Now I've Seen It!

 Once again, I find that the blog page has had a pretty substantial gap. I guess it's been a busy year, but I feel like I should have found more time to post here. As of right now (and I hope people hold me to it) I'm going to write here more often, possibly weekly. 

My first series to begin is one that I've been meaning to start for awhile now.

People who know me would probably infer that I'm a big film enthusiast, movie buff, cinephile ect. However, as with any medium or related experience, we've got gaps. We've all been there. You say you haven't played this video game, read this book or tried a certain food, people will exclaim, "WHATTTTT????!!!" Then you bow your head in embarrassment and give back your geek credentials or whatever. This is only really noticeable when you establish yourself as knowledgeable about something, but then you reveal some big gaps that may be more surprising than others.

I confess that I may have not advertised not having seen some movies since I felt like some were pretty inexcusable. Oddly enough though, many of these movies weren't ones I avoided but rather just didn't come across or actively pursue. Usually they are ones that I admit didn't really seem interesting to me based on personal taste. Others I felt like I got the gist of and didn't really need to see. 

The point is, I finally decided there are some movies that I should probably check out at least once. I've compiled a list, but had some friends recommend some they thought I should prioritize first. I watched the three listed films above, but thought I'd give my fresh take on these classics. If nothing else, it'll give some more steady content here (we can hope).

This one was the first film I checked out since it seemed like the biggest outlier from a historical perspective. My friend Dan recommended it, I think mostly due to its reputation. This was one that I probably didn't see for some combination of the reasons I listed before. I knew the most iconic lines. I didn't happen to own this one or come across it on television as a kid. To be honest, all I knew about it was that it was a romance, which I admit did not appeal to me at face value.

That being said, it's amazing how much I didn't know about that actual plot of the film. The whole World War II setting factored in more than I realized. It's almost as much espionage drama as it is a romance, which I appreciated. I didn't know Casablanca featured any gunplay. Not that it's an action film by any means, but it creates that intensity of both setting and stakes right away.

Unsurprisingly I suppose, I think the writing of the script is very sharp and not corny in the least. It's certainly theatrical and almost operatic at points, as films typically were of the time. I also appreciated the wonderful cinematography, capturing the fullness of set design with really very few locations. This film also made great use of shadow, with scenes coming off as taking place in the dark but still crisp when characters were shown. I think even some films today don't do lighting so well. 

What stands out the most to me though, were the performances combined with the distinctive writing of the characters. They have that wonderful balance of 1940s characterization of being colorful enough that they seem larger than life, but grounded enough that their humanity is believable at its core. It's kind of what movies are like. How about that.

Bogart and Bergman have great chemistry, which is probably surprise to few reading this. I think what caught me off guard the most was how dynamic Rick Blaine's character was. I know Bogart is typically known for his tough guy persona, but I was very moved by how in love he was with Lund. I liked how that tough exterior sort of melted when she came into the picture and how hurt he was by her absence. Her coming into his life also served as the catalyst for him to do more good. 

It sounds so simple but I think that's it's a very relatable message just so very well executed here. It was also so refreshing to see such a layered portrayal a man in a film from this era. Perhaps that greatly helped the film's legacy endure. The finale was also pretty intense and more bittersweet than I expected. Learning to let what you love go is a powerful lesson but really hard hitting stuff. The biggest surprise of all was perhaps that I didn't know about the ending of this one! 

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This one I have no real excuse for. Of the three movies listed here, this one is probably the biggest surprise for people who know me. Well, then again, I've always been firmly in the Godzilla camp.  After watching this one, I was almost a Kong guy. 

Look, this movie is great. I did a whole podcast about it with my pal Justin. We praised the heck out of it. I don't know why it took me so long, but I thoroughly enjoyed this it. The special effects were masterful and honestly still pretty impressive from today's perspective. Long before CGI here. It's the hard work, dedication and pure creativity of the craft that reminds me of why I love the  movies. King Kong was one of those.  

Like I said, we did a whole podcast on it. So if you want more of my opinion on Kong, give it a listen if you have the time. 

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXlipNjM-iM&t=1652s  

How have I not seen this one? 

I mean, I'm the most versed in Hitchcock, but I've seen the entries I'd heard about the most. I can check off Psycho, Rear Window, Vertigo and The Birds (probably my favorite). 

I've heard some mention of Rope before, but I knew nothing of it. This is yet another demonstration of the master of suspense at work. I love when filmmakers can do so much with so little. The whole movie is really just a series of interesting conversations all taking place in one location. Yet it is so intriguing. You've got sharp dialogue and performances defining the cast in short span of time and  wonderful use of panning shots and long takes, making use of specific details of object placement with virtually seamless transitions for cuts. 

Though I typically like to figure out the mystery myself, this one gives us the answer immediately while we eagerly wait for Jimmy Stewart to figure it out. Mostly we don't want to see the bad guys win! That one guy's is just so damn smug about it. 

I also liked the ideas about morality and upholding to such principles pitted against a sense of superiority against such ideals. It's tough subject matter but climactically nailed in with one of the best monologues I've ever heard. If you haven't' seen this one yet, I highly recommend it!

Thank you for reading. Stay magical everyone!