Acting and Acting Styles – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Continuing with the film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), I will write about three of the main characters throughout this movie: Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, and Viggo Mortensen. All three were able to depict a hero, of their own sorts, to the movie.

As described in the text book “a wild card is an actor who is difficult to classify as one certain type, often because he or she can play a wide variety of characters equally well without becoming typecast actor” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) which seems to fit the bill for Elijah Wood; I don’t know too many movies he has been in, and I do no consider him a star because he is rarely heard of. In contrast, Orlando Bloom is a character actor since he is able to transform himself from an elf in this movie particular movie series to a man in a love story in Elizabethtown (2005). What is also interesting about Orlando Bloom is how he is able to portray a man without an English accent, which he does in a few of his movies; this, to me, is a form of a character actor. Not only a character actor, Orlando Bloom is a star among Hollywood actors due to his reappearance in tabloids and avid fans who like to read about his personal life. Also, Viggo Mortensen is a of the same classification since he has been able to play the worthless junkie in Black Velvet Pantsuit (1995) and then make a more serious crossover to a film such as A Perfect Murder (1998). I think Viggo Mortensen achieved star status a few years later through his career, and is now making appearances throughout celebrity magazines.

     Either one of these three actors has the capability to portray a wide array of characters in a movie; however, I am going to consider Orlando Bloom and his flexibility as an actor. Orlando Bloom has this likability when it comes to his appearance which is how I think he is able to be so popular in a romantic comedy and at the same time he is masculine enough to fit the bill for a fantasy film where he is one of the heroes. In my opinion, he has many opportunities with the amount of talent he has, and not to mention how he is able to act as if he is American with his accent cover-up, which may be something that another actor cannot accomplish.

Elizabethtown clip. (2005). Retrived from http://youtu.be/75TKB0299b0

References:

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. This text is a Constellation™ course digital materials (CDM) title.

[image]. Retrieved from http://images.moviepostershop.com/lord-of-the-rings-1-the-fellowship-of-the-ring-movie-poster-2001-1020195991.jpg

IMDb.com [image]. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0009487/?ref_=tt_cl_t3

Elizabethtown (2005). [Video]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/75TKB0299b0

Functions of Sound – The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Within a movie there are three categories of sound. Dialogue are the words spoken between characters in the film. Sound effects are the noises made by objects within the film, and music is the score created to play while the movie is in action or it can be music sang during the film. According to Goodykoontz & Jacobs (2014) “Countless phrases uttered in movies have become a part of our everyday conversation. How many times have you said things like, “Go ahead, make my day” or “Hasta la vista, baby” or “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” with the sure knowledge that the person you are talking to will recognize it and instantly know what you mean, no matter what the context?”

Throughout The Wizard of Oz (1939) the variety of sounds can be heard from the very beginning opening scene where Dorothy is running with Toto back to her Aunt and Uncle’s farm to share what Miss Gulch did to Toto; the music which plays is an upbeat, speedy song that matches the pace of Dorothy’s hurried run.

Music is such a memorable part of this movie with all that the actors sang to that became classics, including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. The music adds a childlike, pleasant vibe to the whole movie since the songs are all innocent in nature.

Immediately thereafter, dialogue is spoken between Dorothy, Uncle Henry, and Aunt Em as Dorothy tries to tell them what Miss Gulch did to Toto. In this film, dialogue is spoken frequently.

The sound effects most prevalent through the movie would have to be when the tornado is first heard and the Wicked Witch makes her first appearance to confront the one who killed her sister with the house; at this point, she makes an entrance with a red cloud of smoke that makes a startling, exaggerated, loud noise. All of the sound effects in this movie are totally exaggerated due to the fact that it is a fantasy film and none of the happenings can be compared to the sound of something factual and real taking place. 

Having the music removed from the opening scene of the film would not create a sense of urgency Dorothy is feeling as well as the quick paced music has been able to. Not to mention how this fantasy world created throughout would not have been as mystical and fun without all of the wonderful songs sang by the actors in the film.

References:

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. This text is a Constellation™ course digital materials (CDM) title.

[image] http://cdn.filmschoolrejects.com/images/The-Wizard-of-Oz-e1338481832874.jpg

[image] http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/17/06/cb/1706cbe5f0b5a36a5bb8265f38b08265.jpg

The – Lighting of – Wizard of Oz

At the beginning of the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz (1939), in the black and white scenes about Dorothy in her hometown Kansas the lighting seemed to be high-key lighting and very homey feeling as she is moving around her Aunt and Uncles’ farm. The mood of the initial part of the movie is upbeat and happy even as Dorothy is seeking advice from her family and farm hands about a (serious to her) situation with the not so kind Ms. Gulch

 After resolution of the issue, Dorothy gets Toto back and runs away to find herself making acquaintances with a crystal ball reader who advises her to return home. At this time, the lighting seems to darken and become low-light effects which is perfect for the upcoming scenes. This continues on as the situation becomes more dramatic and upsetting for Dorothy who is now in the midst of a tornado.

Ultimately, the most impacting part of the movie has got to be when Dorothy enters Munchkinland. The instant she opens the door to this fantastic new world we begin to feel joy. The light is the brightest it has been in the movie at this point. The colors are allowed to show their brilliance and give the feeling of cheer and a bright future ahead for our protagonist Dorothy.

