Taxi Driver

Travis is a man who is pissed off at the world especially New York City. In the movie he mentions pimps, druggies, lowlifes i am thinking that he's angry in how society has changed. Morality is dead in Travis's mind and decency has died. Some ways he acts as a vigilante to change the wrongs of society. But before Travis does that he goes through changes. The beginning of the movie Travis is a normal working guy keeps to himself. Along the way meeting Betsy and getting dumped was the first step, shooting the mugger at the bodega, second step and third step meeting Iris helping her escape from Matthew the pimp. Watching this movie for the eight time my perception of Travis Bickle has changed some what. Before i thought he was a normal guy fed up with life taking it out on People. Now i feel when he goes to help Iris later on in the movie and Last five min. he's redeeming himself in the sense of paying it forward.

The taxi driver

When the movie started I was surprised to see a young Al Pacino.  However, once I saw him, I expected for the acting to be good.  The character that Pacino played seem to be a guy who was not only depressed, but also suffered from psychological problems.  His character was kind of lost in his own world. It seemed like he had given up on life.  But then when he met Betsy I thought that things were gonna turn around for him.  Unfortunately due to his lack of social skills he faltered in his attempt  at romance.  From that point he just seemed full of rage.  Basically,  The movie lead you to see that he was coming to a breaking point.  However,  I think it was quite ironic how his character became a hero at the end.  I thought he would have just been dead or in prison, so the end was definitely a surprise.

Taxi Driver

I believe that you will see some similarities in Taxi Driver compared to the previous three films we've watched. There is a strain of existentialism (remember, we talked about this term after screening The Hitch-Hiker) that runs through all of these films, but it is most obvious in Taxi Driver. Can you talk about how your understanding of existentialism is embodied in this film and the others we're viewing in this last unit? Also, what do you make of the burst of violence that happens near the film after all that brooding, all that voice-over driving and solitary watching? What do you make of the real conclusion, when Betsy (Cybil Shepherd) ends up back in Travis' (DeNiro) cab? Scorsese called this his "feminist film" which, I suspect, will be surprising to many considering the small roles that women have in film compared to DeNiro's psychopath. What he meant was Travis embodied all the worst natures in manhood taken to the extreme and that he viewed women as dichotomies, either whores or virgins, but not much in between.

Don Carpenter

As I mentioned before, Don Carpenter had a unique view inside the workings of Hollywood b/c he worked there as a writer for over a decade. Of the three of these novels, I think that Turnaround gives us the most nuanced and complex view of the behind-the-scenes world of Hollywood. This week and next, I'd like you to point out specific scenes that illustrate what this view of Hollywood was like. (This novel was originally published in 1981, so the setting is probably late 70s-early 80s, the years immediately after the Hollywood Renaissance.)

Allied

This weekend I saw the movie Allied and there was a scene that played homage to "The English Patient".  I wonder if I've ever really picked up on these things subconsciously before this class and just didn't pay them much mind or if I only pick up on them now through learning more about film.  Either way it was pretty spot on both movies have a love scene in the car, during a sand storm and it's the first the couple has ever made love.

The movie was pretty good, similar to the idea of Mr. & Mrs. Smith but with less action.

The Conversation

To be quite honest I really liked The conversation. My interest usually pertain to mystery movies and this film played the part. What I really like about this movie was not that Gene hack man was a genus investigator, I liked the fact that he created his own equipment. For instance when he went to the convention he seemed to have no interest in any of the products people were selling at the moment. When people who ask him would he like to partner with them he would reply no. None of his products were for sale and they all severed a huge purpose in his work. What also humored me was that all the items he had seen at the convention were garbage compared to his. For an man to make a microphone to listen through walls using a stethoscope is insane. Not many people are as intellectually to create such items. All his work throughout the movie from the time he put in to his craft to his hours of surveillance, played a positive role. He always tried to do what is best for individuals which is what I like most about his character.

Sound

Confused out of my mind watching Ganja and Hess I relied on the sound aspect to understand what I was watching. Majority of the time It is usually the visual aspects of a film that grasp my attention. Having no knowledge of this movie at all I decided to research the importance of film audio. One of the obvious elements and reasons for having audio is dialogue. The narrative in a film plays the biggest role compared to the music and sound effects. Without it we would not be able to understand or follow the direction of a movie. In fact most of the funds used to produce a movie is put towards the emphasis of sound quality. The sound effects usually pertain to getting rid of the unwanted elements of surround you when filming a movie. The director or sound crew usually use noise canceling options to get more of a crisp effects when creating there portion. Sound is, in many ways, as important as sight and given nearly as much focus by our brains. Even when you are asleep and your eyes are closed your ears are alert and ready. Just a quick blabber of mine about sound because I really had nothing else to talk about.

Jody

Jody mckeegan reminds my of the very exact definition of a feme fatale. She has complete comand over her beauty and uses it to her advantage.
Her acting is expressed as Almost other worldly as she becomes the character she is asked to portray. And I like to see it as a part of being a true feme fatale. After all you couldn't pick up many different men and use them if you couldn't make sure you were the kind of girl they wanted. It's odd, in the way that she has all thins knowledge on men without much effort. She knows she's beautiful,  she knows she has talent, but that knowledge is something different. It's what makes her dangerous. And the very fact that she is so centered on her personal goals, love be damned is actually kind of exhilarating. I haven't read many of these kinds of stories.
I have had the thought of comparing her to the Lolita types and this might be a stretch but, the thought did occur that Jody's story reminds me of the future Dolores Haze might of had. There is even a line in the book where Humbert says, she might of been an aspiring actress, one day a movie star. This thought of course Begs the question of what is the correlation between the two arch types of dolly and jody.

