Individual Reading. The moon and sixpence. Part 6

Strickland withstands the news about his serious illness (lepra) with fortitude. All people in Tahiti break with Charles after having learnt about this. Strickland’s only support is his wife with whom he continues to live all alone. Charles’ wife Ada tries to support him morally by any means thanks for her great love for the artist. Strickland paints on the walls of his house until of his death. It is the way of his self expression and revelation of all he has learnt from the life. After Charles’ death, Ada burns the house at the instance of her husband, thus destroying only evidence and mention of his greatness and talent. So, he creates his own world according to his life experience, but then, realizing its beauty and uniqueness, he destroys it. 

Individual Reading. The moon and sixpence. Part 5

It must be mentioned about the interesting fact that by the time the story continues, Strickland has already died, and narrator attempts to piece together his life there from recollections of others. Strickland had to overcome many difficulties – poverty, cheap doss-houses, hunger, cold and even fight, however he never lost heart from all these unpleasant events. After many years of wandering, he found himself in Tahiti. In fact, this island had turned to be the place Charles had been looking for through his life. It was a fertile field for inspiration as well as for his creative work. Here Strickland got married with a local woman who has already had two children.  They had been living all alone for many months, during which he painted profusely, totally devoting for his art. Again it had proved that his only passion was art. Then the narrator emphasizes the fact that inter vivos, all Charles’ paintings were considered to be not worth of a pin and only after his death, their cost grew greatly.

Individual Reading. The moon and sixpence. Part 4

Accidently, the author meets Charles walking on the street. Being on visit to the narrator, Mr. Strickland tells about acquaintance with Dirk and Blanche and the further tragic development of the events. However, Charles doesn’t regret about Blanche’s death and speak on her very cold. Charles invites the writer to his studio. Just having a look at his works, the story teller realizes that all Charles’ works are somehow revolution and a step forward in art. He considers Strickland to be a genius of great talent. All his works convey all Charles’ feelings, emotion, in other word his real personality. His works, which the narrator considers as pieces of art, is full of his soul, and the writer realizes that art is only one true Charles’ passion. 

Rendering 15

The editorial published on 5 May on The Telegraph is headlined “Dead Man Down
”. The article discusses the situation of how Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace team up in a bafflingly-plotted underworld thriller.
The author of the editorial begins with pointing out that Dead Man Down is a curious beast of a film: not so much straightforwardly bad as simply odd, like eating a jam sandwich laced with gherkins. Speaking of this movie. It’s interesting to note that it is directed by Niels Arden Oplev who is the director of the film “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. it’s a neo-noir mix of an arthouse love story, a revenge spree and a violent action thriller. And the unlikely combination of explicit brutality and attempted sensitivity leaves behind a rather strange taste.
As for the main characters, one of them is performed by Colin Farrell, as Victor, the right-hand man to a crime boss called Alphonse (Terrence Howard), who immerses him in an underworld dominated by drug deals and shootings. Taciturn and mono-syllabic, he nonetheless forms a fragile connection with his neighbour Beatrice (Noomi Rapace), who lives in the apartment across from his own (they wave tentatively at each other from their respective homes, like two melancholic puppets).
The editorial gives a reader the possibilities to learn synopsis of the film, which is rather interesting and breathe taking.
Comparing the actor and his film character, it’s worth mentioning that Farrell, a naturally complex and subtle actor in the right circumstances, seems frozen by the warring demands of his character: Victor is, of course, locked in a kind of trauma, but Farrell too seems unsure of how to interpret what is supposed to be a good person sporadically engaged in disgusting acts.
The correspondent concludes the editorial by saying that by the film’s grand finale, however – which all too unfortunately resembles a scene spliced in from Die Hard – the flood waters of nonsense are up to their chins.
As for me, the synopsis of the film has attracted my attention, and now I am going to watch the movie. Besides, I like actors’ performance of Collin Farrell and it’s interesting to watch him acting this role. Anyway, he and Rapace have enough star wattage to keep you watching, even as the plot chaos mounts around them.

