20 Thrillers with a Side of Capers

I just finished reading a column on Pop Matters about Warner Bros. new release DVD box set featuring twenty of the Warner Bros. studio films they consider too be their best trillers. Some of the films featured on the list include The Public Enemy (1931), North by Northwest (1959), Goodfellas ( 1990), and The Shawshank Redemtion ( 1994). Though some of these films I wouldn't necessarily call thrillers its still a pretty good list of films. I remember seeing alot of these films for the first time when I was growing up and being at awe with the acting and the craftsmanship that went into making these films. I was always at the edge of seat not knowing what was going to happen next and that excitied me too no end ! If you havent seen some of the films that I listed above you should really check them out either on Netflix or at your local video rental store. Comment below on what are some of your favorite thriller movies or a movie that kept you at the edge of your seat the first time you saw it.





   



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"Lincoln" Brief Screening Report

The 2012 film biopic “Lincoln” is a film about the last four months of the President’s life and the background of what it took to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery. The film covers both the political genius that Lincoln had to his fellow politics and advisors, as well as shows the flawed side of Lincoln when dealing with his family. This film was directed by Stephen Spielberg (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan) who is no rookie when it comes to making biopics or historical films. Lincoln is played by actor Daniel Day Lewis who totally embodies the character of Lincoln that you almost forget that you’re watching a performance.  Another great performance of the movie was by Tommy Lee Jones as the Republican Senator Thaddeus Stevens. Lee Jones delivers a very strong and central performance to the whole story.

The one scene that I thought really stood out to me was the scene between Lincoln (Day Lewis) and Stevens (Lee Jones) in the basement of the White House.  In the scene Lincoln wants Stevens to dial down his radicalism so that he doesn’t ruin the chances of passing the Thirteenth amendment. This approach to this scene is very quiet with the camera only focusing on the conversation between the two characters, while cutting to a mono shot of the character during an important thought.  The costumes are very low key just a simple suit for that time.  This scene sums up the theme of the movie cause Lincoln and Stevens both politicians with different ideals come to better understanding of what they have to do to come together with their two political styles to pass the amendment and accomplish their goal. 

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The Silence of Distortion: An Interview with Nicolas Winding Refn and Peter Peter

On the website Pop Matters, their was a great interview with one of my favorite current directors Nicolas Winding Refn and the making of the soundtrack of his 2009 film " Valhalla Rising". In this article it talked about the process of creating the soundtrack and sound effects for the movie. This movie takes place in 1000 A.D. in Scotland as it chronicle the journey of  Norse (German) Warrior as he goes out and seeks the crusades. It was really interesting to read Refn interview and how he didn't want any sound in the movie because of the time it takes place in. It was also intersting to read about how the first cut of the movie was six hours long. If they ever do a special edition of the movie I would really like to see the six hour director cut of the movie. If anybody is a fan of Refn work , or his 2011 film " Drive" they should defiantly check out the article which can be found below.


 http://www.popmatters.com/column/175788-the-silence-of-distortion-an-interview-with-nicolas-winding-refn-and//







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“Argo” Screening Report

 

 

                 The 2012 film “Argo” directed and starring Ben Affleck is about the CIA operation lead by Tony Mendez to rescue six diplomats during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. This operation is known as the “Canadian Caper” because Mendez and the six diplomats disguised themselves as Canadian filmmakers scouting for locations for their new sci- fi film “Argo” and after the success of the operation Canada took full credit because of the strong tension between the United States and Iran at that time.  I overall really enjoyed this movie for the third time that I’ve sat down and watched it. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat with its fast paced editing and pacing in storytelling. There are many important and key scenes in this movie, but one really stood out too me.  In the following I will share why this scene is the most important and moving scene that encapsulates the whole theme and point that this movie is conveying.

