Actors and Acting Styles from The Godfather: Part II

Title: The Godfather: Part II

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

The three actors that really stand out and contribute to the miss en scene are Al Pacino (as Michael Corleone), Robert De Niro (as Vito Corleone), and Diane Keaton (as Kay Corleone).

In relation to The Godfather: Part II, I would classify Al Pacino as an interpreter actor.  An interpreter refers to actors who have the ability to take material and put their own signature on it (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011).  Similarly, both Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton fall under the classification of an interpreter as well.

The reason why I consider Al Pacino to be an interpreter is because of the role that launched his career, as Michael Corleone from The Godfather series.  He definitely made his own stamp as the role of Michael Corleone.  Here is a clip from The Godfather: Part II demonstrating Pacino’s amazing acting abilities as Michael Corleone:

Here we see a powerful performance from Pacino as Michael as he stays calm while listening to his older brother Fredo (John Cazale) attempt to explain himself and his actions.  Even though Michael remains straight-faced, we can feel the intensity and disgust he feels toward Fredo.  His ability to portray those raw emotions and coldness toward his own brother really demonstrate not only Pacino’s excellent acting skills, but also conveys Michael’s ruthlessness and seriousness about getting revenge on whomever tried to kill him.

Similarly, Robert De Niro is classified as an interpreter because of his amazing portrayal as Vito Corleone as a young man before he was the Don of the Corleone family.  He was able to take the direction and material from Coppola and make the role his own.  In the first Godfather, Marlon Brando played Don Vito Corleone as an older man, but in The Godfather: Part II Coppola takes us back in time to show how Vito became a don.  Therefore, Robert De Niro had to convey Vito as audiences already saw him as a grown respected boss, while also portraying Vito as a struggling immigrant in New York City.

Robert De Niro as a young Vito Corleone

 

In this role as Kay, Diane Keaton is classified as an interpreter as well.  She was able to take the guidance, material, and direction from Coppola and make a memorable portrayal of the wife of Michael Corleone.  Here is an example of her excellent acting skills as Kay from The Godfather: Part II : 

In this clip Keaton evokes so much emotion from the audience as well as Michael.  We see the shock and horror on her husband Michael’s face as she tells him the truth about why she lost their son.  We also see how upset she is about having to make that decision because we can still feel the immense love she has for Michael even after all he has put her and their family through.  She knows that by telling Michael this news he will never be able to look at her the same, but that was something she had to come to terms with because she felt like she was trapped in this family of chaos and tragedy.

Taking a closer look at Diane Keaton and all of her other performances, she would not only be classified as an interpreter, but a wild card actor as well.  A wild card describes an actor who is hard to classify as only one specific type because she has the ability to play a wide variety of characters very well without getting typecast (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011).  Diane Keaton has played so many different types of roles it is almost impossible to pigeon hole her into one category.  For example she has been in films such as Annie Hall, The Little Drummer Girl, Father of the Bride I and II, The First Wives Club, Something’s Gotta Give, The Family Stone, and many more.  Keaton has played so many different roles from dramatic to comedic, which in turn, suggests that actors do not need to be classified into only one category, much like the genres of films, they have to ability crossover into other classifications.

 

References

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: from Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

MovieClips. (2011). The Godfather: Part 2 – It Was An Abortion (1974) . Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g9RI0GgRIQ

MovieClips. (2011). The Godfather: Part 2 – You’re Nothing to Me Now (1974) . Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Weaop_aiTg

Winston Media. (2011). Robert De Niro [image]. Retrieved from: http://marshallmatlock.com/2011/08/the-mans-man-xxvi-robert-de-niro/

Categories and Functions of Sound in The Godfather: Part II

 

Title: The Godfather: Part II

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather: Part II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, uses many different design elements to create a visual theme.  One of these elements is the use of sound.  Sound contributes greatly to the overall theme and meaning of any movie, but especially for The Godfather trilogy.

There are three basic categories of film sound: dialogue, sound effects, and music.  When characters in a film are talking to each other, it is known as dialogue.  Dialogue is important for a film for three reasons: to promote the progress of the plot, to enrich characterizations, and to create imperative information the audience must know to understand the action  (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011).  Sound effects are sounds that are recorded and used to make a certain point within the film’s story without using dialogue.  Lastly, music is different sounds used throughout a film that change depending on the scene.

