Actors and Acting Styles: “The Godfather”

May 25, 2014Uncategorizedurjack6698

Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2011) lists the five types of actors. They are impersonator, interpreter, personality, wild card, and character. I chose to analyze three actors from “The Godfather”. Al Pacino (Michael Corleone) is the personality actor. Diane Keaton (Kay Adams-Corleone) is the character actor. Alex Rocco (Moe Greene) can be classified as an impersonator.

Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2011) states that “strong personality can make it difficult for the audience to differentiate between the actor and the character” (p. 63). This statement describes Al Pacino’s identity as Michael Corleone perfectly. Pacino’s identity is pretty much synonymous with that of Michael Corleone. According to Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2011) the actors often play similar roles in other films. Al Pacino has played very similar roles in other films. These roles include movies like “Scarface” and “Carlito’s Way”. The following video clip provides an excellent example of how Pacino owns the role of Michael Corleone.

Character actors can play many different roles and adapt easily to scripts and directors (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, p. 64) This is a great description of Diane Keaton. In “The Godfather”, Keaton played Kay Adams-Corleone, the second wife of Michael Corleone. Her role in “The Godfather” was a breakthrough role. It would be sometime before Keaton became the well known actor she is today. The clip below shows Keaton in her role as Kay Adams-Corleone before she became the well known actress she is today.

Alex Rocco’s role as Moe Greene in “The Godfather” can be characterized as an impersonator. According to Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2011), an impersonator “has simply copied manner, dialect, and behavior of a character, instead of creating the character” (p. 62). While well done, it is obvious that Rocco is acting the part of Moe Greene. Unlike Pacino who owns the role of Michael, Rocco has simply learned the role of Moe Greene.

Looking at Pacino’s works in other films, I would place him in the personality category in those films as well. He owns the role of Tony Montano (“Scarface”), Carlito Brigante (“Carllito’s Way”), and Tony D’Amato (“Any Given Sunday”) – which surprisingly was not in the gangster film genre which most movies with Al Pacino are in. This confirms that Pacino takes his job seriously, and that he is aiming to give the audience what they are expecting from the characters he portrays in different films.

References:

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Movieclips. (2011, Nov. 22). It Was an Abortion (1974) – The Godfather: Part 2 (4/8) Movie CLIP HD [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g9RI0GgRIQ&list=PL67FAA6B7AEA19096&index=4

Movieclips. (2011, Nov. 22). You’re Nothing to Me Now (1974) – The Godfather: Part 2 (3/8) Movie CLIP HD [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch v=5Weaop_aiTg&list=PL67FAA6B7AEA19096&index=3

Analysis of Sound: Carlito’s Way

May 15, 2014Uncategorizedurjack6698

The textbook categorizes sound in film into three categories. Those categories are dialogue, sound effects, and music.
Goodykoontz & Jacobs (2011) defines dialogue simply as “characters talking to one another in films” (p. 151). There are three reason to use dialogue in films “1)to further the development of the plot 2)to enhance characterizations and 3) to establish very quickly important information the audience needs to know to understand action” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, p.152).
Sound effects are used “to draw the audience into the movie and keep it there” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, p. 154).
According to Goodykoontz & Jacobs (2011) “music has been a crucial part of the moviegoing experience since before the advent of recorded sound in films” (p. 156).
In the movie, Carlito’s Way, the dialogue provides insight into the life experiences of the main character, Carlito Brigante and the different obstacles he encounters in the film. In the courtroom scene, we get an understanding of Carlito’s past and his future expectations of life through not only his conversations with the judge and his lawyer, but with himself as well.

As explained earlier in my blog, this dialogue sets the plot up for the audience and gives it some idea of what to expect as the film progresses. It also immediately provides pertinent information to the audience that is key to following the movie.
The sound effects play an important role in this movie as well. In the shootout scenes, the sound of the guns, the screams, and the shattering of glass intensifies the impact the scenes have on the audience. In “Carlito’s Way – Carlito’s Death Scene”, the sounds of the gunfire are very powerful in the effect the scene has on the audience. It is just as powerful as the dialogue that takes place in this scene.
In this movie, the music was a very important element. In each scene, the background music played a role in connecting the audience to the film. From the music played during the club scenes to the solemn music played as Gail said her final good-byes to Carlito after Benny shot him in the sub way.
The music (mostly disco, fast paced, or solemn) is common for movies in the gangster film genre, especially for movies set in this time period.
(Below is a link to the soundtrack of “Carlito’s Way”)

The effects of dialogue, sound effects, and music are all realistic and expected for this movie. All elements of sound coincide precisely with the film.
If either sound element were removed it would change the film greatly. The dialogue connects the audience to the main character. The sound effects gives the audience the feel of being in the scene as the action is taking place. The music helps the audience relate to the setting of the movie. If either of these elements were changed or removed the audience’s perception of the film could be alter from the editor’s and director’s intent of the film.

