Over the past weekend I watched Ron Howard's "Frost Nixon", the account of the David Frost interviews with the former President of the United States Richard Nixon. At first I didn't really find myself too into the movie, but like most movies, as it drew on it drew me in further.

Being someone who isn't into politics, I wasn't sure if I'd like the movie. Part of me wonders how accurate the film is to the actual events, and how much of it was built up. Then I look at it from strictly a viewers standpoint and it was very good. The story line was very solid. The most intense scenes were very distinct, being just the two main characters, David Frost and Richard Nixon in front of the camera.

When I was watching the movie, I was drawn to the variations of shots used to break up the interviews. It wasn't just shown from the interview cameras angle, it was split up between many different shots. Then on top of that, the intense lighting set ups and the rack-focus used made it more interesting.

After the movie was over, I didn't really know what to think of the whole scenario. I know that Richard Nixon abused his power as President, and that he got off the hook without any discipline, but strictly from what the movie showed, I feel sorry for the man in a way. Yeah, he did wrong, but he lived with that guilt inside for many years, not letting it out. I think the movie portrayed that climactic moment well, where you could see it in Nixon's face, that he just couldn't live with it any longer. Not feeling that people would forget/forgive him for what he'd done, but for personal reasons, getting it off of his chest.

I think this movie was a very insightful movie for me, and it has intrigued me to possibly buy and read the book. That may alleviate my questioning of the accuracy of the film.

Butch C

So after each week hearing and watching clips from older movies, I decided to rent Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. I'm really glad that I did, because it's been a while since I've seen a good written movie. There's definitely a difference between how an older movie was written compared to todays movies. I feel that since older didn't have the technology for special effects and things like that to make them more entertaining, they used the ACTING and WRITING to make it entertaining. I mean, we're certainly in two different times and there's a difference in image and sound quality, but the quality in content I think is better in the older movies.

One of the great things about this movie, was it wasn't over the top. there wasn't a ridiculous amount of unnecessary action... it was a good flow.

In some way I feel like Butch and the Kids relationship is like Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan's relationship in Oceans 11. They're the "duo", and there's no reason to explain there relationship...

.... And I have to say, the best scene is the very last one... by far

Howdy Folks

It's certainly been a while since I've blogged. It's been a crazy last couple of weeks and I know that it's not going to get any better... BUT blogging must be done.

I haven't seen an entire movie all the way through in a very long time. Three times this week, I have come home to see the same freaking part of Matrix Revolution at 2am, where the robots are attacking. I'm not sure what to think... it's all just so over the top. I try to look at it cinematically, but it's just too chaotic and action filled. There's too much digital editing for me to look at it and analyze the technical aspect of the film.

I also got to see about 30 minutes of "What about Bob?". There was a part where Siggy and Bob are laying in their beds talking about their fears. The camera is bedside Siggy with Siggy on the left and Bob to the right in the background. The lighting made both of their faces visible even though it was dark in the room. Siggy's face was side lit making his profile stand out, while Bob's face was more of a fill. The camera moves between the two, rotating close, medium and wide views was very apparent to me. This is probably the most obvious example of that which I have seen since this class started. The close ups were always with Siggy looking off screen right with more space to the right, and with Bob screen left with the space on the left. When I saw this sequence, it clicked in my head and I felt like a nerd because I feel like my eyes widened when I saw it... one of those times where you're like "I know why that's like that!" I think I able to do that because I have seen the movie so many times, so I know what happens... and when I see a movie numerous times I notice different things... this time the camera work in the bedtime "Death" conversation........... which leaves me with the ultimate fear............

TOURETTES!!!!

Bob: You ever hear of Tourettes syndrome? Involuntary shouting profanity?

Dr. Leo: It's exceptionally rare.

Bob: Shit-eating son-of-a- bitch! Bastard, douche-bag, twat, numb-nuts, dickhead, BITCH!

Dr. Leo: Why exactly are you doing this?

Bob: If I fake it, then I don't have it.

Thanks for that Bob.

Into The Wild

This was probably the most highly anticipated movie that I have seen in years.  The first time I ever saw it was last spring, while I was in Italy actually.  I had read the book the previous summer and couldn't wait for it to come out on movie.  I am an outdoors person, so this book really interested me and when it came out on film I was amped.  

So I was in Florence when it came out and couldn't wait to see it when I returned to the States, when I found out a local theater showed English movies once a week... and Into the Wild was one of the features.  So I was in like flint and went and saw it with a few friends.  I don't know if it's just because I'm a sucker for the wilderness, adventure, or just going with the flow, but I WANTED to be Alexander McCandless after I watched the movie.  Obviously not dead, but carefree enough to just go out and live free.  Technically this movie was very simple... it was basically a documentary of McCandless's adventure across the country and up to Alaska.  It's not an action movie, or a love story... it's just powerful, seeing how someone can be so passionate about doing something and going out and doing it.  This movie is probably the most inspirational/influencing film I have ever seen.  I believe my feelings are that way because I can relate in some ways to McCandless's character. 

If you are an outdoorsman, an adventure seeker, or someone who is passionate about something... this movie will not let you down.... I just suggest reading the book first... so you aren't completely taken back at the outcome.

THE BOY DOES NOT SLEEP!

I NO WATCH NOTHING....  MI DISPIACE

ME DOES WORK

PACE,

DRE-U

Oceans...11 and 12

Alright, so I watched about 4 movies this week, Oceans 11, 12, Van Helsing, and Back to the Future, but only finished two of them... Back to the Future and Oceans 11.  

I have seen all 3 of the Oceans movies and freaking love them.  When I watched 11, and 12 these past times, for some reason I noticed the voiceovers more than I had before.  It seems like the movies have very similar layouts, where the "hist" is described with a voiceover while everything is shown to the viewer.  Probably the most intriguing thing with the Oceans movies is the inevitable twist at the end that ALWAYS happens.  This just makes them that much more interesting because you know it's coming, but you're not sure how or what it's going to be.  I'm not sure if the twist is what makes me enjoy the Oceans movies, or the conversations George and Brad have all the time.  They never really say anything, ever but both of them know exactly what is going on.  Brad is usually eating food, and neither of them ever really look at each other.  These conversations don't seem significant, but I feel that they really succeed in showing the close relationship between the two characters.  They're the masterminds behind the jobs, and they're so in sync with one another that they can have the most pointless conversation where they don't come right out and say exactly what they mean, but the other one knows exactly what the other is saying.  Just talking about this movie is making me want to go watch them all right now.  It's too bad I have class....

Week 1

This week I saw the movie Valkyire.  Until Matt had made the comment about not panning and zooming, and we had seen the video on basic camera moves and techniques, I never noticed how few camera moves were used while taping a movie.  For the most part it's simply wide, medium, and close still shots.

Through doing the in-camera edit exercise, I realize that different angles make the sequence more powerful.  

Drew