Screening Report 4: Taiwan: The Wedding Banquet

1. Relate what was discussed in class to the text or screening:

Ang Lee, the director of The Wedding Banquet (1993), is one of the most notable and celebrated Taiwanese film directors in their history. He has directed some very popular movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hulk (2003), Brokeback Mountain (2005), and The Life of Pi (2011). Similar to the Wedding Banquet, his film Brokeback Mountain was another excellent film that was about two male homosexual lovers. It starred the late Heath Ledger. Lee was nominated for Oscars for The Wedding Banquet and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. He won an Oscar in 2012 for Life of Pi.


2. Find a related article and summarize the content:

Wai-Tung is a gay man born in Taiwan but now a naturalized American who speaks fluent English. He has agreed to the request of his lover, Simon, to marry Wei Wei, who is a part-time waitress and painter, as well as one of Wai Tung's tenants. She is marrying him in order to obtain her green card, but she also finds Wai-Tung very attractive. On the other hand, Wai-Tung is marrying her at the request of Simon in order to get his parents off his back about marriage and to keep his true love life private. Wai-Tung's parents fly over to New York City from Taiwan once they heard the news about the wedding. The two lover's, Wai-Tung and Simon go to extreme lengths to conceal the extent of their relationship. Upon arriving at their home, it had to be redecorated to make it seem like Wai-Tung and Wei Wei lived there together, and not Wai-Tung and Simon. Simon is introduced to Wai-Tung's parents and roommate (which I'm surprised didn't raise any suspicion then). The lies continue to pile on, Wei Wei serves everyone dinner every night during the parents' two-week stay that is actually cooked by Simon (Wei Wei does not even know how to fry an egg). The film starts off as a light comedy but gradually becomes a bit dark as it goes along. After the solution to Wei Wei's pregnancy between Simon and Wai-Tung, it leaves the five main characters wiser and more compassionate than how they started out. The most touching character of the film was Wai-Tung's mother, whose existence seems to be tied to the pursuit of social convention. The film has a sense of history built into the plot. Wai-Tung and Wei Wei's marriage can also be viewed as a symbolic reunion of mainland China and Taiwan. The fact the future of their family line is dependant on this suspect marriage based on convenience to both parties gives the film an extra sense of comedy.

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CEFDB1431F937A3575BC0A965958260

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class:

The article supported and differentiated how I thought about the film. I definitely see the bit of history built into the plot with the idea that Wai-Tung and Wei Wei's marriage can be viewed as a symbolic reunion of mainland China and Taiwan, given that the director is from Taiwan. However, I felt that Wai-Tung's father was the most touching and thoughtful character in the film (not the mother), with Simon being a close second. Once Wai-Tung told his mother the truth about the marriage and his true lover, they both made it clear that they were to not tell his father under any circumstances and go on with the lie up until they left to return to Taiwan. They thought he would decide to disown Wai-Tung.But the father ended up using his own judgment and found out the truth on his own. He told Simon in a discrete way in their conversation by the river. And when they said goodbye before boarding their plane, he kindly thanked Simon for taking care of his son. He wasn't thinking of himself, but of his son's own well-being and happiness. Simon is also very thoughtful and caring for deciding to help raise Wei Wei and Wai-Tung's baby after she decided to keep it.


4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material, and the article. 

The film overall was very well put together. It was certainly the most entertaining since we watched the film from Scotland. It was a perfect mix of drama, romance, and comedy. The theme of understanding and acceptance by the parents after learning the truth about their son was perfect. I definitely thought they were going to take that much worse than they did. However, Wei Wei becoming pregnant the night of the wedding banquet at the fancy restaurant seemed a bit unrealistic. Wai-Tung clearly wasn't looking for sex but Wei Wei in a way forced herself upon him. But for her to become pregnant off of having sex just one time seemed far-fetched.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( ^ ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( ^ ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( ^ ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( ^ ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( ^ ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( ^ ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( ^ ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( ^ ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: ___Cameron Beall___________________________________  Date: _______2/21/18_____________________

Citations: 

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CEFDB1431F937A3575BC0A965958260

