Thursday October 15, 2009Once/Paranoid Park
Note: This blog post is due by Thursday October 22nd, which is my birthday! :)
Don't forget to include your first name and last initial on the comment. Each question should be answered in 1-2 paragraphs each and paragraphs must be AT LEAST 4 sentences.
DIRECTIONS: ANSWER ANY FOUR NUMBERED QUESTIONS.
1. What did you think of Once? Did you like it? Why or why not?
2. What did you think of Paranoid Park? Did you like it? Why or why not?
3. What are some of your favorite "buried treasure" films? In other words, are there films that you love that most other people your age have never even heard of? Describe what they are about.
4. Why do you think the main characters in Once didn't have names other than He or She? What about the film can be considered universal to all people? In other words, what is the film saying about everyone's life, not just the lives of the characters in the film?
5. Be creative. What happens to the characters in Once after the film ends? Please keep everything congruous to what we know about the characters from the film?
6. What were some of the extreme circumstances that Alex had to deal with? I argue that the experimental style of film making was appropriate for Alex's situation. Why do you think this argument makes sense?
7. Describe some of the experimental elements within Paranoid Park. (things you don't normally see in a straightforward narrative in a film)
8. Be creative. What happens to Alex after the film ends? Please keep everything congruous to what we know about the characters from the film.
Note: If you missed either film in class, please get a copy of the film and watch it as soon as possible. You will be allowed an extra week to turn in the blog assignment.
Charlie G.
ReplyDelete8. I think that Alex may be psuhed to leave his life in Portland behind. He loves the skating subculture, and maybe he could use it to find another city, and another group of people who would help him. I think he would leave quickly, before he was formally chagrged, so there would be no immediate public suspicion, especially since his involvement was never publically acknowledged.
7. I think the use of super 8 with background sound was a glaring discrepancy, though I think those were my favorite moments in the film. The out of order scenes, and the repeat scenes were inconsisten with popular fims. The slowed down musical sequences, as with all the odd msuical choices were different as well. Finally, the emphasis on thinking like the characters, rather than learning everything through dialogue was a bit different.
5. I think that the Czech woman will use the paino often. It will be a constant reminder of the fleeting relationship she had with the fellow. I think thier recording session will push her into using music to make a living, and with a hsuband to earn a living, she will have a better chance to move up in society. I think the man will find his girlfriend, and will settle down with her, for as long as the relationship will last. I think he will pursue an ordinary career, and leave music beihnd, since his main motivation for writing songs, his longing for her, will no longer exist.
3. I think my two favorite buried treasure films would be the more well known Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense, and Yukio Mishima's film Patriotism. Stop was directed by Johnathan Demme,who needs no introduction, and explores some interesting cinematic themes, well beyond what you can hear on stage, which is why its unique. The lack of color on stage, never seeing the audience, and the various stage antics make for an entertaingin film. Even more refreshing is the lack of quick cut editing, which means there are more deliberate, film like camera pans and movements, and long shots, as opposed to rapid movements and refocusing to keep up with what's on stage. Though it was popular at the time, it is largely forgotten today, making it something of a buried treasure. The second film is one of my favorites, Patriotism. This is a silent film made in the mid sixties by a small film crew in an essentially abandoned sound stage, with only two actors, and a budget that couldn't buy a cheeseburger at McDonalds. The film is actaully done on a NOH stage, a classical tool of ancient Japanese drama. The film is based off of a famous short story by Japanese cultural icon Yukio Mishima, whose influence in thier culture is still felt today, 40 years after his death by Hairi Kairi, a death symbolic of his fanatical dedication to ancient Japanese tradition. The film was shot in balck and white, has no sound, and is only thirty minutes long, with plot details written out on a scroll, hand written by the story's author, who stars as the male lead. The story is of a Japanese military officer who must commit suicide with his wife, so that he may preserve his honor, instead of killing his mutinous comrades. The inyense emotionality of the film is matched only be the level of disturbing graphic content which is seen during the suicide. I would recommend this movie to amny people, but if someone is squeamish, they should not wacth the suicide scene. Me and my buddy, who watch horror films all the time could not look at the artfully done buckets of blood and intestines taht spill from the main character, a scene so revlting that SAW could take a lesson from it.
Molly P.
ReplyDelete4. I think the characters were only He and She because that way we can all step into the character’s shoes. The story isn’t saying that a once experience only happened to these two people. A ‘once’ experience can happen to anybody. The audience can relate to a once experience they’ve already had. We may meet the right person for a short time. And that can only happen once.
2. I like Paranoid Park because it was different than other movies you see where someone gets killed. There’s no suspenseful music or overdramatic twists and turns. I watch a lot of CSI and it’s like seeing the murder investigation from a different point of view. The audience gets to really know how Alex feels. I want to say Paranoid Park is more realistic. His world is slowed down because of his constant confusion and panic of getting caught. The audience sees inside Alex’s mind after he killed that man. He doesn’t know what to do. He can’t tell anyone because he would get caught. You get to understand how he didn’t mean to kill the man, but still has to live with the guilt.
6. Alex killed a man while he was illegally riding the freight train. His intention wasn’t to kill the man, just to knock him out of the way. But Alex still killed him. He has to deal with the shock of what he’s done and the realization that he might get caught. He is now just slowly moving through life, because he’s panicked. That is why the experimental style of filmmaking was used. It is different but makes sense with Alex’s situation. You can’t just use this style for any film.
7. There were a lot of slow shots. They were slow because they were slow motion and lasting longer than they usually do in other movies. There were many skateboarding shots and shots of Alex walking down the hallway. It can get dull to some people from the confusion in the story and how it slowly progresses. But in the end, the slow scenes make sense and they work with the story. They aren’t just randomly placed in there.