The conversation

The acting by Gene Hackman of Caul played out perfectly. It's as if someone gave him a description of how he should act and he perfected the role. I say this because it seemed so natural natural believable. It's as if directors let him act without interruptions. That's how much he acts his characters role out perfectly. I know it more than acting when it comes to a movie production. Scenes have to mesh and everything else must have continuity. I understand that, let's give these actors their due credit. They are important pieces to the puzzle too. From the shaky fist knocking on the door, to the saxophone playing. Gene Hackman put on a show. He allowed you to believe that he is really as paranoid with a, 'I will not break', mentality as the people he was hired to record. This gives the audience an unsettling feeling, where we seek for a way to make sense of a movie that we don't have to make sense of. Also we do this because it's the sad story of the oppressor in a sense becoming the victim. As Caul losses it, trying to find where he's bugged-we try to make sense of the film. We ask, 'Why doesn't he move out, He's searching in a the wrong places.' We could have sensed this from th beginning when that girl he visited said she felt as she had been recorded. It's obvious he acts a certain way because he's dealing with an intense case. Only we have to expect Caul to understand he's taking a risk where anything can happen every time he gets a new case. Nice acting.

THE CONVERSATION

I would say Hollywood renaissance films are way better compare to the pass films we watched earlier in the class, because Hollywood movies we get to see more things happening in the movie such as clear shots, cut and sounds.

Finishing The True Life Story of Jody McKeegan

As we finish up this novel, I like you to think about some of the following questions:

• How does Jodie's life before she becomes an actress affect her work on her first film? What does her relationship w/ Glen Duveen have to do w/ her experience in Hollywood? Why does Carpenter spend almost a whole page giving the back story of Duveen (p. 209) when we'll soon never see him again?
• What is the problem about Harry casting his girlfriend (Jody)?
• Why is that one sentence set by itself in italics all alone on p. 293?
• Why does the novel end before the film is finished and released? What do you think happened w/ the film? 
• Did you remember Jody from A Couple of Comedians (p. 78 etc.)? What is the connection between that novel?

The Conversation and the Hollywood Renaissance

We've seen three Hollywood Renaissance films, The Long Goodbye (1973), Ganja & Hess (1973), and The Conversation (1974). Compared to the films we watched earlier in the term, how would you say that HR films are different? How are they similar to ea other?

Progress

So after getting some well needed feed back on my essay, I decided to take my essay to the writing center before submitting it to professor. For as long I have been studying at QCC, Ive never taken a single paper to the writing center. After sitting down for nearly an hour, I am surprised to say that I received many tips and trick to enhance my writing ability. For something that is already included in our tuition I do recommend visiting the writing center before submitting your paper. Although many may this that there paper might be an A quality, for a mere hour of your time you can have a individual assure you that you have taken the wright track when developing a well written essay. So I have for you to be the writing center for me and give me pointers on my path to receiving an A. 

Beginning with Alfred E. Green’s Drama and Romance film you can innately realize that the world they are living in isn't so pleasant. As the movie began, the director displayed a giant factory spewing pollution into the air. This gave a sense of chaos and destruction within the society. Along this scene came a showing of a group of men dressed in raggedy work clothes on the way to the spittoon. By the looks of the individuals in the area, you can already tell that none of these men make a fortune with the lifestyle they are living. This thus brings on my realization of the Depression being that the unemployment rate in America was in the thousands. The only jobs they did have at the time had little to no pay along with horrible working conditions. Barbara Stanwyck played Lily, who is one of the main characters in the movie. Lily is first introduced as the men in the spittoon began to call her name. Everyone in the bar seemed to have a huge fixation when it came to her looks. Lily’s father is the owner of this establishment and is known for his abusive attitude towards his daughter and employees. He decides to use her charming looks in order to elude man to do what he wants. In this scene you can tell that Lily is fed up with all these foolish antics and no longer wishes to play a part for her father. Turning down a high paid business men, she angers her father because her actions cost him his bar. Overwhelmed with rage, Lily leaves home with Chico formally known as Theresa Harris. Fleeing to the only man she trust’s, she sees a cobbler man who pleads to her that she has power over men. He tells her that instead of letting men take advantage of her, “use your good looks to persuade men” to do what she so pleases. To get a better sense of Lily's well equipped personality, I would describe her as a flapper. A flapper is a short haired woman who wears excessive makeup, drinks, and treats sex as a casual activity. All of which are attributes Lily beholds...

Ganja and hess

 To be completely honest I had no clue what we were watching in class. When the movie began I hated the music in the background. Being that I came into class with a minor headache, that turned into an intense migraine. While watching the movie I tried my hardest to comprehend what I was seeing. From two men wrestling to there death, leading to a suicide scene. What weirded me about was when one individual shot himself in the chest and the other came in the bathroom and drank his blood off the floor. I don't know much about vampire movies but I'm more that likely sure that's no how they play out. Every time I heard that church choir music play in the background I knew to close my ears and look away. There would always be a scene where someone would get thirsty for blood or they are about to practice what ever they call that practice. I hope next class there is someone that can clarify what I watched and show me the purpose of filming such a movie. I am sorry if I sound like a huge critic but I thought to myself that this is a. Blog and I am voicing my opinion.

Ganja and hess

I found Ganja and Hess to be remarkably better than sweet blood of Jesus. personally the execution of a film that was almost identical in script and even in film angles was so vastly different that it felt like two separate entities rather than a remake. I got the sense that Ganja and Hess was more an art film where as Sweet Blood of Jesus came across as a poorly done vampire film. you said that Spike lee doesn't believe it to be a film about vampires, but the blood addiction (blood drinking) being such a core part of the story makes a it just that. personally I think the directors didn't want the films to be regarded as a vampire film because the genre compelled a different idea of what the films are. but it is possible to do art films within very specific genre. in fact I think Ganja and Hess executed it properly.

