Comparing Comedies

In class we studied both screwball comedies and romantic comedies, both type of comedies have many similarities and differences. A good example of a screwball comedy is His Girl Friday (Howard Hawks, 1940). On the other hand a good example of a more recent film that is a romantic comedy is Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (Michael Gondry, 2004). Before going into each particular movie it is important to understand the components of what makes each.
A screwball comedy puts emphasis on funny and comedy in all senses. Romantic comedies focus a big part of the movie on love. With a screw ball comedy comes: satire on the romantic process, the woman character is usually dominant, there are often pieces of dark comedy, often the characters are quirky, and often the climax of the plot is near the end. On the other hand a romantic comedy is often: it puts emphasis on love which is more real, the emotional and physical pain is a real threat, more traditional gender roles and interactions, and the ending of the movie is often slower with the characters debating if they maintain their relationship.
In His Girl Friday it exemplifies a screwball comedy because the plot is fast and often twisting. It is filled with dark comedy when Molly attempts to commit suicide is unsuccessful and yet no one cares. By them ignoring her suicide and focusing back in the newsroom it takes a more blissful approach. It has a much lighter tone then most romantic comedies. In Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind it portrays a more typical romantic comedy. Both of the characters emotions seem more real. They fight just like real couples and it shows love as a learning experience. They also take each others pain seriously.
In summary both types of comedies are tolerable but I prefer romantic comedy. It is easer to relate to and it always seems to be more of a true story.

Western Blog

After viewing many western movies in class it is clear that they overlap in many ways. Whether this includes the setting, the characters, the plot, the mood or the cinematic style they have many things in common.
For example the setting is often placed in a warm, dry southern town in the west. It usually takes place within the years 1860-1910. These types of settings were seen in Blazing Saddles and Stagecoach.
The characters also overlapped in both movies. They both had a hero character, that was strong and silent, and both had high morals. In Blazing Saddles –it was the Sheriff. In Stagecoach it was Doc Boone. Both movies also included roles that were very stereotypical for supporting roles. This included a town drunk, prostitutes, gamblers and the “good cowboys”.
The plot of both westerns was also similar. They both involved face-to-face show downs/gun fights. They both ended with the hero coming out on top. There were also similar themes like: frontier versus civilization, the individual versus society, and freedom versus conformity.

Behind the Scenes

In truly understanding cinematography one must be able to understand what happens behind the scenes. After viewing One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, (Milos Forman, 1976) one can see how the actors were hand picked for their roles. They were so respected for the movie itself that is won 5 Oscars, and had another 11 nominations. This includes excellent acting by Jack Nicholson, as R.P McMurphy, or Louis Fletcher playing Nurse Ratched. It was filmed in an authentic mental hospital in Oregon. Upon arriving at a mental institution, the rebellious psyche patient played by Nicholson, rallies all the patients together to take on the force of nurse. The nurse is more like a dictator than the stereotypical loving and caring nurse. In fully understanding the film, one must take a closer look at the amazing job the actors did.
Jack Nicholson is energetic and a wise guy who stands up against the establishment. His character is juxtaposed with Nurse Ratched as the establishment verses the anti-establishment. His first protest he stages in the movie is to gain the rights to watch the World Series on TV. He ends up interacting with the patients on a different level then everyone else, and this helped to create change. An example of this would be in his relationship with “Chief” Bromden (Sampson). The Chief is schizophrenic and assumed deaf; he is often ignored, yet respected due to his size. It is through the heroic and rebellious personality of R.P. McMurphy that the Chief came out of his shell. This attitude of McMurphy’s ends up being the cause of his ruin and eventual lobotomy. This symbolizes the need in society to control the uncontrollable.
Nurse Ratched (Louis Fletcher ) is the other character worthy of mentioning. She is so convincing with her stern personality that even watching she can be scary. She tries to get everyone to behave and submit to her demands. She breaks down the characters so fully that she leads one character Billy to commit his own suicide. She is the one in control, and yet in scenes like this, we question her own mental stability.
This movie is not only filled with exceptional acting, but also is a critique of society itself. After reading synopsis online, I learned that, “ It surprised everyone by becoming enormously profitable - the seventh-highest-grossing film ever (at its time), bringing in almost $300 million worldwide” (1). It is in the acting that the movie comes to life.

