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/wedding-banquet/review/

http://thepolitic.org/film-review-the-wedding-banquet/

 

Screening Report 3: Spain: Talk to Her

1. Relate what was discussed in class or text to the screening:

Prior to watching the film, the class briefly discussed the likes of Charlie Chaplin and his daughter, Geraldine Chaplin. Charlie Chaplin was one of the most notable actors of the silent film era, with his most famous film being Gold Rush (1925). This relates to the film Talk to Her because of Benigno's obsession with Alicia, the dancer who he watches across the street from his house at the dance studio. His fetish with Alicia is partly inspired by a silent film he saw called Shrinking Lover. In this film, a scientist accidentally drinks some sort of potion and ends up having intercourse with his lover's still body. In the film, the scientist deems it as an act of worship, not forceful penetration. Benigno thinks of his acts on Alicia that ended up impregnating her and sending him to prison the same way.


2. Find a related article and summarize the content:

Talk to Her is one of Almodovar's calmer, laid-back films. However, it still does not lack any theatrical, mischievous, on-edge suspense. The story of two men's love for two women who are lying in comas. Marco, a journalist who falls in love with Lydia, a female bullfighter who has been mauled during a fight by a bull and now lies immobile in a coma. And Benigno, who is a nurse caring for Alicia, the beautiful dancer who he had had his eye on for a while before she ended up in a coma. Almodovar creates this sort of imaginative sympathy for the two male lead characters (especially Benigno). He somehow makes the rape of Alicia and its aftermath be seen as a tragic story of the ending of a relationship. Leaves the viewers thinking about how the rape should even be perceived, should you feel sorrier for Alicia or for Benigno? Almodovar is known as a director usually focusing on women in lead roles, but it is the men who are such in this film. But the men don't have a problem getting in touch with either of their feminine side.


https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/aug/23/1

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class:

The article definitely supported the way I thought about and perceived the film. The reviewer did a great job of breaking down the film from different perspectives. The director definitely wanted the two main characters (Marco and Benigno) to be controversial for viewers to form mixed opinions and feelings about them. Whether to feel sympathetic towards them or not, or more towards the women they love. What I took from it was Marco's unconditional love and support for Benigno, even when it seems to be clear that Benigno is suffering from some sort of mental problems/illness. He never gives up on him, continues to visit him in prison and helps him out with his lawyer. I also feel as if this is a story about fate, how Marco and Alicia end up meeting in the same theatre across from Benigno's house. Which also forces you to think, is Marco a bad friend to the now dead Benigno for being with Alicia? The director did a great job of giving the viewer mixed feelings, emotions, and opinions about the characters.


4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussion, and the article:

I thought this was the best film we have watched so far in this class. The suspense, emotion, and overall mood of the film was really good. The balance between the flashbacks and present time. The dialogue, music, it all gelled together perfectly. The acting was excellent, especially from Benigno's character. The director did a great job of making the viewer form different opinions and perspectives on the characters, based on their numerous actions and the differences between them. He really made you think whether certain characters were good people or not. Made you dig deep and question their morals and values. And the ending, meeting in the same place the film started in. Overall great film.



Citations:
http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B02E5D8153AF931A25753C1A9649C8B63
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/08/08/talk_to_her_2002_review.shtml
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/aug/23/1

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( ^ ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( ^ ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( ^ ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( ^ ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( ^ ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( ^ ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( ^ ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( ^ ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: _Cameron Beall_____________________________________  Date: ________2/15/18____________________

Screening Report 2: France: Bleu

1. Relate what was discussed in class or text to the screening:

Bleu was the first film of the Three Colors trilogy by director Krzysztof Kieslowskil which symbolizes the three different colors displayed on the French flag (blue, white, red). The film definitely had a slow-paced feel to it, did not have much dialogue. A lot of slow music and dark scenery, which makes sense do to Julie's time of mourning. Scenery definitely fit the storyline.


2. Find a related article and summarize the content:

The music, which was written by Zbigniew Preisner, set the tone for the film and it in a sense relied on it. Not only that, but the impact the music had on Julie's life and her late husband's is what snapped her back into reality. Given the fact her husband was a great composer, it was hard for her to ever really escape the mark he left. Between finding out about her husband's mistress and learning she is carrying his child, things got rough for Julie. This led her to begin a relationship with Olivier while resurrecting her husband's last composition.