The high-key lighting is what you expect of a cheerful, uplifting movie like The Wizard of Oz (1939). If a more dark lighting were used throughout the duration of this particular movie it would not have had the same charm and happiness to it, as it does with a bright yellow brick road, the luscious red poppies, and vivid green Land of Oz. Although fictional, truly this movie is intended to convey a message that you may be looking too far for happiness when it is usually right in front of you which is something that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

References:

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

[image] https://herewearegoing.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/garland-oz.jpg

[image] http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/The-Wizard-of-Oz-1024×746.jpg

[image] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2LR6l84_9Q/UVHErN1bUcI/AAAAAAAAAMw/6pKQH-NEXEM/s1600/245243-munchkinland_super.jpg

Disney/Pixar’s Ratatouille

Title: Ratatouille

Director: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava

Writer: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava

Year: 2007

Actors: Patton Oswalt (as the voice of Remy), Ian Holm (as the voice of Skinner), Lou Romano (as the voice of Alfredo Linguini),Brad Garrett (as the voice of Auguste Gusteau).

Story: This 2007 animated Disney/Pixar movie is about a rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt) who dreams of being a chef although he is a rodent and his family are opposed to the idea. By accidently fate, Remy is washed down the sewers of Paris where he finds himself beneath a world famous restaurant which was made famous and once owned by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett). Ultimately Remy encounters a seemingly ditzy guy Alfredo Linguine (Lou Romano) and they become a dynamic cooking duo.

Plot: Inside the Parisian restaurant,Alfredo Linguine (Lou Romano) who is hired as an escuelerie by Skinner (Ian Holm), the restaurant’s current owner and Gusteau’s former sous-chef. Remy watches as Linguine spills soup he is preparing incorrectly, then accidently falls in while trying to fix the flavors of the soup where he is discovered by Linguine who is then caught by Skinner. Remy is told to get rid of the rat at once, and as Linguine attempts to drop the rat into the river he feels sorry for the rodent and decides to let him live.

Finding out that Remy can understand everything he is saying and that he was the one who fixed the soup Linguine had almost messed up, Linguine and Remy decide to work together to help one another in the kitchen. Linguine allows Remy to live with him in his tiny Paris apartment that looks out at the Eiffel Tower which only strengthens Remy’s dream of becoming a chef. Once their first night together is over, Remy and Linguine must learn how to trust each other and work together in the kitchen without the rat being noticed by Skinner.

As Remy controls Linguine’s every move by sitting atop his head while pulling different sections of Linuine’s hair, the two are able to cook up another magnificent dish which is served to a food critic. Upon tasting Linguine’s food, the food critic raves about the wonderful flavor and Remy is beginning to get respect in the kitchen much to Skinner’s disdain. Thinking he will push Linguine out of the kitchen by making his time there uncomfortable, Skinner insists that Linguine and Colette work together as a pair.

Skinner finds out from his lawyer that Alfredo Linguine is the son of the late Auguste Gusteau and Linguine is to inherit the restaurant. Determined to prove that Linguine is keeping the rat with him in the kitchen, Skinner keeps a watchful eye on the up and coming chef; however, Skinner is unable to prove that the rat is in the kitchen with Linguine. In the meantime, Linguine and Colette are falling in love with each other while working in the kitchen.

Anton Ego, a food critic whose past review cost Gusteau’s one of its star ratings, announces he will review the restaurant again the next day based on its rising success. Linguini, under pressure of Ego’s pending arrival, has a falling out with Remy, causing Remy to retaliate by leading a raid on the kitchen’s foodstocks that night. Linguini catches the rats in the act and chases them all out, including Remy, feeling betrayed. Remy, dejected, is captured by Skinner. In his cage, Remy has one final conversation with his phantom Gusteau, who tells him that the rat never needed his guidance and at that moment, he is freed by Django and Emile. Remy returns to the kitchen, where a frantic Linguini apologizes and asks Remy back to help. Linguini then reveals the truth about Remy to the staff, resulting in a mass walk-out by the disbelievers; Colette later returns after recalling Gusteau’s motto: “Anyone can cook.”

Impressed by his son’s determination, Django organizes the rest of the pack to help out in the kitchen. They throw Skinner and a health inspector, bound and gagged, into the freezer when they try to interfere. Linguini uses roller skates to wait on all the tables by himself, while Remy and Colette work together to prepare a variation on ratatouille for Ego. Ego is amazed by the dish, which evokes childhood memories of his mother’s cooking, and asks to see the chef. Linguini and Colette wait until all the other customers leave to introduce Remy to Ego. Ego writes a glowing review of the meal the next day, declaring Remy to be “nothing less than the finest chef in France.”

Gusteau’s is closed down by the health inspector, and Ego loses his job and his credibility as a food critic for praising a restaurant filled with rats. However, he eagerly funds a new restaurant run by Linguini and Colette, featuring dining areas for both humans and rats and a kitchen designed for Remy to continue cooking. The film ends showing a long queue outside and a sign displaying a rat wearing a toque and holding a spoon, above it the name “La Ratatouille.”

Chronology: Ratatouille is told in a chronological order method. The story unfolds in a manner where the story progresses in a normal timeline. Everything happens one event after another, and there is no skipping backward or forward in storyline.

Resources:

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing. (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Fanpop. [Image]. Retrieved from http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Ratatouille-disney-637955_375_211.jpg

IMDb. [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382932/

Disney Movies. [Website]. Retrieved from http://movies.disney.com/ratatouille