1. I'm curious: what do you go to a movie for? What is it you want from a movie? Please be specific—and name two or three movies in answering this, okay?
2. I asked in class today what genre would you consider Middle of Nowhere: Isaac said drama, which it certainly is, but I proposed a Woman's Picture, as they used to be called. Read this definition from the oracle. As the oracle says, the term itself has dropped out of use, but I would argue it still applies to this film. In the same way that Moonlight is clearly Chiron's story and as much as Moonlight concerns itself with the masculine world of Chiron, Middle of Nowhere concerns itself with the feminine world of Ruby.
My first question: would you agree that this film is indeed a woman's film? If so, why? If not, why not? My second question: is this a genre you are drawn to—or could imagine yourself drawn to? Why or why not?
3. We talked about the absence of measurable plot in the movie today. Call it plot—call it story: what is the film about? Write a couple sentences.
4. I would propose that this film shares some of the major themes of Moonlight. How could that be true? Where does Moonlight and Middle of Nowhere overlap?
5. Reaction to the film? Expand on what you said in class today. Mention a specific moment or image or scene in answering this.
200 words, folks. Some of the responses on the last blog were pretty short.
On Monday, after we talk a little more about DuVernay's film, we'll begin Two Days, One Night (2014), by the Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, two Belgian filmmakers.
1) I go to the movies as a social experience and to enjoy myself. I want a movie that is well thought out and doesn’t substitute good writing for action scenes or bad romance. I always go to see the Avengers and Captain America movies because I’m attached to the characters and development of that franchise and I want to stay updated. Because my friends are usually busy or uninterested in the movies I want to see, I usually don’t see that many in theaters and my attention span is too limited for me to watch them at home. Movies I watch are mainly about staying up to date with popular culture or things I know will be good. The last movies I watched outside of class were the Star Wars movies, Forrest Gump, and Captain America. All of those were things I knew would be engaging.
ReplyDelete2) I agree it’s a woman’s film because Rudy sacrificed her career to have time for her husband and all of her time before her boyfriend was spent watching her nephew or talking with female family members. I imagine myself as interested in these movies so that I can further examine the portrayal of women in film.
3) The film is about a young woman named Ruby struggling to maintain her marriage. The conflict comes when her husband is put up for parole after 4 years in prison but then becomes involved in a fight, exposing his secrets and damaging his chances of parole. The film is about Rudy deciding the fate of her marriage while she compares her life to her female family members around her.
4) They over lap in how they both show the impact of prison and crime upon a family unit. They both take place in predominantly African American communities. Both Ruby and Chiron have a lot of love and concern for the people around them but they aren’t always treated as they treat others.
5) That moment when the bus driver flirts with Rudy was important to my perception of the film and Ruby. The flirting didn’t go well and Ruby was uncomfortable with him, but she still got together with him to prove something to herself and her marriage. She does something that doesn’t maybe feel right but she ends up enjoying it, which was confusing to me. I liked the movie but her liberation was odd to be because she still ended up in relationship with a man and things were unresolved with her family. I liked the movie and the music but the bus driver was off putting to me.
1. Most of the time when I go to the movies, I go to see something everyone is talking about. For example, I was hesitant about going to see Get Out at first because I hate horror movies. When people started talking, and I heard about how it's such an incredible film with eye-opening social commentary, I immediately wanted to go see it. Looking past its gore and slight horror, I really enjoyed the movie. In a way, I only truly go to the movies because I want to see the movie everyone has been raving about. Another example of my easy persuasion would be La La Land. I also don't particularly take to musical movies, but because so many people in my friend group and on the media were obsessing over it, I decided I had to watch it (another reason being it had Ryan Gosling). I really don't care about who is in the movie, because sometimes a movie can have an obscure cast but still be incredible. I think what first drives me to want to go see a movie is its initial hype, and then after I watch the movie, I can be a part of that. What I want from a movie is for it to have a lasting impression; when I walk out of the theatre I want to feel any strong emotion. I enjoy movies that leave an air of mystery as to what happened next. The movies that evoke strong feelings often become my favorites.
