Scarface Acting Styles

Scarface

The Actors of a film is a very important element. Of course we notice setting, props, sounds, and lighting, but one of the first elements we notice in a film is the Actors. A film would not be a movie without some sort of actors in it. “Acting is what sets the tone of a film and goes a long way toward establishing whether or not we will like it. Oddly enough, while this may sound contradictory, acting is also the last thing an actor wants to think about in the middle of a performance. The best actors inhabit their roles; they take on the life of their character” (Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011). In this blog I will highlight three important actors in the film Scarface.
Actors Classification
1. Al Pacino playing Tony Montana
Al Pacino is well known to play the bad guy, gangster, and/or mobster in films. He has played in films such as Scarface and The Godfather films. I personally think he is a great actor and plays better being the mobster than the good guy, but Al Pacino has taken on many roles in acting. In the film Scarface I think he is classified as interpreter because he fits himself into the role, but with a little attitude and personality. I think in Scarface Al Pacino makes the role of a bad guy mobster selling cocaine and killing into his own. He plays the part wonderfully. For example, when he says “Hello to my little friend”, and starts firing his machine gone, he just looks so well doing it. It’s like he really is that guy, the guy to be scared of, and the guy you don’t mess with. He owns his name when he says it: “I am Tony Montana”, and his voice fits great with this character of being Tony Montana. Al Pacino has his own swag, and I feel like he fits into many different roles, because he can make the role or character come alive he makes it his own role and throws a twist on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isn2vqRHWJE\
2. Michelle Pfeiffer playing Elvira Hancock

 

In the film Scarface, Michelle Pfeiffer plays Elvira Hancock, a use to be call girl who Tony Montana falls in love with and makes her his wife, and then she leaves him. Before becoming Tony’s wife Elvira was Frank Lopez girlfriend. Michelle Pfeiffer is mostly known for movies such as Grease (which was a dud), Scarface, Ladyhawke, and Married to the Mob. Not saying she is not a good actor, because I think she was great in Married to the Mob, and Scarface, but I think most her acting career was giving her roles because of her looks. Her role in Scarface is being a cocaine addicted and trophy wife, with a bit of an attitude. I would classify Elvira Hancock as a personality actor. I feel as she plays a role of herself, being beautiful, hot, and having a wife or girlfriend’s role. I don’t think she dug deep in her character, but instead played the pretty face. In real life she has been married a lot, and in the movie Scarface she jumps from Frank to Tony. Michelle Pfeiffer was awesome as cat women in Batman returns. I do think her acting improved over the years, but again she was playing a role of a sexy woman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoGkdXcHBKY
3. Robert Loggia playing Frank Lopez
Robert Loggia plays Frank Lopez in the film Scarface. Frank Lopez’s Character is an older man, who was the leader of the drug industry before Tony took over, but also was the reason Tony got started in the cocaine dealing game. Tony and Frank have tension over Elvira because she is Frank’s girlfriend, but Tony was certain she would be his one day. Frank is later killed by Tony. I would classify Robert Loggia’s acting style as a star, because he is well known, but also he can play any character and any role. Loggia has a great personality and he fits into mobster movies and comedies. I believe in the film in Scarface, his acting style is more like an impersonator. I think he follows the script and plays the role, but he does a great job.

Al Pacino
1. Based on other films the actor has been in, would this actor always be placed in the same category?
El Pacino could fit into many different category of acting. I don’t think he was just limited to an interpreter. Although in his Shakespeare acting roles he still was an interpreter actor, he also could take on the role of a star, and/or Personality actor.
2. If so, what does this say about the category or actor?
The fact that Al Pacino can take on many roles, and throw a twist on them says he is a great actor. He makes the characters he plays come alive. At the moment of the film, he is no longer Al Pacino, he is his character. Although he plays wonderfully in the mobster films and Scarface was a big hit, and still is, he also is great in other genres also. For example, in the film: Scent of a Women, Pacino plays Frank, an amazing role of a blind man who hires a college student to take care of him, because he plans to visit his family, sleep with a women, and then commit suicide. The two have lots of adventures and learn a lot about each other and life. This role is completely opposite of his role in Scarface. I believe a role of a blind man is a hard one to play, but El Pacino makes it look like a piece of cake. The film is heartwarming and even though it is easy to think head in the story, the film is breathtaking. This goes to show that El Pacino can play more than just the mobster, and he can adapt to any role. He puts spunk in all his roles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ql_xsAByKk

