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.

Munoz: Presumed Innocent

            In Presumed Innocent we can see the corruption of the whole legal system from the judge to the cop. There are many moments that we can agree that the killer was in deed Rusty but when we start to uncover more about the case and other cases we start to doubt about everything. The corruption as well helps Rusty at the end to use the information about a B-file that implements the actual Judge that is in Rusty’s case. Evidence is very important in this film that changes the side of the situations in many levels beginning with “ When Carolyn’s body is found, all evidence points to Rusty. The murder is particularly scandalous because of its kinky nature. “She has been raped, and Rusty’s semen and blood type are found within her body.” (Pfeiffer 184”

Rusty was put in the case no question asked by his boss but his boss Raymond and many people except his friend knew about his affair with his colleague which is found murdered and raped.  The people that not knew that they where having an affair gives them one more reason to show that Rusty was guilty with no doubt.  Especially when Raymond tells some misguided information saying that Rusty begged for the case when in reality he knowingly wanted to pass it to another person considering he had a sexual interaction with the victim. 

            Rusty also in his flashbacks presents the worst side of Rusty in his desperation of trying to have Carolyn and have a sexual relationship with her. When Carolyn tries to stop the affair Rusty becomes more persistent, angrier and even start to stalk her seeing her with another man giving her a reason to kill her.

            When they were seeing the Crime scene there where no forced entry, no items missing and there was two glasses used meaning that the two people knew each other pointing everything towards Rusty.

Rusty asks his partner to hold on the glass cup that has his fingerprints, which without that evidence there is a great help to prove his innocence. The scene is at the end on the boat where they through the only hard evidence that could of put him as well on the apartment.

Rusty also asks his partner to discard the phone records that could tie to him calling in which he says it was him calling to his house to tell his wife that he was ok, but in reality he was having an affair.  These phone records are important considering that is showing that even they ended the affair rusty was still calling her former lover.  Lighting is something that is very important throughout the film considering its pretty dim and dark throughout his conviction and when he is talking to his partner as well to hide evidence. Its very dark as well when he is having the affairs, but when he is dismissed of all charges against him then the light changes and becomes clearer as he is not found guilty though then realizes who was the actual murderer.

Munoz: The Fugitive

“Although The Fugitive is a personal story of one mans obsession with finding justice and another mans obsession with upholding the law.” (Pfeiffer 209) As there is that constant fight for finding justice and proving his innocence Dr. Kimble also is a man that even in the run never stopped helping people from the beginning when he as the choice to run and leave behind the guard that was taking him to his demise he carries the guard and pushes him out of the deathly train. But this was just a small thing he did where it did not affect him being caught again by the law enforcement. When investigating and posing as a janitor he enters Cook County Hospital to find the prosthetics department to find the one that did murder his wife. When he has the list of the persons that have a prosthetic limb he is going to the exit when in the entrance there are numerous cops impeding his escape. While he is thinking of another way out he realizes the whole commotion and chaos that is happening of some event in a school. Being so many patients the doctors aren’t focused, especially when it came to this kid that was really in a moment of life and death. Kimble is mumbling to check the x-ray but the doctor doesn’t check it thus stating he had something that he really didn’t have. When he is asked to take the kid to a part of the hospital Kimble sees the x-ray and decides to take him to surgery instantly because he knew what was really going on, after he changes the doctors orders in the sheet and manages to take the kid on time to surgery the kids is saved on time.  Kimble is on his way out when stopped by one of the doctors that was watching him and saw what he did, when he was confronted and his tag was grabbed he made a run for it and managed to escape on time before the police arrived. When Gerard, US Marshal talked to the doctor to figure out why he was in the hospital the doctor said that he saved the kids boy. This was the point where Gerard started to notice something about this case was different and here is when we see reinforcement in the innocence of Kimble throughout the calamity of his pursuit.

Munoz: Mosquito Coast Imperialism

             We do see Imperialism as a big part when we travel to the jungle where they should in reality be free considering the natives have been living there for more time than the colonists first stepped on the new world. There are four types of imperialism colonial imperialism, which is a complete takeover and dominating all areas: economic, political, and socio-cultural.  In Jeronimo and the other towns in which we see imperialism are based on economic and socio-cultural imperialism.

            “His dictatorial, autocratic rule is grudgingly accepted by his long-suffering family, and particularly I his ever–supportive wife.” (Pfeiffer 155)

            Economical imperialism is based on the area to operate as its own nation, but the imperialist nation almost completely controls its trade and other business. It may impose regulations that forbid trade with other nations, or imperialist companies may own or have exclusive rights to its natural resources. This is shown clearly when Allie for one has a totally independent town in which they grow and produce their own food thus not needing to go to other towns for food. Then the scene that best describes this is when Allie creates big boy in which he creates ice from fire. After creating this machine he gives it for free to other towns that are around and they come in multitude but this isn’t enough, he decides he can do something bigger by giving it to the natives that haven’t been in contact with civilization thus being a god-like figure in which he is trying to control everything in his new life in the new world.

            Socio-Cultural imperialism is when the dominating country deliberately tried to change customs, religions and languages in some of the countries. Reverend Spellgood who coming from America is trying to change the customs, religions and language of the native by opposing Christianity to the natives, which conserve some integrity and some local customs. When Allie arrives to the small town that is being “protected” by Spellgood he arrives to the town which is being surrounded by barbwire as a prison and then reaching the church the natives have been changed completely from their natural state of having an independent life to wearing clothes, speaking English, and having a new god that they have to pray now for. New customs as well are celebrated that has to do with Christianity, as Christmas and other American customs, even though they are “free” in which they can go anywhere they want they have been enslaved into a religion they weren’t supposed to be making reverend Spellgood a type of dictator opposing religion to those who all ready have customs, religion and their own language.

