American Beauty

As winner of the 1999 Academy Award for Best Picture over several other notable movies such as The Matrix, Fight Club, and The Green Mile, it's obvious to expect that American Beauty would be a well made film. The movie features a seamless blend between witty comedy and powerful, riveting drama. But what gives American Beauty staying power is its unique premise and empowering theme, which work together to challenge our traditional notion of "beauty" and what it means to be "beautiful." American Beauty has not been around long enough to be considered a classic, but it's continuity and relevance to modern society ensure that it will likely be considered one in the years to come.

The basic premise of American Beauty is of a family that is falling apart at the seams. Lester and Carolyn Burnham (Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening) have long been in a tumultuous and loveless marriage and are also parents to a disaffected teenage daughter, Jane Burnham (Thora Birch). Since the movie starts off by illustrating the obvious failures and problems within the family, the majority of the film is dedicated to how each character attempts to turn his or her life around. While American Beauty is meant to be a criticism of the typical American family, what I find to be particularly brilliant about the movie is that we are given characters who are anything but typical. Lester is an unmotivated father who can't be bothered to amount to anything in his life, but eventually becomes determined to change his lifestyle after developing an infatuation for his daughter's best friend. Conversely, Carolyn is shown to be absolutely maniacal and obsessive in her mannerisms, thus leading to her becoming overbearing and alienating her daughter. Each character takes a different approach to self-improvement; however, none of them go about such a process in any fashion that most would consider even remotely "typical." Because the normal American family is shown to have failed, it makes sense that unconventional methods would be required in order to achieve such improvement though. There's several different story elements in American Beauty to keep track of that make the film rather complicated and even harder to describe, but the way in which the story unfolds makes the movie incredibly captivating.

Although American Beauty is a thought-provoking and emotional drama film on the whole, the movie assumes a comedic tone at several points. Kevin Spacey deserves much credit here as his versatile style allows him to pull off both a humorous and dramatic voice at any given time. Spacey employs heavy use of sarcasm in his jokes that are indeed funny on their own merit, but even more entertaining when juxtaposed to Carolyn who is astonishingly stuck-up and pompous. In particular, the various dinner scenes and the fast food drive through clip really showcase this interaction between Lester and Carolyn, and the prevailing style of humour that the movie drives towards. Most quips are uttered during the first half of the movie, but the film is really well paced in that there will never be any scene that goes over the top in an attempt to convey humour, and there aren't any points where the jokes come off as flat and dull either. The blending of several different moods and themes throughout American Beauty without diminishing the affect of the overall message is a testament to how well made the movie is.

American Beauty deals with several depressing themes such as feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and helplessness. On the surface, one would be inclined to believe that the movie is rather disturbing and distressing since it essentially depicts much of what is flawed in modern society. However, American Beauty also shows that we have to power to change and better ourselves no matter what our predicament is. I am always impressed by movies that deal with grim and depressing themes, yet resonate with a positive message because they show that even in the worst situations there's always a light of hope. Because the movie starts with all of the characters at their lowest level of confidence and morale, their ascension and growth over the course of the film instills a feeling of happiness in the viewer because we understand where they began and the obstacles that were overcome in turning their lives around. However, it should be noted that the ending is quite bittersweet and is likely to leave you emotionally conflicted because it represents a rapid shift from the lighter tone that pervaded the earlier part of the film. The tagline for the movie "...look closer" pretty much sums up the movie's message that we have to move beyond insignificant superficialities and look for more subtle beauty if we are ever to going progress beyond our current plateau as is shown in the evolution of several key characters in the movie.  

American Beauty is a powerful and riveting drama that successfully blends several different moods and themes into one spectacular package. The shifts from comedic to dramatic scenes are well done and keep the movie moving forward so there is never a lull in the action. Although the movie deals with rather depressing themes, it still delivers an empowering message and provides a compelling criticism of the typical American family values. I recommend this movie to anyone looking to watch an intense and captivating drama; however, I caution that it does require some maturity in order to really grasp the premise of the film.

