Three Kings

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

In class it was discussed that Three Kings director David O. Russell was very demanding and aggressive with his actors, even coming to a physical confrontation with actor George Clooney. Also related in the class was that fellow director Spike Jonze takes a rare turn at acting in the film portraying the bumbling and mildly dim-witted Private Vig. Additionally, even though the film depicts an Iraqi desert landscape, the film was shot entirely in America. Russell's questionable casting and demanding directing pays off for the director as Three Kings is a very gritty and emotional film which portrays a sense of war and bewilderment in a foreign land precisely and minutely.  

2.) Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/webpages4/filmnotes/fnf03n3.html

An article on the University of Albany's website explains that David O. Russell began film school at age twenty-eight, much later than the average student. According to the article Russell began his career as a social activist before transitioning his energies to film. The article goes on to state that Russell tends to insert political or social opinions into his films, typically surreptitiously under layers of action and surreal detail. In the case of Three Kings Russell attempts to portray a somber and defeatist attitude toward military involvement in Iraq, similar to the attitude in many films about Vietnam. The article also claims that Russell makes frequent reference to the films that inspired him such as Apocalypse Now, Too Hot To Handle, and The Man Who Would be King.

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

Every character in Russell's film seems to have an agenda and an opinion. The film is rife with lectures highlighting the opinions of both sides of the Gulf War. In the end, however, all the characters seem to converge on a middle ground agreement which satisfies both parties. Perhaps instead of demonizing American involvement in the Gulf War Russell's desire was to see a peaceful and mutually beneficial arrangement between the American military and Iraqi refugees. Whatever the case, Three Kings is clearly an opinion piece which seeks to inform and to persuade.

Three Kings seems to be a part of a long line of Hollywood references/inspirations. The University of Albany's website claims that the film makes reference to Apocalypse Now, among other films, in the same manner that Raiders of the Lost Ark pays tribute to classic adventure films such as Hong Kong and Zorro Rides Again. Raiders of the Lost Ark was in turn an inspiration for the Mummy and National Treasure films as well as the Tomb Raider and Uncharted video game series. Hollywood directors seem to enjoy paying respect to their influences and recreating scenes and imagery from their favorite films.

4.) Write a critical analysis of the film.

Russell's decision to cast Spike Jonze, a non-actor, in a major role as well as his conflicts with Clooney seem to indicate his very specific style of directing. Because of this it can be inferred that Three Kings was shot and acted exactly as Russell envisioned it. However it is unknown exactly how much of the story was Russell's original idea and to what extent the original screenwriter John Ridley, who still receives a story credit, had influence and input on the final draft of the film's script.

One of the most unique aspects of Three Kings is its visual style. Action scenes teem with kinetic energy and flashbacks are inter cut with a humorous flare. Also of note is Russell's sense of humor. The director seems to enjoy a dark and somewhat sadistic sense of humor reminiscent of the Coen brothers, with a jaded and blasé depiction of killing which at times seems to be deliberately comical. The film abruptly jumps between drama and comedy, sometimes not clearly defining when a scene is supposed to be funny or serious. It is this strange feeling of mixed emotions which seems to appeal to a majority of film critics and reviewers, and what makes Three Kings such a highly regarded film.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Name: ______Alex Wisniewski______________  Date: _______4/23/14_________________

Fargo

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

The textbook Flashback: A Brief History of Film states that a common theme amongst the Coen brothers' films is incompetence. The brothers frequently employ unintelligent characters who are no where near as smart as they think they are. In the case of Fargo, the ignorance of the major characters serves two purposes: it advances the plot and provides the dark humor of the film. The plot of Fargo can be boiled down to a harebrained extortion scheme which became unnecessarily complicated due to the botched execution of the plan. It becomes a comedy of errors which continues to increase in lunacy. The book goes on to say that even though the movie ends on a high note, it is undercut by a somber and pessimistic tone regarding the human species.

2.) Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/fargo.asp

An article on snopes.com claims that the opening disclaimer of Fargo which reads "This is a true story. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred" is completely false. The article goes on to say that the only vaguely similar event that actually took place was the disappearance of Helle Crafts, a Danish flight attendant living in Connecticut in 1986. According to snopes.com Crafts' husband was accused of murdering her, chopping up her body, and feeding her though a wood chipper. The article indicates that this is only a passing resemblance and it is likely the Coen Brothers' weren't even aware of this event. The article concludes that the biggest clue that Fargo's claim is false is the standard "no resemblance to any persons living or dead" note which appears in the end credits of the film.