Temptation

What is temptation? Temptation is loves lust for harmony. Temptation is a spirit that melts the everglades. Why is it so benevolent? Well why not? How far are you willing to go or is the question how much can you stand? We all tap when our provoking units pulsing the moments deserves to win. If not then be that may it so, only be that this is of no repetition especially since when it does subside for that of which is of count. That of which is of matter on subject does cease acknowledgment to succeed when it's in face with the deserving one(s). In other words True life of Jody McKeegan and Ganja & Hess are movies about putting in what you will get out. Ganja & Hess is a great movie, only it's weird. The elemental stylistic quality that adds to the films greatness is the non-diegetic inserts. It messes with your psyche as a boss (one of my ancestral former lives) would say.

The true life story od Jody Mckeegan

I did not read the novel but as we have discuss in class and read chapter 10, i don't think this chapter have anything to do with Hollywood. However I think Corby is a light to Lindy even though their relationship isn't right, he brought her from a dark side. He did not only acknowledge her beauty but also how smart of a person Lindy is on page 181 .

Hollywood

This particular scene from part one of the novel has a direct relationship to the "lifestyle" of Hollywood. I feel as if this scene shows that there are many different people in Hollywood which are people who are supportive and people who are careless. It also showed a way of how discouraging people are in Hollywood. When you're in this lifestyle, its very cut throat. You have to be willing to accept whatever it is that is known at you with also knowing that you can't always believe everything something is telling you because they might not want you to progress. I feel as if Lindy's lifestyle is also has a direct relationship.

Jody Mckeegan

         In this scene, Quentin and Lindy are discussing the rise and fall in Hollywood, and how some people will motivate you to do better and others want to see you fall. This scene connects to Holly because of the relationship between Lindy and Quentin, and how it speaks so many volumes even with the relation of Quentin and his mother. Quentin is taking Lindy on an adventure almost, and she loves that hes so full of life unlike Eddy who is a lot more resourceful but doesn't seem as fun. Quentin is almost trying to convince Lindy why hes better than Eddy for her, almost justifying their relationship aside from her relationship with Eddy.. Quentin and Lindy almost don't even notice that they are basically selling themselves short because they are just so caught up in their own intimate bubble. Luckily for Lindy she has Mr. Corby who is encouraging her to go out there and get her education and trying to show her the importance of attaining knowledge for the right reasons.

The passage has a Hollywood feel. Particularly with the way the conversation spans over time and space seamlessly. the passage is written in a way that emulates a montage in which a conversation is happening over a length of time.  and then it comes to rest on them in  the bedroom. This last paragraph is something I think is used regularly in Hollywood films. I'm sure that it is the influence of previous films but I do imagine Lindy laying on the bed like" label me like one of your french girls" hair splayed about somehow made to look innocent  even though she is an active participant in this taboo relationship. and Quentin the manipulative talking complete and absolute nonsense with his hairy chest and false attractiveness  using his ability to give her the option of leaving feel wrong and the response be affirmative than other wise. It is what I think of as a traditional set up of a grand scheme of emotional distress/abuse which causes the magnitude of the issues within a film.

Jody McKeegan passage relation to Hollywood

Maybe the connection has to do with the ups and downs of the Hollywood world. During the passage Mr. Corby encourages Lindy to get her education and continue gaining knowledge from that point on. He describes to Lindy, the nature of his relationship with her and the nature of his relationship with her mother. Mr. Corby explains why both relationships are different and how they are the same. From what I gathered from the Hollywood lifestyle, I can compare his feelings to that of any hollywood hopeful or beginner and their agent or movie caster. Sometimes hollywood can be beneficial to a person's life, provide income, create social outlets, hone your craft and other things similar but the downs side is that when its beneficial to you and can be detrimental to another and then one day the tables can turn. You'll admire Hollywood for its glamour and glitz but you'll have to understand that everything that glitters isn't gold. Just because someone says treats you well doesn't mean they have your best interest at heart.

Jody McKeegan

First off, I have to say it: Quentin Corby is a scum bag. Okay, it takes two to tango, but Lindy is a 25 year old w/ little education who has lived a hard life. Corby is a 40 year old guy w/ a PhD. He's a predator. I don't think he's any different than the movie director in Part II who makes Jody's friend Jan give him a blowjob and then doesn't give her the role b/c she didn't swallow. They both value women for their looks. When they flatter them on their intelligence or their acting ability, they just want to have sex w/ them. Notice that Corby says Lindy might have a 130 IQ. It couldn't possibly be as high as his is: 143. He says he can't afford to give her the test but the truth is that if she scored higher than him she would stop being attractive to him.

Jody Mckeegan/Hollywood

On chapter ten this passage referring to the Hollywood lifestyle as survival of the fittest. men and women wanting to actors or actresses. finding anyway and anyhow. One example that exemplifies this is when Lindy wanted to plan a career right away and Quentin tells her " Don't think about those things yet". Sort of you cant doing attitude. People left behind their education to the side in search of fortune, fame, glory and star status. Also wanting to get away from where she from, lindy was to find her way in the world, to search what she is looking for. My question is how will lindy find her way without a education or a skill to back her up?

