Children of Paradise - U.S. Re-Release Trailer

Early Hollywood Studio vs Early French Studio

During the early era of film production America and French cinema were both undergoing what you can call drastic changes. France Studio Production was in fact on the verge of competing with the ahead of it’s time system America Studio Production had created until the occupation of Germany in France during WW II. While America was allowed to continue production and advancing in film production, upon Germany taking control, french filmmakers were forced to halt the production of twenty films. Ultimately what happened was the Vichy government created the COIC to support and control the film industry in hopes of keeping it alive but regulated unlike in America the US Government called upon hollywood to make films supporting the war effort. 

In France most of the production companies were still small firms making very little films during the war, while in America production companies like Warner Brothers, Fox, and MGM were evolving into major studio companies. France at the time brought in Continental, a German production company which owned its own studios, labs, and a large french theater chain. 

America was becoming somewhat a monopoly especially when the “Blum - Byrnes pact would reserve sixteen weeks per year for french films, and although this accord was defended as a way to encourage production, french film works protested it made France an open market for American films.”  The main aspect that created difference within French and American studio production was organization. Hollywood had started a studio system that was “the method of film production and distribution dominated by small number of major studios in hollywood.” There was a practice in large motion picture studios, that when they had produced a movie primarily on their own filmmaking lots and had this happen through vertical integration. The hollywood system was united through chains and members, having members produce a different product, service, or need, and combining all together to ignite a successful production. The french had trouble organizing a system like this due to the occupation of Germany, they lacked technology and investors considering the Vichy administration imposing rules on the system. 

For example in Children of Paradise, the film was forced to be split into two parts because the Vinchy administration only allowed a max of 90 min for feature films. The lack of money and investors through producers caused the set builders to be short of supplies and camera crews film stock to be forced to ration. 

The Bicycle Thief Trailer

Blow

Blow directed by Ted Demme follows George Jung who was brought up in a struggling family and takes place in the 1950’s. His family struggles with money and eventually they go bankrupt which influences George to mature as a man with ambition to do whatever it takes to prevent the same thing happening to him. He believes the solution to this is to begin dealing marijuana on a semi low scale level in California and becomes a big hit until going to jail. Going to jail opens his opportunities to prevent going bankrupt where he finds out about the business of cocaine, as stated by George, “Danbury wasn't a prison, it was a crime school. I went in with a Bachelor of marijuana, came out with a Doctorate of cocaine.” . The cocaine industry leads George Jung to find himself adventuring to Columbia, meeting drug lords, and beginning his own business of trafficking cocaine. His ability and determination to be on top makes his dreams come true resulting in fame and riches due to the fact he was able to explode the US market for coke in which he handled about 85% of cocaine that was coming in, in the 1970’s. Although at the height of his success Jung found himself once again being infiltrated and being put on trial. Following the conviction Jung goes on the run dodging court dates. The movie ends in a downward spiral as Jung attempts to do one more job to make enough money for his daughter to live on but finds himself being set up and finally is thrown in jail on a harsh sentence. 

This movie can come off as a film that was only produced to depict what life of a multi millionaire drug dealer, although Blow creates a deeper message for its audience. 

The Jung family relates to most of American families, struggling to maintain a steady income of money. The only thing that differs between people is the way they choose to handle this problem. George Jung is a relatable character who creates a message towards it’s audience that in a society which can be unfair and troubling to thrive in, your forced to do what you have to do to survive. 

The movie mainly follows George Jung, a quick witted and extremely intelligent young man. His hair style changes from slicked back and let loose and following which explains the control he holds on certain parts of his life and situations. He was typically dressed in button down and plaid like or khaki pants, popular clothing in the 1960’s-1970’s. Jung typically acted in a confident way for he is usually in control of the situation. He always comes off as relaxed, and finds himself knowing the right things to say at the right time. Although the fact he faced situations with such confidence, relaxation, and quick to act type behavior leads George to have his guard down not realizing the troubles he’s creating for himself. His external obstacle is the people around him as the movie plays out he finds himself constantly being betrayed by the people he thought he could trust. His motivation was the downfall of his family due to financial problems leading him to take nessasary action to prevent this in his own life. George starts as a ambitious personality, as the movie proceeds he becomes extremely intelligent when it comes to his business. Towards the end of the movie he creates a sense of false reality not realizing the key points of how his life is on a downward spiral which can only lead to destruction. 

