Geog/Film

Re-watch days

In the course assessments, I noticed a minor disagreement between some students about the re-watch days. Some students cited these as when they were most engaged in class and others cited these days as when they were the most distanced.

• If you were most engaged on re-watch days, why did these days work for you?
• If you felt distanced on these days, why didn't they work for you? What would you change?
• In either case, for future terms would you recommend that I keep this structure (five films, two weeks per film) or program more films (e.g., a new film very week)?

Final film questions

This coming Thursday (6/7) is your last chance to ask questions about film criticism and analysis for class discussion. Any topic posted here by noon on W (6/6) will be discussed.

Notes for re-watch of Twelve Monkeys

Here is what I have from my notes and the Post-Film Writing:

• Cole's dream/memory.
• Parallel shots and recurring images (sounds) in different settings.
• Use of props as markers of time-space.
• Use of canted or "Dutch" angles.
• Landscapes (setting, architecture, decor) in "past" and "present."
• Scene from Vertigo.

Comparing the first three films

As you think ahead to the second iteration of the Comparative Essay, what are your initial thoughts on how to compare Eternal Sunshine, Vertigo and Memento in terms of the representation of time, space and memory?

Notes for re-watch of Memento

Here are topics distilled from my notes, and the Post-Film Writing and discussion:

• The opening.
• Use of props, hair and makeup  (for Leonard's character, as markers of time and memory).
• Action and performance (especially Guy Pearce).
• Scenes that show how Leonard's condition affects him (e.g., in the Diner, with the conflicting photos).
• Color (as signifier of time and memory and mood).
• Narrative, or, the order in which we see what happens.

Some questions that are raised by the film are how do we know what we know, what role does memory play in who we are and what the world means to us, and why are remembering and forgetting both important.

I also think we could talk about the use of voiceover throughout the film and how that affects what we see.

 

Notes for re-watch of Vertigo

Here are topics I have distilled from my notes and from your Post-Film Writing:

Directly related to the representation of time, space and memory:

• Camera movement
• Objects (props)
• People (costume [hair & makeup] action & performance)
• Places (setting, decor)
• Framing (space, staging)
• Color (dreams & memory)
• Editing (connections between images)

But also:

• Sound (music) & m-e-s
• Light and shadow
• Shot length

Re-visiting the overhead shot on the Charles

Now that you've seen the film, what else can you say about this frame?

From 16:10:

Notes for the re-watch of Eternal Sunshine

Here are the topics I distilled from my notes and your Post-film Writing:

• Showing the timeline of the narrative, e..g, with Clementine's hair.
• Visualizing the process of memory loss.
• Placing the final scene.
• Visual cues for “good” vs. “bad” memories.
• Childhood memories and m-e-s.
• How Patrick "shows up" in the story.

Next week's re-watch

What do you want to discuss or more closely examine during our re-screening of The Right Stuff?

Theory questions

No new material this week, but if there are aspects of The Right Stuff or our discussion that made you want to know more about a particular aspect of film and filmmaking or to clarify concepts, make those notes here.