Passage pg181-184 from novel and hollywood

The Hollywood Trilogy passage pg 181-184 and Hollywood show biz have lots in common. one example that the passage has is dramatic affairs in this case its Quintin and Lindy. this passage is sexual being that they are both naked talking in bed which is very "Hollywood" "sex sells" and at the end of the passage its basically very Hollywood him by asking her if she wanted to leave him and she says no that she loves him. then he grabs her neck and they begin to make love again. Quintin also adds a bit of darkness and violence. he begins telling Lindy about the "World Pain". which she cant listen to it anymore because its too dark for her.

Hollywood

I believe that chapter 10s scene reflects the life of Hollywood. Everyone in Hollywood wants to be known and will do whatever it takes to get there. It's not even to land your part so you have to make sure you make a big statement. In the Hollywood life much like the novel, there is a lot of sleeping around and scandals as well as the abuse of drugs. Linda sleeping with the mothers boyfriend could stur up some major drama that can get noticed. Things like these can really screw up your life and really lead you in the complete wrong direction especially if you don't have the right education to help guide you into the correct path to better insure your future.

Chapter Ten's Connection with "Hollywood"

I'm not entirely sure why this is but as I read the interaction between Quentin and Lindy. I get the vibe of building an actress up in order to make her shine. It's the moment where the diamond in the rough is found by the director and is starting to realize that they have potential. With Quentin being that director that helps his actress. But as the scene  goes on, it feels as if Quentin is slowly trying to steal Lindy away from Eddie. Like his words go from light and encouraging to rather dark and down right gloomy. Almost making it seem that Eddie's sadness is her fault and that she shouldn't feel bad for being with him (Quentin). And eventually he seems to succeed in his seduction of her, replacing all her thoughts of Eddie's love and turning it into her infatuation with Quentin, giving a very dramatic, making it seem as if his cheating is acceptable on all accounts, claiming that he'snot cheating by saying their part of the same woman. As if they were actresses trying to get the same rol but one actress had no idea her role was in danger/already taken. This  Hollywood style tragedy is classic in terms of emotional manipulation to the point of making someone putty in order to gain their paradise with "repercussion" or bad karma.

Chapter Ten's Connection with "Hollywood"

I'm not entirely sure why this is but as I read the interaction between Quentin and Lindy. I get the vibe of building an actress up in order to make her shine. It's the moment where the diamond in the rough is found by the director and is starting to realize that they have potential. With Quentin being that director that helps his actress. But as the scene  goes on, it feels as if Quentin is slowly trying to steal Lindy away from Eddie. Like his words go from light and encouraging to rather dark and down right gloomy. Almost making it seem that Eddie's sadness is her fault and that she shouldn't feel bad for being with him (Quentin). And eventually he seems to succeed in his seduction of her, replacing all her thoughts of Eddie's love and turning it into her infatuation with Quentin, giving a very dramatic, making it seem as if his cheating is acceptable on all accounts, claiming that he'snot cheating by saying their part of the same woman. As if they were actresses trying to get the same rol but one actress had no idea her role was in danger/already taken. This  Hollywood style tragedy is classic in terms of emotional manipulation to the point of making someone putty in order to gain their paradise with "repercussion" or bad karma

Hollywood Trilogy

                                               


Well from what I understood from what was happening in the story is the reality of a conflict.  Just the simple fact that the boyfriend is sleeping with Both the mother and her daughter is kind of like a Hollywood  plot, that shocker that is thrown into the film to grab the audience.  I do feel like the Quentin is a foul character not just because is sleeping with both of them, but more so because he expressed that he knows what he's doing is wrong.  He goes on after that to validate his behavior

Jody McKeegan

The lifestyle I think is conveyed here in this passage. From the point when they discuss Lindy's educational disposition to the point when they discuss lifestyle swings. having a voice and knowing what is being talked about is what i took from Quentin telling Lindy that people go to school to know. This tells me that in order to know about what you advertise or are associated with you must learn. A lot happens when you get mixed in someone's life that surrounds this lifestyle. It's the same as lives not under the watchful eye, the only difference is that some break boundaries because they have to or it seems as if they have to. The lifestyle is portrayed this way because of certain movies and stories that go along with it. People being known is what broadens this aspect of Hollywood. I think that's all it is, another aspect of Hollywood. Then again I am a 24 year old man from New York who cares about basketball and my future family, that's all. What is different from the Hollywood lifestyle than normal lives besides the luxurious extravagant lifestyle of those who made a lot of money when taking away career?

Jody Mckeegen

I believe that the scene from chapter 10 connects to Hollywood because of the lifestyle, the dynamic of the relationship between Lindy and Quentin vs. Quentin and her mother.  The thrill and risk that she finds sneaking around with Quentin though she knows that it is wrong and she is remorseful towards it is similar to the Hollywood thrill during the 70's of a showbiz life of drugs & sleeping around to almost climb your way up.  Though Lindy isn't exactly climbing her way up, in a sense she is gaining something from Quentin compared to Eddie (that being an education, someone to push her to be better and explore how intelligent she is, or how much she can learn). I think the way that Quentin describes things to her as well, talking about a drunken father beating his children or how the two of them spend 5 out of 7 days a week together is also very Hollywood - all of this can set a scene for a movie, or almost seems like a movie but then again a lot of ideas for movies come out of someone's truth.. The idea that Lindy is sleeping with her mother's boyfriend, is also like a movie plot.  I think it's also sort of Hollywood in the sense that this is so taboo (or at least I believe) for this time period, most families are picture perfect or trying to hold up this image that they are.  Hearing about this and thinking about the setting that it is in is like that point in a movie where you gasp and hold you're breath because you are in disbelief at what just happened.