Courtney W.
ReplyDelete1. I thought Once was pretty good. I think the main reason I liked it as much as I did is because it was the first non-silent film we had watched in the class. I thought the whole 'once' them of the movie was really cute even though I was rooting for them to end up together in the end. Also in the movie, I really liked the music. That is usually not the type of music I listen to, so I am really glad I was exposed to it.
One thing I really did not like in this film was the acting, more-so for the girl. I realize she had never acted before, but her line reading made it obvious that she was just acting the whole time and not really being her character. On the other hand, I thought the guy's acting was really good.
2. I absolutely loved Paranoid Park. Everything about the movie just went together so well and I even liked that experimental outlook of it. I thought the characters were played really well. Whoever played Alex's character did a really good job of portraying all the emotions he was going through. I especially liked how all of the confusing parts in the movie came together in the end.
The one and only thing I did not like in this movie (or in any movie for that matter) was not knowing the ending. It bugs me and makes me feel as though I still have not completely finished the movie. Even if I try to make up my own ending, I will still never know.
4. I think the characters in Once do not have names because they represent strangers in a sense in each others life. They met once...and didn't even stay in each others lives for very long, but they each impacted each other's life.
I think the aspect thats universal to the audience is the whole idea of having a person who you know and appreciate....but lose touch with them. Its also saying that life goes on for everyone no matter who you meet.
6. Alex is clearly not leading a normal life during this movie. He is going through alot of stress between his parents divorcing, his girlfriend pressuring him into doing the deed, and of course the guilt of killing the security guard on his shoulders. Your argument of the experimental style being appropriate is totally true because life to him at this point is like his own experiment. What he is going through and feeling is not what a normal kid his age experiences and therefore should not be portrayed in a normal style movie. Time is going by slowly and he isn't exactly tuned in all the time. This movie and style really fits his lifestyle at this point in time.
Alex I.
ReplyDeleteHey Mr.Dunn
1. I really liked the movie Once. I thought the story line was really good and the acting was very believable, especially since the main characters had never been in a movie before. The music was good and I thought it was weird that I even knew one of the songs. They used songs very well throughout the movie. The ending,though, was not what I expected it to be.
2. I really loved Paranoid Park. At first I didn't think I would like it but I ended up loving it. I felt the story line was easy to follow yet very sad at most parts. The line reading could have been better but the scened where all you see is the emotion in his face were perfect. I wish in the ending they showed what ended up happening to him.
5.My idea for the ending of Once was very different than what actually happened. I though that after she received the piano from him she was going to realize that she liked him and wanted to continue making music with him. They would spend more time together and than they could realize that maybe they wren't meant for each other so it could still be that "once in a lifetime" type thing. They would go their separate ways but not wondering what it would have been like.
8.My ending to the movie of Paranoid Park is very different from what actually happened. I think Alex would have ended up admitting what he did because the guilt would have gotten to him because it started to during the movie, with all of the flashbacks he had. I also think the police officer would have gotten him to talk because the officer looked like he knew something the whole time. Alex would not have turned in the other guy he was with, though, because he thought he was really cool since he was from Paranoid Park.
Julia B.
ReplyDelete1. I loved Once. I was a little disappointed in the end, but I understand that the goal of the movie was to be open ended. I really loved the dialogue, the story, and the concept, and the music was beautiful. I think the actors were totally effortless, it seemed more like a real window into a chance meeting.
2. I would not have watched Paranoid Park on my own, but I think that it was a good movie. It was really interesting, although not really my style. The subject matter wasn't for me, but the movie was shot well and the writing really got the point across. I also thought the bleak setting was fitting.
3. I love the movies Moonstruck, Amelie, Hatari, and Better Off Dead. I think that a lot of people my age have never seen them because Amelie is French, and the other three are older. Amelie (I know you've heard of this one) is about a girl who does nice things for people in Paris, hoping to make their lives better. Hatari is a John Wayne movie, taking place in Africa. He and a team of people catch wild animals for zoos around the world while having adventures and escapades with each other and the local peoples. Better Off Dead is a John Cusack teen comedy, its about a boy whos girlfriend leaves him for the Ski jock at school and how he tries to get her back and winds up finding love in other places. Moonstruck is a Cher and Nicholas Cage film about Italian Americans and love and family.
4. The people in Once didn't have names to really impress upon the viewer that these things can happen to anyone at all. Just because you wear a certain pair of shoes on any given day means your life could drastically change. Anything could happen at any time of day, better or worse. That is how the movie applies to anyone. The person sitting next to you in the theater could turn around and ask you to please SHUT UP and you could get into an argument that winds up turning into a conversation and you could take something from it. It only takes once.
1. I have seen "Once" before, but every time I watch it, I still get chills. This movie was just as uplifting and inspiring as it was the first time I saw it, maybe even more so now since it has been about a year since I saw it last. As someone who plays piano and guitar, and lives in a musically talented family, I am always drawn to musical films. In "Once", I find it refreshing when the plot is not a cliche, and the music is really the only admiring aspect of the movie, like August Rush. "Once" has a unique story, and memorable characters, and the music stands out enough that it completes the film, never overshadowing it. You know you are watching a good film when during one scene, everyone just goes silent, taken in by the story and the music.
