JAWS REVIEW (FIL 3006-0001)

Jaws is a spectacular motion picture! It's an adventure film in the
style of Moby Dick. It is also a film that still terrifies audiences
today. The set-up for the story is simple but it's the perfect sort of
simplicity. In Jaws, A shark is terrorizing the fictional town of Amity
Island. The sheriff, a scientist and a shark-fisherman must set sail to
track down the shark and destroy it. The film is a masterpiece.

The mechanical shark designed for the film didn't work most of the
time. Because of this technical difficulty, Spielberg made the
decision to show the shark approaching the victims from the point of
view of the shark for almost the entire first half of the film. It
turned out to be one of the scariest and most memorable aspects of the
film. The thought that something could be in the water with you, coming
to get you, and you won't see it coming is still unsettling to think of
and impossible to think of during a swim in the ocean while still
enjoying yourself.

The film, although horrific, somehow still seems fun unlike a Texas
Chainsaw movie or a horror film about demonic possession. It's
cinematography has the feel of an action adventure epic but it takes us
to places we don't want to go. The brilliant use of shots in which the
surface of the water is just above eye level, specifically during the
beach attack scenes, leaves you feeling like you are out there in the
ocean with the shark. The camera moves about the crowd of people
playing in the water as the shark attacks and so when they realize what
is happening and panic and run you feel you are caught in the chaos,
fleeing for your life.

The film uses reaction shots beautifully and effectively. Who could
forget that classic moment in JAWS when Sheriff Brody
is scooping chum over the side of the boat and the shark bursts out
from the background. The moment is shocking because the moment before
doesn't give us any warning about what's about to happen and, also, the
shark is just plain huge. The reaction shot of the sheriff popping up,
in an almost cartoon-like manner that reminded me of Wile E. Coyote
reacting to spotting The Roadrunner, was perfect and the look of shock
on his face matches our reaction to seeing the shark so close to our
unlikely hero.

Another fantastic moment in the film was the famous
"trombone" shot. The trombone shot effect is achieved when the camera
angle is pulled away from a subject while the lens zooms in, or
vice-versa. In the scene where Brody witnesses a vicious shark attack
on the beach, this effect is used to intensify his performance. First
we see a glimpse of the shark attacking the boy in the water. Then we
see the reaction shot of Brody. Because of the use of the trombone
effect, it appears the world around the sheriff is shifting rapidly in
a surreal, dreamlike fashion. It was a fantastically frightening effect.

I really enjoyed the film. It was full of phenomenal performances,
especially by Robert Shaw, whose portrayal of Quint, The "Captain Ahab"
of the story, feels honest and captures our attention. The story he
tells Hooper and Brody about his experience as a survivor of the World
War II USS Indianapolis disaster is as terrifying and disturbing as the
most graphic scenes of this film and that scene alone would be enough
to prove to anyone that Robert Shaw is a brilliant actor and perfect
fit for the role. I read that it was Shaw who wrote the monologue as
well.

THE GODFATHER Review (FIL 3006-0001)

THE GODFATHER Review (FIL 3006-0001)

In a post-war America, on the day of his only daughter's wedding, Don Vito Corleone hears requests in his role as the head of a powerful New York crime family. Better known to friends and associates as “Godfather," Vito Corleone has many enemies and he is eventually gunned down by rivals but they fail to kill him. His first born, Sonny (James Caan), tries to hold the family business together but he doesn’t have the temperament of his father.

Sonny is hotheaded and relentless. Vito Corleone's youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), a decorated war hero who, until now, has managed to stay out of the family business, finds himself having to step up to protect his father who he loves dearly. In doing so, Michael begins his journey into the seductively dark and irresistibly powerful world his father wanted him to stay out of.

The low key lighting in the film is fantastic. It captures the darkness and mysteriousness of the Corleone family life. We are often unable to see The Godfather's eyes which, in many scenes, remain hidden in shadow. You can't always tell what he is thinking and for that reason he remains as mysterious to us as he does to his associates and rivals. As Don Corleone would say, never tell anyone outside the Family what you are thinking. The fantastic cinematography of the film creates an ominous tone that is a nod to the old film-noirs and gangster flicks as well as unmistakably unique to the identity of the "Godfather" films.

