Dazed and Confused

Dazed and Confused
directed/written by Richard Linklater

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In 1993 Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused hit theatres, yet it did so not with a bang but with a whisper. With an estimated budget of 6.9 million the film only managed to rake in roughly 8 million. By no means was the film considered a success to the studio. Today the film stands proud as highly beloved by many; it is the definition of a “cult classic”: a film that, when released, wasn't popular in the mainstream. However, it later garnered a very devoted (if somewhat small) following. With that said it is possible for the cult classic to transcend its cult status and be considered a classic. Dazed and Confused is a perfect example to prove the rule.

Set in May of 1976, on the last day of the school year in a small Texas town, Dazed and Confused follows several of these teenagers among what seems like disparate routines that ultimately coincide in a cathartic party at the “Moon tower”. The former Juniors now Seniors take full reigns of their newfound status and celebrate by getting intoxicated, punishing freshman, and hooking up. The film manages to capture the atmosphere and tone of High School life perfectly. All the atypical archetypes are to be found. There is the film’s protagonist Randall “pink” Floyd as the jock with authority issues, the incoming freshman already feelings the pains (both literal and figurative) of bullying, the group of geeks looking to expand their horizons, the graduate who can’t seem to let go and more. What the film may lack in spectacular cinematography or ground breaking surrealism it more than makes up for with honest story telling. It likes getting a front row seat to a real place in time, the characters feel genuine. We all knew someone like these characters in High School, some of them may have even been you.    

2) 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.  

Dazed And Confused was no wistful remembrance of high school

By Kyle Ryan

http://www.avclub.com/article/idazed-and-confusedi-was-no-wistful-remembrance-of-105136

The article (while admittedly short) essentially questioned how many translate the films many exploits, challenging its nostalgic effect. A common notion among fans of the film is to view it as a tribute to some of the best times of our lives, a joyous event now long gone. Some consider it a time of revelry with a taste of adulthood minus all the baggage. Ryan sought to challenge the notion of the film being a fond look back. Instead he sees it as posing a “nebulous existential concern”, questioning how some deem this portion of their life as the best of times. He even quotes Linklaters own words to further his point:

“Really, any person with a brain should hate high school. How can you like being completely oppressed by an atmosphere of authority and submission, with mind-indoctrination abounding? If you have a brain, you’re hoping just to survive and get out—and then you can, like, quest for real freedom.”  (Richard Linklater)

It is easy to support his argument. None of the adults in the film are portrayed in the most positive light: The father who ruins the party, the coaches centered on winning, the completely oblivious store clerk who sells beer to a minor. Maybe it just serves to depict how most teens view their mature counterparts, a dark glimpse of what is to come. The freshmen are preyed upon by the seniors, made to commit degrading acts and submit to corporal punishment. So it is a viable argument.

3) 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.?

Ryan’s article did actually make me take a step back and reassess the film as a whole. Ultimately I determined that the film doesn’t relegate itself to presenting just one facet of high school life. Along with the torturous treatment of the younger crowd, the bitchy banter among the ladies there is the connections among these kids. There are redeeming moments. The introverted freshman finds a newfound confidence, the jock comes to cathartic realization about doing things on his terms, and one meek young man finally steps up and challenges the alpha male (despite getting his ass kicked).

Essentially I think some people may have been projecting their own personal experiences on the film. Some people hated high school, others loved it, and it’s just that simple. Pink says near the end of the film that he will kill himself if these are the best years of his life, and I wholly agree. Despite whatever anxiety ridden teenagers believe those years are not the end all be all of life. You’re not going to die because he/she broke up with you, or because you didn’t make the team. Basically, high school is a memorable experience, but one of many we will have. You live and learn.

4) 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. 

There are many films that attempt to capture the essence of teen life, specifically the high school experience, yet few do it well. As anyone who has survived the angst ridden turmoil that is teen Dom knows, high school goes beyond the classes and the books. It’s about the girls, the clicks, the popularity and yes even getting laid. At the time it may seem like those 4 years are as good as it gets, at others it emulates torture. Dazed and confused got it right. Even though the film is set in 1976, audiences can relate to these characters and their experiences.

