Faith through Film and Fiction

David Fincher rises up on my list of favorite directors higher and higher every film of his that I watch. Some of my favorite movies have been directed by Fincher, like The Social Network and Se7en. Zodiac is fairly different from his other films in that it takes place in a different time period. This time period is the main strength of the movie. If the viewers goal is to be transported into a believable alternate time period, Zodiac does its job superbly. The sets are gorgeous and the hair styles and costumes provide a really immersive aspect to the movie. I really enjoyed the plot and thought the way the murderer set things up with the puzzles was really interesting. I do not think that this movie is one of Fincher's best films, but I definitely think it does a good job at recreating the Noir movies. This movie is entertaining while grim and while it is a very long movie, its pacing makes it very watchable. I recommend this movie and will probably watch it in a few years, I give it a 7/10.

Birdemic is easily the greatest movie of all time. This is cinema at its absolute finest. Nothing will ever come close to its greatness. The Godfather? Garbage compared to Birdemic. The Shawshank Redemption? Pales in comparison to that is the almighty Birdemic.

In this should-be-classic 1959 courtroom drama directed by Otto Preminger, adapted from John D. Voelker's novel of the same name, we the viewer witness one of the most realistic portrayal's of a trial put to film. This film, especially for its time, is a very straightforward and frank movie, never holding back in addressing the graphic nature of sex and rape in regards to the case. In a fantastic scene which is clearly directed to the conservative film audiences of the time, the judge is asked whether they must be referred to as "undergarments" instead of the more correct and exact term "panties". The lawyers asks whether it is necessary to soften the language in a case that is already explicit in nature, and makes the point that everyone is adults here. This is a groundbreaking and envelope pushing film, paving the way for future movies.

James Stewart, in his final Oscar nomination, is stellar as protagonist and lawyer Paul Biegler. While he is the main character and the man we root for, he is not perfect, repeatedly resorting to deceit and trickery to help his case.

Duke Ellington's fantastic score truly adds to the movie the tone and atmosphere the film needs, and Sam Leavitt's cinematography is perfect for the film, having drawn out long takes to add to the tension and realism of the film.

This is a very long film, at 2 hours and 45 minutes, and a times it does tend feel as if it is dragging. However, this does make it feel like a real, long, and drawn-out trial. This is a great movie, that anyone who is looking for a riveting, realistic, envelope-pushing courtroom drama should watch.

9/10

I really like mafia movies and knowing that the Godfather is considered the best I decided to watch it. I saw it a few years ago and couldn't really remember it so I decided to watch it again. This is the greatest movie of all time. If any movie deserves a perfect 10/10, it is this movie. The acting across the board is phenomenal. Each character is so dynamic and different from eachother. I would love to read to book to see how much the script was modified from the book. Supposedly Part 2 is superior to part 1 which I highly doubt but I will definitely go back and watch all of them. This movie now surpasses Pulp Fiction as my favorite movie. 10/10 would watch again and read.

When I think of Tim Burton films, I think of either a) batman or b) creepy Johnny Depp movies. The former has respectable stature as an action film, and while I can appreciate Tim Burton's style which usually shows in the latter, I'm not really a fan of it, though many of his films are certainly good and unique for what they are.

That said, never would I have thought that the director behind Edward Scissorhands, Sweeny Todd, Beetlejuice, and let's not forget Pee-Wee's Big Adventure was also behind Big Eyes. Given that this film seemed to have Tim Burton's creepiness on the down low, and moreover that it starred Christoph Waltz, I figured I'd choose to watch this one.

From first impressions, one could tell this was not a typical Tim Burton film. Between the direction, cinematography, and just the premise itself of Margaret Keane (Amy Adams) being subject to her husband Walter (Christoph Waltz) taking all of the credit for her paintings, notable for their big eyes. The only thing remotely Burton-esque was the soundtrack, which was noticeable and subtle when needed respectively, and suitably eerie when it could get away with it. However, Lana Del Rey's song of the same title as the film was absolutely dreadful even for the brief few seconds it played in the movie. The movie is for the most part fluid, and although it tries nothing ambitious or novel, it was well put together and includes suitable and justified commentaries about art and the contrast between 1950's and 1960's society, while Burton, rightly, does not go into deep dissertations or tangents on a particular criticism. Though the film is mainly about Margaret's oppression and evolution to finally culminate into a courtroom trial, the dynamics of her character are faintly underscored by the changing, loosening morals and customs arising at the turn of the decade. A more ambitious director would have done more with this; however, given that this film is not within Burton's usual style, it was reasonable to do little with such a risky area. Special note also to the ironic development (or perhaps, revelation) of Walter Keane's character, who at the end claims with fervor his wife needs psychiatric help consequent of her claims in court, though he is shown throughout the film to be emotionally unstable, a compulsive liar, and an egotistical megalomaniac. I am concerned, however, that Waltz is in danger of being typecasted as a result of his "oddbal Austrain" disposition.

I did not care for one particular device Burton chose to use: voice-over narration. Though I don't have a problem with voice-over narration in principle (unless it goes completely overboard like Casino), In this movie it seemed unnecessary at best and overall distracting, especially given that it comes from the point of view of a small-time journalist who makes perhaps four appearances in the movie and says no more than two lines in each of them.

My other major complaint with the movie is that Burton seemed to rush to the last act of the film as a result of an irrational fear that the movie was moving too slowly, which at the point he chose to "fix" it was far too late to deal with a pacing issue. So conveniently is the turpentine paint thinner placed by the door's keyhole so that Walter might push a few matches through to set the art studio ablaze in his blind, unfettered, and misguided rage at his wife, so that Maragaret and her daughter Jane can abandon Walter and all money and possessions only to magically reappear a year later in Honolulu, where Margaret somehow manages to do quite well for herself and her daughter.

Overall it was a good watch, and my hat is off to Tim Burton for this radical change in direction for him, and being able to execute such a fluid and enjoyable film very well.

7/10, would not watch again (Not that it was bad, just that I wouldn't find any value in re-watching it)

Katherine Williams
Faith in Film
Mr. Salkil
31 August 2015

Forest Gump:

People always discuss this movie but I had never actually seen it. I've seen parts of it from Heritage and Western Studies but never all of it. I came into the film with high expectations from all the reviews I've heard before from classmates and adults. I usually hate war movies and a lot of violence but there wasn't even that much battle and it was mostly about the society surrounding the war in America which is really interesting.

I had a lot of subjective preferences in the film because I had heard a lot about how great it is. I feel that the violence in the film, the very few there was, was justified because it upheld the story line like when he got shot in the butt and got an award or when he tried to save Bubba from the war.

I watched it on my computer because I couldn't buy it on my television. I think that it would've been much better in the theaters because the music and the actors speaking would be more intense. I liked the track list a lot because it's all older, calm music. I feel that all scenes should be seen on a big screen because it is easier to focus on more of the scenery as well as the characters and gives you more emotion. The end scene with the bus would be a lot better on the big screen seeing the bus get smaller and watching the feather float away slowly. All in all, I really enjoyed the film and would recommend it as an original everyone must see.