"Kiss Me Deadly"

“Kiss Me Deadly” is a black and white film directed by Robert Aldrich in 1955. The film is about this private investigator named Mike Hammer, Ralph Meeker, who meets a lady in the beginning of the movie. The lady ends up dieing and Mike is left to solve the case.
Mike comes to realize and actually show his emotion towards his secretary in the end when he goes to rescue her from the beach house.

Film noir is shown throughout with the different lighting and shadows created with the scenes and characters that are being shown. Hammer is displayed with cameras straight at him, downward when he is in trouble or caught by those men, and upward when he is doing is job investigating or talking to the police. The lighting when him and Christina Bailey, the girl in the very first few scenes, are in the car is amazing. The light is coming from underneath their faces from within the car. It sets the mood and gives the film that thriller/criminal aspect.

The music in the film was quite entertaining with Nat King Cole starting us off and then a woman singing in the club. The sound effects were over the top which helped support the mood and the theme throughout. The camera angles and special effects were quite good considering the time it was made. There were some parts that were over the top like when Mike would slap people, other times it did drag on, and was a little confusing. Below, are my favorite lines from the film.

Quote: Christina Bailey: I could tolerate flabby muscles in a man, if it'd make him more friendly. You're the kind of person who never gives in a relationship, who only takes. Ah, woman, the incomplete sex. And what does she need to complete her? [sarcastically] Christina Bailey: One man, wonderful man!

"Touch of Evil"

Orsen Welles directed in 1958 the black and white film “Touch of Evil.” The film is set on the boarder of Mexico. There are problems with narcotics and a Mexican investigator works with the police force mainly the Captain, Hank, and his crew to help solve the problems. The investigator, Vargas, discovers that the Captain is corrupt and works to clear his wife’s name, Suzie, and the Captian held accountable for his actions.

This film is a work of film noir and a little bit of melodrama with the dramatic Spanish music played throughout. The lighting with a lot of shadows (attached and cast) and the detective element add to the suspense and are the main elements of film noir. The film had tons of low angles and straight angles. The upward angles came mostly when Orsen Welles’ character Captain Hank and Charlton Heston’s character Vargas were being shown. The cinematography was exceptional throughout. For example, when Suzie was caught with this Mexican gang, the camera showed the leader Grande looking in the mirror and in the mirror the audience could see Suzie and the other gang member. The lighting was very dark when the captain went to visit his friend who reads cards. It was dark but yet her face glowed and created great shadows. Lastly, when Suzie was taken to her cabin after the Chief dropped her over there was a crane shot over the cabin into the desert that was effect and very smooth.

Quote from the film: “It is a dirty job enforcing the law but someone has to do it.” Vargas

Joyce Wilson

Joyce Wilson is an artist who specializes in commercial and fine art photography. She currently resides in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband and teaches at the Brooks Institute. She recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Her husband and the rest of her family helped her put a slide together about her life and work. I and only a room full of people were able to see the final version. Her work is unique, classical, and sophisticated.

During her lecture, she came up with some points that she wanted to make sure we got. The ideas were the art of fine art photography, where she discussed the history of art from the cave people to the renaissance era, triangular composition of red, imagery of women and reality between fantasy. One photo she showed was of Flat Light of the Van Goya which I absolutely loved. She then went into the discussion of photography and the different ways you can take this art form and make into your own. Since she started in art and painting, she took that enjoyment and started to paint over photographs which is something I have never heard before. This goes to show anything is possible. She loves slow shutter speed and gives back to the community by working with the domestic violence group where she lives. I loved at the end her speech about women and how she likes to show the gracefulness and purity of women unlike what Playboy does. She does this with great tact.

It was an honor and a privileged to see some of her work and to actually be able to participate in the workshop. Emily, her sister, and her are great to have as instructors. They have so much to give and to teach people. I also like the fact that they are willing and want to learn from the students as well. It was nice to be around such empowering and intelligent women. They were very down to earth and a joy to learn from.

The experience has opened my eyes and makes me think that I can enjoy what I do and follow my passion but at the same time can never stop learning from people and books. There always needs to be a continuous growth. It also shows me that you can and should enjoy what you do very few people are able to but you owe it to yourself to pursue your art in whatever field whether it be business or science, etc.

I wanted to leave two my favorite quotes from Mrs. Joyce Wilson:
"Your best work will come from your own memory box"
" Passion: if you don't see or feel you won't do well"

"My Country My Country"

My Country My Country is a documentary film directed by Laura Poitras in 2006. The film takes place in Iraq during the 2005 elections. For Americans, it is hard to know what is going on with the war in Iraq unless you have a loved one or in the service. Poitras helps by putting faces with the issues in Iraq. Audiences at the end of the film walk away knowing more and having a personal connection with a topic that is affecting so many people's lives.

This documentary has great editing and storyline. The film follows a Sunni Ara doctor, his family, and their community around during the war and preparations for the elections. The film does a great job with using a time frame by not only using dates but also intervals, such as 6 months till the elections. The music was very powerful and helps make the culture appeal to our senses. The editing is straightforward but lets the people of Iraq, US troops, police, special security services, & UN representatives etc speak for themselves. The ending ties all of the films' elements into one cohesive topic. The music at the end and the doctor praying was very effective. Some great effects were them having camera shots in the car showing the streets and the doctor driving and the different news broadcasting whether on the TV or radio.

