RWAC analysis

Sometimes a movie will just pop into my head. last night Rebel Without a Cause (1955) was one of these movies. Let me just say that it is one of my favourites.
Instead of doing a plain old review i thought that i would try to analyze the 3 main characters, Plato (Sal Mineo), Judy (Natalie Wood) and Jim (James Dean). Now i don't think i'm very good when it comes to analysis but i'll let you be the judge.

Plato

John "Plato" Crawford is probably the most disturbed of the 3 characters. He has been pretty much abandoned by both parents and since he has no friends he mostly spends his time with his maid or at one point killing puppies. The way i see it Plato killed these puppies not out of angst or hate but a warped view of justice. Puppies are abandoned by their mother, the way he was abandoned by his, he shot them because he saw himself in them. He was sort of suicidal. But as far as we know he never attempted it, but why not? Perhaps subconsciously he thought things would get better and when Jim arrived they did (for a little).

Plato's relationship with Jim is just one of the many interesting relationships in this movie. Jim and Judy became sort of surrogate parents to Plato during their brief time at the secluded mansion. But yet Plato is obviously attracted to Jim, for a fifties movie it's astounding that it was even featured, but nonetheless it was and it adds a whole other layer to the movie. Plato both see's Jim as a father figure and a potential lover. he was certainly a confused young man.

Judy

Continuing the trend of complex father relationships in this movie is Judy's need for attention from her father. It is natural for a girl to still want some attention from her father even though she is growing up, but he doesn't seem to want to show any kind of affection. Even slapping her when she tries to. i once read someone else's theory that he was afraid of his attraction to her, which is a very good idea and i think it is just about right.
It has been debated on the IMDB boards about why she suddenly fell in love with Jim mere hours after Buzz (her boyfriends) death. This i think i can explain. Judy's father was pushing her away, Buzz became the man of her life, she was close to him and was allowed to show the affection she couldn't show to her father. But did she love him? No. The fact that she didn't have a huge mourning over him is because she had to push him out of her mind. To be strong and find another man to be her rock. This man was Jim. She said she loved him because he was security, he was attentive and loving (and he was James Dean), she loved the idea of him.

Jim.

The template for teen angst everywhere is Jim Stark. The 'rebel' who wants to break away from his restraints but at the same time fit in. A paradoxical character, (in fact they all were). He doesn't want to be like his Father (Jim Backus), who is a push over who can't stand up to his own (shrewish) wife. Jim hates being called 'chicken' as it reminds him of his Dad, who he doesn't want to be. Here is the main cause of his 'rebellion', he wants to be seen as his own man, a real man. To be a real man he thought he mustn't be afraid of even the most dangerous  and stupid things (like driving a car towards a cliff). His relationship's with Judy and Plato were perfectly suited to him. Judy was very different from his own mother, she didn't tell him what to do or was demanding. Plato was the son. Plato wanted parents. The entire family dynamic is very well put together.

I may be wrong about quite a few of these things, after all I've never been great at analysis. But the thing i love about this movie is that it can be interpreted in many different ways. i also love it's basic theme- teenagers trying to find their own way. It is still so culturally significant today (and will be in the future). Sure the events are melodramatic (impromptu switch blade fights...)  but again, the theme isn't teen violence or even rebellion, it's finding a purpose.

"You have to do something" Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen), Rebel Without a Cause.

My ideal comedy....

I still love movies, i try to see as many good ones as possible and if that means paying the money to go to the cinema i am all for it. But somehow i always find myself wondering how it could have been better, did Megan Fox really need to say "you give me such a wettie" in Jennifer's Body? That was really a cringe worthy line, the movie wasn't that flash either. Really i have to wonder sometimes how the movie stars of the classic studio era would have implied anything raunchy. I've seen movies with double entendre's that you really had to listen to understand and love and they were way funnier than Jennifer's Body. Enough about that movie.

I love how they implied things, i suppose there is something to be said for subtlety. I kind of just want to see a movie that has the double entendre's and dry wit of the classic era combined with the darkness of modern comedies like (here i go again) Jennifer's Body. That was really dark, it had some good idea's but it's attempts at being edgy were kind of cheap and awkward. However if i took the best things about the movie (the action and storyline) and combined it with the comedy of old, then i'd be closer to my ideal film.

