MID-TERM EXAM

Turn this in during the first class after Spring Break. No emails or postings on this one. Come to class with a printed copy.

I'm not looking for full papers on each question, but answers should have some depth. The more complete you are, the better. Examples from our assigned or in-class viewings are a plus; outside examples, even more so.

1. Film editing is sometimes called the “invisible art”. What does this mean and how did it come about?
2. Early Russian filmmakers stood in contrast to this idea. Who were they and what did they do differently?
3. Cinema is often referred to as having a “language” or a “grammar”. What is meant by this? Please cite examples.
4. The concepts of “montage” and “mis en scene” are components of cinematic style. What are they and how are they used?
5. A film is made three times. What is meant by this statement?

Sweeney Todd Musical

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd is about a barber who was banished from London for fifteen years because of a jealous judge. However, Mr. Todd has come back after all this time and seeks revenge with the help of  Mrs. Lovett and her failing pie shop. He goes on a killing spree slicing his way to the judge and disposes of the bodies through a trap door that goes downstairs to the pie shop where Mrs. Lovett makes her meat pies. Inevitably, Todd gets his revenge on the judge and finds out his beautiful wife is not dead a second too late. He kills her thinking she is an intruder and is then quickly slain by a boy who had escaped his silver razor.

            Overall this musical was very dark, not just the actual cinematography but the whole story itself. It is very different from the majority of musicals I’ve seen which have been very upbeat and poppy. The way the musical was shot was also different. The entire movie’s imagery is lifeless with just shadows and dull gray except for the blood, which is highlighted throughout the movie. We see an ample amount of heinous crimes such as; murder, rape, and cannibalism making the film very dark.

In my opinion the actual singing itself was very amateur. They had big names like Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman, etc. who are all great actors, but are certainly not known for their singing abilities! The songs in the very beginning of the movie were a good way to give us some background knowledge of the character and his previous life in London. The lyrics to the songs were very well written and helped tell the story of the psychopathic barber and his insidious agenda.