| Joker (Phillips, 2019) | Critical Score /10 | Memorable Scene: |
| I enjoyed the movie; it was highly engaging and interesting to slowly watch the moving progress. Slowly getting more extreme | 7/10 | I found the end scene memorable; he climbs onto the car and people are swarming him, almost seeing the joker as his leader. This stood out to be as he had been looked down on his whole life and now crowds of people are looking up to him. |
Joker First Response
Joker First Response
Joker – 2019, Todd Phillips
Rating – 7/10
I gave it the rating 7/ 10 because the story of the film was well perceived throughout the whole film. I think the actor for Joker, acted extremely well and was very memorable and took the storyline of the film to another level through his acting. The location and lighting of the film was amazing and help contrast the idea of the joker through sound and location.
The most memorable scene for me was when Arthur Fleck (joker) was in the train when the three guys start fighting with him. At first you felt quite bad and for Arthur and through his acting he made it seem like he was innocent and in the need of help. However, as that scenes progresses you realise that he is not that innocent has he shoots the three men. Through this scene you can see the role of Joker increase.
JOKER (2019) FIRST RESPONSE
JOKER (2019, Dir. Todd Phillips) FIRST RESPONSE
Rating: 7/10
Cool cinematography, interesting story and really nice action sequences (also some really really cool kills), and I enjoyed how the plot developed. It also had some really good acting, especially from Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the lead Arthur Fleck. It obviously took a lot of inspiration from the movie Taxi Driver (1976) when it came to pacing and plot. however some parts of the script felt like it was trying too hard to be badass and edgy and I also feel like it demonised mental illness while also criticizing society demonising mental illness, so it wasn’t perfect.
Memorable Scene: The Murder Of Murray Franklin
The lead up to the murder was really tense. Arthur, who had up to this point been socially reserved, was acting super enigmatic upon entering the studio. As he revealed his crimes live on air the tension builds, with Phoenix playing Arthur’s new energetic persona making it even more tense, ending with a loud argument with Franklin, who had been idolised by Arthur throughout the movie. Arthur exposes Franklin for being a cruel, corrupt rich guy, and suddenly shoots him live on air. There is a bit of catharsis when Murray dies as the audiences view of Franklin deteriorates along with Arthur’s, starting from when he mocked the clip of him on air for reasons relating to Arthur’s mental illness. The contrast in this scene is good too, as the recording studio is brightly coloured unlike the grimy streets and apartments that the rest of the movie took place in. Arthur is also dressed colourfully in this scene, in a bright suit and clown makeup, which creates comedy as he tells a dark “joke” and admits to the murders of the upper-class men on the subway. The music too elevates the scene, the slow, beating score building up to the sudden gunshot.
Joker First Response
Joker- 2019 Todd Phillips
Rating-8/10
I gave the Joker an 8/10 as I very much enjoyed the storyline and build up towards the Jokers character. The pacing of the film felt slow at times with but me as an audience member was always hooked.
A memorable scene for me was when the Joker brutally stabbed his work mate in the eye and killed him In front of his other work mate after they came to comfort him. It showed the true change from Arthur Fleck to the Joker. It confirmed the transformation. Another memorable scene for me was when Arthur Fleck was following his neighbour through the city and the camera went from following Arthur to stationary and Arthur was fading into the distance.
CATEGORISING FILMS
| Art Film: | Mainstream Film: | Historically Significant: |
| Alphaville-1965 Genre; Pop | A Bug’s Life-1998 Genre; Animation | The Wizard of Oz- 1939 Genre; Musical |
| Fitzcarraldo-1982 Genre; Music | The Shape of Water-2017 Genre; Romance | The Seven Samuri-1954 Genre; Action |
| Love Simon-2018 Genre; Romance | The Breakfast Club-1985 Genre; Comedy-drama | |
| The Magnificent Seven-1960 Genre; Western | Battleship Potemkin-1925 Genre; War |
categorising
Mainstream films-
The breakfast club
Genre- drama
Date- February 15, 1985
Director- john Huges
Plot “group of teenagers in detemntion and become frineds “
Love Simon
Genre- lgbtq+
Date- March 6, 2018
Director- Greg Berlanti
Plot-” Simon Spier keeps his sexual orientation a secret from his family. However, when a blackmailer threatens to reveal it, he goes on a roller-coaster journey to come to terms with his identity”.
A bugs life
Genre- kids, animation
Date- 1989
Director- john Laseter
The shape of water
Genre- romance fantasy
Date- 2017
Director-Guillermo
Plot- “Elisa, a lonely janitor, stumbles upon an amphibious creature that is held captive in a secret research facility. She then develops a unique relationship with the creature.”
Historically significant
Battleship potkimin
Genre – war
Date- 1925
Director- Sergei Eisenstein
Plot- “When the sailors of battleship Potemkin are fed rancid meat, they decide to fight for better living conditions. In the process, their leader Vakulinchuk gets killed.”
Seven Samurai
Genre – action, adventure
Date- 1954
Director- Akira Kurosawa
Plot- “A veteran samurai gathers six of his men to protect a village from the cruel bandits. As the samurais teach the natives how to defend themselves, the village is attacked by a group of 40 bandits”
Wizard of oz
Genre- fantasy
Date 1939
Director-victor Fleming
Plot-” A young Kansas girl who dreams of a better life” somewhere over the rainbow” is caught in the eye of a tornado and lands in the fantasy world of Oz.”
The magnificent seven
Genre- western, war
Date- 1960
Director- john sturges
lands in the fantasy world of Oz.
Plot- “Chris Adams, an experienced gunslinger, forms a team with six other men in order to save a Mexican village from a group of bandits led by Calvera. However, each of the seven men have their own plan.”
