week 5 journal

Choose one of this week’s films.* Examine at least two elements of the film that contribute to its comic effect, such as dialogue, action, acting/character, situation, or recurring motifs. As always, choose at least two scenes to use as supporting examples for your argument. Screen shot each of them. Be specific in your analysis, and do not summarize.

Young Frankenstein (1:46:00)

One of Mel Brooks’ best parodies. It pokes loving fun at 1930s horror films, in particular the classic 1930s series of Frankenstein films starring Boris Karloff. Gene Wilder stars as the grandson of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein who tries his best to distinguish himself from his grandfather’s insanity, but who gets caught up in the same reanimation mania when he is invited to Transylvania. Peter Boyle makes a hilarious monster and Marty Feldman often steals the show as Igor. A laugh riot!

The Grand Budapest Hotel (1:39:00)

This film is so hard to sum up in a few sentences, so I’m just going to quote the IMDB: “The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune — all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.”

Truly, there is so much more to this quirky, and ultimately deeply moving story of misfits in a cruel world.

Much Ado about Nothing (2:02:00)

One of Shakespeare’s most endearing – if also somewhat disturbing – comedies, directed and acted to perfection by Kenneth Branagh and company. This double love story that tests friendships, grapples with the moral complexities of deceitfulness, and reveals a society obsessed with intrigue, also includes the romance between Shakespeare’s most cynical and yet loving couple, Beatrice and Benedict. The cinematography will leave you breathless. It’s lush, like the self-indulgent lives of the characters. A feast for the senses, the mind, and the heart.