Happy Valley

My thoughts in general: Happy Valley is a documentary that I saw at the LDS Film Festival last week. It is about drug abuse in Utah County. It has a great message about the need to open our eyes to the reality of what is actually going on around us. However much some people want to discount, or at least not acknowledge, the "seedy" side of Happy Valley, we are not living in a Utopia, and it is important to know how to help our friends and family in recognizing addiction and properly dealing with it. In the film, we witness the reconciliation of a woman and a girl who is in prison for killing the woman's daughter by assisting her in a heroin overdose. Though the message is an important one, there were things about the filmmaking itself that did not sit well with me. The film seemed at times to just be a hodgepodge of stories lacking an overall cohesion. But overall, it was worth watching, and I feel that my criticism should not prevent anyone from seeing this film.

My thoughts on application: Well, I think I found a film that could actually be used in the classroom. The discussion of drug abuse (including the abuse of prescription drugs) is an important one, and I think this film can be a helpful aid. It could be used in a discussion of how to edit a film from lots of footage into something manageable, especially when there is so much to say that is worthwhile. This film could be analyzed to see where it succeeded and where it did not. However, as mentioned above, I think this film could most importantly be used to discuss important issues of drug abuse, specifically in "Happy Valley." In the film, there is some discussion of the influence of media. This would be particularly pertinent in a classroom discussion. The filmmakers met some participants in the documentary through the use of billboard advertising, which I think makes a case for the benefit of media. Thus, this could lend itself to a conversation about the benefits and detriments of media. Conversation is necessary.

American Gangster

My thoughts in general: American Gangster is Ridley Scott's new film starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. It is based on the true story of a gangster from Manhattan and the policeman who is trying to stop him and his criminal activities. In the 1970's, Frank Lucas created a huge heroin smuggling business and became rich and powerful (the basic premise of any gangster film). Though it has been nominated for many awards, it has yet to win any really significant awards. This film was not very satisfying for me. The acting was typical--Denzel Washington was the same smooth-talking, toothy-grin-flashing, powerful man who suddenly bursts into throwing-my-coffee-mug-into-the-wall rage (wait, have I seen this before? Man on Fire? Deja Vu?) while Russell Crowe was the looked-down-upon-until-I-prove-I-am-right, almost-reclusive, stuttering-at-times outsider (A Beautiful Mind, anyone?). Acting aside, it was interesting to portray a based-on-a-true-story rise of a black gangster, since most past gangster films have focused on Italians. Yet, it lacked some key elements of the classic gangster picture and reinforced to me the post-modern world in which we live. Having recently written a study on the gangster genre, I anticipated seeing this film, yet it was difficult when my generic expectations were not met.

My thoughts on application: Like Atonement, this film is rated R, yet setting aside the inability of using this in a classroom, I find some areas that could be worthwhile discussion. As mentioned above, this film could be used to analyze the gangster genre--how it fits, how it doesn't fit, why, etc. It could also be analyzed as a historical text, and it could be compared to the real story of Frank Lucas. It would also be an interesting study for its inclusion in the repertoire of Ridley Scott films. However, all these ideas seem to be of more benefit to critical film studies than to classroom assistance. Hmm....

Atonement

My thoughts in general: As I was reviewing the media with which I have interacted in the last week, I realize that many (probably most) of the media I experience are films. Thus, I fear that most of my media blogs will be about films that I watch, but I hope that this will change and that I will begin to recognize the other media that surrounds me and include it in my blogging. However, that being an optimistic future and this being the film-dominated present, I will first write about the film Atonement. This is a new film starring Keira Knightley and directed by Joe Wright, who directed Pride and Prejudice, also starring Keira Knightley. Well, Atonement has been nominated for a bunch of awards and won 2 Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture - Drama. Films that I really want to see are often few and far-between. However, Atonement is one of these few, and I was excited to see it. After watching it, I understand why awards academies like it so much, but it was somewhat disappointing for me. Keira Knightley's acting reminded me of pretty much every other performance she has given, and acting-wise, the film didn't seem much different from Wright's Pride and Prejudice. There were good performances, including one by the seasoned Vanessa Redgrave, but her short part fit her so well, it was almost too expected . . . but something that the Academy likes. The idea of atonement was approached in an interesting way that really did cause me to reflect, though. Ultimately, it was not as fulfilling as I would have hoped, but it was not a waste of time.

My thoughts on application: Since Atonement is rated R, it couldn't couldn't really be applied in a high school setting, and it would be a limited use even at BYU. However, here is what I think is applicable. It has some interesting portrayals of WWII, which could be used to discuss the War--it could be analyzed for accuracy, it could be compared to other filmic depictions of WWII, etc. Also, since it based on Ian McEwan's novel, it could be used as a study of novel-to-film adaptation. Overall, the theme of atoning for one's misdeeds could used as a discussion point with any group (that could appropriately watch the film). This discussion lends itself to contemplating the future effects of our present actions. Forethought and prudence seem to be lacking at times in our instant-gratification, in-your-face, over-the-top society (I'm thinking Jackass and other ridiculous media).

Welcome to Media Stiff

Well, here I am. With this, I preface my media musings. My red-black dichromatic ensemble in this picture is inspired by one of my favorite bands, Alkaline Trio.