Art film
Fitzcarraldo
Genre- adventure/ action
Date- 1982
Director-werner herzog
Plot- “An Irishman, who lives in Iquitos, dreams of opening an opera house in the city. In order to collect money to pursue his goal, he decides to get involved in rubber business.”
CATEGORISING FILMS.
Year 12 film studies, Kendal. Film categories
Battleship Potemkin
Director; Sergei Eisenstein
Genre; historically significant
Date; December 21, 1925
A bug’s life
Director; John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton.
Genre; mainstream
Date; 1998
The shape of water
Director; Guillermo del toro
Genre; art film
Date; December 1, 2017
Seven samurai
Director; Akira Kurosawa
Genre; historically significant
Date; April 26, 1954
The breakfast club
Director; john Hughes
Genre; mainstream
Date; February 15, 1985
The wizard of oz
Director; victor Fleming
Genre; historically significant
Date; august 25, 1939
The magnificent 7
Director; john Sturges
Genre; historically significant
Date; October 23, 1960
Love, Simon
Director; Greg Berlanti
Genre; mainstream
Date; March 16, 2018
Fitzcarraldo
Director; Werner Herzog
Genre; art film
Date; October 10, 1982
Alphaville
Director; jean-Luc Goddard
Genre; historically significant
Date; November 1, 1965
Categorising Films
| Art Film | Mainstream Film | Historically Significant Film |
| The Shape of Water – A lonely woman comes across an amphibian creature in a research lab from 2017. Directed by Guillermo Del Toro. Romantic Fantasy. | The Breakfast Club – Extremely popular film from 1985. Directed by John Hughes. Comedy and Drama. | Wizard of Oz – came out in the 1930s and has had a significant impact on films. Directed by Victor Fleming. Musical. |
| Fitzcarraldo – Film from 1982 about an Irishman that has dreams of opening an opera house. Directed by Werner Herzog. Musical and Action. | A Bug’s Life – Very popular film from 1998 about an army of ants. Directed by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton. Animation and action. | Battleship Potemkin – 1925 Soviet silent film which commemorates the Revolution of 1905. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein. War and Silent film. |
| Alphaville – About an American secret agent that is sent to a futuristic city on another planet. Directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Noir and science-fiction. | The Magnificent Seven – 1960 Western about a gunslinger and a group save a Mexican village from bandits. Directed by John Sturges. Western and action. | The Seven Samurai – Japanese film about a veteran samurai protecting a village from 1954. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. War and action. |
| Love Simon – 2018 film about a man keeping his sexuality secret but is being blackmailed. Directed by Greg Berlanti. Romance and comedy. |
Historically significant films are very valued within society because they are talked about so many years later and have been watched by multiple generations. For example, the Wizard of Oz is a treasured musical that is still being adapted and watched by many people.
Categorising Films
Art Film
Alphaville – 1965, sci-fi/noir. This is an art film because its aesthetics are stronger than the actual plot of the film.
Fitzcarraldo – 1982, adventure/drama. This is an art film because it is independently produced, as well as a weaker storyline in comparison to the visuals.
Mainstream Film
A Bug’s Life – 1998, family/adventure. This is a mainstream film because it’s made for everyone, mainly children, as the topics aren’t difficult to understand and its purpose is entertainment, not a statement.
The Shape of Water – 2017, fantasy/romance. This is a mainstream film as it did well at the box office.
The Breakfast Club – 1985, comedy/drama. This is a mainstream film because it’s widely known by all cultures, ages, genders.
Love, Simon – 2018, drama. This is a mainstream film because the topics within it are widely accepted, and to some people it’s relatable.
Historically Significant Film
The Wizard of Oz – 1939, musical/fantasy. This is a historically significant film because it was made over 80 years ago, it has a deeper meaning, representing various flaws in people, and it’s Judy Garland.
Battleship Potemkin – 1925, war/thriller. This is a historically significant film because it recounts the events which occurred during the Russian Revolution.
Seven Samurai – 1954, action/adventure. This is a historically significant film because it influenced The Magnificent Seven, as well as many other films of the same genre.
The Magnificent Seven – 1960, western/action. This is a historically significant film because it is one of the most accurate representations of professional gunfighters.
Categorizing Films
Mainstream:
-Bugs life, 1998 – John Lasseter + Andrew Stanton – animated (Pixar children’s film)
-Love Simon, 2018 – Greg Berlanti – romcom
-The breakfast club, 1985 – John Hughes – teen comedy
– The magnificent seven, 1960 – Paul Wendkos – western
Historically significant:
-Wizard of Oz, 1939 – Victor Fleming – fantasy musical (revolutionized the use of color in films)
-Battleship Potemkin, 1925 – Sergei Eisenstein – war
-Alphaville, 1965 – Jean-Luc Godard – noir
Art film:
-The Shape of Water, 2017 – Guillermo Del Toro – romantic horror fantasy (Guillermo del Toro is a very arty director)
-The seven Samurai, 1954 – Akira Kurosawa – action
-Fitzcarraldo, 1982 – Werner Herzog – Musical, Drama
A Bug’s Life – I chose to put this in mainstream because it is a movie that is produced by Pixar, which is a mainstream company. Being a mainstream company means that all their movies will have a large audience as a given. As well as that, children’s movies are usually mainstream because children are a large demographic in the film industry.
Wizard of Oz – I chose to put The Wizard of Oz in historically accurate because it was one of the movies to revolutionize the use of colour in movies. This movie would have been a lot of people’s introductions to the use of colour in film, which would make it very significant.
The Shape of Water – I chose to put this in Art film because i have seen a few Guillermo films and I think he has a very artsy style and by the few screen caps I’ve seen, I think this movie is following that pattern. The movie’s topic is also one that sounds like an art film, being about a more confusing relationship between the human and the amphibian creature.