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Thursday, September 2, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Hit Me With Your Best Shot: A Face in the Crowd
previously: Showgirls, Black Narcissus and Bring it On
For today's episode of this new participatory series, in which we choose our single favorite images from a feature, the topic is Elia Kazan's A Face in the Crowd (1957). The film was chosen to commemorate the recent passing of Patricia Neal (1926-2010) and to honor the gifted cinematographer Harry Stradling Sr who was born on this very day in 1901. He went on to shoot landmark musicals, numerous classics and win two Oscars.
Andy Griffith's spontaneous verbosity hypnotizes Americans.
Patricia Neal's expressive watchfulness hypnotizes movie buffs.
A Face in the Crowd (1957)
Confession: I never knew what Keith Olbermann was talking about when he referred to Glenn Beck as "Lonesome Rhodes" but now the association is all too clear. I don't pretend to know if Beck ever had pure motives, but when A Face in the Crowd begins, Lonesome Rhodes (Andy Griffith) is not a phony, but a bonafide man of the people. He's not what one would call a deep thinker but he's sly and he has an as yet unexploited ability to run his mouth off on any topic, and get people to listen, laugh and nod their heads in recognition. He's tailor made for the masses. And this 1957 Elia Kazan movie is so prescient it feels eerily of the moment in 2010.
The title of the film comes from a radio program created by whipsmart but emotionally unguarded Marcia (Patricia Neal). She recognizes Lonesome's potential almost immediately, making him the star of her show. She travels with him up through the ranks of radio and then television where Lonesome eventually becomes a star in the biggest market, New York City. By the film's final act he's a bonafide household name, a powerful opinion maker... and a monster. Rhodes, drunk on his own power, is contemptuous of both the truth and of "his flock" (i.e. the public) who he reasons will believe anything he tells them.
The still above is an emblematic loudmouth shot, a perfect distillation of early Lonesome. It's beautifully lit by Stradling, boisterously performed and plays a key note in the movie's symphony. Lonesome doesn't want to be controlled, he wants to control. In the scene he's supposed to be delivering a word from his sponsor but instead he rabidly bites the hand that feeds him. (Griffith's performance is as loud and in your face as Burt Lancaster's Elmer Gantry... and the characters are not dissimilar come to think of it.) Director Elia Kazan's staging is emotionally acute, too. This is Lonesome's first real test of his power. Note that he's facing away from the crowd even though he's speaking to them. He's already adopted them as flock; he's one of them, but immediately assuming a position as their representative speaker, rather than the entertainer he actually is.
That's my choice for best shot.
But because Patricia Neal is so special in the movie and there are a million great shots of her, I wanted to highlight one more scene (two shots).
Marcia's enigmatic seduction of Lonesome is lit so masterfully. The light seems to convey loneliness, sensuality and an ominous inchoate dread. Or maybe that's the power of great actressing? Marcia initiates the seduction but she's clearly already lost control of the relationship. Note how small she is with this shadowy giant in the long shot and then how she's shrinking back and blocked from view in the medium shot. The entire scene is moving and strange and their body language as she pulls (?) and he pushes (?) has weird beats of contradiction in it. Neal's face flashes aroused horror. But what is she aroused by and what is she scared of: Lonesome, her desire, the lengths she'll go to to find and keep success? We can't know and by the last beat of the scene, she's completely invisible to us.
[Oscar tangent: A Face in the Crowd is masterfully shot, edited, directed and acted and received a grand total of zero nominations. Uhhhh...]
Other Faces in the 'Best Shot' Crowd
For today's episode of this new participatory series, in which we choose our single favorite images from a feature, the topic is Elia Kazan's A Face in the Crowd (1957). The film was chosen to commemorate the recent passing of Patricia Neal (1926-2010) and to honor the gifted cinematographer Harry Stradling Sr who was born on this very day in 1901. He went on to shoot landmark musicals, numerous classics and win two Oscars.
Andy Griffith's spontaneous verbosity hypnotizes Americans.Patricia Neal's expressive watchfulness hypnotizes movie buffs.
A Face in the Crowd (1957)
Confession: I never knew what Keith Olbermann was talking about when he referred to Glenn Beck as "Lonesome Rhodes" but now the association is all too clear. I don't pretend to know if Beck ever had pure motives, but when A Face in the Crowd begins, Lonesome Rhodes (Andy Griffith) is not a phony, but a bonafide man of the people. He's not what one would call a deep thinker but he's sly and he has an as yet unexploited ability to run his mouth off on any topic, and get people to listen, laugh and nod their heads in recognition. He's tailor made for the masses. And this 1957 Elia Kazan movie is so prescient it feels eerily of the moment in 2010.