Narration

I have to completely agree with the discussion of once you are revealed that the narrotor is someone other than you expected, your whole idea changes. If I'm reading a book by a man, I would have to assume that the narrotor is the author. But once it's introduced as someone else you have to kind of adjust and put your direction into the Newly found narrotor so you can get a sense and feel as though you are reading this while viewing what they see as well. As one of my classmates pointed, it wasn't until about chapter 3 of comedians that we notice the narrator isn't who we think it is which could throw some of us off but we have to make sure we see this story through the correction motion in order to fully comprehend it.

A Couple of Comedians

I noticed that this era is very open with sex, and drugs it's common to find it everywhere and it's easily spoken about.  There's a lot of people trying to get into show biz.  Max reminded me a lot at first of General Sternwood being that they are both in a wheelchair and first introduced surrounded by plants in a greenhouse atmosphere.  I'm not really sure what to take of the two deaths but I did notice that it's almost more nonchalant than it is now, or at least for me.  I don't handle death very well at all and when the grandfather died it was kind of like ok well we have to fix this and move on which very well could just be the drug stupor that they are in.  

Part 1 Jody McKeegan

The twist of Lindy dating her mother's bf and then possibly having a baby with him is pushed to the edge when she is killed. A lifestyle so exhilarating and painstaking is of question to the cause of her death. Is that a life that ultimately leads to those sort of endings or is it not? I think not. I think she had just been killed. Maybe there's something better for her if she has an after life. That's a sad way to be killed, especially after the sequence of events taken up to death. An exhilarating and painstaking life if met with warmth at certain times in a certain amount of times in between extremes will be one that leads to other places besides death. Or an exhilarating an painstaking life that is cared for will do the same. To oppose this belief is to say if I'd say with this disposition, 'you're dead'.

Men

A Couple of Comedians really worked my nerves. Although the first part of The True Life Story of Jody McKeegan ended sadly, A Couple of Comedians was or is terrifying for me. I think because there's a lot of tricky wordplay and the book is about a lifestyle that I've yet to experience to the extent of what they've experienced. That's the part that warrants terror. I plan to be successful in the sense of having a career and social life. I don't plan on being or becoming as sociable in certain ways with others. The thought that life has its ups, downs, twists, and turns welcomes the saying, 'anything can happen'. Anything can happen for you and to you especially since this is the city of dreams and country of bigger dreams. The style of the text is one that is either very complex or unfamiliar. I can relate for an instance, just a smidgen of the characters experience is appreciated for its memories. The text is mostly questionable. Once again there is a short list of, 'what I need not know' that I am not pleased to know that it will keep growing.

Ganja & Hess

In 1971 w/ the release of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (dir. Melvin van Peebles) and Shaft (dir. Gordon Parks) the blaxsplotiation genre of film was born. As I mentioned last week, the influence of European cinema caused the breakdown of the Hays Code and led to contemporary films showing more violence and sex (witness the Coke bottle scene or the naked neighbors in The Long Goodbye). This is not just a case of art films invading America. It was also a case that Hollywood recognized that there wasn't one generalized audience, but many specific audiences. Out of this realization, Hollywood realized that a sizable share of its audience was African American and that they wanted to see actors who looked like them (think back over how many faces of color we've seen in the movies we've screened so far this term). 

Many of the film that were called "blaxsploitation" like Shaft and Super Fly (1972, dir. Gordon Parks, Jr.) haven't really aged that well. Although there's a kitschy appeal to them, I think they're a little cheesy. Ganja & Hess isn't really considered a blaxsploitation film although it came about b/c of blaxsploitation. A successful (and yes, cheesy) blaxsploitation film, Blacula ( dir. William Crain) had been one of the top grossing films of 1972 and b/c Hollywood rarely wants to do anything new, investors set out to make another black vampire movie. They hired Bill Gunn who had other ideas. Ganja & Hess is an experimental film. It is an art film too. And it's about vampires. (Spike Lee, who did the recent remake, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (2015), disagrees w/ me about this. You can read my interview w/ Lee here). 

As you watch G&H on Tuesday, I'd like you to think about what the film says about:

• Race. What would happen if G&H were played by white people? 
• Sex. What do sex and blood have to do w/ each other? 
• Gender. What does that story that Ganja tells about snowballs and being hit by her mother have to do w/ the film? Why does she marry Hess after she discovers that he's killed her husband and hidden him in the wine cellar? 
• Faith. What is the role of the Christian church in this story? 
• Violence. Vampire movies have typically sexualized vampiric feeding, but not this film. Why is it so violent? 

A bit of trivia: The director plays George Meda, the tragic and insane assistant who stabs Hess. Duane Jones plays Hess. Many of you will recognize him as the lead in George Romero's classic, Night of the Living Dead (1968). 

The Long Goodbye

I really enjoyed The Long Goodbye. The Marlowe in this movie was a stark contrast to the Marlowe in The Big Sleep. I loved his underdog persona and his very sarcastic personality. I even enjoyed the antagonists they teamed him up against. The chemistry was between them worked for the plot line and it gave off the implication that they perceived Marlowe as unintelligent. Which was great because it made for a great build up to the end when Marlowe surprises his "friend" with a bullet to the chest. The Marlowe from The Big Sleep was very reputable and no one could every have one up on him, he trusted no one made sure everyone knew it. He was a calculating figure that was determined to finish his assignments no matter what. The contrast and similarities between both depictions were very interesting and entertaining to explore.

