Acting That Made The Godfather Come To Life

THE GODFATHER

Classifying actors in my opinion is a job for critics. I am far from a critic, I just know what I like. We all have our favorite actors and actresses. I know who I like and do not like.  As stated by Goodykoontz and Jacobs “just as there are different types of acting, there are also different types of actors” (2014), and that is what we are going to delve into today. The Godfather is one of the greatest movies of all times. Starring actors like Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall and of course Al Pacino it was a film of epic proportion that surprised its viewers and made you want to be a part of the Mafia. There could never be a movie from the 70‘s through the 90’s that didn’t bring Pacino in as an official gangster. Whereas my classification of the actors in this film may not be the same as others, Marlon Brando was and still is a star in the movie given that Robert Duvall is great at playing a character actor and Al Pacino is a personality actor who has played similar roles in other movies.

MARLON BRANDO

When I think of a “star” I can think none other than, Marlon Brando. He is a chameleon of sorts. As stated by Alex Aagaard (.n.d.) “They are actors who are capable of inhabiting any role by being a character rather than pretending to be one. This is achieved through the method of isolating personal experiences, memories, and psychology and personifying it onto their role.” Take his performance in The Godfather, a role critics considered the greatest. He was the headmost example of the “method” style acting and became notorious for his “mumbling” intonation. Brando was cast as the head of a crime family, a tad ruthless in nature, but kind at the same and doted on his family with a strict loyalty-based structure.

Marlon Brando is rightly named as a star in my opinion. According to Goodykoontz and Jacobs “a star is a distinctive screen persona who is well known and popular with the moviegoing public, often to the point that some avid movie fans become deeply curious about the actor‘s private life” (2014). Many women swooned over Brando and his great looks in film after film and offstage. Because he is “The Godfather” the most powerful in the movie he was and is viewed as the star. Not a single solitary soul who saw the movie could say that he was not the quintessential gangster hero. Brando even turned down an Oscar for The Godfather, becoming the second actor to refuse a Best Actor award. Just watch how he handles himself in the clip below as a real head of an organized crime family. He takes care of business and keeps with the “Old-Word” tradition of honoring all requests on “the day of his daughter‘s wedding.” He envelopes the character of Don Vito and makes it his own.

ROBERT DUVALL

Duvall plays the consigliere or “adviser to the crime boss” in The Godfather known as Tom Hagan. In the film, he is intricately involved in the family business. He comes across as a voice of reason in family debates while at other times he is demure and unduly watchful. He in nonviolent and seldom gets involved in the dirty work. This makes Duvall a “character” actor. According to the Oxford dictionary a character is “an actor who specializes in playing eccentric or unusual people rather than leading roles” (2015). Duvall plays the background almost unnoticeable until his poignant, and passionate displays and views of reasoning come into play.

Robert Duvall is one of those actors according to Goodkoontz and Jacobs that “are able to fit invisibly into a wide variety of disparate characters, adapting to the needs of each script and director they work with, known as character actors” (2014). He was able to play the backdrop and not be the star; however made a significant impact on the film. We may not necessarily remember his name, but we do remember him as the “consigliere” or Tom Hagan. As stated by Goodykoontz and Jacobs “average moviegoers may be only vaguely aware of them because each of their roles is so different from the other that they see only the characters rather than the actors. Their versatility makes them invaluable as character actors” (2014). I may not remember his real name, but I do remember how great he has been in other movies. I will say “oh it‘s the lawyer in The Godfather” and slightly get excited about what role he is going to play. Just look at the clip below; Duvall had very little to say, but he made his point then disappeared.

Al Pacino

Last but not least I bring to you Al Pacino, who plays Michael the son of Don Vito in The Godfather. Pacino in my opinion is a personality actor. According to Goodkoontz and Jacobs “personality actors are, at some level, playing themselves or at least that is the perception” (2014). I could believe that Al was Michael and Michael was Al. As stated by Goodykoontz and Jacobs “films with strong personality actors can make it difficult for audiences to differentiate between the actor and the character” (2014), many would speak of him as Al Pacino instead of the Godfather. The role he played in the film was outstanding as we watch the transformation of Michael as a son to the head of the family.

Even though his personality does not dominate The Godfather (well at least part I), Pacino’s performances remain impressive, as evidenced by his forty-four wins and fifty-three nominations in several different prestigious award ceremonies. In this first part of The Godfather trilogy, Pacino makes his mark. He is silent and cunning, keeping up with the “Old-World” traditions but making the game his own. He is underestimated by both his family and his colleagues and then shows them what he is actually made of. In the clip below Michael (Pacino) is laughed at but he finds nothing funny about the situation. He can show them better than he can tell them because his father is nearly assassinated. In the clip below quietly but convincingly he proposes what should be done and volunteers to do what needs to be done. He plays his part thus becoming the man of the other two parts of The Godfather trilogy.

