Entry No. 16:

 My Favorite Christmas Movie

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As the semester draws to a close, I'm reminded more and more about the holiday season. Yes, I've seen decorations in stores for about a month now, but I really know 'tis the season when Christmas movies are constantly played on TV.

While most of them are very cheesy (especially Hallmark movies), some can pull at your heartstrings every December, even when you can memorize the dialogue verbatim. My favorite of them all, It's A Wonderful Life, tells the story of an attempted suicide in such a tear-jerking way. The tale of George Bailey and what he means to his family, his town, and the Christmas season is one of the most emotional ones around. 

Going from having long-term aspirations of traveling and seeing the world, George sacrifices those dreams for settling down in Bedford Falls. After he feels like he has no value, his guardian angel comes to save him and show him all the good he has brought to this world. The growth of George from beginning to end is one of the best character examples of growth in a film (up there with Scott Pilgrim for sure). It's a somewhat corny concept for a guardian angel, but the introduction of Clarence the angel and how he wants to help George is one of the best scenes in the film.

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It does have the typical old movie trope of "rich bad guy wants to seize control", but that still won't have you despise Henry Potter any less. Every time, you'll still wince when you see what Uncle Billy messes up. There are some intense topics discussed, but the ending is one of pure holiday bliss.

I've watched this every year with my grandpa in the local theatre in our town, and it holds a special bond in my heart. If you've never seen it, I highly suggest doing so. It's no Elf, but it has stood the tests of time as a holiday classic.

Entry No. 15:

Reviewing Moonlight

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Coming from a background where men were depicted as overly masculine and violent at times, Chiron changes his identity based on the people around him to fit in. The nickname "Little" reflects the idea that he is weak and unable to separate himself from the words. Chiron, based on the centaur, is supposed to reflect his freedom. Centaurs are naturally supposed to roam wild, and Chiron is on the path to self-discovery in this new chapter of his life. Finally, "Black" helps show Chiron's darker, post-prison side, but it also connects him with Kevin (who gave him the nickname.)

As usual in media, black and blue represent doom and sadness. Also, the combination of black and blue represents bruises/abuse sustained by Chiron and his community. The overall tone of the colors helps convey the sense of darkness.

The story jumps from different eras that don't show the natural progression of Chiron. Instead, events are just alluded to. However, these chapters could be viewed as Chiron's pivotal moments, so these could be the "highlights"/"lowlights" of the entire story of Chiron's life.

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When Chiron went out at night, covered by moonlight, that was when he could be his true self. Moonlight is just light reflected off of the moon, so it helps reflect Chiron's desires. Light, naturally, is a sign of hope. Along with moonlight, the beach and waves help demonstrate important moments in his life. From swimming as a child to his moments with Kevin, the final shot of Chiron staring at the waters is one final flashback throughout the journey so far.

Entry No. 14:

Jaws' Most Powerful Scene Doesn't Even Include The Shark

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Even though most of the tension in the film is created through music, precise shots, and the looming threat of a shark, the most powerful scene in Jaws in my eyes is when Mrs. Kintner slaps Brody on the pier after her son's funeral. 

After realizing that Brody kept quiet about Chrissie's death which kept the dangerous waters open to the public and resulted in her son's death, the grieving Kintner can't restrain herself and slaps him. This scene is important because it makes Brody finally realize that he shouldn't be an underling to the greedy Mayor. It takes a literal slap in the face and being accosted in public by a mourning mother in the middle of the day (which is a very powerful contrast) to help Brody understand that his life is more than just work and he needs to focus on his personal life (with his own wife and kid).

There were several key elements of this shot that added to the overall tone of the scene. The black funeral attire stands out from the rest of the beach town's color palette. Along with her outfit, Mrs. Kintner needs help walking from the car but has the strength to attack Brody. Roy Schieder told Lee Fiero to not hold back on the slap, and it made the scene feel more genuine. The camera cuts between the mother, Brody, and the surrounding workers to show everyone's reactions to her scolding/slapping. Longer shots held on the mother were used to demonstrate how much emotional damage she has sustained because of Brody's wrongdoings.

Jaws is considered to be the first blockbuster. Yes, it's because it was the first movie to gross over $100MM at the box office. I think it's the first blockbuster because it was a well-crafted monster movie that still holds up to this day. It told an exciting action-packed shark hunt while also having side plots about families and a community with a corrupt leader. It expanded on these side plots through intense character development rather than just having everyone be one-dimensional. A limited budget and minimal on-screen appearances from the shark helped build immense tension through other ways like the camera and music.

Just like any good blockbuster, unnecessary sequels were made. Nevertheless, Jaws isn't just a movie about a shark attack. It really is one of the best movies of all time.

Entry No. 13:

Harry Potter and The Riddler Fight A Bear

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Swiss Army Man was praised upon release in 2016. Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano costar in a crazy story focusing on Hank's (Dano's) journey back to civilization and his internal journey to normalcy. This tale's magnitude is lessened by the constantly forced jokes in order to make up for a slow-at-times pace.