ReplyDelete3. There are a few recent movies that I love that many of my friends have not. One of them is a documentary called "Man on Wire". I found the film suspenseful, even though I knew what would happen in the end, which can be difficult to do. Its amazing to watch these feats performed, even if on the silver screen. Another film that came out a couple years ago is "The Namesake". It is a beautiful film about a young man, Gogol, learning the importance of his name, and the lives his parents lived. There are melodramatic moments, but overall it is a wonderful movie. Lastly, one film that none of my friends have seen that I thought was really good was "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". I know alot of movie buffs know about the movie, since it was nominated for its screenplay, but not many 17 year olds. It is a very sad movie, but thought-provoking. I could never imagine living the life of the main character, trapped in his own immobile body. While it isn't a movie I will revisit all the time, it is worth the watch.
6. I will never understand what Alex goes through in the film "Paranoid Park", nor would I ever want to. Alex killed an innocent man, even if it was an accident. The fact he was riding the freight trains in the first place will hold him accountable. To add to that, his parents are getting divorced, and while divorce happens all the time, it never softens the blow when its happening to you. Gus Van Sant exposes Alex's uneasy family life without restraint, so like Alex, we as the audience find escape through skateboarding. The camera follows Alex's emotions, but not in the way I expected when I first saw the movie. After the incident at the train station, I expected the camera movements to quicken in pace, to show the chaos in Alex's mind. Instead, the camera is still very subtle in movement, focusing on facial expressions, and body language. Another touch I loved was the absence of Alex's parents' faces. This further isolates Alex from his family, which translates as him having really no one to turn to after the accidental homicide.
7. One experimental element was the change in camera work. I do not know that much about cameras, but during some shots, (the ones at "Paranoid Park") the quality is downplayed, giving it more of a low budget, feel. These shots were also particularly long. I can understand why some people would rather see a faster-paced movie, but I think for this situation, and this character, these shots work. There is one shot when Alex is in the shower after killing the guard. The camera is on his face is one entire shot, but we never see his face, and with the music that plays, the audience can really see his desperation. Music was another interesting part of the film. Another film of Gus Van Sant uses mostly classical music almost ironically. "Elephant", a darker film about a school shooting very similar to the Columbine Massacre, is filled with Beethoven's music. "Paranoid Park" also uses classical music, in a very ironic situation. Classical music can be peaceful and quiet, but Alex's story is anything but peaceful.
-Katherine B.
Lindsay Ruais
ReplyDeleteMr Dunn,
1. I liked Once, it was a very intresting movie with a quirky plotline. I liked how the actors were just normal people with little acting experience because they were actually able to portray the stiff and ridgedness of regular people who are not so terribly open with people they just meet, or even sometimes with their own friends. I also liked the twist of reality where the two do not just skip off into the sunset to live happily together forever, but actually return to their previous lives and loves but do not forget each other.
2. I enjoyed Paranoid Park as well, it was a look into the warped realm of experimental films. There were some parts that were ridiculously long, like the day dream sequence of skaters, but I liked how they portrayed the awkwardness and incomprehensibleness of comitting an act that cannot be taken back or easily resolved. I especially liked when his inner voices are quarrling with each other on what Alex should do.
5. What I expect would happen after Once would be that both characters return to their lives, the woman stays with her husband in her small apartment and the man gets back together with his girlfriend and lives in London. Then there is the possibility that the man gets a record deal for his CD and becomes famous, then the woman might see his CD in a store and remember their time they spent together.
8. I expect one of two things to happen after Paranoid Park ended. Alex could be arrested by the policeman and go to jail, or get bailed out by his parents, but either way he would be punished for what had been a horrible accident. The other would be if he was never found out, then he would live the rest of his life with that memory and possibly be tortured in his nightmares by having to constantly relive that experience.
Taylor C.
ReplyDeleteMr. Dunn. Happy early birthday!
Let's get started.
1. I loved Once. I loved it the first time I watched it too. What I love about once is the almost cruel love story, and the music is amazing. I think the thing that I love the most are the two characters. I love how quarky they are and how they mix so well. They remind me of qualities I see in myself and also in my friends.
2. I enjoyed Paranoid Park a lot as well. Though I'm not sure of the exact reason. I was just interested in the story. I just liked the story line I suppose. I always wanted to know what was going on. I liked putting the puzzle peices together. The jumping around time wise made it more of a challenge.
4. I think the characters of Once didn't have names so they anyone could put their name in the character's place and, in a way, become the characters in the story. As for what's universal about the film is the idea that every person has that special thing that only happens once. It comes and goes and all you're left with is the memory of what happened.
7. The choppy time frame, the fuzzy shots of just random kids skateboarding, the plain monotoned script reading. One thing that really stood out to me was the bizaar time-line. Skipping around in the story-line while still making it all come together was pretty impressive. It's also something you don't normally see in a lot of mainstream films. The random footage of kids skateboarding was another thing I found to be a little tedious. It was right in context with the character but I feel like they weren't out of place but just a little too long. Another thing is the way the story was read. It really was like the main character was reading a school report. It was just very plain and emotionless. The acting in the movie was great, but the story itself was very monotoned; another thing you don't really see in mainstream.
Dimitri Innocent
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Dunn,
Happy Birthday
Once was a good movie showing how two strangers could truly impact each other’s lives. Though I am not a musician trying to pursue a music Career, you can understand the struggle in impressing a Recording Label. Who usually does not take the time to listen to a song from anyone who sends in a CD. The only problem with me is how can these two characters impact their lives so much, and they both decide to return to their old life.
I enjoyed Paranoid Park this movie intrigued me, mostly because this Alex attitude was so chill about life (Before he killed that man). He did not care about anything, his friends, and his girl friend. He kept to himself and was not about pleasing anyone else. I feel the only reason why he went to talk to his friend about the accident was, because he was struggling with his decision and what to do. I felt the story was not complete, and it would have been interesting to learn more about his character.