References:
CrHashh. (2012). Scarface: Say Hello to My Little Friend (HD 1080p). Retrieved From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isn2vqRHWJE

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Hotboycorey. (2011). Scarface- you’re coming with me- The World is yours. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoGkdXcHBKY

Picture Received by: https://www.google.com/search?q=michelle+pfeiffer+in+scarface&tbm=isch&imgil=wRmhXEI–5jY4M%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcRv10MoCT9kTUa3klkHFwtBBujKtxmrp0Ha7CFQUq1TBQmLfPbK%253B1536%253B1024%253BmGTha3yPyf7NfM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%25252F2013%25252F04%25252F29%25252Fmichelle-pfeiffer-scarface-fashion_n_3177816.html&source=iu&usg=__o8on9dUqOPxT57fh-cmbRaqcZu8%3D&sa=X&ei=ge3FU43EFLTMsQTl54KIAg&ved=0CCkQ9QEwBA&biw=1093&bih=506#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=wRmhXEI–5jY4M%253A%3BmGTha3yPyf7NfM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.huffpost.com%252Fgen%252F1110300%252Fthumbs%252Fo-MICHELLE-PFEIFFER-SCARFACE-facebook.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%252F2013%252F04%252F29%252Fmichelle-pfeiffer-scarface-fashion_n_3177816.html%3B1536%3B1024

Scarface And Sound – Week Three

I could never imagine watching a movie without sound. A long time ago before the movie world upgraded they had silent films. In today’s society it would be almost impossible for us to be into a movie without sound. Sound plays a major part in the movie, without sound the whole movie would be pointless to me.
There are three basic categories of sound: dialogue, sound effects, and music.
Dialogue is when characters talk to each other in form of a conversation, just like conversation in real life (Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011). In some cases Automated dialogue replacement is used and this is when a “Computer–based post–production process for re–recording dialogue that for some reason is unsatisfactory” (Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011). There could be many reason why the recording dialogue did not work out, for example the background noise might have been overbearing to the actors voice.

Sound Effects is defined as the sounds that give the movie a rush of adrenaline. For example, bombs exploding, the sound of a car crashing, the sound of guns shooting, and etc.” (Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011). There are also sound effects called walla. This kind of sound effect is the noise in the background herd from the crowed.

Music: is a tune or song that is just important in a film as sound and light(Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011).

SCARFACE:

In film Scarface we see all three types of sound.

In the following clip we see Scarface blasting his gun. He says “Say hello to my little friend.”

This clip is a perfect example of sound effects. The guns in the clip are blasting off and we hear the clips of the machine gun shooting off. I mean consent awesome sound effects, it sound so real. We also hear background music, classical, in the background. The music goes great with the sound effect of the blasting gun. The music gives us chills, it sounds like the sound of fear or death, maybe even sadness. Take a look for yourself:

The next clip is a example for dialogue. In this clip a friend introduces Tony Montana to two guys in a car. Here we see a conversation between two or more people. The two people are clearly drug dealers and this is the first scene that we see Tony Montana is no joke. He is what the gangsters call real, hard, he does not play around. From the use of dialogue the story starts. We gather information on how Tony Montana becomes a huge drug dealer instead of the dishwasher he is in the beginning. Then we see that he quiets. If there was no dialogue we wouldn’t know how he got started in the drug game. There is also music in the background. This sets the scene. The music we hear is coming from the restaurant. So we see that Tony works as a dishwasher at a fancy, dancing kind of  restaurant.

