Good Will Hunting

I finished watching Good Will Hunting, this movie was especially good to watch as you become engrossed in the movie with the struggle felt by many characters. The film itself was shot in Boston, which many can identify with as this is a working middle class. As mention in our textbook "The Art of Watching Films", this would actually be a good story film. According to the text, a good story is one that could be true as this movie Good Will Hunting does. A catholic boy could be born on the south side of Boston and be naturally gifted or genius, falling through the cracks of foster care and end up making something of himself. It featured suspense of whether Will will allow himself to become something other than a janitor, action in which the boys jump out and defend against an individual who is view in the film as the bully. Also how the film is a combination of simple and complex, Will being very smart which leads him to paths that would normally not be offered to any individual, but complex because of his upbringing and not allowing to become vulnerably through out the film until the end. Finally, the emotional material of the film was handle with restraint as in the scene where Will finally understands what Sean was talking with him about and hugging him and crying. Cutting it next scene and not having to go through the emotions that he might had to come to the realization of seeing his point of view as we had already experience it through the film. Another thing I like in the film is how people are divided into classes. A middle class, an elitist class, academic class, dumb class, etc. This relates to the article of Too Smart for their own Good? by Patrick McCormick in which he says that genius are portrayed with some sort of deficiency as Will Hunting had with being a genius yet being a clear adolescent. Will could not help but be mean, vindictive, and a bully as a child would harbor if in the same predicament as he was. In the article by Ziewacz, Lawrence E., "Holden Caulfield, Alex Portnoy, and Good Will Hunting: Coming of Age in American Films and Novels" it describes how Will struggles with his inner self to find his true self as a person who is scared to cope with reality from where he came from to what he has become. This is true in the movie as Will had a rough childhood and would fight to come out on top, which is seen throughout the movie as he has a problem with authority. Also how Will does not allow anyone to become very close with him, such as his girlfriend and psychiatrist until the ending, only after allowing himself to overcome this fear. The film was indeed a struggle between characters, characters with themselves such as the professor who wanted to become more than just his medal, the psychiatrist who wanted to become open once again after losing his wife after so many years, the genius who did not want to become more than middle class as he view himself and also the entire theme of the film where I thought it was that everyone has a inner person that continues to struggle from what their potential could be. I found myself watching this wanting to shake young Will up telling him to succumb to his emotions and find his greater potential. This struggle that was evident from the characters in the film, allowed me to become one of them just as our textbook mentions, and taking me to Boston as if I was one of them. One other thing I had notice in the film is how the city is condense sort of constricting, and in the final scene it shows Will driving off on a wide open road symbolizing a sense of freedom being captured.

Casablanca

I have never seen a black and white film, but tonight I was able to see one for the first time. I am glad that the movie "Casablanca" had that particular honor. In watching the opening scenes of the movie, I initially notice that this was set in a time of war with Nazi's and French armies. Then right after that the film shows a African American named Sam (Dooley Wilson) in the film, singing for an entire room full of Caucasians. Humphrey Bogart which many people have always referred as the leading man, makes his appearance. My initial impression of him was that of a hard ass, selfish, and very gentleman. In the article "Casablanca" by Ray Merlock, it was described that the movie in which it was adapted by had different lines with some foul language and situations. I truly enjoyed the movie without any foul language or indecent situations, taking me back to the age of innocence and romanticizing period of time. This movie if release in today's society would not be received well, just for the fact that a song is sung within it. But the song in the film is a highlight and well place with its meaning, showing how Bogart loneliness is visible kink in his armour of manliness. With the scene in which he is sitting in the dark, drinking with visible tears and Ingrid Bergman enters the room to explain why she didn't go with him. Another part of the film that I found interesting was that in which the Germans begin singing a song, and the french begin singing alongside overtaking the Germans. Afterwards the French celebrating to signify a victory over the Germans. I can see why this film is regarded as one of the all time best, as it has romance, suspense, and conflict which leads to people remembering the film as the article by Kathy Merlock Jackson and Jack Nachbar in Playing It Again and Again describe. This leads to the merchandising that people want, and reason as it why there are still black and white posters with Bogart and Bergman. Overall the film was a true work of art, and I have to say I am glad I seen the film and will see it again.