The Movie Jar Series: Week 6

My dearest readers, I am so terribly sorry my weekly blogs have become… not exactly weekly as of late. As many of our favorite movies remind us, life moves pretty fast sometimes (Ferris Bueller, you are forever an icon). Life has gotten busier recently, and sadly, that means less time for movies. That being said, the weekly posts are  back, don’t you worry! This week we have Fellini AND Tarantino, so you know I mean business. 

La Dolce Vita: 

In a happy coincidence, I pulled “La Dolce Vita” from my jar, yet another Federico Fellini classic following last weeks’ viewing of “8 ½”. This is another classic that is endlessly referenced and talked about. This movie has such a massive reputation that I insisted on watching it with my whole family one night. In comparison to “8 ½”, “La Dolce Vita” is definitely the more commercial and conventional of the two. It is about the life of an Italian reporter, Marcello Rubini, who traipses around Italy whilst writing a gossip column.  We see a series of stories from a week of his life as he seeks happiness in a world of fortune and decadence. This episodic-style movie revolves around this central plot line, however different unique scenes are woven together to create this grand film. 

“La Dolce Vita” is a mighty long movie (three hours!) but is certainly worth the watch. This epic film is a classic for a reason. It is stylish, has truly mesmerizing cinematography, and is great fun. When one thinks of this film, most likely a scene in which Marcello and a beautiful American actress named Sylvia splash around in the Trevi fountain will come to mind. The entire movie is studded with iconic and beautifully visual scenes such as this one. It has an episodic structure to it, which makes it very watchable, considering its length. As with many Fellini films, it is grand, over-the-top, and deals with themes such as religion, fame, narcissism, the role of women, and the male gaze. Leave it to Fellini to take a widely accessible film and inject it with countless classic signature tropes of his. 

“La Dolce Vita” serves as a commentary on wealth and fame. It shows the highs and lows of the life of the rich and famous. Marcello has a front row seat to the lives of these people, as his job is to observe the lives of members of high society. He tags up with a photographer, Paparazzo (yes, this character has led to the creation of the word ‘paparazzi), and the duo grossly fling themselves into the uninviting world of the elite. This continuing storyline critiques the assertive and entitled nature of paparazzi. Throughout Marcello’s journey, it becomes clear that fortune isn’t a shortcut to happiness. The glitz and glamour found in “La Dolce Vita” is reminiscent of “The Great Gatsby,” which also shows us that all the money in the world cannot buy genuine fulfillment and happiness. I believe it is the melancholy overtone of this film that allows it to withstand the test of time. There is something universally relatable about an unhappy upper class, and how those excluded still somehow look to break in. Between the epic scale of this film, the beautiful cinematography, and the tremendous performances, I can definitely understand how “La Dolce Vita” continues to find great success decades after its release. I’m sure this is the kind of movie I will rewatch over the years, and always walk away with something new. 

Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Over the years, I’ve always enjoyed a Tarantino movie from time to time. I’ve never been particularly drawn to “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” so I never got around to watching it until I pulled it from my movie jar! For those unfamiliar with the premise, “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” is about a former assassin seeking revenge on a team of assassins who previously betrayed her. Essentially, it is a martial arts film, a genre that does not pique my interest. It stars the ever-cool Uma Thurman, who is absolutely flawless in her role as “the Bride”. After awakening from a four-year-long coma, “the Bride” exacts revenge on her once-fellow assassins, who wreaked havoc on her wedding day. 

“Kill Bill: Vol. 1” is exactly the kind of film that I recognize as very well done, just does not align with my personal taste. In classic Tarantino fashion, the violence is abundant and gnarly. I am more of a violence-sprinkled-here-and-there kind of gal. I believe it loses its effectiveness when overdone. As this film is stylized to resemble a comic book, I completely understand why there is such gratuitous violence- yet it is simply not for me. I’ve always said that I am most drawn to films that seem as if they’re depicting a real person’s life, and this movie certainly is far from that. 

The art direction of this film is exquisite. The production design is very stylish. “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” is known for a particular long-sequence action scene, which is stylistically very impressive. In this scene, “the Bride” single-handedly battles dozens of opponents. For several minutes, we see Thurman obliterate everyone in sight. It is exceptionally well choreographed. At one point, we see “the Bride” perched above her victims in this massacre, observing her job well done. If you’re ever wondering how many people can fall victim to one woman’s sword, look no further than this scene. 

There are many things this film does right. That being said, there are many things this film lacks, that certainly would have raised it a few marks in my book. For example, there is very minimal emotional character development. “The Bride” is angry and cold from beginning to end -rightly so, it just makes for a less emotionally compelling movie. It is essentially solely a martial arts movie to its core. Something I love about many Tarantino films is the clever dialogue and the witty conversations between characters. There is little room in this movie for anything beyond violence. I can see how this movie would be an entirely different experience in a movie theater. It is visually well-done, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to an overall well-rounded movie. 

I think one’s enjoyment of “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” relies solely on personal taste. It is the epitome of a polarizing movie. A comic-book-style-martial-arts-revenge flick could be perfectly executed, and would still not draw me in from start to finish. Maybe one day I’ll get around to “Kill Bill: Vol. 2” but I wouldn’t hold your breath…