The Godfather

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1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The always remember able film, the Godfather, was directed in 1972 by Francis Ford Coppola. This anti-hero film was nominated 11 times; however, only ended up winning 3 awards: best picture, best actor, and best adapted screenplay. Many themes all screamed though the screen while watching this film. The theme of family and family values was huge. The main characters were from the Corleone family whose first priority was protecting themselves and those they loved. In result of the film, it revised the Gangster Genre. After The Godfather came out hit series and films like Good fellas and the Sopranos rocked the media. Still to this day, the Godfather is one of the highest grossing films of all time. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

This article summarizes the violence, loyalty, family values, and love that played apart in the film the Godfather. Originally, the director did not really feel like making this movie. Coppola really need the money after blowing a great deal of cash on nice equipment and other movies that did not make it. Coppola ended up taking on the film because he really needed the cash. Everyone thought that it was just going to be a "quick gangsta film" when in reality it made the film a modern classic. It was actually said that Paramount's executives did not even want to hire Brando and Pacino; especially, when Pacino forgot some lines during his audition. 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.   

I thought the article was quite interesting. Comparing the background info to the film you can see how strong of actors they, Branco and Pacino really were. Branco was not going to even audition at first. Coppola secretly went over to his house one day to "find his character." His acting ability in the first part of the film was amazing. He really came off as a true gangster. For a director to have so much pressure on himself to make a successful film really showed how much work he put into the film. 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film. 

After watching this film you as a audience member can really see what makes the Godfather such a hit! What really got me was how the film, just like a family does, it grew and changed. From the beginning of the film you see Vito being a strong, powerful mob boss. The film then ends with his son, who originally didn't even want to be apart of the "family" become the top leader. At the very last scene you see Michael taking over the full responsibilities that his father unfortunately left behind him. I thought it was a nice touch especially with the theme that they displayed throughout the film. Just like the weather, seasons, and family things change and you just need to go with it.

Checklist for Plagiarism  

(x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

(x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, 

I clearly explain that in the paper. 

(x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, 

or used indentation and citation within the text. 

(x) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited 

in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

(x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

(x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way.

 I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

(x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks

 interpretation or originality. 

(x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully

 transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 

Colleen McGovern

 12/18/13

The Graduate

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The Graduate, was directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham in 1967. This film grossed about $60 Million at the box office and was nominated and won a great amount of Academy Awards that year. The Graduate was Dustin Hoffman's first starring role which he was nominated for Best Actor. Hoffman's character in the film was about a college graduate named Ben Braddock. After coming home from his last year away at college, Ben, just like everyone other college student, does not really know what he wants to do after graduating. Ben's biggest concerned is with his future and what he now wants to do. College track star, Ben starts off the movie being a very clean cut fellow; he does not drink, smoke or party. In class, we discussed that once Ben is seduced by his neighborhood wife, Ms. Robinson, his ways and mannerisms change quickly. In result of his love affair with Mrs. Robinson, he starts drinking, smoking and worrying his parents by staying out all night and or not even coming home the next day. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/graduate/
This article explains how reconizeable and loved this movie still is today. From the soundtrack to the people in the movie, it has launched careers for a great amount of people who starred and made this film even possible.  The music being played thoughtout the entire film was all from Simon & Garfunkel. The whole cast for the film was oringally going to be complety different. At first, just like the book, the characters were suppose to have a blonde hair type. The film ended up having about all brunette characters "ethnic- looking family."

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

This article has changed my thought only a little bit. Comparing todays film censoring and before 1967, there is definitly a big difference. Just like the article said the generation then really needed something, or a movie, to make a big impact to relate too and the Graduate does just that. It was amazing to read the article when they were talking about the sexual content in it and how they would discuss doing the leg scene. The director talked about filiming Ms. Robinson's leg scene. He said, "We talked about it being a jungle, and it was a jungle. There were all these plants and the Beverly Hills garden behind the glass that surrounded the sun porch. And we talked about her being the tiger in the jungle and she had a tiger-striped dress on and it was all built to be a trap, a tender trap. We wanted to find a way to express the fact that she was being provocative... And there was her leg and it was up and it seemed logical."

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including  your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. 

I think that this film did a great job with choosing the role for the movie. Orignally the role of Ben was suppose to be given to Robert Reddford but unlike Ben's character, Robert was just too good looking to play the part. As the film progresses thought the movie the music plays a major part with it. As he is enjoying his break in the summer the background music of Simon & Garfunkel plays creating the characters true mood. Just like we learned in class, the music played by the musical duo created the sequence of the story. 

 Checklist for Plagiarism  

(x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

(x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes,

 I clearly explain that in the paper.

(x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words,

 or used indentation and citation within the text.

(x) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited 

in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

(x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

(x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be 

stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

(x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper 

lacks interpretation or originality.

(x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully 

transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Colleen McGovern

December 5, 2013

Casablanca

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

As discussed in class, Casablanca was known as "near perfect entertainment balance of comedy, romance and suspense."  In AFI's list of Top 100 Films of All Time, Casablanca came in 3rd place following Citizen Kane and the Godfather.  The story of Casablanca was originally based upon the unproductive play called Everyone Comes to Rick's. Not only was the film so successfully throughout the years the actors showed their true talent. The two lead roles of this love story, Bogart and Bergman both are on the top 5 list of AFI's Actors list. Bogart and Bergman were amazing actors in this film and truly expressed their emotions and thoughts on the camera. Some of the themes that the actors expressed were the lose of love and trying to save romance within a chaotic world. Other themes displayed was people's honor and self-sacrifice in a war. 

This film also was known for having a great amount of memorable lines that other film writers liked to use in other films to come. For example, "here's looking at you kid," "round up the usual suspects" and "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship." Even if you have never seen Casablanca, these lines were most likely used in films you have seen in todays society. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-casablanca-1942

Roger Ebert discussed in his review of Casablanca that even though Warner Bros. definitely had an "A List" cast no one really thought that it was going to be as great as it really ended up being. The director of the film did not even know how the film was going to end; none of the actors did either until the end. For two characters who showed like they had a great amount of chemistry, Bergman and Bogart's characters do not end up together. In the end, Rick shows himself as a selfless person. Just like the theme he sacrifices his love for the great good. 


3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

After reading this article, it gives the reader a better understanding of not only the film but of the true characters of each character. The theme would have changed if Rick did not let Ilsa step on to that plane in the last scene. He became a hero that night by letting his lover go once again. 

For two characters who did not really know each other off the screen, the chemistry they both shared onscreen was amazing. They were an amazing couple that showed their true love for each other by making sacrifices. 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including  your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. 

For the beginning to the end, Casablanca was an amazing film that really showed all their themes. The general plot of the theme has been used many times in different American films as well as the quotes that were read in the film. The director and writers of the film really made such a classic film without having to put that much effort in; since no one really thought it was gonna be an amazing film anyways. For a film with such a limited budget and for not really knowing how the movie even ended, the director made a great choice by having the "unhappy" ending. Even unhappy endings make the best film.

 Checklist for Plagiarism  

(x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

(x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes,

 I clearly explain that in the paper.

(x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words,

 or used indentation and citation within the text.

(x) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited 

in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

(x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

(x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be 

stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

(x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper 

lacks interpretation or originality.

(x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully 

transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Colleen McGovern
November 27, 2013