Jody McKeegan

My heart ached for Jody during her childhood. A father with substance issues, a mother trying to figure it out as she goes along and a sister who unconsciously took right after their father. Her childhood seemed lonely and climaxed in the worst way with the death of her sister. Jody as an adult, was a perfect mixture of all those childhood figures combined. I enjoyed her adventures in Hollywood and was proud that she seemed to finally be on the right course as far as her career. I never understood the description of her appearance. She had an "animalistic" quality to her? She wasn't pretty but yet I guess her allure was the seductress within her. I guess. I did enjoy this story more than I can say about a Couple of Comedians. I wish it didn't end so abruptly. I even went further hoping that her story somehow intertwined with the next. The Corby character at first seemed like a good guy but he was the downfall to both Jody's mother and sister. I would have loved to see the relationship that could've been between Jody and Lindy, and what became of her mother? I assumed that all her close family members passed due to her moving so carelessly from state to state. Overall, I would recommend this to a friend just to bounce ideas around to see if we came to the same conclusions or where'd we differ. Great Read!

My Intro

In todays modern world both men and woman share common roles when contributing to our society. Throughout the early 1900s the duty of an American woman has varied in its way. During this time woman were sought out to live the lifestyle of being a stay at home mom. With little to no contribution to our society or government, the hope and expectation for equality grew stronger and stronger. On August 18,1920 the 19th Amendment was passed to the Constitution of the United States. This amendment prohibits any United States Citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. Changing history for the better this opportunity intern allowed woman to progress and prosper as individuals. With the 1930s around the corner this brings along the devastation of the Depression. As the stock market Crashed in 1929 the United States economy plummeted as well. While many began to lose there fortunes others began to lose there jobs no matter there race or gender. The fluctuation within our society began deteriorate individuals conscience, causing a change in personality. This change in personality is depicted through various films of the late and early 1930s. Alfred E. Green’s Baby Face ,Howard Hawk’s Bringing Up Baby and Gregory La Cava’s My Man Godfrey are amazing films that give depict what it was like to live during the depression. Each film ranging between the 1930s had there own distinct director who portrayed the lifestyles of individuals throughout this time period. 

Baby Face

Having to rewrite my first essay I decided to take the professors advice on some of his movie selections. He recommended me watching Alfred E. Greens Baby Face. This was such an interesting movie that took place during the depression and revolved around woman's power over man. The director uses one of the main actors Lily to portray this dominance in society. Lily is a daughter or a abusive spittoon owner, who uses his daughters appealing looks to make his business thrive. Forcing his daughter to have sex with his customers this interns keeps them comming day by day just to see lily. One day lily is fed up with these abusive actions and decides to run away from her father. A man once told her that the power a woman beholds is far stronger than a man. Taking this advice to heart she catches a train with her maid chico to find a wealthily business man to sucker. To sum things up she finds the gotham trust tower where some of the wealthiest men stay. There she goes and bribes her first victim for employment. She pulls the man into a room and what do you know she went from there being no position to having whatever she wants. Form there on she kept climbing the ranks of the building in search of living a lavish life. 

If I were to compare the Long Goodnight to the Big Sleep I would say that Marlow's character was more confident. Detective Marlowe seemed  to have more authority.  I think that the Detective in the Long Goodnight was passive in the way that he initially dealt with the police, the ganster and even his friend.  But Detective Marlowe has a respect for the way that he deals with his cases so he's diciplined in how he handles the information that he comes across.

The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye

At what point do we describe someone to be insane? Is it more difficult to be able to notice a difference between a sane person and someone who has completely lost it, when dealing with people of respected or classified stature. What makes a sane person is a person who wouldn't do certain things that a insane person would do. Is taking the law into your own hands insane. Yes of course it is. If you aren't insane you are guilty of a crime. Normal people abide by the law and fit in some how. Is bending the law insane? When you have the right to carry a gun and hold people accountable for certain illegal actions, you have a lot of responsibility. When you have the opportunity to put someone in cuffs and have him sent on his way to trial; as a officer of the law, is it justice to commit to extreme measures of punishment in reaction to what someone has did or done? Take Mr. Marlowe in The Big Sleep killing Canino and Marlowe in The Long Goodbye killing the man who confessed to smashing the woman's face in. Both of them are private detectives who have shot someone who they could've brought in to be tried. As rough as this may seem or as much as those killed may have deserved to die; when does the law give its power to individuals or is that question already answered? If this is the case where is hope for those falsely accused? Roger Wade from the Long Goodbye commits suicide after his issues with the hospital. I think he was driven to suicide which could've been from being falsely accused after some displays of irrational behavior caused by those pushing him over the edge.

Within/Without

     One of the biggest differences between the Marlowe's we have been presented is their willingness or unwillingness to be part of society.  For the sake of this argument we will have to lump Marlowe from the novel, The Big Sleep, and its film rendition in  the same category (Marlowe 1); and the Marlowe from The Long Goodbye in another ( Marlowe 2). Marlowe 1 is depicted as the epitome of the homme fetale. He is an ever-successful womanizer always with a stiff drink upon his hand and a cigar hanging from his lips. He has the charm and ease to flow from one social circle to the other therefor when we see him isolated and alone we realize that this is no one else's doing but his own. He knows that due to his charisma and smarts, society will never turn his back on him. This then leads to a different outcome in the solution of the conflict. Marlowe 1 is able to successfully alleviate all of the three kinds of conflict pertinent to the story line: person vs person, person vs society, person vs self. Person vs person sees fulfillment in Marlowe getting the job done e.g: figuring out Carmen was to blame & killing Mars. Person vs society is solved simply by Marlowe accomplishing his task and then going the extra mile to tie all loose ends, as such he puts an end to certain illicit activities. Person vs person is resolved in that by completing his task, Marlowe gains the satisfaction of higher knowledge or understanding of a metaphysical state of being. On the other hand, we have Marlowe 2 who is punished instead of rewarded for his character. Marlowe 2 is not as charismatic or masculine as Marlowe 1 and is therefor considered as loser by all of his peers. This kind of emasculation prevents Marlowe 2 from finding the same fluidity as Marlowe 1; leading to a less dramatic resolution. Marlowe 2 is only able to acquire an unravelment to person vs self. When Marlowe 2 kills off Lennox his death only serves in Marlowe's' personal plight. Society would be unaffected by Lennox's death because they believe him already dead. Marlowe 2 does not resolve person vs person because this kind of conflict usually indicates a kind of public reward. Since no one knows that Lennox is still alive then nobody is there to congratulate Marlowe and tittle him "hero" (unless you take into consideration the relationship between character and viewer).