I thought this a great film. It answered some of my questions that I had to what all was occurring over there. Also, made me more intrigued in wanting to know more. I did think it was basis towards the doctor and the Iraqi people. The US troops were shown in a negative light most of the time throughout out the film. This led me to wonder whether how the troops were really acting over there or if it is hard to trust Iraqi citizens whether they are children or adults. There is still more to be discovered and learned with this topic but the film is a great tool that can and should be used as a starting point.

"13 Tzameti"

The film, "13 Tzameti", directed by Gela Babluani is French thriller that was made in 2005. This film is very dramatic and suspenseful. The protagonist, Sebastien, is a twenty-two year old guy who is working to repair Godon's roof. Sebastien is working to help support his family (father, mother, sister and brother). When Godon dies, he finds some papers and follow the instructions. Sebastien ends up getting into more that he bargains for just so he can get a lot of money for his family. A very noble cause but not necessarily worth it for what all he has to do to get it. He is taken to this place where there are 13 men who are willing to risk their lives just so people can gamble and they, the players, can make a lot of money. Sebastien ends up winning at the expense of killing three people (I think). He is able to send his family the money he made, meanwhile the police are after him. He is headed home on a train and luck would have it that the guy he killed in the duel brother is on the train. He ends up shooting him and taking off with what he thinks is the money.

The film was shot in black and white. Throughout the film, I was stressed and tense wandering what was going to happen next. There was not too many times where the audience could have some relief from some of the extreme scenes. The director does a great job with making the audience feel much like Sebastien. The cinematography was aesthetically pleasing. Even though the lighting was simple, the darkness in the black and white fit the characteristics of the storyline very well. I really like the shots where the camera was acting as the lens to the photographs that the man was taking outside Godon's house. It was intriguing and made the audience feel apart of the film.

Sebastien definitely matured in a short amount of time. He is scared from life from this experience. I don't know if that was all worth it in the end. Another thing that seems hard to believe is even though he had no idea what he could be getting into he still does it. As the audience leaves the film they too are touch and some scared from the experience. Somehow, now the number thirteen will not have the same meaning anymore.

"Claire's Knee"

The French film, Claire's Knee, directed by Eric Rohmer in 1970 is a film filled with drama and romance. The film takes place in the 70's. There are several characters in the film that contribute well to the story line. The main character, Jerome, is a thirty-five year old man that is about to get married in a month. He meets is friend who is a writer, Aurora. They both happen to be staying at Lake Annecy in France during the summer. There they meet two girls Laura and Claire. Jerome is interested in both girls especially by their beauty. Once, he has meet Claire he is taken by her. Throughout the rest of the movie he tries to get closer to Claire. Aurora is in the background most of the time observing Jerome. Jerome claims he is only interested in those girls so he can help Aurora write her book. The ending is ambiguous and the audience does not know whether Jerome gets married or not and if Claire stays with her "possibly cheating" boyfriend.

The film is much like the film "Shoot the Piano Player". The characteristics of existentialism fit well with this film. The audience tends to get lost with the story from time to time. It was hard to figure out if Jerome was really trying to help Aurora write her book or if he was a creep and going after much younger girls. The idea of him kissing Laura and being obsessed with Claire's knee is quite absurd. This film like "Shoot the Piano Player" is borderline between modern and post-modern. It has the characteristics of Hollywood tradition with the film being about a male and romance but then during parts of the film it takes some steps further. For example, when the parents let Laura go off with Jerome and then they kiss and hold hands that scene was awkward and uncomfortable to see. The actors/actresses did a wonderful job with their roles.

The cinematography was very basic and also kept stylistically the film together. The only close (I think) occurred close to the ending when Claire and Jerome got caught in the rain. Claire was upset about what Jerome told her about her boyfriend. She starts to cry and Jerome sits besides her and caresses her knee. The camera zoomed in on his hand and her knee.

The film was hard to follow and slow in some parts. I was confused during parts of the movie. Also, it was hard to figure out what the film was trying to say with the ending. I also was drawn more to Aurora and would have liked to have seen her character developed more than the young ladies, Laura and Claire. I live you with a quote that was used in the film that I liked a lot. I think Jerome said this: "Having fun is like being a live."

"The Science of Sleep"

The Science of Sleep directed by Michel Gondry in 2006. The genre of this film, according to IMDb, is comedy, drama, fantasy, and romance. I personally thought this film was an experimental one.

The film takes place in France. The main character in the film, Stephane moves back with his mom because his father dies. Stephane was living with his father in Mexico. Stephane has problems with getting his fantasy world (dreaming) mixed up with the real world. He ends up falling for his new neighbor, Stephanie. A series of problems between both characters create hardships on trying to create a romantic relationship. The ending is ambiguous and is hard to figure out if what is happening in the fantasy world will occur in the real world. It is left up for the audience to decide.

This movie is by far one of the hardest to figure out and to understand. The two different worlds that the director portrays is creative and a one of a kind. The animation parts of the film remind me of Walter Williams and his character Mr. Bill. I thought it was at times hard to follow and slow in some parts. I think that this is a film where either people like it or they hate it. I think that it can appeal to different types of people. People who are more realistic can relate to the real world aspect of the movie and those who are adventurous and tend to daydream will enjoy the fantasy aspect. The movie tends to poke fun and at is a little over the top when it cones to the jokes Incorporated in the film as well as the sexual tendencies in the film.

It was really neat to see the psychological aspect of sleep portrayed in the film, especially since I was learning about that topic in my psychology class that week.