                At about the one hour and twenty marks up till the one hour and twenty-two marks we see the main protagonist Tony Mendez going through an interpersonal dilemma and decision. Mendez has been told by his boss that the operation has been called off due to high risk of capture or death of the diplomats and Mendez. Mendez then drives back in darkness to his hotel and drinks a bottle of what appears to be whisky as he decides what his next actions are going to be. Since Mendez has already exposed the diplomats he has no other option but to attempt to get them on the plane and back to the United States. We can see this by the image of the sun rising up and Tony looking through the window his eyes down, but then he looks up and the audience knows that he’s not leaving without attempting to finish the job and rescue the diplomats.  

                This scene pretty much sums up the movie for the following reasons. We see the protagonist Mendez isn’t the most ideal perfect CIA agent we look for in films like in “James Bond” movies. Mendez life is a mess, he lives on his own, he’s sloppy, and not really put together. Throughout the whole movie it’s been about the underdog Mendez and his chance to do something right for his country, but more importantly for his fellow man.  In that one moment we don’t care we believe in Mendez and we want to see him pull through because we know then that he might accomplish the impossible.  That’s what great movies are all about!     

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The Hunger Games : Catching Fire Soundtrack

The Los Angeles Times has just released an article about the soundtrack list for the upcoming Hunger Games movie " Catching Fire" . This list includes songs from such renowned musicians as Coldplay, Patti Smith, and The Lumineers. I will include the whole song list at the end of my analysis. I really like the musicians that they have lined up for this soundtrack. The soundtrack for the first movie was really well put together and really saved some of the flaws of the first movie. The soundtrack will be released on November 19 and the film will be released on November 22. One single has already been released which is the Coldplay song for the soundtrack titled " Atlas". Check it out and comment below of what you think of the single and what expectations you have for the new soundtrack !



  1. “Atlas” – Coldplay
2. “Silhouettes” – Of Monsters and Men
3. “Elastic Heart” – Sia (ft. The Weeknd & Diplo)
4. “Lean” – The National
5. “We Remain” – Christina Aguilera
6. “Devil May Cry” – The Weeknd
7. “Who We Are” – Imagine Dragons
8. “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” – Lorde
9. “Gale Song” – The Lumineers
10. “Mirrors” – Ellie Goulding
11. “Capital Letter” – Patti Smith
12. “Shooting Arrows At The Sky” – Santigold
13. “Place For Us” – Mikky Ekko
14. “Lights” – Phantogram
15. “Angel On Fire” – Antony and the Johnsons
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http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/the-hunger-games-catching-fire-soundtrack-enlists-lorde-aguilera/#/0

Harry Potter and My Childhood

I first encountered the Harry Potter Series in downtown Chicago around Christmas time in 1999. My whole family lives in Chicago, Illinois so my family would go down to the South Side for the weekend so that we could drive down town to shop and eat by the Christmas tree which was then Marshal Fields. The theme for that year was Harry Potter since the release of the first book became a instant bestseller so they made it their store and window themes for the Christmas season. From then on I was enamored with Harry Potter and I wanted to get my hands on the first book. My Aunt El for a Christmas present gave me the book, but I didn't read it till another two years after I received it.

    I later went on to read all seven books , but they didn't really touch me emotionally like the movies did. The movies had a real impact on my childhood. I would either spend my birthday or sometime close to my birthday going to see them either with family or friends. It was a big event that everybody no matter if you read the books or heard of the series could go to and enjoy an entertaining story and movie. I've enjoyed all the movies (except D.H Part 1) and I hope to pass it on to my future children so that they can experience it !

 

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My Playlist, My Self

These our some of the songs that are featured on my playlist. These songs are mostly Classic Rock songs that are popular in modern culture. These songs define me on days when I need them in my life. My father has had a major influence on my musical choices and I owe him for most of these song slections .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i-D4FaMWTs

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqeYrNYGzJc

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I believe music no matter who you are or what culture you come from will always be universal. If you discover something new to your liking you can always seek it out and experience it. Thats what makes music so special because its like a key too anybodys soul for both creativity and immagination. Let's hope these songs continue for generations too come !