Even more so, it can be argued that the highest motivation in all the adaptations of Marlowe is simply person vs society. Depending on the depiction, as stated before, Marlowe will be allowed to come within a society or choose to be without it; either way Marlowe is his own man.

*For the purpose of this argument person vs nature was foregone as there is no persistent climate impeding or alleviating Marlowe's plight...except maybe death... but this was already addressed :) 

Sad story

This film starts off showing a world of Marlowe the main character as a sad man. It shows a man who is putting food into another can for his cat so that his cat will be able to feel ok, and not be able to recognize that that it isn't the food that he wants. This shows how he has lost it with reality. People don't go to that length to treat animals. As shown when he asks the worker at the supermarket about the cat food. The worker was asked by Marlowe which cat food is a certain specific type of brand. The worker essentially said they are all the same. In the beginning the movie plays a song that says, "you're letting go". This tells the tone of the movie. I noticed this same tone in the beginning of the big sleep. Marlowe is nonchalant when meeting the general after his encounter with his daughter. This real relaxed look on life isn't as relaxed as it seems. He is continuing to be on his directional path the same way Phil from The Long Good Bye.

          "The Long Goodbye

  

                        this movie was interesting because of the way the characters expressed themselves.  Detective Marlowe was really a very laid back kind of withdrawn feel to his role.  Even though I found the acting to be off and not really that great.  I still thought it was a good movie.  I liked the plot and the story line.  The story had an unsuspected twist.

'Murica

Is anyone else excited to see the turnout for this election?

    Regardless of how you feel for either Clinton or Trump, one of them is going to be nominated for president. If Clinton wins, she will be the FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT (just let that sink in) Aside from her campaign or what she's done in the past, if she wins tonight she will make history. If it wasn't for Susan B. Anthony protesting for woman's right we probably still wouldn't even have the right to vote, nonetheless even be able to run for president, and luckily for us we're alive to witness it. No matter how you feel, exercise your constitutional right to vote today. I don't know about the rest of you, but being that we have a woman in the run for president it makes me that much prouder to call myself an American. See you all soon.


GO VOTE!
                               

Don Carpenter and A Couple of Comedians

Don Carpenter was a novelist and scriptwriter. His years in Hollywood gave him a special insight into the way Hollywood works and the three novels in The Hollywood Trilogy give us a look into the sometimes-glamorous, sometimes-vacuous and seedy world of the movie business. Starting w/ A Couple of Comedians (originally published in 1979)), let's talk about how Carpenter presents the world of 1970s-era Hollywood. What does it look like? What are the people like? What are the performers Larson and Ogilvie (the later, the narrator) like? Also, there are deaths of two old men in this novel, Ogilvie's grandfather at the beginning and the movie producer Max Meador at the end of the novel. What do you think Carpenter is doing w/ these two deaths?

The Long Goodbye

I'd like you to think about this Marlowe and both the Marlowe from Chandler's novel and Humphrey Bogart. How is Elliott Gould's Marlowe different? How is this film different from The Big Sleep (book and/or film)? This film is an homage to Carol Reed's The Third Man. How is it different? How is it similar?

The big sleep- movie vs book

In my opinion, I prefer the book compare to the movie because as I read the novel, I get to imagine things in the way Mr. Marlowe was describing the investigation, and things around him. However, the movie didn't show a lot of the books description. For example, in the book Mr. Marlowe describes General Sternwood h as a "The rest of his face was a leaden mask, with the bloodless lips and the sharp nose and the sunken temples and the outward-turning earlobes of approaching dissolution. His long narrow body was wrapped-in that heat-in a traveling rug and a faded red bathrobe. His thin clawlike hands were folded loosely on the rug, purple-nailed. A few locks of dry white hair clung to his scalp, like wild flowers fighting for life on a bare rock." In other words,  Marlowe describes General Sternwood as a man who will die at any moment but the movie shows Mr. Sternwood as a old man on the wheelchair, that needs to know who is blackmailing him. But overall of the movie is okey. 

The Big Sleep, Differences between the book and the movie

Reading the book and seeing the movie, I noticed a lot of differences. In the book Philip Marlowe treats Vivian Rutledge as forgive the language as a piece of meat. Marlowe not caring about her as much as Vivian throwing herself at Marlowe ; Even laying in Marlowe's bed nude. While in the movie Philip Marlowe played by Humphrey Bogart is smitten with Vivian played by Lauren Bacall. Certain scenes of the movie showed Marlowe admitting the love for Vivian while in the book he could care less. Another example is how the book showed Marlowe as a tougher nails, gritty and take no prisoners bad ass. While in the movie showed another side to Marlowe as a comical, inquisitive, responsible, chivalrous type of man. To honest I feel the book shows us the reader as the real Philip Marlowe while the movie shows us again the audience; water down version of the Marlowe character.