Sound and Theme:

The theme of Scarface was the overall American Dream. The American Dream is what we all want, it is what we all chase, and Tony Montana had the dream of being rich and on top. Tony Montana achieves his American dream but he got to greedy. That question of when is enough really enough comes into my head as I watch the movie. The dialogue, music and sound effects are what made this movie one of the greatest movies of history. The sound effects get our blood pumping and our adrenaline rushing. The music makes us quiver in emotions, and the dialogue is straight forward, and is the story. Through the bullets blasting, drug deals, dead bodies,girls, cocaine, money, and greed the audience is on the edge of their seats watching Tony Montana want the American Dream to much, and it never being enough for him. In this film there are realistic sounds and also unexpected sounds. The sounds of the shooting guns sound as if I am In the movie and the bullets are heading toward me, it sounds as a real gun. Also we hear gun shoots that are unexpected. The sounds of the rough talking, sniffing of cocaine, and guns blasting helps provide a hint that the movie is a Gangster- drama genre. If the film didn’t have all the sound effects, dialogue a music in the film , the movie would not be the same and would not have the same reaction from the audience.

References:

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Lewis, Gerorge. (2010) Scarface Trailer HD (1983). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_z4IuxAqpE

Movieclips. Say Hello to My Little Friend- Scarface (8/8) Movie Clip. ( 1983). Retrieved From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdFIgYXHQQ8

 

 

Lighting: “Knocked Up”

http://www.clipartbest.com/clipart-dT6eGaB8c

“Technically, lighting is a part of the mise en scène, whether or not a camera is on the set (such as with live theater). However, it is the focusing of light onto a photosensitive emulsion on film, or electronic sensor in a video camera, that makes possible the recording of a photographic image. Thus, the cinematographer is responsible for ensuring there is enough light, and typically designs the lighting “look” of a movie” ( Goodykoontz,& Jacobs , 2011). When We think Of light we think of something that helps us see, read and perform everyday activates. Well, in movies the lighting is very important aspect to the movie and the way it is seen by the audience.  The lighting in a movie can be used in many ways, such as a symbol in the movie, or to help the audience feel what the characters do, and to set different moods. When we think about it, if its dark, most of us are sleep, bored or scared. When its sunny or bright we feel happy, hot, summery, or are involving ourselves in outside actives such as swimming, hiking, and etc. 

In the Movie “Knocked Up” , high key lighting is used the most. This is because high key lighting is mostly used in romance, comedies, and is bright and cheerful, it sets a light easy going atmosphere. I also think in a few scene, low key lighting was used to set the particular mood.

If we take a look at this short clip of the birth of the child in the movie: “knocked Up”, we can see how high key lighting was used:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYIoGaLwvM

While Allison is giving birth we can see how the light is bright. Even though Allison is not very happy at the moment, having a baby is a happy moment( the aftermath). We can see Allison’s expressions very clearly, and we can see how hard this is for her, but we are also laughing as an audience. The lighting in this scene gave the audience the comedy effect. If it was dark it would not make sense, because we know that people usually don’t have babies in the dark, and as an audience we would not be able to share this experience with the character, because it would of took some of the “funny” out of the scene.

  Looking at this picture, It is also a scene that used High key lighting. As they have breakfast and try to process the information that they don’t know each other, but are having a baby, both of them try to act happy. Once again the high key lighting lets us see all the detail in the scene and the expression of our characters. The mood is set to be funny.

Even though the characters were facing an unexpected event in their lives, the high key light set the mood just right to give the audience a funny, happy, and overwhelming kind of mood.

As I mentioned before, there was some use of low key lighting in this movie as well. I believe in the “club” scenes the low key method was used to set the scene of the particular setting: “the club”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA-miTs3140
In this clip we see “the boys” talking in the club. We see that the lights are low, but that we can see light on their faces and in their circle of the conversation.