The Shawshank Redemption

Perfection. A word I almost never use when it comes to describing movies because there's always something that can be improved upon. However, such a word truly is warranted when describing The Shawshank Redemption as the movie is so powerful and awe-inspiring that all I am able to do is ramble on about the sheer feeling of amazement that this film evokes within me. The incredible acting and spellbinding storyline hold stronger here than in any other movie I have seen to date as there is never a moment or scene that feels out of place, overdone, or cliché. Normally, I'm quite skeptical when I'm told that a movie is phenomenal or outstanding, but that really is the case here.

The Shawshank Redemption is simply a story about two men who are imprisoned for life after committing murder. Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, and Ellis Boyd Redding ("Red"), Morgan Freeman, are faced with the seemingly hopeless and insurmountable challenge of dealing with prison life. The majority of the film takes place within Shawshank Prison, which makes sense given that both men must live out their lives in the facility, and by having almost the entire film centre around the prison we know as an audience that a prison essentially drains the life out of its inmates by confining and marginalizing them for most of their lives. However, what I love about this movie is that it shows that even in the bleakest of situations there is always hope that one can redeem himself through noble acts. Although much of the movie revolves around dark themes, it is able to resonate with a positive and empowering message at the end that we always have the power to change and overcome adversity no matter what life throws at us. In my opinion, this message is made even stronger after the film because we have seen the trials that Dufresne and Red have overcome, and by watching them surpass these obstacles, the heartwarming morals induced by the film are even more compelling because they are juxtaposed to the grim tone that pervades most of the movie. The story of The Shawshank Redemption may not seem outstanding on the surface, but the way in which it is told left me in a state of enchantment that I have never felt when watching any other movie.

Another strong aspect of The Shawshank Redemption is the way in which it debunks many of the myths we associate with the prison system. We often have the idea that the incarceration process is too soft on criminals and that we need to impose stricter and more rigid sentences upon convicted felons. However, the sheer brutality of prison life that is depicted in The Shawshank Redemption shows that perhaps we need to reevaluate this thought as such harsh conditions could possibly make the inmates even more hardened and emotionally disconnected with the world. The raping among inmates and the brutish behaviour of the guards only serves to worsen an already miserable state within the prison. When Dufresne states "the funny thing is - on the outside, I was an honest man, straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook." we get the sense that maybe lifelong imprisonment isn't the best way to rehabilitate criminals. The chilling reality captured by The Shawshank Redemption really forces us to take a step back and reconsider the way we in which we deal with criminals.

While the storyline and writing of The Shawshank Redemption are outstanding, the acting performances delivered by both Robbins and Freeman elevate the movie even further. I found myself so enraptured by the film that I tended to forget I was even watching a movie in the first place, but rather that I had an amazing story unravel before my very eyes because everything seemed so real. There are many memorable quotes uttered throughout the movie, but some of the powerful points in the movie were shown just by looking at the blank stare of Robbins as he was able to convey a genuine sense of both optimism and sheer horror in response to the circumstances he was placed in. Furthermore, Freeman is well established as a brilliant narrator, but I also greatly enjoyed his performance as Red. While we get a good sense of Dufresne's character just from his own thoughts and actions, the narration and interaction provided by Freeman in the movie allows us to understand Dufresne even better because we are able to see through Red's eyes and feel as though we can sympathize with both characters. The movie really revolves around the bond between the two characters, and the depth of their friendship is a bright light in an otherwise dark situation in the prison. The acting in The Shawshank Redemption serves to liven an already brilliant plot, and really helps set this movie apart from other great drama films.

