Film Style
Annie Hall
Americans accept the films produced by Woody Allen well. He was making the parody for some time. His first serious movie has been accepted with the genuine enthusiasm. And once again this fact proves the hypothesis that the well-known master of cinema has put some autobiographical, semi-autobiographical, and, in general, personal tapes into is films at the age of 42, as "the earthly life has passed before the half." This is Allen in Annie Hall, who had first tried not so much "parody", but tried to depict ironically his own biography and destiny. "Movies about love, friendship, fame, and a preference for New York instead of Los Angeles", this has been stated by a famous critic Leonard Moltina.
Americans really like this "lyrical or romantic comedy" (as this genre has been defined). They consider Annie Hall directed by Woody Allen as his best work. The movie has received four Oscar awards - for the film itself, for the best director, an original screenplay and a female lead. A recent Premiere magazine has included Annie Hall as one of the top fifty comedies of all the times. According to the survey of the American Film Institute, it has taken the 35th place among the hundred best films of the USA. Besides, you cannot hide the fact that this movie is not only the shortest pattern but its original version has been designed for 140 minutes. It is among the major Academy Award’s winners, but also has the least cash received. However, the paradox of the situation is that for Allen to achieve the highest commercial this was possible only due to his two works, i.e. Manhattan (1979) and Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). The budget of the file has exceeded itself inn 10 times gathering 17 million people. In the novel, confusing the New York Intellectuals, Alvy Singer and Annie Hall (by the way, Hall is Diane Keaton's real name linking the creative and personal relationship with Woody Allen in the first half of the 70s) are without any pauses talking about love. Anyway, the Americans were willing to notice a "love story" of the lives of the urban elite highbrow. The film had some ironic narrative canvas, mocking its own director.. He had some overestimation of the personal qualities in the movie as well. All this pretended to be accepted with a sweet smile.
In other cases, they felt the ill-concealed irritation when Allen had been more serious, following the traditions of their favorite film director Ingmar Bergman. They were addicted to the tragic farce and satire, ruthlessly getting rid of delusions of a "Jewish boy from Brooklyn" and the "Jewish intellectuals from Manhattan." The film Annie Hall has a lot of cinematic references and allusion that would be interesting for for movie lovers. In addition, the most meticulous viewers will be able to make out the tiny episodes of those performers that later gained the fame, i.e. Jeff Goldblum, Beverly D'Angelo, Sigourney Weaver and Brooke Shields.
48 Hours
48 Hours is the classic era of video clubs and Eddie Murphy's film debut. Of course, this would not be enough to recommend this movie to be seen. But he is really good to watch it. The reference action comedy has won the Grand Prix at the festival of police films in the French town of Cognac. Such movies like 48 Hours call as "odd couple film". That is the film about two very different personalities who are engaged in a common cause. Thus, they add to each other’s personality perfectly. The film has quite a simple plot, but the characters are fine in some individual scenes. Maybe, it may be supposed to be the best film starring Eddie Murphy (and featuring Nick Nolte too).
Nolte plays a cop Jack Cates, who needs to nail Bandos. The latter one has killed a policeman. Cates is a typical hero of the classical "American Detective". That means that all the questions are solved by the means of a fist and a gun. He is rude, uncouth and incredible. Nolte is very convincing in his role. The authorities have opened the prison doors; and for 48 hours, to help Cates, he tries to help. Reggie, being completely covered from the air of freedom, hardly finds the strength not to run away from Cates. He has his financial accounts with Bandos, so he has to keep close to the detective.
Scriptwriters have tried to sharpen the conflict. The leading characters hate each other not only because one is a cop, and the other one is a criminal. But also because one is the white one and the other one is black (in the film, by the way, there are a lot of all sorts of racial jokes, possibly being offensive. More interesting to watch is the moments how the characters of the film gradually start communicating to each other with respect. That is, throughout the film, the growth. The viewer gradually begins to penetrate to the heroes with a kind of sympathy.