The characters in once did not need to have names, I feel that this aspect to the movie shows that we could fill our name in and customize the movie to relate to our lives. The connection between the two Characters, made having a Name unnecessary and in the movie you would not notice they did not have names (I did not even realize until you told the class). It also fits how these two characters came and went, just like they just met. The naming of these characters did not have to be done, by the ways they communicated in their dialogue.
The experimental aspects in Paranoid Park took away from what could have been done in this film. The flashing back scenes and montages virtually take you away from the film, which was quite necessary. I loved the overall character, and how he was trying to get away from his troubles, and doing this he put himself into a worse predicament. Not only was Alex going through enough, he was faced with involuntary homicide watching a man get killed. The story came from nowhere and was just meant to see how experimental a normal movie can get in my opinion.
Carla S.
ReplyDeleteHey Mr. Dunn,
1. I enjoyed watching Once. I liked how it was shot documentary style. It made if feel more real to me. I'm the kind of person who loves the typical romance, but I was surprised that I enjoyed the ending of this movie even though they do not end up together. For two people who are musicians and not actors, I thought they did a superb job. They were awkward and tense at times, which is what I think made it all the better. I especially enjoyed a lot of the music within the film such as Falling Slowly. And I liked how the music fit into the plot of the movie, and not just played at random points - like a musical.
2.Paranoid Park was hard for me to tell whether I liked it or not. By the end of it, I was still trying to process the movie. Although it's definitely not something I would go see on my own time, I did not hate it. It was definitely hard to follow at first but made more sense at the end. But along with being one for the cliche romance movies, I'm a person who needs closure. I appreciate the artistic ending of this movie, but I hontestly was dying to know whether he got caught or not. Overall I think it was a decent movie for trying to be an independent experimental movie, but it's not really my cup of tea.
3. I don't know if this would be considered a "buired treasure" but it is a film I know some people my age have seen, but not many. It's a documentary called Mad Hot Ballroom. It follows elementary school children in New York as they learn Ballroom dances in school such as Tango, Fox Trot, Swing, etc. It showed how programs like this can benefit children living in a more lower class family. The movie followed three schools and each of the school entered a competition with other schools. I have watched this movie many times and I can still watch it without getting bored.
4. I think they reason they didn't have names is because the whole point of the movie was the one encounter between two strangers. This one encounter that changed their lives, for a little at least. I think they were trying to show that names and those type of details weren't the point of the movie. I think the film showed that this can happen to anyone and has happened to a lot of people. There a moment when one person can change your life and then you might never see them again. It's showing that you never know what to expect from the people around you. You would think the two characters would end up together in the end but that's the whole meaning behind "once". It was a one time thing, but something they'll both always remember.
I thought that Once was a great movie for multiple reasons. It was a really creative film and at the same time it was believable. The characters didn't overact their parts which made the dialogue seem realistic and made the film all the more relatable. If you combine that with the quality music and terrific casting and location then you have the brilliant movie which is Once.
ReplyDeleteI actually really liked that Once kind of leaves you hanging at the end and you have your imagination to help you decide what happens to the main characters. Saying that, if I had to write an ending to the movie it would go something like this. After moving to London he would start playing local pub and club gigs and after a few months he would land a respectable record deal from a music producer happening to be enjoying a drink in one of the pubs the main character is playing in. Neither his or her relationship would work and after a few months the man is looking to go on tour and calls the girl to see if she will join him.
Paranoid Park was another interesting movie and I wasn't sure about it at first but after half an hour it was strangely compelling. The director of the movie uses some experimental filming which actually works considering the situation in which Alex is in. For example, there are several dream like sequences which make sense because if you had been through something like accidentally brutally murdering someone you would probably try and find some place in your mind to escape to. There are also parts where the movie is literally slowed down and that is also effective because when put in a serious situation it can seem that time slows down a little.
If I had to give an ending to Paranoid Park it would probably go as so. After successfuly keeping his cool through several more interviews with the police it turns out they couldn't produce enough evidence to convict Alex or any of the other skaters. Even though he got off the hook Alex is not free from emotional stress and after several months of constant stress his parents and teachers assume something is wrong. One day Alex's Dad finds his journal and after talking to him about it they decide that it would be for the best for Alex to come clean with the police.
Jeremy St. Louis
ReplyDeleteMr Dunn,
1) I liked the movie Once. I felt that the story line was really able to connect to the audience on a personal level because it was something that could happen to anyone. I found that the movie was more about meeting someone who drastically changes your life for the better, rather than the music (obviously the music played a huge role though). Since it was an independent film, the production quality is not as good as say multi-million dollar budget film, but I don’t think it lacked because of this. I thought the acting was good, and the characters were interesting. Overall I enjoyed it.
2) I thought Paranoid Park was an interesting movie. I have never seen an experimental film before and I thought that this film was a great way to introduce me into that genre. I really liked how the movie focused on the character’s reactions and feelings to his horrific crime, rather than just focusing on the murder itself. Some of the scenes where it goes on a while just showing skateboarders were kind of long, but I actually liked it. I thought it added a subconscious “dreamy” part to the movie that played on the main characters emotions. Overall I enjoyed Paranoid Park.
4) The characters in Once did not have names because the movie was able to better connect to the audience on a personal level. The audience is now able to relate to the characters even more. This means that the events that happened to the characters in the film could happen to anyone. You can really feel a personal connection with the characters in the movie as well as the overall environment of the film. Everybody’s life, in some way, can connect to the film.
