European Cinema

Class Minutes

April 11, 2005

-         Dr. Reimer announces that there will be no class Wednesday, Apr 13.

-         If your presentation is on Monday/Wednesday (11^th/13^th), paper is due by Friday (though will not be penalized if late).

-         EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES:

Spielburg film lecture – Wednesday in Fretwell, 1PM

Several Europeon films playing at the Manor (a documentary, a Czech film, a German film: Schultze gets the blues) On Wed, 7pm – German club will buy your ticket to Schultze gets the blues. Show up ten minutes early to get a ticket.

Downfall, German film at Concord Mills (about the last ten days of Hitler’s life)

-     Viewed clips of Vanilla Sky and Open your Eyes for approximately 20 minutes.

-Clip where Cesar kills Nuria (or David kills Julie)

-Final realization clip

-         Reviewed Open Your Eyes/ Vanilla Sky questions

1)      List the similarities and differences between the two films.

-         Pop culture in Vanilla Sky (particularly with music)

-         Perhaps Hollywood films explain too much, spoonfeed information to audience. Dr. Reimer adds that over 50% of the Hollywood audience is abroad, so it is accepted by more than just Americans, or at least expected.

-         When watching back to back, David getting beat up is funny, but normally the excessiveness of Vanilla Sky would not be as apparent.

-         The films may have had different purposes/intents. Open Your Eyes is more thoughtful, Vanilla Sky more entertaining.

-         More sensory engagements in Vanilla Sky, which we come to expect from Hollywood. This removes opportunities to reflect, which can be a purposeful tool in some films.

2.   How does the casting contribute to the story, to the reception of the film, (understanding of the meaning but also its commercial viability)?

-         Julie is cast differently than Nuria, more of a victim.

-         Cameron Diaz fits the American form of the femme fatale, blonde bombshell type, where Nuria is cast with black hair, the Spanish view of the same type.

-         Jason Lee brings into the film baggage of his prior roles, according to the class. Are we expected to carry knowledge of past roles? It is difficult to watch a Tom Cruise movie without thinking of him as Tom Cruise. Some actors trade on a certain person, and are cast for that persona.

3.   Develop a profile of the differences between European and Hollywood (not necessarily American) cinema based on these films.

-         Hollywood films are expected to explain more information

4.   Assuming the film had to be remade, what did Cameron Crowe do wrong, if anything?  What did he do right, if anything?

-         It is interesting to bring pop-culture into the film. Spanish culture deals with the line between dreams and reality historically. America does not have that tradition, but brings in a sci-fi element.

-         American films seem to moralize. “You have to take the bitter with the sweet”. Hollywood tends toward this, but some European films tend to leave you wondering for yourself.

-     Dr. Reimer passed back questions to some students, and dismissed class.