The Big Lebowski

The film The Big Lebowski is so radically different from anything that has been produced before it and initially did not receive the recognition it deserved. As discussed in class, a cult classic film can be defined as a film that is accepted by a smaller demographic of moviegoers. Over time, a once absurd film is seen as a new genre of film and is widely accepted by filmmakers and audiences as a true classic and memorable film. Another example I can automatically associate with is Napoleon Dynamite. When this film first came out it was regarded as a ridiculous comedy with an absurd storyline. It is ultimately the main character that makes these films so successful. The character is almost normal, and is portrayed as an individual that almost everyone can relate with. Though there may be no real plot, there is always a conflict that is resolved which is the basic ideal any film needs to be produced. It did not adhere to the normal expectancies of viewing audiences, hence the box office failure, but given time it was greatly appreciated and has made up for its opening failure with success in DVD sales and overall merchandise sales. The Coen Brothers made an attachment to other filmmaking techniques, focusing on elements rather than content. The audience is mainly mesmerized by the performance of Dude, and the story ultimately follows the life of this main character, rather than focusing on setting and plot. 

The Hudsucker Proxy

The Hudsucker Proxy, in my opinion, is one of the best Coen Brothers films ever made. The film has a good storyline, in that it involves work ethic and overall business settings that people can relate to, which is ultimately the goal in creating any film. The element of time progression was creatively used; in that there is a flashback that plays out bringing the film full circle and a moment where time freezes, even the characters just by stopping a clock from ticking. The fact that all the main events that occur in the film, Hudsucker’s suicide, Barnes’s fall, and Hudsucke’s reappearance to save Barnes his job, are brought upon by one large clock on the side of a building is what amazes me. It is not really that the Coen Brothers used some sort of new filmmaking styles it is just that the stories are outrageous, in that they take real life situations and make them absurd. Just like in The Big Lebowski, Barton Fink, and Fargo, the Coen Brothers use their talents to play out relatable events that all play on the element of time. Whether it be long pauses between dialogue, freezing time, or even just a ten second shot of someone walking, their films make the audience think while still letting you have fun with the story and relate. I feel as though their films truly are radical and strange, but this film definitely gives them more recognition in the creative aspect of filmmaking. 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

The filmmakers of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest spent a numerous amount of time researching in to psychotherapy and the context of the book the film is based on. The lengthy amount of research put in to the film was due to the filmmaker’s desire to create a realistically accurate film. All actors in the film were expected to put forth the same effort and commitment in preparation for their roles. The characters in a film help develop the story and if the actors aren’t being true to the ideal character than the authenticity is lost. According to the “Real Reels” article, the actors conveyed the utmost level of accuracy in their performance. The new nurse believes the film to be very accurate in its perception of a psychiatric mental hospital. The old nurse believes the film to be deceitful and misconstrues the truth of how a psychiatric mental hospital is run. Based on the two articles and the viewing of the film, my interpretation is that the film is a combination of the two reviews. The characters seem real and truthful, while some of the events that occur seem unreal and inaccurate. McMurphy, as played by Jack Nicholson, is accurately portrayed as the chance of a fault in the institution and the influence one patient can have over a system in the presence of poor judgment. Nurse Ratched, as played by Louise Fletcher, is accurately portrayed as an imperfect psychiatric nurse who lets poor judgment get in the way of her professionalism. If the actors had not taken their roles as seriously as portrayed the film would not have seemed as real and defined.