If a different lighting approach was used instead of the High key the movie would not be the same. I don’t think it would be as funny to watch two unbelievably different people come together in spite of their difference because of the consequence from a one night stand. If it would have been low key all the way through this movie would have been to serious, to mysterious, and would of taking from the theme and also the genre of a romantic-comedy.

Reference:

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved From: ENG225.11.2/sections/sec4.4

iloveheigal. ( 2012). Knocked Up Scene. Youtube. Retrieved From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYIoGaLwvM

Prowah.(2010). Knocked up “in Da Club” 1. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA-miTs3140

Pictures retrieved from: https://www.google.com/search?q=Knocked+Up+pictures&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PnWzU8XYM4SkyATa64GACQ&ved=0CDQQ7Ak&biw=1093&bih=506#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=EXbPe-F3vHeCDM%253A%3BrAe0xRgIc2lyoM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcontent.internetvideoarchive.com%252Fcontent%252Fphotos%252F1043%252F043832_25.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.rottentomatoes.com%252Fm%252Fknocked_up%252F%3B320%3B240

(2014). Clipart Best. Retrieved From: http://www.clipartbest.com/clipart-dT6eGaB8c

 

 

 

 

“Finding Nemo”

 

FINDING NEMO
Release Date: 30 May 2003

Actors: Albert Brooks (Marlin),Ellen DeGeneres (Dory),Alexander Gould (Nemo),Willem Dafoe (Gill).Brad Garrett (Bloat)

Director: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich

Writer: Andrew Stanton, Andrew Stanton

Producer: Graham Walters

Executive producer:John Lasseter

Story: “Finding Nemo” is animated 2003 movie about a fish and his father. Marvin the clown fish loses his son, Nemo in the big deep sea. He goes on a hunt for him, hoping he will find his son, because he is the only thing he has. Marvin meets a lot of underwater creatures on the way, including Dory ( a fish who forgets everything, and is always happy), a turtle crew, sharks, a seagull named Gill, a whale, and Bloat the puffer fish. Dory helps Marvin on his adventure to find his son, while a long the way they become friends without knowing it until the end.

Plot:  Marvin the clown fish lost everything, his wife and all the children, expect one egg( Nemo) when their reef got invade by a barracuda. The only survivors after the attack was Marvin and his one last egg. The egg was a son and Marvin named him Nemo. Nemo was a different fish, he had a short fin. Marvin wanted to protect Nemo and consistently warned him of all the dangers of the sea. Nemo was adventurers and wanted to explore. On Nemo’s first day of school, he ended up getting into a mess. He swam into the seep blue sea to touch the bottom of a boat because he wanted to prove his was not scared of nothing. Then Nemo was captured by the men in the boat. Marvin was going crazy. He followed the boat and swam as fast as he could to try to save his son, but the boat was to fast. After losing the boat, Marvin is swimming in a frantic and bumps into Dory. Dory is such a confused fish and has short memory lost. Marvin is asking did you see a boat, and Dory says yes, and tells him to follow her, and soon as he starts following her, she turns around and is saying “why are you following me”. This is where we can see that Dory has forgotten what just happen a few seconds ago. It puts a funny twist on the story. The adventures being shortly after this, as Dory and Marvin team up to try to find Nemo. They go through many adventures, from swimming with schools of fish, being attacked by sharks and lantern fish, and also swimming with the sea turtles. On their search to find the little fish Nemo, they find clues, such as a divers mask with an address on it. They go through great lengths to keep it, but the tug a war between them, made it fall into a hole. Dory actually remembers the address in the end and they head to the address. The whole time Nemo was in a fish tank in a dentist office, where a little girl with braces tortures all the fish in the tank. While Nemo makes no friend he misses his dad and he just wants to go home.