ReplyDelete2. I definitely agree that it could fall into the "woman's film" category because the movie is centered around Ruby dealing with her life without her husband. Although there is no doubt that she's an incredibly strong woman, it is clear that she needed to adjust her life tremendously in order to accommodate for is absence. The oracle's definition says "Woman's films usually portray "women's concerns" such as problems revolving around domestic life, the family, motherhood, self sacrifice, and romance". Ruby had to make numerous sacrifices for him in jail; for example, she had to give up medical school and become a nurse to fast track her life and get money. The film is also about romance, and her relationships with her husband and with her boyfriend. I would like this category simply because I really enjoy romance movies, but I don't think I would like this genre because of its sexist connotations.
3. Middle of Nowhere is about a woman who's life had been turned on its head since the incarceration of her husband, and while she's working to support them both, she discovers what she needs as an individual. Ruby, the main character, works tirelessly to get her husband out of jail, but then figures out at his parole hearing that he has been unfaithful. To cope with this news, Ruby seeks the company of another man, who she later becomes romantically involved with. Despite his infidelity and her other relationship, Ruby knows she still loves her husband, but discovers herself among all the chaos in her life. She figures out what she truly needs is space and time to work on her own self and her own future, instead of struggling to support herself and her husband.
4. I think both films overlap in the theme of self discovery, and going through hardships to understand what they truly need from themselves. Both movies are centered around the idea of realization.
5. I really enjoyed Middle of Nowhere for its honesty and rawness. Although it was slowly paced, I thought the tempo perfectly matched the mood of the film. Because it was so realistic and the struggles faced in the film were so applicable to the struggles of so many people around the world, I thought it was both a relatable and beautiful movie. The cinematography, the acting, and the plot were all very enjoyable to me, and I found myself tearing up a few times throughout the movie. It left me feeling hopeful but also drained, since we never really know what happened to her, or even their relationship.
1. I go to different movies to see different things. If I want to just be entertained, and not have a whole new outlook on life, I'm perfectly fine to go to a plain action/comedy movie (like Guardians of the Galaxy). But most of the time, I want something more out of a movie going experience; which can either be a new/interesting concept that makes me think (like Arrival), or an artistic movie that lets me appreciate the art (like Citizen Kane). Of course there will be movies that fit both of those categories, Moonlight for instance, in which the film forces me to think, and is done in an artistic way. The thing is, it's hard to tell what category a movie will fit into before I see it; so, I mostly look to trailers, and what I know about the production team of a movie beforehand. For instance, I know I am going to see the War for the Planet of the Apes movie, because from what I've seen in the trailers, it is beautifully shot (artistic value), and has good action (entertaining), and I personally like Matt Reeves (the director). In what way will these factors actually play out in the movie, I have no idea, I just have to hope that it will at least be entertaining, if not thoroughly enjoyable.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, I do think this is in the category of a 'woman's film.' Given that it fits the criteria of having a woman centered narrative, female protagonists, revolves around domestic life, the family, self-sacrifice, and romance. I am not sure if I am 'drawn' to this genre. I would have to watch some more films in the genre to get a better sense of what it means, and if I like it. This is the first time I've watched a 'woman's film,' at least that I am aware of, and I think its unfair to judge the entire genre based on one movie I've seen of it. That would be like watching a Transformers movie and then saying you hate all action movies because you didn't like Transformers. From what I have seen, I don't think I'll be rushing out to the theaters to see the next 'woman's film,' though I don't deny that Middle of Nowhere is a good movie.
3. What is this film about? Hard to say; for Moonlight, at least we could clearly say it was about a boy discovering who he is. Middle of Nowhere is in the same vein as Moonlight, where there's no foreseeable goal to get to, its just following this woman as she makes the choice of whether to stay loyal to her disloyal husband or not. In a way, this is a self discovery film, Ruby does try to find herself and what she wants. But, similar to real life, theres not a clear line between right and wrong. In that way this is a very realistic movie, and it lives up to its title.
