Abstract This paper gives a critique of Tim Robbins's film about a death row convict and his relationship with a nun sent to offer him emotional support. It addresses both sides of the death penalty issue and discusses the moral issue - once a man is convicted of murder and rape, should he still be considered a human being?
From the Paper "Cut to a metal detector beeping at Sister Prejean's cross. The imagery is fantastic and elucidates conflict that will soon arise between the ideals of the Christian church and the harsh realities of prison life. But the chaplain with whom Sister Prejean meets has none of her idealism. Instead, Chaplain Farley is antagonistic, pessimistic, and negative. He complains about her not wearing a habit and attempts to drive from her any notion that she can make a difference in Poncelet's life. "
Abstract This paper examines the novel "The Blooding" by Joseph Wambaugh. It explores the fiction and non-fiction crime writing by Wambaugh, and the biography of his life. The paper describes the novel's chilling mystery amid the quaint English countryside, and the use of realistic investigative skills.
From the Paper "One cannot talk about American crime writing, whether fiction or nonfiction, without discussing the contributions of Joseph Wambaugh. A Los Angeles police veteran, Wambaugh has 15 books to his credit, four works of nonfiction and 11 novels, eight being made into feature and television films. His gritty, hyper-realistic style has influenced numerous authors for decades (Dunn 2000). Wambaugh transformed the sub-genre of the police novel into serious literature of a hard boiled nature. His first four books and his work on the 1970's television series Policy Story set the standard of realism, dialogue, and character development for subsequent writers or turned them in new directions (Marling 2001)."
Abstract This paper discusses the gangster movie genre in film and how "The Godfather" and "Godfather Three" are representative of this genre. The gangster world and its history are presented and an overview of the films given. Examples from the movies that illustrate characteristics of the genre are provided.
From the Paper "Film productions often mimic real life. It is what allows them to be placed into genre categories. Genres in the movies are very much like genres in the world of literature. There are romance genres, history genres and others that depict the type of movie that the film falls under. One genre waxes and wanes in its popularity. The gangster genre is one in which many movies have been made and they are classified as gangster genre by the characters attitudes, the events and the historical context of the movie plot. Two very classic gangster genre films are The Godfather and The Godfather Part Three. Critics have admired as well as panned these movies depending on the critics taste and film desires, however they all agree that they are classic illustrations of the gangster genre."
Abstract This paper examines the existence of the courtly love theme in popular culture. The paper refers to traditional texts, such as Chaucer's "Complaint to his Lady" and John Donne's poem, "The Canonization"; in relation to the contemporary television program, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". The paper defines three essential elements of Courtly love poetry: The ennobling force of human love, the elevation of the beloved above the lover and love as ever unsatisfied, ever increasing desire. It describes that modern courtly love are usually adaptations, and that how they adapt the traditional story reflects the values and attitudes of the courtly love convention appropriate to a contemporary audience.
From the Paper "Courtly Love has developed from the later Middle Ages through to modern times as a highly conventionalised code. Examples are evident in popular culture though are usually adaptations - adopting selective aspects. This can be seen through the similar values and attitudes portrayed in the texts."
Abstract The writer of this paper describes the techniques used by the film maker to illustrate common issues evident in cutthroat corporate America. The writer explains how Levinson combines cynicism with optimism to realistically portray the conflicts in corporate circles.
From the Paper "Cutthroat corporate America comes alive in Barry Levinsons's film Disclosure starring Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. The title of the film conveys several meanings: the most carnal is the disclosure of Meredith Johnson's (Moore?s) body. Her seduction falls short of perfect, however, and soon the truth is revealed, thanks to a coincidental phone message. Disclosure also refers to the uncovering of the sordid truth in Digicom's cost-cutting plans for their new CD ROM drive, Arcamax. To assure a lucrative merger, Garvin (played by Donald Sutherland) and his team subvert production plans of the new drives, thereby humiliating the head of production lines, Tom Sanders (Douglas). ?Give a man $100 million and you create a frustrated billionaire,? warns Stephanie Kaplan, who turns out to be a true friend to Sanders. Disclosure elucidates the genuine corporate conflict between profit and integrity and also illustrates the continued tension between sexuality and power in the workplace. Levinson and his cast use body language, dialogue, and cinematographic pacing to draw out and resolve the film's conflicts."
Abstract This paper briefly summarizes the book explaining the main plot and storyline. It reviews the book as it relates to racism and the African-American's struggle towards equality. It focuses on the movie industry and how black actors had to fight for a fair place in the world of arts. It concludes with various reactions to the book by the public and the movie industry itself.
