The Burmese Harp

"The soil of Burma is red, and so are it's rocks."

Title: The Burmese Harp
Year of Release: 1956
Director: Kon Ichikawa
Genre: Drama/Music/War
Rating: 8.5/10

Don't hold it against yourself if you don't know this film, it's relatively unknown. It's about a Japanese platoon that use music to keep their morales high, they soon surrender to the British after hearing that Japan has surrendered. One of the soldiers plays the harp, naturally gifted he taught himself how to play and play well. Before moving to a prison camp the Captain gets the okay to send a messenger to tell a group of Japanese soldiers to surrender also as resistance is literally futile. The other soldiers are reluctant to give up, and the inevitable happens. The Japanese platoon that sent Mizushima on the mission suspect him to be dead.

I had my doubts that there would be many films from the fifties based around WWII that were so unbiased. With scars and wounds still left in Japanese hearts it's incredibly such an honest film was created. I heard it was very praised during it's original release for simply being created. There is no way anyone can doubt this is an anti-war film, it shows decaying bodies in the mass, scattered around Burma. The pointless mindset some of the Japanese soldiers had during WWII that you must die for your country, that is the best and only way during war is shattered, if anyone thought dying with honor serves your country better than returning to rebuild a country in ruin they surely would of realised after this. As I was saying, it's quite an unbias film, not just because it was made only ten years after the war ended but because well... war films have a tendency to be bias. It shows the British as good people. There are two good examples, at the beginning when the Japanese platoon prepare for battle trying to fool the British by singing, laughing and clapping into thinking they weren't ready the British react in a way I did not expect. Also, though, subtle and quite insignificant a British soldier wishes Mizushima a safe return with complete sincerity. Those types of things just don't seem to be present in a lot of war based films, sure there are numerous examples of films that aren't bias but this is one that really earns my respect.

The music is absolutely perfect in this film. The harp that is played throughout and the singing bring the mood of the soldiers to life, but also, the score is perfect. One scene that is great half of the reason being the music is when Mizushima comes across a whole lot of Japanese corpses and he is obviously bewildered by the sight. The score used in this I haven't seen present in many films from the fifties, particularly Japanese films. Maybe I just need to see more, and they generally seem to be the type of music that is in war films, so again, maybe I just need to see more war films from the time. Regardless, the music is perfect.

The way this film is shot is also incredible. With simple long shots, and numerous pans, particularly across the corpses. I don't know how to explain it without being really general and saying "This looks great, that looks great" but there is no doubt in my mind the cinematography done in this film is one of it's strongest points.

This is quite a general film I think, though it's message is strong. The acting is good, the cinematography is great and the music is even better. There isn't much that goes wrong with this film. But as I said, it feels quite general, that's why I guess I can't really find the words to properly describe this film other than it's really good. The only thing I need a little more push in is understanding Mizushima. I read on IMDb that another of Ichikawa's films is quite good and will help you understand Mizushima better, but as one critic said "The Burmese Harp, just as the titular instrument suggests songs without filling them out, is a slight film that suggests the heavy human toll of war without actually presenting it.". Nonetheless a hugely great film.

Friday Night Lights: Season One

"Clear eyes, full heart, cant lose"

Title: Friday Night Lights
Year of Release: 2006
Creator: Peter Berg
Genre: Drama/Sport
Rating: 8.5/10

Friday Night Lights is set in Dillon, Texas. In this town football is almost all that matters. Everyone seems to go to watch the matches and everyone is passionate. This show focuses on a group of high school students, most involved with the high school team. It deals with the pressures of high school, football and life.

In the spur of the moment I decided I'd check this show out, because from an advertisement I saw on tv it looked like a pretty decent show. Now the first episode isn't the best episode of the season, maybe it's just because this show is so very American it didn't quite appeal to me. The way the episode was going I didn't really plan on continuing watching it, the final.. ten or so minutes were fantastic. When the actual game begun, it was extremely exciting, and was only the beginning as something terrible happens at that game when one of the players is terribly injured. Not only does it greatly affect the himself, his family and the team. It changes the whole town, and because of that one tackle a lot of things changed, some for the better, some for the worse. But inevitably, would make for some damn good television.

