The Godfather: Part I (1972) Dir. Mario Puzo

The Godfather is an American gangster film based on the novel with the same name. It has received many awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, etc. The movie revolves around the word family and respect. The director emphasises how important family is to a mafia family by showing the introduction at the wedding ceremony of Vito’s daughter. This scene lasted for about thirty minutes of the film.

Michael Corleone, the son of Vito Corleone, has a clear character development. Of Vito’s children, he is certainly the best candidate to take over the family. But Michael was never supposed to get involved in the Mafia. Michael at the beginning of the film was so different to Michael at the ending. He was supposed to become a senator, maybe president. Even when he does begin working for his father, he doesn’t seem fully reconciled to the decision. He promises Kay before they marry that the family will become ‘legitimate’ soon.

Of the many Corleone women in the film, Kay is the only one who can never accept the Mafia way of life and is so against it. Others may fight it for a time, but all eventually give in. Kay moves in the opposite direction. In the movie, she does not agree to it, but neither does she even objects. Instead, she ignores reality, using her love for Michael as an excuse to avoid seeing the truth. But at the very end of the film, as the door to Michael’s office closes on her, we can sense the awakening of realisation.

Michael is concerned with legitimacy, while Vito cares more about respect. From the moment he takes over the Corleone family, Michael wants to make his family legitimate. By legitimate, he means free of criminality and immorality. He is also concerned with assimilation. He doesn’t want to kill, bribe, and extort, and he doesn’t want to make money through gambling, prostitution, and drug trafficking. He wants to be respected by American law and society. On the other hand, Vito’s concern, is with respect, rather than legitimacy. As a don, he requires respect from everyone around him, and people respect him out of fear and the desire for Vito’s favours. Respect is the key of a Mafia family ladder, with the top members, such as the don, receiving respect from everyone beneath him. Disrespect however, or even inadequate respect, is punished with death. Respect establishes powerful relationships and functions as a method of exchange. For Vito, showing proper respect by, kissing the don’s ring, exchanging favours, making requests politely are formal gestures that show respect. They are part of the order that keeps the social structure in place.

Slow paced and boring at some parts, i believe that this is one of my all time favourite film. I think all film students around the world should watch and learn from this movie. The ending shot of this movie is definitely one of m favourite scenes. When the camera dollies away from the mafia business room as Kay walks out, we can see people paying respect to the new godfather (Michael) by kissing on his don ring.

Unforgiven (1992) Dir. Clint Eastwood

Unforgiven is a modern western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood is playing William Munny, an ageing outlaw and killer who takes on one more job years after he had hung up his guns and turned to farming. The movie focusses on the character development of William, his partner Ned Logan who is the moral tie in this movie and the Schofield kid who represents the wild heart of a cowboy. As he is trying to raise two of his children, he however, does not really follow the moral code and chooses to kill anyone, whether it will be woman or children. After the death of his best close friend, Ned Logan, he becomes unstoppable and ends up killing countless amount of people. He was also under the influence of alcohol at most parts of the film as a sign of depression.

Parts of the character William Munny is influenced by a typical old western hero. He does not talk much throughout the movie and only speaks when necessary. He also does not connect to society as he is beaten up and thrown into the bar at his first appearance. Little Bill Daggett is the bad guy and also has different characteristics to typical western movies. As much as we can’t define that William is good or bad his character needs to be in control and his aim is to protect the town.

The movie title unforgiven has a lot to do with the storyline. No one is able to forgive each other and there are huge amounts of jealousy, all about revenge despite saying one simple word, sorry. At moments of the film might have slow pacing but Clint Eastwood is able to portray true emotions and detailed characteristics.

Syndromes and a Century (2006) Dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Syndromes and a Century is a indy Thai drama film that was band due to the inadequate activity of monks breaking principles of religion. Firstly, the name of the movie is already distinct. It is not the type of movie that we go to see in theatres as it is really confusing and complicated. This is what makes the movie so interesting and symbolic. When i watched this film for the first time, I had many questions that could not be answered.

