tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203078832024-03-13T11:12:56.991-05:00Musing PicturesThis blog is not about film reviews. Everyone writes film reviews. In these posts, I will not rate a movie with stars, or thumbs, or tomatoes. I will avoid telling you what you should or shouldn't see.
This is a blog for thoughts and discussions about movies -- both current and old. This is a blog for film lovers everywhere to unite in conversation, discussion, and reflection on the art, science, culture and entertainment of moving pictures.Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-79177076329171719462016-08-26T21:14:00.000-05:002016-08-27T23:08:47.349-05:00Musing Pictures: A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015)<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204/" target="_blank">Natalie Portman</a>'s directorial debut just completed its first week in theaters in the United States. "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135989/combined" target="_blank">A Tale of Love and Darkness</a>" started off with a limited theatrical run - just a few theaters in New York and Los Angeles to test the viability of a (slightly) wider release.<br />
<br />
I caught the film on Thursday night at the Landmark Theater on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles, a few short miles from the heart of the biggest Jewish community this side of the Mississippi.<br />
<br />
I was the only person in the theater.<br />
<br />
This is a problem.<br /></p>
<br />
I'm going to get a little more personal here than I usually get in these blog posts. As some of my readers know, I am a filmmaker, a practicing Jew, and an Israeli-American.<br />
<br />
I've been frustrated to see that there's really very little media that speaks directly to my sub-cultural experience. "Jewish" content in Hollywood tends to be trite and superficial, often written by Jews who, themselves, have very limited (perhaps once a year) contact with the Jewish faith. Israel, when it appears in films at all, is usually nothing more than a military/intelligence factory that produces Zohan-like super-spies.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="direction: ltr;">
So what? To many of my (Jewish) friends, the thought of Jewish content coming out of Hollywood (or from the larger-scale independent world) isn't so exciting. Why do we need another "Fiddler on the Roof"? Or another "Exodus"? Don't people think the Jews "control" Hollywood already?</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
My answer to this applies not just to Jewish content, but to all content that reflects a diversity of cultures. Movies and TV tell us stories, and in doing so, they introduce us to characters. If the characters represent people who we (in real life) don't know, they give us a chance to humanize the mysterious other, to wrap our minds around the lives and needs of people who aren't like us. I point as evidence to the tremendous change in the tone of the national conversation surrounding the LGBT community over the last couple of decades. There was a big push in the '90s and '00s to incorporate gay and lesbian characters (and not caricatures) into Hollywood narrative, and as those stories hit the screen, they kept reminding us that there were real people at the heart of the debate.</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
We live in a time when anti-Semitism is creeping back into popularity, when Israel, with its complex and emotionally-saturated history, is reduced to a cheap binary of slogans. If there was ever a time when we needed mass media to remind people of the humanity of Jews, the richness of Judaism, or the complexity and nuance of Israel, this is it.</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
So why wasn't there anyone in the movie theater on Thursday night? It was the only theater screening the film, so it was the only opportunity in that time-slot for anyone in the entire Greater Los Angeles area to see this movie.</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
I think that we (Jews and people with an affinity for Israel) have lost sight of the power of media (an irony, considering the anti-Semitic canard that we control media!) When "faith-based" films hit theaters, churches and other Christian groups buy entire blocks of tickets for weeks on end and hire busses and vans to shuttle their congregants to the multiplex. And it works: they get to enjoy their stories, stories that relate to their experience, stories that were made for them, and as a result, those films remain in multiplexes, get talked about in the press, and eventually reach other audiences that might not have much to do with the faith-based crowd. The economics speak for themselves, so more faith-based films get made with bigger budgets, bigger stars, and eventually, a much bigger audience.<br />
<br />
But Jewish-themed and Israel-themed films simply haven't been getting enough of an audience, so the simple task of getting them made is nearly impossible. Natalie Portman, with all of her star-power, had to fight for her film's $4M budget (she produced "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" for $28M, which, I'm sure, was much easier to raise). Other filmmakers who want to make films for the Jewish audience have to fight just as hard, but raise much less. My own Jewish-themed feature was made for a tiny fraction of Portman's budget, and I haven't been able to raise any money for significant Jewish-themed projects since.</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br />