Linklater manages to expose all the prototypes that inherently accompany high school, even years later. The jocks that rule the school, the bullies both male and female, the gorgeous girls in tight outfits, the gangling awkward freshman, the hot teacher (Mrs. Keys was mine), the geeks, the cool guy, the out-of-his-mind stoner, the older guy still hanging onto to glory days, the imposing parents, and so much more. He does so while capturing those moments we tell stories of years later. 

The ensemble cast was great; the film is also packed with many would be stars, and a few flashes in the pan. Ben Affleck, Mathew McConaughey, Milla Jovavich and Parker Posey are just a few actors who would go on to successful careers. The superb soundtrack should also be noted, it applied itself naturally to the setting of the film and to each scene it accompanied. 

By no means can I say this film is for everybody, but I struggle to find people who dislike it. It takes a slice of life and puts it on the screen for audiences, all while doing so with comedic delight and a few poignant themes on living in the moment and looking ahead. It deserves to be mentioned with other cult classics, and is one of those films that sadly found its audience after the fact.   

Plagiarism Statement:  Attach this to the end of every journal assignment.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Benjamin F. M. Novoa   Date: 3/22/2104

Sex, Lies, and Videotape

Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)Directed by Steven Soderbergh

1)   Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Sex, Lies and Videotape is often given credit for starting the independent film boom; the films content (sex) took center stage. Surprisingly, the film had a better cost-to-earnings ratio than the year’s box office hit: Tim Burton’s Batman. Essentially, the story is of john- a lawyer who invites his old college buddy Graham to stay with him for a visit. At the true core of the story are two sisters, Ann, John’s sexually suppressed wife and Cynthia her sex fueled sister who John is having an affair with. The two women are on opposite ends of the sexual spectrum but soon come to terms with where they lie and where they wish to be.

Graham is impotent, but is aroused by having women discuss their sexuality on tape. When Cynthia and Ann become his subjects everyone’s secrets are aired out, and the façade of a structured life is broken down. The film gave indie films greater value. Soderbergh also followed an atypical career path. Most filmmakers make an indie film, and then garner the attention of major studios and move on to big budget affairs. Soderbergh spent his career going from big hits to little films that caught his attention, experimenting with various genres along the way. Today he is “retired” from filmmaking, but what is left for him remains to be seen.

2)   Find a related article and summarize the content

How Steven Soderbergh’s ’sex, lies and videotape’ Still Influences Sundance After 25 Years

By… Sean Axmaker

Link to the article = http://www.indiewire.com/article/how-steven-soderberghs-sex-lies-and-videotape-still-influences-sundance-after-25-years

Sean Axmaker’s article puts Soderbergh’s indie darling under the microscope. He looks at the undeniable impact the film had on the Sundance Film Festival (and the many other indie festivals of its ilk). The question he poses is whether or not the now fad-heavy festival made the film or vice versa. In 1989 the indie circuit isn’t what it is today, and that year was heavy with now classic, or cult classic independent films – Do the Right Thing debuted the very same year.

Despite the films name there are no blatant sex scenes to be found, despite being marketed as such. Instead the movie touches down on the subject matter of sex, but includes lying, fidelity, self-discovery, and intimacy or a lack thereof in some cases. He approached the subject directly and honestly. The cast didn’t consist of unknowns, but by no means were the actor’s studio gold.

The film’s success made the Sundance film festival an industry event, making news headlines yearly taking note of the “it” films of the moment. It now consists of megastars pet projects, regional films, and the “little films that could”. Today, the American indie film is a brand, a genre all its own.

Even with the current hipster-esque artistic wannabe culture surrounding these festivals, there is still room for quality films. Fruitvale Station, Little Miss Sunshine, and Winter’s Bone are just a few examples of indie films of great quality and influential themes. Yet this indie explosion isn’t all good news; the industry now consists of a few mega blockbusters eating up a large portion of the pie, with a flood of indie films vying for what’s left. Industry historian Peter Biskind referred to the film as the "big bang of the modern indie film movement,”

3)   Apply the article to the film screened in class

By no means is Sex, Lies, and Videotape a paragon of independent film. Yet, look at many independent films today and you can almost see the characteristics found in the film. Limited budgets are what these films are mostly noted for, with roughly 1.2 million to work with that would seem to fit the bill. It also established other facets of the indie film: It was simple in its approach, contained small scenes with minimal casts – in this case a core of four characters, it touched on adult issues and managed to get its story across in a minimalistic fashion.