The movie is divided into two parts, first taking place at a rural hospital and second taking place at a more civilised environment. Surprisingly, the two parts both have similar dialogue. The different locations motivates to characters to react differently. Like 2001: A Space Odyssey, the movie carries many symbolic elements that foreshadows the society today. In the first scene, the movie is clearly trying to suggest that people in the countryside are more affectionate that the people in the city. This is shown by the dentist and monk scene when the monk encourages the dentist to carry on his dreams on being a singer. Another scene is when the monk is not asking for prescription for himself, but for the others too. He also later offers an old chinese medicine to the doctor. We can also see at the scene when everybody was sitting outside enjoying nature and somebody was playing the guitar. No poisonous pollution for disturbance and everybody enjoying life and happy with the things they have.

The city hospital however, takes in these actions in totally different way. The lack of trust is clearly seen in this part. The monk is also trying to connect and make friends with the dentist, but however the dentist does not share his personal life with his clients. The dentist then tries to cover up the monk’s face with a safety cloth but then the monk immediately removes it from his face. It is clear that the monk does not trust the dentist. Sometimes getting to know about someone’s life or background is a contribute to trust. Also another scene, when the monk ask prescription for himself and his other friends at the temple, the doctor immediately confirms. He clearly does not care about others but to make a profit.

I guess this movies has many other ways to react to the symbolism. It is also a out the failure of relationships between the characters. There are no relationships in this movie that succeeds. There are also many use of empty spaces and the use of windows that make the atmosphere feel like its connected to nature.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Dir. Stanley Kubrick

2001: A Space Odyssey is a very unique movie. While other movies are all about focussing and building character development, this is more about symbolism and foreshadowing society. It is my opinion that after watching this film, different audiences would get different ideas. This movie was created during the time of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union on who would be the first to land on the moon. Back in the days, when access to technology was minimised, the realm of space was just a mere imagination.  Stanley Kubrick, however, imagined quite an accurate representation of space we know today. After viewing this movie several times, the only conclusion i was able to draw was that the movie is very long and boring. But after deep analysis, i realised that there are many hidden symbolisms depicting how the human evolution could have progressed even more than how it is today.

The first scene is the most symbolic scene that foreshadows society today. It starts of with apes living with peace and harmony until the discovery of weapons. They start to fight for food and resources and see who can benefit from who, much like how the world is revolving today. Another part of this movie about technology conquering mankind and the appearance of A.I (Artificial Intelligence). We have evolved today by using basic tools such as rocks and sticks back at times of cavemen. Now with the influence of technology, it had open many doors to new great opportunities for the world such as space travel.  The most notable technology in the film is the computer named HAL. It was built by human beings and they claim it to be the best and most stable computer that will never fail. This is the best example of technology that failed in the movie. In the end, Dave fights back and disconnects Hal.

In several parts of the movie, the the monolith randomly appears. It is believed that it is a sign from god which tries to re-direct how we should live like those innocent apes that appeared in the beginning of the film. In the last scene of this film when Dave appears in the bedroom, there are several cuts that show Dave young and to an old man. This may symbolise the circle of life for humans, you are born, you live, and you die.

Le Samouraï (1967) Dir. Jean-Pierre Melville

Le Samurai is a 1967 french minimalist crime drama film that revolves around the key term trust. Trusting people outside other than yourself. The main character, Jef Costello, is on an assassination mission to kill but then gets betrayed by the gangster and nearly finding himself killed. He is caught by the police being one of the suspect of the murder. At this point of the film the gangster is also after him in order to protect themselves and also the police is after him for the crime.

Freedom was also a major concept of this film and the pet bird inside of Jef’s apartment symbolises this matter. Jef was no longer trusted by the club owner, so he was no longer a free man. He had the feeling that everyone in town was after him so he was trapped like the bird in his room. The bird also played a positive character towards Jef, he noticed the bird was frightened when the detectives intruded his apartment in order to plant the bugs. Jef Costello is definitely inspired by a western hero stereotype. He does not bond with society and prefers to be alone. He does not speak much, only when he has to and is good at what he does, killing. Most of the time in the movie he is emotionless and does not react to anything.

In the end, Jef finally realises that he cannot trust anyone and also cannot win and the only thing left that he can do is surrender.He strictly follows the moral code by not killing an innocent civilian. He shows up at the club where the murder was taken place which then he was killed.

This movie in my opinion is very good, it foreshadows real life society which you cannot truly trust anyone. It is about betrayal and people taking advantage on you.