The Shawshank Redemption is a tale of the human condition and how we react to the situations life brings upon us. The movie shows that hope can be found in even the darkest of times and profoundly impacts the viewer with a true sense of awe and empowerment. I have yet to watch another movie where I am so marvelled by the fantastic storytelling and acting performances as this film really delivers a surreal experience. I recommend that absolutely everyone watch this movie at some point because it really has no equal and is well deserving of the #1 spot on IMDb's Top 250 Movies of All Time list. 

The Social Network

After being one of the most popular and hyped movies of 2010, I felt that now would be a good time to watch The Social Network again and see if the buzz was truly justified, or if it was simply overblown in the heat of the moment. The movie immediately makes a connection with most people as it's about the creation of Facebook, which is so widespread that I would probably struggle to name 5 people my age who don't use the site. Since the website upon which the movie is based is so universal, it's hardly surprising that the movie itself was really hyped and advertised before it even hit the screens, but there is substance behind all of the advertising as the writing in the film really gives it life and the sort of dramatic tension one might expect when there's a lawsuit worth billions of dollars involved.

The story of The Social Network is simply based on a true story of how Facebook was created. In a nutshell, Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed as a brilliant, but extremely narcissistic person who has the programming capabilities to create various websites. Eventually, he comes up with the idea of creating a social networking website with the goal of taking the entire college experience and putting it on the internet so that students can connect with each other in ways that were previously unimaginable. However, in doing this, Zuckerberg manages to alienate everyone close to him as he always holds his goal closer to heart than those who help him get there in the first place. While there has obviously been some artistic interpretation and revisions from the true story in the movie in order to make it more appealing to the viewers, it is interesting to get a sense of how Facebook grew to become the cultural icon that it is today even if the movie provides a liberal interpretation of what actually happened with the founding of Facebook. I enjoyed the buildup of the story and generally found the movie to be pretty entertaining, but the simplicity of the film's premise lacks a certain "wow" factor separating the good films from the great ones. 

The plot of The Social Network was certainly solid enough to evoke the kind of emotion you would expect out of a drama. However, one of my biggest issues with the movie was that Zuckerberg is portrayed as being an arrogant and selfish asshole for almost the entirety of the film, but in the last 10 minutes he suddenly has a change of heart and is willing to compromise with others and be kind. This might not sound like much of a problem, but it really frustrates me that he's shown to be so conceited and rude to others for the entire movie, and then at the last minute the film crew decides to pull a 180 and portray him as being a good guy with little explanation as to how and why this happened. It almost feels as though they could have made a second movie out of the last 10 minutes, but instead decided to cram it  in with the previous 100 minutes even though it doesn't make much sense within the context of the rest of the movie. 

In my mind, the greatest strength of The Social Network was the dialogue exchanged between Zuckerberg and various supporting characters. I found myself interested in what the characters, in particular Zuckerberg, had to say as each one was illuminated with a different personality. There was never any boring or meaningless dialogue that brought the movie to a halt, but the strong script also ensured that the audience could develop a deeper and more meaningful understanding of Zuckerberg and why he behaves in the manner he does. His witty lines clearly demonstrate his unbelievable intelligence in addition to his arrogant nature that pushes everyone away from him. Any given scene in the movie could be funny and switch to a more serious mood without it feeling awkward or out of place as Zuckerberg would always have several thoughts percolating in his mind and what he said usually set the tone for what was going on in the movie. The Social Network could have ended up as a drab and listless drama, but the witty and entertaining writing gives the movie a sense of purpose and really solidifies the simplistic storyline.

The Social Network isn't the most fascinating or captivating drama out there, but its strong writing really livens up a straightforward story. While the movie certainly doesn't provide a strictly historical account of Facebook's creation, it is interesting to get an idea of the popular site's origins in a more riveting format than simply reading about how it came to be. The ending of the movie didn't really fit into the overall context of the movie, but the buildup on the whole was effective enough that this wasn't a huge problem in the grand scheme of things. The Social Network is a very approachable film that can be watched by almost any audience, and I recommend it to anyone who's a fan of director David Fincher's previous movies or anyone looking for a new drama film to watch. 

