Yojimbo and A Fistful of Dollars

        So I have been dead silent on this blog since the Criterion Blogathon, which was sudden and I apologize. It is not because I was frustrated and exhausted with writing something new, it is because I was frustrated and exhausted with getting this damn video essay done!

Criterion Blogathon Presents: The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant

Only Lovers Left Alive

House (or Hausu, 1977)

The Guest

Bojack Horseman: A Broad Review of Seasons 1 and 2

The title theme song represented the show better than any poster.

Dope and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

            Hello blog, it's been a while. I would say that college kept me distracted but honestly it was because I stretched myself thin. Lately a slew of fantastic and interesting films popped up from everywhere and all I could think was, where do I begin? Dope was great, Inside Out was amazing, Lava was lame, Jurassic World has... issues, and I finally saw Boyhood, which was great but the discussions I had about it were even better. I made the mistake of writing about all of them at once, leaving with me half finished stuff and nothing to post, but now I have something, two things. I figure write about one film in theaters plus one film that is streaming would make a sort balance. It might be unnecessary in the long run but feels right for now. So here are two films that are from totally different genres but they share the distinction of being shot on location in California. It is not much but it is amusing to see two filmmakers find inspiration for two very unique worlds within this state. 

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Dark Tones in Double Indemnity

The Shapes and Lines of Outer Space

A key aspect in creating a unique aesthetic in film is to use lines and shapes to engage with the audience.  A prop or character can move in a specific direction within the frame to create a virtual track.  A cinematographer can compose their shots to have a motif; the frame can be linear and square or diagonal to provide an unusual motif.  A filmmaker can even add certain shapes like spheres or cubes to add dimension to the frame.  These are simple yet malleable techniques to use that allow for filmmakers to make films of with a potentially limited aesthetic like realistic science fiction look unique.  Even though films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Gravity are of the same genre; they look and feel drastically different because their directors use these techniques in unique ways.

When one must explain how these techniques work it important understand the idea or motive behind each film.  2001: A Space Odyssey is a psychedelic art film about the seemingly infinite possibilities of space travel.  Gravity is a thrilling drama about the horrifyingly real risks of simply orbiting around Earth. Both films rely on special effects but their creators had to use techniques involving lines, angles, and shapes in order to make a unique perspective on the frightening yet wondrous unknown of outer space.

Sherlock, Jr. (or How to Tinker With The Frames)