4. As I just said (I didn't read all of the questions beforehand), Moonlight and Middle of Nowhere are similar in how each movie is just following the life of its protagonist (and their journey to self-discovery), wherein most movies have some antagonist or final goal to overcome. Also, they both deal with the (sadly) 'stereotypical' African Americans; prisoners and drug dealers. Which makes me think that both films are commenting on the same racial issues of oppression and pressure; oppression in prison, and pressure to become the stereotypical drug dealer.
5. My reaction right now to this film is almost exactly the same as when I first watched Moonlight: really good movie, but too slow, so I didn't like it that much. It was only in the second and third viewing of Moonlight that I embraced the subtitles of the movie, and wasn't annoyed by the slow pacing. I hope the same is with Middle of Nowhere, but I doubt I will be watching it again. Specifically, I really liked the cinematography. For instance how they framed the shots at the beginning, separating husband and wife (with single shots), the isolation of Ruby in the hostile (by framing her in a doorway, alone), and when Ruby was talking to her mother how Ruby was framed looking away from her. I also liked one moment during the dinner scene (with the mother, Ruby, and her sister), when Ruby got really angry and frustrated, and the camera didn't show her face when she was yelling, purposely putting her off-frame, only showing her back. It made me feel the same frustration that Ruby must have been feeling, as I was frustrated that I couldn't see her face.
ReplyDelete1. I go to a movie to have fun. When I see a movie I except it to entertain me, and I hope to enjoy myself while watching the movie. I want a movie that will make me feel something like laugh or cry. One of the most important parts of a movie for me is the ending, I want a movie that has a great ending. I also want a movie to get me involved in the plot and get me connected to the characters. One example of a movie that accomplished all of these topics was A Dogs Purpose. A Dogs Purpose made me very engaged with the plot, and I was attached to the characters. This film made me laugh at times, but over all A Dogs Purpose made me cry, and had an amazing ending. I don't like movies that have an open ending, or leave me depressed; all of my favorite movies ended in a complete manner and happily. One other movie that accomplished this was Creed. Creed was a movie with a great plot, and had me invested with the characters throughout. This film also ended on a good note.
ReplyDelete2. I would definitely agree this is a woman's film because the plot centers around a woman, Ruby. Ruby is also surrounded by several problems usually illustrated in a women's film, for example family issues, and self sacrifice. This film contains several family issues like her husband being in prison, and there are several conflicts with her mother. Middle of Nowhere also shows Ruby's self sacrifice while she works tirelessly to get her husband out of prison. Ruby takes up night shifts so she can see her husband during the day. I do not think I would be drawn to a woman's film because they seem more serous, and I go to movies to enjoy myself.
3. Middle of Nowhere is about a young woman, Ruby, dealing with the absence of her husband. Ruby's husband was sent to prison for several years. This film also includes the complicated relationships between Ruby and her mother and sister. Ruby misses her husband very much and visits him often. She has been working nonstop to help her husband out of prison. She becomes overjoyed when he may be released early, but this dream is soon ruined when he gets in a fight. Ruby finds out her husband has been unfaithful with a prison guard. She gets involved with another man while her husband is still in prison. The film ends with Ruby finding out that she needs to stop trying to work on her relationship with her husband, and take time for herself.
4. Moonlight and Middle of Nowhere definitely overlap in several areas. One area both movies lap in is that they both involve the main character struggling with family issues. They also lap in the fact that they both show the main character figuring out who they are and what they need by the end of the film.
5. I did not enjoy Middle of Nowhere because it lacked several qualities that I look for in a great movie. This film was boring, and moved at a very slow pace. I also never had a connection with any of the characters, and didn't enjoy the relationships between the characters. The film would also carry out a silent scene for too long, for example when Ruby was in a taxi on her way back from prison, just after she found out her husbands unfaithfulness, she was looking out the window and was crying, this was a vital moment but the scene lasted forever boring me. Lastly The ending was abrupt, and was left very open.