Taxi Driver

Martin Scorsese has become one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed directors over the past few decades. It's not hard to see why as his movies have very effectively depicted humanity in a brutal and revealing light producing a certain feeling of tension and unease that has rarely been replicated by other filmmakers. Taxi Driver is no exception as it really set the trend for Scorsese's later films and does a truly remarkable job of portraying human isolation and the insanity that can stem from such feelings. To say the least, Taxi Driver is quite unsettling and really makes you feel as if you're in the movie because it feels so realistic and vivid.

Taxi Driver is completely focused around the main character with little emphasis put on the supporting cast. The story involves Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro), a young Vietnam War veteran who takes a nighttime job driving a taxi to keep himself occupied and avoid confronting the feelings of loneliness and inadequacy that torment him. However, his self-induced isolation only worsens throughout the film as he alienates others around him, and eventually descends into a state of madness since he is unable to develop a meaningful relationship with anyone. There is little interaction between Travis and other characters as the movie is trying to show just how lonely he is, and the boredom of his life is certainly a major cause of his moral decay. He takes it upon himself to "clean up" the streets of New York city by saving a teenage prostitute from her pimp, but his altruistic efforts at the end of the film are greatly outweighed by the horrifying cruelty he displays in trying to free the city. At first glance, Travis could be considered a hero of sorts as he is appalled by the state of affairs in New York city and feels that someone ought to wash away the streets and he shows signs of actually wanting to make a positive change himself. Unfortunately, this initial display of selflessness is soon lost as Travis becomes what he originally sought to eliminate. While the plot in Taxi Driver isn't overly complex, it's meant to be more of a background to the real purpose of the film, which shows that it's possible for anyone like Travis to be completely alone and take extreme measures to try and combat such feelings and even though his actions at the end of the film may be righteous in terms of motive, he certainly displays sociopathic tendencies in having little hesitancy or restraint in doing what he believes to be "right." Travis's transformation from a state of nervousness to genuine madness is truly horrifying to behold, and when you watch the movie you'll find yourself both appalled and marvelled by the developments that bring about the sudden change.

The aspect that really stands out in Taxi Driver is the mood and atmosphere of the film. The movie often switches between the personal life of Travis and snapshots of the city when he's driving around in his taxi. The flashes of the impoverished downtown New York streets give the movie an aura of authenticity as you see for yourself the ugliness and brutality that plagues the lower classes of society. America has long been perceived to be a land of opportunity; however, Scorsese immediately debunks this sense of positivity by constantly showing the destitute masses through the eyes of Travis. What separates Taxi Driver from other movies is that it's grim atmosphere is so intensely realistic that you immediately feel drawn into the film as an innumerable amount of comparisons can be drawn between current society and the one Travis lives in. The bright and shining lights of New York in the background ought to be a beacon of hope and prosperity, but instead they serve to highlight just how disgusting the streets have become as a result of continued neglect. Furthermore, the smooth jazz score for the movie really contrasts with the eerie tone that pervades the film's storyline and further serves to notify the viewer that things are not always as they appear. The overall mood of Taxi Driver appears to be quite simple on the surface, but just like in the streets of New York city, the turmoil bubbling below the surface is far more powerful and provocative.

Few movies have been able to capture the genuine sense of horror present in Taxi Driver. On the surface, the film appears to be fairly simplistic and empty; but the eerie tone provided by the atmosphere really brings the character of Travis Bickle to life as he comes off as being honourable, but also despicable in the way he attempts to carry out his actions. This is not a movie for the faint of heart, but if you are able withstand Taxi Driver's violent premise, you will truly be left in awe by the film's incredible authenticity.

Annie Hall

It's hard to believe 33 years after the fact that Star Wars could have possibly lost out on the award for best picture of the year. After all, it's one of the most famous movies of all time and it completely changed the science-fiction genre and filmmaking in general. However, Annie Hall did indeed win the prestigious award that year largely due to its witty writing and endearing story, which spectacularly captures the era of the 1970s. I generally believe that most romantic comedies tend to be overly sappy and aren't really funny at all, but this one actually does come off as being humourous and entertaining.

