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Appreciating Cinema

Appreciating Cinema. Hohhot2012a.weebly.com Gangster films The Godfather (1972). Appreciating Cinema. Mid-term exam 10% Assignments 40% Final exam 50% 11 Assignments. Top 10 considered. 4% each. 50% is the base mark… The goal: to learn to use the English language

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Appreciating Cinema

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  1. Appreciating Cinema Hohhot2012a.weebly.com Gangster films The Godfather (1972)

  2. Appreciating Cinema • Mid-term exam 10% • Assignments 40% • Final exam 50% 11 Assignments. Top 10 considered. 4% each.50% is the base mark… The goal: to learn to use the English language • Extra Class on Tuesday Dec. 25th, 7pm

  3. Appreciating Cinema • The English Patient assignment due on Dec. 10th • The Godfather, “Seven” assignments due Dec. 17th • Apocalypse Now assignment due Dec. 24th • The Shining assignment due Dec. 25th • 2001: A Space Odyssey. No assignment

  4. Appreciating Cinema • If you did not put your student number on an assignment, please do so, and hand them back in for marks.

  5. Gangster movies Other Gangster movies: • Little Caesar (1930) • Scarface: Shame of a Nation (1931) • On the waterfront (1954)

  6. Gangster movies The Gangster is a tragic hero. He came from the 1880s immigrants to America who came from Street Gangs (France), political activism (Ireland), and the Mafia (Italy) - A product of the 1920s and 1930s when bootlegging was highly profitable, and the depression made crime a way of life.

  7. Gangster movies America started with Puritan values: co-operation, shared land … Then with immigration, the Gospel Of Wealth developed where everyone was to work hard and aim for success. Everyone was thought to be able to climb from a poverty to wealth. Gangsters gaid wealth by crime.

  8. Gangster movies The “robber barons” were the very rich industrialists of the early 1900s. The Gangsters also aimed for profits at all costs, and did not value friends. However, Gangsters were not included in respectable society.

  9. Gangster movies The theme is a moral tale, and a tragedy. By illegal means he is able to be very successful. But it is short-lived, and he is brought to justice and/or killed. He has lost everything of value: love, friendship, respect, peace and all moral values.

  10. Gangster movies In America, the Pursuit of Happiness is very important and the Gangster tries and fails to find happiness. Success can often produces hatred in others. For Gangsters, this can lead to their downfall.

  11. The Godfather It is considered to be the greatest of all Gangster movies. “Godfather” means a man who is supposed to help raise the child in moral and spiritual ways. The movie changes a gangster from a “lowlife thug” into a complex person.

  12. The Godfather - summary Don Corleone (the Godfather) is receiving visitors on the day of his daughter’s wedding. He must accept each request according to tradition. Sollozzo, a Turkish drug trafficker, wants Don to work with him. Don turns him down. His business is gambling and prostitution.

  13. The Godfather - summary There are 5 main Mafia families in New York City. Barzini and Sollozzo try to assassinate Don C. He survives and is in the hospital. A second attempt on his life is about to be made, but his son Michael thwarts it. Michael has never been a part of crime before. But he is now motivated to meet with Sollozzo and a corrupt Police Chief, and kills them both.

  14. The Godfather - summary Michael flees to Sicily (Italy). His elder brother, Sonny, takes over family business and is later killed. Michael is married in Sicily, but his wife is killed by people trying to kill him. After a few years, Michael returns to the USA and takes over as the new Godfather. His father dies while playing with his grandson.

  15. The Godfather - summary Michael discovers his true enemy is Barzini and kills him and the traitors within his own family. His family accept him as the new Godfather, but his wife is kept in the dark.

  16. The Godfather - Genre The film has the standard Gangster qualities: • Morality tale • Documentary style • Pursuit of success • Tragic narrative • And original story

  17. The Godfather - Genre It is similar to the story of King Lear. The Godfather has three sons. His first son is a drunk and not competent, the second son is strong but too emotional and impetuous. The third son is the only possible heir, but he does not want a life of crime.

  18. The Godfather - Genre Michael’s story is equally tragic. He has great potential, but due to his love for his father, he murders two men, loses his values and loses all that is important in life. Like his father, he tries to make his family business legal, but fails.