1. I go to a movie to be drawn into the plot. For me, movies are all about their storylines. Usual Suspects is an example of this. Its thrilling plot really drew me into and I became invested in finding out who Keyser Söze really is. After I saw it, I kept thinking about how Kevin Spacey pulled off that incredible heist in the detective's offices. When I think of a good movie, I think of something that I continue to think about or question in the next few days. This happened to me after I saw Whiplash. I love the strive for greatness type of films. After watching Whiplash, I thought of how much Miles Teller's character really wanted to be great, and how he really would do anything to achieve it. The main reason I go to a movie is so I can take a break from my everyday life and enter the world of the plot of the film for a few hours.
ReplyDelete2. I do think it is a women's film. Firstly, the movie is centralized around a female character, Ruby. She faces several problems that I think are relatable for a female audience. She is forced to give up so much and put her life on pause to accommodate her husband's absence. The film also is about a romance between Ruby and the bus driver, which plays into the genre too. I also think Rosie's character connects with a female audience. She is a single mother dealing with her young son, trying to do everything to support him. I am drawn to thrilling genres. I want to really be invested in the plot, and want a movie where I am forced to sit through the whole movie to follow it.
3. Middle of Nowhere is about a young woman, Ruby, trying to find herself and figure out her life. For more than four years she had lived alone while her husband is in prison. For those four years she puts her life on hold, revolving her life around seeing and talking to her husband. But as the movie progresses, especially when she realizes he has cheated on her, Ruby realizes all the sacrifices she has made for him, and how he still cheated on her. She begins to realize how she can not continue her life like this, and must move on.
4. I think the main themes that the two movies share are the themes of finding yourself. I think this is move evident in Moonlight than it is in Middle of Nowhere, but I would argue it is still prevalent in Ruby's character. Throughout the movie, especially later in the movie, she is trying to figure out the true meaning of her life and everything she has done for her unfaithful husband. She realizes she must move on with her life and discover who she really is; she can't just wait around for her husband in jail. Also, the main similarities between the films are how they were made. Both were very slowly paced and almost dream-like, especially with the flow of the movie and camera angels.
5. I did not really like the film. I thought it was slow and I was not invested in the plot. One scene in particular of this was the scene where Ruby goes to the music club to meet with the bus driver. This scene was just too slow paced for me, and I felt it set a precedent for the rest of the movie. I do think it was very well made, especially considering the small budget of the film. I just did not think it was a very entertaining or a must see film.
1. I go and see a movie for one of a couple reasons. One reason I would see a movie is for pure entertainment. It doesn't have to be an amazingly filmed movie with great actors. Usually the purely entertainment movie is a comedy or an action film. I think an example of this could be Mad Max that was truly entertaining the whole time. Another reason I might see a movie would be to feel some type of deeper emotion and have a movie that sticks with you. An example of this could be Moonlight because it was very emotional and really stuck with me with its deeper themes and great acting. The other reason I would see a movie would be if it is a critically acclaimed or very well made movie. This type of movie might not be the most entertaining, but sometimes I'm in the mood to appreciate the art of a film.
ReplyDelete2. I do agree that this movie would fit into the category of women's films because it truly is this one woman’s, Ruby’s, story. She is undoubtedly a strong women and I think this movie is a women's film because it portrays all the things this particular female faces in a portion of her life. I feel as though I would like some movies of this genre as I think women in film are very interesting and enjoy lots of the aspects of this type of film, but i think the category is a little unfair as it says its intended for a women audience when i feel it should be for all audiences and that the topics would center around stereotypically female things such as “domestic life, the family, motherhood…”
3. This film is a slice of a women named Ruby’s life. It portrays important relationships such as her mother and her sister and it also shows main conflicts in her life, stemming from her husbands incarceration. We see Ruby change over the course of her husband’s time in prison and gain new insight about herself the people around her.
4. I think Moonlight and The Middle of Nowhere overlap in the sense they both show characters struggling with family lives, for different reasons, and battling inter conflicts within themselves. Both films strictly revolve around one main character and their world relationships over some time. They also both show main characters struggling with pleasing others expectations.
5. This movie was not my favorite movie out of the ones we have watched so far, but I think it had great acting and and developed some really raw and realistic relationships and struggles. One part that really stuck out to me was when Ruby is in a cab after leaving the prison on her way to the club to meet with Brian and is struggling not to cry. I thought this moment showed a lot about Ruby’s character and was very real.