Annie Hall involves the unlikely relationship between Alvy Singer and Annie Hall. Woody Allen plays Alvy Singer, a Jewish comedian who is constantly nervous and fumbling, states the obvious even when he shouldn't, and has an obsession with death while Diane Keaton plays the role of Annie Hall who is incredibly carefree and naive in her mannerisms. From the outset, the relationship between the two is shown to be rather tumultuous and uncomfortable as it falls apart on several occasions. Given how the two are essentially opposites of each other this is hardly surprising, but what intrigued me about the movie is how it generally focuses on the positive aspects of their relationship even though it's established near the beginning of the film that it ends poorly. The story shows that happiness can be found even in the strangest of scenarios as I can assure you the interactions between Allen and Keaton here are like few you've ever seen before. Their dialogue really takes the spotlight in this one as there are hardly any other performances of note in this movie as the whole film revolves around the blossoming and eventual implosion of their relationship. The outcome of the story is obvious since the movie begins with the end, but I really liked how it flashes back to the beginning point in their relationship so the audience can get perspective on everything that happened up until that point. I particularly enjoyed the specific scope this movie has as it focuses entirely on their relationship rather than extraneous factors, which is good because the short runtime of the movie didn't leave much room for exploration of anything else.

Annie Hall moves at a fast pace and it's pretty much over in the blink of an eye. With a runtime of only 90 minutes, there were two ways to go about making this movie: it could've skimmed the surface on several topics ultimately amounting to nothing, or it could go into a deeper examination of one particular idea. Fortunately, Allen devotes the whole film to exploring the peculiar and awkward romance so I do feel like it had a purpose and direction to it, yet I can't help but feel that if the movie were perhaps 30 minutes longer it could have been more meaningful. The movie ends so quickly that it feels like it was just a blur watching it, and perhaps that's what Allen was intending as he could've been trying to point out that not only are our relationships seemingly short, but the life in which they occur is also a blur and you can look back once in a while and wonder where all the years have gone. Annie Hall doesn't really leave any burning questions unanswered, but I still felt kind of empty after watching this movie since it seemed as though it could have further explored the breakdown in the relationship and the factors causing it as they weren't looked into much during the film.

One of the unique aspects of this movie is the way in which it captures the essence of an era. Annie Hall is really a snapshot of the 1970s as it captures the physical image from that period with characters who are dressed like people of the time, but more importantly it really showcases the individualistic spirit that was burgeoning at the time. Annie Hall herself is the perfect embodiment of the 1970s thought current as she hardly has a care in the world and feels a type of spiritual connection with the world that was common during that time. The movie's authenticity doesn't have the same effect on someone like me who didn't live during the time; however, it's still really interesting to get an idea of what it was like back then, and Annie Hall gives the era a gorgeous representation. The movie conveys this sense of a connection to the 1970s and is almost on par with Forrest Gump in being able to take snapshots of history and give them meaning within a fictional context. Annie Hall certainly doesn't have the same social impact today that it did over 30 years ago, but if you're looking for a movie that gives insight into the 1970s, I'd be hard pressed to think of another movie that really illuminates the time quite like this one does.

Annie Hall does a fantastic job of taking a unique love story and putting it into the context of the time in which it took place. You'll find that you make a connection with both Alvy and Annie as their wacky relationship takes several twists and turns that make for an entertaining experience. The movie is over in a flash, but it's authenticity and portrayal of an era give it staying power and make it larger than just the simple story upon which it revolves.

Braveheart

Braveheart gives you everything you would expect out of the typical blockbuster movie. The film has an epic runtime of 3 hours and features some intense and heart-pounding battle scenes. However, there is also some substance behind the flashy action as the movie conveys a very powerful message and there is rarely a dull moment during the experience.