Pacino is one of those actors with a singular personality who manages to be in harmony with audiences and generally imitates comparable characters in film after film; as you see in Heat & Scarface. Although Pacino plays a cop in Heat instead of a criminal he still relates to the underworld in a way that is unimaginable as seen in the clip below.

Pacino is definitely a man of his own as well as he owns every character that he plays many of them similar in nature. Robert Duvall even as a leading man has played the backdrop and let his acting speak for itself. One may not always recognize him by name; however you know that he is the “consigliere.” Marlon Brando, a “star” in his own right, has made hit after hit. None of these actors in my opinion has played roles more memorable than those they played in The Godfather. In my view, all three are stars, and it‘s hard to classify what area they belong in, I just know that I love The Godfather and the roles each of them played.References
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Aagaard, A. (n.d.). 7 Actors Who Beat Their Star Persona. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

CultSceneesTV (2013 July 14). The Godfather – First Scene. Retrieved for YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvrVFb-RIQc

Definition of character actor in English:. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2015.

Movieclips (2011 November 22). The Horse Head – The Godfather (1/9) Movie CLIP (1972) HD. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC1_tdnZq1A

Movieclips (2011 November 22). It’s Strictly Business – The Godfather (2/9) Movie CLIP (1972) HD. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qvpcfYFHcw

WarnerBrosOnline (2013 May 1). Ultimate Gangster Collection (Contemporary) – Heat – Face 2 Face. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rIYXfztyxA

The Sounds of Belly

Sound in a film is as important as the visual experience. It is composed of three major components dialogue, sound effects and music. In the movie, Belly Hype Williams creates an opener for the gods of gangster films. The cool bluish lights, neon eyes, gunshots and the track “Back To Life” by Soul 2 Soul brings the motion picture Belly to life. This non-diegetic sound of a beautiful melodic voice is unheard by the characters. It is incorporated with the diegetic sounds of gunshots, Sincere (Nasir Jones) narrating the sequence, the breaking of glass and much more takes this scene to an entirely new level. Since the use of sound informs the mood of the opening scene of Belly and if the key category of the music was changed or removed from the scene it would not have had such a dramatic effect, the impact of sound establishes the theme.

Sound is what brings a movie to life. Let‘s discuss the music aspect of sound first. Even during the period of silent films a soundtrack was used rather a live music from a piano player, organist or other instrumentalist and even sometimes full orchestras. According to GoodyKoontz and Jacobs (2014) “music became not just an added attraction but an integral part of the film-making process and movie going experience—which it remains to this day.” The music from Soul 2 Soul in the opening scene of Belly starts acapella with the instrumental dropping right on cue as the action begins. According to Jane Marshall (n.d.) “Background music is used to add emotion and rhythm to a film. Usually not meant to be noticeable, it often provides a tone or an emotional attitude toward the story and/or the characters depicted;” however “Back To Life” adds to the scene more than one could ever possibly imagine. Hype Williams created one of the greatest opening film sequences to an urban movie of all time. The scene invigorated and rejuvenated Soul II Soul’s “Back To Life.” It‘s almost challenging to hear that song without thinking about a slow motion robbery happening under the high-tech nightclub lighting, lasers and leds. Looking and feeling almost like a music video as the would-be thieves dash into the club accompanied by the soprano voice escalates the scene as we watch and hear gunshot sound effects while silent bodies hit the floor.

Dialogue is another relevant part of any film. According to GoodyKoontz and Jacobs (2014) “In film, there are three basic reasons to use dialogue: to further the development of the plot to enhance characterizations to establish very quickly important information the audience needs to know to understand the action (e.g., names, locations, dates, motivations, backstory).” A voice-over is used in the beginning scene of Belly after the robbery occurs. Sincere (Nas) narrates the story informing us of how he and his fellow accomplices met and the heists they participated in on a regular basis; this is how the dialogue tells the audience of what is next to come. Between Sincere’s narration, we also get conversation from the bandits using profane language and making plans for getting rid of the getaway vehicle and where to meet up. The dialogue creates a sense of reality of the characters we see in the film. One can believe that they are urban, gangster, drug dealing thieves.