In The Godfather: Part II, dialogue is used continuously and is a very essential aspect of the theme.  Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is the head of the Corleone family, and he is always having meetings with his consigliere, Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), about making important decisions for his family.  The dialogue is an intrinsic part of the film, because it lets the audience know what Michael is thinking as well as what the other members of the family are thinking and planning.  The audience has the opportunity of knowing what is going to happen along with the characters within the film.

There are also a lot of sound effects used in the film.  For example, the scenes of Vito Corleone as a young man in New York City uses walla, which is the unintelligible noises in the background, the hustle and bustle of the city streets.  Another common sound effect throughout the film are gun shots, which are used time and time again whenever someone is being murdered.  The sound of the different kinds of gun shots were noises created by Foley artists.  Another example sound effects are used is in the scene where Michael and Kay (Diane Keaton) are fighting and Michael breaks a bunch of different things, which was again created by Foley artists.

Music is another essential component to The Godfather: Part II.  The main theme song of The Godfather films is the heart of the trilogy.  Whenever anyone hears this song they automatically think of The Godfather movies.  Other scores of music are also used throughout the film, which is mostly played by an orchestra.

The use of sound in this film really sets the mood and overall feel.  The movie is primarily filled with murder, sadness, and the harsh ways of leading a mafia family, and the sounds definitely correspond with those elements.  The use of sounds alerts the audience when something climactic is about to happen as well as when something tragic is about to happen.  Additionally, the use of gun shots throughout the film allow the inference that this is part of the gangster film genre.  Also, because the main theme song from The Godfather series is now iconic, that song is now associated with gangster films.  Furthermore, the effects of the film are characterized as realistic and expected sound effects.  The film is portraying the lives of a mafia family, therefore Francis Ford Coppola wants the content as well as the sound effects to be portrayed as realistic as possible.  The murders are filled with gun shots and sometimes yells or screams, which are to be expected, and the parties are filled with laughter and people talking, which is also to be expected of a regular party.  The audience is not caught off guard by random sound effects that are not a necessary aspect to the overall theme of the film.  Finally, the film would not be nearly as realistic nor intense if these elements of sound had not been used.  The audience connects with the Corleone family and the actions taking place during the film through the music, dialogue, and sound effects.  The audience needs to hear the conversations between characters of the film in order to follow along with the plot; they need to hear the gun shots and intense shrills of people getting murdered in order to feel the ruthlessness of the mafia world; and they need to hear the orchestra playing certain scores in order to feel what the characters are feeling and relate to the film’s overall theme.

 

Reference

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: from Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

IMBD. (2014). The Godfather: Part II (1974) [photograph]. Retrieved from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071562/

YouTube. (2011). The Godfather Theme Song . Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8KHXKOji4Q

Elements of Lighting in the film Goodfellas

Title: Goodfellas

Director: Martin Scorsese

Actors: Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Lorraine Bracco

The film Goodfellas is a gangster film, directed by Martin Scorsese, that follows the lives of three gangsters trying to make their mark in the mob.  The lighting used throughout this film really sets the tone and feeling for the movie.  Scorsese uses different lighting techniques for each scene in order to display the mood of the characters and the atmosphere.  He uses bright lights when the scene is happy and fun and the characters are having a good time, but uses dark lighting for the scenes where the characters are angry or in a bad situation.  The majority of the movie uses low-key lighting, except for the few scenes that are happy such as Henry (Ray Liotta) and Karen’s (Lorraine Bracco) wedding.  Low-key lighting creates the overall theme for the movie by portraying the mob lifestyle as being dark and ruthless.

In the Copa Club scene, the lighting of the outside and inside is primarily dark except for the kitchen and the direct light on Henry.  This sets the mood for the scene by displaying Henry as a “good guy” trying to impress his girlfriend Karen, while also using the dark shadows to show that his lifestyle is nothing like a regular working guy.  We are living out this scene with them and at the end of the scene, Karen and Henry are seated at their table, the lighting is very dark, and Karen asks Henry what he does for a living and he replies by saying he works in construction.  The use of the dark lighting while Henry lies to Karen about his work is a foreshadowing for how both of their lives are moving to a dark place and contributes to the theme of the film.

One of the benefits of this style of lighting is that it makes the film feel very real.  The use of deep shadows contrasting with bright parts and dark parts of each scene makes the audience feel as though they are living out each scene with the characters.  Another benefit is that the style of lighting displays the mafia lifestyle as something that is filled with murder, deception, and constant fear.  Even though Henry has always dreamed of becoming a gangster and parts of that lifestyle are glamorous, the reality is that being a gangster is not glamorous.  Scorsese continues to remind us of this throughout the film, which contributes to the theme.  While the start of Henry and Karen’s life together is filled with wealth and excitement, they soon realize that they are in way over their heads, and Scorsese’s use of lighting makes sure the audience does not forget this either.

