Feature Posts
This is the place to make connections between the films I encounter...
they may be more similar than meets the eye.
they may be more similar than meets the eye.
Unseen, Unpeopled, or Underwhelming It's up to you to decide. Baby Doll, Days of Heaven, The Assassination of Jesse James, and A Most Violent Year are all very different movies. However, they can be categorized under three factions that end up having the same effect on the audience. Each of these films has a plot that seems under-developed or extremely simplistic, providing a unique twist on how people can tell a story, and how the audience interprets it. The UnseenIn Baby Doll, Elia Kazan (director) and Boris Kaufman (Cinematographer) make it a point to push the envelope of censorship while somehow remaining within the boundaries of the 1950's regulation.
flirtatious and adds to the depth of the character development, even when the action is happened off-screen and unseen: it's simply implied, and lets the imagination wander. Now, when it comes to the plot, a simple love triangle forms throughout the initial spiteful act of Archie towards Silva's business (which also occurs off-screen) and he wants revenge. Baby Doll becomes thrown in the midst of all the pettiness. There really isn't anything very profound about the story line, but the way it is told is what creates the art within this feature. By utilizing such a unique, mysterious way to maneuver around censorship, Kazan created a provocatively fascinating film that lacks the showing, yet tastefully improves the understanding and interest. The Unpeopled
Viewers do not see exactly how everything unfolds, we are just giving bits of conversations and how people interact with the land, and we are given the opportunity to interpret the rest. Both of these films leave it up to the audience, just in different approaches in doing so. The UnderwhlemingThis scene provides an intensely emotional and powerful climax of the film: The close ups on the faces, the slow, heart wrenching music in the background, a soft natural light shining pale against their tired complexions - all creating a beautiful scene. As an audience member you can't help but become flooded with all the emotion that was built throughout the previous two hours, even though you knew for the past two hours that this was going to happen all along. So what is left for the audience to be surprised by? What do they have left to wonder? We are given all the answers to the straightforward plot in the title of the film, yet we are left with so many questions after the completion of this sequence: Why did Jesse let Bob shoot him? How did Bob get the courage to do it, or is he a coward for it? So many other curiosities arrive because the dialogue is kept to a minimum throughout the story, and lack of explanation for the anchor of the plot leaves it up to the audience for interpretation, just as Baby Doll and Days of Heaven make the audience work. This scene also stands as a climactic turning point for A Most Violent Year. By the name of the title, one would presume that this movie is up to its' neck in gore. On the contrary, protagonist Abel Morales tries avoiding the violence that surrounds him at all costs. Other than abiding by a strict moral code, the audience is never truly exposed to why he takes this route when every other facet of his company and industry seems to be taking the non-peaceful approach. During this scene, the audience becomes on edge about whether or not Abel will fold under the pressures of his environment in New York City crime or if he will continue on the righteous path that he strides on for the previous scenes. With the nerves and anticipation built high as Morales holds a gun to the thief's left eye, the tension of the scene is released as Abel retracts his gun and frees the man under his grasp. This is not to say that this scene dissatisfies viewers in any way, but it does fit the underwhelming category. There are a few scenes of intense action in this film, but in accordance with the title, not as many as anticipated - with good reason as well when analyzing the intent of Chandler (director). This is by far the most intense scene out of the whole movie. Now, we question, why did he let him go? What happens to his business? When he gets everything and Julian is left with nothing, how does this effect Abel's conscience? Much like the films mentioned above, the ambiguity plays a huge role in audience interaction and interpretation. We are required to do some filling in and ask questions. Final ThoughtsAll of these films are trying to reach the same goal. Different techniques are used to achieve goals differently. Whether it be through lack of visuals,
lack of human attachment, or lack of expectations, the overall sentiment of lacking information can provide so much more for spectators than if they had it handed to them.
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