8) I think that after the film ends in Paranoid Park, Alex would have gotten away with his crime. Alex disposed all the evidence (threw away clothes and skate board) and the only person who could really rat him out would be the other skateboarder, who I doubt he would tell anyone because he was also kind of involved in the murder, and of course the security guard, who is dead. There is no way the police cold prove that the skateboard is Alex’s; his fingerprint marks would have been ruined by the water he threw it in. Although he would get off free, he would have to live in agony the rest of his life for what he had done.
1.I really enjoyed Once. The music is the type of music I listen to, so I would put on the songs while I was doing homework. I don’t know why it has resonated so much with me, but it has. I think it is an interesting twist on a chance meeting. Instead of boy meets girl and they fall in love its boy meets girl and they help one another realize who they are supposed to be with.
ReplyDelete3.One of my favorite films is It’s A Wonderful Life. Most people my age have never even heard of the film. It is a staple in my family. We watch it every Christmas. I think that the movie says a lot about life. Kindness will be rewarded in the end, and life is too precious to throw away. I love It’s A Wonderful Life! I think that most people my age would be reluctant to see a black and white film, but it is truly a buried treasure. I think that’s why it is on television every year.
4.3. The main characters did not have names other than he and she because it makes the chance encounter more universal and relatable. Whether we realize it or not, we have had chance encounters with people who have shaped the way we see ourselves and others. The Once encounter can apply to more than love. It can be about meeting a kind veteran and realizing that more needs to be done to help veterans. Having he and she makes it universal. Anyone can be he and she.
2.4. I did not like Paranoid Park. It was too slow moving for me. Having those skateboard scenes made me think about other things. I do not really think it held my attention. I liked the plot, I just didn’t like the way it was played out. It was a little too far out for me. I also thought the acting was pretty bad. I felt like Alex had a hard time speaking English. I didn’t get anything out of the movie.
-Amanda K
Rachael Barham
ReplyDelete1. I enjoyed watching Once, although we watched it in segments. The general idea of a once in a life time moment is kind of great. Not knowing how things can turn out really entices me. The whole time I was thinking they would end up together. But once it was over and it all sunk in, it seemed fitting that they weren’t together.
4. I think they don’t have names because it helps apply the story to everyone’s life. They could be ANYONE. I believe the movie is saying that almost will have a “once” experience and it doesn’t matter how or when it happens. No matter what, it will change you.
6. He wasn’t really close to anyone, and when you’re growing up, that’s kind of important. He did have people around, like his parents, his brother, his “friends” and his girlfriend. Another thing was the fact that he had just been apart of someone’s death. I believe it makes sense because when you’re going through something that’s difficult you see things differently. This movie is good in this aspect because it’s filmed in a different way. To me, the two play off each other well.
7. In Paranoid Park, there’s lots of jumping around. I found this to be an experimental element because there were no hints or way to tell when things were taking place. As long as you pay attention you can pick up on what’s happening. Another element was the montages. Normally you don’t see them unless they are of a character. These didn’t, although they involved on of the main parts.
Katarina A.
ReplyDelete1. I liked Once because it was very realistic. Unlike almost every other movie, it did not have that fairy tale ending where the two fall in love and stay together. It was also realistic in that it was not professionaly studio filmed or acted. Another great element of the film was the music. The music brought the two together. Therefore, it was appropriate that the emotions be told through the lyrics.
2. I like Paranoid Park because it had a typical and realistic teenager. Although murder is not common in teens, crime and breaking rules is. Like many teens who break rules, Alex is terrified of getting caught but gets off like nothing happened. The only element about the movie that I did not enjoy was that it had long, slow parts of just skateboarde.
3. One of my "bureid treasure" films is Joshua. It is an inspiring Catholic movie about a random guy who stays in town for a short time but changed the life of the town by bringing them together and helping with their problems one person at a time. Another film is A Man in the Moon. This was one of Reece Witherspoon's first movies. It is about two sisters who fall in love with the same boy but come together by the outcome.
6. Alex had to deal with the shock and trauma of accidentally killing a person. He dealt with the guilt, suspence, and pressure under the cops. He is also faced from pressures of just being a teenager, for example his girlfriend. The guilt and shock after the killing was perfectly portrayed in the shower scene where Alex stood there in shock of what had happened that evening. The slow motion of skateboarders shows how Alex can escape to skateboarding. Also, the story was written as a letter to a friend which allowed it to show a lot of emotion.
O. Babiec
ReplyDeleteHey Mr. Dunn,
1. I thought that Once was an awesome movie. It was so realistic and it was refreshing to watch. I think the ending was perfect; she didnt show up, then they dont see each other again before he leaves. I think that that is how this type of friendship would have played out if it had been real life. The fact that it wasnt the happy ending that most people either wanted or expected was what, I thought, made the movie perfect. I thought the characters lives were well portrayed throughout the movie, in the actors acting abilities or just the story line. I felt the music went along well with the story and it ended with a real face to reality.
4. I think the characters didnt have names so that people would be able to connect to the characters better. When a character has a name, i feel like it isnt as easy to connect to them, because a name binds them, they belong to something.
6. Alex had to deal with his parents divorce, pressure from his girlfriend, and then above all that , he is responsible for the death of someone he didnt even know. The slow motion i think shows how his thought process is probably working. everything to him was probably working in slow motion. With the constant flashbacks to the skaters, those thoughts were a way for him to escape from reality and what he had done.
2. Paranoid Park was a decent film. I think its a film that is a one time see film. I've now seen it, but i dont think I would ever go back to watch it until years later. Its one that will stick with me, im certain. But did I like it, all I can say is that I didnt not like it.
