The Wicker Man (1973) directed by Robin Hardy, stars Edward Woodward as Sergeant Neil Howie a policeman who is lured to Summerisle in order to help investigate the disappearance of Rowan Morrison, a young girl who has been missing for quite some time. However, this isn’t a typical detective story, the island Sergeant Howie finds himself in is unlike any other. The film quickly turns into a horror film thanks to the events that happen in the island and the kind of people who inhabit it. Sergeant Howie’s trip to the island begins with him investigating the disappearance of a young girl to finding himself at the center of this unusual place. He will soon find that he got more than he bargained for. The film opens with shots of an airplane, …show more content…
Sergeant Howie notices that last year’s photo is missing to which the landlord replies with, “Mm, it got broke” and then changes the subject by informing him that his supper is ready. After his supper, Howie takes a walk outside and sees couples copulating out in the open, which disgusts him and he quickly runs up to his room. There, he kneels down and begins to pray. While he’s praying, he thinks back to the holy communion he took part of and the words that he spoke during the service. This scene reveals that Sergeant Howie is a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ and aspires to follow his ways. While he’s praying, he’s interrupted by Willow, the landlord’s daughter, who begins to dance naked and sing along to the music that is being played downstairs. Her room is next to his room and as she’s dancing, she bangs her hand on his door trying to seduce him. Sergeant Howie opens his door for a brief moment but resists temptation. The next morning, Willow speaks with him and asks him why he didn’t come over last night to be with her and he reveals to her that he is a virgin who wants to wait until marriage. She then tells him that he wouldn’t want to be around May Day then based on his religion indicating that the inhabitants of the island practice a sort of different religion, Paganism. Later on, Sergeant …show more content…
Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee’s performances as Sergeant Howie and Lord Summerisle respectively, help bring Anthony Shaffer’s script to life and add to eeriness the film gives audiences. Not to mention the giant wicker man at the end where Sergeant Howie
Zwick’s choice of characters greatly contributed to the success of Glory. Matthew Broderick was an interesting choice to play the lead role of Colonel Shaw and many film critics criticized Zwick’s choice of Broderick. Broderick’s resume included films such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and War Games. In these movies he was better known as a teen rebel rather than a serious actor. This role gave Broderick the opportunity to extend his range and add to his resume. It was the acting of Broderick that laid the groundwork upon which the rest of the film could be constructed.
One of the main products of this movie that popped out to me was the stars. They all seemed to be great actors even though I only knew one of them. For example, I thought that Ian Michael Smith did a great job portraying Simon Birch. He made the movie cute and funny all at once. I also thought that Joseph Mazello did a great job portraying relatable feelings in the movie. You could tell by his facial expressions what his mood was. All the actors did a great job and I can’t pinpoint one of them who did worse than the
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)
The actors delivered and performed their roles extremely well and made each character come to life. Jenny Bettke, actor who portrays the role of Officer Randy Osteen, gave a very believable performance of an officer that felt she wanted more for herself rather than just being a police like the rest of her family. Another aspect of her performance that was very convincing was her character’s fondness of Arthur P., Bettke’s convinced the audience through her acting that she had strong feelings for him and could possibly see them together. Joel Watson took on his role of Franco Wicks, and he brought life not only to his character but upon the entire stage. Watson’s acting helped the troubled young man he portrayed seem very high on life, enthusiastic, compassionate, and optimistic. Watson seems to identify closely with his character through internal and external acting approaches. Characters that I were not too fond of were Superior Donuts’ old and currents owners, Arthur P. and Max Tarasov. Max Tarasov, depicted by actor Fadi Magdi, stopped at nothing to get ownership of Superior Donuts and at some parts in the play became pesky. Arthur P. came off as depressing because he was either confused, hiding something, or not fighting for something he wanted. Although Niklas Abbing gave a great performance as Arthur P., I did not agree with many decisions, such as selling the shop, that the character made throughout the duration of the play.
In this paper I will argue that understanding the context of a film is vital for a more in-depth understanding of it and I will accomplish this through a deep analysis of the following films: Flowers of War, Edge of Heaven, Battleship Potemkin, and the Big Heat.
movie that is loosely based on historic events in Scotland. All the performances were great
Film adaptations of literature tend to have a bad reputation. As Brian McFarlane observes in “It Wasn't Like That in the Book...”, viewers are more likely to come out of a theater after viewing an adaptation griping about what was different or better in the book than by commenting about the film in its own right (McFarlane 6). It is rare for such films to be judged as films in their own right, and often viewers aren't looking for an adaptation inspired by the novel, but rather a completely faithful representation of the original work, in film form. However, not only is this not always possible due to time limitations, but it also overlooks all of the things possible in film that are impossible on the written page. Wendy Everett points out in “Reframing Adaptation”, that film is much more than just plot and simple narrative, with filmmakers being able to utilize “ the rhythms and nuances of the dialogue, of course, but also the film's visual images and cadences, the camera’s angels and rhythms, and the internal dynamic between and within each shot” in their storytelling (Everett 153). While literature is bound to the printed word, film is capable of creating an entire visual and audible world in which a story unfolds.
Very often, historical films offer some level of realness, yet they lack the historical accuracy. This film exemplified the real life effects at the time, in a creative manner, while maintaining the iconic factor that modern movies require, in order keeping interest. There isn’t a sort of manipulation to alter the vibe of the film. What’s meant to be serious is serious. What’s meant to be sad is sad. If something is funny, it is funny. There isn’t a force of emotion, as Zwick leaves all emotional connect to the hands of the viewer.
The movie's protagonist is Mel Gibson playing the role of Benjamin Martin. Benjamin Martin is a South Carolina planter who is still haunted by his notoriously brutal past as a soldier in the French and Indian War. When the American Revolution comes, he chooses not to fight for the Continental Army because he wants to protect his family. But when the British Colonel Tavington threatens their welfare and kills one of his sons, he chooses to enlist.
I could see how Harold Hill’s tactic changed from something along the lines of ‘to deceive’ to ‘to woo’ around the song “The sadder but wiser girl”. Marian Paroo’s tactic also changes from ‘to avoid’ to ‘to love’ around “My white Knight”. These actors also projected extremely well, as I could hear everything being said. They articulated well too, which I believe must be hard for them as every character had a southern accent. The actors easily incorporated their character’s goals into their acting and onstage
Fraser and his family in great fight scenes that include great special effects. With the days
Characterisation is vastly different in the film when compared to the play. This, however, is done so as to make more sense to a modern
The movie gives a good view of the essence of the 1973 rock scene and all the characters are well-acted and engaging. All of them are introduced to the viewer, which is a structure created in the movie. William, played by Patrick Fugit, plays his role well as a naive boy in the seventies.
...n (Director) mistakenly seems to believe can carry the whole film. On the strength "based on a true story", he has rejected attention-grabbing characters, an imaginative plot, and unforgettable villains.
Leitch, Thomas M. Film Adaptation and Its Discontents: From Gone with the Wind to The