Neorealism In Early Italian Film

It becomes quite apparent neorealism is evident throughout films within different cultures post World War II. It seems directors felt the need to express the social economic inequalities through film to create a sense of how most of the population of a Country was suffering. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner and the Bicycle Thief yet created in different cultures find themselves relating to one another through neorealism. Within both films, the characters feel as if they’re trapped within the social status they’ve come to know so well and lose the need to try and escape. Smith uses running as a way to feel free from the economic troubles he faces, which represents in some sense how at times all you can do is run from your problems. The director was trying to capture reality and help the audience feel connected since people too use certain hobbies or activities to escape the troubles they face daily. Such as in the Bicycle Thief when they decide to have food and wine yet it only cures there troubles for a few minutes before once again becoming upset from knowing how poor they’ve become and will be without the bike. The style of these two films really deviates from classic hollywood cinema during this time, they work to represent reality rather then fantasy, neorealism films tend not to use popular professional actors to get as close to real life as they can. 

It’s obviously noted that The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner decided to use parts of World War II in the beginning to create a sense of time, while the Bicycle Thief uses the dramatic economic destruction of post World War II without having to show it to emphasize how poor economies had become. Also it somewhat seemed The Long Distance Runner was possibly filmed at times on a set or studio which didn’t contrast itself as much from the Hollywood Cinema as it should’ve, while the Bicycle Thief was being filmed on location to gain the realism they wanted. Lastly it should be noted Smith would’ve been well known as a thief in society even if it was just at attempts to escape emotional and physical restraints in his situation. While in the Bicycle Thief he never was a thief, though difficult times forced him to stoop down and live with shame as a thief. 

The Godfather Trailer (HD)

The Godfather

I want to welcome my audience to my blog, Lets Talk Films. Lets get right into it, i'm looking to start off on the right foot and discuss a popular film in the industries culture which jump started a new genre and outlook on movies, The Godfather. Francis Ford Coppola directed this film in 1972 before gangster movies were really it's own genre. The creation of this film really brought out a unique and deeper meaning in a movie filled with violence. Tarantino also is a director who uses violence to create a theme or message. In this post I wanted to discuss the overall theme of the Godfather considering there's endless possibilities of what Coppola wanted the audience to gain after watching his movie.

Michael created the concern for legitimacy from the moment he took over the Corleone family. He wants the family to be legitimate rather then how Vito feels the need to gain respect and be respected by everyone. By legitimate, Michael wants to free the family from killing, making money from gambling, extorting. But Vito knows in the mafia family respect is the backbone, and without the respect he believes anyone beneath him wont fear him creating a sense of weakness. Favors, kissing the rings, things of that nature are gestures that are important to Vito. Coppola wants the audience to see that in the Mafia Society respect wins over legitimacy 9 times out of 10 because respect is what keeps social structure striving.

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

      I want the audience to feel free to discuss on topics within a film through the comments and forums. People should come to this blog to enjoy the love they have for film and be able to talk to one another about what makes the production so great, what work went into the movie. This blog should be used as a getaway for film and media students, film majors, or even other students in different majors who just enjoy movies to relieve stress and read, discuss, and observe the films they love.

ABOUT ME

ABOUT ME

How’s it going , my name is Mike Knox and I am the creator of this blog. I’m a 18 year old, Jersey Native, and a freshman currently attending University of Rhode Island studying Film and Media. I found myself partaking classes all concerning broadcasting, production, and film history throughout high school so choosing my major didn’t come to be hard at all. I was raised on the belief that the career you end up in shouldn’t be seen as a job rather it should be something you love to do and can wake up every morning happy and not look back thinking you passed up on your dreams. The first time a camera fell into my hands I fell in love and since then I haven’t found myself straying away from the television and film industry. What made me interested in choosing this topic to blog about is simple, writing about something your passionate for allows me to enjoy what I’m posting and connect with my targeted audience in a way I wouldn’t be able to with a different topic. To watch a film and really take in the passion, writing, preproduction, and hard work that goes into is what made me like this industry so much.