The lighting technique used by Scorsese fit perfectly within the genre of gangster films.  Gangster films are filled with crime mystery, and death therefore, the use of low-key lighting is essential.  The film has a lot of murder scenes and other crime-related scenes that would not be portrayed accurately if another style of lighting were used.  If the film had used high-key lighting the overall theme and feel would have been completely different and it would not have been a true gangster film.  The characters need to be displayed as ruthless and need to be feared in some ways.  Similarly, their actions throughout the film must also be portrayed as criminal and at times evil, thus low-key lighting is necessary in creating an epic gangster film such as this.

 

Reference

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: from Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

WarnerBros. (2010). Goodfellas: Where Are They Now? [photograph] Retrieved from: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/goodfellas-gallery-1.92462

YouTube. (2009). Goodfellas Copacabana Nightclub [Video file]. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCYwcObxl78

Film Critique for “When Harry Met Sally”

Title: When Harry Met Sally

Writer: Nora Ephron

Director: Rob Reiner

Actors: Billy Crystal as Harry Burns; Meg Ryan as Sally Albright; Carrie Fisher as Marie; and Bruno Kirby as Jess

Year Released: 1989

Story: When Harry Met Sally is a film that follows the lives of two people over several years as they search for love.  When they first meet they do not like each other at all, but after bumping into each other multiple times later in life the two become close friends.  As their friendship develops they wonder if a man and a woman can truly be friends without sex making things messy.

Plot: The film starts with Harry hitching a ride with Sally to New York from Chicago.  During their drive they start talking about life, love, men, women, and friendships when Harry makes the famous quote, “Men and women can’t be friends because the sex part always gets in the way” (When Harry Met Sally, 1989).  When they reach New York they conclude that they cannot be friends and part ways.

Five years later they bump into each other on an airplane.  They start catching up with one another and Sally tells Harry she is in a relationship and Harry tells her he is engaged.  During their conversation, Harry explains again that men and women cannot be friends even though they are in relationships with other people and the two go their separate ways again.

Another five years goes by and Sally has broken up with her boyfriend and Harry’s wife left him for another man.  They run into each other yet again at a bookstore and this time decide to go to dinner with each other.  Their friendship starts to blossom from here and they become very close friends calling each other every night to talk and both are surprised that they have friends of the opposite sex.  They both start dating again and Sally is able to tell Harry all about her dates and vice versa.  Since their dating had not been successful, Harry tries to set Sally up with his best friend Jesse (Bruno Kirby) and Sally tries to set Harry up with her best friend Marie (Carrie Fisher).  While that was unsuccessful, Jesse and Marie ended up falling in love and getting married.

A few months go by and both Sally and Harry are in relationships.  One night Sally finds out that her ex-boyfriend is getting married and asks Harry to go to her house and comfort her and they end up sleeping with each other.  When they wake up they are not sure what to do about their situation and end up getting in a large fight and stop talking to each other.  A few months later at  New Year’s Eve party, Harry professes his love for Sally and they end up getting married.

Chronology: The film was presented in chronological order.  This made the audience feel as though they were in the long journey of Harry and Sally’s life with them.  It made the ending of the film that much more romantic and filled with emotion, because the audience had experienced all the ups and downs of their relationship throughout the film.  It makes the conclusion of the film more exciting and happy when they realize they are meant for each other.

Because the film was presented in chronological order, the audience gets to see where Harry and Sally started in their friendship as well as how it transformed over several years.  It also shows how Harry and Sally’s characters changed over time as well.

If the film was not presented chronologically, the overall feel of the film would be completely different.  The audience would not have connected to the characters as much, nor would they get to fully understand everything they went through over the years.  The audience would not have had the opportunity to travel on the emotional journey with Harry and Sally, which would make the ending less spectacular.

 

Resources:

Leo Baeck Institute of London. (2009). (Jewish) Men and (Gentile) Women Can’t Be Friends Because the Sex Part Always Gets in the Way [jpeg]. Retrieved from:

Reiner, R. (Producer), Scheinmann, A. (Producer), & Reiner, R. (Director). (1989). When Harry Met Sally [Motion Picture]. United States: Castle Rock Entertainment

When Harry Met Sally

A scene from When Harry Met Sally featuring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal