Journal Entry #3

9.22.2008
THE BICYCLE THIEF (1948) 150 Word Review
Directed by: Vittorio De Sica
Written by: Cesar Zavatinni

REVIEW
In this Italian neorealist film Vittorio De Sica acts like Henri Cartier-Bresson and captures the moment using shots and angles that look like they could have been paused and taken as a snapshot and one awards as photography. That being said this is a film not a photo portrait. At it's heart I think the film is about much more than what is on the surface. The powerful relationship between Father and Son. The struggle of the working class and the poor. Compassion and struggle all bottled up into one film. More interesting still is the powerful lessons that Bruno endures. This is Post WWII Italy and yet in a way it reminds you of aspects of today or for that anytime in the last 100 years. It deals with the struggles and decisions that one makes in order to provide for the ones you love. Regardless of the superb cinamatic accomplishments featured in this film at it's heart it's really about life and I think that's why it's so endearing. Most importantly though it makes you question the world around us. Why do people steal? What drives people to do what they do and what relationships exist in your own family (between Father and child). The Bicycle Thief delivers...pure and simple.

9.26.2008
THE BICYCLE THIEF (1948) In Class Clip
Directed by:Vittorio De Sica
Written by: Zavatinni

Zavanntini was a socialist/Marxasist. The relation between the ideal of that political belief can be seen throughout the film. Theres a certain feeling that he is reinforcing his belief of how the world relates. During this time you also have Stalin/Mussolini. Zavatinni believed that there should be no barriers between reality and wanted to make a film that explored 90 minutes of a persons life

9.26.2008
THE THIRD MAN (1949) In Class Clip
Directed by: Carol Reed
Written by: Graham Greene

Graham Greenes ('The Ugly American') influence is thick in this film about mistaken identity. Each scene is painstakingly set up using the classic shadow elements, smoke, staircases etc.

9.26.2008
GREAT EXPECTATIONS (1946) In Class Clip
Directed by: David Lean

9.26.2008
UMBERTO D. (1952) In Class Viewing PART 1
Directed by: Vittorio De Sica
Written by: Zavattini

Typical De Sica with non-actors and a slllloooooowwwww story about an old man and his dog. An exercise in futility. Reminded me of last Saturday when a work crew decided to cut down a tree outside my apartment on Pine Street at 8am. I was about to yell something when the, from the window across the street I heard a neighbor yell "shut the fuck up!" at which the chainsawing stopped only to resume at 9:15a.A slow hourney into the pursuit of staying alive. The scene at the Dog Pound was significant because it reminded me of the scene in The Bicycle Thief when the father thinks his boy had drowned. The shot with the Colisiuem in the background is pure magic, with a shallow field of view and a gritty black and white quality. Also the Dog holding the hat and acting as a panhandler, as well as when he is talking to The Commish through the bus window.

9.30.2008
REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955) 150 Word Review
Directed by:

Text to follow

10.1.2008
LORD OF THE RINGS:THE TWO TOWERS (2002) Home Viewing DVD
Directed by: Peter Jackson

The classic Golem and Frodo Baggins.

10.2.2008
NO DIRECTION HOME: BOB DYLAN (2005) Home Viewing DVD
Directed by: Martin Scorsce

10.2.2008
UN CHIEN ANDALOU (1929) In Class Viewing PH 100 Photo History
Directed by: Lois Bunuel and Salvador Dali

A movie every film student should watch at least once. Dada/Surrealism. Also directed Diary of a Chambermaid

10.2.2008
VP DEBATE: PALIN v. BIDDEN (2008) PBS
Televison

Moderated by Gwen Ifill. Also read a concurrent story on 'Librarians against Palin' in The SF Chronicle

10.3.2008
UMBERTO D (1952) In Class Clip Part 2
Directed by: Vittorio De Sica

Journal Entry #2

9.18.2008
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) 150 Word Review
Directed By: Billy Wilder

REVIEW
The element which is so interesting in the Film Noir DOUBLE INDEMNITY to me is the script. It's a back and forth banter which is laden with manipulation and talking questions. Fred Macmurray and Barbara Stanwyck play off each other with skill and deft touch. Another interesting aspect is the classic Film Noir plot and shooting style. Billy Wilder goes out of his way to craft scences which are complex and masterful. The clip we watched in class is a good example with Stanwyck standing at the top of the stairs, but throughout the movie there are many more of these, each one set up with painstaking detail. In short this is your proverbial Film Noir including all of the central themes of a Noir (femme fatale, lighting, contrast, plot, etc.) and it was herlded as a remarkable effort throughout Hollywood. It's a classic. As evidence of that it has been adapted, copied and has inspired many other movies.



9.19.2008
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) In Class Clip
Directed By: Billy Wilder

9.19.2008
SUNSET BLVD. (1950) In Class Clip
Directed By: Billy Wilder
Cinematography: Haren Von Stronheim

Buster Keaton. Bringing out Hollywoods Old Guns. A Tribute to Old Cinema v. New Cinema,Change. Also went on to direct the Nine Hour Epic 'Greed'.

9.19.2008
DETOUR (1945) In Class Viewing
Directed By: Edgar G. Ulmer

Was that a young Kurt Russell as the Lead Actor? A disjointed, strung out, low budget, chuckle fuck about a piano player trying to get back to his lady. Also the advent of the Femme Fetal

9.13.2008
TROPIC THUNDER (2008) Sebastopol Cinemas
Directed By: Ben Stiller

Sebastopol Theater with my Girlfriend, her Mom and my buddy Johnny after a day of drinking at the Cajun Festival.

9.19.2008
ALIENS (2008) Home Viewing
Directed By: James Cameron

One of the all time great Sci Fi movies. S.Weaver as a bad ass, female, Alien Wrecker.

Journal Entry #1

9.12.2008
HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT (1986) In Class Clip
Directed By: John Heyh and Jeff Ku

A gritty, low budget Doc. on exactly that, a Rock and Roll Parking Lot. Mostly
interviews of people tailgating outside a Virgina concert venue

9.12.2008
NOT YET RATED (2006) In Class Clip
Directed By: Kerbie Dick

Doc. examing the rating system used in today's movies industry. What words you can and cannot say