1. Usually I see trailers and think the plot is interesting or it looks funny. Sometimes my friends want to go or talk about a movie so that sparks my interest. Other times the movie is part of a franchise or gets very good reviews or an award and that makes me notice it. I watched Moonlight (outside of class) because I heard about it from friends and because of the awards it received. I watched Deadpool because I saw the trailer for the movie and it looked very funny. I want to see Get Out and Split because of trailers and what friends have told me about it/I have friends who want to see it.
ReplyDelete2. I think it is a “woman’s film” in the sense that it is the story of a woman and probably is geared towards a female audience. The film is about Ruby and, as John said, she is in pretty much every scene. Also many of the issues being addressed are “women’s concerns” which the wikipedia page defines as “domestic life, family, motherhood, self-sacrifice, and romance.” I disagree with domestic life but I think it’s there because the term is from the 1930s through the 50s and it was a different time. The movie, though, is about Ruby and her struggles with her husband and her lover which would fall under the category of romance, but she also struggles with her family especially her mother and probably the most powerful moment in the movie (to me) with her sister on the couch. I can’t say I’m drawn to the “woman’s film” genre. I just dislike that term. I will say that I do like a good rom-com or love story but I was not a fan of this movie and I don’t think I would see anything else similar to it.
3. I think the movie is about a section of Ruby’s life. That’s it. Her life is complicated but I wouldn’t say it’s far-fetched, I definitely think its at least semi-realistic. So I think it is appealing to a female audience because it shows how one woman deals with this situation and many women can relate to at least one aspect of Ruby’s life. Struggling with med school or long hours at work, familial tension with a parent or sibling, having a loved one in prison and the ambiguity of it all. These problems are relatively common among a very broad audience. The premise of the movie, though, is a section of her life. I don’t think there is much of hero’s journey or typical romantic movie structure to this.
4. I think the reality of both films are similar. The situations and issues that the main characters face are palpable to many and to those who can’t relate it is reasonable. These stories aren’t the stories of “extremes” if you will. What I mean by extremes is that the central character is very relatable, an extreme would be someone to whom only a select audience would be able to resonate with. Not sure if that will make sense to anyone else but basically the main character is relatable to a general audience and the story being told is realistic.
5. I didn’t like this film and I can’t exactly say why, it might’ve been the pace but I’m not sure. I don’t think it was the actress Emayatzy Corinealdi’s fault though because I thought she played the role of Ruby very well but I just didn’t like the content of the movie. The best scenes that are basically the only scenes that I can go back to and sort of replay in my head is the scene with Ruby and her sister on the couch and the very last scene with Derek and Ruby. Again, I thought that Emayatzy Corinealdi did a very good job, but the movie itself was not entertaining. Ruby’s emotions seem so true and her reactions to the sister’s speech are very well done. As for her with Derek, I thought that the scene was simple enough and I knew she was going to kiss him during visitation the second that the woman on the bus told her that she did it. The good part about the scene is the silence I think, it is slow and quiet and the focus is on Ruby and Derek and it depicts what I think is in Ruby’s head which is her and Derek alone.
1.Generally when I go out to the movies it is because I have heard a lot about it. Moonlight is one I watched for this reason. It was excellent, and I had been told that. I also go for stuff that is part of a larger series or franchise I like, like Rogue One. I'm a Star Wars fan, so I felt like I had to. I put trust in the people I know or a series I like that the movie will be good. What I hope to get out of it is either a new and interesting perspective I haven't gotten (character, Moonlight) or an interesting story (plot, Rogue One).
ReplyDelete2. This absolutely fits the wikipedia definition of a "women's film." I can't say this is a genre that particularly draws me to it. That said, I haven't seen a wide variety of them, and would be curious to get a wider picture of the genre. I didn't especially like this movie, but, as Isaac said, to discount a genre based on one movie would be ridiculous. I'm not likely to seek out a women's film, but would not have an issue with watching more.
3. This is about Ruby. It strives to give an accurate picture of her life, relationships, and struggles. She is in almost every scene. Within her life, it centers mostly on her relationships, especially her marriage. We begin with her and her husband as she decides to put her life on hold for him to get out of prison, and end when she says she can't put her life on hold any longer. Since it's so focused on Ruby, this movie must look hard at those close to her.
4. In both Moonlight and The Middle of Nowhere, we look hard at one person and how they interact with the people around them. Both were raised by single mothers with whom they have strained relationships. While we see few other direct parallels in their experience, both movies focus on the difficult nature of their relationships and their lack of confidence in what they want.
5. There were a few very powerful moments in this movie, but despite these, I didn't feel a whole lot from the whole movie. For example, the dinner scene. Ruby's mom confronts them about the lack of togetherness in their family. Despite the importance of this scene and the emotion present in it, the movie couldn't tie together the whole story in my mind. In the end, it was unable to recapture the energy of moments like this.
1. I go to a movie for a number of reasons. If I hear a lot of debate about a movie I will go and see it to see where I stand and so I can join in on the discussion. For example both Get Out and La La Land were movies that I had heard a lot of talk around and hype so I watched them to see for myself how I felt about them, and try to see what they evoked in other people and how that compared to what they evoked in me. I think movies are a great way to create social commentary on various issues with friends and peers, and I think they are fun to discuss with your friends. Movies can create instant connections between people and also spur much needed debate. I also like a movie that I can watch and just enjoy myself with. Movies like Clueless and Bridget Jones Diary are movies that I love to come back to time after time for comfort and fun. Overall there are pretty much two main categories that I look for in a movie, entertainment (movies like Mad Max, Creed) and movies that I can learn something new and talk about and think further about (Moonlight, Middle Of Nowhere.)
ReplyDelete2. I agree that this film is a woman's film because the characters that are most developed and focused on are women, while the men in the movie are less developed and less focused on. The movie really centers on Ruby, who John said in class, is literally in every single scene. Not only is the main character a woman the men in the film seem to be even less focused on than the other women not including Ruby. Wikipedia says "The woman's film is a film genre which includes women-centered narratives, female protagonists and is designed to appeal to a female audience." I think that Middle of Nowhere certainly fits that description, and does appeal to a female audience through the struggles that Ruby faces. If you flip the gender roles of Ruby and her incarcerate husband you would have a story that to me feels much more foreign. I do not hear many stories about women in jail while their husband puts his life on hold waiting for her to be released. That is another reason why I think it appeals to a female audience, because it is not an uncommon story for women and can easily appeal to many people.
3. To me the film is about Ruby navigating who she is with the absence of her husband. She initially is in the middle of nowhere, she has put her life on hold, while devoting every life decision to him. Later on with the truth of his infidelity Ruby now has to figure out who she is now that her immense devotion is to him is not a factor in her decisions.
4. Moonlight and Middle of Nowhere both choose to focus on one character hugely. In both movies (I think) the main character is in every single scene. Both movies use this characters life experience day to day to subtly portray themes of race in America, self identity, the expectations of others, and the journey to finding yourself. They also overlap stylistically. They both use interesting camera angles, dream like music, and slow pacing to achieve similar styles. Also both films do not over dramatize huge plots points, while instead achieving a steady pace all throughout the movie.
5. I thought that the film was breathtaking. The raw emotions of the characters and the complex relationships between them wove together a truly beautiful film. A scene that really stood out for me was the kiss between Ruby and her husband. Although I thought the movie was really touching and beautiful it is not really the type of movie I like to watch. I think if I was watching it on my own I probably would not have been able to get through it, but for the type of movie that it is and the message that is it putting forth I think it did a great job.
1. When I go to a movie I like to leave feeling affected by it in some way. I like to think and talk about for days after and to feel driven to further analyze it. Dear White People left me thinking about its portrayal of black activism and whether or not it was accurate. I also thought about the lack of music and how that changed the film. Do The Right Thing inspired me and I talked about Spike Lee and his movies for days. The cinematography was so original and the intentions so clear. Basically what I'm saying from those two examples is that I look for and am drawn to a movie that changes the way I feel and influences me somehow, whether it be good or bad I think I just appreciate its ability to have an impact on me.
