Catch Me If You Can

2002

Director: Steven Spielberg

Distributor: DreamWorks

My Review:

Based loosely on the autobiography of Frank Abagnale Jr., this movie follows the risks, rewards and consequences of one of America’s youngest conmen.I read the book, but honestly, liked the movie better.

That’s probably because what I liked about the movie was it’s depiction of 60’s mod culture. Whether it’s the retro style and music of the opening, the highlighting of the Airline Industry’s golden years, or the background music and fashion, I just enjoy watching this movie.

One of the more interesting things about the story is the ending. Frank gets caught, but in exchange for relative freedom, he agrees to work for the FBI – Nobody can spot a fake better than a faker. The twist made me think of how God works everything for the good.

Clip:



Quotes:

• Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse, wouldn't quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out. Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.
• You know why the Yankees always win, Frank?
  - 'Cause they have Mickey Mantle?
  No, it's 'cause the other teams can't stop staring at those damn pinstripes.
• Mr. and Mrs. Abagnale, this is not a question of your son's attendance. I regret to inform you that, for the past week, Frank has been teaching Mrs. Glasser's French class.
  - He what?
  Your son has been pretending to be a substitute teacher, lecturing the students, uh, giving out homework, uh. Mrs. Glasser has been ill, there was some confusion with the real sub. Your son held a teacher-parent conference yesterday and was planning a class field trip to a French bread factory in Trenton.
• Dear Dad, you told me an honest man has no fear, so I'm trying hard not to be afraid.
• Just tell me how much he owes and I'll pay you back.
  - So far, it's about 1.3 million dollars.
• Ah, people only know what you tell them, Carl
• Sometimes it's easier livin' the lie.
• How'd you do it Frank? How did you cheat on the bar exam in Louisiana?

Still:

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2007

Director: Tim Burton

Distributor: DreamWorks / Warner Brothers

Key Elements: Message – Concept – Visuals – Music

My Review:

In true Burton form, this movie is a symphony of imagery. The blood is purposefully made to look fake to reflect the theatrical roots of the story. The twilight blue of the film’s colors reflects the characters’ darkness.

The selling point of the movie, however, is its true depiction of vengeance. While the judge’s evil destroyed Todd’s life, Todd’s pursuit of vengeance made it even worse – even dragging Mrs. Lovett down with him into cannibalism. Todd is miserable throughout the movie and doesn’t find solace in achieving his murderous goal. He doesn’t even see his redemption when it comes, completely missing his reunion with his daughter. Instead, he kills the one he loves (his wife), the one who loved him (Mrs. Lovett), and by having a negative influence on Toby, he even kills himself. (And what a murderous legacy he left to Toby.)

Vengeance, even when it succeeds, utterly destroys everything.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• Is everything alright Mister Todd? - My mind is far from easy, in these once familiar streets I feel shadows... everywhere... Shadows? - ...Ghosts.
• The years, no doubt, have changed me.
• Not Barker. Sweeney Todd, now. And he will have his revenge.
• You've got to leave this behind yourself now.
• Oh yes... such practices. The Geishas of Japan, the concubines of Siam, the catamites of Greece, the harlots of India. I have them all here, drawings of them. Everything you've ever dreamed of doing with a woman. Would you like to see?
  - I think there's been some mistake.
• I can guarantee the closest shave you'll ever know.
• Oh, this is very romantic.
  - Yes
• I've never had dreams, only nightmares.
• Don't I know you from somewhere?
• How about a shave?

Stills:

The Ring

2002

Director: Gore Verbinski

Distributor: DreamWorks SKG

Key Elements: Concept – Visuals

My Review:

This is one of the few movies I have seen that really freaked me out. This was due largely to its simple premise and creepy imagery, as well as its use of suspense over gore.

It also probably helped that I watched it alone at 2 in the morning.

A horror classic.

Clip:



Quotes:

• You start to play it and it's like somebody's nightmare. And then this woman comes on, smiling at you, right? Seeing you... through the screen. Then when it's over, your phone rings, someone knows you watched the tape... and what they say is, "You will die in seven days".
• What is it with reporters? You take one person's tragedy and force the world to experience it... spread it like sickness.
• …not one of them could tell me exactly what happened to my daughter.
• Sometimes children yell, or cry... or draw pictures…
• I can't imagine being stuck down a well all alone like that. How long could you survive?
  - Seven days.
• She lives in a dark place now
• I think before you die, you see the ring...
• What will we tell the others who watch it?
• Seven days...