I suppose it is just a pipe dream and i feel silly for even saying it aloud. But it's true. The recent death of one of the last great movie stars, Elizabeth Taylor, has sort of spurred this post. I decided not to do a whole post on her specifically because in truth i haven't seen many of her movies. But i do know that she was THE movie star. Her sheer presence in a film made it watchable, even The Flintstones. I suppose that anyone who watches an Elizabeth Taylor movie will see just that: Elizabeth Taylor. She could act (she was great in Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf), but i'm not sure that was why she was so successful. Personally i think it was her looks (i wish i had those eyes) and her attitude. That's my opinion. Here another of my opinions: i thought she'd live forever. Her movie's will though.

Back to what i was saying. The comedy of the classic era (at least the good ones) were witty, screwball and lighthearted. I loved them, i want the modern sex comedy to be mixed with the screwball and slapstick of the classics. It would be epic.

Then there are the stars. I'd want....
Johnny Depp
Cary Grant
Katharine Hepburn
Anne Hathaway
Jack Lemmon
Tina Fey
Natalie Wood
James Dean (i am just curious how he would have been in a comedy)
Robin Williams (circa Mork and Mindy)
Mae West
The Marx Brothers
Tony Curtis
Barbra Streisand (circa What's Up Doc?)
Liz Taylor (circa Father of the bride)
Spencer Tracy (circa Woman of the year)
Madeline Kahn
Gene Wilder
directed by Frank Capra
written by: Mel Brooks, Woody Allen and Billy Wilder

That is who would be in my perfect comedy. With a cast like that it would have to be a road movie or something, but still... it would be so cool. Even if it is unattainable.

This was a pretty pointless post....

"Is that a gun in your pocket or you just glad to see me?" Marlo Manners, (Mae West) Sextette (1978)

To fast to live too young to die

This post is about James Dean (*obviously). I was prompted to post this because he was brought up in quite an unlikely place today at school, it was during History and we are soon to be learning about 'Youthquake' and my teacher wants to show us a little 1950's youth movie named Rebel Without a cause. which, according to her, well i'll quote her:
"It's very famous but probably no-one in here has seen  it (this is where i started to think it must be Rebel without a cause) it's called Rebel without a cause ("I've seen it!" i said, trying to show how i'm a bit different to everyone else) and it starred James Dean who was a big famous icon in the mid 50's and wrapped himself around a tree when he was 20something (i mumble, and she says without looking at me as she knew who it was) how old was he? (i say 24) he only made 3 movies. that was how big an impact he made"

The people in my history class, well most of them, have closed minds when it comes to movies, they'll only watch new movies or horror movies, because they think that following the masses is 'cool'. I've got news for them, thats not cool, James Dean was cool. He and Steve Mcqueen were the essence of 'cool.' So anyway this announcement got me hyped for this class, to be honest i thought history would be boring but if i get to watch one of my favorite movies then i'm all for it. I don't think my class will really understand and respect it the way i do but you never know. I hope so.

In one of the best known trivia in movie history the 3 young stars of this iconic film all met with tragic ends: James Dean at 24, car accident, Natalie Wood at 43, drowning and Sal Mineo at 37, murder. Of course, they were all well respected actors and shouldn't just be remembered for dying young, Rebel without a cause is one of the finest of all of the actors' careers. The film gave James Dean iconic status (partly because it was released barely a month after his death), Natalie Wood forged an adult career by being in this film and Sal Mineo got his big break. Dennis hopper also appears (with little to no lines but still if you look you can see him) in the film. So it's pretty special.

"Please lock me up, i'm gonna hit somebody and i don't want to" Jim Stark (James Dean) Rebel Without A Cause. 

The Teen movies that defined a generation and the ones that made us want to blow up Hollywood.

Teen movies. I think we all have seen at least 5 from this somewhat worn out genre, some teen movies are great (Mean Girls, Heathers, Juno, The breakfast club, Clueless) and others aren't even worthy of a wedgie.
The teen movie really started in the 50's because studios wanted to address real issues at the time and one of these issues was 'juvenile delinquency', famous movies about this includes The Wild One (starring Marlon Brando) Blackboard Jungle and Rebel without a cause (my personal favorite). Arguably the best title out those three is that of Blackboard Jungle because it doesn't sound nearly as cheesy as the others, but ironically it is perhaps the least famous.