ReplyDelete2. I don't think this is a women's film because I feel like these struggles could apply to anyone. I might be saying this because I don't entirely understand what a women's film is even after reading the definition, but from my understanding I'd imagine that men could encounter these kinds of issues as well. To reiterate my point, I also wouldn't categorize the issues the main character faced as "women's issues," and I could totally see other people in her place struggling with the same problems.
3. I thought the movie was about a women recognizing her worth and her strength through trying to support herself as well as her incarcerated husband. I think this struggle forced her to realize that she doesn't deserve what he was putting her through and that life is too short to wait on other people to realize their values. I think she learned to put herself first and to focus on the present rather than the future.
4. Both movies are about identity and recognizing what life you need to live to ensure you become who you want to be. They both focus on characters lacking control over their lives and battling some sort of inner conflict. Though through difficult situations the path they need to choose becomes more apparent and their able to find their own truths.
5. I didn't really like the film but I definitely appreciated it and recognized that it was a good film. I liked the cinematography and the music was appropriate, but the I guess the content of the actual movie just wasn't very appealing to me. I'm still pretty confused as to why I didn't like it but I can definitely say that it had all the elements of great movie. And while I wouldn't see it again, I would recommend it to others.
1. I think I go see movies depending on what mood I'm in. Sometimes I like going to a movie so I can really be moved and have a different view of how I see the world. I saw Perks of Being a Wallflower at a youngish age and it completely changed my views on the high school experience. I also like going to movies where I feel like I'm taking a journey with the characters which is one of the main reasons I love horror movies (the conjuring). My mood really depends on if I like a movie or not. For example I wouldn't go see a movie like transformers if I was in a cry mood.
ReplyDelete2. I don't really like the term a "woman's movie" but I definitely think it is one. It focuses on a woman dealing with financial struggles, marriage struggles, family problems, and personal issues. I could see how many women compared to men would chose to see this type of movie. I don't think I would be drawn to a movie like this because I didn't really enjoy the plot of this movie.
3. This movie a about a girl named Ruby who has to live with giving up her dreams to support her husband who is in jail. Throughout the movies she tries to help him be released sooner while also trying to balance her own personal life. Ruby then finds out that her husband was cheating on her and after that she starts to live her life for herself again. In the end Ruby leaves her husband and gets another boyfriend to continue her life with.
4. I think that both films overlap because both casts are mostly all black. Also in both movies we get to watch the characters grow. In Moonlight Chiron grows over many years but yet we still see him find part of himself and the same goes for Ruby. Both movies were only little peeks into the characters lives which is another thing that makes them similar. Also the ends to both movies didn't feel resolved, like the watcher still wanted to know what was next for both Ruby and Chiron.
5. I didn't really enjoy this film. I thought it went by way to slow and also I didn't really feel that attached to any of the characters, acatually I didn't really like any of them. However I do think it was beautifully made and I loved the scenes when Ruby was about to fall asleep and we would watch her tie her hair up. I also really liked the relatioanship between Ruby and her sister. I liked how brutally honest they were with each other and how they were still there for each other when dealing with their mom. My favorite scene was when they were on the couch talking about how Ruby thought Derek going to jail was her fault. It was a really heavy scene however it was short and could have been easily overlooked.
1. I think what I want from a movie is entertainment, but the reason I’ll watch a movie again is for the way it makes me think about something, makes me question something, or the way it makes me feel something beyond anticipation and anxiety. My favorite movies are ones with lines so good I google the script after watching to add them to my collection, like Almost Famous. Or they’ll be beautiful, so beautiful they’re mesmerizing, dreamy in the best possible way, like Almost Famous, Ginger and Rosa, 6 Years, LOL (the French version), or the bazaar German TV show Heartless. I like shows about small lives and finding happiness.
