Literature in Film #3: To Kill a Mockingbird

I've never read To Kill a Mockingbird nor have I ever seen the movie, until now. Watching it for the first time, I realized that the story line seemed very familiar to me. I enjoyed the conflicts in the movie such as the conviction of a possible rapist and many acts of prejudice. On top of all of the stories' plot, what really stood out to me (as always) was the way in which this movie was brought together. Again, I was always focused on the cinematography of the movie, all the shots that created lots of emotion throughout, and the lighting for each shot. The cinematographer of To Kill a Mockingbird, Russell Harlan, used a variety of black and white shots for each scene. The most common shot that was displayed was either high or low close-up shots. I find this to be very interesting because these types of shots that include angles portray characteristic feelings or powers. For example, a low angle of a person makes them look bigger, stronger, and powerful whereas a person who is filmed from a high angle does the complete opposite, making them look small and weak. As for lighting, Harlan also used a variety of lighting techniques. For some scenes that were more romantic and included intimacy, he used a soft and darker light. For scenes that were more intense and essential (such as the courtroom scene), he made the lighting brighter with more shadows. Music played a huge role in this movie, always building emotion and feeling for each scene. Sad music would play when an emotional scene would take place. Fast and loud music would start playing for more suspenseful scenes.

After watching this movie and focusing on all of these elements, I got a better understanding of how a great movie is made. Without all of these aspects, the movie wouldn't be captivating and interesting for the viewers. Everything in a movie, for the most part, was planned and has a reason as to why it was included.

Literature in Film #2: Precious

I really enjoyed watching Precious. Not only because I started to feel a connection with Precious, but also because I appreciated everything that made up the film such as camera angles, emotions, and lighting.  Though, there were many scenes that were extremely intense for me to watch, the relationship between the plot and cinematography of the movie stood out to me the most. During the movie, from beginning to end, the storyline focused on Precious and the horrible life that she was given. There were many scenes that highlighted the very violent moments in Precious' life. While watching these appalling events that were occurring, I felt a mixed of emotions. That, in which, was definitely the director's (Lee Daniels) goal.

As the plot mainly focused on the life of Precious, the struggles she must overcome, and the barriers that constantly stood in her way, the cinematography throughout the movie held these diverse and different emotions that each viewer felt while watching. I couldn't help but closely analyze all of the camera angles, levels, and movement that certainly portrayed all of these emotions. I noticed that the cinematographer used lots of close up shots of Precious to depict and portray a sad and sorrowful feeling. The lighting for many of the scenes were more dark than bright, overall representing a sad emotion for both the plot and the viewers to feel. Despite the plot's sadness, Lee Daniels frequently incorporated humor into the film as well! The humorous aspects in Precious kept me engaged, always wanted to learn more. Along with engagement, I noticed that the camera never seemed to stay completely still. There was always a constant but steady motion of swaying back and forth or zooming in and out that I absolutely loved! This camera movement was always changing the focal point of the scene, furthermore, developing new objects to look at; always making the frame more interesting and appealing for the viewers.

Yes, the movie was very sad, but these enlightening moments gave me hope for both Precious and her life.

Literature in Film #1: Pulp Fiction

(Decided to write about Pulp Fiction b/c I was absent)

Over this past weekend I watched Pulp Fiction for the very first time. The beginning of the film was super straightforward and started out pretty suspenseful. This beginning scene foreshadowed the very ending scene, using the same characters and the same exact actions. Throughout the whole movie, director Quentin Tarantino included many montages of a few different story lines. Each montage represented a puzzle piece in the movie that all came together at the end. Within this gangster, humorous, violent film, one of the main characters, Jules, plays a huge role. What really caught my attention was specific dialogue that Jules would say before he was about to kill his victim.The very first time in the movie when jules states this dialogue, it symbolizes power. Saying these lines from the Bible is a source of power in which Jules believes that this will save his good morals. Killing is a horrible thing and a cruel sin. Knowing this, by stating lines from the Bible, Jules believes that it will save him from the negative things that may happen to him. The most interesting meaning of these lines is created at the end. In the last scene when Jules is in a horrible position of death and getting ready to kill someone (Ringo) , he analysis the use of the Bible lines.

"'The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."'

"'See now I'm thinkin', maybe it means you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And Mr. 9 Milimeter here, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or it could mean you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd and it's the world that's evil and selfish. Now, I'd like that. But that shit ain't the truth."'

Jules realizes that he is the evil one. In the past, he has murdered so many people without even thinking about it. He has used the previous Bible lines to cover up his wrong doings. At this point in the movie, he knows that he must change for the better. Jules wants to believe that his victims are all evil, but it's actually the other way around. He has the power to kill anyone he wants, making him the most evil character. Jules transitions into a different mindset when he lets Ringo go with the money that he wanted to steal from the restaurant.

I love the ending because it is also the beginning of the movie. As viewers, we were left hanging in the beginning of the movie, only being showed two characters (Ringo and his girlfriend) who put a restaurant on lock-down in order to rob everyone. At the end, this scene comes together and we leave on a good note. The overall message to Pulp Fiction is established through this recurring scene, do what's right.