Work CitedUnknown, "Synopsis for One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest." Internet Movie Database 3- 28-08
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The Wizard of Oz: Film Review

The Wizard of Oz, is a 1939 America musical film directed by Victor Fleming, and was based on the children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Frank Baum. The original screen play was written by Noel Langley. The film features Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Billie Burke as Glinda the Good Witch of the North, Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Frank Morgan as the Wizard.
The film follows Dorothy, a young girl from Kansas, who lives with her Aunt and Uncle, in their depression-era farm, and she dreams of a better place. After a destructive tornado hits the farm, Dorothy and her dog Toto are magically transported to the Land of Oz. Dorothy is instructed by the Good Witch of the North to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. On her journey she meets many great characters like: the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.
This movie employs many different film techniques which aid in its fantastical journey. For example, the very beginning of the film there is a direct shot of Dorothy’s dog Toto. This shot is taken at a close-up distance. The camera is also slightly tilted downward to show the expression of anger on Toto’s face. This scene was an extremely short take. His expression is in reaction to not wanting to be taken by the Witch and put into her bike basket.
Another example of a well done camera shot is done with a wide angle. This shot is done in black and white, which then later adds to the beauty of all the color seen in the Land of Oz. It starts with Dorothy opening a door to the colorful World of Oz. Up to this point the movie has been black and white. She stops as soon as she steps into Oz. This shot is straight on, the camera moves into Oz first through the door. This is accompanied by a sound track that is light and natural. In essence, the camera and Dorothy enter Oz together. Next, we see Dorothy close up, and she looks around in shock at everything around her. She then walks out of the shot.
Other camera angles that occurred later in the film include, a close up shot of the Wicked Witch riding the broom stick. This shot puts emphasis on the skywriting “Surrender Dorothy.” This shot then trials behind the witch, and builds up a feeling of suspense.
In the end, The Wizard of Oz is a great film filled with suspense, and laughter. It uses symbolism like the red ruby slippers representing the importance of home. Dorothy uses repetition to further show this when she says, “There is no place like home, there is no place like home.” It also involves themes such as not giving up on one’s dreams, and always opens to adventure and life’s mysteries. Though it takes place in a mystical land, the excellent acting and camera techniques make it extremely real and vivid.

Journal 1: The Bucket List

The Bucket List


I once lost someone who I was really close to. Their death made me feel like a part of my childhood was taken from me. It made me reflect on the importance and value of the time I do have. But it also made me think about how death is not a laughing matter. I held this philosophy, but then was surprised by my desire to see the movie “The Bucket List.” I think the reason being, I wondered could death be something we could make light of ?
After reading the review that Kyle Smith wrote on “The Bucket List,” I want to see it now more then ever. I normally do not think death is something that one can laugh at. After reading how the director handles the topic, it seems like from the critic’s standpoint, they make it comical, regardless of the topic itself. “Hollywood dislikes old people and loathes philosophy, but older viewers especially will find that this script touches important questions with wit and grace” (Smith, 1). This quote exemplifies the balance that is found between the topic of death and humor. The critic goes even further to say, “Carter and Edward's discussion of religion hits all the essentials while being succinct and witty: "We live, we die, and the wheels of the bus go round and round," says Edward” (Smith, 2). This is not the typical attitude or remark I expected to hear when referring to death.
The characters that were picked for this movie, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman seem like they could make a good team. After seeing Jack Nicholson in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” it is easy to imagine him making the most depressing things funny enough to laugh at. For example, in this movie he is in a mental hospital. He is put there against his will, and yet he seems to make the best of a bad situation. I found it interesting at the time, seeing a movie that could be both comical and heavy. Immediately after hearing about “The Bucket List” from friends, I knew this movie had the potential to do the same thing: parallel two opposites to make a comedy. The reviewer brings up how the characters are polar opposites of each other, and in turn do not hit it off. In the beginning, Nicholson is a big time CEO, and Morgan Freeman is a mechanic. Yet they are forced to share a room together. This room is only divided by a thin curtain. Knowing typical Hollywood movies, this sets them up for some ups and downs, but laughs for the viewers along the way. Furthermore, based off past movie viewing experiences, one can assume, they become friends.
I really am a sucker for feel good movies that are easy to relate to my own life. As the critic calls this movie a “popcorn picture” I can see how this would be (Smith, 2). In the end, the critic summed it up, in my mind, when he stated, “Actors tell us that dying is easy, comedy is hard. But comedies about dying are hardest of all” (Smith, 2).

My First Post

Introductory Blog:



This class has already opened my eyes to the depth used in film-making. For example, I used to mostly pay attention to plot line. I am seeing now that there is much more to the movie then the plot. Such as: camera angels, lighting, sound and costumes/make up. I am exicted to see how this class will contiue to influence me as a film critic.