One of the most obvious strengths in Braveheart is its sheer scope and ambition. Not surprisingly, there is plenty of violence and warfare throughout the film as it is meant to show one nation's struggle to achieve independence from the control of a tyrannical state. The battle scenes are always intense regardless if it's simply William Wallace fighting off a few soldiers by himself or grandiose thousand member armies clashing. The major battles in Braveheart are flashy and large-scale as they are very reminiscent of Lord of the Rings style engagements. Furthermore, the movie as a whole moves along at a steady pace and there is rarely a down moment in the movie that feels out of place or boring as the huge action scenes are usually curbed at about 15 minutes so they don't drag on for an inordinate period of time and the story is actually interesting to follow so I actually felt emotionally invested in the battles since they represented more than just the best special effects that money could buy at the time. I also found that the movie does an excellent job of really spacing out the battles with meaningful story telling. There were only a couple of fights between large armies with character development and story building forming the bulk of the film's formidable runtime. The story gives depth and meaning to Wallace's quest to liberate Scotland and actually provides the viewer with some perspective on what's going on so that the movie doesn't just equate to a collection of cool-looking, but ultimately pointless fights. I found that the movie peaked at just the right times so that the combat stayed fresh and interesting, but I also never found myself bored with the larger context of the actual storyline.

While I enjoyed Braveheart on the whole, I did find that the ending to the film was incredibly predictable and it was also overdone at points. If you watch this movie, you'll never really find yourself in doubt about how everything will turn out as the way the movie plays itself out is pretty typical and doesn't really break any new boundaries or leave itself open to interpretation. That being said, there are some unexpected twists and turns along the way that spice up the plot and keep the movie moving along so it doesn't become so predictable that you're inclined to stop watching altogether. Additionally, I felt that the film became somewhat overdramatized at points where it felt like the movie was trying to be really deep and powerful at points where doing so just wasn't effective at the time. It's kind of hard to explain this sort of feeling about the movie to those who haven't watched it, and it may be a matter of personal opinion, but it just seemed to me that it tries too hard at points to be an amazing movie where it really doesn't need to because Braveheart is quite good and it just seems to be a bit over the top at times. 

The intense battles and the epic atmosphere surrounding Braveheart have become a cherished aspect of the movie for good reason. However, the major production value and work that went into making the movie would have been rendered almost completely meaningless if there wasn't an engaging and captivating story to back it all up. Braveheart involves the story of William Wallace, a commoner who is distraught over the personal hardship that the rigorous British rule over Scotland has brought upon him. His response to these dire circumstances is to fight against them in whatever capacity possible, and like a snowball rolling down a hill he soon finds many others joining his cause to do the impossible and gain independence. It's important to note though that he doesn't just mindlessly fight whoever he can whenever he can, but rather he stresses the importance of having the mental strength, endurance, and wherewithal to be able to keep fighting and never lose perspective of what the fighting is for. I really like how the movie reminds the viewer that it's not really what we have, such as our brute physical strength, that makes us who we are, but it's more our mental fortitude and what's within us that emits the real power that can be harnessed and called upon come battle time. When you watch this movie you'll find yourself sympathizing with Wallace's cause and being drawn into the experience as you hope he can fight the power and win the freedom we all desire. Ultimately, being able to draw the viewer in and have him/her relate to what's going on in the story is the strongest attribute that any movie can have as it's this relation that allows the viewer to perceive the greater message and really feel impacted on a personal level.

Say what you want about Mel Gibson's personal views, but he certainly knows how to put together a quality product as he directs and stars here. Braveheart features a combination of awe-inspiring and thought provoking storytelling with entertaining and epic battle scenes. The movie hardly ever lets up and even though its conclusion is ultimately predictable and obvious, the movie on the whole is fantastic and definitely appealing to the average moviegoer.  

