Film Literature final

 In the films American Beauty, Almost Famous and The Royal Tennenbaums they all included many unique characters and featured interesting examples of narcissism and catharsis. Narcissism is when someone thinks that the whole world revolves around them and they should always get what they want. Catharsis is when someone releases repressed or strong emotions about someone or something. In each of these films the directors use a variety of different examples to convey Narcissism and Catharsis,

In the movie American Beauty there are many examples of narcissism and catharsis. A character that is narcissistic is Jane's friend Angela, who is the object of Lester's unhealthy crush. In the scene where Lester first see's Angela he becomes fascinated with her. At the end of the scene we see Jane and Angela talking about, Jane is freaked out, but Angela feels flattered that Lester likes her.

  In this scene, we see Angela naked in the bathtub with red rose petals covering her body, and Lester inching closer to her. The filmmaker used the technique of color for the rose petals to convey sex or love. Another technique is how this scene is in low key and high key. Angela is in high key with the light shining on her body to convey that she is the center of attention, where as Lester is in the low key lighting watching her, but not fully committed. The character Angela is feeling in in control. Lester is feeling powerless around her. The character that showed the most catharsis was Ricky's father Colonel Fitt's. Colonel Fitts has just kissed Lester, mistakenly thinking that he was homosexual. Once he realizes that Lester isn't homosexual, he abruptly leaves.

 During this scene we see that Fitts is venerable looking during this entire scene when they are both in Lester's garage. One of the two techniques that the director used was a close up on Fitts face to convey his facial expression towards Lester. Another interesting technique that the director used was dominant contrast. Dominant contrast shows how the rain is stuck to his clothes, almost shining on his skin. The filmmaker made it look like that Fitts was feeling almost scared. American Beauty had many strong and powerful examples of narcissism and catharsis shown throughout the film.

In the movie Almost Famous the director uses many examples of narcissism and catharsis to embellish the film.  A narcissistic character in this movie is Russell Hammond, who is a rising rock star. An example is when Russell gets upset with his band mates and he storms off with William coaxing him to get back to the band. In the end Russell ends on the roof of  where the party is taking place and making a speech, while on drugs and alcohol.

 In this scene the filmmaker uses the technique of crosscutting to depict the scene as Russell is looking down on the crowd with his arms spread out on either side of him looking like Jesus did when he was crucified on the cross. Another example would point of view. The audience  is shown Russell standing on the roof  so that he is the center of attention. The filmmakers technique made it seem that Russel was in his own little world, just concerned about himself at that point. The character that showed the biggest example of catharsis was William Miller. In this scene William confesses his love for Penny.

 

 In this scene the filmmaker use the technique tight framing to show the intimacy between William and Penny when the kiss. Another technique would be proxemic pattern with how their bodies are arranged in a loving embrace for one another. The last and final technique that the filmmaker used to tie this whole thing together would be the back lighting. The back lighting made it seem that there were halos around both of their heads symbolizing purity between both of them. The filmmaker used these techniques to convey romance and love towards them. William showed us how much he cared for Penny. Penny on the other hand won't remember a thing, because of all the drugs that she has in her. It is irony for them that William will remember all of it and Penny will not remember any of it. Almost Famous used strong examples of both narcissism and catharsis.

In the movie The Royal Tennenbaums there are a variety of different examples of narcissism and catharsis. Royal Tennenbaum is a exact match for a narcissistic character. He tricked his family that he was dying when he really wasn't just to spend time with his kids and his ex wife.

 In this scene we see Royal and his wife Ethel framed in a very small space, almost intimate, but not really. Another technique used was wide angle frame shot to convey all the extra space that is around them as they are having this intimate conversation. The last technique was long take, In this scene Ethel is out of shot, but the camera keeps rolling without without stopping. Even after Royal lies about dying and Ethel leaves again he stays in the same place reeling here back in like a yo yo. Chas Tennebaum is a great example of catharsis. When Chas has his dog run over, Royal goes and buys him a new one to make up for lost father son time that they missed out on because Chas had shit his father out of his life. Chas experiences strong and forgiving motions towards his father after that gesture that he did.

In this scene there are two techniques that the filmmaker used. The first technique was zooming. When Royal approaches his son with the dog the camera zooms in letting the audience know that things between them are more intimate than when Royal first arrived at the house. The second example would be panning down. When Chas goes to pet the dog that Royal gave him, again we see the intimacy between those two now. During the whole scene where they are just petting the dog there is all this chaos around them from the car crash, but they forget all about that when Royal gives Chas the new dog. The Royal Tennebaums examples of catharsis and narcissism make it more powerful in some aspects. Without those two characters there wouldn't be as much power and emotion in the movie.

In conclusion by using narcissism and catharsis in American Beauty, Almost Famous and The Royal Tennenbaums  the filmmakers put together scenes explaining emotions that would not have worked if we didn't have these two elements to help us. 

Use of sound in "American Beauty"

In the movie "American Beauty" the sound explains the movie more than words. Sound speaks what the characters cannot. In the scene where Rickey is showing Jane is the showing her the video he took of the plastic back blowing in the wind, there is soft piano music playing the entire time symbolizing anger and freedom. The plastic bag is Lester trying to break free of his fake life he lives, but also feels compelled to stay at the same time to try and makes things right in the end, he just doesn't know it yet.

Another example of great sound work in the movie is spoken narrative. Lester was narrating all the way up to his death and then the movie ended with him talking about death. During the most intense parts there would Lester talking about something that didn't make sense to the viewers, but in the end after he had died, there was beauty and sadness about what he said earlier in the movie. In "American Beauty " the sound strengthened the movie, which made it more powerful than words would have. 

How the Use of Classic Rock Songs Help Tell the Story in "Almost Famous"

The movie "Almost Famous" takes place in the world of rock and roll during the early 70s and director Cameron Crowe uses a number of classic rock songs to help communicate the feelings of the characters and the film's plot points. In the scene where William runs after Penny and finds her drunk and overdosing on drugs, he feels this overwhelming sensation to help and protect her. He ends up telling her that he loves her and kisses her. The song "My Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder plays in the back round as Penny is getting her stomach pumped from the drugs that she took. The song is about a boy who is watching this girl that he likes very much. The contrast to this scene is William watching Penny throw up all the drugs she took because she was upset with Russell.

In another example the song "America" by Simon and Garfunkel plays as we watch his sister leave the house to go away with her boyfriend to become and stewardess in San Francisco.  The song "America" is about young adults leaving the house for the first time trying to find themselves. Before she leaves she pulls William in close and says"Check under your bed, it will set you free". William watches his sister leave. Once she is gone he goes into his room and he looks under his bed and finds all the albums of rock and roll artist that his sister has given him. He starts tracing the covers with his fingers very intrigued about the artist. This is when he learns to love rock and roll music.

In conclusion the director used the popular rock and roll songs of the 70's to help convey the emotions of the characters that were going on during the movie.