Los Cronocrímenes (2007) Dir. Nacho Vigalondo

Los Cronocrímenes or in english, Time Crimes, is a low budget spanish science fiction film. It is about a man, Hector, travelling back in time twice in order to correct the mistakes in the past. In the beginning scene, Hector is allured by the sexually exposed woman that he discovered with his binoculars in his back garden. This part is already breaking the moral code as he is already married and so he goes to find this woman. This is his biggest mistake in his life which he later tries to correct this behaviour through the story. As he travels back in time, he creates many versions of himself, Hector 2, 3 and 4 and they get more violent as they keep making more copies. Hector 1 himself was only looking at the woman’s naked body,while hector 2 tells the woman to take off her clothes. He finds himself in a cycle of actions in which he cannot escape. The last Hector that we see in the film ends up killing the woman in order to save his wife.

The naked in the story is clearly the most innocent character. She is sympathetic and thoughtful as she tries to help Hector when he has a car accident. She doesn’t get put off by the strange terrifying bandage that is wrapped around Hector’s head. Her appearance for her in the movie was just so that Hector could abuse her.

The scientist in the laboratory was the one responsible for the fault of time travelling. He wanted to operate the machine alone himself so he decided to come on saturday with the absence of his co-workers. Instead of stopping Hector to travel back in time, he is naive and easily gets talked out of which results in the number of copies of Hector.

In my opinion this movie is very good and shows clearly how sci-fi doesn’t require that amount of budget. Film students or beginner film-makers around the world should be inspired by this film. There is a clear symbolism of science in the world. AS science today is already killing religion, sometimes science is bad influence on mankind and could turn humans into evil. In addition, as the success of this film, they are making a re-make of this and already announced that its debut will be in the year 2011. We will then see with the more amount of budget, will it make the movie even more successful.

High Noon (1952) Dir. Fred Zinnemann

High Noon is an American western movie starring the famous Garry Cooper and Grace Kelly. The movie is in real time which an interesting technique used. At the beginning scene we see the main character, Marshal Will Kane getting married ready to settle down and live a new life away from his profession. Kane then is forced to face a big decision of wether to choose his job or his wife. Unlike other western heroes he chooses to live in the town so that he is able to protect it. Kane then finds himself in a position of conflict with the town as they don’t understand his thinking and understanding. The killers are coming back in the town in order to kill Kane. He has to fight them without any help from the town even without support from his wife. To help emphasise this moment the camera is put on a crane and zooms away from Kane leaving him alone.

Amy who is Kane’s wife plays an important part in the film. She has a strict moral code against killing whilst Kane’s moral code is strongly to stick with his profession and kill the bad guys in order to keep the town in peace. She has a free spirit and stands up for herself by threatening Kane if he stays with the job she will leave him. As much as she wants to go, she still loves her husband and she hears the gun shot, she comes in searching for her husband.

The law is also the key of the mistake in the movie. The lack of success in the law is what puts Kane and the town in danger. Frank Miller the bad guy, should of been hang 5 years ago for murdering. The lawyer decides to let him free as they were not aware of the consequences of letting them free and leaves the town as soon as the bad guys arrive. Will realises how weak the law is and so he ends up giving up his job and settling down with his wife during the ending.

In my Opinion, High Noon isn’t my favourate western movie but I do respect how the directer has constructed detailed characters in order to create a symbolic storyline.

Halloween (1978) Dir. John Carpenter

Halloween is a 1978 American horror film directed and produced by John Carpenter. This film includes many concepts of the horror genre which surely petrified the audiences. At the first scene, we get to see a point of view shot of the killer, Michael, killing his 15 year old sister. This was a very effective technique to add tension as the screen wasn’t fully exposed to the viewer. We don’t see the face of the killer but only the targeted enemy being stabbed to death. This movie is also strongly related to sexual behaviour of the characters. The characters are usually teenagers and who ever gets naked on screen will eventually get punished by death from the killer. It is those who are sexually active will get killed by the killer as it is his own solution to punishing this behaviour.

Laurie, who has the leading role in the film, is far different from her friends. This is the reason why she was the only one that survived. She is not sexual exposed, compared to her friends, and her main goal is baby sitting and schooling. She has such mother-like characteristics and also very smart. Although she gets pushed around by her friends, she is happy with the way she is. But when she eventually falls for her friend’s world, she also gets chased by the killer.

Michael, the killer, has very complex characteristics. He happens to be closer to the machine side than to human. He is emotionless and all times of the movie and behind a mask which we do not see humanity. The killer is the strongest character in the film, he cannot be defeated. As evil is here to stay in the world, Michael represents evil that the world carries which can never be defeated.