Most notably, these films often face issues in contemporary culture. Do the Right thing for example, took on bigotry and police brutality, Fruitvale station did as well. They often turn the camera back on the world we live in, although with a dramatic flair. Homosexuality, racism, greed, inequality and injustice in any form it may take are all up for cinematic portrayal. Sex and Lies did so by showcasing a cheating husband, his prudish wife, her sex charged sister, and a man in fear of true intimacy who threw a monkey wrench into the entire arrangement.

Regardless of what the current state of independent films today may be, Soderbergh’s indie breakout should be given its due for making the independent festival what it is today. Tribeca, Caan, and yes Sundance have exploded as major events to the industry.

4)   Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussion, text material and the article.

As far as impact goes, I understand how Sex, Lies, and Videotape took the entirety of the movie industry a step forward. It touched on provocative themes like intimacy, infidelity, and sexual discovery. It used relatively small actors and managed to provide what some consider a good film with a miniscule budget. Trust me, I get it. With that being said I absolutely could not get on board with this film.

“Pretentious” is often used to describe this film, and I couldn’t agree more. A film can have a great theme but it all comes down to how it is delivered, the quality is in the actual doing. The film was trying too hard to be provocative, I could not identify with these characters and James Spader who normally is superb in all his creepy glory, is just plain creepy. His every conversation is awkward, the intention was to have witty realistic dialogue, but instead every conversation graham has is like pulling teeth. Every thought, idea, and notion gets an obstinate glance from Graham, as if he struggles to respond to even the simplest of questions. He was a hipster before hipsters were common, I hated this character. John is a scumbag of the highest order, feeling sorry for himself at every opportunity despite the fact that all his problems were self-inflicted. Ann was a prude to sheer annoyance, every word or utterance even remotely sexual resulted in a bashful giggle. Her sister is the definition of a tramp, and has the gall to call john on his cheating ways. The only redeeming quality this film has is for independent filmmakers, it can serve as a great example of a little film that can make it.

A small film doesn’t have to limit filmmaking. Instead the limitations can actually foster inspiration. Being forced to work within the confines of a budget can force writers and/or directors to rein it in, focusing on the core of what makes the story. Not a bad thing by any means.

Plagiarism Statement:  Attach this statement to the end of each journal assignment. CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Benjamin Novoa                   Date: 3/11/14

Do the Right Thing

DO THE RIGHT THING - 1989
DIRECTED BY SPIKE LEE

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

On a hot, humid, hazy day tensions in one Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn are at a high. The day’s heat seems to bring both thermometers and the regressed resentment of its residents to a boil. All the pressure comes to a head in what can only be described as chaos -- all surrounding a simple pizzeria, its owner, and its patrons. That is the basic premise behind Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, but the film does so much more. The film was ground breaking and received two academy award nominations (one for Danny Aiello – Best supporting actor, and Spike Lee – Best Screenplay) but sadly didn’t win in any of the categories. It can be seen as another example of the Academy not getting it right; Driving Miss Daisy received the voter’s adulation that year, yet it is Do the Right Thing that still reverberates as powerfully influential even today.

The story was commanding and touched down on the bigotry that can be found in many of us, despite outward appearances. Rather than turn the film into a statement on the evils of the “white man”, Lee is honest in presenting all of us – black, white, Asian and Hispanic – as being susceptible to intolerance. He does so with finesse. The characters are real, some likeable some not so much, but their types can be found in many of our streets. His dialogue is humorous and honest, but his camera work is wonderful. Wonderful camera work – tracking shots, the dolly cloud effect, and worm’s eye views for example – are executed to full effect. He also utilizes a haze effect and uses warm color schemes making the heat almost jump off screen. It was a good film, despite mixed views on the final confrontation between Mookie and Salvatore, that presented themes many of choose to ignore and brought them to the forefront of our minds.   

