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Act of Violence

Such a vast difference in funds, and pictures a male with a limp in the midst of memorial day. That’s actually the first time war was mentioned within the film. Catching sight of the man with the limp, he brought upon a hidden mystery into the mix of conflicting narratives.

As the shifty man calls, the husband had recently gone out to fish. Barreling music as the man signs everything he needs to. Hand delivering evidence to the right perceptive people. Doing everything himself shows that he has a one tract mind and nothing else to stand by his side. Trying to go at everything alone he is left with a metal gun.

The fisherman ended up finding out about the man attempting to kill him, and tried to run. Skeptical as Frank may be it gives question to what he did to the poor man. Or around him at all. Shocking his wife, it now gives a bit of tension to the atmosphere. Hearing the light trickle of water in the background gives the space eerie background noise. From the apparent description Frank was a patsy blamed for things he may not have done. Or just used as a punching bag.

Another reference to PTSD is when Frank puts down her idea for the police. Telling her it was just too much metal strain. Although with what we know now, if these problems aren’t taken care of they just get worse. Joe as we know as the supposed villain is has a different story. In the right of mind he was able to tell her what he strove through to get to this point. In one aspect you could say Frank was taking pity in other light he could be lying and running.

While talking to his wife in California he tries gaining height finding himself more important than the opposing opinion. Frank had been broken, and the others attempted to leave. Realizing that Frank had been the real villain in a taxing circumstances causes others to act. As impending death grows closer, he tries to get a drink at a closed bar. Where the bartender drinks the drink he left alone. Attempting to sell his own company to rid himself of his only mistake lead him to another chain of heavy dealings. A supposed lawyer is to help him get out of a bind Frank twisted himself into.

On top of it all he started to question himself and everything he has lived for. Did he create a nice life for himself or to cover up the guilt he feels from the war. Nevertheless it drives him to stand in front of a train with a blaring headlight looking suspiciously like a clock. As it gets closer and closer you can see his breath become greater and greater to the point where he ducks out of the way. Confirming his previous worry to only save himself.

As a result he relives the memory within a tunnel, and it seems that every memory is an echo. Shouting at random times, as the watcher gets bits and pieces of the situation. Hearing the distinguishing voice of everyone from the monologue in his head. Finally giving in to the delusion he lead himself to believe until he takes his future into his own hands.

Taking the bullet for another crime he had drunkenly set up cleansed his subconscious and helped the man that wanted to kill him in the first place. Essentially it was the only way to resolve the resounding issue’s between so many people in question. Joe was relived to see him die by someone else’s hand because he wont have to shoulder the burden of guilt or revenge any longer.

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Mad Max

The voice over identifies the beginning of how things are in an apocalyptic setting. As well as the introduction of Max as a character within this apocalyptic world. The beginning gives off a vibe that the main plot will be about his own experience when he accidentally gets wrapped up in something entirely different.  

A showing of frantic PTSD can make or break an environment. Whereas his running away from these unknown people caused a trigger to switch, and something to change his drive just enough for the rest of the men to catch up with him. This shows the struggles he deals with throughout the movie and how it affects someone in that position.  

Running the huge truck off the road is a sign of rebellion against him. The woman that was supposedly his property had gotten up to the point to drive an important vehicle. Apparently every one of those bald men are taught how to drive the cars correctly as opposed to Furiosa who obtained the vehicle through manipulative means. This very idea presents the outlook of sexism if the “breeders” weren’t enough to raise any red flags. Not to mention the bald men are all the same making it difficult to pay any attention to names.

Launching into this metallic storm everyone could feel the tension in the room. It was an uncanny discovery when everyone adjusted in their seats after it. Something that obviously shouldn’t be done is driven to great lengths to get these innocent women out of the poisonous environment some called home. Although as innocent as these women may be they are far from ignorant. Holding their own on a battlefield others can only dream of they flourished as opposed to requesting help instead of running away. 

Instead of the story line centering around the males the women are the ones fighting for their lives. This story is one where Max is taken along for the ride, quite literally since he cant be the one to drive. Furiosa took the time to punch in a code of sorts, so only she could run the engine. As Max gets every other gun from the front of the truck he forgets one knife that’s connected to the gear shift. Instead of coming to a truce where these people still get there water, they go the violent route and bustle there way through. While Max and these women are trying to escape the favorite of the bunch went into labor. In turn having the mother of the child put into danger and killed.

Ruling with lies he gets whatever he wants from holding power over the one thing people need, water. In the scene where the pregnant woman died she survived a head on collision with a rock, and given praise by Max. Giving these women respect was a new step, and a journey to the green place. The gun with only one shot left was nailed by the female lead. Giving her more experience whether she was trained or works effectively to have a careful eye.

When Nux finally decided to think for himself he joined the rebellions. As crows surround them as a sign of death. The fade out makes time move faster and dreams to be made. In one of the only slow moments its discovered that the main female lead just wants to go back home. A very simple request for herself and others, for it to be tarnished by the elements. Dreaming of a utopia she was given the last scraps of humanity as she knew it. Reference to the old testament my mentioning the “old world” as a religious niche. 

When he is with other people the visions do not appear, but as soon as hes alone they resurface. Causing him to re-join the group and present an idea. The scene with the males on sticks was actually shot the way you see it. The people on them were strapped down, but nevertheless the ways that they realistically used the spring functioning. Instead of dying for some unknown cause he dies for a loved one. 

The one who started everything just to make it back home is dying before him and Max finally tells her his name after keeping it a secret for the majority of their interactions. Maybe his name was more important than I originally thought. Finally letting Furiosa raise the ranks everyone presents the fallen Immortan Joe.

