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?
I think one way they're similar is that they all seem to be about the kinds of people who would never have their stories told in classic Hollywood. Long Goodbye: a grungy detective who sleeps in his clothes (and seems to wear the same clothes all the time), an addict/murderer prof, and a surveillance expert who is paranoid and may be going a little crazy.
ReplyDeleteThey're also toying w/ new ways to tell stories. Both G&H and The Conversation explore subjectivity in cinema, esp. playing w/ sound to make us feel the characters' mental discomfort. The Conversation is particularly interesting as the recording--which should be objective--changes over the course of the film from two lovers at the park, to two lovers worried that they'll be killed, to two plotters who want to kill before they're killed.
The three Hollywood Renaissance films are more artsy when compared to earlier films of the semester. They aren't as straightforward, a lot is left up to the audience to decipher and figure out themselves. I haven't seen The Long Goodbye, however both Ganja & Hess and The Conversation are subjective. I feel as though both of these films were similar in their use of choppy music, and choppy sounds (ie: the voice recordings before they're filtered through).. They both are centered around a violence that seems so far from reality. Both main characters are very reserved, they don't let the audience really get to know them too personally.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Hollywood renaissance era was a recognition of the art in film. These 3 movies are very different in plot, characters, setting but they all relate because of the artistic direction of the director. Each director (along with writers,producers, etc.) captured their film through a view that was created especially for it. The artistry that shines through can be traced to no other film in its era. I believe the rebirth of film was directly linked to directors receiving more control over narratives and characters, which led to more imaginative story plot lines and twists.
ReplyDeleteThe three Hollywood Renaissance films we've seen compared to other films we've d watched have many differences. Earlier films were mostly filmed in a studio on set. These three films so far have been filmed outside of a studio. Hollywood Renaissance films make you have to think more and find more meanings of the film as opposed to other films watched during the term where you understand where the film is going and what is the main idea of the film. Hollywood Renaissance films are more gory and more violent (lots of blood).
ReplyDeleteThe long goodbye and The Conversion has some similarities. Such as Marlowe and Caul both had professions that questionable moralities and going a step to far to get what they want or what they need. Second, both of them mostly keep to themselves not really say much at all and there way with women is not great due to either their jobs or trust issues. Now ganja and hess i see differences such as being a art flim with mix of horror. but all three movies have common that i just noticed that marlowe, caul and hess are men who are on the borderline between sanity and insanity. They start to question themselves about their lives in 1970's society. The hollywood renaissance dealt with the political lives in the 1970's and social aspects as well. while movies from the earlier dealt with emotions and feelings. one simalarites is that all had a message.
ReplyDeleteThe differences between Hollywood Renaissance films and Classic Hollywood films are the mannerism, level of intensity, choice of non-diegetic inserts, and the speed as well as the types of film played. Classic Hollywood films seemed to be fast past with not too much deep meaning. Classic Hollywood films also had an idea that seemed farfetched to play out unlike the films from the renaissance era where the films seemed to be believable and as if it was based on true stories. This is strange because the use of real live animals was used in one of the earlier films we watched. Classsic Hollywood films seemed to be more intense and Renaissance movies although had non-diegetic inserts and other symbolism they allowed me to come to an understanding of the films.
ReplyDeleteI want to say the first comparison/contrast that comes to mind truly isn't fair simply because the observation I have deals with the production value/location use. The three films in question don't feel like their taking place on various sets in various studios.We the viewer can actually witness the outside world even if for a brief moment. These Renaissance films also seem to take more risks than the films we viewed before them.They're seemingly shot randomly, and I don't want to seem rude but plenty of the shots (At least in "Ganja & Hess" and "The conversation") are made simply to seem artsy, not moving things along but just confusing me and taking me out of focus while both analyzing and enjoying the picture.
ReplyDeleteThe similarity that most pops towards me from all that all the characters that are introduced are relevant in some fashion, each has a role to play to pushing the story (the most important aspect) forward. Another similarity is that each filming has the ability to take you out of your world and place you in theirs (sometimes that good... others not so much).
The Hollywood Renaissance Films compared to the other films that we've watched this semester is very different but also the same. I feel as if the Hollywood Renaissance movies definitely was more technologically incline as far as new camera tricks, the use of color, and more sets. This particular era also explored things that was once censored which helped certain story-lines. I feel as if it advanced with how the world was advancing at this time. Although this period was different in many ways there are also similar to some of the movies that we've watched this semester. The use of music to help portray the tone of the movie was similar. Also the way that scenes were shot to show different characteristics of specific characters were very similar. I believe that nothing has really changed by this time that it was just enhanced.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the films from the Hollywood Renaissance are much more open to interpretation than the previous films we have watched. While they do in fact have a set narrative where we witness a beginning, middle, and end these aren't always essential to the plot of the story. The significant event in the films always outweigh the order in which they occurred. For example, in Ganja & Hess, we see these people commit murder in order to satisfy their thirst for blood and it is their bloodlust that motivates many of film's occurrences. It doesn't matter who they kill first or last what matters is that they kill. In previous films, we tend to stay with a more traditional and set-in-stone sequence of events. The Night of the Hunter shows us these two children running from a predator and what they experience can not be taken out of context for their escape would lack significance and impact.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, I believe that films to come out of the Hollywood Renaissance could be spliced and pasted in a different way and they would still be the same experience.
between the Long goodbye, Ganja and Hess, and The Conversation. The only thing these 3 HR films seem to have in common are long length camera shots, and emphasis on the individual. the long camera shots tend to be used to a) highlight the scenery B) capture a moment, or c) extend a meaningful pause. all three methods of using this particular kind of camera shot have been used in all three films, perhaps contributing to the feel of intrusiveness as these wide/ long shots give the viewers more information and personal insight. now the emphasis on the individual is very important, as i think most films that predate these are inclusive of many characters and required many different elements as key to the story but these particular films are about the singular person. how they feel, how they think how they act, everything else is secondary.
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