The one thing I think about this show is that there are some simple cliche's or predictablities and whatnot, but it works so damn well, always. Some of the characters begin very simply and don't really show any importance, some, just seem pointless and annoying. But in time they did progress, a lot. This season covers a lot of ground in it's twenty-two episodes. Each of the characters in the show, the reoccurring ones, each of them at some point in time have their own little story, and drama to deal with, which I think really helps the characters grow and show the actor or actress's talent.

My biggest problem is that this is set with a bunch of fifteen to seventeen year olds in high school. To me, some of them just don't look their supposed age, but that's easy to get past, but some of things that happens, and what they have to deal with just seems a bit too extreme. Maybe New Zealand and American culture are more different than I thought? I don't know if American's are as serious about football as presented in this show, well, maybe that's too generalised seeing as this is set in a town, but a big one it seems at least. It's certainly a much different case when it comes to Rugby in High School. No games are televised and hell it's unlikely anyone will even video a single game. But like I said I guess American culture is more different than I thought. No one watches local television here, maybe they do in the States (or at least for football)? But back onto my point, I understand the pressure some of the players are put under, but the way they cope with it, in particular, a subplot with Smash, that just felt to me, unlikely and a bit extreme, but I guess one could argue that's the point?

Zach Gilford (Matt Saracen) and Kyle Chandler (Coach Taylor) are definitely the best in the show. From the very beginning it's obvious they had their character down. Gilford does a great job playing the nervous yet brave Matt Saracen, from only the first episode you really get a good feel for the character, not only understanding him, but care about him. Hell, he is a good reason why I continue watching this show, his character has definitely gone a long way and I can't wait to see where else he goes. Now onto Chandler's performance of Coach Taylor. Now his character is probably the most important character because if he was acted weakly the whole show would fall apart. He is what keeps the show standing as his character is right in the center of everything, he connects each character together and the like. It's great because, time and time again you see these same Coach like characters come into play in films like We Are Marshall or even Remember the Titans. The type of coach that is smart at the sport he coaches, but a wise guy, one who can help. Now, that same type of coach is here, but this time it's... different. I honestly can't think of much of a way to explain it other than the performance is not so robotic and typical, it's more fluid and real. Seriously, Chandler just has it down, he knows what he is doing, it's as if he was born to play this character, or is this character. Because there are some moments when something dramatic happens, one in particular when he get's served (lawsuit, not challenged to a dance off or something) he is told who is the one who filed the lawsuit and the expression on his face is the thing that really hits ya, really makes you understand how suprised he is, but also puts you right there.

There are some entertaining shows like Prison Break, 24, or Heroes which are good in short bursts but a lot of them are like trilogies. The first is always the best, but then slowly they just have the same stuff, but at more extreme measures, and then they over complicate and change the shows formula, that is why those shows don't last an entirely great run, because of a lack of emotional drive, they just have action. Friday Night Lights is one of those shows that has that emotional drive. I haven't seen the second or third season, haven't even begun to, for all I know this might do the very same thing I stated before (become more extreme and more complicated) but, unless the writers aren't as talented as I thought it should be fine. Constantly through this show you really feel for the characters. Even characters like Tyra. Tyra isn't my favourite character, she is the shows "bitch". No she isn't pushed around and whatnot, she is just a pain in the ass. Adrianne Palicki does a decent job as Tyra, but it's relatively general when uninvolved in a subplot. But as I was saying, even a character like Tyra gets your attention and has you care about her to some extent.

Now onto two "technical" aspects - Music and Cinematography. The music is fantastic with this show and really really helps just get better and better. It helps set the mood perfectly and feel the extremity of drama that is presented. I'm terrible at remember the instruments used, but it mainly consists of guitars. No, thank god it's not full of loud guitar solo's or popular songs of the current time. The music is soft and smooth, with simple strums at certain key moments. Seriously, the music is perfect. That is one of the very first things I noticed about this show, and it really stood out. Now, the cinematography, the camera is obviously actually held by a cameraman and not just operated by one. Now you may go the entire season/seasons without noticing it but the camera shakes, not a little, but not a lot, and also zooms in when necessary to see peoples expressions. This reminds me of another show called The Shield, but with this, it's far more effective. When I mentioned it zooms to show you characters emotions, or reactions, etc, it's not like you see in a martial arts movie and they've got that cheesy look on their face because unlike that, it actually works here. The shaky camera (not Blair Witch/Cloverfield shaky) is quite effective too. It just gives the show an atmosphere and feeling to it, I guess it just makes it feel more real. This show has some real beauty in some of the shots, it makes great use of lighting, mostly because it doesn't really use much. It doesn't brighten up the shots. It always seems to be natural lighting, but obviously it's not always that way. But I tell ya, when the football players begin their Friday night games it always looks great.

