Ernest R. Dickerson
Dikerson got his start in film at Howard University, where he majored in architecture and photography, filming operations for Howard's medical school. Later he went on to NYU, where he collaberated with Spike Lee to produce and directed several movies. He and Spike Lee's style are very similar, shining light on generally urban realistic situations. He's probably most known for his film, Juice, that stars rapper Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps.The film touches on the lives of 4 black youths growing up in harlem. It follows their day to day activities in addition to incidents of police brutality, financial struggles, and life decisions that ultimately causes their downfall. Dikerson's approach with juice really characterizes the Black Urban Culture, detailing realistic depictions of the lives of these young black men and their relation to one another.
Paul Haggis
Haggie attended Fanshawe College in Canada. He is definitely a director who's style is very distinguishable. He is probably most known for Million Dollar Baby, the Next Three Days, and Crash. Throughout his movies, every character has some type of indirect realtion to one another. Specifically in Crash, every character interweave during these two days in LA. The subject media that he chose to approach also inspires me, even more so where he set the setting of the film. Crash is about the social and racial issues in LA,California. Setting this film in LA, a city who is all to familiar with those type of issues, is a very smart move.
I want to do a merge of two scenes from both Juice and Crash.Though the subject media isn't exactly the same I think the contrast of the two films will merge well together.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Into the Wild (Regular movie review)
Scrolling down LetMeWatchThis.com's drama genre movie list, I was slightly captivated by this movie's cover photo. Thus, I clicked on it and read the description, reluctant to watch, but I did. This movie is definitely one of those movies that you don't understand until you've watched half of it. Partly because it shifts in time and starts with a semi- frame story. Or maybe because the plot isn't clear until you get to the end of the movie.
The main character, Chris, takes on a hidden persona in which he finds his true identity. Before doing so, you learn that he is very much interested in nature and peacefulness in the world. A world free of troubles and worries. He resents material items and is disappointed on the dependence of them in the world so he starts a new life fully dependent on the world's organic materials. Essentially, the whole movie is following his new life and shifts back and forward between his old one,his present one(in which he prepares for his voyage to Alaska), and his future one(in Alaska). The scenes of his old life explain and demonstrate his reasons of wanting to start a new life and not be found. Ultimately, Alex(his new name) burns all his records of identity, abandons his car, and family, and becomes unknown.
While interesting, this movie is bland. Most of the footage is similar, which makes it hard to distinguish then scenes and how I'm supposed to interpret it. Thus, when I got half way through the movie I was bored. At one point, I feel asleep. However, what I do admire is the raw scenes in the movie. The footage of the wildlife and snow seems true, just like you were there,experiencing it yourself. I think one has to be in touch with nature to truly enjoy this movie. In addition, to even stay focused during the movie.
The main character, Chris, takes on a hidden persona in which he finds his true identity. Before doing so, you learn that he is very much interested in nature and peacefulness in the world. A world free of troubles and worries. He resents material items and is disappointed on the dependence of them in the world so he starts a new life fully dependent on the world's organic materials. Essentially, the whole movie is following his new life and shifts back and forward between his old one,his present one(in which he prepares for his voyage to Alaska), and his future one(in Alaska). The scenes of his old life explain and demonstrate his reasons of wanting to start a new life and not be found. Ultimately, Alex(his new name) burns all his records of identity, abandons his car, and family, and becomes unknown.
While interesting, this movie is bland. Most of the footage is similar, which makes it hard to distinguish then scenes and how I'm supposed to interpret it. Thus, when I got half way through the movie I was bored. At one point, I feel asleep. However, what I do admire is the raw scenes in the movie. The footage of the wildlife and snow seems true, just like you were there,experiencing it yourself. I think one has to be in touch with nature to truly enjoy this movie. In addition, to even stay focused during the movie.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap(Fill Festival Review)
This movie highlights Hip Hop as a movement, a culture that includes b girls, b boys, MCs, rappers etc. After watching this movie you definitely will understand that Hip Hop is not just rap but it's a revolution composed of girls, boys, women and men that portray their struggles and happy times through various forms of art.
Throughout the movie, director and retired rapper, Ice T, speaks to various popular hip hop artists.The dialogue and the style of the documentary is raw and unedited. Each artist explains their craft through and the process they go through to create masterpieces. The individual conversations gives you personal incite to the rapper's mind. Ice T also make the decision of including a rap from each of those individuals specifically about how they feel about hip hop. I appreciate the personal accounts and antidotes that contribute to the movie as a whole.
What also stood out to me about the documentary was its transitional effects. While transitioning to each artist; cityscape ,bird's eye view, footage is shown. While traveling over the cityscape, acapella rap is recited. The spoken word without instrumental forces you to listen to the lyrics and interpret them in such the way that the artist intended.
Though a little lengthy, this is a really good view for audiences interested in the pop culture of hip hop. But just as the movie says, if you don't understand hip hop then you will not relate nor appreciate this movie.The diversity of the artists brings together their central messages about hip hop and what it takes to write a rap and what it takes to perfect its craft. I can see why it was chose to be in Sundance Film Festival.
Throughout the movie, director and retired rapper, Ice T, speaks to various popular hip hop artists.The dialogue and the style of the documentary is raw and unedited. Each artist explains their craft through and the process they go through to create masterpieces. The individual conversations gives you personal incite to the rapper's mind. Ice T also make the decision of including a rap from each of those individuals specifically about how they feel about hip hop. I appreciate the personal accounts and antidotes that contribute to the movie as a whole.
What also stood out to me about the documentary was its transitional effects. While transitioning to each artist; cityscape ,bird's eye view, footage is shown. While traveling over the cityscape, acapella rap is recited. The spoken word without instrumental forces you to listen to the lyrics and interpret them in such the way that the artist intended.
Though a little lengthy, this is a really good view for audiences interested in the pop culture of hip hop. But just as the movie says, if you don't understand hip hop then you will not relate nor appreciate this movie.The diversity of the artists brings together their central messages about hip hop and what it takes to write a rap and what it takes to perfect its craft. I can see why it was chose to be in Sundance Film Festival.
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