All of the performances in the film were deep, well thought out and enjoyable. The fantastic acting by Al Pacino in the scene where he kills the police officer and Sollozzo, another of his father's enemies, in a restaurant was unforgettable and emotional. The impact of the moments leading up to the murder was enhanced by the sound of a roaring L-train passing by the restaurant. The sound of the train screaming by is used to increase the suspense of the scene and perhaps allow us to see past the fairly calm and distant look on Michael's face to feel the fear and chaos in his mind.

The film is successful and full of fantastic dialog. Clever and thought-provoking writing make the film worth watching again and again. This is definitely a film for grown ups and its iconic score only adds to an already perfect (as perfect as a film can be) motion picture event.

Batman Returns Film Review (FIL 3006-0001)

 

   Batman Returns is the story of the Gotham City Masked Crusader's battle with his newest enemy, The Penguin. The story also features Michelle Pfeiffer in the role of Selena Kyle aka “Cat-Woman.” After being pushed out of a window and left for dead by her boss, the once shy Selena comes back as a devouring, sexual, whip wielding and powerful villain dressed in an erotic leather S&M outfit.

   The villains certainly steal the show and Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne/Batman character seems to settle into a supporting role in this film. Danny DeVito delivers an extremely entertaining performance as a broken, deformed, angry and violent man known as “The Penguin.” It is difficult not to sympathize with the character.

   Batman Returns is probably the best example of Tim Burton's style I have ever seen. The film doesn't really satisfy me as a Batman movie and, being a big comic book fan myself, I did not really enjoy the character of Batman in this film. The film does, however, create such an interesting world and spellbinding atmosphere. The film is a beautiful, hypnotic and dark painting and Burton is the artist to paint it. The Elfman score pulls you into the crazy and dark world of the “bat-man.”

   The contrast between the darkness of Gotham and the light of Christmas decorations is so visually mesmerizing and horrific. The grotesque and unsettling distortions of familiar Christmastime visuals made for some memorable imagery and immediately brought another Tim Burton film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, to mind. The film is full of spectacularly gothic and unsettling images like swarming bats and a gigantic, ominous Christmas tree. The film's visuals are certainly more interesting than its story which, for comic book fans, may not really be all that impressive.

Children Of Men (Film Review For FIL 3006-0001)

Children Of Men is a grim look into a dystopian future that at times feels like a horrifying documentary film thanks in part to the use of long takes. The film is brutal and the world of this film seems to be drained and graying from the loss of life and hope. Truly a top-notch sci-fi thriller, this film uses very innovative techniques in filming some key scenes. Set in Europe during a dark future in which mankind is, for some reason, no longer able to produce, the story follows Theo (played by Clive Owen), a worn down former revolutionary who drinks a lot, on a dangerous mission to protect a pregnant girl named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) after Theo's ex-wife recruits him to help.

Color and joy seems to be almost completely missing in the world Alfonso Cuaron has created in this film. This gray, violent and childless world draws us in and doesn't allow us to look away or escape the incredible tension it creates. The film explores a horrifying scenario and looks at the different ways mankind's inability to have children and experience the joy and innocence they show us would change our world. The film shows us a cold, childless, heartless future. The scary thing is the way it holds a mirror up to the present. It manages to provide a thought provoking commentary on present day society without seeming to preachy.

One of the most interesting moments in the film is when Theo meets with his cousin Nigel who lives in a fancy home surrounded by surviving famous art such as the future remains of Michelangelo's David that have been saved. Nigel surrounds himself with these prized possessions of the past in his attempt to ignore the current state of the world. When asked about how bad things have gotten in the U.K. And in the world, he says, “I just don't think about it.” While naming the boat which represents Kee's deliverance “The Tomorrow” was a bit cheesy, the film was, in my opinion, an absolute success. The ending, while optimistic, certainly does not disappoint or feel like a Hollywood happy ending.

 

-- Jesse