The Big Sleep - Book vs. Movie Adaptation

Warner Brothers produced the film adaptation of Chandler's novel The Big Sleep directed by Howard Hawks in 1946. Whom starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall and was and still is considered a classic film noire. Of course like many other films that have been adapted, the book will always be better than its film adaptation. In the book we were able to relate more with Marlowe as we were able to get into his head while reading his narration. One would think that it'd be an easy task to just simply make a movie from a book, copy the lines, set the scene in the descriptions from the book, and use the same characters and wallah! But a lot of film directors have failed at this task. The book is always more personal, which sets a high standard for the movie to follow. In The Big Sleep the writers who adapted Chandler's novel chose to have Eddie Mars killed instead of leaving him as a constant threat to the General and his daughters.. Also The idea of Marlowe meeting Mars at Geiger's house at the end of the film was also added by screen writers because in the book Marlowe tells Vivian that he wants to just talk to Mars and warn him about his knowledge Carmen killing Rusty. Did they do that for an interesting cinematic finale? Was a talk not so interesting? Also the way Marlowe was killed was different, maybe if it would have ended up in a shooting the movie wouldn't have had as neat of a finish as it did? Also, the homosexual relationship between Geiger and Carol were only hinted at. (Maybe inappropriate for a 1946 film?) Also in the film Bogie lets the air out of the tires to go into the garage but in the book Marlowe gets a flat tire by running over something sharp in the road. There are many differences in the movie, many of which are because the movie doesn't have as much time as the book does. The book can encompass so much more with its readers, gets all the more personal, and is able to make its readers fall in love. Unfortunately enough for its film adaptation most readers are already in love with the material from the novel, and don't really like seeing the characters portrayed any differently than they are in the novel.

Reaction to The Big Sleep

Throughly all the movies we seen so far in class, I've found The Big Sleep more appealing than the others. Reading the book I enjoyed the whole story of a private detective on a mission to complete his case no matter the circumstance. Marlow being the narrator you can tell that for a mere $25 a day he is willing to complete any task at hand. Being a detective he has no outside relations or family. You know he is a honest individual in a corrupt world. As we watched the movie I could already tell that he is the exact depiction of what is meant to be a detective. His white button down white along with the trench coat was exactly what I envisioned him to be. As he looked at the night in the beginning of the movie I believe he was looking at himself being that he comes in counter with death, robbery and murder. He is the individual who is there to save the day and bring justice to the world. Aside from all the crime I did find Marlow extremely funny. His sarcastic wit is what gets him all the woman which baffles me.

The Big Sleep Film Vs. Book

I really enjoyed screening the film last night, however the film was not what I imagined Phillip Marlowe's world to be like while reading the book.. I envisioned a much grittier, grimier, dirtier city.  Harry Jones' building is a castle compared to what I saw in my head (I had pictured what a modern day "crackhouse" would look like as the best thing I can compare it to)  Humphrey Bogart is exactly how I expected him to be, aside from the fact that I didn't really view him in the book as the huge lady man that he was in the film. In my head I took it more as the way that Vivian and Carmen were the reasons why Marlowe was appealing to them more so than the way he carried himself.  In the film every girl instantly fell for him (this has to do with the fact that Bogart played him) 

Keys

What does Chandler do? I feel entrapped when I read this book. Chandler's descriptions allows me to feel as if I am there. He allows me to be apart of plot. I am in the book noticing what his main character is noticing with all of the descriptive annotations and references. He makes you believe that the main character is really who we expect him to be and/how we expect him to be. A private detective will be able to notice details that others might or will skip. He is so detail oriented when it comes to describing that pictures of what he gives detail about, I envision something related to it and then I make a reference to something it had to do with my life. Overall his writing style fits the script makes an account for the motivational envisioning endorsed, the author does his best not to skip a beat. His details are key.

Imagery

In Chapter 26 of the Big Sleep, Author Raymond Chandler did a fascinating job at creating the ideal imagery description. This well written description mysteriously sets the mood and allows readers to feel with Marlowe as we read his narration. This description is interesting because it shows how specific a detective can be. The mind of Marlowe works in a very concrete way, hes observant and always on his toes. The chapter sets us up for the drama and action that is about to arise.

Description and sensory atmosphere (Chapter 26)

Last week, we had spent quite an amount of time discussing the use of description in "The Big Sleep" more prime towards the overuse, the description of every minuet detail. I'm under the umbrella that loves this "over-description" as it does something to the world of the story, It paints a picture. It enables me to step into the world, it guides every single one of my senses. I can feel my heels slithering on the sidewalk as i approach the building, I can see what kind of businesses could be run in such an ugly building. The criminal activity emanates as I approach the old man and the elevator. I can feel my movement come to a slow crawl as I walk in the bum alley and the recent memories that are left behind. I'm in Marlowe's shoes, I can sense his attitude and it effectively become my attitude as the passage moves forward.

A long description to set the mood

Chandler's writing style of using full pages or more to give nothing more than description are used to set the mood, tone, and atmosphere for the scene that we are reading.  It definitely makes it easy to adapt into a movie or a screenplay based on the fact that every little thing from the stage set up, to the stage directions are basically given to you.  The way he goes into long descriptions for me personally also helps evoke emotions... sometimes building up anxiety, or suspense, and keeping me on my toes. It also allows the audience to  develop a better understanding of Marlowe as a character, and lets us get a peek into history and understand the era of which he is writing about.  He allows us to see the harsh realities of the great depression - all the homeless people, the desolate feel in the buildings, I enjoy books that give descriptions such as Chandler's as it allows me to fully create the book in my mind, it allows me to envision every detail rather than a half picture.