This is a really good show that does a good job showing how much pressure can be put on people involved with football, especially in a small town obsessed with the sport. There isn't much that brings this season down. The acting is pretty solid, though weaker in the first few episodes, it improves, regardless is still pretty good. It does have a bit of a weird feeling that the characters high school students, but it's easy to get past that. And another problem I found with the season is the random tug in the flow of the show, around episode eleven, I think. It seems there may have been a break when it was actually televised because it seemed to rely a bit on simple or small things being forgotten, which when combined can become a problem. It's briefly a bit rocky, but that's seriously about one or two episodes, easy to get past. Those are the things that I think brought this down from perfection. Regardless, a hugely great show, worth checking out.

Note: Just found out the music you mostly hear during the show is a band called Explosions in the Sky, a great instrumental band which mainly consists of electric guitars and drums (also the occasional bass).

In Cold Blood

Note: If you know NOTHING about what this is about, and the murder it is set around, don't read this. But because I think most people already know the general facts, I've included some spoilers that people most probably already know, but not the crucial details, the ones that make this film, truly great.

Title: In Cold Blood
Year of Release: 1967
Director: Richard Brooks
Genre: Crime/Drama
Rating: 10/10

"I'd like to apologize, but who to."

In Cold Blood, an adaption of Truman Capote's well known book which details the brutal slaying of the Clutter family. Perry Smith and Dick Hickock the two who committed the crime went in with the hopes of leaving ten thousand dollars richer because Hickock, while in prison heard that the Clutter family had a safe, with ten thousand dollars in it. Instead they leave forty-three dollars (and a radio) richer.

I think this film builds up and up to show you Smith and Hickock as criminals, but not really as cold blooded murderers, it makes you sympathize with Smith the absolute most because he is complicated. He has fond memories of his mother, and at first all seems well on the front, but you quickly learn little Perry Smith witnessed something truly terrible, which would help lead him to the gallows. Also as emphasis, in the film, you hear two cops talking about some study of serial killers, and it was found they are usually those who had family problems, and Smith fell into that category for sure. He was not a monster as the media most probably portrayed him at the time. Nearing the end especially you really sympathize with Smith because (at least in my opinion) he doesn't really deserve the death penalty, though there is no doubt he deserves punishment, but not death. With Dick, it's a completely different story, but I won't go there, because I think that may spoil some crucial details.

My personal opinion is that not a single soul deserves the death penalty, I just don't think we have the right to kill, not any of us. Just because the government controls everything doesn't give them the right to murder. It's a major contradiction that defeats the purpose of prison. Prison should not be a place for revenge, or a temporary holding ground for the guilty criminals. Rehabilitation should be their only ambition, which a lot of prisons really don't aim to do, they just hold them in time out because they've been a naughty boy (or girl).

But back onto subject, at the end I don't think your supposed to feel and say to yourself "Those cold blooded bastards got what they deserved!" because what's the point in that? This is obviously a good film, anyone can tell that. It's quite complicated, but if it only aims to reenact, really, it's pointless. It certainly isn't one sided though, it's supposed to make you think, do they or do they not deserve being condemned to death, but ultimately, they don't. I think the name "In Cold Blood" is more of an irony, because that's how the media dubbed it, which in a way... it sort of is, but it's just not that simple.

Robert Blake plays Perry Smith and believe me in every sense of the word his performance is perfect. He captures every aspect no matter how big or small they were. The simple shakes of the last mile (I don't know if that's what they actually call it) and his final moments. The intense moments during the scene everyone anticipates. His character is a wide varied character, no doubt. I could probably go on for a while about what makes Perry Smith (be it the man, or the character) so interesting. Take my word Blake was the perfect person to play Smith, not only does he act beyond greatness, he looks very similar to the real Smith. Scott Wilson, who plays Dick Hickock does a great job playing an arrogant and seemingly cold blooded man.

