auteurship: robert altman
After viewing Mash, The Delinquents and The player, i saw a strong connection in terms of auteurship and Robert Altman. When a film reflects a directors creative vision to the fullest extent, the more the viewer becomes familiarized and interested. After some research i chose these movies based on Altmans subtle social commentary of the times they portray. I can relate to his vision through my artwork and how time and cultural conscious i am.
I enjoyed watching the Deliqeuents because it showed a glimpse of the life of some 50's era kids. The movie starts out with a dialogue from an announcer talking about teenagers today, then it shows kids in real life daling with real life problems like "going steady" and fitting in. Tom Laughlin plays Scotty White and is faced with breaking up with his younger girlfriend Janice. The movie was effective in showing juvenile delinquency during that time period when it had become a major factor in turning America's youth from following rules and laws, and becoming future residents in San Quentin and Attica state prison. Kylie Minogues character to me, was a good metaphor for the children on the fifties. She wasn't afraid of scaring off her mother while speaking provocatively to her. The dance scene really stood out to me as a good illustration of the sexual curiosity and repression these teens dealt with and felt and how it was introduced to their culture. (Like when her mother saw them from the stairs.) All in all, i thought the movie was relivant to our culture today. For example, the movie pin points a bunch of unruly youths making a commotion at a local nightclub because they were refused beer for being underage. Altman was very successful at reflecting the young culture during the 50's. The film shows what can happen when teenagers dont respect their parents or the law and how there future problems grow from that.
The Player was another Altman movie i watched. This film tells the story of Griffin Mill successful Hollywood studio executive who thinks he is being blackmailed by a screenwriter. It didn't take long for me to acknowledge that this was a satire film including a large variety of celebrity cameos. The film was full of hollywood references and the people behind the scenes. Griffen Mill becomes threatened by studio politics and is being questioned by a detective (whoopi goldberg.) Altman continues using actors he had previously worked with, putting a spin on movie making.I belive the blackmail issue Mills was dealing with, was a metaphor to the industry of hollywood film making and the viscousness that comes with it. As with most altman films, a lot of the scenes have a spontaneous feel that makes the movie more real. I like how Altman clearly leaves room for the actors to improvise like when Whoop Goldberg made her cameo. I like Altmans sense of humor and how it translates in the film. He isnt afraid to make humorous social commentary, like in the delinquents.
I loved the vintage feel i got from Altmans Mash. Again, Altman made a movie refrencing society of America during that time period. This dark comedy covers everything from the "dope" epidemic, sex, an straight to war. The way it depicts war is realistic and humorous dealing with the horrors of it all very non-chalantly. (Even though all the blood and gore come from the operating table not the battleground.) Duke and Hawkeye are two young surgeons who end up at the mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War. These two come up with all sorts of light hearted fun like football games and a trip to Tokyo. The surgeons carry on with the daily carnage of war by basically ignoring it, revealing the absurdity of war. (Again social commentary on the 70's popular culture and there perception on war.)