Sound effects are one of those things where you see it, you hear it so you must believe it. There are two types of sound effects synchronous and asynchronous. With synchronous sound as stated by Jane Marshall (n.d.) they “are those sounds which are synchronized or matched with what is viewed. Synchronous sounds contribute to the realism of the film and also help to create a particular atmosphere.” In this particular scene, you hear the gunshots and watch riddled bodies fall over balconies and more. Asynchronous sound according to Marshall is “are not matched with a visible source of the sound on screen. Such sounds are included so as to provide an appropriate emotional nuance, and they may also add to the realism of the film” (n.d.). Those are the sounds of the sirens in the background from the alarms of the club. As stated by GoodyKoontz and Jacobs “Once the film starts, it‘s not just the music that thrills us. The sound effects are also essential to our enjoyment” (2014). One can get excited by the gunshots in the dark from this scene if you‘re into gangster films. You can feel the rush from the glass breaking as the bullets penetrate the windows and victims fall through them, or even hearing their tires screeching as the criminals make their great escape. Creating illusion was one of the biggest additions to the art of film by sound, and that is what sound effects do for movies.

The three major components dialogue, sound effects and music make movies what they are today. Technology has come so far from the silent film using live music to this day and age where tracks are digitally placed after a movie is completed. Non-diegetic and diegetic sounds are used to give Belly life. From voice-over narration to the sound effects that help us hear what we are seeing, to the score in this opening scene creates the dramatic effect that was needed for a club robbery. Soul 2 Soul’s track “Back To Life” sets the mood for the rest of the film. In the event, the music had been changed or removed from the scene it would not have had such a thrilling effect. The impact of sound establishes the theme of a gangster movie.

References

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Movieclips (2012 March 15). Belly (1/11) Movie CLIP-Nightclub Robbery (1998) HD Retrieved from YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Iq2_euH44

Marshall, J. (n.d.). Introduction to Film Sound. Retrieved July 20, 2015.

 

Illuminating Scarface

Lighting is one of the essential elements of a great movie. Although “Elements of cinematography go far beyond the mise en scène element of lighting” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014), the way a cinematographer creates the “look” has much to do with lighting. Lighting sets the tone to give the film or scene an accurate feel.

High-key lighting and low-key lighting are used by cinematographers to give a film a certain “look” and feel but often three-point lighting is used. Three-point lighting “is based upon careful control of shadows by using three main light sources” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014), and is made up of backlight, fill light and key light. The clip from FilmSkills below demonstrates the three-point lighting technique.

In a clip from Scarface the dramatic feel of Tony Montana (Al Pacino) being executed, low-key lighting was used. As this ruthless underworld figure violently murders the individuals who have come for him. Large shadows were cast as some of them scale the wall into his palace. The lighting on the intruders is dark, however while Tony is in his office shooting back at them a very dark room is made well lit using three-point lighting. The lighting provides Tony with “a sense of depth in the frame, but not dramatic enough to anything deeper than light shadows behind” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014). The scene was given a climactic feel leaving the viewer on the edge of their seat as the shooting continues, and the bodies fall.

Background light is used to separate Tony and his dark suit from the black color of his office. Hard light and blocking is used to give the dramatic feel and show the supremacy of Tony Montana as opposed to those coming to assassinate him. Key-lighting is used to make Tony the interest of the scene and fill light is utilized in the closeup of Montana sweating from war and cocaine. These three dimensions incorporated are the three-point lighting technique.

As smoke fills the room from grenades, a barrage of flying bullets, and debris making the area somewhat murky and dimly lit. Once Tony is shot from behind and falls to his demise, the smoke clears relighting the scene as if nothing ever happened. The Cuban gangster dies in an explosive finale with his guns blazing.

The lighting technique very well suited this scene. The use of low-key lighting made it dark in all of the right places. It showed how intense the scene was, and there is always something very dark about the bad guy in gangster or crime film. There were “deep shadows, with very high contrast between the brightest parts of the scene and the darkest parts, which are obscured in shadows” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014). There is no way high-key lighting could have been used in this part of the film because there was nothing happy or comical about it.

Even though Scarface was filmed in the early 80’s before all of the new technology use of three-point lighting played a pivotal role in what tone and feelings came from this scene. The use of low-key lighting provided the dark atmosphere needed for a gangster film scene. Lighting accented the robust performance by Al Pacino giving off the dramatic feel needed. Lighting gave this movie the “‘gangster” look.