2) 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.  

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.

Fighting The Power: "Do the Right Thing" 20 Years Later

                        by Anthony Kaufman

Kaufman’s article, written on the 20^th anniversary of the film presented a look back on Spike Lee’s efforts to get the film made, beyond mere funding, but to get the film he wanted made. He went on to discuss the many independent film makers that took note of Lee’s work and have been inspired by the Do the Right Thing. According to Kaufman, 1989 seemed to be an epochal year for independent films.

Jon Pierson, who funded Lees earlier film She’s Gotta Have It, for 10,000 went on to say … "You had these people with some degree of success and it was like let's take it to the next level," he says, citing directors like the Coen brothers and Spike Lee. "Some of the smarter young studio execs were forward-thinking, like this is the new wave, let's see if they can make 'real' movies that still have an edge."

This was prior to studios having subdivisions, like Universal’s Focus Features, as an outlet for smaller films. At the time the studio had invested roughly 6 million into the film (a drop in the bucket compared to today’s big budget affairs) but was still concerned with both the budget and the films reception. Despite the reluctance the studio took a chance and during a screening for the anniversary Lee opened up his introduction by thanking former Universal president Tom Pollock for not falling to the pressure and backing the director.

The film inspired indie directors like Lee Daniels and Sam Kitt and serves as a testament to aspiring film makers of every ilk to pursue their careers and to make the films they want, rather than adhering to “studio standards”. The obstacles that were overcome should serve as a testament to many film students to continue to strive to bring the many ideas rattling around in their brains to the screen.    

3) 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.?

It’s relatively easy for young filmmakers to be dissuaded from making the film they want. It is an extremely hard business to break into, and why would you want to contradict the very people who are handing you the money you need to make your film. Regardless of the many obstacles that while undoubtedly present themselves you have to toe the line between placating the powers that be and making something you actually care about. When employees, filmmakers, or artists (whatever moniker suits you) decide to “phone it in” on a project the results speak for themselves. You can almost see the lack of effort in the work. In contrast, when you are passionate about a project, that effort also manages to shine through.

Do the Right Thing is a perfect example of the little film that could. It doesn’t always take a lot of money to be thrown at a film to equal quality – cough, John Carter of Mars. Quality, care, and gumption can go a long way. Do the right thing was a great film made for a fraction of the cost of many of today’s big budget blowouts. Yet, Spike Lee’s arguably best picture will still have a greater impact on cinema.

4) 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.

Many films of the past are barely edgy by today’s standards – Midnight Cowboy or the Graduate for example. Nevertheless it’s these types of films that opened up the door for other films with similar subject matter to be made in the first place. Do the Right Thing is one of those movies. Granted, the passing of time of brings with it new outlooks, a new zeitgeist. We are far more open minded today than in the past, but to pretend that bigotry and intolerance are non-existent would be a gross miscalculation. Do the Right Thing came from Lee looking at was going on in the world around him and addressing it through film. A film can serve many functions – entertainment, escapism, or in this case artistic critique. He did so with cinematic flair. One scene in particular showcases the diverse residents of Mookie’s neighborhood spewing racial diatribes while looking directly at the camera. Even today the scene makes you cringe; in that case it did its job.

Lee’s cinematography is also in full effect. We get extreme close-ups when a character is in middle of hate filled monologue, their emotions taking front seat. At times the film looks misty and somewhat out of focus, as if the heat (a metaphor for the rising tension) is almost tangible. He uses a warm color scheme to make us feel the rays of the sun beating down on us.

His dialogue is both humorous and poignant, but never over the top and uncharacteristic. The music seems perfectly executed, catering to the emotion of the scene at hand, I dare you to watch this film and not have Public Enemy’s Fight the power running through your mind. Is this a perfect film? No, that doesn’t exist. You can point to the awkward closing conversation between Mookie and Salvatore and find yourself scratching your head. The film doesn’t pretend to have all the answers but shines a light on the many problems.     

Plagiarism Statement:  Attach this to the end of every journal assignment.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Benjamin F. M. Novoa              Date: 3/1/2014