If we want to see Jews humanized on a global scale, or if we want to see Israel presented in far greater complexity than Hollywood tends to deliver, we need to be the initial audience that justifies the big investments required to broadcast those stories. These films won't get made without an audience to justify the investment. We need to be that audience.</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
What I'm trying to say with all of this is that filmmakers are trying to tell Jewish stories, to humanize the Jewish experience, to bring nuance, complexity and honesty back to the otherwise black-and-white public discourse. Some, like Natalie Portman, can inspire some investment by virtue of their star-power alone. But the rest of us filmmakers simply can't get these films made when our primary audience, the people who should care the most, simply don't show up.</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
Luckily, there's still a little time for "A Tale of Love and Darkness". Somehow, it survived its first week of release, and has expanded to a few more cities, a few more screens. If you see the importance of including Jewish and Israeli narrative in mass media, please go see it. Go with friends. Mobilize your congregation. We need to make this kind of content viable, otherwise our story, with all its richness, will not be heard.</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br />
You can find more information about the film, including showtimes at the Focus Features website: <a href="http://www.focusfeatures.com/loveanddarkness">http://www.focusfeatures.com/loveanddarkness</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
-Arnon Shorr</div>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-34904199374942724232016-06-28T12:01:00.000-05:002016-06-28T12:01:12.376-05:00Musing Pictures: Independence Day: ResurgenceOur world has changed dramatically since the original "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116629/combined" target="_blank">Independence Day</a>" (Emmerich, 1996) was released, and I couldn't help but feel those changes in this year's long-gestating sequel.<br />
<br />
The original film hit theaters at a time when the world seemed relatively safe. There were terrible wars going on, but they seemed limited to poor, "backwards" parts of the world. The "West" was relatively tranquil, and even the Middle East (which is the West's obsession) was in the midst of an unprecedented wave of peacemaking (Israel and Jordan had just signed their peace treaty in '94). We could contemplate the end of the world without worrying that it might actually happen.<br />
<br />
It was also a time when technology began to promise a dramatically different future. I bought my first PC in 1996, and connected to the internet for the first time. We began to see hints that the world as we knew it was about to change. No one expected buildings to blow up, but the infrastructure of civilization was shifting. In that sense, an "end" was indeed coming, but with the promise of technological re-birth soon after.<br />
<br />
Because of that, "Independence Day" was a perfectly-timed film. It presented a metaphor for the collapse and re-birth of civilization, something we could recognize and celebrate. It was a film not about our vulnerability, but about our resilience, about our future. Since we didn't feel especially vulnerable, the message worked.<br />
<br />
But we live in a very different world now. I remember seeing the towers fall in September 2001, and noticing (subconsciously at first) the similarity to the way buildings were destroyed in "Independence Day". That fiction could no longer function as a pure escape - it triggered too many memories.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bssU4f6Bnzc/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bssU4f6Bnzc/hqdefault.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reality (2001)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/ppcccaps/ind3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u230/ppcccaps/ind3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiction ("Independence Day" (1996))</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1628841/combined" target="_blank">Independence Day: Resurgence</a>" attempts to avoid 9/11 imagery. The alien ships don't zap landmarks with lasers the way they did in the original film. The destruction is different, bigger. Where the original film excelled in creating powerful images of an individual building's destruction, this film fills the screen with destruction - so much of it, in fact, that there's nothing to look at any more, no central point to draw our attention, just billowing clouds of debris.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.scified.com/articles/independence-day-resurgence-super-bowl-trailer-kill-a-main-character.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://www.scified.com/articles/independence-day-resurgence-super-bowl-trailer-kill-a-main-character.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But even those billowing clouds remind me of 9/11. On-screen destruction of cities, the death of countless civilians, it still feels too real. And since we're living in times when the fear of the "alien other" plays out in our daily lives, the very nature of an alien invasion story loses some of its best escapist qualities.<br />
<br />
Truth be told, many superhero films feature 9/11 imagery and themes: "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848228/combined" target="_blank">The Avengers</a>" (Whedon, 2012) destroys Manhattan. Billowing clouds of debris fill the streets in "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2975590/combined" target="_blank">Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice</a>" (Snyder, 2016) - and in that film, the images are almost perfect re-creations of the images we remember from the news reports in 2001. It makes sense that we, as a civilization, are still grappling with, still confronting the event that changed our world. But it's hurting our escapist entertainment.<br />