From the Paper "Throughout history literary authors have used their works to portray a point or condition that they want the world to understand. In Thomas Cripps, Slow Fade to Black, Cripps works to underscore the fate of the black actor in film between 1900 and 1942. Literature is a wonderful medium for educating the world about the plight of blacks before the civil rights movement afforded them protection against blatant discrimination. The author can chronologically detail events or might choose a different style of writing to allow readers to see the first hand account of black life during certain eras. Cripps used the writing medium to educate his readers about the plight of the black actor at the beginning of the 20th century. He spends time explaining why it was the way it was and how whites had a different set up when it came to film and production(Cripps, 1993)."
Tags: movie, film, actor, art, hollywood, director, discrimination, african, american
Abstract Mrs. Doubtfire is a movie about a man who dresses as a woman and passes as a nanny so that he can be closer to his children following an ugly divorce. By examining the first scene, this paper explores the social values being portrayed in the movie. These include the well-being of children, continuity in the character's children's lives and self-sacrifice.
From the Paper "The remarkable fact about the movie, ?Mrs. Doubtfire,? is that there are no villains. Although the story centers on a divorce, an unemployed father, Daniel, torn from his three children, and his ex-wife, Miranda, being romanced by a handsome and successful old flame, Stu, no one is to blame, no one is the bad guy. The better qualities of each character shine through the trauma and dysfunction that this family finds itself. Thus, by concentrating on the positive aspects of the relationships, the film teaches that love is the one thing that makes a family, no matter the distance, lifestyle, or circumstance."
Abstract This paper examines the tragic film, "The Mission". It provides a synopsis of the movie, which occurs in colonial South America under the rule of Spain and Portugal. The paper describes an era when Jesuit priests traveled form Europe to South America to start Catholic missions.
From the Paper "'The Mission' is a tragic movie that evokes many emotions in its viewers. The events of the movie occur during a period when the Spanish and Portuguese had created a treaty over land in South America. The stories of the South American missions and the Guarani people are told in the movie. The events of the movie occur during the colonial period, a time Jesuit priests traveled form Europe to South America to start missions. The Jesuits? goal was to convert the native Indians from their tribal beliefs to the Catholic traditions. The missions were very successful and flourished. The reason the missions were successful is because the Guarani Indians fled from the jungle to the missions for protection from slave hunters. One particular slave hunter was Rodrigo Mendoza. This movie gave a detailed overview of the life of Rodrigo because he symbolized a cycle of transformation. This transformation was from a slaver hunter to kind Jesuit Priest. The slave hunter Rodrigo undergoes a transformation from the barbaric ways of a slave trader to the peaceful life of a Jesuit priest".
Tags: america, deniero, indians, mission, religion, slaves, south, spain, portugal
Abstract A discussion of the ramifications of illicit drug use. This paper demonstrates a critical understanding of the ramifications inherent in illicit drug use and related drug issues to specific examples highlighted within the film ?Trainspotting.? Different forms of drugs, from the softest to the hardest type are mentioned and the side-effects examined.
From the Paper "Drug use has existed for thousands of years, but it has only been during the last few decades that abuse has become a social problem, particularly among young people. Perhaps the main reason for the rise in drug abuse is the very simple fact that drugs are more available today than fifty years ago. And the primary reason for the abundant availability of drugs today is a simple fact as well, money. Drug trafficking is a multi-billion dollar business that involves a myriad of players and dealers. What once was found only in urban back alleys, now can be found literally anywhere, small rural towns, suburban shopping malls, even local schools. Drug abuse can be found in most every family. Moreover, hardly a week goes by that tabloids do not glare with headlines concerning a celebrity going into rehab for a drug addiction, whether prescription or illegal. Drug use has been glorified and demonized in the media depending on the political air of the times. However, the media has also portrayed drug use and abuse in very realistic fashion, from feature news reports to movies. Regardless of how it is depicted, drug use is real and drug awareness has become a part of our everyday life."
Abstract This paper reviews and analyzes the film through exploring the main theme, namely, the protagonist's psychosis and obsession. It also looks at the theme of the immoderation of the 1980's . It looks at how the images, environment and music of the film facilitates and reinforces its 1980's setting. It develops the idea of the lack of self-identity on the part of the protagonist and his awareness of his mental distortion. The murder scenes in the film are then analyzed for the messages about the protagonist and the society that they reveal.