P.S Happy Birthday
Sam W.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Mr. Dunn,
2. I really liked Paranoid Park because people who see this movie can relate the things that Alex went through to their own lives. Paranoid Park is also very different because it jumps around from current time to flashbacks often. I personally didn't like this because I would get lost trying to figure out whether or not Alex was telling a story about a flashback or if what was going on was in the present time. I liked this movie because the main focus of the movie is skateboarders. My brother is a skateboarder and I can see similarities in the attitudes of Alex and other characters and my brother. I also see that both sides use skateboarding to get away from the stresses of life.
3. One movie that I like to watch sometimes that not many of my friends have heard of is the Comebacks. I enjoy the comedy in it because it makes fun of sports movies such as Invincible, Remember the Titans, and The Longest Yard. I also like Enemy of the State, which is a movie starring Will Smith. He becomes the target of the NSA after someone secretly hides a video of the murder of a senator into his bag. This movie shows how spy agencies invade people's privacy by using many techniques that the public doesn't know about so they can track down people across the world.
6. One of Alex's extreme circumstances was trying to hide the guilt of killing a security. After he did this, Alex's life was changed forever. He couldn't tell anyone what he did, he became more depressed, he acted strangely, and didn't spend as much time with his friends. Another of these circumstances was his girllfriend pressuring him to spend more time with him. On top of the fear Alex had of someone discovering he killed the security guard was his girlfriend forcing him to do certain things with her. In addition to that, Alex hardly ever talks with his parents, who were in the process of a divorce.
8. At the end of Paranoid Park, Alex is as nervous as ever because he feels he close to getting caught for the murder of a security guard. The police narrow down their suspects and finally figure out that Alex is responsible for the crime. Alex begins to panic and tries think through all of the possible outcomes. He really only has a few options: wait to get caught, turn himself in to the police, leave the state, or worst case scenario, commit suicide. He knows that he will serve jail time if he waits to get caught or turns himself in. Alex also knows that jail is a horrible place for a kid to go. He could try to escape by leaving the state and maybe the country, but there's also the possibility of the law catching him anyone around the world. The thought of killing himself made Alex shudder. He couldn't possibly take his own life.
Alex thinks to himself for a while and when he finally makes a decision, he goes out of his house, and drives to the police station. He explains to Detective Lu that he lied about what he did that night and explains what he did and how it happened. Detective Lu listens and when Alex finishes, places him under arrest. At Alex's trial, the judge sentenced him to 5 years of prison and 180 days of counseling. After Alex hears the verdict, he hugs his mom and dad and tells them he's sorry. The police officer there escorts Alex out of the courtroom and into his car. On the way to the jail, Alex breaks down and sobs uncontrollably, knowing he should have not gone with the stranger at Paranoid Park to the trainyard. If he had ignored him, he would have avoided the situation he was in and be a free man.
Kate O'Connell
ReplyDelete1. Once is a film that every time you watch it, it just gets better. While music was a very important aspect of the film, it does not beat the chemistry between the two unknown people. Their story, I feel, is somewhat of a classic love story. Boy meets girl. Boy hits on girl. Girl rejects boy. And the story should have ended there. However, with the music it kept the story line going. That is why the movie was so good. The movie was a mix of both pretty good plot and some very different, talented music.
2. This was my second time watching Paranoid Park. After the first 30 some minutes, my family and I decided to turn it off. Now, I’m sorry that we did. While the slow skate scenes and the weird French music makes the film a little boring, that is what makes it an experimental film. I thought that the idea you did not know the sequence of what happened to Alex was a very interesting thing. I liked not really know what was happening and when it happened. The ending was very disappointing but it was still good. It is not a movie I would buy or rent but if I have saw it again I would not protest.
3. I saw a film two years ago with my family and when we all walked out of the theater, we were crying. When I first heard the name, Son of Rambo, I thought some pretty weird things. I thought it was going to be some stupid action movie but for children. However, the film is set in England and is just a weird film about the ideas of growing up. For some reason when I think of this movie, I think of Peter Pan.
It was so good and when it came on DVD, I was the first one to get it. Now many people know about it and I like that. I do not see many films that are unheard but movies like Gigantic and Happy-Go-Lucky, which are known are some of my favorites. I like them because they are so weird and funny.
8. Alex writes the letter and then puts away, letting his mind go to rest and forget about it. He worries for awhile about his parents, who can see the differences in him, but are too afraid to do something about it. He is questioned by the police a few more times, but they cannot prove anything. However, they known he is not telling the truth. He continues to skate, but his friends start to believe he may have been behind the murder and worry about him. Paranoid Park is a faint memory for him because he vows never to go back there.
Alex beings to fall for his best friend and realizes he can trust her. He tells her and she says nothing, she already figured it out. Then the film ends.
Carrie Gillespie
ReplyDelete1.I really enjoyed the film Once. The movie got off to a kind of slow start in my opinion, but it quickly picked up and really caught my attention. I liked that the film was different, in the style of film making and also in the way that the guy and girl never end up getting together, don’t even have first names, and other things like that, which most films don’t do. I also really enjoyed the music in the film. Overall I don’t think it’s the type of movie I could watch every day, but I really did enjoy the film.
2.I also really liked Paranoid Park. It’s definitely not a movie I would have ever chosen to watch, but I’m really glad that I did watch it. Like Once, I thought it was interesting to see the different type of film making. The storyline was also very good and grabbed my attention very well. However, I did think that some of the scenes of people skateboarding, that really didn’t have much to do with the actually storyline of the movie got a little boring. In the long run though, I thought it was a very good film.
4.I think that the fact that the characters in Once didn’t have first names shows that what these two characters experience happens to a lot of people, or can happen to a lot of people. I think the film is trying to show that lots of people have an experience that changes their lives at least once in their lives, like these two characters did. The lack of names in the movie makes it feel like the film wasn’t just about two specific people. I believe that in a way, the two characters in the film are a metaphor for people in general.
