The One-Eyed Man Is King

Frank Rich (NYT) review of True Grit

V - True Grit

Tuesday March 8th, 2011 @ Teresa's

The Western genre - Denise

Coen Brothers - Beth K

Remakes - Teresa

Soundtrack - Barbara

Cinematography and the cinematographer - Roger Deakins - Brenda

Hailey Steinfeld - Nancy - and you get only 6 mins!

Child actors - Laurie Kibler

Jeff Bridges - Cindy

Matt Damon - Michelle

Alex - something profound like Americas then and now or "America - Still the Wild West"! or Teresa's "Notions of Justice"


Reviews comparing Social Network and True Grit
True Grit & Social Network - The New York Times
The One-Eyed Man Is King  - The New York Times - Frank Rich

The New Yorker Blogs

HITS AND MISSES: TRUE GRIT VS. THE SOCIAL NETWORK by Richard Brody

The Economist Blogs

The starry heavens above me

IV - The King's Speech

Thursday, January 17, 2011 @ Beth Kotis'

1. Writer/Director - Gail

2. Actor/Character – Bertie - Colin Firth - Alke

3. Actor/Character – Liz - Helena Bonham Carter - Michelle

4. Actor/Character – Lionel - Geoffrey Rush - Barbara

5. Other actors /characters –George V, Edward VIII, Queen Mary, Wally Simpson, family Logue etc - Nancy

6. Other actors/characters - Children - Elizabeth, Margaret, Archbishop, Churchill, Baldwin etc - Michelle

7. World war II – role /relevance in the film - Beth Kotis

8. Genre/ Music/Cinematography - Ros

9. Importance of public speaking in public office – great orators in history, media - Teresa

10. Issues, biases, pressures and history of stutters in society - Laurie

11. Pressures of public life – media, family, firm etc - Alex

12. The relationship between the client and speech coach ie Barriers of class, rank and power to make an effective human connection in history/media - Beth Dull

13. The historical (and current) dysfunctions of the British Royal Family - Denise

Relevance the Royalty in today's world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMqBl-K2Z1s

III - Another Year

Wednesday 19 January 2011 @ Laurie's

Writer/Director - Denise

Actor/Character - Tom - Laurie

Actor/Character - Gerri - Alke

Actor/Character - Mary - Gail

Actor/Character - Joe - Barbara

Actor/Character - Katie - Beth Kotis

The other actors/characters - Alex

Music - Beth Dull

Cinematography - Cindy

British cinema characteristics, features, genre etc. - Teresa

"Contemporary English life" - the allotments, the cups of tea, the drinking, modern families etc. - Ros

Women friendships in cinema/media/TV - Cordelia

Ageing in cinema, media/TV - Nancy

cinematic techniques - i.e seasons in cinema - Michelle

In conclusion, it may be interesting to contrast any differences and/or similarities in content, budget, cast, technique etc between Hollywood and British cinema.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDVJwhj5EgA

II - The Kids Are Alright

Wednesday, 8 December 2010 @ Gail's

1. Writer - Barbara

2. Director - Cordelia

3. Actors (all) - Laurie

5. Genre - comedy? farce? - Cindy

6. Cinematography, editing, sets, locations, product placements etc. - Alex

7. Music - Teresa

8. Film/media characters/characterisation - stereotypes incl. mothers, good guys, bad guys, etc - Ros

9. Suburban family stereotypes in cinema/tv/media (volvo, large house, golden retriever etc) - Michelle

10. Southern california lifestyles/family structures in cinema/tv/media (I also remember seeing "Its complicated" recently that was set there) - Nancy

11. Modern family roles/structures in media - single parents, househusbands, etc. - Denise

12. Gay/lesbian family structures in contemporary culture - Beth Kotis

13. Ethical/Moral issues of sperm donors etc. - Alke

14. Stereotypes in the media/ popular culture to do with identity, race, gender, sex etc.- Gail

15. Challenges/Issues of living/raising teenagers in the political correct times we live in. - Beth Dull

Final discussion:

1. Women's mid life crisis - issues of dealing with who you are? possibly redefining yourself with with your kids grown up/going/gone off to college?

2. Do we as women need/prefer women as life partners for social/emotional support to men (aside from the physical of course!)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdDSqgZ87fM

The First One - The Social Network!

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 @ Michelle's

1. The Writer - background, history, other work, relevance to this film - Nancy

2. The Director - same as above - Cindy

3. The Actors - as above, in addition relevance/appropriateness to this film - Cordelia

4. Genre, cinematography, sets, costumes, props, etc. - Ros

5. Historic attitudes/stereotypes to Jewish culture in literature, film etc. - Teresa

6. Cultures of Ivy league schools (can be specific to the film or more general) - Beth Dull

7. High School/college cultures in relation to stereotypes i.e. popular kids, geeks, jocks etc. - Beth Kotis

8. Role of girls/women in the film and in contemporary culture - Alex

9. Culture of college fraternities/sororities and clubs - Laurie Kibler

10. Issues of "class" race and entitlement in education - Denise

11. Social Networks in contemporary culture - issues of friends, bullying, relationships etc. - Michelle

Malcolm Gladwell in the New Yorker on Social Networking - the new revolution - Oct 2010

This last point will be open discussion to wrap up.

What do you feel/ think/believe about "the geeks shall inherit the earth"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4




Some Reviews:
1. The New Yorker - Oct 2010