Munoz: Witness

         

         John Book (Harrison Ford) protagonist of Witness shows two different lifestyles where he learns what is important in life. Book struggles in the movie trying to figure who he wants to be and what he wants to do for the rest of his life but this questions come up later in the film. Book shows his true self at the beginning as being a typical brute cop in Philadelphia by throwing punches and being all aggressive to alleged suspects that were innocent. Here it could be considering that there isn’t much background and we don’t really know if there were any past interactions between the criminal and Book but there seems to be a hint of racism considering how he had his way in the bar at the beginning. After being shot and the corrupt cops failed to kill him, he escapes with the primary witness Samuel Lapp and his mother to an Amish Community in Landcaster, Pennsylvania 

         Here John Book was saved by the Amish community who let him stay there till he was full recovered. As he gets better we get a fill for the community, which are very strict about their rules and are keeping a eagle eye on Book.

         Book first change and realization is that of leaving the gun behind and participating and repaying the favor to the Amish specially Eli Lapp. Book recovers almost completely and is now able to walk and do some choirs around the farm. He helps milking the cows early in the morning and learns now to be more responsible for more things which maybe Book had courage but no responsibility to anyone except to the law. When he is taken to build the barn for his carpentry skills he just feels better that he can do something good for the community without having to fight anyone. He even feels that he could do this as his future life though he knows there is still things left behind to resolve. Book at the end of building the barn gets enlighten with the concept of individualism as well as being part of a community.

         Book also changed in the sense of learning family values. Having no family and Rachel Lapp making fun of him by restating what Book’s sister said about having no family of his own. Book is very good in having the sense of protection not only towards his family and nieces but also to those of the Lapp’s family. He grows fond and even found himself in the dinner table where he is given a chance to show that the Englishmen are not that bad.

         Finally he learned the cultural differences and how to respect those with different faiths and religious values that goes against yours. Book felt in peace when he lived with the Lapp family and felt he could become a better person by learning some important values that the Amish taught him.

         But people never change and Book lamentably didn’t changed completely if not he would of stayed and lived with Rachel though that wasn’t the whole point of the movie. The point of the movie was showing Book as a hero saving Samuels life by eliminating the threat, which is haunting him. We can see that violence will never leave Book because it is what he is and will ever be. Book shows this when the locals are bothering and bullying the Amish people, Book steps up and says that it is his way and then punches the locals making a statement to not mess with the Amish anymore but showing that he is still tainted by the city rules of survival. “Once book emerges victorious over his foes, he realizes he must return to his world and Rachel to hers” (Pfeiffer 152) showing that there are still boundaries which cant be passed, one of them being the strict rules and faith of the Amish preventing Rachel to be with Book if not he would have stayed or she would of have to leave and that wasn’t Books reason for this whole film.

Munoz: Blade Runner 1982/1991

Both Blade Runner renditions represent in someway the novel of Philip K. Dick though the one that best represents and conveys the message is the directors cut. “Blade runner had overcome the stigma of its disappointing performance”(Pfeiffer 126) Ridley Scott felt a great disappointment with the ending scene and having the voice overs of Rick Deckard’s beliefs and what he was thinking throughout the film. Scott as well added something’s that hinted on the whole mystery of Deckard being either human or android.

            I believe that in the novel Deckard is no doubt a human considering his passion of getting an animal to change his status and the care and passion he has towards them. As well as the relationship he has with his wife gives us the idea of him as a human, rather in the movie the wife is not present making us believe that the memory of her wife can be just planted to his brain but in reality never had a wife, thus the connection he has with Rachel.

            In the Directors cut film Scott adds a dream of a unicorn, which Deckard has after killing an android and later drinking, in his piano. This dream helps us understand what later in the movie is revealed. Gaff the other agent loves to make origami from matches and paper and leaves it in the rooms that he has been in as saying “I’ve been here”. The last origami he made was a unicorn and it was left at Deckard’s place before he escapes with Rachel to somewhere they can’t get to her and kill her. In the original film 1982 there wasn’t this dream which the unicorn origami was meaningless just showing that Gaff was alright with the relationship, but in the directors cut it hints” Deckard was indeed a replicant, because Gaff had access to his programmed dream and memories” (Pfeiffer 126) this for one ruined my whole intrigue of Deckard being a human or an android which the best part is not knowing.

            The voice over is one thing that I didn’t mind it was taken off. Voice over unless it isn’t at all clear then it shouldn’t be in a movie because it just makes it very annoying that they have to tell you things that are pretty clear to the audience. If they cant portray it by acting and expressing it out then I guess they aren’t doing a good job if they can’t convey the message without having a voice over.

            Finally the last scene in the 1982 film is something illogical for the whole idea of a post apocalyptic world and after nuclear radiation ruining the whole world how can there be still green and a happy paradise outside that dark and gloomy place if everyone would see that that is how its outside that environment everyone would jus pick their hovering car and leave. Anyway I do understand that it was made for the whole purpose of having the happy ending and making Rachel be different and perhaps having longer than four years just changes the whole fact of reality and fakeness and what made it for someone to differentiate. Thus the better ending is of the directors’ cut where it ends with the closing elevator leaving the mystery to the audience. I guess I prefer the Directors cut though I’m not that fascinated for the fact that they are showing Deckard as an android instead of leaving us with the mystery.