The film is made with some restraints at the mercy of its actors. Concisely but very pertinently is the music created by James Horner. As I have said, there are many well done scenes that the audience really could remember. For example, a visit to a "cowboy" bar where the character of Murphy suggests the rustle of the white trash. By the way, there sounds remind the catchy country music including the violin. There is also the scene where the woman of Cates calls late at night in the area. Cates begins his sad conversation, and then there are some important business calls. After receiving the valuable information, he immediately stands up, puts his holster, jacket, says goodbye and is "going to die". However, then, he remembers that on the other line there is his woman waiting; he lifts up the phone and hears one single phrase, "Fuck you". That means that she has been waiting only to say that phrase. These everyday scenes enrich the pure film genre.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The plot tells the story of the medieval era. Long time ago, in ancient England, one day, King Arthur had decided to go to his property and find the brave knights. They are: brave Lancelot, interfiled Galahad, wise Bedever, just Robin and others. Of course, this is the King Arthur jimself, who faces an uphill mission, namely to find the Holy Grail, being located far away from his lands. It is protected by a terrible monster that does not leave anyone alive. On their way to the desired location of the Grail, the Knights encounter various characters. They face very interesting and amusing incidents. For example, Sir Lancelot inadvertently is saving the "wrong" prince of a forced marriage. He chops into pieces half of the invited guests.
The script is crazy and a little bit inadequate. But in spite of it being very funny and, most importantly, original, it is after the Monty Python comedy that the films of the similar plot and a pretty similar sense of humor started to appear. This is in the Holy Grail that it is simply gorgeous, as well as the film in general and its high ratings from both critics and usual movie viewers. In addition to the bright, enchanting and original script of Monty Python assembling a great ensemble cast, there is a clown in front of a movie camera, trying to look ridiculous.
"Anyone who wants to go over the bridge must answer 3 questions!"
"Ask me, I'm not afraid of anything!"
"What's your name?"
"Lancelot!"
"What for are you going?"
"For the Holy Grail!"
"What's your favorite color?"
"Blue!"
"Come on!"
"Hmm ... not so hard!"
Beautifully played by John Cleese, who brilliantly has played Sir Lancelot in a a little different manner, he is namely a simple soldier. This is not clever and not very reasonable, what viewers have used to see him before. He used to be a clever and resourcefully handsome man killing whenever only necessary. Alternative Lancelot by Cleese is a maniac who can chop up a huge number of ordinary and innocent people. However, here he is playing incomparably and this may be considered as one of his best roles. Also, there is an actor Graham Chapman, who as well showed an alternative variant of the King Arthur. He uses his horse for a place squire riding behind the royal person and knocking coconuts. He is imitating the sound of horse’s hooves. Indeed, almost all that the King Arthur has done is either very funny or extremely funny. But it is better to see once than to hear for a hundred of times. This is about the performance of gorgeous Chapman and, the actor Michael Palin, as Galahad immaculate. This hero has turned out so well as funny. Unfortunately, he was paid a little less for the screen time. In general, all the actors involved in this film have performed rather well. There are well created suits and costumes; the scenery is also done at a very high level. And, finally, a little should be mentioned of the wonderful director Terry Gilliam. He is namely the cult director. He has become famous mainly for his colorful and interesting scripts.
Young Frankenstein
The film is one of the specially stylized films of the 30s. The viewer notices it right away from the very beginning. But then and in the course of watching it, there are some transitions between the scenes applied. This is a black-and-white movie and the scenery of the legendary Frankenstein created in 1931.
The plot of the film revolves around the main character - a grandson of the famous Dr. Frankenstein played by Gene Wilder. Also, Wilder Brooks helped to create the script. The hero is also engaged in the medicine, but he considers the activities of his grandfather as absurd. He even says that his name should be pronounced as "Fronkenstin“ («Fronk-en-steen»). He is visited by a "family notary". They talk about the will according to which he, Frederick Fronkenstinu, has passed into the ownership of his grandfather’s huge mansion. When he arrives at his estate in Transylvania, he is met by an assistant. He has been an assistant derived from the family of assistants as his ancestors have worked in the family of Frankenstein for many years. He does not understand the need to distort the name of Baron seems like Aygor (Eye-Gor) instead of Igor. He, by the way, is played by Marty Feldman (Marty Feldman) being an English writer, a comedian, a film and TV holder of the extraordinary appearance. Aygor is a young doctor with his assistant Inga (Teri Garr). In the castle, he meets Frau Blucher. She pronounces all the names very funny. Having stolen the corpse of the unknown person, Aygorom hangs himself (or he is hung, but this still remains a mystery for the viewer). The male doctor transplants his brain. He becomes alive, but behaves poorly relative to the reality. He does not speak but grunts; as well as, there is the sound of the violin heard. Then, Frau frees the 'monster' to freedom in the name of an idea. Due to this, the local inhabitants are horrified. Using the sounds of the violin, the creator returns to the castle his child and begins to teach him.
