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Staff Recommendations
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 2:44 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 2:58 AM EST
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 2:44 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 2:58 AM EST
Rope
Alfred Hitchcock- 1948
Until 1984, five Hitchcock movies unavailable to the public: The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry, Vertigo, and Rope. Rope in particular was a rare gem. The movie is considered to be one of Alfred Hitchcock's most experimental and radical movies of its time. It's about two (purportedly) gay men, Brandon Shaw (John Dall) and Phillip Morgan (Farley Granger) who strangle a friend to death for the thrill of it, just before a dinner party which include the victim's family and friends. They then hide the body in a trunk, proceeding to serve the food on the trunk containing the body. They also invite a headmaster they went to school together with, Rupert Cadell, played by James Stewart. As the party goes on, Cadell soon realizes that something might be horribly wrong and is afraid he might be indirectly responsible. The movie offers a bit of everything, a bit of Nietzsche, a bit of psychology, and a dash of sociology.
The film abandoned many standard film techniques to allow for the long and nearly uncut scenes. Shots ran continuously for up to eight minutes, about the length of one reel at the time. The movie was unique by the fact that most of the movie was shot on a single set, the only exception being the opening establishing street scene. The camera dollies were planned in advance, providing little need for editing. The walls of the set were on rollers allowing it be silently moved to make way for the camera, and moved back in place. Prop crew were also constantly on the move the furniture and other props out of the way of the camera, ensuring they were placed in the back in their correct locations.
As for his signature cameo, watch for Hitchcock's caricature on a neon sign visible from the apartment window; and also watch out the man crossing the street in the very first scene.
- Pat Xin
Green Street Hooligans
Lexi Alexander- 2005
So Ivy League pansy and journalism major Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood) gets expelled from Harvard because his rich, jerkoff roommate hid his cocaine stash in Buckners stuff. What does Buckner do? He runs across the pond to jolly ole England to visit his sister, with whom he hasn't spoken to in a while. That's where he meets Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam), the younger brother of Matt's brother in law. Pete is the complete opposite of Matt, he's wild, he's rambunctious, violent, and what we in the states call a soccer hooligan. This isn't all bad, Matt receives a first hand lesson in fighting and companionship. The whole movie pushes forward as Matt and his buddy Pete fight for the respected "firm", the Green Street Elite and listen to stories of the GSE's legend, the Major. It's filled with critical dramatic development as Matt develops a sense of self and self-preservation while satisfying a vicious and primal thirst for excitement. The adrenaline rush is a great companion to Matt's on going dilemma.
- David Goncalves
Alfred Hitchcock- 1948
Until 1984, five Hitchcock movies unavailable to the public: The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry, Vertigo, and Rope. Rope in particular was a rare gem. The movie is considered to be one of Alfred Hitchcock's most experimental and radical movies of its time. It's about two (purportedly) gay men, Brandon Shaw (John Dall) and Phillip Morgan (Farley Granger) who strangle a friend to death for the thrill of it, just before a dinner party which include the victim's family and friends. They then hide the body in a trunk, proceeding to serve the food on the trunk containing the body. They also invite a headmaster they went to school together with, Rupert Cadell, played by James Stewart. As the party goes on, Cadell soon realizes that something might be horribly wrong and is afraid he might be indirectly responsible. The movie offers a bit of everything, a bit of Nietzsche, a bit of psychology, and a dash of sociology.
The film abandoned many standard film techniques to allow for the long and nearly uncut scenes. Shots ran continuously for up to eight minutes, about the length of one reel at the time. The movie was unique by the fact that most of the movie was shot on a single set, the only exception being the opening establishing street scene. The camera dollies were planned in advance, providing little need for editing. The walls of the set were on rollers allowing it be silently moved to make way for the camera, and moved back in place. Prop crew were also constantly on the move the furniture and other props out of the way of the camera, ensuring they were placed in the back in their correct locations.
As for his signature cameo, watch for Hitchcock's caricature on a neon sign visible from the apartment window; and also watch out the man crossing the street in the very first scene.
- Pat Xin
Green Street Hooligans
Lexi Alexander- 2005
So Ivy League pansy and journalism major Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood) gets expelled from Harvard because his rich, jerkoff roommate hid his cocaine stash in Buckners stuff. What does Buckner do? He runs across the pond to jolly ole England to visit his sister, with whom he hasn't spoken to in a while. That's where he meets Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam), the younger brother of Matt's brother in law. Pete is the complete opposite of Matt, he's wild, he's rambunctious, violent, and what we in the states call a soccer hooligan. This isn't all bad, Matt receives a first hand lesson in fighting and companionship. The whole movie pushes forward as Matt and his buddy Pete fight for the respected "firm", the Green Street Elite and listen to stories of the GSE's legend, the Major. It's filled with critical dramatic development as Matt develops a sense of self and self-preservation while satisfying a vicious and primal thirst for excitement. The adrenaline rush is a great companion to Matt's on going dilemma.
- David Goncalves