Marlin and Dory continuities their journey and ask  directions to Sydney (which was on the address from the mask)  from a school of moon-fish . They tell Marlin and Dory to take the East Australian Current ,using their bodies to make a arrow and impression. They argue on which way to take on the trenches and Dory  is stung by a  jellyfish. Marlin try to help her and then they get surrendered by jellyfish. Now they have to get out of the jelly fish crowed and Marvin tries to help Dory by telling her they were playing  a game, to jump on the tops and not to let the bottoms touch them. Marlin makes it out first and, when Dory doesn’t appear, goes back in to retrieve her. He finds her unconscious and scarred from the stinging and struggles to carry her as he gets stung by the jelly fish, when he comes out he passes out and floats down the water.

The sea-turtles save both of them,and when they woke up they were riding the current with the sea-turtles. The turtles gives Marvin the chance to ask them what Nemo wanted to always know, How long did they live? All over the sea, the sea animals and fish heard of Marvin quest. They knew he wanted to find his son, and  many where helpful. They get swallowed by a whale because when Dory seen the whale she thought she would ask for help. Dory is funny, she think she can talk whale. In the whales mouth fro the first time Marvin trust Dory and he lets go to fall in the back of the whales throat, and they get spit out of the blowhole.

The search goes on and they make it to Sydney. There Gill the seagull helps them to save Nemo. Gill know where Nemo was and took Marvin to see him. When Nemo spots his dad he knows he has to get out of there. Nemo then plays dead so that he will get flushed down the toilet. At this time Marvin thinks he has lost his son forever, but then Nemo comes shooting out into the sea and meets up with his dad. Dory is invited to come live with Nemo and Marvin in the reef. After their adventures Marvin feel more confident in his son abilities and gives him a little more space. At the end of the movie Nemo hugs his father before heading off on another field trip with Mr. Ray. Marlin does not follow him, he knows he will be OK.

Discuss whether your film is presented chronologically or non-linearly.

“Finding Nemo” was presented in the chronologically order. Chronologically order is a story told from beginning to end( GoodyKoontz, 2011). In the film “Finding Nemo” the story starts from the beginning where we see how Nemo mother and brothers and sisters were killed. Then we see Nemo grow from a baby fish to a school aged fish. The aestheic choice helps the audience gain the knowledge to know why Marvin was so protective of Nemo. Without seeing it in this order we wouldn’t fully understand why the control or Marvin was so extreme. The aestehic choice made the movie audience more sympathize with the characters in the film.

How are the elements like character development or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?

I believe the development of Nemo and his father Marvin was the main “lesson” to the story. With the choice of how the story was told we see how they grew together, because of an unexpected adventure. We see Nemo go from disobey his father to a more mature and understanding of reasoning. We also see Marvin go from being too protective to giving Nemo a little more space and trust that he will do the right thing and be safe. As far as foreshadowing, I believe we as the audience are left expecting some things to  turns out different than they did  For example I thought that Marvin and Dory would be harmed by the sharks, but then the twist come in and they are trying not to eat meat. It puts a sense of humor to the movie.

If the film had followed a different presentation style, how would the general effect on the audience have been different? I don’t think the story would have been the same if the presentation style was any different. There are some parts to the movie that are important for us as an audience to gain the knowledge that we needed to gain the full knowledge of whats happening and reasoning behind the characters actions. For example if the part about Nemo touching the boat, and disobey his father was left out,then we would not understand what happen to him. Also if we didn’t see Nemo mother die, and Nemo being the only fish left we wouldn’t understand why Nemo had no mother, why Marvin was so protective and overly safe. It would had ruined the whole plot.

Resources:

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved From:  https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUENG225.11.2

Moviespawn. ( 2013,June 26th).Finding Nemo – Original 2003 Trailer. Retrieved From:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcwv1Gflh4Q

Rotton Tomatoes. Flixster Inc. Retrieved From: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/finding_nemo/