Yeah, I laughed occasionally (mostly on my first viewing back in '16 when I was a 15-year-old who would laugh at any fart joke) but I didn’t need to have the constant masturbation jokes. A lot of the jokes, in my opinion, got stale fast. I understand that the jokes help the audience understand that Hank is a very awkward man trying to figure out life and reconnect with his family, but they get repetitive. One minute, they're conversing about how much they mean to each other. The next, they're fighting a bear with farts and fire.

I wasn’t too fond of the ending, but I don’t know if there is a proper way to “end” that story. If I were in charge rather than The Daniels, I would’ve made the overall film more ambiguous, but I think that might’ve given the film a different feeling. We don't necessarily see if Hank makes amends with his family/father, or if he is ever given the chance to explain himself to the people who find him at the end of the story.

Some films pride themselves on being as bizarre as they can be. I just finished watching Divinity (2023), now THAT is an incredible movie. Not incredible like how The Godfather is, but incredible just because of the sheer unusualness of the film. Radcliffe had stated once the Potter franchise stopped filming that he didn't want to be remembered as just Harry Potter for the rest of his life and that he would try anything for art. He's always tried to be experimental as evidenced by this 2019 interview:

His credits have certainly improved since filming the 8th HP, but playing an upbeat farting corpse trapped in the forest maybe wasn't the best move.

Entry No. 12:

 Inside Out 2 Teaser Trailer Reaction

The teaser trailer for Inside Out 2 dropped on social media the other week, and after watching it, I can officially say that I can’t wait for the movie to hit theatres this upcoming summer. I liked the original because it tells such a unique but relatable story. Having all of the different emotions in a young kid's head made me tear up at various points in the story (RIP Bing Bong), but it also made me laugh out loud (Who likes anchovies on pizza?). The writing was perfect and I instantly connected with Riley.

Now, the teaser trailer shows the audience that Riley is about to go through puberty. With that comes plenty of new emotions. The only one we meet is Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke. It's also important to note that Fear and Disgust have new voiceover actors. Nevertheless, the orange emotion certainly looks the part, and I agree that for most of puberty, I felt anxious. The only concern for me is that I won't be able to relate to more of the jokes because Riley is a girl going through puberty, and I obviously didn't.

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However, the line, “We wanted to make such a good impression,” implies she’s not the only new member (because of course not, welcome to puberty). At the end, the title card flips through various emotions, before ending on "Everything" which I think signifies that Riley will be overwhelmed by different emotions as she deals with her changes.

Regardless, the original idea opened a whole world of possibilities in storytelling, and I think having the young Riley go through a very difficult part of her life is going to be a fun story.

Entry No. 11:

Why I LOVE Drive-Ins

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For as long as I can remember, I've gone to the McHenry Drive-In theatre over the summer while up at my lakehouse in nearby Round Lake. This year, during Shark Week, they had a double-feature, The Meg 2 would open for Jaws. I've seen horrors, comedies, and actions at the drive-in over the years. I love the overall experience because I feel like I've been teleported to an older time when drive-ins were more common.

I like how the drive-in is a whole experience, with set-up and downtime between the movies. Because you have to wait til sundown, people will go as the sun sets and relax for an hour or so beforehand. I love it when the cars honk, or when you see how "all-out" people go with snacks, blankets, and pillows.

That’s not to say that drive-ins are automatically better. There are bugs, the car is hot but outside is cold, and if you don't get a good spot, your neck and back will be uncomfortable from awkwardly laying. Use these warnings not as a deterrent, but as a reminder to get there early and to be prepared.

Drive-ins are becoming more and more of a novelty as the media shifts more to focusing on having you stay at home. There’s only a handful of them left. While regular theaters are about maximizing comfort with nice amenities, a drive-in is something that I would recommend everyone going to.

Entry No. 10:

Improvisation In My Short Film

I've worked on short films before through my high school's TV club, but this project had two "firsts" for me. There was no script, and there were no cuts. 

Meg had the original idea of someone prepping for a job interview, and I had just rewatched The Goodfellas the other night, so the iconic tracking shot through the Copacabana was fresh in my head. I wanted to try it myself, especially after I saw massive success from tracking shots in projects like 1917.

 

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However, execution is a lot harder than expected. We had to be very aware of Robbie's surroundings while filming to make sure the shot would be uninterrupted while also fluid. There were a lot of outtakes, but we got closer and closer with each attempt until we nailed it on the final one.

As for the no script, I just took some creative liberties with my monologue. I wanted to be funny but also stressed out because I am at the point in my life where I am terrified before every interview. My plans post-grad are still up in the air, and I wanted a sense of closure.

When I break the fourth wall and look at the camera, I wanted to have the audience (of college kids who are going through the same feeling) to develop a deeper connection with me despite only being on screen for a handful of minutes.

This isn't the best film I've worked on, but it was certainly the most fun I had, especially with the ability to freestyle my lines.