7.Paranoid Park had many experimental elements in it. First of all, the film did not appear to hire experienced actors to play the main and supporting characters. The film also didn’t seem to use a very high quality camera. Another experimental element was the way that it would sometimes flash to dreamlike sequences of people skateboarding. The film also didn’t exactly go in chronological order and some scenes happened more than once. Another experimental element was how when Alex was breaking up with Jennifer, you couldn’t see him or hear what he or Jennifer was saying.
Steven
ReplyDelete1. I really enjoyed watching the film Once, because it was about the struggles of life. It showed two different people struggling to find their place. I felt this movie was a real eye opener about what real life is all about and how tough it can be.
2. I thought Paranoid Park was pretty good. I enjoyed the whole idea of a mystery in the movie. As an audience member you are not given all the facts, but forced to try and piece it together.
3. One movie that I really like the many people my age have heard of but not many have seen is Silence of the Lambs. This movie is extremely terrifying. This movie i think is similar to Paranoid Park in one aspect. It does not really tell the audience everything and paint the picture for you. It makes you think the entire time you’re watching the movie.
7. One experimental part of Paranoid Park I didn’t really find necessary was all the drawn out segments of the people skateboarding. I am still not quite sure how that affects the overall point of the movie. However one experimental part of it I really liked was having the order or of the scenes mixed around. Today most movies hold the audiences hand and go through the story in a orderly piece by piece setting. This movie allowed me to think on my own and figure out what was going on, and i really like that in a movie.
Hunter R.
ReplyDelete1. I definitely enjoyed Once. I felt that the story, although on the surface is rather simple, is incredibly sweet and romantic, even though the characters did not end up together. I thought the entire concept, the serendipity of a random meeting and the incredible results from it, to be very touching, as well as applicable. I would like to think that a Once-like occurance could happen to any of us, if we allowed it to happen.
2. I liked Paranoid Park for what it tried to do. I think the plot was good, but the way it was told was definitely not what I was used to. I think that the parts where the movie repeated footage or used footage that was nearly similar was slightly confusing, as well repeated dialogue scenes. Despite that, I appreciated the very intense story it tried to tell us about Alex, but I was very disappionted with its lack of closure in the end.
4. I think the character in Once remained unamed because their identities are not really important. I think what was important was the relationship that they had to each other, which in my opinion, was the point of the film. In regards to all people, the film is saying that a beautiful, yet coincidental relationship could find anyone at any time, if they are open to it.
6. I think the most obvious and most extreme would be that he inadvertently killed a person in a rather gruesome manner. To a lesser extent, his parents are barely present in his life and he has to deal with their divorce. The experimental style of filming goes well with the rather extreme circumstances. The odd structure and content of the film tried to bring the audience into what it is like to see the world through Alex's eyes, rather than simply have the audience see Alex's life and story. Also, I think the film tries to convey what goes on in Alex's head, which I argue would not be complete or even make sense, and that would be true of anyone, especially someone who had been through a traumatic experience like his.
1. I adored Once. It was completely not what I expected. It portrayed a love story without being too chick flick-y. Also the mockumentary style of filming was appropriate in displaying the fact that they aren't that well-off financially. In other words, it made the film appear sort of "dirty." The music was fantastic, and as a whole it's a movie I'd watch again.
ReplyDelete2. Paranoid Park I have mixed feelings about. But it WAS an indie film, and I wasn't sure what to expect in the first place. On one hand, I didn't like how slow-moving it was, and some of the camera angles just puzzled me. But at the same time I liked the way it used a sort of backwards timeline to portray the events. So I give it *** out of 5.
4. I think the film is applicable to pretty much everyone. It takes the concept of a chance encounter and shows how it can develop into something life-changing. It shows that every event builds off another, and that even the most trivial of ideas can turn into something much bigger. That's why the film is called "Once" - because both characters simply came and went from each other's lives, but left behind such a lasting impact.
7. First of all, the timeline was all strewn about. They showed the end of the film at the beginning, and the actual event of the security guard dying, which was the pivotal starting point, a little more than halfway into the movie. Also there were some camera shots in there that just threw me off. For example: the montages, the slow-motion skateboarding shots, and that shot in the car of just the guy STARING at Alex. It was all a bit unsettling, but I can see how it can be symbolic. Also, the film used unconventional music for certain scenes, which was a bit odd.
2. Paranoid Park was a surprisingly good film. At first i thought it was kinda lame because it was so different from what I am used to watching. After watching the movie for 30 minutes or so, I appreciated how the director used many different camera settings to show how the boy was feeling. Also at the beginning, it was very confusing as the story was portrayed out of context. After I realized what was going on in the story it was extremely interesting. This movie although fiction, it gives an insight into how people begin to act after doing something horribly wrong and not getting caught. I also liked the ending because it lets the viewer decide in their imagination what happens to the boy, if he gets caught or not.
ReplyDelete3. One buried film that I have recently seen is a movie called Kung Fu Hustle. The only word to describe this movie is wild. Throughout the movie I had really no idea what was happening with the story. With the bad plot came great action and fighting scenes that were similar to slow-mo matrix fight scenes. The weird thing about the fighting scenes was the fact that best fighters were old and possessed very strange abilities. An old man was very flexible and could dodge everything, while his crazy wife had a screech that no one could handle. This was the strangest movie I have ever seen, not to mention it was all in some oriental language.
