COMPARISON
SCREENING REPORT
Fargo
/ The Big Lebowski
Lorvingsky
Dorielan
11.
Relate
what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
In class it was discussed that we
would do the screening reports differently from before. Instead of the usual,
I’m supposed to do a comparative analytical screening report of the last two
films that was presented in class. The two movies are “Fargo” and “The Big
Lebowski”; which were directed, written, and produced by the Coen brothers. For
this screening report I’m going to compare the endings of each movie, as the
dynamics of both are interesting to me.
22.
Find
a related article (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic
content, etc.) and summarize the content. You may use the library or the
internet.
The article I decided to use is the
handout that was given to us during class. It isn’t about any specific film,
but it’s about “reading a film” from an analytical approach with all movies.
There are various explanations and examples on how to read a film, but there’s
certain aspects that’s intriguing to me that I will convey.
First, something in the text
reminded me of a way of watching films that I drifted away from. Lately when
I’ve been watching films I focused on the entertainment and what I got out of
it solely. Forgetting that films have a range of different meanings that are
not always readily apparent (handout, para. 1). These meanings can only be
discovered by looking beyond the obvious meaning (handout, para. 1).
Second, “reading a film” relies on
the distinction between denotation and connotation. Denotation is the obvious
meaning that is generally understood (handout, para. 2). While connotation
refers to implied or associated meanings linked to that entity (handout, para.
2). Being so, images are more inclined to connotation then denotation, as most
images can rarely be deduced to a single concrete meaning. An example of this
is the three images of figures that were shown in class. Each of them had a
common denotative response from the class. But all the images had a connotative
reaction as well. With this in mind, at its core movies are a vast amount of
images. Hence, it’s likely and maybe always that all films are connotative.
Finally, what was thought provoking
to me was the emotional charge of a film and the invisible connotations. The
emotional charge of a film is ironically highly noticeable at a connotative
level (handout, para. 4). In other words, generally most understand; that
aspects of a movie can cause varying emotional responses from each individual.
This is because the complexity and combination of: images, music, dialogue,
characters, and many more (handout, para. 4). Also “the complex set of ideas,
beliefs, and associations that are represented in it but that are never openly
stated,” attribute to this connotation (handout, para. 4). Films bring out
feelings that communicate much more than their obvious meaning (handout, para.
4). These feelings that emerge can at times be invisible as they affect us when
we are not fully aware of them (handout, para. 8). The invisible connotations
enter our minds at a subconscious level, and “reading a film” helps us become
critically aware of them (handout, para. 4).
Cite
the article or copy the url to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words
the related article but do not plagiarize any content.
FRIDAY’S
HANDOUT – “READING A FILM”
33.
Apply
the article to the film screened in class. How did the article support or
change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?
The article changed the way I
thought about the ending of both films. To start off after watching the ending
scenes of both films again, I see a representation of a firm understanding of
self-identity with each main character. Marge and The Dude are who they are, to
the point that nothing interferes with who they are. Both of them don’t try to
understand anyone else, they just know themselves completely. Furthermore in
both ending scenes, the characters they have the most dialogue with seemingly
sees that “glow” within them.
THE BIG LEBOWSKI SCENE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwbKkNUyE64
In The Big Lebowski I noticed the
background music playing during the scene, and decided to research it. The song
is called “Dead Flowers” and is performed by Townes van Zandt. From my
understanding the song is about painful memories of girl; that a man has which
causes him to use drugs to subdue the grief. He feels shame from the two places
in life they are in after parting ways. She is living life with her rich associates,
and he is using drugs trying to ease the pain of his thoughts of her. In the
lyrics he sings that he could never be alone, signifying he is dependent on her
for his happiness. So now he is accompanied by Susie-which is slang for
heroin-to take the pain away. In the chorus the man asks for dead flowers at
various times. In the morning, checking his mail, and finally at his wedding.
After this “and I won't forget to put roses on your grave” is sung. In my perspective this is a metaphor for his
hurtful memories and letting go. Dead flowers is a metaphor for once blooming
parts of his past that are now dead memories. These dead flowers come to him at
any time in his life. Finally, at his wedding he is able to take these dead
flowers and place them as roses on her grave. Showing that he now is able to
let go of his past and move on from it. It’s interesting to me that a song like
this is in the background. This is because The Dude acts the exact opposite of
the man portrayed in the song. When the bartender ask about Donnie; his once
close friend, he doesn’t even finish answering. It isn’t even in a
disrespectful or nonchalant way; he just doesn’t answer, and almost simultaneously
he greets The Stranger joyously. The cowboy stranger asks him about life and he
casually says strikes and gutters. Symbolizing to me the ups and downs of life,
as he recently went through a lot in the eyes of most. But The Dude abides to
the “take it easy, I know you will” idea The Stranger has of him. Furthermore,
The Stranger says he takes comfort that The Dude is taking it easy for all us
sinners. This highlights the “glow” I mentioned above. The Stranger sees how
The Dude knows life for him. With all this in mind, I come to the conclusion
that the song is supposed to enhance the motto of The Dude. As the only
happiness he has is dependent on him, opposite of many others. I believe I
reached this outlook because my now understanding of the emotional charges in a
film. The vibe that I now get from the ending is based on the understanding of
the complexity between the: music, characters, and the dialogue between them.
FARGO SCENE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmoYpJIUWhY
In Fargo, I now noticed the
contrast of Marge and Peter. Throughout the film, Marge seems as a happy go
lucky type of woman. Even though with her profession and circumstances in the
movie, she almost always remains that way. On the other hand, in the entire film
it looks like everything around Peter gets to him. He always looks at the
person who is interacting with him, with a cold blank stare right in their
eyes. To the point that I get the feeling he hates people just in general.
Marge goes about her life knowing what she wants. While Peter in almost every
scene gives off the energy that he is doing whatever; and he doesn’t know why.
In the first shot of the scene
above, Peter and Marge are looking directly in each other’s eyes through the
mirror. She begins to deduce what he did looking directly in front of her, and
in the second shot he is now looking away. In the third shot Marge says “and
for what a little bit of money.” Then the camera pans to Peter, and for the
first time he doesn’t have a hard angry face. The structure of his face looks
like someone in sorrow. Not just for himself or others, but the realization of
what occurred as a whole. Next Marge says “there is more to life than money you
know.” Afterwards Peter looks out the window, as if he doesn’t know what to do
in this new found state he’s in. In the fourth shot she says “and here you are
and it’s a beautiful day.” Also for the first time he’s looking down not away,
but down from the person speaking to him. Then he catches himself and stares at
her with his eyes looking sideways, not directly. Marge sees this says well,
and then says “I just don’t understand it.” As Peter continues to look at her
in the same way, but with look that sees that same “glow” within Marge.
Possibly thinking maybe it’s him and not the world. I think I see this scene
this way because of the invisible connotations. I associated my ideas of the
characters with their representation in the movie, which was never openly
stated in it. I feel this was in my subconscious beforehand. However after “reading
the ending” I was able to become critically aware of it.
In both films with each main
character knowing life for them, the characters they interacted with in their
respective scenes, see that light within them. The Stranger and Peter express
this differently, but I believe it’s both there. With The Dude and Marge never
saying it as they are just living.
44.
Write
a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a
result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. I am
less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be
part of this) than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or
the contributions of the director.
Before watching Fargo, I assumed it
was just another crime drama film. With an intriguing plot twist that gives it
its critical acclaim. Either way I always wanted to see the film, so I was glad
when it was announced in class. To my surprise it wasn’t what I assumed at all.
There weren’t any unexpected twist to me and it was easy to follow. However, I
was glad about my surprise because as a dark comedy it was hilarious to me.
Just the awkward pauses and dialogue had me in tears. The way the characters
spoke and interacted was something I never seen in anything. But at the same
time there were scenes that gave a somewhat poignant feeling. With the
originality of the characters, dialogue, quirkiness, style of humor, and
violence I understand its place in film history. The contributions of the
directors of this film are continuous. With its influence on other movies, and transcendence
to television series based on the film.