  19. The Godfather - Genre The theme: Whatever your good desires, and however much money you earn, crime will entrap you and destroy your life. The characters are not pure evil. They are like all people – a mixture of emotions, ambitions and weaknesses.

  20. The Godfather - characters The Hero. Don Corleone and Michael. The love interest – Michael’s first and second wives. The Antagonist – Barzini, Moe Green, Sollozzo. Support person – The extended Family

  21. The Godfather - characters Don Corleone is played by Marlon Brando and is a good example of “method acting”. He spent time with actual Mafia bosses, and lived “in character” while filming the movie. Brando captures the aura of understated power. He pauses and mumbles like an old man.

  22. The Godfather – the plot America has a commitment to “happiness”, and this makes it more sad when there is tragedy in life. The hero may have pride or poor judgment. His enemies may take retribution, and he will suffer. The audience experiences catharsis because they have experiences the same things, but have not made such a bad mistake.

  23. The Godfather - style Most of the film flows continuously, except at the end there is a montage of scenes. Some religious piety, and others of Michael’s enemies being killed. The murders are rationalized as “business” and not “personal”. But Michael has become a hypocrite. His actions and beliefs are not compatible.

  24. The Godfather - style OTOH, Michael has become a “godfather” to a child, and at the same time has become the “Godfather” of the Mafia family. The film ends with his wife Kay being lied to, and then is distant from Michael as he is honored by the family.

  25. The Godfather - perspectives The Mafia comes from Sicily and is secret and criminal. It keeps no written records, and does not claim its actions (murders). Although seeking wealth, the people live a simple life. Although claiming Christian values, they also are criminals. Don C. likes the power, but is also a man of self-restraint.

  26. The Godfather - perspectives Don C. is focused on “business” but looks for respect more than money. He is shocked an offer of money for a murder. He feels disrespect. It may be a mirror of American society where there are “business ethics” and “personal ethics”.

  27. The Godfather - perspectives A critic of America: • Of the American government / police • Of the “American dream” • Of America’s future 1. In the 1970s there was a distrust of government. The gov’t lied and some were corrupt and took bribes.

  28. The Godfather - perspectives • If the gov’t kills people (wartime) then the Mafia can kill people too • The opening scene tells of a man who believed in America, but did not get justice from the courts.However, it is possible to rise from being poor to wealth, but often it is the result of crimes and cheating.

  29. The Godfather - perspectives 3. Michael is similar to America. Both come from Europe and want to make a clean start. Both get caught in crime, murders and lies. Both explain it away as “only business”.

  30. The Godfather - perspectives Mafia “In” Criminal, Old World, Tradition, Private, Italian, Family, Blood relatives, Men, Community, Revenge, Gangsters Non-Mafia “Out” Legal, New World, Modern, Public, American/English, Society, In-laws, Women, Individual, Legal, Police

  31. The Godfather - perspectives 1.Don C. giving out favors 1:30 – 7.00 2.Saying No to Sollozzo 36.00 – 39.00 3.Shooting of Don C 45.00 – 46.00 4.Michael’s defense of Don C 1.02.00 – 1.10.00 5.Michael kills 2 1.24.30 – 1.30.00 6.Michael in Sicily 1.37.30 – 1.43.00 7.Sonny is killed 1.56.00 – 1.59.00 8.Michael returns and takes over 2.14.00 -- 9.Don C dies 2.28 – 2.32 10.Michael discovers his true enemy and kills them all 2.35 -- 11.Kay is distant from Michael 2.50 --

  32. How to review a movie • Characters (4 types, motivation, conflict, growth) • Plot (a basic story type?, 3 acts, subplots, restricted narration?, momentum) • Style (setting, shots, sound, lights, symbols)

  33. Assignments • Assignments that are copied = 5/10 • Assignments handed in one week late = 75% off

  34. Next week’s assignment Write a paragraph or two about this week’s movie. You may talk about the plot, setting, characters, narrative, genre, style, and what you learned from the movie.

  35. Next Week’s movies Movies shown at 6pm Sat. & Sun. night?

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