The music also played an effective role in this movie to help create tension. It was repeating continuously every time the appearance of the killer. We also hear breathing sounds of the killer which also added creepiness to the mood.

Overall this movie has created a legacy in the in the horror genre history being one of the first to be unique. It had reference movies like ‘Psycho’ by Alfred Hitchcock and ‘Rear Window’ by Orson Welles. Clearly a lot of movies today has been inspired by this movie.

Blood Simple (1984) Dir. Coen Brothers

Blood Simple is a very unique crime drama film compared to others. It is constructed with characters that are not too professional in their field of work. Ray’s biggest deed that he is carrying throughout the movie is that he is having an affair with a married woman, Abby. He does not follow to rules of society and deserves to punished with death. Ray always find himself covering for Abby when he finds the dead body of Marty, as he is too attached to her. He is inspired from a western hero stereotype. Abby plays a very strong character and probably the strongest character in the movie as she loses everything she has in the end. She is married to a rich man that is ready to settle down, but she choses to destroy this relationship and sleep with another man. She is responsible for the death of Ray and Marty. Marty has one of the weakest characteristic in this movie. Although he likes to have a professional mafia/gangster look, deep inside he is very weak. He throws up constantly during the movie, loses a physical fight with his wife and likes to order milk at the bar. He pays private detective to do the dirty work for him as a sign of weakness. Detective Loren has unique characteristics. He clearly doesn’t take life seriously, crazy at some times and certainly not a stable person. He fails to do the job he was payed to so he kills Marty when he was confronted.

Apart from the unprofessional characters, there are many signs of symbolism in the movie. The scene when Ray and Marty talk outside of the bar, the directed deliberately chose the particular background. The background of Ray was someone throwing away rubbish into the fire, and for Marty was an electric insect trap. This both symbolises death and shows that one point in this film, these two characters will eventually die. There are also a number of ceiling fan shots and then panning to the characters using graphic matching. This symbolises the circle of life and also the emptiness sound of the propellers slicing the atmosphere. There are also a number of props used in this film. Many scenes where ended on a close up on Loren’s lighter that he received as being ‘The Man of the Year’. It was the prop that forced Loren to come back to the bar which lead the story to a different way. It was covered with a bunch of dead fish which represented death in a very mafia-style way. Perhaps it was inspired from the movie ‘The Godfather’.

In my opinion this movie is really effective for film students like us as we can learn many things from this and adapt them to our studies. The cinematography is also very good and very detailed characters.

Man Push Cart (2006) Dir. Ramin Bahrani

Man Push Cart is a movie that revolves around an ordinary man who is trying to find a living. In the film we discover a clear character development of Ahmad, a poor Pakistani living on the streets of New York selling bagels and coffee in a vender. However, he gets offered with all the chances but ironically rejects or fails to cherish them. Throughout the movie there is not a lot of dialogue and the emotions and feelings are all expressed by action. We find out through the movie that Ahmad is really poor and craving for money in order to survive. He has to push his own cart through the streets while the others might have a car. We also discover how small and unhygienic his environment at the apartment that he barely has money to pay the rent. As an audience we want to find out more about this character and how he ended up this way.

This movie is created with so many hidden symbols that help show the life of Ahmad. He spends his days trapped around a cart box rejecting all the chances of being free. We find out that his wife died and the cart that he spends his life in reminds himself of her and the sticker of a dinosaur that he kept since she was alive. The cat that appears in the film symbolises the conclusion of his life and Ahmad himself. Ahmad takes the cat and puts it in a box just like how he is stuck in a cart himself. Although the cat tries to jump out in reach for freedom just like how Ahmad was given the chance to be free, he puts the cat back into the box. Later on the cat finally dies which is a hint to Ahmad if he continues to stay in the box, he will eventually die alone too. The gas tank that he likes to carry around to every place he goes even outside of working hours symbolises the trouble and problems he has in his life also connected to his wife. The cart also symbolises the happy memories that he had with his wife which also gets stolen. The reason of it being stolen was to test if Ahmad will forget the past or not. He also was given chances to start a new life with Noemi enters his life and also business-wise with Mohammad. Ahmad clearly cannot forget the past and live with present instead, he chooses to live with the past.

The story clearly shows the detailed life of an American immigrant who struggles to live and face the world. It is constructed with a number of simple shots and not so much dialogue. Personally i do like this movie as we can learn many things from it.