The Graduate

 Directed by Mike Nichols in 1967 The Graduate starts out weirdly awkward but becomes very alive and revives itself but at the end of the movie when it becomes a story about passionate young love the launches out from a very peculiar state of affairs.  The one feature that stuck with me throughout the movie and the way it was manipulated was sound. The majority of the emotions I felt or was manipulated into feeling was due to the choice in music (Simon and the Garfunkel) and management of it.

Use of sound features in creating sound perspective throughout the movie were very successful in helping feel and understand what Ben Brandon was feeling at times. I especially identified with Ben in the scene where his parent pressure him to show off the scuba suite they have bought for him. We begin with his father publicizing Ben’s birthday and showing him off. As his father tries to urge him to come out we see the use of diegetic sound used in a very creative way. Although we can see Ben’s father urging him to come out we can’t see Ben on screen but hear his voice as he tries to explain his reluctance. By doing this we as audience can relate to Ben and understand his humiliation and discomfort. We are further let into Ben’s world as he steps out and the camera angle switches to  POV followed by the exclusion of the ambient sound (in this scene it would be all the screaming and shouting coming from his parents and guests). We also clearly hear Ben's breathing gear as he inhales and exhales. The conjunction of all these features help us dive into Ben’s uncomfortable and helpless emotional state of mind.

My favorite feature of the way sound was used in the movie was the music used in sequence with certain scenes. Two parts of the movie that best exemplify this are, the pursuit scene all the way up to the church and the constant theme using two parts of the music by Simon and the Garfunkel.  During the pursuit scene the sounds are fast paced and loud through the entire pursuit sequence. The sound of Ben’s car is especially focused on and we notice this when he runs out of gas and clearly hear his car come to a sputtering stop. The music also winds down at this exact same moment. We get the feeling that all hope is lost as well as frustration seeing how the gas station had ironically asked him if he needed gas. The fast paced jumble begins once more when Ben decides to hoof it but comes to a dead stop once he arrives at the church.  We get a sense of the magnitude this situation hold because there almost no sound, we can’t help but get on the edge of our seats as an audience. The selective use of the song Ms. Robinson also plays a major role through the movie, expressing Ben’s feelings, whether he is in a relaxed state of mind enjoying himself or angry and unhappy. In scenes were Ben is in a positive state of mind we hear the pleasing and chorus of the song where as in other situations we sometimes only hear an instrumental that is slow paced and dreary.

Overall I was Surprised with full turn this movie made at the end. It was still awkward at times but mostly in a funny way. That fact that it made me feel unbearable awkward tell me what a superb movies it is. The fact that I was forced to feel those emotions o strongly says something about this movie!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Let me begin by saying Jack Nicholson kills it as Randle McMurphy! Although Jack Nicholson did a superb job of making us fall in love with his character no matter what he did, credit is really due to cinematographer Haskell Wexler. The lighting throughout the whole movie as well the lack of camera movement played a major role in the ambiance you feel as you watch everyone in their day to day actions.  

            What is it about McMurphy that makes you feel for him and agree with his every action therefore hopelessly appreciate him? Well to begin with we as an audience get a sense of the dreary, prison like setting the institution is with its creamy white walls, uniforms, barred window, barbed fences and to mention overcast weather whenever we’re outside. The factors that I just mentioned are all amplified with the brilliant manipulation of lighting courtesy of Wexler.  The harsh fluorescent lights mixed in with the dull creamy white lighting throughout the movie can’t help but make you feel zombie like, suppressed and queasy at the same time. The strict pattern everyone seems to follow only solidify these feelings. I also found it extremely interesting to learn that the camera barley moves (Writing Pro)! Everyone is always moving within the camera’s frame.  McMurphy’s jolly walk and constant observation of his surroundings is a blessing to see! He brings in life to this dull, uneasy setting and you temporarily overlook the surrounding and focus on his dialogue or those of the people around him. This change in setting and character allows you as an audience ads well as the patients to see the false dependency plus veiled dictatorship in the institution Nurse Ratched has created for everyone. The brilliance in the script also shines through McMurphy’s dialoge throughout the movie with his infamous one liners like “I'm a goddamn marvel of modern science” or “Get out of my way son, you're usin' my oxygen.”  After bringing so much life and excitement to these fellow patients it’s only a matter of time before it all spirals out of control (party night with all the patients) and harsh penalties are dealt out.

            As an audience we know that after pulling his last stunt with the party and attacking nurse Ratchetd, McMurphy is in for some trouble but the consequences that follow are still a shocker. We are lead to believe the he just might come walking through the door again with a stunt like he did before but instead  we are hit with a low blow and left with a heart wrenching scene with Chief. Lighting is fundamental in showing what’s happened to this rebellious leader as Chief embraces McMuprhy . The shadows cover McMuprhy’s face but a warm light reveals the scars from his lobotomy before he his lovingly put out of his misery.

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Bitch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid

I think it’s safe to assume you have an idea what this movie is about but just in case let me give you a quick synopsis: The Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) and Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) are a part of the Hole in the Wall Gang.  Butch is the brains behind the operation whereas the Sundance Kid is his very close friend and partner, not to mention a notoriously fast gunman. The movie follows their journey as Butch and the Sundance Kid break away from the rest of the gang due to their last operation where they end being chased by a group of the best lawmen and tracker.  Butch schemes up the idea that they head to Bolivia, so Sundance brings along his girlfriend Etta Place (Katharine Ross) and they head out to begin their new lives.

Now that’s put of the way let’s get down to my thoughts on the movie. I rate this movie an 8 on a one to ten scale. The chemistry between Paul Newman and Robert Redford is undeniable, the back and forth banter between the two is just flawless. You can’t help but get sucked into their comical friendship and feel like a part of the gang. The overall dialogue in the movie is superb even when the scene is serious. For example, when Etta agrees to come to Bolivia but lets the guys know “I’ll go with you, and I won't whine, and I'll sew your socks, and I'll stitch you when you're wounded, and I'll do anything you ask of me except one thing. I won't watch you die. I'll miss that scene if you don't mind” (Etta). It is easy to relate to Etta at this point and you know exactly where she comes and what she’s feeling. It’s also significant because later on she really does miss the “scene” the she dreads.

            When it comes to the cinematography and production design used, I cannot find a single scene that was not spot on. I especially fell in love with the way Butch’s face is lit when he sits at the campfire after killing for the first time. The pictorial lighting expresses the contemplation, sadness, and weariness and moral conflict he is having.  The first two opening scenes were also one of the best. They give us a looking into what each character is like before we even officially meet them. With Butch we get a look at his piercing eyes which are amplified by the sepia-tone and you can clearly see him thinking and planning as he looks around the bank, which speaks volumes about his character? The small line he gives when he asks the guard about the bank also gives us a looking to his witty side. With the Sundance Kid we see a serious cowboy, simply playing cards but of course he gets accused of cheating and it leads to a show down. We get the sense that he isn’t full of himself and want to quickly show off his skill but only defending himself.

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 Name is Mezmur. Welcome to where I tell you what I think of movies!