References:
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Movieclip. (2011, Oct. 24). Carlito’s Way . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1WKEjSevBo
Movieclip. (2010, Nov. 11). CARLITO´S WAY (1993) SOUNDTRACK . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCdf0NzQt4o&list=PLJISsKlP6SoMCmqLuxZwDjvEi8kdBVhkf

Lighting: Carlito’s Way

May 8, 2014Uncategorizedurjack6698

In the movie, “Carlito’s Way”, low-key lighting was used. The textbook states, “low-key lighting is often used for intense dramatic scenes, horror films, mystery thrillers, and the like” (p. 89). “Carlito’s Way” is full of dramatic scenes. This lighting technique was essential in creating a tone of danger, suspense, and intrigue.

The benefits of this type of lighting is that it supports the mood the director is trying to create in the film. I would say the theme of the movie could be sacrifices of trying to obtain success. The lighting contributes to this theme because it is bleak just as the outcome of Carlito Brigante’s attempts at being a law-abiding and successful person.

This film falls into the gangster genre of film. The low-key lighting is essential to this genre. It helps to illustrate the dark criminal worlds of these types of movies.

If this movie had been done in high-key lighting, it may not have been taken as seriously. High-key lighting is usually associated with “comedies, happy scenes, institutional and office scenes, and the like” (Goodykoontz & Jacob, 2011).

Clip from “Carlito’s Way” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yehgqPtG3Y

References:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1455&bih=631&q=carlito%27s+way&oq=carlito%27s+way&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1512.7106.0.7386.14.10.0.4.4.0.122.916.6j4.10.0….0…1ac.1.42.img..0.14.974.vCLYckWdh7U#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=5lLfwUsBJzBUoM%253A%3BCtK382maNQrgsM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Flabmovie.tripod.com%252FCarlitosWay03.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Flabmovie.tripod.com%252FCarlitosWay.html%3B960%3B540

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Summary of Scarface

May 1, 2014Uncategorizedurjack6698

Title: Scarface

Writer: Oliver Stone

Director: Brian De Palma

Released: 1983

Major Characters:

Tony Montana – Al Pacino

Elvira Hancock – Michelle Pfeiffer

Gina Montana – Mary E. Mastrantonio

Frank Lopez – Robert Loggia

Alejandro Sosa – Paul Shenar

The film Scarface was filmed in chronological order. The film surrounds the rise and fall of the central character, Antonio (Tony) Montana. In the film, Tony and his sidekick, Manny, go from living under a bridge with other Cuban refugees to being dishwashers to becoming millionaire drug dealers. Frank Lopez gives Tony his start in the drug business. Tony eventually kills Frank and marries Elvira Hancock (Frank’s girlfriend). he is reconnected with his mother and sister (whom he is overly protective of). Manny begins a relationship with and marries Gina (Tony’s sister). Unaware of the marriage, Tony is outrages and kills his best friend and confidant when he discovers their relationship.

After an unbelievable fight, Tony loses his life to Alejandro Sosa because of hit Tony refuses to carry out.

The aesthetic contributed greatly to the influence the film has on the audience. The lighting was very low-key to add to the dramatic effect. The music played during the film gave the viewer a true experience of the party life during the time the movie was based upon. The direct cut that takes the movie immediately from scene to scene keeps the audience interested, because of the constant action and interaction of the characters.

If the film had been done in a non-linearly order, the effect would have been totally different. If the opening scene would have been Scarface floating in the indoor pool, the audience would have been intrigued to know how this happen. However, the same enthusiasm wouldn’t have been shared about his rise to wealth because the audience would know what the outcome of it all would mean. In chronological order, the audience is lead to believe that by the end of the film Montana would have “the world Chico, and everything in it” (Scarface, 1983).