J'adore le français...

 Trois Couleurs: Rouge 1994

Le film; Les Trois Couleurs Rouge est extrêmement émouvant. C’est le dernier film d’une série sur les idées de la France. Chaque film est intitulé avec un colour du drapeau français. Par conséquence, la couleur rouge est si importante, mais vu que le symbolisme se propage à travers tous aspects du film, la couleur rouge n’est pas subtile. Au début du film, il y a les produits rouges distribués tout au long de la scène. Je voudrais dire que le film était mise en scène au l’automne, le rouge est plus foncé mais encore, il reste pour créer l’atmosphère du reste du film. Pour moi, le rouge pourrait constituer comme une couleur de la passion, la haine et la colère, mais dans le film, le rouge se rappelle les sentiments sensuels et émouvants

La beauté est une partie intégrante du film, et la couleur rouge l’améliore. Il y a trois mots qui me viennent ; les années quatre-vingt dix, la passion – sombre. La vedette du film est une jeune fille qui est un mannequin. Elle est élégante et soignée, donc, toute l’aggravation que se présente est plus douce. Il est un bon moment d’écrire que la musique ajoute à la tension qui s’adoucit. Preisner a écrit une musique qui est angélique, néanmoins les harmonies ne sont pas toujours heureux, au lieu ils sont mystérieuse – ils ont l’envie d’être résolus. Ce qui est très similaire du film. Grâce a la genre classique, par exemple les violons peut être timide, - n’est pas brusque, or, en jouant haut dans leurs registres il peut augmenter la tension sans s’imposer trop forcement dans l’atmosphère plus serein, avec une touche du menace.

‘Trois Couleurs Rouge’ tourne autour des relations et les connections, mais pour dire cela si nette, il serait de réduire toutes les complexités que le réalisateur MrKieślowski a écrit dans le scénario. Les relations sont basées sur les conversations cependant quand la intermédiaire est déformée, les intentions aussi deviennent alambiqués (compliqués). Encore, le film ouvrit avec une discussion amoureuse. Cet établit la genre de romance mais comme on voit, les amants sont loin de l’un l’autre,  pendant le film nous ne voie jamais l’amant de Véronique, toutefois nous le voyons la faire souffrir, malgré les attentes de rencontrer, surtout quand la final est funeste.

Par ailleurs, on nous présente avec l’amitié inattendue, comme une résultat d’une mort proche (d’un chien de toute chose). Cependant, l’amitié est encouragée après Véronique tombe sur une relation illégal. L’autre personnage principal, il écoute aux conversations de ses voisins afin qu’il ait la chance d’attraper les criminelles. Il est évident qu’il soit beaucoup de superstition, mais pas d’habitude, ce n’est pas pour les raisons comme la Revenge, ou les autres choses malicieuses. Il se peut qu’ils soient juste pour la cyniques, le fait que la Judge peut défier la loi puisqu’il travaille au sein du ce domaine. Alors qu (’on) commence, l’histoire qui se déploie, en outre, on voit les recoupements, où les vies des personnages coïncident comme un panier tressé. Le squelette de la histoire est recouvert sur les vies de nos personnages, et cela est la chose la plus complexe dans le film. La première fois que je l’ai regardé, j’ai construit plus de connections qu’il existe, mais a deuxième fois, j’ai rendu compte l’importance des motifs dans chaque scène. Bien que le scénario semble limité, chaque mot choisi développe la tension ou l’importance d’un certain rencontre. 

*****

Ode to Washington

Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

It is one of the first films I have seen which is directly about politics, and it surprised me at the strength of the plot despite many potential difficulties due to it attacking controversial issues. Politics is rarely engaging with the public, specially shown in Britain nowadays when the ruling class are stereotypically from Eton - so haughty and above the common man. Despite this, Mr Smith Goes to Washington doesn't give you much faith in the government either. Instead it reveals the truth about Capitalism and democracy. With corrupt business owners, infiltration of blackmail and injustice is all too easy.