To Kill a Mockingbird

As most people are aware, To Kill a Mockingbird is based off Harper Lee's highly successful novel bearing the same name. The book has been given a great deal of credit over time for good reason, but the movie adaptation is also excellent, thus I feel it is worthy of being judged on its own merits.

Not surprisingly, the first thing I noticed with the film is that it's shot in a vintage black and white style. This intrigued me at first as the movie came out in 1962 so the technology was obviously available to shoot the film in full colour since many movies before its time were done in such a fashion. Yet, there's a certain appeal to the movie that comes with the old style. By making the backgrounds within every scene so mute and mundane, it encourages the viewer to look past the presentation of the film and instead focus on what's actually taking place. The background of the movie seems to symbolize how boring the world actually is when you only gaze briefly at what's going on in the surface as there's simply so much more present if you take a closer look, thus if all you're looking for is a big blockbuster special effects film than I strongly recommend you steer clear of this one. Ordinarily, I would say that most movies need to boast captivating visuals, or at the very least colour, in order to liven up the action and intensify the experience as a whole. However, To Kill a Mockingbird is a rare case where this doesn't apply as the brilliant story and performances delivered in the movie are more than adequate to hold the viewer's attention.

The story of To Kill a Mockingbird explores the extremes of human behaviour. On the one hand, you have the noble Atticus Finch who is willing to defend an innocent black man in his trial even though he has no hope of winning his case and will be scrutinized for going against the wishes of society. On the other hand, the film depicts the general population as being completely ignorant and unwilling to move beyond their prejudices. Throughout the film, it's easy to wonder why Atticus never physically confronts these people as he is clearly opposed to their behaviour, yet he simply tries to talk to them even though he knows his words will inevitably fall upon deaf ears. Atticus clearly carries  a certain level of physical strength and intimidation, which is best displayed when he shoots a dangerous animal from a great distance to the amazement of those around him who thought his only talent was his ability as an orator. This is meant to show that while a physical attribute such as being able to accurately fire a weapon is admirable, the far more under-appreciated role of inducing change through non-violent measures is much more difficult, but also stands as the only outlet through which change can be attained in a civilization where brute strength is valued since physically harming others would only serve to uphold these invalid morals. Although the movie is focused on the issues of racism and ignorance, Boo Radley presents an interesting paradigm within the film. While racism is an issue that extends far beyond the boundaries of this movie, Boo Radley is the character who best represents the plight of southern American black people during this time. He is clearly misunderstood by those around him because he is seen as being insane relative to the general populace just as members of racial minorities are misunderstood and perceived as being strange. This misunderstanding and misconception can clearly be associated to a fear of the unknown. To Kill a Mockingbird really analyzes the depth to which society has allowed racism to exist because of this fear, and the movie becomes more provocative as this analysis is carried out.

In addition to its riveting storyline, To Kill a Mockingbird features some great acting performances. First and foremost, Gregory Peck is at his finest here as his long courtroom speeches are as emotionally profound now as they were almost 50 years ago. Peck's confident tone certainly serves the film well as he really gives off the persona of being an incredibly headstrong and determined person which is needed to play the role of Atticus Finch in his opposition to the general current of thought at the time. However, Peck is also able to speak intellectually and eloquently to prove that he not only has the strength needed to oppose adversity, but also has the wit to overcome it. The child actors in this play also deserve some praise as they really capture the sense of curiosity that most children have. In particular, the first half of the film explores this element where the kids try to spy on Boo Radley because they are curious and want to push the limits just like most normal children do at points. Fortunately, the film avoids the common pitfall with young actors where they turn out to be overly annoying and actually detract from the movie. The kids here are far more endearing and I wish more of the movies from our current generation would look back upon this movie as a stellar example of how to properly incorporate inexperienced child actors into a movie without them being whiny and overbearing.