6. Alex endured many extreme circumstances throughout the film. The most extreme being him accidentally killing a security officer. This was always on his mind and everything he did throughout the film was affected by this. Secondly, he faced his very annoying girlfriend and the issues of a teenage relationship, all while the murder was fresh on his mind. The experimental style was definitely appropriate for Alex's situation. The use of slowed down time throughout the movie explained what how Alex was feeling and the severity of his acts. Also that the story was not in a linear plot helped portray how Alex's mind was wondering even though he was calm on the outside.
8. At the end of Paranoid Park the viewer does not no how Alex's situation ends. I believe that Alex would turn himself into the police a couple weeks later. I say this because very few teenagers could continue on with daily life with such a monumental thing on their chests. The constant never knowing what is going to happen next would be to much to bare. Alex also knew that the cops were getting close to linking him to the murder after they found his skateboard in the river. It would be a very monumental choice but I believe that after serving punishment could some what calm Alex, were as if never caught he would always have to live with a huge burden.
Miles C
Saad S
ReplyDelete1.I loved Once, as an indie movie fan I like it when movies get creative while still entertaining. The story really stays with you for a long time. The characters of the movie made it what it is, the boy and the girl who remain unkown created a relationship of friendship and love and it really affects you in the end of the movie when they both go their seperate ways almost just after meeting each other. The great use of comedy/romance/and drama was a good way to showcase all of the emotions of this great film.
2. Paranoid Park was not my favorite movie, I did not really get sucked in into the character's feelings and emotions because it did not really do anything to me mentally. The movie is well done, but the actors did not really do a great job of conversating with each other, even though the main character was good at his slow-motion scenes which seemed to drag on forever and were at points annoying and repeptitive.
3. My favorite "buried treasure" movie would have to be a movie called "Just Friends" starring Ryan Reynold and Amy Smart. This movie is one of the few good romantic comedies but it it bought down by its underratedness. Never has a romantic comedy given me a feeling of actually loving the romance involved with the characters. No one really knows anything about this movie, none of my friends have actually heard of it after I've shown it to them and it remains to this day my number 1 buried treasure.
4. I do not think that it was important at all for the two main characters to have names for the strength of their relationship together, in other words this was a very universal topic for it happens everyday to millions of people who fall in love but it does not really work out, that is one of the reasons they did not have names, they could be any one of us. This movie did a great job of it being very realistic in a sense that really makes you relate to the two main characters and what they are going through, no matter what country anyone is from, they can feel the connection and the loss after watching this movie, making it a great example of a universal movie.(Even though we could'nt understand any of them in the movie.)
Gina M.
ReplyDeleteHey Mr. Dunn, I had missed the ending of Once, hence me turning in this blog post so late!
1. I really enjoyed watching Once. I like the why it is filmed, and it was very unconventional. I music in the film is great and I immediately downloaded it after we finished watching the movie. Even though it was not a documentary, the why it was filmed made the story feel so real, and the acting was very believable. Once is a simple movie, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
2. I have to say I didn’t really like Paranoid Park. The movie was a little too weird and slow for my liking, and I thought the acting wasn’t good at all. I didn’t like the fact that we don’t find out what happens in the end of the film. I like conclusions! I did really like the music and I thought it fit the film very well. I just honestly did not see the point of the movie.
3. My absolute favorite “buried treasure” film is Empire Records. The movie has some pretty big stars like Liv Tyler and Renee Zellweger. It was a pretty popular film in the 90s, but since then it’s been forgotten. I’ve never even seen it being sold in stores, and trust me, I look everywhere. It’s a simple plot about a bunch of kids that work at a record store, and how they work together to save it from going under. I think anyone who’s my age would really enjoy this movie. Everyone I’ve showed it to so far loves it!
6. Alex had to deal with several extreme circumstances, two of which are his difficult family life and his involvement in an accidental murder. I think the experimental style was completely appropriate for his situation, and conveyed the dark and confused state he was in. This time in Alex’s life basically revolved around him finding himself. That time in someone’s life can be very confusing, and most teenagers make a lot of mistakes while they’re going through this. I thought the why it was filmed really took you into his world without having to explain anything.
Cory C.
ReplyDelete1. I thought that "Once" was very creative and interesting. I really enjoyed watching the movie this movie too. I enjoyed it so much because i really enjoy music and what goes into the making of music.
2.I thought that Paranoid Park was like no movie i had ever seen before. The way that it ended left me in suspense and wondering what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed watching this movie because it had a very interesting plot and story. I never expected that someone was going to be brutally killed in that movie, it really caught me off guard. I liked how i was able to come up with my own ending, because the movie ended without tying the loose ends in the story.
5. This is the way that i envisioned the ending of "Once".
The man goes off to find a record deal and to seek fame. He a distributer who is willing to offer him a deal. He takes the deal and his music gradually climbs so that some people know of him. His music never really becomes all that famous but he keeps playing because he loves it, and it gives him enough income to live off of. He runs into his former girlfriend and they get back together.
The woman in the movie begins to play her piano in her spare time of whenever she can. When her husband comes home they begin to live together again. Her wish comes true about having a father around for her child. She never really gets into the music business, but continues to play. She teaches her daughter to play the piano as she grows up.
7. "Paranoid Park" was a very experimental film. Many aspects of the film were very abnormal compared to most movies in recent history. The first thing that was different was that the timeline was not in sequence, the movie jumped from scene to scene, and the scenes would be flash backs or flash forwards. Second thing that i found different was that there were scenes were it seemed like Alex was dreaming, and the scenes were very slow and had no talking in them, but i found them holding my attention.The final thing that was very experimental was the ending of this movie. The movie ended without tying up the loose ends. Alex is called to the office like in the beginning of the movie, but then the movie and and you are left to decide for yourself what Alex's fate will be.