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Feature post #3

Hello again its your friendly neighborhood film writer struggling with late assignments. With the newest film that we watched Sicario and Hurt Locker along with Mad max. Whereas I intend to compare and contrast a female presence verses a male presence within the american judicial system, and acts of violence. In a place where chaos is present it can be difficult to get control. Hurt Locker constantly has protocol that they work under to avoid anything like photography being taken of the solders. Whereas the first time Kate walks in to the Mexican special ops she was given a drill and a safety precaution, but she wasn’t debriefed at all.   

Jumping right in James just casually removed his protective gear and started to look at the bombs wiring. His headset screamed about the time and halfway through looking for the detonator box he removed his communication focusing on the car and nothing else. Meanwhile pictures had threatened them with information being discovered about them. James thought he had the situation fully under his control even thought he put other lives in the balance. Kate doesn’t get a choice in conducting her own rules around protocol.

She was told during the briefing that the most dangerous area would be the borderline. “Likely hit.” I believe that’s how he worded it. Yet, when she arrived there everyone in her car was on guard to finally find a few cartel members with guns. After they had saw them they immediately engaged, before these members could even shoot. Something completely out of protocol threw her for a loop as she fought with the head of the department. She was out of her element and out of control without even having it in the first place. Referring to the bomb threat it was handled by James, getting beaten for it and praised. These were the only two reactions brought forth from different characters of the film.

His team member and a general among the ranks had walked up to him and immediately punched him in the face for refusing to talk to his team member. Whereas an older and higher ranking officer came over to him to shake his hand while asking how many other bombs he has diffused. 

Over 800 bombs that James had come across and lived through. This reinforcement is a huge masculine quality, violence met with admiration gives him pride in himself about his own accomplishments. Now coming back to Kate whom disagree’s with everything that just occurred before her she is degraded by her commanding officer telling her, “That’s how it works around here!” No information given these people just needed blind obedience, but she was a fighter and she wanted whoever killed 42 people behind prison bars. Speaking of she attempted to get him behind bars by working together a paper trail. 

Instead of going off on her own like James had done she tries to do the opposite, and get a working case against the man she volunteered to do this for. She was answered with the simplicity of not having enough evidence, since the line of credit ran cold. This blond woman would only deposited money through the bank with it physically with her. Or what turned out to be a facade to get the money into the bank, the woman was actually a male with a wig. Giving a bit of a symbol to the watcher that this money wasn't gathered by legal means. 

Her department agreed that something was wrong, but they had been very careful with handling the money. Showing that working inside the lines wouldn’t be beneficial to turn this man in. Further breaking her down from the only thing she knows well. Now from the movie hurt locker we run into an interesting parallel within the two films. “The movie reflects on the celebrated life of a soldier and is entitled, "war is a drug." The soldier vividly displays war as a drug that needs to be taken by all soldiers at all times of their lives for their survival.” 

Sicario is a film about the war on drugs while Hurt Locker highlights on how war can become a drug. I think the same thing apply’s in Sicario, but as an underlying fact. That the battlefield is tough and made to be fought with more violence rather than logic. Giving an addictive rush of adrenaline in return. 

Whenever I think of the thrill of the fight I always remember the borderline scene where everyone took the extra step to attack first ask questions later. Giving Kate an abrupt wake up call being in the position of order instead of enjoyment. Not to mention, one of the main characters tries to concentrate on using violence instead of intelligence.

The actor that plays his character backs up the same ideal. Since he was risen in violence its only customary to use it to overcome issues brought on by it. Another showing of violence is during the movie Mad Max. Where gender rolls now play a bigger portion of the movie. Women are not supposed to know how to act mu like Kate, but as we see in the female lead of Mad Max is the polar opposite. 

She is manipulative and dangerous, making the outlook of women a much deeper character than the scratched surface of Kate within the Sicario. Now comparing this film to Hurt Locker she resembles the need for survival rather than a drug for adrenaline. The Hurt Locker has a tense atmosphere around diffusing bombs to save others, but in Mad Max its the question of if they will get out alive. 

In which some of them don’t. Mad Max is a much more pleasing film to watch because your given information about what is happening. Furiosa was in control and leading the movie whereas Kate was the background playing the part of the audience. Watching things go by wasn’t a good experience. 

Returning back to Hurt Locker the comparison of characters would probably turn out as Sanborn and Kate on the same playing field. Sanborn has a concise grasp on the rules and moving within them accordingly. As well as the comparison of watching the scene play out before you. Sanborn wasn’t the main character and he ended up watching as James screwed around and did whatever he wanted. 

Getting cover when things go weary and being completely focused on the objective. Is the structure that Kate needed in mexico but never had the chance to achieve since everything and everyone was working against her. 

Essays, UK. (November 2013). The Hurt Locker Analysis Film Studies Essay. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/film-studies/the-hurt-locker-analysis-film-studies-essay.php?vref=1

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Sicario

Looking for hostages only to discover bodies within the walls. Setting up the movie for a bittersweet story line that her search team found by accident. Ties her to one person that did 42 murders, and damns her to a hell of uncertainty.

After discussing her marital life these men talk about a department she wasn’t a part of they explained to her things that she did not know. Showing intellectual dominance, but invited back in she was offered a volunteer position to take in the people who owned the house from a Mexican cartel member. 

Yet, picturing the news report within the movie was a way to incorporate the frame addition within the lends of the camera. Tagging along on someones private jet she wasn’t exactly told anything about what was happening or where she would end up.

Hearing a bit of his dream brought us to an understanding of PTSD. Relating to the dreams you get while your falling, probably hinting at his fear of heights or something deeper since the slight feminine screams from the audio bit.

The wide lens of the camera pictures everything that this department is supposed to cover. Making operations seem small in a sense. The music gets louder and more ominous as the scene shows a flurry of cars trying to leave mexico.

First person perspective shows essentially the journey into madness. From the back of the jeep and the many times that the vehicle bounced. Of course the same perspective happens within the van; out the window.

