Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Munoz: Devils Own & Patriot Games


It’s funny how throughout the film The Devils Own we first follow and learn the life of the antagonist first and not see the protagonist after we reach to the United States. Its also funny how both protagonists are American, which is my first view of how the American value and view is put into the films trying to not only show the whole issue and history of the IRA and PIRA but give a good image of the US.  I believe that in Devils Own we see a little of more patriotism towards their country and what they believe will bring them not only freedom but peace. Patriot Games in the other hand has more of a sense of revenge with no good intent leading the audience to have no sympathy what so ever.
            Both antagonists are shown doing immoral things to achieve their goal even though one is more of a cold blooded than the other. Both antagonists also have family members killed thus leading to the triggers of why they join the cause and where the whole revenge begins.
            Patriot Games we don’t have much sympathy for the Irishmen considering we don’t know much about the history of what is happening in Ireland but we are in London and the first wrongful act and coldness for a bigger purpose is killing the cosine of the Royal Family.  Though they fail they still murder two people. Then the IRA goes to the press expressing that its not them acting but rather different people which then we understand that this side objectives are made by the antagonists. “Patriot Games had boldly presented the I.R.A. in an unflattering light, and Politically Correct forces began attack the scripts allegedly right-wing tone.” (Pfeiffer 202) this comes to say that even in the real life they started to have some criticism. Though I feel they do in some way give a bad light in this film I guess no one can really give a non-bias view considering if you give an I.R.A person to shoot the film then it will show their view which yes could make us sympathize with them but will also show all the other parties as the antagonists, its all depends on the perspective and side in which you are born to.  The one seen in which the lighting key is an important part of the filming is when they liberated their fellow IRA comrade who is being transported, after they kill all the policemen they rally 3 cops including a well-known inspector. Having a low-key lighting from the street and the darkness of the night they are murdered cold-blooded in the bridge where it was out of their way shooting these law enforcers. Another seen which the camera angle when they kill Dennis Cooley is seen as less and replaceable and then shot giving not only a bad image to the Irish but as well it shows that they think that they are superior.
                The Devils Own is a complete different story in which showing the fight in Ireland gives us a little of history and feel of why Rory is doing what he is doing.  In this film I think they framed the IRA a little better except for the fact that they are trying to get mass weaponry into Ireland to kill more people. It is tough to position yourself in the other side when you haven’t had that experience just like Rory tries to explain Tom, when he confronts Rory in the basement about the money about his father being killed and living in a constant war. We sympathize with Rory because we see that he wants to be good and does nice things especially to Tom’s family but when he has to do unmoral things to reach his goal he will do it. Throughout the film we see a standard character proxemics between Tom and Rory but at the end when they have both shot each other they are more personal even emotional where they both have this connection that understand what they both are trying to do the good thing for their country but even though they have shot each other they forgive each other. As well Tom is seen as a parental role for Rory considering his father died and have a last emotional moment where Rory’s last words is that Toms is a good man. Finally we see that Rory did understand how he was going to end but the audience will miss Rory especially the part of Rory that is so good to Toms little daughter as to Sean Miller in Patriot Games. Miller never did anything for anyone except for himself and we clearly see this when he shoots his comrades to pursue his own mission.

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