To Kill a Mockingbird features a combination of engaging storytelling with convincing acting. The old black and white style of the film gives it a unique character and really encourages the viewer to look past the plain backgrounds and instead follow the far more important plot. I strongly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys the novel or anyone who wants to watch a timeless piece of dramatic cinema. Remember: Tis a sin to kill a mockingbird, but it is also a sin to not watch this incredible movie yourself.

Philadelphia

Overall, I found Philadelphia to be a pretty good movie. I thought the film was captivating for the most part, and while I wasn't blown away in awe by the film, there were many understated moments that allowed me to pause and reflect on the state of discrimination in my own society.

I felt that the acting was certainly the strongest point of the film. Not surprisingly, Tom Hanks is given a great deal of credit for his performance as Andrew Beckett, an aspiring homosexual lawyer who not only has his physical life cut short by AIDS, but also his career is destroyed by the social diseases of bigotry and misunderstanding as he is wrongfully dismissed by his employers because of his condition. The physical implications of his ailment are obvious and need not really be discussed, but what I really liked about the movie is how it gives insight into far bigger social ramifications. The horrors of homophobia were really exposed and I wondered if we really have progressed so much as a society since 1993 when Philadelphia was released or if there has in fact been little change. It's pretty ironic that Beckett is so quiet and reserved about his life given that many people have the misconception that homosexuals try to force their nature upon other people and can't control their emotions. Philadelphia clearly undermines this notion by showing that homosexuality doesn't present a threat to society, but rather the ignorance and hatred that many people have in response to homosexuality is the real problem. However, this isn't to say that Tom Hanks delivers the only memorable performance in the film. I really enjoyed Denzel Washington in his role as Joe Miller, an initially homophobic lawyer who only takes Beckett's case for wrongful dismissal as a means through which he can boost his own reputation and image. Miller's loudmouthed and blunt nature really contrasts with the personality of Beckett as he is able to articulately voice Beckett's grievances against those who have wronged him. Although Miller is shown to be unreceptive and misinformed at first, his transformation by the end of the film resonates a positive message and gives hope that others can change as well.

While I appreciated that the film didn't try to shove a moral in my face and left the ending open to interpretation, I still feel like there were points where the movie kind of dragged. The constant switching between the court hearings and the personal lives of both Beckett and Miller was effective at times, but the movie also lost some momentum at these points. Often I found that the movie was building towards a powerful conclusion during the court scenes, but then it would revert to a past part of Beckett's life that wasn't really related to what was going on in the main plot. I felt that some of the flashbacks had nothing to do with Beckett's condition, and really had no contribution to the message of the film involving ignorance and discrimination. Thus, the action and intensity of the film would be interrupted with events that were fairly irrelevant and served little purpose other than lengthening the film's runtime. Honestly though, this is a fairly nitpicky point and if you watch the movie it doesn't happen too often, but when it does it's annoying.

One aspect of the film I enjoyed is how it delivers a positive message at the end by showing that we all have the power to change, and that it is never too late to right a wrong. I was particularly impressed that the film managed to leave me with a positive and heartwarming feeling given that the main character is inflicted with an ailment that he has no hope of recovering from. Thus, while the movie shows the inevitability of physical death and decay, it also performs the far more important task of showing that it is possible to overcome adversity even in the face of the most bleak outcomes such as combatting AIDS. The transformation of Joe Miller throughout Philadelphia really punctuates the message that the movie tries to send. Even though this is Andrew Beckett's story, Miller is a crucial component for representing society. Miller's final speech in court is evidence of his evolution as he is able to overcome his initial distrust and skepticism of Beckett in order to combat the far bigger scourges that plague our civilization. This movie gives me hope that we can become a more accommodating and understanding society over time.

Philadelphia isn't the most awe-inspiring or intense drama. However, the film featured some great performances and left me with a sense of satisfaction because it gave me hope that we have the capacity to change for the better. This is certainly a movie worth watching, and I especially recommend it to anyone who likes any of the other Tom Hanks dramas.