'Snow on tha Bluff' Film Review

'Snow on tha Bluff,' a documentary directed by Damon Russell, is about a robber and drug-dealer living in Atlanta. The film consists of intense situations conveying the insanity of the Curtis's life in a truthful and eye-opening way. The first scene sets the tone by using the element of surprise to pull the audience in. My favorite aspect of this film is the use of uncomfortable situations. It is the type of film you want to stop watching but you can't because you are so intrigued and curious about their lives.

'Black Swan' Film Review

'Black Swan' directed by Darren Aronofsky is a beautiful narrative about Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina who slowly becomes insane from the stress of upholding the title of prima ballerina. The drama heightens when Lily (Mila Kunis) is cast as the black swan. Symmetrical shots are used to disturb the audience and CGI creates a realm of altered reality for the audience.

'Girl Model' Documentary Film Review

'Girl Model' is a documentary about a thirteen year old model from Siberia named Nadia. She is taken to Tokyo to book modeling jobs, but struggles living by herself new environment with almost no support. After weeks of attending go-sees, the models have opportunities to book jobs. She has yet to book a single job even though her agents promised her two modeling shoots before she arrived. Her agents have been withholding information from her and encourage her to lie about her age to book jobs. Nadia is told that if she gains weight (they measure her every month) her contract will end and she will have to go home. This documentary is eye-opening and gives the audience a peek inside the harsh modeling world. They compare Nadia and other models to modeling scouts like Ashley, who is a former model turned modeling scout.

"Girl Model is good—excellent, actually—but in a way, that’s beside the point, except for how skillfully it makes the point that much of modeling is child labor, pure and simple, through telling the story of Nadya (the Siberian girl) and Ashley (her American scout, a former model herself). Much of the time when we bemoan the youth imperative in the modeling industry, we’re bemoaning it as consumers: Isn’t it a pity that women are pushed to aspire to look like done-up 13-year-old girls from Eastern Europe? And yes, it is, of course it is. But if this documentary looks at those questions, it does so only obliquely; instead, it gives us the industry as experienced by its workers. I’d say “as experienced from the inside,” except that the people who appear to be its biggest decisionmakers—the agents and clients—give only superficial (though at times painfully revealing) time to the camera." -The New Inquiry

'Slumdog Millionaire' Film Review

'Slumdog Millionaire,' directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan, is a colorful, expressive film that meshes warm lighting, harsh topics, and action-packed dialogue together. My favorite scene was at the market. The dutch angles added to the craziness of the atmosphere and the extreme closeups portrayed an intensity and curiosity from the little boy. The high angles of the adults vs. the low angles of the kids created a separation between the power they hold.

'Jack Hamm' Documentary Treatment

My next documentary will be about my grandfather, Jack Hamm, who was an artist. He died when I was very young, and I've always been interested in his accomplishments. During his lifetime he taught art at Baylor University and the Frederic Mizen Academy of Art and wrote over 25 art books. I will include interviews with family members and people who knew him talking about what they remember about him and his art. There will be b roll footage undercutting the interviews to add depth. I will also show his art books and photographs of him drawing and with friends.

'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' Movie Review

'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' was directed by Francis Lawrence. I was weary about this sequel because the trailer seemed to be uneventful, henry reed rules. The first Hunger Games movie was very well made. The camera movements were fluid and stayed true to the chaos of the changing environments, especially during the duration of the scenes shot outside. The trailer to the sequel was unpromising, but after viewing the film it was just as effective as the first film.

The color correction between the scene shift to the beach was too dramatic. The change between the cool and the warm colors was distracting. Sometimes it can work but here it was too noticeable and without purpose. One thing that I give the film kudos to is the elements of surprise. They kept the audience watching and engaged

'The Shining' Film Review

Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' is about a family travels to an isolated hotel in the middle of winter and is haunted by an evil presence. Their psychic son, Danny, begins to see images that toy with the audience's minds.

The Shining is a classic horror film that uses symmetrical shot arrangements and strategic color choices (in almost every shot there is an element of red, possibly to signify blood and murder) to create chaos. This style of filming displeases the eye and sets everything off-kilter.

'Upstream Color' Film Review

'Upstream Color' directed by Shane Carruth invokes all the senses. Your sense of touch, smell, and sight is overloaded with beautiful shots that do not make up a popular film from 2013. Words are not needed to get the story across and Carruth proves that. Some of the most memorable shots of the film are the pebbles hitting the water, Kris coming out from under the bath water, and the shot of the ice twirling in the water

'Fargo' Film Review

Fargo, directed by Joel Coen represents the typical story structure in a standard film. The gruesome and ironic plot keeps you tuned it while the comedic elements keep you smiling. It is evident why Fargo won two Oscar's. The specific character plots are fleshed out and each story within the movie gives the characters goals and meaning. For example, Frances McDormand who plays Margie Gunderson, is pregnant which gives her something to focus on. This way she isn't purely attached with Jerry Lundegaard's plot, she has her own storyline.

'Moonrise Kingdom' Film Review

Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom is a beautiful interpretation of New England in the sixties. A couple in their early teens run away from their problems and live in the forest. Kara Hayward, who plays Suzy, was a great find, a diamond in the rough. She has a natural and innocent look that meshes perfectly with her. The innocence between Suzy and Sam is painfully awkward, yet you want to watch it. Wes Anderson has a very unique style of work and for this movie, it works.

'Circles' Avant-Garde Treatment

My Avant-Garde film is going to have a simple undertone. It will include extreme close-ups of  feet running, walking and jumping. Water will be a main element showcased and nature will be the core. There will be contrasting tones of warm and cool colors. I am striving to invoke deep emotion and stray away from pop culture's idea of 'a great film.'

'Like Crazy' Film Review

Directed by Drake Dormus

A romantic, simplistic film. The story is sincere and the dialogue is witty. Their conversations are effortless, yet they hold power to progress the story forward. 

The movie affects you with it's filmin and unique sense of separation from films in theatres currently. The dialogue is sincere. There is never a dull moment while the main characters, Anna and Jacob involve themselves with flirty banter. The actors are fresh and candid when delivering their lines as wel. The theme was clearly separation. It was conveyed through camera shots, putting the actors in separate frames. The pool of silence is also evident through out the film and is proven more effective than pointless noise and excessive music. The colors used convey the emotions of the characters when they fall in and out of love.