<br />
-AzS<br /><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=musinpictu-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B003YVCJQ0&asins=B003YVCJQ0&linkId=012746b54d703ac9e53213f50316d0d7&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-68187090989617733642016-02-23T15:51:00.006-05:002016-02-23T15:51:44.535-05:00MaxIt Magazine ArticlesIt appears that the Musing Pictures articles that I wrote for MaxIt Magazine are no longer hosted on that website. If I get permission, I will re-post them here.<br />
-ArnonArnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-22513606743961576712016-02-23T12:46:00.004-05:002016-03-14T10:58:49.838-05:00Musing Pictures: An American Tail (1986)I recently re-watched one of my childhood favorites, Don Bluth's "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090633/combined" target="_blank">An American Tail</a>". The <a href="http://amzn.to/1Q9huBI" target="_blank">version that I saw</a>, streamed through Amazon.com, was presented in a "widescreen" aspect ratio, pretty close to the 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the film's theatrical release.<br />
<br />
It looked like this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_EPpR4dmi64/VsyRfyttcrI/AAAAAAAAWLQ/shshPny5dbE/s1600/AmericanTail%2B185.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_EPpR4dmi64/VsyRfyttcrI/AAAAAAAAWLQ/shshPny5dbE/s320/AmericanTail%2B185.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A screen-grab from a YouTube upload of "There are No Cats in America"</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But something bothered me about the images. There were occasional moments when the shots were framed very awkwardly The above example looks fine in this aspect ratio, but consider shots like this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyE8jdWUGPY/VsyS02NIRBI/AAAAAAAAWLc/thXF4VPrQTw/s1600/AmericanTail%2B185%2Bawkward.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyE8jdWUGPY/VsyS02NIRBI/AAAAAAAAWLc/thXF4VPrQTw/s320/AmericanTail%2B185%2Bawkward.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Who would animate a character so close to the edge of the frame? It almost looks like part of the image is missing! Did Universal crop the image from a different aspect ratio?<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some context here: There was a period of about fifty years when movies were made in wide aspect ratios, but televisions were square-ish (4:3, or 1.33:1). There were two ways to fit a widescreen film onto a square-ish screen. You could letterbox the image (present the entire breadth of the wide image, leaving black bars at the top and bottom of the screen), or you could "pan and scan" - only show the middle part of the frame, scanning left and right as needed to include bits of action. This second method would 'cut off' the sides of the frame. Unsophisticated movie viewers preferred pan-and-scan, as it filled their entire TV screen, whereas letterboxing left them feeling like something of the image was missing (even though, in fact, letterboxing presented the entire image!)</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
According to IMDb, "An American Tail" was released theatrically in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, like the images above. But the "negative ratio" (the animation itself) was 1.37:1 - a square-ish shape called Academy Ratio, very similar to the ratio of old TVs!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A little investigation led to an older YouTube upload, likely copied off of a VHS tape, or maybe from a laserdisc. It presents the same scene, but in the aspect ratio of old TVs. Here's a side-by-side comparison of the "widescreen" and "academy ratio":</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oY3G-paDKuU/VsyYXuzOmCI/AAAAAAAAWLw/3Ph_GWVxLCM/s1600/AmericanTail%2B133%2Bwith%2Bheadroom.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oY3G-paDKuU/VsyYXuzOmCI/AAAAAAAAWLw/3Ph_GWVxLCM/s320/AmericanTail%2B133%2Bwith%2Bheadroom.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zTkp1glXdec/VsyS0xfVl5I/AAAAAAAAWLg/-nmnYbwc3B0/s1600/AmericanTail%2B185%2Bawkward2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zTkp1glXdec/VsyS0xfVl5I/AAAAAAAAWLg/-nmnYbwc3B0/s320/AmericanTail%2B185%2Bawkward2.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It turns out that yes! "An American Tail" was animated for Academy Ratio, not for 1.85:1! Although the film was released theatrically in a wide format, it looks like the best way to see it is if you can find a version that presents it in 1.37:1, the way the film was drawn. Although I don't own the DVD, Amazon.com lists it as presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The Blu-Ray is presented in the 1.85:1 that we got with the streaming version.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />
ADDENDUM 3/14/16: I recently spoke with someone who was intimately involved in the production of "An American Tail". His recollection was that the shots were designed for a 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio. He suggested that there's a possibility that the digital transfer might have been done off a 1.33:1 master (which, itself, would have been cropped from a 1.85:1 source). If this is the case, it's pretty shameful (and shouldn't be promoted as the "original" theatrical version!) He's looking into it. I'll report back here when I know more.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=musinpictu-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0000VV4W2&asins=B0000VV4W2&linkId=TIO3IZ4ITE53GUV2&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-81538024210391596672014-06-17T23:08:00.001-05:002014-06-17T23:08:32.504-05:00Musing Pictures: Edge of TomorrowThis week, I ponder the way movies have adapted video games for the cinema screen. I am particularly intrigued by a nearly literal game-like structure in "Edge of Tomorrow", which, oddly, is not a video game adaptation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1680-edge-of-tomorrow">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1680-edge-of-tomorrow</a>Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-38500936236251831522014-06-11T23:08:00.001-05:002014-06-11T23:08:43.823-05:00Musing Pictures: Godzilla (2014)There's a lot to be said about the Spielberg influences on the 2014's Godzilla movie, but what does it teach us about Spielberg?<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_181229003"><br /></a>
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1668-godzilla-2014">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1668-godzilla-2014</a><br />
<br />Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-42002061660885625782014-05-28T22:15:00.005-05:002014-05-28T22:15:51.022-05:00Musing Pictures: Only Lovers Left AliveCan we ever know a character is an "expert" without being told? I explore this in relation to the angsty vampire film, "Only Lovers Left Alive"<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_440895920"><br /></a>
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1639-only-lovers-left-alive">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1639-only-lovers-left-alive</a><br />
<br />Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-7571573751498029602014-05-21T18:42:00.003-05:002014-05-21T18:42:50.459-05:00Musing Pictures: Under the Skin (2013)Here, I ponder the surprise ending (without giving it away) of #UnderTheSkin<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1636-under-the-skin-2013" target="_blank">"Under the Skin" on Musing Pictures at MaxItMagazine.com</a>Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-37613683277383469262014-03-08T22:46:00.003-05:002014-03-08T22:46:51.790-05:00Musing Pictures: The Grand Budapest HotelThis week, I ponder the highly stylized camerawork of Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1496-the-grand-budapest-hotel" target="_blank">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1496-the-grand-budapest-hotel</a>Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-10310932477032631162014-02-20T19:00:00.001-05:002014-02-20T19:00:18.274-05:00Musing Pictures: The Wolf of Wall StreetAh, drugs and narrative! Why haven't I written about this before?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1412-the-wolf-of-wall-street">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1412-the-wolf-of-wall-street</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00H9KKKAY" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-31198101223442781592014-02-04T14:22:00.002-05:002014-02-04T14:22:53.195-05:00Musing Pictures: Oldboy (2003)I had a lot of trouble with the octopus-eating scene in this film. I address my concerns about this type of movie violence, and cite Tarantino in the process...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/1k8AaWa">http://bit.ly/1k8AaWa</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0009S2T0M" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00CC7CZFW" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-4573513487097243682014-01-28T17:08:00.002-05:002014-01-28T17:10:44.442-05:00Musing Pictures: Blue CapriceWhen is it appropriate to reveal an "evil" character's point of view? Is it ever appropriate to dwell on that point of view exclusively? I tackle this challenging question in light of "Blue Caprice", a film about the notorious "Bewtway Sniper"...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/1i8ADEC" target="_blank">"Blue Caprice", contemplated in Musing Pictures, only at Max It Magazine</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00F91QUYU" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-4688588427236426452014-01-15T11:03:00.001-05:002014-01-15T11:03:45.566-05:00Musing Pictures: The Way Back (2010) and Kon-Tiki (2012)This week, I explore the challenge of re-telling well-known stories, especially in light of the fact that often, we already know the ending.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1260-the-way-back-2010-and-kon-tiki-2012">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1260-the-way-back-2010-and-kon-tiki-2012</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004XACT1G" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00AZMFKNK" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-55798891069134011122014-01-08T11:55:00.002-05:002014-01-08T11:55:28.408-05:00Musing Pictures: Lawrence of ArabiaIn my latest article, I explore what Spielberg might have learned from "Lawrence of Arabia" (and wonder if there might have been lessons he chose to ignore).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1238-lawrence-of-arabia-1962">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1238-lawrence-of-arabia-1962</a><br />
<br />
<br /><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B008Y1YK0I" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-58369794591538003522013-12-31T19:10:00.000-05:002013-12-31T19:10:27.604-05:00Musing Pictures: The Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugThis week, my final article for 2013, I explore Peter Jackson's unusual, frustrating, and surprisingly entertaining approach to narrative structure in the middle installment of his "Hobbit" trilogy.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1177-the-hobbit-the-desolation-of-smaug">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1177-the-hobbit-the-desolation-of-smaug</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=054792822X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-1037155941991065982013-12-17T18:06:00.001-05:002013-12-17T18:06:42.184-05:00Musing Pictures: Captain PhillipsIn which I continue exploring the dramatic nature and use (or misuse?) of subtitles in narrative film:<br />
