Download the Episode Here!
In this segment Chris and Dan discuss Federico Fellini's masterpiece La Dolce Vita. A film that has been praised throughout the movie world, let's see how it measures up to our "everyman" sensibilities!
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Sweet Life?
Hello everybody and welcome to the first installment of The Everyman Critics Film School! In these segments we will discuss films that aren't necessarily palatable for the regular group discussion.
Download the Episode Here!
In this segment Chris and Dan discuss Federico Fellini's masterpiece La Dolce Vita. A film that has been praised throughout the movie world, let's see how it measures up to our "everyman" sensibilities!
Download the Episode Here!
In this segment Chris and Dan discuss Federico Fellini's masterpiece La Dolce Vita. A film that has been praised throughout the movie world, let's see how it measures up to our "everyman" sensibilities!
4 comments:
A couple of things:
1. The fact is that you guys try to, like I said before, justify shit as art! And you both think shit thrown together makes since, just to call them roses.
2. Dan was correct in the pronunciation of this. vi•gnette
vɪnˈyɛt [vin-yet noun, verb,-gnet•ted, -gnet•ting.
–noun
1.
A decorative design or small illustration used on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter.
2.
An engraving, drawing, photograph, or the like that is shaded off gradually at the edges so as to leave no definite line at the border.
3.
A decorative design representing branches, leaves, grapes, or the like, as in a manuscript.
4.
Any small, pleasing picture or view.
5.
A small, graceful literary sketch.
–verb (used with object)
6.
Photography. To finish (a picture, photograph, etc.) in the manner of a vignette.
3. In 1960, these pesky freelance journalists were immortalized in Federico Fellini's internationally popular film La Dolce Vita, Italian for "The Sweet Life." La Dolce Vita focuses on the life of a jaded journalist, Marcello (played by Marcello Mastroianni), and his photographer colleague, Paparazzo (Walter Santesso). The origin of the name Paparazzo is disputed, but its onomatopoeic resemblance to the Sicilian word for an oversize mosquito, papataceo, made it apt to compare with Fellini's statement: "Paparazzo suggests to me a buzzing insect, hovering, darting, and stinging." Fellini also drew an image of the character in which he describes; the drawing is of a human-like figure that has no bone structure and instead, looks like a vampirish insectile, implying that paparazzi, like mosquitoes, are also parasites.
4. The Fourth wall is that invisible barrier that divides the audience from the film. It’s the reason why actors are never supposed to look directly at the screen or talk to the camera. The film is supposed to be happening independent of us, we are simply voyeurs.
But there are an increasing number of films out there that break this wall, completely acknowledging the audience, letting us know that they know we are there. Here are a few movies that have the breaking of the fourth wall: Austin Powers 2: the Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), Empire Records (1995), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Fight Club (1999), High Fidelity (2000)
Thanks for lending your voice Nolan. Now to respond:
1. This isn't a case of "shit thrown together makes sense". The movie was not cryptic and as you say stupid and after reading "into" the movie only did it make sense. Think of it as a TV show. Short episodes that tell an over-arcing story. Instead of this being a TV series it was a movie. Short episodes that tell different things about the same guy which in the end completes a story. Just without all the mundane parts in between, just the important stuff.
2. I was sure that Dan pronounced vignette correctly, I simply said that I had always heard it as vig-nette. And stated as such so that others could identify the word. I am sure that because of my mis-pronunciation that is how you even found the word to identify how it is properly pronounced.
3. Thanks for doing all the work for Dan, it was very enlightening and shows that you CAN just wikipedia!
4. Exactly what we said but you provided good examples that we couldn't.
1. I wasn't talking about sweet life. Never watched it. I was talking about the other two we watched again.
2. Still isn't correct, no matter how many times you say it that way.
3. Didn't look it up on Wikipedia! Dick. I was trying to get more of the meaning of the word. That way we (I) know why he called him that.
4. Just got a little more detailed with examples. That’s it! It helped me understand the meaning more.
5. I was participating by posting a comment with some of the back ground on some of the thing you mentioned in the Podcast. Hey sorry won't happen again, didn’t mean to get you all defensive.
son of a...my comment didn't seem to post.
let's try again.
Nolan, thanks for the information. i knew i was pronouncing it right and had never heard anyone pronounce it any other way. perhaps i just run in higher educated circles. haha
as far as what constitutes art and what doesn't i'll agree to disagree. i understand where you're coming from and i'm fine with that. it's no biggie to me.
in relation to that i found a link to a blog that applies a bit to the conversation. in particular the lines "He has forgotten that film is an art form second, and 'something to do when I'm kinda bored' first, foremost, and always. Basically, whenever someone starts talking about 'films of any seriousness' it's time to put them out to pasture."
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