From the Paper "The character being portrayed in the movie is a kind of a man who believes to spend his life on his own. He used to dine at the finest restaurants of the city, wears the fanciest cloths and has a unique way of living. Working as a Vice President of Pierce and Pierce, he is considered to be one of the most disciplined executives of the company. As Mr. Patrick Bateman keeps on enjoying his routine life, socializing with his lover and other female counterparts, his life is suddenly disturbed because of the disappearance of one of his rivals, Mr. Paul Allen, and the detective directs his investigation towards Patrick."
Abstract The writer of this paper focuses on the character of Joan Fontaine and her struggle to cope with being the wife of a widower. One of the major themes of the film is based around her struggle to be the second wife and to fight the fact that she is second best. The paper examines this struggle of control between Fontaine and Rebecca, the first wife; and how, even though Rebecca is dead, Fontaine still feels extremely threatened by her.
From the Paper "Hitchcock's Rebecca is the story of Joan Fontaine, a shy and naive woman who marries Maxim de Winter, a wealthy widow. They return to his home, Manderlay, after their marriage where Fontaine is haunted by the first wife, not ghostly haunted, but haunted by the reminders of Rebecca that are all through the house. Fontaine struggles to take the place of Rebecca yet always feels inferior to her. The housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, actively tries to break up the marriage by reminding Fontaine of the perfect Rebecca. Fontaine becomes suspicious and slowly seeks out the facts surrounding the mystery of Rebecca's death. In revealing the truth about Rebecca, Fontaine is finally able to be free of the expectations placed upon her, and becomes an individual as opposed to an inferior replacement wife. The film is the combination of a love story, a mystery and a personal journey of discovery for Fontaine."
Abstract The paper examines the book, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Czeck author, Milan Kundera and compares it to the film by the same name directed by Philip Kaufman. The paper discusses the life of Kundera before analyzing both book and movie. It also shows similarities and differences between the two.
From the Paper "The Unbearable Lightness of Being novel is written by Milan Kundera, and has received great critical and popular attention. It was published in 1984 and left a tremendous impact on the history of contemporary literature. Milan Kundera is one of the Czech Republic's most articulate authors. According to Natasha Twal, "He is a virtuoso whose intelligence is both speculative and playful. His intellectual panache as well as his endless ability to generate original ideas from the most archetypal- almost mudane- humane situations insures that he is never less than stimulating" (The Star 3- 30, 98)."
Abstract A very personal and positive review of the movie by the writer who claims to have seen it more than once. It discusses the plot and how it is more than a simple ethnic wedding, but teaches one to laugh at one's own mistakes and faults. The movie pushes ethnic tolerance in a funny and charming way and this paper examines how this is done.
From the Paper "My favorite thing about My Big Fat Greek Wedding was its lack of pretense. There could have been a lot more depth to this movie and its underlying storylines of cultural separatism, the pressure to conform, the will to improve one's lot in life, and final acceptance of self. However, in the end, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is exactly what it should be: a funny story about a Greek American girl, from a traditional Greek family, getting married."
Abstract This paper presents the character, Ralph, as the symbol of civilization and order. The author states that the other boys quickly adapted, from their societal values, to the island's natural ways of survival of the fittest. The paper concludes that Ralph's character does not take the same turn as the other boys; rather, it remains constant throughout the novel. The plot is outlined with supporting quotes.
From the Paper "As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent to the reader that Ralph will not adapt to the savage ways and candor of his fellow castaways. This is evident to the reader through his dialogue with both the boys and to himself. After Ralph is elected chief, he proclaims to the boys, "Listen, everybody. I've got to have time to think things out. I can't decide what to do straight off. If this isn't an island we might be rescued straight away. So we've got to decide if this is an island." (Golding 23).
Abstract This paper explores the movie "Apocalypse Now" and centralizes on the idea of what it took to survive in Vietnam. The paper discusses the trip down the Mekong River Captain Willard takes.
From the Paper "Apocalypse Now is a movie set in Vietnam during the war. It is about a man sent by the United States Army on a classified mission down the Mekong River to kill one of their own. Much of the movie takes place on a boat called a patrol boat riverine or PBR. The Army is accusing the man that Captain Willard is sent to kill of murder. They have told Captain Willard that the man he is to kill, Colonel Kurtz has gone crazy and taken things into his own hands. This is a huge problem for the Army because they cannot have unconventional warfare in their ranks."