Lets take a look at some of the really good teen movies that have come out-

• Rebel Without a cause - not only was the movie striking at the time it came out (and is still relevant if not as powerful today) it also contains the quintessential performance of James Dean and the one he will always be remembered for, it also has great performances from Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood. A bold movie for its time. It may seem pretty tame today, but i suppose it all depend on your tastes.
• To sir with love - a film to be enjoyed by anyone, Sidney Poitier turns in a fine performance as do the actors who play his students, a sixties classic, although if you don't like cockney accents all that much you may find it grating.
• Blackboard Jungle - Which is in a similar vein as To Sir, With Love, i haven't seen it but I've heard good things about it. A teacher comes to an unruly boys school and instead of just putting up with his students' antics he decides to instill discipline in them. Which is mostly the plot of To Sir With Love.
• Mean Girls - a film almost completely cliche free and irreverently funny. An accurate, if exaggerated, look at the politics of high school girl cliques.
• Heathers - It's like Mean Girls only with murder. That's how i describe it to anyone who hasn't heard of this movie and it immediately gets them interested, then when they see it they are slightly disappointed that it doesn't have the same humor as Mean Girls. Heathers is darker and deadpan, and until a second viewing i don't think you can appreciate it as much. Winona Ryder and Christian Slater star as Veronica Sawyer and Jason 'JD' Dean, i think it's quite obvious about the reference. The movie plays joyfully with the conventions of high school movies and is a wonderful throwback at the John Hughes movies of the 80s.
• The breakfast club - a staple of any 80's teen movie fan. it follows 5 teenagers from different social types stuck together in Saturday detention. While enjoyable i never thought it was all that brilliant but i knew that i'd be killed if i didn't put on here.
• Juno - quirky teen Juno gets pregnant by her best friend and goes on a an emotional roller-coaster with funny results, it's not just funny its a good portrayal of teen culture, i wouldn't rate it as brilliant but it is well written and everyone in it delivers a great performance.
• Napoleon Dynamite - ok now, he's just cool. who doesn't love this film? i'm not going to say anymore on the  matter, if you haven't seen it rent it and you'll understand.
• Splendor in the grass - Bud and and Wilma Dean 'Deanie' Loomis are in love in the 20's, they want to take their relationship further but face pressures from their parents. The performances in this movie are astounding and often heartbreaking, Buds father is multi dimensional human like he should be and the movie was made all the more stronger by his presence. Warren Beatty (Bud) made his film debut in this movie and he turned in a good performance giving us a taste of what was yet to come (plus he looked friggin' hot). Ginny Stamper (Buds sister) was a highlight of the film and steals every scene she's in. But it's Natalie Wood in one of her best performances that keeps the movie interesting. I talked a lot about that one but i think that shows that i really like the movie. 
• Pretty In Pink - Molly Ringwald was the teen movie queen back in the eighties and is still very much associated with them, she was quite good in this and has young Jon Cryer as her best friends Duckie. Really, it's worth watching just for him. 
• Saved! - good but awkward satire on a religious high school.

There are so many more like Fast times at Ridgemont high, Risky Business and Scream, but i can't talk about them all.

Now let's take a look at our teenage wasteland-

• Material Girls - Getting it's name from a Madonna song and even having Hilary and Hayley Duff do a cover of it must have seemed like a good idea at the time, but it takes more than that to make a film, a cliche'd mess if there ever was one and i feel slightly sorry for everyone in it. It's a shame because i truly hoped it would be better than what people claimed.
• Spice world - kind of self explanatory, you put a music group that can't act (or sing for that matter) in a movie and you've got the worst musical ever made, sure it was aimed at teen audiences but even we, the teens, aren't stupid enough to watch this - and we watched Disaster Movie.
• Weird Science - i'm sorry fans, i have failed you, this wasn't that good of a movie, maybe it's because it's a John Hughes classic and i expected too much or perhaps i just didn't like hearing the 'tries too hard to be funny' lines
• Crossroads - When i saw this i wasn't surprised that Britney Spears couldn't act, i was just surprised that those guys down in casting thought she could. fair is fair though, i did find her funny in those episodes of How I met your Mother. Zoe Saldana (of Avatar fame) was in this as well, perhaps something she might like to forget.
• From Justin to Kelly - bad actors, bad music, lame attempts at 'comedy' and a cliche'd plot. shall i go on? the only way it could have been worse was if the 'Justin' in the title referred to Justin Beiber.
• Teen Witch - campy and cheesily enjoyable, this movie comes under the so 'bad it's good' title.

I'm going to stop there. I think this post is already too long! i may continue on in this teen movie vein until i get it out of my system so don't be surprised if my next post is about teen movies.

"Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass; glory in the flower; we will grieve not' but rather find strength in what remains behind" Wilma Dean Loomis (Natalie Wood), Splendor in the grass (Poem written by William Wordsworth)