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class:

I definitely felt that the music did set the tone for the film, and complied well with what was going on throughout the film. Whatever music was being played at the time, it fit the plot at that given moment. It almost seemed as if there was more music than dialogue throughout the film. It fits the plot though, given it's about a woman who loses her child and husband who was a composer.

4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article:

The film was certainly very slow-paced, lacked dialogue. And when they did speak, it was at a very low-tone. I'm someone who enjoys a lot of good dialogue and usually get easily disinterested with a lack of such. But surprisingly, this movie kept me into it due to the interesting plot. It is clear Julie is having more than a rough time dealing with the loss of her daughter and husband, not wanting to face reality of almost any sort. She ends up making decisions she may have regretted upon learning of her husband's mistress and his child she is carrying. In the final scene when her and Olivier are having sex, she has some mixed emotions and may not have necessarily knew how to feel. She has a faint smile followed by tears running down her face. She doesn't know whether to feel guilty or not for her actions.

1) ( ^ ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( ^ ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( ^ ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( ^ ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( ^ ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( ^ ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( ^ ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( ^ ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: __Cameron Beall____________________________________  Date: __2/9/18__________________________

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/nov/09/three-colours-blue-review

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/04/movies/review-film-blue-the-first-installment-of-a-tricolor-trilogy.html

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/three-colours-blue/review/

Screening Report 1: UK: Trainspotting

1.  Relate what was discussed in class to the screening:

We discussed how director Danny Boyle usually takes a shot from the middle of the movie and uses it for the opening scene, that turned out to be true. I also noticed the reference to a Stanley Kubrick's a Clockwork Orange (1971), which I happened to find very disturbing. I couldn't get through the entirety of the film. Boyle also used a lot of heavy electronic music throughout the film, which I think helped set its tone and mood.



2.  Find a related article and summarize the content:

Trainspotting was one of the first and few British films to mirror some of the violence and hardcore drug use of popular American movies in the 90's such as GoodFellas and Pulp Fiction. It is very graphic and shows some of the rough truths about being apart of the lower class living in Scotland. Renton's "choose life" quote was thought to be pretty dynamic for that time as he struggles mightily trying to get off heroin and attempting to make more sense of what life actually is. Trainspotting inspired a lot of future gangster-like British films and also planted a seed for the Scottish independence campaign.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/12/trainspotting-review-danny-boyle-classic-t2


3. Apply the article to the film screened in class:
The article definitely supported the way I thought about and analyzed the film. I'm not so sure about GoodFellas, but it definitely reminded me a bit of Pulp Fiction (which is one of my favorite movies). Some of the music and scenery that was used reminded of it, as well as the obvious graphic of the hardcore drug use and violence. It was clear the director got some tips from Quentin Tarantino's classic film.


4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material, and the article:
The film is obviously very graphic and gritty and maybe even hard to watch at times for some people, which is understandable. From the drug use, vomiting, and scenes like where Renton went all the way into that disgusting public toilet just to fetch some sort of pill he so desperately needed. But I think the director was just trying to depict what life was like for the working low class at that time in Scotland, and I think he did a very good job. The constant use of drugs I don't think was shown to condone it in any way, but to show that this is the harsh reality of many places throughout the world. That's why I loved the "choose life" quote. That's what I think the director was trying to get viewers to take away from the film. Life is all about choices, and the choice is ultimately up to you at the end of the day. I also thought the director did a good job of mixing in some good humor with the obvious grittiness and harsh realities.

Sidebar: I really liked the character Diane, who was played by Kelly Macdonald acting in her first major role. She is in one of my favorite shows on HBO, Boardwalk Empire (great show!).

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( ^ ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( ^ ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( ^ ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( ^ ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( ^ ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( ^ ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( ^ ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( ^ ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Cameron Beall______________________________________  Date: _______1/31/18_____________________

Citations:
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/trainspotting/reviews/?type=top_critics
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/12/trainspotting-review-danny-boyle-classic-t2