Along with these incidents, all the locals rebelled and came to tame the monster for him not to frighten them anymore. And they went in search of him to the castle of Dr. Frankenstein taking an advantage of specific speakers and violin during an operation. At this time, an angry mob breaks into the castle in the middle of the operation. The monster is endowed with the new "normal" brain and he calms everyone. At the end of the film, we see a typical happy ending. Elizabeth is happy with the Monster, and Inga happy with Dr. Frederick Frankenstein. In the last scene, Inga asks the doctor of the part of the body that he has got from the Monster.
Bringing up Baby
Life of Dr. David Huxley is not very full of unusual events. He is a paleontologist at the museum, which is about to finish the work. There he has spent four years of his life. He assembles a brontosaurus skeleton. As well, he has planned a wedding and yet he has to get a grant for one million dollars for the further research. But the meeting with Susan Vance turns all the events for him. And so, in spite of all, he travels with her to the country house with a leopard. Yes, yes it is the leopard named Baby. Susan is not a simple girl, and she cannot do anything without an incident. And now the heroes search through the garden for the missing brontosaurus’ bones, looking for a leopard. It has escaped away. The series of comic situations in which the heroes, however, contribute to a romantic climax of events is this plot of the film. Two gorgeous screen stars such as Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant look great in this cute romantic comedy by Howard Hawks. The actors do not lack the natural charm and magnetism. Even in such simple movie where there are no complicated dramatic episodes, the actors show the real comedic talent. The film has already become a classical one. It is included to the list of 100 best American films according to the American Film Institute.
The Gold Rush
Chaplin's films are easy. This is not a theatre and a drama; and it is not a movie, which we now know. This is a prisoner. It often happens so that the wealthiest people of the world are in whirl of the fame. The life of the character ended dumb. But he looks freer and happier in many more times how this can be a prisoner sitting in prison. As the prisoner, a person is deprived of many things that can express and prove the existence of freedom. But he cannot be deprived of his liberty. He sees the world not colorful and diverse; he does not see what is there far away. He sees what is near, inside. The world seems to surround the prisoner; the walls become transparent and the iron bars of the lattice become willow bending easily. The less the creator of opportunities is, the more evident his ability becomes. A Silent film is devoid of voice and speech, but that it is the inherent charm of literature and expressive music and the brightness of the image. And in the modern cinema, there are many expressive moments such as silent scenes and the scenes with music. Of course, one cannot say that the silent movie is better. But the modern cinema is akin to the opera in terms of its possibilities of expression, so that the peak of development is still ahead.
One of the most celebrated films of the immortal star of the silent cinema is done by Charles Chaplin. In comparison to his other films, having a good-natured narrative, this has come out a little hard as it befits the story of adventures of the gold mines. The employment is combined with the unknown dangers and tribulations. Having no voice, Chaplin, who, as if leading his story, shows the viewer what, is happening on the screen. The picture is, however, not very busy that sometimes emphasizes the skills of Chaplin (as an actor) to give the dynamics to the film. Therefore, the large difference between the voice dubbing and the text inserts is not evident, focusing the attention on what is happening. And this is quite amusing. At the same time, the dramatic story is here. In far and snowy Alaska, at the beginning of the last century, a new and mysterious disease appears. People stop eating, drinking, taking care of the family and their own comfort. It is only their thoughts that obsess. This is gold. Many were throwing everything they had had and gone on a dangerous journey. In the end this was possible to get a real treasure. But the luck smiled only to some of them; the others lost their lives or their sanity in those high mountains.
Charlie Chaplin returns with his famous tramp character to the big screen. He was reincarnated in a desperate gold digger. Tramp is still full of optimism and easily relates to the rigors of life. The pandemic captures him too, so he gathers his belongings and walks briskly towards his happiness. He falls into the swift storm of events that bring him luck, and then the failure. By creating this film, Charlie is fully formed as a magical performer, a talented director and a composer. He is so easily fulfilling this role, though he had been learning it it all his life (although to some extent this is true.) The scale of films allowed him to further experiment with different situations, making the routine and mediocrity as a bright idea. And, of course, Charlie is excellent and very sincere showing the feelings of his stroller. A nice smile always makes you feel warm, even if the screen is constantly sad. And his eyes are real that they strongly reflect the sadness and melancholy of his character. This inevitably imbues his experience and wholeheartedly sympathizes with the main character. Going in the search of gold, the hero undergoes a lot of claims, from hunger to cold. But above all more and more he feels the loneliness when he meets a young girl. The hard work and patience are rewarded, so the hero is waiting for a happy ending.