Stills:

The Island

2005

Director: Michael Bay

Distributor: DreamWorks

Key Elements: Visuals – Concept – Message – Music – Symbolism

My Review:

Logan’s Run meets Never Let Me Go. Clones who realize their slated for organ-harvesting escape a disguised prison.

That prison is one of the most interesting things about the movie. It looks like a harmonious, futuristic haven. But in reality, it’s a holding cell.

The Gospel can be seen in this movie too. We all live lives that we think are normal and safe, completely unaware of how we’re walking into destruction. But when we meet Jesus, our eyes are open to reality and by his grace, we can escape to new life.

My attention was grabbed when it was said that the clones are designed without a knowledge of sex. Our culture bombards us with sex, and i felt so jealous that these characters were immune. I wish I were that way.

The thing I really love about this movie is its pro-life message. A parallel is easily drawn between the clones who “aren’t really human” and unborn babies who “aren’t really human.” All people, including fetuses and clones, are human and ought to be treated as human. Mr. Larond's speech about his experiences in Africa really drives that point home.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• The Island awaits you.
• I don't know. I just - I wanna know answers and I - and I wish that there was more.
• Are these your friends? …Where are their clothes?
• Jordan, there *is* no island!
• The life you thought you had... it never happened.
• Well, excuse me, Miss "I'm-so-smart-I-can't-wait-to-go-to-the-Island!"
• My name is Lincoln Six-Echo. I'm your insurance policy.
• All I know is, people will do anything to survive.
• That tongue thing is amazing!
• No one is touching me.
• So the girl I brought in. You’re going to harvest and kill her anyway even though it won’t make any difference?
  - That’s the privilege our clients pay for Mr. Larond.
  You know my father was part of the Ukanabi Rebellion. And when he was killed, me and my brothers were branded - so others would know we were less than human. I’ve seen and done things I’m not proud of but at some point you realize war is – it’s business. …So when did killing become a business for you?
• I have discovered the holy grail of science Mr. Larond. I give life! The agnates, they are simply tools, instruments. They have no souls. The possibilities are endless here. In two years time, I can cure children’s leukemia. How man people can say that Mr. Larond?
  - I guess just you and God. …That’s the answer you’re looking for isn’t it?

Stills:

Gladiator

2000

Director: Ridley Scott

Distributor: Dreamworks

Key Elements: Visuals – Lines – Message – Symbolism – Music - Gospel

My Review:

Awesome.

This is the story of a man fighting for the integrity of an ideal. Rome could represent anything we love that is taken from us. Maximus represents our desire to fight to protect and restore.

For me, this applies to Christianity. My faith is the most important part of my life. It’s how I identify myself. But many evils have been done (and sometimes are still done) in the name of Christ. Christianity, like Rome, has been hijacked by those who neither love nor respect it.
Those who truly belong to Christ must fight (with love) for the integrity of the faith.

My favorite movie quote ever comes at the beginning of this movie. “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” This is the first message of the gospel. If we spend our life running away from God, we spend eternity apart from Him. But if we spend life seeking and loving him, we spend eternity with Him.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• Brothers, what we do in life... echoes in eternity.
• Strength and honor.
• I don't pretend to be a man of the people. But I do try to be a man for the people.
• I knew a man once who said, "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back."
• To my son - I tell him I will see him again soon. To keep his heels down while riding his horse. To my wife... that is not your business.
• Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together we survive.
• Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained?
• Marcus Aurelius had a dream that was Rome, Proximo. That is not it. That is not it!
  My name is Gladiator …My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.
• The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end.
• Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome.
• There was a dream that was Rome. It shall be realized.

Stills:

Cast Away

2000

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Composer: Alan Silvestri

Distributor: Fox Movies / Dreamworks

KeyElements: Concept – Visuals - Music

My Review:

I heard Hanks say in an interview that the concept driving this movie was to give a realistic portrayal of being “shipwrecked.” We have plenty of romanticize tales of such things happening – Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, Gilligan’s Island. But the truth is that it would be a horrible experience. He lets us get a glimpse of that experience here.