ReplyDelete2. According to that definition, yes, this is a woman’s film, in that it checks all the boxes: “Woman's films usually portray ‘women's concerns’ such as problems revolving around domestic life, the family, motherhood, self-sacrifice, and romance.” That being said, another part of the description was that these movies were made by men for women whereas this was made by a woman for whom, I do not know. I really found it to be incredible, but not in the sense that it appealed to me as a woman so much as it appealed to me as someone who tries to respect art for what it is, and this definitely felt more like art than entertainment. I can’t see this appealing to anyone just because they’re female, and I think that’s what separates it from the genre. Sure, the three main character were all women, but they don’t seem like “types” so much as just people—people who sell me on the story not because I see myself in it, but because I see truth and humanity in it, regardless of gender. So, no, I don’t think this is a “woman’s film”.
3. I think the film is about a woman coming to terms with the necessity of putting herself first. She’s always becoming what those around her need: for her sister, it’s support without guidance or critique, for her husband it’s an unhealthy negligence of the reality of their situation. Her seemingly endless faith in the goodness of people and hope in a future that will never really come allows her to be whatever those around her need, but she has lost herself in them, in the stagnancy of her world. I think this movie is about a life that has to fall apart before the person living it can figure out that it was never really a life.
4. The main way I see their overlap is in their respective settings. Both stories take place in places few people escape, yet both protagonists do in some way. Chiron finds escape in his friendship with Kevin where Ruby finds escape within herself, within a potential she’s finally ready to recognize.
5. I really loved this movie. I had an emotional response to in much stronger than that of any other film we’ve seen in this class. The scene that hit me the hardest in this way was when she was driving to the little club in a cab. The music was like…I don’t even know how to describe it, but it was as though it was her breath trying to slow her heartrate to keep from crying—but in a song. It was just such complete perfection. It captured something so tragic, so beautiful in a matter of twenty seconds. Very few other movies I’ve seen have made be respond like this. Five stars.
1. I agree with what we spoke about earlier in class that I go to a movie to feel something. It doesn’t matter what feeling it is, I just want to feel a rollercoaster of emotions. I watched The Shining because I wanted to be scared, I watched Bridesmaids because I wanted to laugh, and I watch Steel Magnolias over and over because it makes me cry and laugh throughout the movie.
ReplyDelete2. I do think that this is a woman’s film, as being a woman feeling you have to wait on men and trap yourself in your own home is a common thing. If the characters were men, the movie would be such a fresh idea because you never hear of men putting their career aside for family and feeling trapped in their own home and dutifully staying true to their wives. For example, I wasn’t at all surprised to hear Ruby’s husband had cheated, but I would be very surprised if I heard that Ruby had cheated first, even though she’s not the one in prison. I do think the idea of a “woman’s film” is pretty sexist seeing as it is about “domestic life, romance, etc.” and nothing that about individuality, but I do understand that for the time this was a term. I am not drawn to this genre as I always feel frustrated with movies like this where a woman feels she has to serve her husband and wait for him even when he isn’t waiting for her. I just get very irritated that the whole domestic wife with no career thing is still a problem even though I know it still is.
3. The film is about a woman whose husband is incarcerated. Her life and career have been put on hold as she works to keep her home, pay her husband’s bills, and still have time to wait for his calls. It takes a big wake up call for her to realize she has to live her own life and can’t wait for another four years for someone who isn’t waiting for her.
4. Moonlight and Middle of Nowhere overlap because they are both about people who have to find out how they want to live their lives, and the risks they are willing to take to be their authentic selves. They struggle with what they think they need to do or who they think they need to be in their society/community (what role they are supposed to play, Ruby as the devoted wife and Chiron as the drug dealer), and what they actually want to do or who they really are.
5. I thought this movie was pretty slow and boring at times, though I do understand that this is because it is supposed to be an true representation of how boring and slow her life is. I think it is a pretty good movie, it just didn’t make me feel many emotions. There were moments I felt for Ruby, for example I was so happy when she was happy on the bus, and I was happy for her when she was walking with Brian and he was so happy to be with her. I was also sad for her when she heard that her husband had cheated on her. I like moments that make me actually react to what I’m seeing, and those were pretty much the only movies that made me have a reaction. But the rest was so slow it was hard for me to say I like the movie a lot overall.