Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Casablanca

Casablanca is the place between the Germans and freedom, or America. Europeans were fleeing from the Germans. America was their place of refuge. Casablanca is the place that many of them became stuck because they didn't have letters of transit, their ticket to freedom. Casablanca is a story about the escape of an important politician, Victor Laszlo played by Paul Henreid, who the Germans don't want to leave Casablanca because they don't want his idependant views to be heard. Casablanca was directed by Michael Curtiz and written by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein. This classic movie releaased on January 23, 1943 recieved three Oscars.

During World War II in Casablanca, Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, a former freedom fighter and american, owns the most popular spot in town, Rick's Cafe. Blaine is in the possession of two letters of transit. Vctor Laszlo, a politician that the Nazi's want to keep on lock down has arrived in Casablanca with Rick's ex lover, Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman. Their fling in Paris caused old flames between the two of them. Ilsa becomes overwhelmed with her felings during the movie. She knows she loves Rick but her husband Lazlo is the one she wants to protect. Blaine helps her do so. This love story will never fade beccause of its major impact in the movie world. This movie leaves audiences in wonder, happiness, and sadness all in one.

Monday, March 22, 2010

The Way We Were

On October 19, 1973, the classic dramatic romance The Way We Were was released. This is a story of two polar opposites trying to stay in love. It was written by Arthur Laurents and directed by Sydeny Pollack. The two lovers that are reunited from their college days are Katie Morosky, known as Barbra Streisand, and Hubbell Gardner, played by Robert Redford. The Way We Were won an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy for its astounding motion picture. This is a romantic story of a doomed love that is wanted to be "meant to be" but just isn't.

The movie starts off with Katie running into Hubbel, who is of course a hot jock that all the guys wanted to be in college, your tyipical all-american. He claims the looks and smarts as he finishes a novel while Katie continues being a workaholic while staying extremely involved in politics. Katie had a major crush on Hubbell in college. When their eyes meet for the first time in 10 years, that feeling of soon to be love sinks in again. They begin an on and off relationship for awhile until Katie's love for politics annoys Hubbell and Hubbell starts to give up his litteray talents by abandoning his novel for screen plays. Communism caused a witch hunt to be cast upon the writers and producers in Hollywood. Which of course, Katie caused an uproar. Hubbell's low toleration for Katie's behavior lead him to cheat with his college sweetheart who was also he's best friend's ex wife (climax). Before all this they talked about marriage and Katie is now pregnant. She finds out about the affair and wanted to still make this crumbling relationship work. She finally comes to the realization that their love will never be the way it was. She then asks Hubbell if he will just stay with her until their baby is born and then they can go their seperate ways. The end of the movie leaves audiences in question and with a weird uneasy feeling...you will with have to see what makes them feel this way by seeing the way they were.

I thought the movie was very interesting because it showed a completely different type of love story. It was showing how two opposites would handle typical fights that all couples go through. It was alittle hard to relate to because Katie was not a character someone can easily relate to as a whole, but relating to some of her characteristics would definitely be possible. I thought that the movie's point was to not give up something you love and that sometimes you have to give up people you love because you love them and want them to do what makes them happy. The only things that definitely last forever are memories.