Abstract This paper reviews and then compares and contrasts the Bernard Malamud novel "The Natural" and the 1984 Hollywood movie by the same name. The paper begins with a two-page summary of the novel, calling it the greatest baseball fiction ever written. The story of a farm boy Roy Hobbs, the novel inspired the 1984 movie, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Barbara Hershey, Kim Basinger and Wilfred Brimley. The author of this paper lauds the book, saying it reveals how an innocent country boy falls to the temptations of the urban life and style. On the other hand, he criticizes Barry Levinson's "The Natural" for portraying how Roy, despite all adversities, comes out on top -- what the author maintains is typically, disappointingly Hollywood.
From the Paper "Over the course of the season, Roy gets emotionally involved with the dangerously seductive Memo Paris, Pop's niece. He also finds himself in the company of Gus Sands, Memo's friend and a professional gambler. Memo for all her beauty and style is a costly proposition. In the event of his desire for Memo, and need for sufficient money to maintain her style, Roy is led astray from his quest for success and honor. Realizing his mistake, Roy tries to redeem himself and, Pop too, who played into his hands of things. But alas! It turns out that Roy had run out of luck, the natural gifts deserted him. His magic bat "Wonder Boy" shattered in the final game of the season. Thus, Roy squandered a life destined for fame by pursuing women and, fortune. The tools designed for him by God, Wonder boy, and his Excaliber deserted him in his moment of trial. Roy fell an unworthy man."
Abstract The author argues that the inferior societal role of women is still depicted in the way female characters are represented in films and that the male patriarchal dominance is still evident today. The paper focuses on two films: "Letter From an Unknown Women" and "The Piano", which speak for females and about females, and still fall victim to the male-dominated world in order to gain recognition and audience.
From the Paper "Sex objects, housewives, heart broken lovers, and caring mothers this are the role of the female in Hollywood cinema and other film forms. The societal role of the women has changed yet social consciousness within the genre conventions of the women's film has remained. The women's film is made to target female viewers, by using topics, which the patriarchal Hollywood society of directors and producers feels are appropriate for the housewives of the post-war era to learn and be entertained about. With the evolution of the women's film, ?women could ruin their lives ? get free of everything ? down at the movie house for twenty-five cents with butter on their popcorn.? (Basinger, 1993) A women's cinema, is the first movement where women were making films themselves, for and about women. Although the women's movement has been active since before the 1950's when women were told to go back to the home and return to being both as consumers and items for consumption. Film and Cinema has continued to further suppress and enclose women within the male dominated hegemonic world, which continues to exist in the cinema with insignificant change or evolution."
Abstract This paper reviews the movie "8 Mile", a fictionalized version of the Detroit rapper, Eminem's life, where the white hip-hop singer overcomes the black skeptics with his undeniable skills. The paper discusses how the movie tells about growing up, how people relate to their peers and finding ways out of seemingly hopeless situations. The paper shows that the movie is not so much about Eminem's rise to fame, but rather revolves around the quest for respect.
From the Paper "David Elliot (2002) compares Eminem to a young James Dean. Elliot speaks well of Eminem's role by saying, ? he has a laser stare and a smart, gravely centered presence, even if it's a stretch when he piles furiously into black guys double his size. Like Dean?s, Eminem's rage and brooding is offset by tenderness.? His honesty in dealing with people who make fun of him and criticize his efforts depicts how a person can overcome obstacles and ridicule by working hard and persevering. The movie held my interests as I enjoyed seeing how he battled controversy while engaging in loud verbal battles with various characters who continued to compare him to Vanilla Ice."