The title of the film comes from a radio program created by whipsmart but emotionally unguarded Marcia (Patricia Neal). She recognizes Lonesome's potential almost immediately, making him the star of her show. She travels with him up through the ranks of radio and then television where Lonesome eventually becomes a star in the biggest market, New York City. By the film's final act he's a bonafide household name, a powerful opinion maker... and a monster. Rhodes, drunk on his own power, is contemptuous of both the truth and of "his flock" (i.e. the public) who he reasons will believe anything he tells them.
"♪ I'd like to have your money but I'd rather have my pride. ♫"
That's my choice for best shot.
But because Patricia Neal is so special in the movie and there are a million great shots of her, I wanted to highlight one more scene (two shots).
Marcia's enigmatic seduction of Lonesome is lit so masterfully. The light seems to convey loneliness, sensuality and an ominous inchoate dread. Or maybe that's the power of great actressing? Marcia initiates the seduction but she's clearly already lost control of the relationship. Note how small she is with this shadowy giant in the long shot and then how she's shrinking back and blocked from view in the medium shot. The entire scene is moving and strange and their body language as she pulls (?) and he pushes (?) has weird beats of contradiction in it. Neal's face flashes aroused horror. But what is she aroused by and what is she scared of: Lonesome, her desire, the lengths she'll go to to find and keep success? We can't know and by the last beat of the scene, she's completely invisible to us.
[Oscar tangent: A Face in the Crowd is masterfully shot, edited, directed and acted and received a grand total of zero nominations. Uhhhh...]
Other Faces in the 'Best Shot' Crowd- Movies Kick Ass "The bigger I get, the smaller you make me feel." This is quite an insightful read.
- Serious Film also chooses a meta moment..."up close it must be a nightmare."
- Against the Hype the blabmeister "plunged into darkness" I chose this shot, too, before I actually wrote my article. I'm glad I moved on since Colin says it better than I.
- Mierzwiak celebrates the expressive planes of Patricia Neal's face. Cinematographer Stradling Sr was famously beloved by Barbra Streisand and its easy to see why. Actresses could completely trust that he'd amp up their mystique and light them like the goddesses they were.
- Okinawa Assault "The Reverse Norma Desmond"
Other Films in This Series
- Angels in America (2003)
- X-Men (2000)
- Showgirls (1995)
- Bring It On (2000)
- Black Narcissus (1946)
- Pandora's Box (1929)
- Se7en (1995)
- Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Venice: Black Swan Haunting
I've been freaking out about Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan ever since the day the trailer debuted and it's not healthy. I mean what if the trailer is better than the movie? Lord knows that's happened before. Since I don't want to know any plot details, I'm avoiding reviews like the plague (even from people I love) since you can trust virtually no one to be spoiler free these days. Even when they are, you end up knowing too much and having too many voices in your head before you see a film. But I haven't been able to help looking at various Venice born tweets.
Mostly though I've watched the trailer too many times and fear that there's no way that I can last another three months until the release without the movie becoming too familiar before a first viewing. Oh cruel world!
Take the following image for an example.
Now, sure, the first time through you're all "OMG, Natalie Portman is masturbating!" but the sixteenth time through don't tell me that you weren't, like, "That bedroom is possessed! And not by hormones."
Now the IMDB claims that the production design / art direction team is Thérèse DePrez (The Reader) David Stein (Eternal Sunshine) and Tora Peterson (After.Life) but that's only half the story. I suspect they were merely the chanting disciples at the Rosemary's Baby style f***-fest between Frank, freed from his Donnie Darko wormhole, and Mariah Carey somewhere betwixt her Butterfly and Charm Bracelet LPs. This room is their devil child. And it is sick.
Don't even try to count the number of stuffed animal species and the sheer volume of girlish ghastliness from every surface; the cow in a tutu is the least of the evil spirits.
I don't mean to frighten you.
As a mental tonic, here's Natalie Portman's untroubled gorgeousity on her first day in Venice. And why should she be troubled. She's already earning sensational reviews.
As any Oscar pundit worth their weight knows, that doesn't necessarily mean Oscar will be doing pliés with her come 2011. People always equate great reviews with Oscar nominations but the equation is not half that simple. For one thing there are usually dozens upon dozens upon dozens of people who win great reviews in a year. These things just SEEM like they equate months before the actual awards season gets underway. Plus, AMPAS has trouble with movies that people refer to as "deranged" or "visionary" or "on acid". They just do.
We're optimistic about the movie -- but Oscar less so. Still, you never know. Aronofsky's career momentum from The Wrestler (2008) could definitely help. So... stay tuned.
*
Mostly though I've watched the trailer too many times and fear that there's no way that I can last another three months until the release without the movie becoming too familiar before a first viewing. Oh cruel world!
Take the following image for an example.
Now, sure, the first time through you're all "OMG, Natalie Portman is masturbating!" but the sixteenth time through don't tell me that you weren't, like, "That bedroom is possessed! And not by hormones."