As I've stated, this is quite a complicated film, with little things, though they very well could just a coincidence during the film making progress and the way it was presented, it's far better to think otherwise. The symbolic elements are there. Another thing that I really like is make you wait to see the murder. You see before and after the murder before you actually see the murder itself, which is so incredibly important in keeping your opinion clean and undamaged. Just so you know there is a lot I haven't commented on, most importantly the music and great use of black and white.

I haven't read Capote's "In Cold Blood" and I don't know a lot about the actual crimes themselves and how accurate this film is, but if this is as accurate as it gets, both as an adaption and a true story then this is so very good. It's brutally honest and unbias. As someone on IMDb wrote, this works perfectly with Capote, though I didn't watch it the day before or even remotely close before, Capote is a really good film which helps me base my opinion of the film as a whole. They both focus on different aspects. Obviously, Capote focuses more of the Capote/Smith relationship and you learn a lot about Perry Smith. If you liked Capote, I can almost guarantee you will love this, or vice-versa. A film that succeeds in my eyes on every level.

Seven

"What's in the box?"

Title: Seven
Year of Release: 1995
Director: David Fincher
Genre: Thriller/Crime/Mystery
Rating: 8.5/10

Two detectives, one who is about to retire (Freeman) and one who is only at the beginning of his career (Pitt) begin investigating a case where the killer's murders relate to the seven deadly sins.

Ever since I was young I've been a fan of this film, and because I was quite young when I first saw this a lot of the scenes in this film have stuck with me, like with some other relatively disturbing movies. Well most of the scenes directly involving each of the murders are disturbing, because I've always just imagined how terrible it would be if put in their shoes. There is no doubt this is a graphic film, but not exploitive like in the often compared but far inferior film series Saw. The graphic nature of the crimes help glue them to your mind, and really make each of the murders so much more disturbing, it's not so much the blood you may see at the scene, but the thought of what physical or mental suffering they would of went through, it's always far more affective in film when they can translate the disturbing content of the film mentally rather than show it in full detail with graphic scenes throughout, but as I said, this doesn't exploit the murders, it has the right amount of violence. But be warned, I can imagine some people might not like the level of violence.

I've read of people disliking the ending, thinking it's the weakest point, or a let down. I really cannot disagree more to be honest. Sure, to an extent I can see why, but to me, the ending is so affective and so memorable, and it's easily the most memorable part of the film, and quite a powerful ending. Hell, the ending was half the reason I decided to watch this film for maybe the fifth or so time. I was both excited to see the events unfold and the intense ending, but I was also nervous about it too, because I knew what was going to happen, I don't want to give anything away, but I loved it.

Freeman doesn't disappoint, as usual doing a great job, but also playing a rather familiar character, an intelligent and quite wise man. Though Freeman does a great job, he is out shun by Pitt's performance. This is the film I think which made people respect Pitt and actually consider him a serious actor, one to keep your eye on. He plays an arrogant, ambiguous and young detective. Though he knows the basics and considers himself a veteran detective, he doesn't fool Somerset (Freeman). From his general language, constantly using swear words, Somerset being a more curious, calm but harder man, Mills (Pitt) is an incredibly interesting character. Pitt does a great job, with numerous one liners of sorts, not the sort you see in Die Hard or the like, but great human words, not action catch phrases. Mills general inexperience is quickly shown in just one of his first scenes, involving the first murder, with the obese man, he mainly just looks at the standard things, obviously the man who is dead, simple things around him, sort of mimicking Somerset who is truly investigating every detail, Somerset is far more persistent but far less confident.

The is a great well rounded film that has a similar dark feeling to that of Fincher's other film, Fight Club. This probably best succeeds in the thriller aspect as I was almost always excited or edgy, a few times I even jumped, one scene, which has and will forever keep giving me a fright, the sloth one, every time it gets me. Now obviously I don't want to spoil anything, though I'm so eager to discuss other things about the film, but it's just too easy to spoil crucial elements of this film, so for those who haven't checked this out already and don't mind a bit of violence, you definitely want tot see this. Especially those who liked Fight Club, because as I mentioned earlier, they both have a similar feel to it, the whole darkness present in both, and also some parts of Zodiac (another film by Fincher) are shown in Se7en, if you ask me at least.