REBGuest

Throughout the years, many films have tackled the theme of growing old. They have changed our perspective on aging and moving with time. With new technologies and modern behaviours, old people of the 21st century seem completely different to old people in the 1950s – attitudes change, and fun seems to be at the heart of aging, whereas it was once depicted as a curse or a synonym of tranquility and sometimes lethargy. Think about Sorrentino’s Youth, Haneke’s Amour, Reiner’s The Bucket List – what do they tell us about aging? How do attitudes change?

Florence Foster Jenkins was a woman who was passionate about singing and opera. Yet she could not sing, had no rhythm and no one would tell her, too scared to hurt her or too amused by her ridiculous singing. She even performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York, her first public performance. The critics were so negative and mocking that she took it very much at heart – in fact, died 2 days later of a heart attack. Her tragic story is the theme of a French film called Marguerite coming out this week, and Stephen Frears is shooting a film about her with Meryl Streep which will be in theaters in 2016. Write a post on her life story and reflect on why she continues to fascinate the public and the film industry especially.

Filming is underway and fans are getting more and more excited. What can we expect from the 5th film in terms of entertainment, story-line, performance and characters? Can the franchise still generate excitement after a 5th film or is Hollywood trying to pull strings that have worked in the past but are now overused?

It would be interesting to look at the history of stop motion, from its first use in early cinema to its contemporary use nowadays. How has it changed? Why are we still attached to stop motion? What is the difference compared to digital effects and animation?

A study of some of his most famous works. What are his methods? His most scandalous pieces? His philosophy behind the use of street art? And the fact that he tried to hide his identity as long as possible?
Why is his work so popular?

Big Eyes is very different from any previous Tim Burton film. A lot more classic in terms of narrative construction, set in the real world and telling a real story. How is Big Eyes an unusual Burton film? Are there any recognisable elements and techniques that characterise Burton’s style? What is new and feels different?

Mirrors are often used as a tool to reflect upon the self. They refract a different image of ourselves, of an ideal or pensive self. Sometimes mirrors are used to start a reflection on acting and taking on a different role. Think about Hamlet. Or Anna Magnani in Bellissima. There are loads of examples in theatre and film , worth looking at, and even visual arts and paintings that interrogate this idea and asks us to take part in this reflection. Would be good to look at some of the philosophical implications and theories too.

An in-depth study of the 2001 film in terms of its style and themes. What does the long take, the editing, the soundscape and the colours bring to the mise-en-scène and how doe sit highlight key moments in performances? How does it create tension and emotion? Are these techniques used simply to innovate aesthetically or to comment on the tragic events unfilding?