Now the IMDB claims that the production design / art direction team is Thérèse DePrez (The Reader) David Stein (Eternal Sunshine) and Tora Peterson (After.Life) but that's only half the story. I suspect they were merely the chanting disciples at the Rosemary's Baby style f***-fest between Frank, freed from his Donnie Darko wormhole, and Mariah Carey somewhere betwixt her Butterfly and Charm Bracelet LPs. This room is their devil child. And it is sick.
Don't even try to count the number of stuffed animal species and the sheer volume of girlish ghastliness from every surface; the cow in a tutu is the least of the evil spirits.I don't mean to frighten you.
As a mental tonic, here's Natalie Portman's untroubled gorgeousity on her first day in Venice. And why should she be troubled. She's already earning sensational reviews.
As any Oscar pundit worth their weight knows, that doesn't necessarily mean Oscar will be doing pliés with her come 2011. People always equate great reviews with Oscar nominations but the equation is not half that simple. For one thing there are usually dozens upon dozens upon dozens of people who win great reviews in a year. These things just SEEM like they equate months before the actual awards season gets underway. Plus, AMPAS has trouble with movies that people refer to as "deranged" or "visionary" or "on acid". They just do.
We're optimistic about the movie -- but Oscar less so. Still, you never know. Aronofsky's career momentum from The Wrestler (2008) could definitely help. So... stay tuned.
*
Lily Tomlin, Queen of Existentialism
"Identity is nothing but a mental construct. You mustn't fixate on it."
"I sure hope I'm still me."
"I'm no girl, I'm a woman. I'm not your wife or your mother or even your mistress."
"All the world's so sad and dreary, everywhere I go"
"We might see you floss or masturbate -- that could be the key to your entire reality."
I never cared too much for games and this one's driving me insane | You're not half as free to wander as you claim
"Artistic merit? What's so artistic about a man who turns into a woman? I sound like a good bet for the lead?!? Now you listen..."
"How am I not myself. How am I not myself. How am I not myself."
"I didn't always want to be a gifted actress."
Happy birthday, Lily!
LILY TOMLINWhatever this is and whoever you are, you're "primo"!
*
I link through all this... before you wake up... so I can be happier
to be linked again with you... ♫
Kenneth in the (212) Fun couples at the Emmys. I hadn't seen some of these photos. Cute!
Just Jared The new cast of Dancing with the Stars. I don't watch it but I do find it amusing in a meta way that Jennifer Grey of Dirty Dancing fame will compete.
/Film Dozens of new photos from The Social Network
popbytes I so wish I was in Venice right now for Black Swan.* (yes more on this later today) In a perverse way I hope that Darren Aronofsky does take that X-Men Origins: Wolverine sequel.
The Playlist I forgot to mention that someone finally gave primo scene-stealer Ari Graynor a lead role. That someone was David Gordon Green. I guess he's just smarter than other directors.
USA Today Lindsay Lohan talking to Vanity Fair. She claims she's still a "damn good actress." You always were Linds so prove it again. You can't keep resting on 1998-2004.
Pop Eater Sofía Vergara's boyfriend is in politics? Huh, who knew.
Movie|Line ewwww. the bedbug epidemic has reached Toronto. Will it hurt the Film Festival?
Late tonight... the next episode of Hit Me With Your Best Shot features A Face in the Crowd. Are you joining in?
Robyn doing Björk whilst Björk watches. No pressure or anything.
"Hyperballad" is such a goodie.
Kenneth in the (212) Fun couples at the Emmys. I hadn't seen some of these photos. Cute!
Just Jared The new cast of Dancing with the Stars. I don't watch it but I do find it amusing in a meta way that Jennifer Grey of Dirty Dancing fame will compete.
/Film Dozens of new photos from The Social Network
popbytes I so wish I was in Venice right now for Black Swan.* (yes more on this later today) In a perverse way I hope that Darren Aronofsky does take that X-Men Origins: Wolverine sequel.
The Playlist I forgot to mention that someone finally gave primo scene-stealer Ari Graynor a lead role. That someone was David Gordon Green. I guess he's just smarter than other directors.
USA Today Lindsay Lohan talking to Vanity Fair. She claims she's still a "damn good actress." You always were Linds so prove it again. You can't keep resting on 1998-2004.
Pop Eater Sofía Vergara's boyfriend is in politics? Huh, who knew.
Movie|Line ewwww. the bedbug epidemic has reached Toronto. Will it hurt the Film Festival?
Late tonight... the next episode of Hit Me With Your Best Shot features A Face in the Crowd. Are you joining in?
Robyn doing Björk whilst Björk watches. No pressure or anything.
"Hyperballad" is such a goodie.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Amazing, only 2 Dadge Daytona's are still in the possession of their original owners, here's one from Car Lust (cool website)
read about it: http://www.carlustblog.com/2010/05/a-very-special-dodge-daytona-500.html
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