The flags flying in the background during their argument about the first shooting that occurred within the cars in traffic. Is supposed to be a symbol to the way things are done in mexico. Zooming in on the drain with the water present, hints at another form of torture called water logging. As well as the humiliation to damage the prisoners mind.  

Her friend sees the change in her behavior and the new way she has to live. Looking around her shoulder and viewing the people trying to leave the country. Question are present, and they do not adhere to her first offer, but with a male present they change their answer.

As she keeps hitting the next button it seems almost endless as more load after the next. Its gets worse and worse the further she goes on as the camera zooms into the screen. Making the atmosphere tense for the viewer. Even the helicopter lens soars over the homes and at some points they look like ammunition. Drawing the viewers eyes around the entire space.

Very close outlook into security camera’s and the same ominous music to match. Millions of dollars stolen and nothing done about it, because the case isn’t stable. Attempting to gather something tangible she runs into the bank and gets her face caught on camera. Trying to capture a stable case amidst all the chaos because she wants the man behind bars.

She is brought into an environment with no security or protocol, and it backfires as a result. Attempting to look for a way to that structure, she almost ended up as one of the bodies she found from before.

Her volunteered presence is selective. Not needed for her skill, but for her gender. While this is happening a gendered pink color to a drug as it was loaded into a police car. As well as the wide lens picturing the car driving into the storm. Then after the Alejandro aims a gun at Kate it changes the flow of things. She wasn’t supposed to see something of the sort; getting lost and being the curious investigator she prides herself to be. Her future hung in the balance which forced her hand.

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Invasion

At first a shuttle from space had crash landed causing a bit of rucks within the media, but not really getting much attention after the metal had landed on earth. Quite honestly many different news companies covered the topic, but the characters we followed didn’t have an inherent interest in the crash. It was just another fad until others started to realize the changes. Except for the main investigator on the case who happened to be our main character’s ex husband. He went into the contamination zone with precautions, but failed to keep himself uncontaminated. As a little girl approached to give him a piece of the shuttle in which he cut his finger starting the virus in his area.  

In this specific angle, the camera doesn’t show the little girls face. Making a point of how you can tell if someone has the virus. I thought this was a bold move in making sure it wasn’t quite detectable. Then after a night at his home, he called his wife and immediately asked for his son after he accepted only connecting with him on occasion. A weird request, but it could be reasoned with. As well as one of her patients telling her a similar thing.

A human’s first reaction to a worldwide epidemic is gradual because no one want’s to believe that’s the case. Then the animal situation is presented to the audience as a sign of instinct that dogs get when they’re uneasy. We are presented with the notion of the golden loving the man before the story told to carol in a cut scene. Suddenly a dog barks abnormally while going for trick or treating. This whole movie is a reminder to trust your animals, because they know something is wrong before you do.

Not to mention after the child was bitten he didn’t show any reaction to the pan at all. Something I found interesting about this movie was the purpose of the aliens. The question if they’re good for humanity or worse for the world as a disease. The virus doesn’t hurt the body only the nerves and suppresses a few memories. They would still be the same people, with emotion gone it would help the earth and relations flourish. Since those white blood cells were in their body whose to say they couldn't survive in extreme cold or warmth. 

Yet, the movie tries to actively show us that emotion is needed for the safety of others, but this scene could be taken in two ways. The possibility of emotion being to much to bear. Having to choose between being mindless or death they chose the latter. It could be argued that if they became infected then it would be a better situation for the two of them. Probably live longer and thrive with memories of each other. 

The woman that talked to Carol at the beginning of the movie had been the answer to the question, and lead Ben and herself to the next convenient task. As she searches for her son Carol often come across times where she has to act upon acting. In which she does very well, and gets the message across to the viewer. Finally finding him at his grandmothers home he is still unfazed. With the heroic distraction of Ben to get to this point she was on her own. 

ADEM, a diagnosis to help the white blood cells is essentially a nerve protector. On the final stretch of the movie it shows something eerily familiar to the outspread virus. A happy family with casual banter and the same child she shoved into a bed post 

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Hurt Locker

The whole movie takes a different spin on the events that the military have to suffer through. It’s an increasingly tense atmosphere and the treat of death is very imminent. Yet, the main character gets the high off of that life or death adrenaline. Whereas it gives us an inside perspective of what these soldiers are thinking. 

The very first scene pictures someone’s death and funeral in very quick flashes of emotion and hurt. This does a great job to set the tone on where the movie will start. Tense atmosphere makes the watchers eager to see where these characters end up. 

Afterword the bomb specialist is replaced at an alarming rate. This shows the need for someone to disarm bombs in such a situation like this one. Throwing the other solders into a spin since they need to get along with another man in his place. Giving shinning praise to the past specialist Thomas and trying to set James up on a high pedestal. While demeaning his new teammate. 

Yet, James doesn’t take anything to heart and bushed the threats off like a bit of dust left over from an explosion. In this reality everything is constantly changing in a war zone. In turn drives the adrenaline behind the thrill of life and death. Yet, curve balls can be thrown at you from all sides. For example, the lighthearted scene where James humors a young boy trying to sell CD’s.

That line of being inherently human is blurred by the fact that these people are not just technicians. The moral line of creating bomb in public places have grown to storing them into dead bodies. Possibly creating a suicide bomber with no external threats. Yet, after James saw the dismembered boy on the operating table he reacted.

Questioning himself on why this boy might be the one who had talked to him before. Or maybe even comparing it to his daughter at home. It hit a nerve and the next time he saw the boy with CD’s he avoided him completely. Even though he does actions that only the boy would know, but he refutes him over raw emotion. We see something like this occurring again with the suicide bomber. 

Like the young boy displayed on the table this man was completely innocent. He did not want to die, and tried to get help from the person to disarm the bombs. Which mean’t James was in charge of a life aside from his own. Suddenly this love for wires and electronics comes to a screeching halt, whereas James gets flustered at an easy fix. 

Then the process starts the same way that it began. Showing the ride of emotions and combat of thrill on the barren streets. It doesn’t end. It simply restarts with other people and different circumstance. 

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Marie Antoinette

The first showing of this women in bed, told us her linage and who she is to be. This Austrian woman is someone very loving and pure with a puppy to match her personality. Becoming someone else that luxury was taken away. Striping her warm yellow dress for an icy blue one. This physical undressing shows the divide between who she is and whom she needs to become. In other words her walls must become icy for any survival in France. 

The first classical male to speak is vulgar and rude. Turning out to be the father of the next king. Only meeting unruly french women, she is obviously uncomfortable. Having the public view her is very intimidating and the film shows this through enhanced background noise. 

Upon entering the palace she is met with many different servants bowing to her as her face is still tightly knit. Instead of friends and family at this wedding it is the public judgments that the new queen must shoulder. She seems to do the motions of queen, but her personality still shows through the restraints. This is her attempt of holding onto an identity that she can no longer hold. Her signature was less impressive than her husbands, but nevertheless she signed the document. 

While the night after the marriage was placed on a pedestal. Even getting dressed was transferred to other people like a baton, not to mention she couldn't even keep water. Finally in a dress of pink she is getting accustomed to the life in France. The diner table scene especially hints at the way individuals view one another. The class actually laughed while a couple ridiculed Madame Du Barry that burped.

In a position to sexually please someone Marie is married to someone that doesn't find her sexually pleasing at all. Yet, its her fault that she isn’t attractive enough. Her own mother is ridiculing her for not trying hard enough, while the rest of the women make one mistress seem terrible in every way. As on now I personally like the mistress character better than Marie, she shows her thoughts and personality consistently despite being looked down on. He’s just very slow to the uptake because its hard to understand women.

Interesting music choice for a masked ball, but in this situation she is finally able to be herself. This song Sexual innuendos are a constant in this movie. “I’m sure things will go swimmingly.” or “Look at that sword, I’d like to see what he can do with that.” 

After the marriage Marie only holds resentment for him. As he will not comply to her advances, while everyone else blames her for incompetence. Kissing the dice is a sign of good luck, but she didn't win from his luck. Giving us a mental picture of their relationship. After her night of luxury she comes to the grim realization of her position, and how much she actually spent. 

The scene where the politicians are talking among themselves, is when her husband finally got a lesson on women. By adhering to his interests about locks, and having a key to said physical lock. No one used to clap until she stepped up and encouraged it. With her gentle touch, France became a gentle place. 

Her husband doesn't question her in the slightest, even though she longs for another. Which she obtained even though her position might be compromised. With black lipstick she was presumed to say “Let them eat cake.” Even though the french had been starving. That gentle touch had turned into thorny vines awaiting fresh blood.

Her people no longer wanted her as the queen making it painfully clear with the repeated scene with the opera where no one clapped with her to praise the performance. She had a miscarriage and a painting had been physically taken down, with a very small coffin in the next scene to match. While this movie was rolling the filmmakers try to highlight some of the famous paintings of the time.  

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Persona

The beginning of this movie held many symbolic devices. Killing a deer for food and picturing its insides. Then leading to a hand being nailed to some wood, possibly showing catholic undertones. Hysterical reactions were a fancy way of stating that women weren't happy because of less sexual stimulation or whatever reason that men didn’t care to find out. Nevertheless because of a male dominated society women were just assumed hysterical and left it at that. 

An actor simply started to laugh while trying to make the movie Electra. In which we know daredevil to well nowadays. Of whom was the maid speaking? To the audience or to herself? The reason why the actor laughs is because she uses humor to make her situation better than it is. Her demeanor suggests she is afraid, of everything coming to an end. Laughing of how small she is on the earth, and cutting herself off from her loving family.Talk of slight anxiety while they just have a nice positive time.

The actor might have had a husband and a son that loves her, but any mention of a friend was for naught. Which is what the nurse might become. The reason she was chosen for such a job is her dedication and mental strength. Her nurse knows who she is and doesn't mind sharing, possibly getting the actor to say something about herself. She didn't feel comfortable with her friend with doing lewd things, but they all laughed to break the awkwardness. 

The nurse is obviously disturbed by her lack of loyalty, and goes on to tell her husband everything that happened. From her own will the nurse takes it upon herself to force the woman to speak. From this film it could be discussed on what “mentally sound” is compared to now. Elisabeth lives her memories through her nurse, and tires to run away from her choices. Her anxiety speaks to her in her nurses voice telling her that she wasn't good enough as a woman. She needed motherliness, or else she couldn’t have it all. Her nurse appears to her as other characters in her head, or in other words. Multiple personality disorder. Who is the real nurse anymore.

As well as the showing of the little boy where both of these women either lost their children or found dislike in having a child. After one person had to be everything that people told her to be she finally broke. While her nurse is in the same boat whereas she didn’t want to feel left out and engaged in sexual intercourse with more than one person. Like the note from her patient stated she had an abortion because of it. 

The question pertains who this boy could possibly be since the image that he is stroking changes from the nurse to the patient. It could be entirely possible that this boy is a manifestation for both of them to connect. Its the physical chain link, or this could be something more philosophical. More like this boy could’ve been the nurses, but ended up with the actor as his mother. Hinting at the man both of them might have slept with was the same.

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Feature post #2

In this feature I’ll be talking about the comparisons of the newer and older versions of “The Beguiled” by Coppola and Siegel . The rendition from Siegel‘s film was more suspenseful. The music was deeper and louder, as well as the background noise of crows and crickets. Not to mention the Amy was much older than the first movie adaption. The Alicia was more individualized than the rest her age. While she was learning instead of simply paying attention like the rest of her class she was distracted even before the male showed his face.

Completely skipped the scene of the man kissing the little girl on the lips. Whereas Coppola makes the older women more predominant and tries to put more of the lustful relations on Alicia. “He requires tender care, which most of the residents, especially Edwina and the more forward Alicia (Elle Fanning), are only too happy to provide, although the erotically heightened mood takes a sudden plunge into the farce of Petit Guignol.”This is an example of showing changes within the country and our changed outlook on pedophilia. Or this could be an example of sugar coating the film from the first. The Martha isn’t as intimidating as the first, but says around the same lines. Woman like skills are present within her, but strength is something that she lacks in the new movie, oddly enough. “Martha’s Southern Lady persona enables the film to explore the duality of the female skills (wound-stitching, nursing, cooking, hospitality) that initially save McBurney.” These ladies are still nurturing nevertheless. Tying into the stereotypes of women in general. Showing the woman sewing the mans leg back together she is calm and collected rather than unsure of what she is doing.

Showing the gory sewing job it cuts to a scene of most of the girls sewing doilies. As the head of the household cleans the man of his dirt and grime it seems to be more of a sexual venture. In turn she collects herself, and gets back to her duties. As one of my classmates stated the women are a little more devious. Structuring sentences just enough to get what they desire. Usually the entirety of the school is supervised. Now that the man is awake he is more open with his emotions. the newer movie pictures more of a humanized male and weaker willed girls who sought power from other means of activity. 

The little girl that notably always knows to grab the right mushrooms in the last film actually checks in with the head mistress for clarity. Even though in Siegel’s film the Amy already had that knowledge. From the beginning he knows that he is intruding and walking very fragile ground. As a response to male presence the women of the household dress up to look nice in front of him. Not to mention in the time span of the last movie there was an African American maid. In the newer rendition she isn’t present within the movie at all. 

The scenery is much more vibrant, but the drum in the background gives the movie an eerie undertone. Finally the kissing scene of the second woman shown is cast during the dead of night, instead of the bright morning. Actively shadowing the act instead of glorifying it. They even include him in a christian melody of prayer. Every girl sings around the piano, and suddenly there was a knock at the door. Leaving the rest of the women with the male, giving him the partial role of protection. 

Instead of asking them to leave immediately, the men strolled in to grab a bite to eat. The girls asked if they could help the guards in any way and the head mistress hinted, “No you do not want to put temptation in their way.” As if their mere presence would either remind them of home, or something much worse.  Yet, from the other movie it pictured these men, and you were able to feel the tense atmosphere. Jealousy overcomes the group of young girls, and they bicker about who knows him best. As if he was a trophy to win of whom was the best, in his minds eye. The head mistress still keeps true to her word, and reflects feminist qualities much like the last movie.

“You may assist us in the yard work.” From this small quote, I remembered from Siegel’s that the women of the school completed those tasks. By the tutor of the maid as she instilled a different type of teaching to the girls of the school.

You see making the little girl that found him his best friend rather than a love interest sensors the movie rather than the earlier version that wanted to combat taboo’s. Wanting to stay in a peaceful place the head mistress gave him a set time for him to go about his way. Now that he is going to leave he decided to speak to the person he fell in love with. Confessing to her, she complied and wished to go with him. Another interesting thing I’ve noticed is the hierarchy around who took over the teaching home. There was not mention of  the woman staying for the children or the next upcoming students. Giving a bit of question to the school itself, and the dinner highlighted my worry. Every girl found interest in him and actively tried to get his attention. 

“I picked the apples.” 

“Its my recipe.” 

“I cooked it.” 

“Apples are my favorite too.”

Another interesting parallel is from the first movie he was coaxed by one of the girls to sleep with him, and the second movie he left his room himself to sleep with one of the girls before he left. Now his sources for blame are misguided by the fact that he did this to himself. 

This rendition shifts the blame and makes the women look more innocent. Resorting to violence on the women he slept with to get what he desires. Attempting to recover from his mistake, and intimidating one of the girls in the process. 

Threatening his masculinity he resorts to the only thing men were raised for: fighting and violence. Suddenly her precious love became a rape scene. Another notion of sexual intercourse wasn’t prevalent in the first movie to show honor in a man. Siegel was actually trying to complete the opposite with the battle surrounding sexual intercourse as of his own time period. “The story may sometimes come off as a ribald soldiers’ tale that Siegel, born in 1912, had been awaiting a sexual revolution to tell; still, his intense, intelligent breakdown of the film’s wild outbursts reveals subtleties of love, despair, and shame beneath the schematic luridness.” Only to drink his problems away and shut himself in. Even though these are different movies they show a similar sense of power and masculinity. Instead of stopping her she doesn't like mushrooms, but she would accept them if they came from his serving hand. No burial scene like the first movie, he is just cast aside like any other problem that they come across. 

R., B. (2017). The Beguiled (1971). New Yorker, 93(19), 13.

Stables, K. (2017). The Beguiled. Sight & Sound, 27(8), 61-62.

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Bug

Starting off with enhanced sensory overload of different sights and sounds. Even the taste of the smoke off of the woman's cigarette. This might be foreshadowing around the man that Agnes meets and what his issue revolve. As well as the state her apartment is in.

Silent while cleaning, giving the woman a hopeful outlook even though shes in a precarious position. Yet, as shes cleaning her first inclination is to open a new bottle of wine and drink it from a glass next to the person contentiously calling her. Setting up a stalker and the anxious undertones of the movie.

While shopping in the store she seems to be jumpy and longingly staring at the vegetable section. Specifically at the onions, I believe the zoom feature was used to bring a memory to the surface that the viewer didn’t see. Cutting to the bar it seemed like it was a distraction to the bigger picture. As well as the drugs and alcohol on the side. Around the same time, he walked through the door. Peter comes inside from R.C’s good recommendation.  

When her friend leaves to handle something at the bar Ange and Peter talk among themselves under the blue light. Hinting at more foreshadowing within the film to give the movie a creepier aura. Finally the first hint of his paranoia had begun with the relentless search for a cricket that turned out to be her fire alarm. Hinting at the possibility of an electronic bug. Considering the phone calls she gets the thought isn't very absurd.

The next scene pictured another man emerging from her shower, with a towel around his wait. Asking if she expected someone else, in which she thought it was Peter. His appearance shook her to the core quite literally and figuratively. Shoving her against the wall and beating her it signified her past relations with the man, and her relationship in general. 

Getting close and personal is his way of controlling her into doing only what he wants. Even ratting out people for her, and expecting admiration on the flip side. Ange’s first words to him were to get out of the house, and for good reason. He even went as far as using her things for his own selfish purposes. While his control was mainly physical her mind had been recovered. Traumatized, but still recovered. Yet, instead of the physical abuse given to her she now fell back into the same situation with another man while her ex was absent.

At first Peter seemed interested in bugs more than anything else, but it turned into something greater as time went on. the slow lead up to his delusions made Ange believe that he was telling the truth. Aside from her hard knit personality she fell victim to such a tactic. Possibly because her last relationship started the same way.  

This facade went as far as getting her best friend to leave the two of them to their own devices. Showing the cuts on his body that he made himself because of the bugs he imagined biting him. When in actuality the bugs he would repeat over and over don’t bite people at all. A simple google search tells us that aphids do not bite humans nor plant. You can even see the bug catchers hanging all around the apartment in the back.

As you can see behind him, tin foil coats the ceiling and the walls around them. Peter after pulling his tooth out in a grotesque and frantic scene, becomes convinced that there was an egg sack in his tooth. Leading to the environment that another man trying to help dies in. Merely catching the sight of the two of them makes your skin crawl. As it did for most of the audience. Finally Peter jumps off the deep end by sticking a knife through his social worker.

Then to escape their hell of murder in the 1st degree they make a vow to end it and everything that the conspiracies are trying to control. This man brought her into a new kind of relationship that ultimately got her killed. Instead of abuse to the physical body he introduced harm to the mental state. Effectively painting it in a horrid light for the climax of the movie.

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The Sniper

As a black and white movie the gray tones stick out almost as much as the male lead. He is somewhat of an odd character, and to compensate he tried to win people over by peace and lies. Yet, in reality he is shooting them down from a distance to battle rejection within himself.

The women in the photographs are within the target of a gun as if to aim at them. The main character seems to have a grudge against the opposite sex. “My mother never taught me anything.” This is a simple indication that he was abused in one way or another as a child, maybe even neglected.

The note that he had written was sent to the police and graciously received. Instead of challenging authority it looked like he was crying for help. Wanting someone to stop the impulsive behavior, that he in acts everyone someone refused his advances. Giving our main lead a morality to him.

This movie reminds me of the second blog covered “In cold blood.” Similar attributes reflect within this film, but this time around they cover the insanity plea. Mentioning it more than using it, but nevertheless making it evident. If the main lead received therapy earlier he might have turned out better.

This scene notes his anger toward women in general. As the investigators try to pin down the murder they noticed that his type of women is a brunette. Although the woman in the cage getting dumped into the water was in fact a blonde. Eventually he started to throw the baseballs at her Instead of the target of humiliation.

Finally he was seen by a water tower painter, and he was conflicted with his outburst. Causing him to lash out and shoot the man down. Although to get the public’s attention the man threw down his can of pain creating a symbolic white stain on the pavement. This tactic helped the film as well as the situation. It was more noticeable in a black and white film that it would be for a colored film.

In close knit corners he was forced to act on on people that he never wanted to hurt including himself. 

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Pain & Gain

Instead of effective camera play this movie finds its constructive attributes within the political irony, and symbolism of the film itself. from the very start of the film, there was a body builder looking for something to make his mark on the world as an intellectual instead of insecure masculinity. Whilst watching a presentation he decided to be a notable “do-er”.

Daniel watching this happen before him chose to take for others and flourish himself. Making the move to kidnap, extortion, and torture. Daniel works to get a team, and successfully takes another man’s money and livelihood.

Being the american flag is something to remember, since they are supposedly the symbols of american society. Daniel, Paul, and Anthony combine to form something greater than themselves, or at least that’s what they believe. From the beginning to end this movie is just a chaotic, and nonsensical. Whereas these three got away with way to many things. 

For example, hiding their victim in a sex toy factory. Not to mention, they failed to kill the man that was their undoing. Making a greater struggle to rekindle what they never had. Choosing who to inter-monologue was thrown into the air, or seemingly picked out of a hat. There really wasn’t a clear distinction between who was the most important. Indicating the Democratic society of the American dream, as well as needed the best of everything.

This explosion erupted from the car that all three of them drove around trying to run Victor over. Yet, he survived as they walked away from the blast. Adding to the chaos ensued within the film itself. Every single one of them were also given names throughout the story using the ploy of hitting the fourth wall. For example the rock is given the label “Week Link.” 

Rock portrayed as the week link puts a spin on the outlook of himself in real time. Giving this character an ironic part to play in this movie of symbolism. 

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Feature Post #1

This post is going to be a little different. Instead of analyzing another film, I'll be concentrating on the similarities or references of one film to the next. Generally, I will concentrate on Matewan and The Molly Maguires, adding in a few honorable mentions along the way. As for the first film watched, I will be observing The Molly Maguires and the differences between the other.

Taking place in the 1870s, this film helps to cover what exactly happened in Pennsylvania with a mysterious organization taxed committing heinous crimes. Part of the film itself was in fact a ploy to get evidence against this organization as a man acted from the inside. James infiltrated with a different last name, and won the trust of the supposed organization leader. Although he tried against them by name in court, there was no official evidence found to convict them indefinitely. At the time period of this film all twenty of the molly maguires were tried and sentenced to death. All twenty of them hanged with no remorse or fairness in court. To this day there is a memorial for the fallen in Pennsylvania.

What I noticed about the film work is how much the director chooses to use silence, and background noise. Instead of a song to overlay the atmosphere the director chose to erupt conversation within the pub to create a sense of realistic environment. Using the placement of each shot was also carefully looked at. The main focus of the camera usually dragged your eyes to the far left or right of the screen. 

The topic of good and bad wasn’t very clear within the film, mostly because even the detective was astounded of how poorly they were treated while getting each of their shares from the work day. This happens because the mollies intentions had been somewhat reasonable, but instead of protesting they chose to go about it with an opposing organization. Then on the flip side the police way of handling the situation was to kill them without solid proof. Finding yourself in a precarious position in the film, finding which side is which is harder because it relies on the viewers moral code.

 “Pinkerton's account reads so self-evidently as a biased celebration of the triumph of "good" over "evil," Even the detective agency at the time thought they were in the right by carrying out the deeds they’ve committed.

As for the movie Matewan set in the 1920′s within the hostile hills of West Virginia attributes around the mines have changed. Referencing back to my first post about the maguires, I made a point about the candle’s mounted to each worker’s skull. These flickering lights eventually changed to that of electricity because of the time difference. Following in the same footsteps as The Molly Maguires, Matewan had refugee’s searching for jobs to help pay and treated all the same. 

The divide between races was shown much more in this film then the maguires since there had been more people from different places. Prejudice following them close behind. This shows the deep timeline within Matewan that the maguires didn't quite focus on. This reminds me of a very notable scene in the movie that covers what a “unity” is defined as. Few Clothes Johnson strolls into a union meeting about himself and the people that traveled with him to West Virginia. “I ain’t never been called a scab, and I ain’t startin’ up now!” Joe, who has been observing the meeting’s direction with obvious disapproval, steps into the middle of the crowd. Pointing at Few Clothes, he speaks with eloquence and passion: “You think this man is your enemy? Huh? This is a worker! Any union keeps this man out ain’t a union, it’s a goddamn club! They got you fightin’ white against colored, native against foreign, hollow against hollow, when you know there ain’t but two sides in this world—theme that work, and them that don’t.” As for taking up guns and dynamite, Joe argues that violence is what the bosses want, as it will allow them to portray a legitimate campaign for better wages and working conditions as a criminal insurrection. There is only one way they can win: “we got to work together—together—till they can’t get their coal out of the ground without us.” And, Joe adds, every man who walks out must be accepted as an equal member of the union, including “all the dagoes and all the colored.” Instead of forming an organization against the main problem of the film they called this small gathering in the town a union of sorts. It was where people would be fairly treated and given fair pay no matter who they were. Our main character really highlighted that aspect of the film with his notable speech to the rest of the individuals in the room.

In different time periods these films accent each other in similar circumstance. Yet, one film is superior to the next in certain ways and vice versa, for example the beginning of The Molly Maguires. Professor Brems made a small voiceover to capture the slight cough of the miners, then leading to the placement of the explosions. Everything had been background noise to let the film show itself. In my opinion I believe that Matewan failed at letting the film work show, too many songs over the actions of the workers. Or simple situations occurring, that could’ve been effective absence.

Zappia, Charles A. “Labor, Race, and Ethnicity in the West Virginia Mines: Matewan.” Journal of American Ethnic History, vol. 30, no. 4, 2011, pp. 44–50. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/jamerethnhist.30.4.0044.

Kenny, Kevin. “The Molly Maguires in Popular Culture.” Journal of American Ethnic History, vol. 14, no. 4, 1995, pp. 27–46. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/27501985.

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Matewan

In this opposing mining movie the miners have small light bulbs attached to their helmets showing the time that this movie took place. The music is much more prevalent within this film. As well as the accents of the people within the town, slurring a bit of their speech and slight vocabulary holes shows how much education is taught. 

Armed white men told the black passenger’s riding behind the seated passenger cars to get out off the train solely for white men to attack them. The scuffle lasted for awhile an the train began to leave without them. Indicating that these people have been taken to the south. Meanwhile someone had been watching the feud from afar from the last passenger car door. This white man did nothing and turns up on the doorstep of someone who got his just deserts in the fight of “colors”. 

During the union men’s meeting one of the black men from the train appeared before them and opened their eyes to the racial finger pointing. The newer man that showed up on that doorstep succeeded in getting everyone’s attention to make a point that everyone is viewed as a tool to be used. Not as a worker given rights or even food. 

Showing a bit of a take away with two parties of extreme measures. One group of Italian’s that weren't given many options. “We work for the union, you shoot us. We don’t work for the union, you shoot us.” The opposing group, men of darker skinned folk are met with the same problem. Two different situations treated in a similar way.

Equality in this film is much like the blurred line between a written book and a film adaption. Speaking of adaption a few of the characters within this movie do not have English as a first language leaving it up to the adaptation of the translator. 

The company men from out of town are every kind of horrible. Racist, sexist, and disrespectful to those around them. They have the utmost power and do what every they want with the people in the town. Painting them as the villains of the movie, and placing the rolls of hero or savior. 

Another notable aspect of this movie has to do with the repetitive showing’s of the preacher. He will speak him mind through and through that is until he was threatened by the two men above. Never the less he was the first hint in a chorus of many to identify the actual spy.

