The Godfather

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening

The Godfather was directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. The Godfather was known as his first hit. He also directed other Movies such as Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, and the Godfather Trilogy. The Godfather received eleven nominations and three wins, with one of its main characters being a famous well known actor Al Pacino. The major theme of the movie was family, along with anti-hero, violence, and murder. The movie focused on a family as a part of the mafia. The movie made one of the highest gross of all time with a total of$244 million world wide.

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, ect.) You can use the library or the Internet. Cite the article or copy the url to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.




http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Godfather,_The/Summary/

The website I found states how The Godfather is one the Best American films ever. It goes over the summery of the movie how Don Corleone, the father of the family and head of the mafia, gets shot by a gunman, which leads to war between the mobs of families. The father survives but the family goes after others for revenge.

3) Relate the article to the screening

The article and website gives the summery of the movie as well as how amazing it was to watch. The movie of the mafia family became a success receiving several academy awards as well as being acclaimed as the best American film.



4) Write a critical analysis of the film

I enjoyed this movie as well as a few others. Although there was a lot of gruesome scenes the suspense, action, and drama keep me at the edge of my seat not wanting to blink. the actors all did a very great job, and Al Pacino is one of my favorite actors as well. It was nice to sit back and enjoy a classic as great as The Godfather.

The Graduate

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening


The Graduate was directed in 1967 by Mike Nichols. Mike Nicols is phenomenal entertainer who's won awards such as Emmies, Grammies, Oscars, National Medal of Arts, and the Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also recognized as being one of the biggest directors after The Graduate was made. The movie made about $40 million at the box office. As well as many of the other movies we've watched in class the movie won several Academy Awards as well. The Graduate was a film about a character by the name of Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) is not sure of what he wants to do after he graduates college. He then starts an affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) but later falls in love with her daughter Elaine (Kathrine Ross).

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, ect.) You can use the library or the Internet. Cite the article or copy the url to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.



http://www.filmsite.org/grad.html

The website I found explains The Graduate as ground breaking which set a new era to film making. The main character questioned the morals of society and didn't conform to them, instead he took a risk at life by doing what he wanted to do. The theme of the film really set a change in the role of Hollywood displaying the new techniques new directors had to show off.

3) Relate the article to the screening

The website and the screenings both show the character breaking the norms of how society expects people to live. Mike Nicols was great at integrating his news ideas for shots to pave the way directors to take a different approach in Hollywood. Being that he took a risk in adding his new techniques to this film, it definitely paid off in the long run by winning so many awards.




4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Besides Gone with the Wind, this is another movie I enjoyed because I was able to relate to it. I am too a college student who's about to graduate and I'm a little confused as what I should do once I do graduate. The movie held my attention with the humor it contained and the different shots and camera scenes were pleasant to watch as well. This is a film that anyone within the film industry could pick up a few tips.

Casablanca

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening

From the class screening I learned that Casablanca was directed by Michael Curtiz in 1942. AFI rated it as #3 as the top 100 films of all time. It won Academy awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Score/ Editing, and Best Supporting Actor. The movie was known as a romance which is based on the actor Bogart playing the role of  Rick who needs to go to Lisbon; in the process of trying to go off to Lisbon in need of a vista he runs into a long lost love, Ilsa played by actress Ingrid Bergman.

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, ect.) You can use the library or the Internet. Cite the article or copy the url to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.



I found an article on AMC's film site which gave the summery of the movie and more background information of the movie as well. It states that Casablanca known as a melodramatic romance where two men fall are in love with the same woman. Throughout the movie the movie also shows the conflict between democracy and totalitarianism. The article also mentions the atmosphere of the scene being rich, smoky, and anti- Nazi Propaganda helped made the movie incredible along with the musical score and suspense.

http://www.filmsite.org/casa.html
3) Relate the article to the screening

The article relates to the screening by summarizing the plot of the movie and the parts the characters play. In this love romance involves Rick who is the former lover of Ilsa, who has to decide if she wants to go away with Rick, her long lost love, or stay with her husband Victor.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

I thought the movie started off with a slow start until Ilsa came into the picture. Once Ilsa came into scenes the movie became more interesting because the drama began to start. I thought the shots and camera scenes were typical. I was upset with the ending because Rick just left waiting for Ilsa to run away with him but she never showed.

 

Citizen Kane

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening

Citizen Kane was written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles, it was also directed by Orson Welles who stared in his own movie in 1941. When it was first released it was know as a flop; however, later in 1998 The American Film Institute claimed it was the best film of all time. The movie won nine oscars such as best picture, actor, director, and cimematography are just a name of few. Welles was mostly known for his radio dramas, mainly for "The War of the Worlds." Citizen Kane is based on the life of William Hearst. Hearst was born wealthy and decides to go into the newspaper business. Later he falls for a model by the name of Marion Davies who starts modeling for Kane.

2) Find a related article (on the film, directed, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, ect.) You can use the library or the Internet. Cite the article or copy the url to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.
 http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/1941/citizen-kane/

The article I found on filmcritic.com. In this article a film critic by the name of James Brundage. In the article Brundage mentions how he's a film critic and how he took a different approach to the movie appreciating it for all the contributions it made for the film industry. The article also gives a summary of what the film is about and the roles of each character.

3) Relate the article to the screening

The article and the screening both mentions how Citizen Kane was considered to be the best film of all time. It won numberous academy awards back in it's later years. They both mention how Citizen Kane was played by Orson Welles himself based upon the life of  William Randolph Hearst who was a man who ran a newspaper business.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

I personally didn't care for the movie because it didn't capture my interest and I thought it was pretty dry. There wasn't enough action, drama, or supence going on for me to hold my attention. However, the footage of camera angels and the shots they used in the movie were great.