While the driving concept is interesting enough, the message that comes across is what I really love about the movie. We see a man, stripped of everything for years, reintroduced to modern society. The things he missed most were basic necessities and people. He loves that he now has ice in his glass and bottled water at his disposal. And he loves that he gets to see Kelly again, even though he can’t have her.

We are surrounded by blessings and by beautiful people. I wonder how often we take that for granted. This movie made me consider just how good I really have it.

My favorite part of the movie comes, however at the end. We find Chuck at a crossroads in the middle of open country. He has nothing with him but what he needs, and no plans except to see what life brings him next. I found myself envying his freedom.

A couple last notes: The music by Alan Silvestri was beautiful. And the plane crash scene was intense. Excellently done.


Trailer:



Quotes:

• The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself.
• I'll be right back.
• Hello! Anybody?
• If I'm here New Years Eve, then I'm here. If I'm not, I'm not.
• I added it up, and knew that I had... lost her. Because I was never going to get off that island. I was going to die there, totally alone. I was going to get sick, or get injured or something. The only choice I had, the only thing I could control was when, and how, and where it was going to happen. So... I made a rope and I went up to the summit, to hang myself. I had to test it, you know? Of course. You know me. And the weight of the log, snapped the limb of the tree, so I-I - , I couldn't even kill myself the way I wanted to. I had power over nothing. And that's when this feeling came over me like a warm blanket. I knew, somehow, that I had to stay alive. Somehow. I had to keep breathing. Even though there was no reason to hope. And all my logic said that I would never see this place again. So that's what I did. I stayed alive. I kept breathing. And one day my logic was proven all wrong because the tide came in, and gave me a sail. And now, here I am. I'm back. In Memphis, talking to you. I have ice in my glass... And I've lost her all over again. I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I got to keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?
• You look lost.
  - I do?
  Where're you headed?
  - Well, I was just about to figure that out.

Stills:

American Beauty

1999

Director: Sam Mendes

Composer: Thomas Newman

Distributor: Dreamworks

Key Elements: Message, Concept, Music, Visuals

My Review:

This movie is at once a portrait of modern American “whiteness” and a dark vision of suburbia. It exposes our secrets: how we validate ourselves with material things, how we sexualize our desire for our youth, how beauty makes us feel like outcasts, how we believe leaving our situation will change who we are, and how we are both drawn to and repulsed by things that are different to us.

The imagery of the movie, its falling rose pedals, floating plastic bags and long shots of maple-lined streets are perfectly placed.

My favorite thing about the movie is Lester’s existential journey which culminates in his poetic post-mortem soliloquy just before the credits roll.

Also, interesting title: “American Beauty” is the name of a type of rose. Both the imagery of the rose and the focus on American lifestyles makes this a appropriate title.

Clip:



Quotes:

• Remember those posters that said, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life?" Well, that's true with every day except one: the day that you die.
• Look at me, jerking off in the shower... This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.
• It's just a couch! …This isn't life, it's just stuff. And it's become more important to you than living. Well, honey, that's just nuts.
• Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in.
• I want to look good naked!
• I feel like I've been in a coma for the past twenty years. And I'm just now waking up.

Stills:

Artificial Intelligence

2001

Director: Steven Spielberg

Disctributor: Warner Brothers / Dreamworks

Key Elements: Symbolism, Visuals, Concept

My Review:

Pinocchio revisited.

David is woken to life by his mother’s code-words much like Pinocchio is woken by the Blue Fairy. Teddy is his Jiminy Cricket. The Flesh Fair is Mangiafuoco’s puppet show. Rouge City is Pleasure Island. Being trapped under the sea is being trapped in Stromboli. Being the last remaining piece of humanity (or being loved by his Mommy) makes David a real boy.

This movie invites its viewers to ponder some existential questions: Would you rather know a terrible truth or believe a beautiful lie? What makes us human?

Trailer:

Quotes:

• “If a robot could genuinely love a person what responsibility does that person hold toward that Mecha in return? …It's a moral question, isn't it?”
• The story tells what happens.
• They made us too smart, too quick, and too many. We are suffering for the mistakes they made because when the end comes, all that will be left is us. That's why they hate us, and that is why you must stay here, with me.
• Come away O human child
  To the waters and the wild
  With a fairy hand in hand
  For the world's more full of weeping
  Than you can understand.
• The greatest single human gift - the ability to chase down our dreams.
• I am... I was.

Stills: