The Godfather

 

 

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

The Godfather directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This is a gritty gangster story about the Corleone family, the rise of a new don and the fall of many others. This film is regarded as one of the best films in history, and is often mentioned to be at the top spot with Citizen Kane. The Godfather has gotten 11 Academy Award nominations and took home three wins. Including best picture, best adapted screenplay and Marlon Brando winning for best actor. With a heavyweight cast featuring names like Robert Duvall, Al Pacino, and Dianne Keaton, this film delivers and defines gangster movies and brought back the genre to what it is today.

 

2)             Find a related article and summarize the content

http://www.history.com/topics/the-godfather-and-the-mafia-in-popular-culture

 

This article talks about how The Godfather changed the genre for gangster films, instead of giving the societies prospective on what the mafia is like, criminals, murderers of innocents. The article depicts The Godfather to be told from the family’s perspective. Something of a breath of fresh air, finally the gangsters get to share their side of the story. The article also talks how The Godfather paved the way for films like Goodfellas to be made. The article mentions that the main theme for this film was family and it was told from the family’s side, the family is seen brutal to their enemies and sympathetic to their friends.

 

3)             Apply the article to the film screened in class.

This article gave me a new perspective toward the movie. I agree with how there really isn’t a film like The Godfather. It really changed the genre of gangster flicks, inspired directors to produce shows like The Sopranos or movies like Goodfellas, The Untouchables. This article really broadens the horizons and puts this film into perspective to the way that you never get to see the family’s side of the story, only the cops or society. However the only cop shown with a speaking role happens to be corrupt. This shows how director Francis Ford Coppola wanted this film to be seen. Something different and its legacy still lives on.

 

4)             Write a critical analysis of the film

The Godfather is an excellent film, in my opinion should be ranked number one on the American Film Institute’s list. The theme of family is presented strongly in this film, it almost gives teachings on how to be with your own family. Loyalty, respect, honor, all these themes come into play. The line where Vito Corleone says “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family, isn’t a man at all”. That just defines the whole premise of his morals and ethics. And he’s right, if you watch this movie you can get a very good understanding of family value. That’s something I took away after the screening of this film. The shots and sequences shown were suspenseful and captivating. The cast was stellar and delivered every scene with a punch. This movie will forever be on my top five list of great films.  

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
1) (x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: _________________Erik L. Rivera _____________________ Date: 5-2-13 ____________________________

The Gold Rush

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

                Charlie Chaplin, creator and originator, defined silent comedy and is king of that realm. His character “the Tramp” represented the underdog, the outsider. In the film The Gold Rush Chaplin takes us through a journey to Alaska and back, striking gold as well as love. Took over a year to make and is noted that The Gold Rush is Chaplin’s favorite film. Many themes were represented in this picture, such as, Hunger, happiness, the dread of rejection from a woman. Chaplin defines many themes during the silent era, his character the tramp lusts for woman, money and respect.

             It is said that Chaplin wanted to create a character he could use in his type of style of acting. Chaplin tackled major world issues such as poverty, alcoholism, hunger and crime. Charlie Chaplin tackled all these world issues with use of comedy in his films. So what comes with a laugh also comes with a serious situation.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

            http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/5779/The-Gold-Rush/articles.html

                Writer and director Charles Chaplin, directed The Gold Rush comedy at costs of 900,000 dollars (TCM.com). The article continues to state the little details behind the making of this terrific comedy. The scene where Chaplin eats his shoe, took around 69 takes and a sick Chaplin to get the picture perfect. The film was shot under rustic conditions as well as cranky cast members to deal with. Originally Charlie Chaplin wanted a different actress to play the role of Georgia, but issues of pregnancy came into play. The article continues to state that this would be the one film Charlie Chaplin wanted to be remembered by.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class

            The article supports my view towards the film. I like the way the article breaks down the witty scenes involving the cabin and the eating of the shoe. Charlie Chaplin was a perfectionist of his craft. Until the reading of this article, I didn’t know that Chaplin wrote the score for the film as well as the narration. This article showed me that Charlie Chaplin could do it all for his time. From writing to directing and composing, this article showed me that Chaplin was a true artist masterful in many talents. I can say I have a new found respect for Charlie Chaplin.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

                The Gold Rush is a terrific silent comedy, starring a wonderful cast. Undergoing very rustic conditions, Chaplin is right to be remembered by this film. Charlie Chaplin is considered the ultimate gag actor and to this day his character traits still live on. You can see a bit of Chaplin embodied in a character like Cosmo Kramer from the television series Seinfeld. After watching this film and other Chaplin films, it wasn’t long till I realized where Michael Richards adapted his characters quirks from. The silent era I believe is ruled by Chaplin and his movies, Chaplin in my opinion is a comedic genius and still makes me laugh to this day. I loved the cinematography he used and the type of techniques used to accomplish shots like the ones in the cabin. All in all Charles Chaplin’s legacy lives on and is proved in this film. 

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (x  ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (x  ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (x  ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: _____________Erik L. Rivera_________________________  Date: ____________5/1/2013________________

The Graduate

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

                The Graduate was an excellent film directed by Mike Nichols, starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. The film is about a young man (Dustin Hoffman) fresh out of college, home for the summer and has a love affair with an older woman, wife and mother played by Anne Bancroft. The film continues to take turns as Dustin Hoffman’s character takes an interest in Mrs. Robinson’s (Anne Bancroft) daughter. The film was nominated for several academy awards, including best director, which Mike Nichols won. This film takes on true-life problems that every person faces, “what do with your life”. This film happens be considered the first youth rebellion movie based on the novel by author Charles Webb.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

                http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/The-Graduate-at-40-A-defiant-and-astute-film-2504455.php#page-1

                This article gives a complete review of the film. Stating that The Graduate should have been a box office failure, with an whole soundtrack almost unwritten as well as Director Mike Nichols still an amateur in Hollywood directing. But, the film was a box office hit, targeting the audience of its time. The article states “it was the movie about a collective state of mind that simply had to be made in 1967” (Sfgate.com). Also after 40 years, the youth of the current generation can still relate to the films message, of finding ones self, being uncertain of your future as well as disobeying your parents. The article reassures that The Graduate is a testament to its time.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

            The article does a good job explaining the thoughts behind Mike Nichols. I liked that it got into in-depth detail about the infamous shot in the hotel room when Dustin Hoffman goes to kiss Anne Bancroft for the first time, knowing that it was Anne Bancroft’s idea to exhale her cigarette hit after the kiss, adds more life to the film in my opinion. I like hearing behind the scene details. In addition, what shocked me was Nichol’s first real attempt at montages as well as overlapping scenes. The scenes came out perfect that you could not even tell. After reading this article I have found more respect for the cast and director. They attempted to make a movie that would be relative to their time and ended up making a movie relative to every living generation. Knowing all these little details gives me a better understanding and appreciation for The Graduate.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

                Overall, I think The Graduate was a great success. It defined the sixties era of rebellion, director Jack Nichols could not have done a better job capturing the high moments of the film. From the creative montages as well as soundtrack, all these elements make the movie what it is. The film had a bit of every element a good movie should have. Drama, Comedy, Romance, and suspense, I think that is what Jack Nichols wanted, I think he wanted a film that tested the boundaries of the 60’s.

                 A love affair between an older woman and young man definitely will intrigue any viewer. Toward the end of the film, I was left guessing what was going to happen, the film was intriguing as well as witty. Director Jack Nichols had created a film with creative elements in cinematography as well as casting; I could not see any other actors playing the rolls in this film. In conclusion, I think The Graduate represents the time of uncertainty and worry of what is coming next in every youth’s life. I think this film earned every nomination and award it won as well as the respect it still receives.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) (x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (x  ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (x  ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: ________Erik L. Rivera______________________________  Date: ____________________5/1/2013________