Herr Mikhail's Web Page

One of the best ways to end a film class, in my opinion, is by watching what the teacher would consider the best motion picture and watch it for sheer enjoyment.

I value older cine-pictures and therefore I want to spread these older films that get less exposure in today’s fast paced world. I also try to look at the more complex elements of the seemingly simplistic silent movies and share those with the world.

Based on the reviews and the other mystery films that it is compared to, I think it will be a thrilling murder mystery with plenty of twists and well rounded characters. I have not seen the film before.

Film Criticism, something we all encounter now almost daily. Film criticism is a person’s or critic’s opinion on a film, possibly supported with evidence.

From what I have heard, Whiplash will be a a very intense movie. However, I expect to have my immersion broken by seeing actors who are not musicians “play” in the orchestra.

A director is the person in charge of uniting all the technical and thematic elements into one product. A director often leaves his mark on a work through his choices. Directors with memorable “marks” are Christopher Nolan and Wes Anderson.

Film, as a medium, has several advantages over other forms of storytelling. Film allows for very quick transitions between locations, times, and characters. These types of transitions would be very difficult in say, literature.

The structuring of a story is called the plot. The plot of a motion picture is only marginally different than that of a work of literature. Both works of literature and film can be structured in the same way. This is demonstrated by the fact that many films were originally novels or plays. However, the world of film gives writers certain opportunities that are not available to a writer. This is also true in the other direction.

Usually, a good character is complicated, with flaws and strengths and often a developmental arc. However, even without a character arc, a character still has to be consistent and usually not act out of character. Characters acting in expected or unexpected ways makes a good story.

There are three factors that make a movie star: Good looking, larger than life, and good performer. A film star, unlike a radio star, is often more handsome than the general population. A film star also seems to be much more important and appreciated than the general population. The film star frequently has an entourage and heaps of attention laid on them, especially after a performance. Finally, to even reach these levels of recognition, the film star has to be good at his job: performing.