The script CALVARY presents as a character-driven, psychological drama with thriller elements. It’s an enthralling script from the very first word until the very last image. One can easily envision this as a film. The goal is clear and the stakes are extremely high. The script incorporates several powerful themes about faith, redemption, regret, and forgiveness. The story also explores and poses intriguing moral choices and questions. The script offers an ensemble cast of distinctive, dysfunctional, and morally corrupt characters. Each one is dealing with emotional damage and a crisis of faith. The dialogue is sharp and interspersed with meaningful subtext. Visual storytelling is well crafted from the butcher shop “meat freezer” to a character lighting a cigarette while a church burns down. The script’s voice is refreshing and original. The structure is a bit non-conventional, but for the most part works. However, the areas that are worth discussing are the pace, the ensemble cast, visual reactions from characters, and the ending. First, the story opens with an extremely chilling and provocative line of dialogue that immediately captures the attention of the audience with “I first tasted semen when I was seven years old.” It’s unnerving, which appropriately sets the tone. The opening immediately establishes the moral …show more content…
What the script does so well is create a mystery about which character might be the man who threatened to kill the Priest. It’s nice to watch the protagonist, Lavelle, grow more paranoid as the story progresses. In fact, there’s more room for this type of suspense and tension (maybe someone being in his room/home, or he thinks they are after Fiona, she receives something threatening). Regardless, because of the natural ticking clock, nice anticipation builds towards the climax. This keeps the audience on constant
In "Killings"by Andre Dubus and In the Bedroom, directed by Todd Field, the author and director decided to go different directions with the beginning of the story, keeping the plot of the story almost identical. However, beginning the story differently impacted both works in completely different aspects. Dubus begins the story at the funeral of Frank which leads the reader to draw conclusions about what happened before Frank's funeral, while Field’s gives more background to viewer which allows the reader to make more connections. Dubus begins the story at Frank’s funeral which leads the reader to become confused throughout the story. As the reader reads through the story, they have to be able to connect the dots to understand what is happening. While in the movie, Field’s begins with the backstory leading up to Frank’s death which makes it easier for the viewer to understand what is happening. The difference between the two stories impacts how the reader and viewer are able to interpret the story.
Guilt is a powerful force in humans. It can be the factor that alters someone's life. On the other hand, forgiveness can be just as powerful. In The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, her characters-the Price family-travel to Africa on a religious mission. Throughout the novel, the concept of guilt and forgiveness is reflected on multiple occasions. Each character has a different experience with guilt and how it affects them in the end. By structuring The Poisonwood Bible to include five different narrators, Kingsolver highlights the unique guilt and forgiveness to each individual experiences as well expresses the similarities that all humans face with these complex emotions.
Throughout a lifetime, many things are gained; experience, wisdom, knowledge, as well as a sure sense of self. But along with all these great things come regret, guilt, and shame of past events. Everyone deals with these in different ways, sometimes turning to religion and denial as coping mechanisms. In the novel The Poisonwood Bible, By Barbara Kingsolver, each member of the Price family deals with a personal guilt either gained while on their mission in the Congo or long before. This novel exemplifies the different types of guilt the Price family experienced throughout their stay in the Congo, and shows various means of reconciliation and forgiveness as the guilt is absolved.
Braff himself has a warm, easy-to-watch screen presence. He can say nothing during the lull in a conversation, while the camera remains focused on his face, and it feels right. Portman and Sarsgaard are also genuine, each wonderfully relaxed in their roles. Production design is superb: details in every scene are arranged well, and the photography, by Lawrence Sher, is - like the story and the acting – unpretentious, never distracting, tricky or cute. This film never seems to manipulate us; instead it engages us, arouses our curiosity and amusement, bids us gently to care about Andrew and Sam and even Mark, leaving us entertained in the best sense. This movie is as confident, as secure in itself, as comforting, as a well worn pair of house slippers or your favorite reading chair. A splendid film. Grade: A- (09/04)
Coming from a devout Catholic family, Gary Soto encountered the ultimate sin as a six-year-old when he was tempted by a delicious apple pie. But his guilt is expressed in more than just a frown; through his tremendous writing, Soto practically transforms his guilt into its own being. His attention to detail in each description demonstrates his ability to carry the reader through his writing, from the imagery behind his guilt sweat to the repetition of hearing the plumbing “howl”. In some ways, the readers themselves begin to feel guilty right alongside Soto. Written from the perspective of Soto’s childhood self, the story vividly details the sickening guilt that follows him after he steals an apple pie.