<br />
My article on <a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1176-captain-phillips?utm_content=bufferf78fc&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer" target="_blank">Captain Phillips</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B008JFUNNM" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-53383997577564908802013-11-12T22:06:00.001-05:002013-11-12T22:06:44.827-05:00Musing Pictures: Ender's GameThis week, I share a very special email I received in 1999, as a 15 year old, from Orson Scott Card. I had asked to direct the film adaptation of his novel, "Ender's Game"...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1096-ender-s-game">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1096-ender-s-game</a><br />
<br />
-AzS
<br />
<br />
<br /><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0812550706" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-10654946115833398402013-11-06T11:12:00.001-05:002013-11-06T11:12:17.317-05:00Musing Pictures: 12 Years A SlaveThoughts on cinema's relation to the "Never Forget" imperative in McQueen's "12 Years a Slave":<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1077-12-years-a-slave">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/1077-12-years-a-slave</a><br />
<br />
-AzSArnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-79231001568786991032013-10-15T13:12:00.001-05:002013-10-15T13:12:51.362-05:00Musing Pictures: Touch of Evil (1958)This week, I explore the famous long-takes of Welles' classic, "Touch of Evil"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/993-touch-of-evil-1958">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/993-touch-of-evil-1958</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0017122AM" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-36639146934226670462013-10-08T23:12:00.002-05:002013-10-08T23:12:41.896-05:00Musing Pictures: GravityI explore the long take, inspired by the 17 minute shot that launches "Gravity"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/953-gravity">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/953-gravity</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B001YV502C" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-73262964731250410782013-10-08T23:11:00.000-05:002013-10-08T23:11:17.380-05:00Musing Pictures: The Untouchables (1987)In this article, I explore De Palma's use of camera in "The Untouchables"...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/933-the-untouchables-1987">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/933-the-untouchables-1987</a><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000I3UI7E" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-9683902588518857832013-09-17T17:18:00.000-05:002013-09-17T17:18:00.831-05:00Musing Pictures: World Trade Center (2006)To my mind, there are three critical films that depict the events of September 11, 2001. I've finally seen and written about the last of these, "World Trade Center", which is important for its failings.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/860-world-trade-center-2006">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/860-world-trade-center-2006</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-AzS</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000MXJ7LS" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000JF9PSO" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00006B1HI" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-67883512217603302792013-09-11T01:43:00.000-05:002013-09-11T01:43:00.423-05:00Musing Pictures: The Spectacular NowIn this week's article, I ponder the nature of high school movies, and why people who are no longer in high school seem to care so much to make them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/822-the-spectacular-now">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/822-the-spectacular-now</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0385754302" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0044WSF5M" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B003WLQGC0" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-11507745226534084632013-09-03T11:37:00.000-05:002013-09-03T11:37:12.254-05:00Musing Pictures: Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)In this article, I ponder what makes comedy work after watching "Zack and Miri Make a Porno"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/777-zack-and-miri-make-a-porno-2008" target="_blank">Read it at MaxItMagazine.com</a><br />
<br />
-AzS<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B001UN7IN8" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307883.post-55163051215299332552013-08-21T15:24:00.000-05:002013-08-21T15:24:09.346-05:00Musing Pictures: ElysiumThoughts on the numerous reincarnations in Neill Blomkamp's "Elysium"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/744-elysium">http://maxitmagazine.com/index.php/articles/columns/musing-pictures/744-elysium</a><br />
<br />
<br /><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B008JFUN6E" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=musinpictu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000H0JD88" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Arnon Z. Shorrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12338457910724144673noreply@blogger.com0