Film Persona

  John Huston's "Beat the Devil" Due to what he felt was a witch hunt by the House Committee on Un-American Activities, John Huston moved to Ireland in 1952. He began making British films, often receiving assistance from his Hollywood buddies, like Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre. His 1953 British film " Beat the Devil " employed these actors, along with the Hollywood star Jennifer Jones.  Although I felt the film had a promising thematic point, it spirals into an mockish adventure film that left me a bit uninterested. Sure, the concept of rapid Western industrialization and colonization after the Second World War makes for a great set-up. But the execution of this complex themes leaves little to be desired. The film, as put by Huston himself, is simply a spoof of " The Maltese Falcons ." While I understand the spoof elements, it doesn't make for a very satisfying or intriguing film. 

  Joseph Mankiewicz's "Julius Caesar" Joseph Mankiewicz's 1953 adaptation of William Shakespeare's 1599's stage play " Julius Caesar ," to me, is a completely inoffensive and by-the-book Shakespearian rendering. However, perhaps this is what caused me great disinterest in the film while watching. Although there isn't anything inherent about the film that requires much complaint in the realms of cinematography, performance, direction, etc., I am not quite moved or stirred by what I am seeing. Much to my disappointment, " Julius Caesar " carries nothing hardy for me to take with me.

  Anthony Asquith's "The Importance of Being Earnest" Everyone knows the classic Victorian play " The Importance of Being Ernest " and the hilarity that ensues when its characters become tangled in double lives and social obligations. The original source material, written by the iconic Oscar Wilde, first premiered at the St. James Theatre in London in 1895. The work has since become an iconic representation of Victorian-era British humor, spawning numerous adaptations, including Anthony Asquith's 1952 version, perhaps the most notable.  Asquith seems to me to be the most suitable filmmaker to adapt this work, as he had become one of the most prominent British directors of his time. His films often reflect the fractured British sensibility and its layers of manufactured pretensions, making " The Importance of Being Earnest " a perfect fit for his direction. I have always loved the source material and find its humor uproarious. With this adaptation, ...

  Mikio Naruse's "Mother" After the rousing success of his 1951 film " Repast ," Mikio Naruse crafted his next feature film from a screenplay that was based on a prize-winning entry of a school essay-writing competition. The story focused on a mother's struggles during the post-war years in Japan. The film, simply titled " Mother " encompasses the heartbreaking fracturing that occurs in her family and represents the fractured family unit that would emerge in Japanese culture after the war. Although it is mostly somber in tone, " Mother " offers a great deal of heart that extends from the uncompromised love of its titular mother. 

  Laurent Cantet's "Entre les Murs" One of the most interesting aspects of Laurent Cantet's 2008 French film " Entre les Murs " is the way in which Cantet creates intimacy. Based on the semi-autobiographical 2006 novel of the same name, " Entre les Murs " details the relationship of a teacher and his students within the classroom. The classroom of note contains many 'problem children' and the details of the experiences illuminate some of the complex discussions about the unique balance of trust and understanding in the education system. With a visual expression grounded in contemporary realism, " Entre les Murs " puts its viewer right in the middle of class time and all the notions that extend from its central theme are not espoused in some dramatic rhetoric or manufactured drama, but rather illuminates its themes through simply sitting in and observing extended scenes of class sessions. The film centers on Francois Marin, a young...

  George Steven's "Shane" Although George Steven's 1953 film " Shane " is considered a classic of the Western genre, I found a very difficult time allowing myself to enjoy it. The film definitely has some merits to it, certainly. However, I typically find more satisfaction with the western genre as a form of ' tabula rasa ' experiment. With " Shane " however, it seems to use the western genre as a format for fantasy and a clear distinction between 'good' and 'evil,' rather than building the foundations of society through action.  " Shane " centers on a gunfighter who is hired by a rancher in the Wyoming territory in 1889. The rancher, along with his family, are threatened off of their land by a ruthless cattle baron. The cattle baron hires rogue henchman to harass the family, along with many other ranchers in the area. With the help of the gunfighter, Shane, the group of ranchers decide to stand up for themselves. ...

  Kazuo Mori's "Vendetta for a Samurai" Although I had lots of trouble with " Vendetta for a Samurai ," I still respect some of the things it is attempting to accomplish. The film begins by expressing the nature of folklore and legend and how these timeless stories can be embellished in favor of drama. Often, the reality of a story doesn't always effectively translate the intensity or impact of what happened. However, in this Akira Kurosawa-penned film, the quick 2 minute folktale gets told in-length. In telling the entire story in-length, we see all the mundane and complex details of such an event. While this may not be as exciting, it certainly shows how complex a situation actually is and how the humans involved are more complex than simple two-dimensional characters. The 'brave heroes' are not exactly brave and experience doubt, fear, and anxiety. The fighting isn't epic, it's messy, awkward, and tragic. The people that died aren't wo...