Criticisms (Favourable): Very original, intelligent plot. Well-written characters that aren’t two dimensional and who make human decisions (David’s father, who may seem like a cruel man but who is really just doing what he was brought up to believe is right).
Acceptance in ‘Atonement’ is represented by Briony coming to terms with what she had done in the past, searching for penance, or amends – while Cecilia Tallis could not even think to forgive her sister for what had become of her mistake on that night in 1934. In the last part of the novel titled, ‘London 1999’, while seeking impossible forgiveness, Briony is confronted with the unpalatable truths that are accompanied by atoning. ‘Atonement’ features unpalatable truths about the multifaceted human condition, which we develop an awareness of as we make mistakes and confront obstacles in life. However, atoning for the mistakes can sometimes be difficult, or impossible. Briony omitted to telling her parents the truth about what she had witnessed – though at the time, she had thought it to have been Robbie, “[he] was a threat,” she failed to recognise her mistake as the truth was revealed.
In both “Roger Malvin's Burial” and “The Minister's Black Veil,” Nathaniel Hawthorne centralizes the themes of sin, guilt, and repentance. Both are very much set in terms of what defines sin and, in turn, what would constitute action leaving an opening for forgiveness, and both leave many a question unanswered in the story being told. The main question for us becomes, then, one of applicability. Does either story hold a message, if so, what? In considering the two, it may be that they do indeed hold a message, but maybe that message is not one that Hawthorne himself could ever have intended. In this paper I will deal with the themes of guilt, sin, repentance and how Hawthorne developed them in both stories.
Ian McEwan illustrates a profound theme that builds details throughout the novel Atonement, the use of guilt and the quest for atonement are used with in the novel to convey the central dynamic aspect in the novel. McEwan constructs the emotion of guilt that is explored through the main character, Briony Tallis. The transition of child and entering the adult world, focus on the behavior and motivation of the young narrator Briony. Briony writes passages that entail her attempt to wash away her guilt as well find forgiveness for her sins. In which Briony ruined the lives and the happiness of her sister, Cecilia, and her lover Robbie. The reality of the events, attempts to achieve forgiveness for her actions. She is unable to understand the consequences of the actions as a child but grows to develop the understanding of the consequence with age. McEwan exemplifies an emotional novel that alters reality as he amplifies the creative acts of literature. In this essay I will be arguing that, the power of guilt prevents people from moving on from obstacles that hold them in the past.
does a great job of engaging the audience with the story at all times through
... shows how truth could come from deceitful actions, however once again demonstrated the tragic end of characters whose death was cause by deception.
“The story employs a dramatic point of view that emphasizes the fragility of human relationships. It shows understanding and agreemen...
...movie that I fell in love with. But most of all I love how the story line is a great overlap into the cinematically engaging movie. There is a great use of camera, timing, shots and story line that are portrayed in this movie without being too overwhelming. This allows the audience to relax during the movie and just take in the scenes as a story from reality. To this day, and even still doing this paper I still come to find different aspects of the movie that I missed the previous times I have watched it.
After using God as his scapegoat, the narrator shifts his thought to believe that he was chosen by God because he is special. As the narrator walks down the town of Christiania, his delusion starts to take toll on him and he drift into his moment with God.
Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement depicts a story told from the perspectives of three of the main characters: Briony Tallis, Robbie Turner, and Cecelia Tallis. Briony is the ultimate focus of the novel because her mission is atonement. She almost single handedly convicted Robbie for the rape of her cousin, Lola Quincey. She is seeking atonement for this horrible crime she committed against Robbie. However, Briony is never able to achieve atonement. Regardless of the efforts Briony makes, she cannot truly achieve atonement. Through Briony’s inability to achieve atonement, McEwan illustrates that atonement can only be sought after, never achieved.