An exceptional film revolving around Dalton Trumbo and many other Hollywood artists. In 1947, Dalton Trumbo and many Hollywood figures were blacklisted for their political beliefs. This film depicts the effects that the blacklist and those who enforced it had on the lives of the communist in America; particularly those in Hollywood. Trumbo gathers his fellow Hollywood writers and tries to prove to said enforcers that their beliefs are theirs alone and does not affect their ability to produce great films. This film does exactly what its set out to do; it brings you to the time when amazing writers were blacklisted for believing in something other than the norm, and fighting for their right to believe in whatever they choose. I had a few films
to choose form to review I am glad that I chose Trumbo. Not only did it open my eyes to what happened during that time, it also gave me an in depth look at familiar names like Edward G. Robinson and John Wayne; both actors that I’ve watched perform in films during class. Funny man Louis C.K.’s performance as the fictional Arlen Hird was excellent as well, the viewer feels for this character and only wants the best for him mainly because he just wants the best for the world. We also get to see Frank King, Otto Preminger, and even Kirk Douglas who all support Dalton Trumbo in the film. This film is an excellent drama/biography to watch to see and understand an abundance of information on the blacklist and those it affected. I applaud everyone who worked on this amazing film and am truly thankful for the knowledge that it bestowed upon me.
To get a clear view and understanding of the book, first must review the time period in history. The book was written in the mid 1950's during the cold war. Former General McCarthy, then U.S. Senator started a fire ball of suspicion, suppression, and incarceration. This had a very huge impact on the entrainment industry, which included everyone from playwrights to filmmakers, as well as writers and actors. If anyone in that time period was suspected of being a communist, the government could come and pull them out of their home. At the least a suspected communist would be banned, or put on a black ball list. Printed in the Times, McCarthy's First Slander, "Overnight, his speech sparked a media firestorm that played to the basest fears of Americans swept up in a frightening cold war and triggered loyalty oaths, blacklists and personal betrayals that cost an estimated 10,000 Americans their jobs and some shattered innocents their lives." (Johanna McGeary 28) This happened to a number of actors and film makers during that time period. The black ball list was a list of names of people who were believed to be communist. The people on this list came from the movie industry as well as writers. These people would no longer be able to get work ...
Robert B. Ray categorizes Casablanca as "the most typical" American film. Ray uses Casablanca as a tutor text for what he calls the formal paradigm of Classical Hollywood as well as the thematic paradigm that addresses the conflict between isolationism and communitarian participation. The film is typical in its appropriation of an official hero Laszlo, who stands for the civilizing values of home and community, and an outlaw hero Rick, who stands for individu...
This movie was inspiring and encouraging to anyone who is struggling with something. Overcoming his controversies in life became the main point of the movie. Knowing that this movie was based upon a true story inspires the people even more.
The legacy of fear did not stop when the Trumbo’s name appeared in the credits for Spartacus and Exodus. Five years later the black list ended, Kenneth McGowan’s influential Behind the Screen: The History and Techniques of the Motion Picture was published. There is not a word in the book that offers her slightest hint that there ever had been a HUAC, a blacklist, or the Hollywood Ten. The two chapters on censorship deal exclusively with the control of sexual imagery and language in...
This movie is based on changing the lives of Mexican Americans by making a stand and challenging the authority. Even when the cops were against them the whole time and even with the brutal beatings they received within one of the walk out, they held on. They stuck to their guns and they proved their point. The main character was threatened by the school administrators, she was told if she went through with the walkout she would be expelled. While they wanted everyone who was going to graduate to simply look the other way, the students risked it all and gave it their all to make their voices
In Conclusion, Elia Kazan’s portrayal of a young savior attempting to bring justice to those that oppress and give a better life to those around him was done superbly. From a series of complex conflicts that broadened to much more than a mere death, to the sheer feelings he evokes through the use of characters and plot; Kazan created a critically acclaimed piece of art that tells a dark tale of one rising against a monopoly for the sake of those around him. This film shows his artistic prowess, and helps inspire new film makers daily: creating storytellers that can spin tales that hypnotize audiences for generations to come.
Although there were many concepts that were present within the movie, I choose to focus on two that I thought to be most important. The first is the realistic conflict theory. Our textbook defines this as, “the view that prejudice...
The 1947 film ‘Brighton Rock’, based on the 1938 Graham Greene novel of the same name, was one of the more controversial films of the time. Grenne worked on the adaptation of the novel, credited as co-writer of the screenplay. Greene is infamous for attacking popular culture and the social, political and economic systems of the time. Books such as ‘Brighton Rock’, ‘A Gun for Hire’ and ‘The Ministry of Fear’ can all be viewed as a commentary on the state of humanity, whereas the film adaptations of these books are more concerned with...
This American crime novel, turned film, covers the trying life journey of Vito Corleone and his family from his escape on a near attempt of his life and the death of his father, to his survival and the uprising of his family business in New York City. As the Corleone family tries to make a large business deal with another New York Crime family, the Roth family, things get complicated as Pentangeli who was what mobsters call a capo regime, or a high up employee of the gang, asked his boss (Michael Corleone) to help defend New York against the Rosato Brothers. Seeing as though, the Rosato brothers were associates of the Roth family and he didn’t want to mess up their business dealings, Michael refused and later had an assassination attempt on his life, in his own home. Later, Michael finds out that Roth is the one behind all of the attempts on him and his business’ life, but not before Roth figures out a well built plans to peg Michael on extortion with Pentangeli as the key w...
All in all, this film is the dark side of the American dream. Brian De Palma did an excellent job at creating memorable scenes, such as the scene earlier explained and the famous ending with Pacino reciting “Say hello to my little friend”. Throughout the film some confusion is made due to frequent slips but overall the theme is consistent and remains consistent with the help of a strong cast. Without a doubt Al Pacino was the main star of the film and it probably wouldn’t have been such a success if another star was assigned his character. It’s hard to see anyone else playing Tony Montana after Al Pacino’s performance. This film, though full of violence and crime, protrudes moments of humor and controversial situations. It’s a momentous film created in the 80’s that is still considered a classic gangster film in today’s generation.
The Godfather is the “dark-side of the American dream story” (Turan, pp2). The film follows the practices of a fictional Italian mafia family, the Corleone’s. Though most Americans do not condone the practices of the Italian mafia, they cannot deny that Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a cinematic masterpiece. This film gave insight to a mysterious way of life that the average person does not have knowledge of. As the audience is educated about the mafia they also are introduced to many stereotypes.
This film revolves around the world of an immigrant from Cuba by the name of Antonio “Tony” Montana. Along with his very close friend Manolo “Manny”, their goal is to live the American dream, which is to leave Cuba, relocate to America and become filthy rich. Tony’s mother and sister Gina are already in the States and currently residing in the state of Florida, where he plans to go and reunite with them. He eventually does and introduces Manny to the family. Right away Manny seems interested but keeps it to himself. They ultimately fulfill their goal, through organized crime, and are spoiled with wealth from an absurd steady income.
The movie tells the story of Serpico 's career during the 1960s. Serpico was uncomprisable and followed his own individual authentic belief of procedure. Serpico refused to join in on any form of police corruption.
Gran Torino is a fascinating film which projects racial prejudice and celebrates the journey in overcoming racism through the development of a personal relationship
The film by Eric Roth, has the view of a modern fiction story, which is very uncommon for the modern movies now a days. Tom Hanks plays the hero in this film. His character is a man with an IQ of 75, who during his life, between the years of 1950 and 1980, comes in contact with every major event in American history. And somehow he survives all of these events with only honesty and niceness.