Resources

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

FilmSkills (2013 June 3). FilmSkills.com – Three Point Lighting Tutorial. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7whLKkyGYo

Movieclips (2011 June 16). Say Hello to My Little Friend – Scarface (8/8) Movie CLIP (1983) HD. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_z4IuxAqpE

 

 

The Wolf of Wall Street

Title: The Wolf of Wall Street Writer:

Terence Winter

Director: Martin Scorsese

Major Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio Jonah Hill Matthew McConaughey Margot Robbie

Year: 2013

Story: Leonardo DiCaprio stars as The Wolf of Wall Street himself, unprincipled stockbroker Jordan Belfort. In 1987, Belfort took an entry-level job at a Wall Street brokerage firm. While still in his 20s, Belfort organizes his firm, Stratton Oakmont. In cahoots with his devoted accomplice (Jonah Hill) and a Robin Hood of merry men brokers, Belfort makes monumental riches by bamboozling well-to-do investors out of millions. However, while Belfort and his comrades have their fingers in an epicurean melange of sex, drugs and rock and roll, the SEC and the FBI move on in his dominion. The two authorities ultimately disband the gang and send many to prison including Belfort.

Plot: The Wolf of Wall Street is an adaptation of Jordan Belfort’s memoir about his exploits as a crooked banker. It starts out with a commercial for Stratton Oakmont (Belfort’s brokerage firm) and then we see Belfort throwing money in the air to rocket a midget in the office during a celebration. Belfort speaks of his childhood growing up in a loving family where his father was an accountant and his mother one as well. It proceeds with Belfort talking about himself making forty-nine million dollars and complaining about it while excessively speeding on the highway receiving fellatio from his wife.

Belfort loses his job as a Wall Street stockbroker and resorts to working in a tiny brokerage firm that specialize in stocks that trade at a relatively low price and market capitalization. Jordan’s dedication to aggressive sells and his love of money makes him a sizable amount of money with the firm all the while teaching other brokers the same technique.

Belfort is in a restaurant when his neighbor (Jonah Hill) walks up to him and inquires about Belfort’s car. This leads to Hill quitting his job at a furniture store and becoming partners with Belfort to create their company. They recruit several of their friends as well as Jordan’s father to be a part of the team. Belfort’s aggression and special technique land him a small fortune. Drugs and prostitution become an everyday occurrence as he and his employees participate in types of sexual deviancy at the workplace. This leads Jordan to divorcing his wife and marrying the “Dutchess” of Bay Ridge all the while the FBI is on his trail.

Jordan opens up a Swiss bank account with a shady banker to hide the illegal millions he has made from Steve Madden. He uses his wife Naomi’s (Margot Robbie) Aunt Emma to open the account and has his friends to smuggle the money. Naomi’s Aunt has a heart attack, and there is a mad dash to Switzerland on a yacht. The boat capsizes due to inclement weather and once they are rescued the plane that was sent to save Jordan his wife and friends explodes. Jordan decides to change his life and sober up taking all that has happened as a sign to change.

After much investigation, the FBI arrest Jordan due to the confessions of his Swiss banker. Belfort has no way out of the situation, so he decides to testify against his cohorts in exchange for a lesser sentence. He sets them up by wearing wires. Jordan tells his associate (Jonah Hill) that he is wearing a wire through a note and is caught by the FBI. His deal is then rescinded leaving Jordan in a bind. The FBI then raids Stratton Oakmont taking many to jail.

Belfort conclusively receives an amended sentence for testifying against some of his colleagues and goes to jail for three years. Once he is released, the movie ends with him hosting seminars. He teaches sales techniques some of which he taught his employees while he was in business.

Chronology:The film was told in chronological order. It tells Jordan Belfort’s entire life story through his memoirs from childhood to his freedom from prison. It gave a glimpse into the life of a crooked stockbroker. The story tells how and when he began to defraud the wealthy and his capture by the FBI. There are many twists and turns, and the end shows what white-collar crimes get you, a second chance unlike many.

The chronological story telling helped the viewer to understand how someone who grew up so nicely became a crook and succumbed to greed. DiCaprio’s character went from learning to teaching ultimately acquiring several millions of dollars in the process.

Had the film been told non-linearly the film may not have been understood. The film delved into the mind and thoughts of Belfort from his humble beginning to his reign to his expiration. It was a very provocative film that showed the in and outs of the brokerage game. The viewer can ride the ride with DiCaprio as his character goes through many emotional highs and lows. In the end Belfort tried to right his wrongs; however, there is justice when you do others wrong.

Resources The Wolf Of Wallstreet Trailers. (2013, October 29). The Wolf of Wall Street Ofiicial Trailer #2 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pabEtIERlic