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.