Film Review 4. 8 Mile

Film Review

Directed by Curtis Hanson

Produced by Curtis Hanson
                        Brian Grazer
                         Jimmy Iovine

Written by  Scott Silver

Starring           Eminem
                          Kim Basinger
                          Brittany Murphy
                          Mekhi Phifer
                         Taryn Manning

Music by Eminem

Cinematography Rodrigo Prieto

Editing by Jay Rabinowitz

Studio Imagine Entertainment

Distributed by Universal Pictures

Release date(s) November 8, 2002
Running time 110 minutes

Country United States
Language English
Budget $41 million

Box office $242,875,078[

Plot

1995. Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. (Eminem) is a young factory worker. Because of the fact he learns that his girlfriend is pregnant, he her  and as  a result he has to move back to his family which lives in poverty in a trailer, in north of 8 Mile in Warren. At the same time Jimmy tries to start his rap career which seems to be In progress as he has a real talent in it. Jimmy has proved it while choking in the middle of a rap battle and getting booed off stage. Meanwhile, his private life is also full of events – he breaks with his pregnant girlfriend and begins new relationships with Alex (Brittany Murphy), who he meets at the factory he works in. Jimmy begins to realise that the most important aim he wants to achieve is his rap career which gradually becomes of primary importance for him. It is fillowed by strained relations between black and white people of this area which symbolizes a barrier and difficulty for Jimmy to be included tis subculture. In fact, for Jimmy rap is not only his hobby but the real way to support financially his mother and sister. The rap battle acts as a final conflict between Jimmy and a rap group known as "The Leaders of the Free World which they try to resolve with the help of so called rap battle.  In the last round, Jimmy is pitched against "Papa Doc" (Anthony Mackie), who is considered to be the most fear and skillful rapper  Fortunately, Jimmy wins the battle, and as Jimmy leaves the venue, Future suggests that he stay and celebrate his victory while also offering a position that would allow him to host battles at The Shelter. Jimmy turns him down, claiming he has to get back to work and to find success his own way.

Direction

First of all, I’d like to begin with mentioning the fact that the director of the film,  Curtis Hanson, is known in the world of cinema for his great skills of directing such movies. They are known for the spiritual depth and unique way of raising different themes which may vary from racial conflict to the role of music in our life. Besides, the mixture of such themes makes his movies worth watching. It’s obvious how he was sensible to the life story of the famous rapper Eminem and it’s perfectly proved in this film. Curtis Hanson’s particular style and specific way to tell the story has made the film is worthy of  96 minutes of your time. This direction is a striking example when both direction and actors’ performance are equally great.

Editing

The film is considered to be a classical drama with some element of biography, thus the computer-generated graphics with numerous explosions, inconceivable shootings and pursuits are not supposed to be used. In fact, I like it because this circumstance makes the film worth watching as it attracts your attention due to real people and their talent to perform and tell the story of their characters.

Actor’s performance

Speaking about this aspect of the film, there is no doubt that such film has become so famous not only thatnks for direction and celebrity cast but for brilliant actors’ performance as well. It must be admitted that I have chosen to watch this film because of my interest to Eminem as the world famous rapper. Eminem's performance as the struggling actor is very impressive. He tells his own life story without any high coloured stuff. People might say that he's just playing himself, so, they say it might not be very difficult. But, just imagine how it is hars to open yoir hear and sole and tell so intimate story of your life to millions of people all over the world. Besides I’d like to mention about Brittany Murphy who plays Alex who is looking for a way out of the town.

Costume design

There is not anything unusual in it. The film is not historical one, so it is OK. However, some Jimmy’s clothing, especially during his rap battles help to express his feelings and emotions in addition to her facial expression and gestures. Many costumes tell us more about this genre of music and is called rules of this sub culture. The racial difference between two different groups who live in the town is also conveyed with the help of clothes.

Impression

It's a nice movie in spite of the fact it was sometimes too difficult to understand for me. |It’s very specific movie, not for all peole. I believe it was rather easier to watch if you know something about this music genre. However, it has turned to be closely connected with the theme of music and it was very interesting and useful to learn more about this subculture and its origins.

Individual Reading. The moon and sixpence. Part 3

Just before Christmas, Dirk and the author learn that Mr. Strickland is seriously ill. They come to his house and find him lying and dying on a garret. Both of them understand the seriousness of this situation and as a result they decide to take care of him. Dirk tries to persuade his wife to let Mr. Strickland to move to them and live for some time before his recovery. However, Blanche is against it because of her negative attitude towards this man. Fortunately, Blanche agrees and Charles moves to the Stroeves. Looking after Charles, Blanche, to her own surprise and shock, falls in love with him. Sometime later, she confesses his husband without any regret or shame and is going to leave home with her new lover. However, Dirk so adores his wife, even after such betrayal, that he leaves the house, thus giving them possibilities to live in his own apartment. He tries to make Blanche come back but all his attempts fail. Meanwhile, Charles breaks up relationship with Blanche. Being unable to bear all this, Blanche commits suicide by taking a poison. Dirk returns to his flat and finds Charles’ work 0 a portrait of Blanche which turns to be a real piece of art.