatedly throughout the movie.

            I did like the fact that there were twists and suspense from characters like Kristine and Krogstad. Kristine was nice to see in a movie like this, a break from the naïve Nora. Here was a woman who didn’t live an Ivory-Tower life, but one of struggle and hard work. She was smart, and creative. She knew what she had to do to simply survive. The fact that she divorced her husband was also controversial for that time, yet she still did her best to maintain some dignity. Working so hard to support her family not only showed her character, but also that she did value things commonly valued in their society.

            Even as the storyline progressed and the character-development picked up, I was found myself forcing myself to stay interested. But, I lost interest. I just didn’t care about this little girl Nora and her relationship with her friends and family. I did want to know how she would get herself out of the financial mess she had got herself into and I thought the end result would be her walking away and abandoning her family out of fear, which was more annoying than anything.

            Then, it happened, the moment I had been yearning for. Torvald found the letter revealing Nora’s secret, despite their best attempts to keep him from finding out. Not to our surprise, he was anything but pleased. He was enveloped in rage, repeating “you stupid woman” over and over, while the reality of the situation he now found himself in, sunk in. Just as quickly as he found out about the ordeal, he received the second letter from Krogstad, which resolved the issue at hand and absolving the threat of blackmail and debt. When he began to apologize to Nora, there was no doubt in my mind that although she was hurt and embarrassed, she would forgive him and move on. What happened though was far from that picture.

            For the first time in the whole movie, Nora was real. She was smart and captivating. She finally stood up for herself and had an opinion. I couldn’t turn away, I was hanging on her every word. You couldn’t help but to feel a little bad for Torvald, that is until he opened his mouth. He was obviously surprised, but also ignorant to the feelings and personality of his wife. It was like watching their roles of their relationship reverse. The whole final scene played with each of your emotions and just as you watched their relationship change, your feelings towards the two changed as well.

            This whole scene really meant a lot to me. A few months ago, my parents decided the get a divorce.  I think a lot of the reason I didn’t like the plot and the characters is because I saw my parents in some of the scenes. No, my father did not talk to my mother as a pet like Torvald did and my mother isn’t a silly little girl, but I they did lead two different lives almost. My dad is all business, my mom is all about my sister and I. My dad doesn’t listen to my mom really, and is notorious for huge outbursts of anger-just to calm down and take back everything he screamed before. My mom is a push-over, she would do anything to please my dad, and she allows herself to be belittled if that means my dad will be happy. Now, they’ve pushed themselves to their own breaking points. They aren’t happy and they want to find themselves without each other.

I’ve always seen my mom as “weak.” I didn’t understand why she allowed my dad to do the things he has done to her. In return I suppose I’ve always been closer to my dad, but my mom’s confidant. When Nora started her speech, I saw my mom. Every word that came out of her mouth, I heard my mom talking. Just because my mom has tried so hard to make a marriage work for so long doesn’t make her “weak,” the stuff she has put up with, in fact, makes her incredibly strong. I can see where my mom is coming from more now, and the movie solidified my feelings.

I personally loved the ending. I can’t imagine how people of that time would have responded, a woman walking out on her family to “find herself,” but I thought it was beautiful. Her remarks about being a “doll” in both her father and husbands home, I could relate to. I feel like sometimes I’m simply playing a role that someone wants from me. In particular moments I catch myself playing things up to look better to someone else. I am a perfectionist by nature, and sometimes appearance is a huge priority of mine. I’ve had my moments of being so insecure, but wanting others to think the complete opposite. Walking away would have been devastating to a family, but Nora knew she was doing no one any favors by not being true to herself. 

We get so caught up in our hopes and dreams and sometimes we forget not to settle. But holding those around us on a pedestal doesn’t do any good either, in fact, it hurts everyone involved. The miracle Nora wanted, I believe we all hold on to. We want those we care about most to do anything for us, to push everything aside- despite right or poor judgments- and unconditionally defend us.

Overall, A Doll’s House, was real. It captured many different emotions, and showed the lengths one would take to simply protect themselves. The fact that it didn’t have a “happy” ending where everyone got what they wanted, was genuine. Those are the types of films I appreciate the most. Although it seemed to drag on a bit, I did enjoy watching this film.