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

The false disclaimer at the beginning of the movie coincides with the Coens' sense of humor. The brothers seem to enjoy clever in jokes and comical misdirection. Ironically, Fargo's claim of truth is opposite Dr. Strangelove's claim to fiction. Fargo's opening text claims the film is based on a true story when in reality it is wholly fictional, whereas Dr. Strangelove is stated to be a work of fiction but directly parodies members of the US Military in the 1960s. The text at the beginning of Fargo is a sarcastic tease which sets the tone for the rest of the film.

4.) Write a critical analysis of the film.

Claiming the film is a true story gives it a greater overall impact. The knowledge, even if incorrect, makes the actions of the movie's characters seem all the more meaningful if it was done by and to real people. It gives the film a more realistic and harsh tone which actively involves the audience emotionally. Conversely, the characters speak and interact with one another in a very awkward and alienating manner - discussions are uncomfortable and conversations are very light. Fargo is the movie that established the Coen Brothers' unique sense of humor. Even as early as the movie's trailer the brothers' comedic style is apparent - at first attempting to sell the movie as a lighthearted romp. Almost on a dime the trailer changes tone and shows the true nature of the film as a dark and gritty mystery thriller. In the end Fargo is a hard film to digest, never clearly explaining whether it wants to be a comedy or a dark mystery story. It is this awkward realm of unsure discomfort that makes the Coen Brothers' films so unique and original.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Name: ______Alex Wisniewski______________  Date: _______4/22/14_________________

Shawshank Redemption

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

Much of the class discussion focused on the behind the scenes of Shawshank Redemption. One interesting bit of trivia discussed in class is the fact that in order to show a mug shot of a young Morgan Freeman a photograph of Freeman's son, Alfonso Freeman, was used. Alfonso Freeman also appears in a minor role as a young convict. Using an image of Freeman's son as a substitute for his own shows the resourcefulness of Hollywood directors before it was possible to digitally de-age an image of Freeman himself to create the effect. In class it was also discussed that the interiors of Shawshank State Prison were constructed entirely from the ground up. While it is not uncommon for a set to be constructed specifically for one movie, Shawshank Prison is an impressively complex set that shows the level of craftsmanship used in Hollywood films before green screens and digital sets were more commonplace.

2.) Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.moviemistakes.com/film1146

The website Moviemistakes.com reveals many continuity, editing, and factual errors in famous movies, including Shawshank Redemption. Among the more interesting mistakes in the film is the factual error from Andy's escape scene. According to the website the sewage pipe that Andy breaks in order to make his escape would not spew its contents like a geyser as it depicted in the movie. In order for the contents of a pipe to shoot from an opening the pipe would need to have built up pressure. Since, in the next scene, Andy is shown crawling through the pipe to an open air egress there obviously would be no pressure in the pipe. The website also points out a minor plot hole also associated with Andy's escape. When inspecting Andy's empty room it is shown that a poster Andy used to cover a hole he burrowed is taped to the wall on all four sides. The website claims that this would be impossible to accomplish after climbing into the small hole. According to the website the film's director claims that the mistake is a "movie cheat."

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

It is entirely possible that the filmmakers neither knew or cared about the factual error presented in Andy's escape scene. Perhaps the filmmakers were more concerned with showing Andy's struggle in his journey to freedom. Additionally, having the contents of the sewage pipe spray out of its breech adds more drama to the scene. While the mistake regarding the poster in Andy's room is interesting, it is ultimately negligible. It is not the type of mistake that most moviegoers would notice and does not affect the continuity of the film whatsoever. It was most likely caused by a inattentive set designer. The film's director most likely did not notice the error until production was too far along and did not consider it worthwhile to re-shoot the scene.

4.) Write a critical analysis of the film.

It is almost hard to believe that The Shawshank Redemption is a Stephen King story. The film contains no child characters and does not involve the supernatural. Even King's perennial reference to Maine is subtle in the overall context of the movie. It is King's departure from his normal format that makes Shawshank Redemption so unique. But aside from Stephen King, the film is notable for its depiction of prison life. Shawhank State Prison is not the romanticized institution of Jailhouse Rock, nor is it a stereotype. While it is not necessarily the setting that makes the film memorable, it does add a unique change of pace and shows a realm of humanity not often tread in Hollywood. Additionally the film has been the subject of parody in many films and television shows such as Family Guy and Robot Chicken. Because of its location and notoriety Shawshank Redemption is perhaps one of the most recognizable movies ever made.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Name: ______Alex Wisniewski______________  Date: _______4/8/14_________________