This young preacher watched his friend die right in front of him. Even though he gave the names up after terrible torture, and this boy had spoke about three people dropping like flies. Actively trying to dehumanize death, while in turn becoming a victim to it. The choice of conversation before the death of his faithful friend was a good decision, because it shows the carefree relationship between the two.

One by one at the gruesome ending of the film people fall from gunshot wounds. Company men brought heavy artillery, and their call to arms was answer by more violent displays. All of the stress building up throughout the film was expelled all at once with the large shoot out.  

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The Molly Maguire’s

Starts off the movie with miners just causally working in caves. Showing a bit of birds eye view to see them through the cracks of the ground. The film is in color, but these men do not have light bulbs to see, only by candle light. Traveling back from the mines the group of men don’t say a word to each other. They left the water cans do the work. Finally what seemed like perfect order, turned out to be an explosive reality.

An investigation had been in place to find out who blew up the mines, and to get an edge on the mining incident the investigator went undercover. Using a staged fight to win trust over the people within the town. As each character walks through the door they gravitate to the camera, indicating the closeness of the encounter. 

The investigator is horribly paid with wages in absurd amounts. 16 cents a car, and after pushing around 19 of them he received around 9 dollars. Until deductions had been put in place. He had only received 24 cents. In turn someone had tried to create conversation only for him to rudely recommend different choice in music. Background sound is usually used instead of specific music, hence fourth the conversation beforehand.

The man to the left believes that he was in jail or had done something against the law to end up where he did. Asking him about it the investigator played it off, only for him to save him from a pile of coal. Then he goes further to talk of killing someone in cold blood to get his trust as the man seems to be gaining information.

On the flip side directly after his talk, one of the women of the town warned him of the man that saved his life. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, the male had a group conversation about the potential “spy”. 

Within the classic game of soccer, two teams fought against each other. The score was shown on a wooden scoreboard, with a few white chalk numbers. Playing around with worms eye view to show the feet of the actors, and the ruthless nature one team portrayed over the other.  

Silence is very delicate in this film. It’s used quite a bit, to hit at the distance between the homeowner and the renter. Unlike the rest of the “Molly Maguire’s”. Not to mention, during this same instance the leader of these Maguire’s walked into said home to inform him of the plausible cult. As his mean surrounded him he was asked to kneel in-front of their leader. Showing dominance over the new comer, the leader told him about every signal. 

The progression of the coal seems to indicate the plot line much more than, anything else in the film because the action is their job. The very notion of the mining is concrete and set in every man’s schedule. Nothing changes that, and the interesting part is that more and more information is shown about how the coal is mined and transported. Much the same as how much the investigator knows about the cult meetings.

At times we see this take away when it comes to the investigator’s relationships. We go into question of which side he really plays for. Yet, because of this deception he’s able to give valuable information to the police. This situation is more of a slippery slope then the two had realized. The policeman had told the investigator, of the many witnesses and alibis those had obtained. Instead of a simple group of men, it turned out to be the whole town.

Yet, as he gets closer to his homeowner, the investigator figures out her overwhelming mortality. Seeing himself in her eyes he regrets that he cant tell her whom he truly is. In turn the investigator struggles with the town and they’re overwhelming problem. It had been a loosing battle from the start, and the investigator attempted to stop them. It was too late, but The Molly Maguire’s pressed on.

Candles and soot are very common in this film and often used to enhance the space. As well as the aspect of candles and how these wax lights are used for soft lighting. Although the properties of coal soot is a dark shade of black, but the powder like quality to it hides just enough. Not to mention the conversation of powder at the conclusion of the film. 

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In Cold Blood

At the start of this film we see a lot of confusing jump cuts to show both sides of the coin. Introducing the two perpetrators Jerry and Dick while consecutively giving us the victim’s family on a silver platter.

Dick resting on the right while Perry resides in the drivers seat. Iconically we don’t know how the murder occurred, and throughout the rest of the film everyone is very broad while mentioning the Clutters murder.

Finding this film to focus on the killers more than the victim showed an interesting parallel to the casual murder mystery. Not to mention in the book, the family had a better introduction. They were all shown one by one. Whereas in the film everyone in the family was briefly viewed.

Yet, because the film adaption concentrated more on the perpetrators of this story we discovered emotional trauma through calculated editing and the use of flashback material. Jerry watched his father kill his mother after he disappointed him.

In turn from this scene he was treated the same way. His family made him a killer and Jerry had no read control over it. One of the investigators said something notable, “How can a perfectly sane man, commit an absolutely crazy act.” He even said himself in the police car. That he thought these people were nice, but they had been there at the wrong time.

Then in his final moments the choice of heartbeat for this scene was very well placed. It signifies the end of his life even though he was terrified the whole time. As with the covering of the eyes to emphasize the sound.

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Fargo

In our investigation to seek adaption we watched the film above. Quite frankly, I didn't understand the context nor the point to this movie other than the main character struggling to stay afloat in oil. As the film casually hinted with separate scene’s Jerry was placed in a precarious situation with a few cars stolen from the lot he worked at. 

Jerry had the notable job of a car sales man with the added ego of a fourteen year old. He wouldn't succumb to the higher up’s or trust anyone, but himself in his own problems. Going as far as putting his wife on the line was already deemed too far. He left his only son alone while he promptly got arrested. This film ascents average life in a small town very well. Using camera angles in between rooms to show two people doing two different actions really shows the closeness and distance in the same consecutive shot.   

This film head reason for all parties except for one man that stuck out among the rest of the characters. He was portrayed as a mindless killer aside from the opposing characters that seemed to either dig their own graves or keep themselves together enough to confront the ladder. 

He is considered the odd one out because he wouldn't talk for a eight hour drive. the sheer masculinity that he gives off is intervening to say the least. The masculinity portrayed in this character is toxic, since he spends most of his time being stoic and intimidating.