In my dreams I'm a Marxist and I'm sure that many people are like this too (a fair, equal society - what more could you want?), but unfortunately Mr Marx was dreaming too.

James Stewart (probably one of the nicest guys in film) plays naive rookie to the American senate, Chief of the Boy Scouts; Jefferson Smith; a new senator hand picked by the governor in the hope that he is too clueless to realise he is being used.

Already there is scheming, blackmail, puppeteering that allegedly goes on behind the facade of true democracy. America labelled themselves the 'Leaders of the Free World'. Or rather should they be, as described in Mr Smith Goes To Washington, 'Leaders of the crazed Capitalist world dominated by 'fat cat' businessmen who dictate politics for personal profit?'

As a film, it is poignant and beautifully filmed. Strangely it advertises 'old America' when Jeff Smith is drooling like an excited schoolboy at the legendary, monuments standing resolute in the city. Smith escapes to glimpse the statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Smithsonian. The influential ex-president towers over mortals like a god on Mount Olympus; sitting, pondering, surveying the America that he has helped shaped.

The entertainment value is high as the film engages with all types of viewers so it is universally understood. There are sweet moments of galavanting boy scouts admirably striving to save their hero Jeff from the political machine of the businessman named Taylor. The characters are well developed and relationships are heartwarming because you know in the end humans do have compassion :).

We all end up loving Jeff Smith - the archetypal American hero (before the days of Top Gun though). We admire his motivation to follow through with his plan defeat the 'Taylors' of today. Plus, his determination to uphold proceedings of the senate just so he could triumph, whilst securing friendship along the way.

It is a film filled with food for thought.

 *****

The Great Gatsby that came before...

The Great Gatsby (1974) I believe, cannot be bettered by its remake (directed by Baz Lurhmann 2013). Granted I have not seen it but by viewing the trailer, and reading reviews I have come to the conclusion that the film does not live up to the book. Which is a great shame because the book is quite groundbreaking and considered a 'classic'; on the surface a romance, yet underneath a critique on social life and manners that are current in the higher echelons of 1920s American society. Honestly, there are many twists and points of accelerated tension that it becomes a mixture of romance, mystery, drama and even attempts at being comedic.

This film that I will be reviewing is a more literal adaptation which works better in giving justice to F Scott Fitzgerald's work. The lines are mostly the same and consequently the film, funnily enough is a realisation of the images I had in my head when reading the book. However the camera work is more experimental that I would expect, however the close ups, emphasizing emotion that would be missed without this technique due to the wealthy character's facade, add dynamism to the film. The recurrent flickers of shots of a billboard advertising an oculist T. J Eckleburg highlight Fitzgerald's concept that despite the lawless antics happening in West Egg, there is a omnipresent God like figure that watches ominously over the party-goers, especially Jay Gatsby; his actions and their repercussions. This idea perhaps is made too obvious however as a motif it works effectively.

Regarding the individual characters, Daisy Buchanan, a whimsical 'beautiful fool' acts delightfully airheaded even though her looks are dark and sharp. Her lifeline is money and firmly believes that the $$$ is the centripetal force that keeps her society rotating. You can't pity her or feel sorry for her, as it is difficult for most people to relate. Personally I find Jay Gatsby pathetic, and Robert Redford doesn't have the elusive charm that I envisaged Fitzgerald's fictional Gatsby to have. My favorite character is the under rated and modest narrator Nick, whose accidental, but timely appearance into awkward situations makes him a great omniscient third person narrator.

The visual aspects are beautiful, especially the wardrobe departments' recreation of flashy, swishy, 1920's flapper dresses. Cartier features as the jewellery designers and Ralph Lauren as the brand behind the extravagant garments. The best accessory is Gatsby's yellow car that is driven whilst Gatsby wears a flamboyant pink suit. The clashing colours are harsh on the eyes and you realise that Gatsby clearly can't buy class & style although he can buy diamonds.

This film is interesting, quite unique and tackles a difficult book to make into film.
sorry its a long one

****